Gambling Addiction & Recovery Support Group
Compulsive gambling is an urge or addiction to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. A preferred term among many professionals is problem gambling, as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word. Problem gambling often is defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others rather...
Twenty seven years ago I had all but left the Catholic Church - I was angry, hurt and definitely had gone astray. I had lost my Dad, I had been raped, and everything that I believed in at that time was taken away from me. At that time I was gambling, but only once in a while. I don't believe it was a problem at that time. I was however, extremely unhappy and lost.
I was going to Al-Anon as I had a pattern of finding alcoholics that I felt I loved, and that got me even further into hating myself and helped in lowering my self-esteem. I decided that it was time I followed the steps and for me, that meant stepping up my spiritual life. So, I took a chance and went back to what I knew - the Catholic Church.
God could not have planned it any better. It was lent and I kneeled and prayed like I had not prayed before that he woud give me some answers, some relief. The readings and the gospel were all about love and forgiveness and the sermon was equally heart rending for me. The tears streamed from my face as I realized how far off track I had gotten. That opened the door for me to believe again and to trust that He could and would restore me to sanity with my life. It allowed me to forgive myself and to start living again, a better life.
Life definitely got so much better for me. I am so blessed to have gone back to the church and felt so much love and forgiveness, as truly I do not believe I would be here today if it weren't for that. For me, it helped me to understand the 12 steps for Al-Anon so much better.
Herein lies the problem, I did not keep working those steps. Nor did I apply them to my gambling. At least not for many years. Nor at the time did I realize that gambling woud be my addiction of choice. I guess, just like many others, I have a crossover addiction.
So, here we are - about to enter lent once again. In life matters, I do believe that God has a plan for me if I decide to pay attention and listen. I don't believe it is an accident that I now have come back to that place of having to kneel and accept that I need His help to restore me to sanity with my gambling. Lent - what a beautiful time to reflect, put into perspective, and to feel the love and forgiveness and begin to live again.
I pray that each of us can find that Higher Power, whomever or whatever that is, if we have not already, and feel the strength and love that their Higher Power has for them. I truly believe that everyone's Higher Power wants us to succeed, to enjoy life, to forgive ourselves, love ourselves, and will help us to defeat this terrible addiction!!
The 12 steps are a beautiful way to pull life together. I think God is telling me that I really need to make them a lifelong choice and apply them to all aspects of my life if I have any hope of achieving some sort of peace and acceptance in my life!
Thanks for reading. Hope I did not offend anyone with this thread. These are my thoughts and feelings and I hope they are an inspiration to someone! Have a great gamble free day!!
I was going to Al-Anon as I had a pattern of finding alcoholics that I felt I loved, and that got me even further into hating myself and helped in lowering my self-esteem. I decided that it was time I followed the steps and for me, that meant stepping up my spiritual life. So, I took a chance and went back to what I knew - the Catholic Church.
God could not have planned it any better. It was lent and I kneeled and prayed like I had not prayed before that he woud give me some answers, some relief. The readings and the gospel were all about love and forgiveness and the sermon was equally heart rending for me. The tears streamed from my face as I realized how far off track I had gotten. That opened the door for me to believe again and to trust that He could and would restore me to sanity with my life. It allowed me to forgive myself and to start living again, a better life.
Life definitely got so much better for me. I am so blessed to have gone back to the church and felt so much love and forgiveness, as truly I do not believe I would be here today if it weren't for that. For me, it helped me to understand the 12 steps for Al-Anon so much better.
Herein lies the problem, I did not keep working those steps. Nor did I apply them to my gambling. At least not for many years. Nor at the time did I realize that gambling woud be my addiction of choice. I guess, just like many others, I have a crossover addiction.
So, here we are - about to enter lent once again. In life matters, I do believe that God has a plan for me if I decide to pay attention and listen. I don't believe it is an accident that I now have come back to that place of having to kneel and accept that I need His help to restore me to sanity with my gambling. Lent - what a beautiful time to reflect, put into perspective, and to feel the love and forgiveness and begin to live again.
I pray that each of us can find that Higher Power, whomever or whatever that is, if we have not already, and feel the strength and love that their Higher Power has for them. I truly believe that everyone's Higher Power wants us to succeed, to enjoy life, to forgive ourselves, love ourselves, and will help us to defeat this terrible addiction!!
The 12 steps are a beautiful way to pull life together. I think God is telling me that I really need to make them a lifelong choice and apply them to all aspects of my life if I have any hope of achieving some sort of peace and acceptance in my life!
Thanks for reading. Hope I did not offend anyone with this thread. These are my thoughts and feelings and I hope they are an inspiration to someone! Have a great gamble free day!!
It was Holy Saturday when I came back to the Church. Since then, Lent has become very healing for me.
In 2013 I won over $150,000 in jackpots.....I put it all back. I truly believe God let me win that money so I can see just how addicted I am. Free will...funny thing!