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Dealing with a gambling addiction can feel overwhelming. In order to get help, people need to first realize that they have a problem, and for many addicted gamblers, this is not an easy admission to make. If you’ve reached the point where you’re ready to reach out for help for a gambling addiction for either yourself or a loved one, you’ve taken the first step.
Nova Scotia Hotline Number: (902) 252-3132
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem.
What Is a Gambling Addiction?
Buying lottery tickets every week or betting on a favorite horse at the racetrack does not mean that someone is addicted to gambling. Games of chance are considered fun by many people and can be a thrilling way to fantasize about winning a lot of money for what often amounts to very little upfront cash. A gambling addiction is born when simple hope crosses the line into intense obsession. While many gamblers become addicted to gambling because they want to earn large sums of money quickly, many people become addicted simply because of the intense rush that comes along with gambling. They are less concerned about money and more focused on obtaining the thrill. The high that gamblers seek is similar to the high experienced by people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol.
What Are the Basics of the Gamblers Anonymous Program?
The Gamblers Anonymous 12-Step recovery program (like other 12-Step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous) is intended to help addicted gamblers accept responsibility for their behavior and do everything in their power to change it.
We admitted we were powerless over gambling – that our lives had become unmanageable.
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to a normal way of thinking and living.
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of this Power of our own understanding.
Made a searching and fearless moral and financial inventory of ourselves.
Admitted to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Were entirely ready to have these defects of character removed.
Humbly asked God (of our understanding) to remove our shortcomings.
Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Having made an effort to practice these principles in all our affairs, we tried to carry this message to other compulsive gamblers.
Are you a compulsive gambler?
Answer all 20 questions below and view our comments based on your answers
.1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling? Yes No
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy? Yes No
3. Did gambling affect your reputation? Yes No
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling? Yes No
5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties? Yes No
6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency? Yes No
7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses? Yes No
8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more? Yes No
9. Did you often gamble until all your money was gone? Yes No
10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling? Yes No
11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling? Yes No
12. Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures? Yes No
13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family? Yes No
14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned? Yes No
15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry, trouble, boredom, loneliness, grief or loss? Yes No
16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling? Yes No
17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping? Yes No
18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble? Yes No
19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling? Yes No
20. Have you ever considered self-destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling? Yes No
Most compulsive gamblers will answer 'Yes' to at least 7 of these questions
If I join Gamblers Anonymous won't everyone know I am a compulsive gambler?
Most people made quite a name for themselves as full-fledged gamblers by the time they turned to Gamblers Anonymous. Their gambling was not usually a well kept secret. It would then be unusual if the good news of their abstinence from gambling did not cause comment. However, no disclosure of any affiliation with Gamblers Anonymous can rightfully be made by anyone but the member themselves. Even then, it should be done in such a way that will work no hardship on the Gamblers Anonymous fellowship.