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...
I would like to please know the difference between
Recovery and just abstinence. Could you explain please.
Thank you!
Recovery and just abstinence. Could you explain please.
Thank you!
This is my thought on this.
Recovery = Getting well from the effects of an illness or problems. To get back to normal or the way you were before it started.
Abstinence = To stop doing something you have been doing. To abstain from doing it.
I'm my opinion, In order to "recover" from a compulsive gambling addiction you must "abstain" from the activity of gambling.
So, we need to abstain from gambling so we can begin to recover our lives back. That is how we get into our recovery from gambling addiction. It doesn't happen right away. Abstinence is part of the recovery program.
I went to the GA site to see if I could find any ideas. I sure did. Here is one part from the questions and answers section. They talk about abstaining many timesand the 12 steps are the recovery program. GA definately has the answers on this one. Below is one example of the question of abstinance. It is a very important part of the recovery program however it isn't actually mentioned in the 12 steps.
QUESTION:
Can a compulsive gambler ever gamble normally again?
No. The first bet to a problem gambler is like the first small drink to an alcoholic. Sooner or later he or she falls back into the same old destructive pattern. Once a person has crossed the invisible line into irresponsible uncontrolled gambling he or she never seems to regain control. After abstaining a few months some of our members have tried some small bet experimentation, always with disastrous results. The old obsession inevitably returned. Our Gamblers Anonymous experience seems to point to these alternatives: to gamble, risking progressive deterioration or not to gamble, and develop a better way of life.
There is some very good stuff on the GA site. If you can't get to live meetings it's the next best thing!
Hugs! Cher
P.S. Sorry for rambling!
Once a person is absitinent from gambling it provides a clear mind and peace that they are able to process what needs to be done. And from this submission and realization of ones defects snd flaws we can be on a road to recovery for the happier life without relying on gambling as a crutch
"Work on recovery, not abstinence"
Love,
Victoria
Recovery is learning to deal with life differently. We work on our emotional, mental, physical and spiritual beings. It is a process of being honest with ourselves and others. In my active gambling I lied to everyone, including myself. I found it hard to be honest about anything and it became a way of life, lying and coming up with stories. That changes with recovery. We have clearer minds to look at our character defects, and our strong points, and work on those defects, chiseling away at them. And rejoice in our strong points and recognize them for what they are. Although I always thought of myself as a responsible person, I became very irresponsible with my gambling, in many aspects of my life.
Over time, we learn how to deal with the emotions, pain, loneliness, anger, etc. that kept us going back to numb ourselves. We gain a strength we never knew existed. We share ourselves with others that are suffering and those that aren't, something we never would do when actively gambling.
Our lives become richer and fuller and we begin to see the world around us with different eyes. Again, over time, we become new. We continue to work on our newfound selves, because we are worth it! We have gratitude!
I really don't want to go back to what I was before I started gambling, because that person was pretty hurt, frightful, and lost. I want to be better than I was. I am not sure what normal is, but I think when we say that, we are just saying we are no longer under the grips of such a horrendous addiction!
To just abstain - there is no growth and we are stuck in our same thought processes and feelings. When alcoholics stop drinking and don't follow a recovery program, it is called being on a dry drunk, because nothing has changed other than not drinking.
Great topic! Thank you. Recovery means so much more to me, but this to me is what it is in a nutshell!
I never felt so profounding fulfillment of myself until I was on the recovery. It is one of the best thing ever happend to me!
Love,
Victoria
Love
Rachel
I can have a question about my life with gambling addiction
and when I come here and read the posts it helps me to sort out
what I need to understand to continue........on my road of abstinence
and recovery.
We can't have the one without the other.
again,
this site is so crutial to my abstinence and my recovery.
you just dont know how happy I am to hear that you saw the light.
yes, I too believed obsitnence will controll or recover my compulsive behavior for a long time.
my last relapse happened after being obsitinent from gambling for almost 8 years. I just could not figure out why I keep putting myself in to the same position I was in before. I felt so stupid and shamed that I could not face the world and my life with any kind of good conscious.
When I finally found this answer, I was no longer a prisoner of gambling.
Being on a recovery is one of the most fulfilling gift I've ever given myself. Not only for the gamble free days but the growth it had brought to myself as a whole person.
The caged urges will sneak out at some point, but recovering spirit will free that urges and embrace the life without gambling.
so, let go, and let go of your urges, don't be a prisoner of your own willingness to locked in, let your recovery fill your empty cage and embrace what you are worth.
Thank you for your post!
Love,
Victoria