Quick takeaway

You have a gambling problem when betting starts costing you more than money. You’ll compromise your time, your honesty with the people close to you, and your peace of mind. The clearest warning signs are chasing losses, betting more than you can afford, hiding the amounts from your family, and feeling restless or low when you can’t place a bet. In the 2025 Gambling Survey for Great Britain, 2.4% of adults scored 8 or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index, so this is far more common than the silence around it suggests. You can find help through a confidential face to face assessment in Guildford by calling 01483 533808.

It’s a gut feeling of panic, usually late at night after checking your bank balance. The bet that was supposed to make back last week’s losses didn’t, and now you’re working out what you can move around before anyone notices. Does this ring true?

I’m Peter J Davies, and I’ve worked as an addiction specialist in Guildford for more than 20 years. Gambling is one of the addictions I see most, and one of the easiest to hide, because there’s nothing to smell on your breath and nothing to find in a cupboard.

Here we’ll explore the warning signs, lay out four questions you can ask yourself honestly right now, and identify the help that’s available near you in Surrey.

What counts as a gambling problem?

A gambling problem isn’t defined by how much you stake. Someone betting £5 a week can be in serious difficulty while someone betting far more is not. What matters is whether gambling has taken on a job in your life beyond entertainment: filling time, lifting your mood, settling your nerves, or promising a way out of debt it created.

Clinicians measure this with the Problem Gambling Severity Index. The Gambling Commission’s 2025 Gambling Survey for Great Britain found 2.4% of adults scored 8 or more, the band described as problem gambling, with a further 3.5% at moderate risk. The same survey found that 43.2% of adults have someone close to them who gambles, which is why so many of the people who call me are worried partners and parents rather than gamblers themselves.

Warning signs of a gambling problem

The signs usually show up in your behaviour long before you start worrying about your bank statements. You might recognise some of these:

• Chasing losses, returning another day to win back what you lost
• Betting more than you can comfortably afford to lose
• Needing to stake larger amounts to get the same lift
• Borrowing, selling things, or moving money around to cover gambling
• Lying to your partner or family about how much you gamble
• Feeling restless, irritable or flat when you try to cut down
• Gambling to escape stress, low mood or boredom
• Betting through the night, or during work hours
• Promising yourself this is the last bet, repeatedly

One of these on its own might be a bad month. Several of them together, over time, describe a gambling addiction that rarely resolves on willpower alone.

Four questions to check where you stand

These are drawn from the screening questions clinicians use. Answer them honestly for the past 12 months. You don’t need to share your answers with anyone – this is just for you.

1. Have you bet more money than you could afford to lose?
2. Have you gone back another day to win back money you lost?
3. Has your gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?
4. Has anyone criticised your betting, or told you that you have a problem, regardless of whether you thought it was true?

A yes to any of these is worth taking seriously. Two or more, and I’d encourage you to reach out sooner rather than later.

How to enjoy football without betting

For many people who I see about betting and football, the dependency grew with the love of the sport until the match stopped being watchable without money on it. Untangling the two is possible, and the game itself is moving in the same direction: from the 2026/27 season, Premier League clubs have withdrawn gambling sponsorship from the front of matchday shirts.

What helps is putting something in the space the bet used to occupy, rather than sitting in front of the same fixture with the same phone in your hand.

• Register with GAMSTOP, the free national scheme that blocks you from all licensed gambling sites and apps in the UK for six months, one year or five years
• Turn on the gambling block your bank offers on your debit card, and delete the apps rather than logging out of them
• Watch at the ground or in company, where the phone stays in your pocket
• Give the match a different stake: a five-a-side game of your own, a fantasy league with no money in it, or taking your child to watch a local side
• Plan the two hours after full time, since that’s when the urge to bet on a late kick-off usually arrives

Losing the bet doesn’t have to mean losing the sport. Most people find the game becomes easier to enjoy once the result stops deciding whether the week is affordable.

Where to find face to face gambling addiction help near Guildford

Online tools and helplines do useful work, and for many people they aren’t enough on their own, because gambling addiction is driven by feelings that need talking through with another person. Sitting in a room with someone who understands the pattern is what changes it.

Support	What it offers	How to access
Addiction Care, Guildford	One to one therapy with a specialist addiction counsellor, face to face in Guildford	Call 01483 533808
National Gambling Helpline	Free, confidential advice, 24 hours a day	0808 8020 133
GAMSTOP	Free self-exclusion from all UK licensed gambling sites and apps	gamstop.co.uk
Your GP	Referral to NHS gambling services and support for related anxiety or depression	Book an appointment

Addiction Care is based at consulting rooms in central Guildford, within walking distance of the town centre and the station. We usually begin with a confidential assessment: an honest conversation about what you’re betting, what it’s doing for you, and what recovery would need to look like. Some people wonder about residential treatment, but this is just one approach, and there are practical alternatives if you’re holding down a job and a household.

If you’re reading this because of someone else’s betting, my Family Programme for partners, parents and adult children offers support and guidance for loved ones. There are ways to start a conversation with the person you’re concerned about that allow you to make the journey to recovery together.

Taking the first step

Gambling problems get heavier the longer they stay hidden, and lighter almost immediately once you say them out loud to somebody who won’t judge you for it. You don’t need to have stopped, or to have a plan, before you pick up the phone.

If you would like to talk, either for yourself or for a loved one, please call 01483 533808 or get in touch online to book a confidential assessment. That call is the hardest part, but know that you will meet an understanding ear.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get gambling addiction help near me in Surrey?

At Addiction Care I offer one to one therapy for gambling addiction from consulting rooms in central Guildford, covering Surrey and the surrounding area. Call 01483 533808 to arrange a confidential assessment. For immediate support at any hour, the National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133.

Can I still gamble occasionally if I’ve had a gambling problem?

For someone who has become compulsive about gambling, one controlled bet almost always leads back to the old pattern. Abstinence is the goal I work towards with clients, and most find it a relief rather than a loss once the first few weeks have passed.

Should I tell my family about my gambling debts?

Telling someone you trust is usually what stops the debt growing, because secrecy allows gambling to continue. Bring it to your assessment if you’d rather plan the conversation first, and take advice on the debts themselves from a free service such as StepChange or Citizens Advice.

Quick takeaway

Yes, you can be dependent on alcohol and still hold down a demanding job, raise a family and keep everything looking orderly from the outside. “High-functioning alcoholic” is a description rather than a medical diagnosis, used for someone with alcohol dependence whose life hasn’t visibly fallen apart yet. Coping well isn’t evidence that your drinking is fine. If you drink to steady yourself, feel uneasy when you can’t drink, or hide how much you consume, talk to an addiction specialist. I’m Peter J Davies of Addiction Care, and I offer confidential assessments in Guildford and online.

You get up, you go to work, you do your job well, and nobody has said a word about your drinking. Underneath that, something has changed. You’ve started noticing when the bottle runs low, planning the evening around the first glass, and feeling a flicker of irritation when a night out doesn’t involve alcohol.

My name is Peter J Davies, and I’ve worked as an addiction specialist in Guildford for more than 20 years. Plenty of people who sit down with me look, on paper, like they have everything under control. Here I’ll explain what high-functioning alcoholism means, the signs worth paying attention to, and what to do if you recognise yourself in them.

What is a high-functioning alcoholic?

A high-functioning alcoholic is someone dependent on alcohol who still meets their day-to-day responsibilities. While it’s a social term to describe the situation, Doctors don’t use it as a diagnosis. What they would assess is alcohol dependence, a pattern where your body and mind have adapted to alcohol being there.

Dependence is more common than most people assume. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities estimated that 608,416 adults in England were alcohol dependent in 2019 to 2020. A good number of them were at their desks that week, functioning perfectly well as far as anyone could see.

Signs you might be a high-functioning alcoholic

Things to look out for will show up in your private life long before they show up in your performance. You might recognise some of these:

• Drinking more than you planned to, most times you drink
• Needing more alcohol than you used to for the same effect
• Feeling restless, irritable or anxious on days you don’t drink
• Drinking alone, or topping up before you go out so nobody sees the full amount
• Using alcohol to manage stress, low mood or sleep
• Keeping alcohol somewhere other people won’t look
• Making a joke of your drinking, or getting defensive when someone mentions it
• Gaps in your memory of an evening 

None of these confirms an addiction on its own. Several together, over months, describe a relationship with alcohol worth looking at honestly.

Why it’s so easy to tell yourself you’re fine

Denial does its best work when there’s evidence to point at, and while you’re still performing, the argument is clear and relatable. I’ve heard many versions of it over the years.

What you tell yourself	What you should consider
“I’ve never missed a day’s work”	Dependence often affects the quality of work for years before anyone else notices
“I only drink good wine”	Your body responds to the units, not the price
“Everyone I know drinks like this”	Drinking culture normalises amounts that are causing harm
“I could stop whenever I wanted”	If that’s true, a few weeks without alcohol will be straightforward to do

That last one is the most useful concept to use as a test or barometer. People who aren’t dependent find a dry month unremarkable, while people who are dependent find reasons why this particular month isn’t the right one.

How much is too much, and how to check where you stand

The UK Chief Medical Officers advise no more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, spread over three or more days. Fourteen units is around six pints of average strength beer, or a bottle and a half of wine, across a whole week.

Going over that doesn’t automatically mean you’re dependent, and staying under it doesn’t guarantee you’re safe. The numbers matter less than the pattern, so ask yourself what clinicians ask. NICE recommends a screening tool called AUDIT, which asks ten questions covering these areas:

1. How often do you find you can’t stop drinking once you’ve started?
2. Have you failed to do something you were expected to do because of drinking?
3. Have you felt guilt or remorse after drinking in the past year?
4. Has anyone close to you expressed concern about how much you drink?

An honest yes to any of these is worth taking to someone who can help you make sense of it.

Finding a therapist in Guildford who can help with your drinking

I run Addiction Care from consulting rooms in central Guildford, Surrey, offering individual therapy face to face or online by Zoom. Everything we discuss is confidential, and you don’t need to have decided anything before you call.

We usually start with an assessment: a conversation about what you’re drinking, what it’s doing for you, and whether that amounts to dependence. If it does, we talk through what would help. Residential rehab isn’t the only route, and for people holding down a job and a household, there are many alternatives worth considering.

If you’re reading this because of someone else’s drinking, I also run a Family Programme for partners, parents and adult children, and there’s a way to start that conversation that gives you the best chance of being heard.

Taking the first step

Holding your life together while you drink doesn’t mean your drinking is safe. It usually means the consequences haven’t arrived yet, and that you still have time to act on your own terms.

If you would like to talk, either for yourself or for a loved one, please call 01483 533808 or get in touch online to book a confidential assessment. Making that call takes courage, and it’s a step I’d be glad to help you take.

Frequently asked questions

Am I a high-functioning alcoholic if I only drink in the evenings?

Possibly. Drinking every evening, needing more than you used to, and feeling uncomfortable on the nights you skip it are all signs of dependence, whatever time of day the drinking happens. An assessment with an addiction specialist will give you a clearer answer than the clock will.

Can a high-functioning alcoholic get better without going to residential rehab?

Many can. Regular one to one therapy alongside support from your GP works for plenty of people who are still working and want to keep their treatment private. Speak to your GP before stopping suddenly if you’ve been drinking heavily for a long time, because alcohol withdrawal can be medically dangerous.

Which therapist near Guildford can help a high-functioning alcoholic?

At Addiction Care, I offer confidential one to one therapy from consulting rooms in central Guildford, and online by Zoom. I’ve specialised in addiction for over 20 years, working with people whose drinking hasn’t yet caused visible problems as well as those in crisis. Call 01483 533808 to arrange an assessment.

Quick Overview

Residential rehab is not the only route to addiction recovery. For many people, one-to-one outpatient therapy with a specialist addiction therapist is an effective, practical, and more accessible alternative. The right option for you depends on a proper assessment of your situation. This post explains what that process looks like, what outpatient therapy can realistically offer, and when residential rehab might still be the more appropriate choice.

Alternatives to residential rehab

If you are reading this, you are probably asking yourself whether you really need to check into a residential rehab for 28 days or more. It is one of the most common questions I am asked, and it is a completely reasonable one. Residential rehab can feel like an enormous step, and for many people it raises very real concerns: the cost, the time away from family or work, and the fear of what it actually involves.
The honest answer is that it depends entirely on your individual circumstances. And the only way to work that out properly is to start with a thorough, honest assessment.

Why an assessment matters

Before any decision about treatment, you need a clear picture of where you are. When you come to see me, we look at how much and how often you are using your addiction, and how much of your thinking and daily life it is occupying. We also look honestly at the consequences: how it is affecting your health, your relationships, your work, and your sense of self.

One of the things I have noticed over 21 years of working with clients is that when you are deep inside an addiction, it can be genuinely difficult to see the harm it is causing. Saying it out loud to another person, in a safe and confidential space, often makes it real in a way that private reflection cannot. That is not a weakness; it is simply how our minds work.
The assessment is a crucial step in understanding what you are dealing with so we can work out the most appropriate path forward for you.

What one-to-one therapy can offer

For a great many people, one-to-one outpatient therapy is a highly effective alternative to residential rehab. It works particularly well if you are what is sometimes described as functioning within your addiction: you are managing your day-to-day life and responsibilities, unaware that things are eroding. That erosion rarely stops on its own and acknowledging it is both challenging and important.

Working together on a weekly basis, we build a clear picture of your addiction and its triggers. We work towards accountability, sobriety, and practical steps you can take in your own life. You keep your daily routine, your privacy, and your independence, while having structured, professional support.

I also offer a 24/7 text support line, free of charge, for every client I work with. If you feel a craving coming on at any time of day or night, you can text me and I will do my very best to respond within the hour. This is not a therapy session; it is simply someone being there when you need to be heard, and it can make a real difference in avoiding a relapse. This support continues even after our formal sessions have ended, as a lifetime commitment.

When residential rehab may still be the right choice

One-to-one therapy is not the right answer for everyone at every time. If relapses are happening frequently and consistently, or if the severity of the addiction means that a more structured and immersive environment is needed, residential rehab may be the more appropriate route, at least initially.

In those cases, I can help you find the right facility. I have professional relationships with several well-established rehabs, and I can point you towards options that are reputable and fairly priced. While I cannot guarantee that a residential programme will work for you, I can say that the ones I refer clients to are serious, professional services.

And if you do go into residential care, we can continue working together when you return, picking up the threads and supporting your ongoing recovery.

The one thing that has to come from you

Whatever path you take, residential or outpatient, the single most important factor in recovery is your own motivation to change. Recovery cannot be imposed from the outside. It does not work if someone else is demanding it of you, however well-intentioned they are. If you are reading this and questioning your options, that questioning itself matters. It is a starting point. What happens from here is a conversation between us. 
Begin your conversation by calling me on 01483 533808 or getting in touch online.

About Peter Davies and Addiction Care

I am Peter Davies, the founder of Addiction Care, based in the centre of Guildford, Surrey. I hold a Diploma in Addiction Therapy and am an Advanced Accredited Member of Addiction Professionals (AP APM), as well as holding the National Counsellor Accreditation Certificate (NCAC). Addiction Care treats all addictions, including alcohol, recreational drugs, gambling, sex, pornography, food, co-dependency, internet and social media, gaming, spending, relationships, and work addiction.

Quick overview of Addiction Care services:

• 1-2-1 Therapy – Face to Face
• 1-2-1 Therapy – Online Zoom 
• All addictions treated with total confidentiality
• Family Programme available
• 24 / 7 support helpline
• 21 years specialist addiction experience

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know whether I need residential rehab or one-to-one therapy?

The most reliable way to answer this is through a proper assessment with an addiction specialist. A good assessment looks at how severe and frequent your addiction is, how it is affecting your life, and what level of support is most appropriate. In many cases, one-to-one outpatient therapy is sufficient, particularly if you are still functioning day to day. At Addiction Care, we’ll help you make that determination without pressure or judgement.

What types of addiction does Addiction Care treat?

Addiction Care treats all forms of addiction, including alcohol, recreational drugs, gambling, sex, pornography, food-related disorders, co-dependency, internet use, social media, gaming, spending, relationship addiction, and work addiction. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, it is worth getting in touch. The scope of addictive behaviour is broader than many people realise.

What happens if I relapse during therapy?

Relapse does not mean that therapy has failed. If relapses are occasional, we use them as information, exploring the triggers and adjusting the approach. If they become frequent and severe, we would discuss whether additional support, including a residential programme, might be the right next step. The 24/7 text support line is specifically designed to help you in those moments of vulnerability before a relapse takes hold.

Gambling can be very secretive. Someone can place a bet anytime or anywhere. Traditionally a person
would go to a betting shop in the high street or a casino or a racetrack. Today with the use of Mobile
Devices and the Internet it can be very covert. A gambler places a bet – in an instant they win, or they
lose – its not noticed but the person changes character and behaviour. If they win, they might cash in –
only to find they are back online and doing the process all over again – If they lose – they mask the
action. What happens to that lose? They might chase the bet in fear that they can’t pay a bill they need to
– in fear that their partner might discover and ask a question. They take out a pay day loan or consolidate
all loses on to a credit card – often a hidden credit card that no one else knows about. They can’t go out
for a meal or treat their family to dinner – they make excuses – they enter into denial. Once hooked there
is no way out – the behaviour becomes more secretive and the consequences bigger. Consider someone
that earns a good wage – eventually the erosion of the wins and loses devalue that wage – who can go
from winning, say £500 in one bet of 15 seconds, and then return to working for weeks, 5 days a week to
take home their modest net pay? The gambling devalues the principles and morals the person once had.

Like all addictive processes, the only answer to a Gambling Addiction is complete abstinence. There is no
compromise with an addiction!!

This is not just true of people with Gambling problems – all addictions are the same.
Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling, Food, Sex, Pornography, Relationships and Co-dependency are all the same.
For people with an Addictive Personality, we all have the problem. No matter whatever the drug of choice
is.

My name is Peter. I am 22 years sober of a drink and 22 years clean of a drug. I specialise in helping
clients in 1-1 Therapy – Face to Face or Zoom – explore their behaviours and look at how it affects them
or their loved ones. I am passionate about helping and our sessions will, be completely private and
confidential.

I work from the centre of Guildford and take pride in helping clients recover from their addictions and
reclaim their lives.

My phone is on 24 x 7 – call me for a chat. 01483 533808 or email me on info@addictioncare.co.uk.

Take a look at my website www.addictioncare.co.uk.