A 12-step recovery program called Gamblers Anonymous is created to assist people with gambling addiction. The program was established in 1957 in Los Angeles, California, and is based on the tenets of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). No of the style of gaming or the stakes, anyone with a gambling addiction is welcome to enroll in the program.
The Gamblers Anonymous 12-steps are a set of guiding principles intended to aid people in discovering a new way of life free from gambling. The steps consist of:
- 1. Admitting that one has a gambling problem.
- 2. Recognizing that the gambling addiction is beyond the individual’s control
- 3. Making a decision to turn their lives over to a higher power
- 4. Making a moral inventory of oneself
- 5. Admitting to God, to oneself, and to another human being the exact nature of one’s wrongs
- 6. Being entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
- 7. Humbly asking God to remove one’s shortcomings
- 8. Making a list of all persons one has harmed, and becoming willing to make amends to them all
- 9. Making direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- 10. Continuing to take personal inventory and when wrong promptly admitting it.
- 11. Seeking through prayer and meditation to improve one’s conscious contact with God as one understands God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out.
- 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, trying to carry this message to other compulsive gamblers and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
The first step
Admitting that one has a gambling problem is frequently the hardest for people to accept. Individuals must accept accountability for their behavior and admit that their problem-gambling status in order to complete this phase. It’s crucial to remember that even after admitting they have a problem, people might still be in denial about their addiction.
The second step
Another important stage in the healing process is realizing that the gambling addiction is out of one’s control. It enables people to comprehend that their addiction is a sickness that has taken over their lives rather than a personal shortcoming. This phase is crucial in assisting people in letting go of the shame and guilt that frequently accompany addiction.
The third step
Making a decision to turn their lives over to a higher power, is a key aspect of the Gamblers Anonymous program. This step helps individuals to understand that their addiction is not something that can be overcome through sheer force of will, but rather something that requires a higher power to help them overcome. This can be interpreted as a God, a higher power of their own understanding or simply the power of the group and the fellowship.
The fourth step
A crucial element in the rehabilitation process is taking a moral inventory of oneself. It enables people to look closely at their lives, including their strengths and flaws, and to determine where improvements need to be made. The understanding of how their addiction has impacted several facets of their lives, including their relationships, finances, and health, is aided by this stage. People can start to comprehend the effects of their addiction and how they can improve their life by performing a moral inventory.
The fifth step
One crucial stage in the process of taking accountability for one’s acts is admitting one’s specific wrongdoings to God, oneself, and another person. In this step, people are able to admit the harm that their addiction has done to both themselves and other people. Additionally, it aids people in realizing that they are not alone in their challenges and that assistance and support are readily available.
The sixth step
An essential step in letting go of the past and moving on is being completely prepared to have God eliminate all of these character flaws. It enables people to admit that they cannot get over their addiction on their own and that they require a higher power’s assistance in order to do so. This step enables people to let go of the unfavorable attitudes and conduct that have been preventing them from moving forward.
The seventh step
One of the most important steps in the process of letting go of the past and moving ahead is to sincerely beg God to take away one’s inadequacies. It enables people to admit that they cannot get over their addiction on their own and that they require a higher power’s assistance in order to do so. This step enables people to let go of the unfavorable attitudes and conduct that have been preventing them from moving forward.
The eighth step
Making a list of everyone you’ve hurt and deciding you’re willing to make apologies to them all is a crucial step towards accepting responsibility for your actions. This stage enables people to comprehend how their addiction has affected the lives of others and to atone for the harm they have caused. The knowledge that they are not alone in their troubles and that they may change their lives for the better also aids people.
The ninth step
Making direct apologies to such persons is a crucial stage in the process of accepting responsibility for one’s actions, unless where doing so will harm them or others. This phase enables people to take appropriate measures to make amends with the people they have damaged. Making apologies must be done carefully and with concern for the welfare of all people involved, it is crucial to remember.
The tenth step
Keeping your rehabilitation going requires you to keep taking personal inventory and admitting your mistakes right away. Individuals are encouraged to continue reflecting on their ideas, feelings, and behaviors as well as to accept accountability for their actions in this phase. Additionally, it aids people in finding any potential relapse triggers, dealing with them, and implementing good adjustments in their lives.
The eleventh step
An key part in the process of maintaining recovery is attempting, through prayer and meditation, to deepen one’s conscious contact with God as one understands God, praying exclusively for understanding of God’s plan for us and the capacity to carry that out. This step encourages people to stay in touch with a higher power and to use that connection as a source of wisdom and fortitude throughout their recovery process.
The twelfth step
The program’s last step involves striving to spread this message to other compulsive gamblers and putting these ideas into practice in all of our dealings after having experienced a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps. This step encourages people to give back to the community by helping those who are battling with gambling addiction by sharing their stories, support, and hope. Additionally, it motivates people to maintain their recovery by applying the program’s concepts to every aspect of their lives.
Conclusion
Gamblers Anonymous is a program that provides support, guidance and hope for individuals who are struggling with gambling addiction. The 12-steps of the program provide a roadmap for recovery and help individuals to find a new way of life without gambling. By working through the steps, individuals can overcome their addiction and find peace and serenity in their lives.
We strongly to read The Twelve Steps of Recovery from Gamblers Anonymous
Check out also our article about Gambling Responsible
