Admitting the problem is the first major step in dealing with it. If you first recognize the signs of your problem, you can then learn to modify your behavior.  Signs and symptoms of a gambling problem include: getting a thrill from taking gambling risks, taking increasingly bigger gambling risks over time, a preoccupation with gambling, reliving past gambling experiences (through imagination or telling stories), using gambling as a way to escape problems or negative feelings, feeling guilt or remorse after gambling, and repeated failed efforts to cut back on gambling. Additional social issues associated with gambling include: taking time away from work or family life to gamble, concealing or lying about gambling, and borrowing money or stealing to gamble. Gambling excessively can cause many issues including: relationship problems, financial issues, legal problems, occupational concerns (job loss), substance use, poor health, and mental health issues (such as depression).  Do you lose time from work to gamble? Do you extend yourself beyond your means by gambling away money that you have set aside to pay your rent, mortgage, or other bills? Do you use credit cards to gamble? Are you secretive about where the money's gone to after you've gambled? Make a list of all of the consequences you have encountered due to your gambling. Also, identify people you have hurt as a result of your gambling such as family and friends. Knowing the risks of gambling may help encourage people who gamble to consider the consequences before deciding to gamble.  Excessive gambling can lead to depression, anxiety, aggression, increased suicide risk, relationship issues and stress-related illnesses.  Gambling also increases stress levels (via the stress hormone cortisol) and your heart rate, which can lead to health risks.  Pathological and addictive gambling can result in decreased decision-making skills and reduce your ability to evaluate the consequences of your actions. Don't be secretive about your finances or your gambling. Be honest with yourself and others about money spent gambling.  Pay bills immediately, when you have funds set aside to pay them. Add up losses and keep a running tally. When you've added up losses from a gambling session, list the things that you might have purchased with that money, or other debts you could have paid down. Admit it to yourself and others when you have gambled.
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One-sentence summary -- Recognize your behavior for what it is. Accept the consequences of your gambling. Understand the risks of gambling. Be honest about your gambling.


You don’t have to take the nuts all the way off, just loosen them enough that you can slide the flower into the press. Make sure the flowers are not hanging off of the side of the press. Trim the stem or choose another flower if the one you chose doesn't fit on the press. Arrange the flowers on the paper so they are not touching each other, or else they’ll be stuck together when they’re dry. There's no need to force the nuts tighter than you can comfortably tighten them, but it should feel like it's secured. You may want to check the press every few days to tighten it more as the flower dries. You want to allow the moisture in the plants to completely dry in order to preserve them. If you find more flowers that you want to press while you’re drying the first batch, add the new flowers to a different layer of cardboard and paper, and take care not to disturb the first set. Pressed flowers are very fragile, so you'll want to keep them in a safe place once they're finished drying. Store them in a box until you need them. Use pressed petals to decorate homemade cards, as a pretty touch in a handmade candle, or as decorative touches in a shadow box.
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One-sentence summary --
Unscrew the nuts to make room on your flower press. Place the flowers or leaves between the paper in your flower press. Do not overlap the flowers. Tighten the nuts to close the press. Leave the press undisturbed for at least 3 weeks. Add more layers of cardboard and paper if you decide to add more flowers. Store the flowers in a box or display them in a frame after they're pressed.