12 Steps of Recovery
If you're just beginning to work the steps there will be suggested guidelines from GA literature to help you work through each one.
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over gambling - that our lives had become unmanageable.
We at GA, believe our gambling problem is an emotional illness, progressive in nature, which no amount of human will-power can stop or control. Many times we swore we would not gamble again believing we had the will-power to stop gambling. We believed a lie. We believed we had the power to stop or control our gambling. Our inability to honestly look at our gambling problem enabled us to continue to gamble. In spite of all of the evidence from our past, we still denied the truth about our gambling. Upon entering GA, we must develop the ability to honestly look at our gambling. This is the first step in our process of recovery. Without honesty, we cannot admit our powerlessness over gambling. We must honestly accept, admit and unconditionally surrender to this powerlessness in order to proceed with our recovery. Any reservations we had or may presently have that we can gamble again means we still believe we are not powerless over gambling and that we have not admitted or accepted our powerlessness (either we have power over gambling or we don't).
To those that have difficulty with admitting their powerlessness over gambling, they should write about their gambling, and the destruction their gambling has caused and their countless futile attempts to stop gambling. Use the "20 Questions" as a guide. Write extensively, thoroughly and specifically using each of the questions as a central focal point. Only with the awareness and the acceptance of the hopelessness, helplessness and desperation of our situation (as compulsive gamblers) can we develop the open-mindedness required for Step 2.
Possible Topics for Step 1 Discussion:
When did I first discover and/or sense the problem of my compulsive gambling?
Describe instances that prove I can no longer gamble normally.
Has acceptance of my "powerlessness" grown while attending meetings?
Have I stopped searching for answers and causes of my gambling problem and started to deal with the problem on a daily basis? Explain. . .
How has will power failed in the face of gambling?
What is the meaning of the slogan "Keep it simple"?
Have I begun to come to GA for my own personal survival - not to satisfy others?
How am I learning by attending meetings regularly?
Are regular meetings a chore or source of relief?
Has my ability to listen improved steadily or am I bored at times?
Is GA my mirror?
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2 CAME TO BELIEVE THAT A POWER GREATER THAN OURSELVES COULD RESTORE US TO A NORMAL WAY OF THINKING AND LIVING. Having been convinced of our powerlessness over gambling and the unmanageability of our lives in Step One, we are now told that only a power greater than ourselves could restore us to a normal way of thinking and living. (THIS MEANS WE CAN'T DO IT BY OURSELVES). At this point, we must begin to develop open-mindedness. For only by beginning to be open-minded, can we start to understand the true meaning of the step. Most, if not all of our members, have found a resistance or a reluctance to deal with a higher power. The idea of a power greater than ourselves, restoring us to a normal way of thinking and living, does not come easily to us. However, if we truly believe that we are powerless over gambling and have an illness that will progressively destroy our lives, then we desperately need a solution to our illness. In this step, we are told that there is a solution. Our solution is living a spiritual recovery program This Spiritual Recovery Program is brought about by a progressive character change that can not be accomplished through will-power. We need a source of power that is greater than ourselves to bring about these change. The change will take place by proceeding with the work required in the remaining steps. What will come with the work is an understanding , and practice of kindness, generosity, honesty and humility within ourselves and with others which will lead us to eventually to a belief in a Power of our own understanding.
Here, many of us had to examine why we refused to believe in a Power greater than ourselves. We found that some of the obstacles preventing us from attempting to believe were pride, ego, fear, self-centeredness, defiance, and grandiosity. In order to recover from our illness, these obstacles must be eliminated. here, our sponsors can be of assistance. They can share with us their experiences as to how they overcame their resistance to believe in a Higher Power. We found that writing about our resistance is a good method to help us. We had to put on paper how the obstacles blocked us and led us to refuse to accept a HP.
Most of us did not fully understand what this Higher Power was. At this point, it was only necessary to accept that there was one. Many of us used our sponsor other members or the Fellowship as this HP, but eventually, as we proceeded with the work required in these steps, we came to believe this HP to be a God of our own understanding. We must have the honesty to look at our illness, the open-mindedness to accept the solution being told to us and the willingness to apply this solution by proceeding on with the recovery process of these steps.
Possible Topics for Step 2 Discussion:
Step two warns that belief (Higher Power will remove obsession) may be difficult.
Many do not believe a Higher Power and/or God exists.
How can we proceed with our recovery?
Discuss:
A. Areas of success in our lives that were decided more by circumstances than our best efforts.
B. Fear of failure. Give up too easily?
C. Uncomfortable chores that proved to be beneficial.
It is recommended that all believers and non-believers 'Take It Easy."
1. Keep an open mind.
2. Practice other areas of the Recovery Program.
Discuss:
A. Meaning of the slogan "Easy Does it."
B. Changes in our lives and behavior since we stopped gambling. Good? Bad? Surprised?
Step Two recommends that we stop fighting the thought that a Higher Power may exist.
1. Working other areas of the GA program will show results.
2. It is understood that past efforts at belief may have failed.
Discuss:
A. Judgments we make quickly.
B. Judgments we make on instinct (gut feeling) versus facts.
C. Arguing with others to win our point of view.
Catastrophes that occurred because we spoke too quickly.
Step Two promises when we have "cleaned house" our Higher Power will enter to expel our gambling obsession.
1. Open-mindedness alone is required.
2. Belief in open-mindedness is the plateau where all GA members can unite.
Discuss:
A. Have we started to listen more and voice our views less? When did this begin?
B. Are we open-minded or fixed in our beliefs? Why?
C. Step #1 of the Recovery Program.
HOME On to STEPS 3 and 4 Tom working the 4th step
The HEALING ZONE IS NOT connected to the national gambling association of Gamblers Anonymous, but it thankfully uses the materials provided. Be sure to check into your local resources, face to face meetings, help/aid, etc. in addition to the help you will find on the internet. This is only intended as a help resource for you.
