TOP self-help and online consultation services

Shortly

Effective support is not one service "for all cases," but a bunch:

1. Self-help (daily mini-steps), 2. Online consultations (plan and analysis of reasons), 3. Groups (environment support), 4. Technical barriers (so as not to break "in one click").

Below is what to choose, how to combine and what settings to enable immediately.

1) When to choose

Need right now (momentum/panic): Hotline, 24/7 anonymous chat, timeout and blocker.

We need a plan for a week or a month: online therapy (video/chat), mutual assistance groups, a financial consultant.

You need to keep the course every day: habit/emotion trackers, CBT applications, calendar slots, "night silence."

2) Self-help services (daily base)

CBT applications (cognitive behavioral exercises): thought diary, reassessment of "traps," impulse control exercises, stop protocol.

Trackers of emotions and triggers: note mood (0-10), context, replacement actions; see patterns.

Timers and Pomodoro: sessions of 25-30 minutes + pauses of 3-5 minutes; "hard stop" at the end.

Meditation/breathing/sleep: short breathing cycles (4-2-6), audio tracks for falling asleep, anti-stress programs.

Financial mini-panels: "entertainment wallet" budget, day/week limits, spending notifications.

Blockers and "night silence": no access to games/deposits at night, scheduled availability windows.

How to choose: take 1-2 applications for emotions/sleep + 1 timer/tracker + 1 blocker. The main thing is simplicity and autorun.

3) Online consultations (video, audio, chat)

Formats:

Video sessions (30-50 min) - for complex topics and plan building.
Chat/audio - when flexibility and frequent short touches are important.
Asynchronous therapeutic chat - it is convenient to consolidate skills between sessions.
Approaches that help with gaming addiction: CBT, motivational interviewing, prevention of a breakdown, work with anxiety/depression, family therapy.
How to understand that a specialist is suitable: there is experience with behavioral addictions, explains the plan and metrics ("what we measure"), respects your right to timeouts and limits.

4) Mutual aid groups and educational communities

Online meetings on schedule: anonymous groups of players, SMART approach, groups for loved ones.

Why: Feeling "I'm not alone (a)," sharing work practices, regularity and support between consultations.

How to start: 2-3 trial meetings in different formats, stay where you feel safe and useful.

5) Anonymous chats and hotlines

Why: de-escalation "here and now," security check, plan for the next steps.

How to prepare: 3 points: frequency of play/deposits, condition (0-10), whether there were thoughts of self-harm.

Important: emergency security is always more important than any game plans.

6) Online financial advice

Objectives: debt inventory, payment plan, restructuring negotiations, protection against impulse loans.

What to prepare: a list of accounts, rates, dates, minimum payments, total budget, goals for 1-3 months.

7) Technical services-barriers (anti-breakdown)

Site/application block: schedules, "inability to remove the block for the evening," white/black lists.

Screen time and focus mode: limit minutes/day, "quiet mode" at night, prohibition of notifications, except for "safe."

Bank limits: separate card without overdraft, spending ceiling per day/week, push for each transaction.

Self-exclusion/timeouts: from days to months - the most reliable "hard stop."

8) How to build your "help stack" in 10 minutes

1. Self-help: install CBT app + Pomodoro timer.

2. Barrier: turn on the blocker with "night silence" (23: 00-08: 00).

3. Finance: start an "entertainment wallet" with a daily limit and push alerts.

4. Support: sign up for the first online session (video/chat) and select one online group.

5. Stop rules: 24-hour rule for any sequels; time limit 25-45 min; loss limit per session.

9) How to choose a reliable service: checklist

Transparency: Site/app clearly describes services, specialist qualifications and cost.
Privacy: data policy, encryption, 2FA.
Specialization: Experience specifically in behavioral/gaming behaviors.
Availability: Easy-to-understand schedule, live links, back-up options.
Ethics: no aggressive marketing and "miracle promises," respect for timeouts and self-exclusion.
Testimonials/affiliations: intelligible sources, not "anonymous miracles."
Contracts: You can terminate or change a specialist without pressure.

10) Preparing for the first online session (5 steps)

1. Target for 1-2 weeks ("reduce X, add Y").

2. Short story: frequency, triggers, control attempts, which got in the way.

3. Limits: Your current plan for money and time.

4. Risk factors: sleep/stress/credit/conflict.

5. Expectations: format of sessions, homework, how to measure progress.

11) 7-day mini-plan (template)

Day 1: turn on the blocker, time out 24-72 hours; sign up for a consultation.

Day 2: CBT exercise 10 min + emotion diary

Day 3: first online group; list of "quick replacements" (5 points).

Day 4: financial plan: limits, payment lists, priorities.

Day 5: Session with therapist/counselor

Day 6: revision of settings: pre-alerts 70/90%, "hard stop."

Day 7: Week 15 review, adjustment (down only), next plan.

12) Scripts "for a hot moment" (save)

For the chat/line: "I feel bad, pulls to play. Last week there were X deposits/hours, emotions N/10. It takes a plan to stop now.'

For myself: "The limit is the ceiling, not the goal. I'm pressing stop and rescheduling any decision for tomorrow.'

For a loved one: "It's difficult for me. Need support: ask me in an hour if my access is disabled."

13) Security and privacy

Enable two-factor authentication, long password manager.

Separate personal and "entertainment" mail/card.

Check application permissions; store only the data you need.

Remember: emergency safety (thoughts of self-harm/suicide) = contacting local emergency services immediately.

14) Red flags of services

"100% cure in 1 session," "unique technique without evidence."

Pressure to "pay right now or lose your chance."

No qualification/license information, vague data policy.

Calls to break your limits/timeouts.

Your "personal support stack" is a combination of daily self-help, regular online consultations, group support and technical barriers. Collect the minimum set today, automate reminders and keep the 24-hour rule on any sequels. Help is not a weakness, but a strategy to take back control of time, money and calm.