Understand and Apply the 12 Step Recovery Program

When compulsive gamblers read the 12 steps of recovery for the first time, their reactions can vary:

a) some fear it ..... "it is an impossible task"

b) some denied it ...... "I dont need to do all these things"

c) most common, some are just so sick they dont understand what it is being asked of them so they put it aside

Whatever the reaction, do not panic. When the higher power gave us the 12 steps, he also gave us plenty of time and better still, he gave all of us the same time --- THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

We believe that Step 1 - - " We admitted we were powerless over gambling, that our lives had become unmanageable" - - is virtually a precondition for all the rest. Unless we can admit and accept that gambling has us "licked", that there is no way we can win, we will struggle.

However, we also understand that some of us "just need to place a bet" ... and it's not about winning but about dependence on gambling to achieve the mood change he/she required. Many of us used gambling to cope with our emotions....fear , stress, anxiety, escape life, guilt, depressed ......

The acceptance of Step 1 can keep people free of gambling on its own but, as has been said so often, stopping gambling is not enough. So our predecessors, in their wisdom, laid down the other 11 steps steps of recovery which will enable us to live normal, decent lives and play our part in the society within which we live.

Recovery is a process of Change,

Changes takes time and is progressive in nature.

You may not have stop gambling when you join us in the program, you could progressively achieve total abstinence from gambling. It's one day at a time. As one of the member reflected :

"I still punt, but not the way I used to. I started to have thoughts of my love ones and family each time I place a bet..... sometimes I do walk away without betting, sometimes I place a small bet. It's not about winning, but allowing it to calm down my struggles within. I havce learned to place enough safety nets while I progresses .... I have my love one (my wife) to check on me, I don't hold extra money or credit card or even atm card. I take daily allowance from my wife..... hopefully as I progress in the recovery, there is no need for me to place even a small bet anymore ...."

There is a tremendous amount of knowledge and wisdom in the GA meeting rooms.... It's not just abt 12steps..... it's about each and everyone of our experience and strength in recovery, helping us to learn to live life on life's term, encouraging members to stay out of trouble due to gambling, going back home safely each day!!

There are many ways to recover, take whatever works for you..... and if you can't find any, try this simple, structured 12 steps program.

It will enable you to know yourself better.

It will set you at peace with yourself and fellow human beings.

It will bring you serenity and allow you to manage your life with some dignity, self-respect and the love of your love ones, famliy and fellow man.

Right Believing Leads To Right Living

Important ~ Right Believing

1) "GOD is never tempted to do wrong, And HE never tempts anyone else either ..... "

2) "What is impossible from human perspective is possible with GOD!"

- - Is anything too hard for Our Creator ??

3) "GOD is Love"

- - The unfailing love and faithfulness of GOD never ends .....

4) "GOD will never condemn you!!"

- - The one who has the right to condemn you and judge you, chose instead to send HIS beloved son to die for you, for the forgiveness of your sins......

5) "GOD is Faithful"

- - HE will always find a way out for you when you are tempted ..... HE will never fail you or forsake you .....

6) "Humble yourself before GOD, resist the accuser within & he will flee from you"

- - Draw close to GOD and GOD will draw close to you......

7) GOD has promised a way out of every temptation ..... HE is the solution .....

As this is a spiritual program, right spiritual beliefs will leads to right living. 12th step program is a program of change .... Changes can only take places with right believing and right thinking !!

Old Dreams Needn’t Die

“Lost dreams awaken and new possibilities arise.”

Most of us had dreams when we were young. Whether we dreamed of a dynamic career, a large and loving family, or travels abroad, our dreams died when our gambling addiction took hold. Anything we ever wanted for ourselves was cast away in our pursuit of our gambling career ..... the pursuit of the false hope of a big win....

Our dreams didn’t go beyond the next BET and the euphoria we hoped it would bring. Now in recovery, we find a reason to hope that our lost dreams could still come true. No matter how old we are, how much our addiction has taken from us, or how unlikely it may seem, our freedom from active addiction gives us the freedom to pursue our ambitions.

We may discover that we’re very talented at something, or find a hobby we love, or learn that continuing our education can bring remarkable rewards. We used to put most of our energy into spinning excuses and rationalizations for our failures. Now we can use our energy to do whatever we can, one day at a time, to the best of our ability ... to work towards fulfilling our dreams.

We will not be anxious of anything. Our heart will be filled with gratitude, thanks-giving and in everything, we will pray about it and turn it our to the care of God.

Today, we go forward and make use of the many opportunities life presents to us. We may be amazed at what we’re capable of. With our foundation of recovery, success, fulfillment, and satisfaction are within our reach at last.

Just for today:

Starting today, I’ll do whatever I can to realize my dreams.

Steps towards "Slip"

MY OWN EXPERIENCE ABOUT STEPS TOWARDS SLIP

Stage 1 = Doubt created

Stage 2 = Faith Shaken

Stage 3 =

Confusion Of Mind

Stage 4 = Attracted By Tempation

Stage 5 = Self-Desires within increases

Stage 6 =
Vulenerable to Deception
(Self-Denial)

Finally .... Stage 7 = Giving in to temptation....

This is my version and experience on how temptaion works against me ......Understanding the various stages of the temptation cycle allows me to build my own safety nets.

"EVERY STEP TOWARDS GOD IN RECOVERY ~ KILLS A DOUBT"

This program offers HOPE

“This program offers hope. All you have to bring with you is the desire to stop gambling and the willingness to try this new way of life.”

From time to time we wonder if we’re “doing it right” in GA. Are we attending enough meetings? Are we using our sponsor, or working the steps, or speaking, or reading, or living the “right” way?

We value the fellowship of recovering addicts—we don’t know what we’d do without it. What if the way we’re practicing our program is “wrong”? Does that make us “bad” GA members?

We can settle our insecurities by reviewing our Third Tradition, which assures us that “the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling.”

There aren’t any rules that say we’ve got to attend this many meetings or these particular meetings, or work the steps this way at this pace, or live our lives to suit these people in order to remain GA members in good standing. It’s true that, if we want the kind of recovery we see in members we respect, we’ll want to practice the kind of program that’s made their recovery possible.

But GA is a fellowship of freedom; we work the program the best way for us, not for someone else. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling.

- - Just for today- -

I will look at the program I’m working in light of my own recovery. I will practice that program to the best of my ability.

The Return To Gambling ~ A True Story

.... Walking out of pink clouds, I was suddenly bombarded with problems; problems of reconcilation at home, problems of re-adjusting and meeting life-on-life's term, problems of settling down after spending time behind bars, and most importantly the ever-present gamble problem in MY BLOOD ......

I realised that I have remained in the past instead of revealing the current bug running thru my viens. I tried very hard to live in a healthy recovery ...... My very real and disturbing problems were kept within...... gambling is in my blood..... gambling allows the mood alteration that my brain chemical required ......

I watched my deterioration with the feeling that my active participation in GA and other recovery self-help group meetings would overcome my problem. I felt that working one part of the program was an insurance policy. IT DID NOT WORK ......

Then I became agitated.... anxiety increased..... I went into the self-pity mode fill with so much guilt and shame. In the program, I learned that I had for years avoided solving problems and achieving my mood alteration by gambling, but my defense against life's problem was gone - - I had stopped gambling. Now I was faced with problems for which I hadn't the wherewithal to resolve or tolerate.

I became hysterical. My therapy hinted at the disaster to come. Although I was actively involved in meetings and helping new members, I went back to gambling. I placed a bet. Even it's a small bet. It's still a bet. I gave in to acheive the mood alteration which I desired. It works 100%. I slipped......

Back at GA, I was asked to face the reality that I had gambled and run away from my problems for many years and hence, compounded most of the problems in my life. The disease model of ADDICTION is a chronic relapsing disease. This awakening created an inward disgust. I was the cause and effect of my miserable condition.

I tempted myself and at the first opportunity gave up my principle ..... I tempted myself becos I was "sick"......I gambled with my principle not to gamble .... I gambled to achieve stability in my emotions, relieving the stress, fear and condemnation I was feeling .... I discoverd a new form of action.

TODAY in GA self-help group, I am a better listener. I healed the wound of my slip, and I know that the first bet is made in the mind..... I know how my body and brain chemical is so dependent on gambling to achieve the mood alternation..... I need to rebuild all the forms of natural relationships in life as not to depends on gambling for mood alteration....... I need to be patient, to persevere and to work the program to claim spiritual progress rather than perfection. I need to learn to take baby-steps

TODAY I watch for the signals and the origins of the 'disaster' (anger, impatience, stress, condemnation, guilt,shame) and attempt to alter my attitude immediately.......

Repair the moment, one day at a time, and live free of slip.....

Fellowship of GA

Many may have misunderstood the "Fellowship of GA "....

You don't have to stop gambling inorder to join us..... You don't have to be "clean" and "sober" to join us ...

ALL that is required is "the desire to stop gambling"

Even if you don't have the desire to stop at the moment BUT if you are aware that gambling is causing destruction in your life...... OR if you are repeatedly getting into trouble/debts because of gambling...... AND if gambling causing you losing touch with your emotions .....

..... Come join us .....

There is no judgement .....

There is no condemnation .....

There is no discrimination .....

THERE IS ONLY UNITY, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING. THERE IS HELP.....

Our focus is on showing the compulsive gambler who wants help, how to help him or herself.

One of our fundamental principles is that the help offered by GA can be effective only when it is asked for and open-mindedly accepted by any newcomer.

..... GIVE YOURSELF A NEW LEASE OF LIFE ......