Greetings,

One i sponsor just celebrated 2 years clean from chemicals, but has over the last 2 months gambled away his savings, and is now in serious financial trouble. Pretty standard stuff really, facing homelessness, lost girlfriend(s), etc.

i have no real experience with a gambling addiction, other than taking risks against the local constabulary while in my active drug addiction. What do you suggest i do as his sponsor to help him, aside from recomending GA meetings?

Thanks, aNiMaL

It would be best to refer him/her to Gamblers Anonymous.  I really think they adapt the 12 steps in their recovery but I am not certain.  I would think the steps would have to be a bit different and there also are a lot of sites online to read on the subject and you may be able to help.  That is if you have the time to study up on it.  Congrats on your Sponsorship and I am sure proud of you to getting the sponsee through addiction!  I dont know if I really helped but at least I tried.

God Bless! 

 WE DO RECOVER

HOLA !

I BELIEVE THAT THE STEPS ARE THE SOLUTION.THE FIRT STEP SAID"WE ARE POWERLESS OVER _________________ AND OUR LIVE HAS BECOME UNMANABBLE"IS VERY SIMPLE JUST ADD THE WORD GAMBLING TO THE BLANK SPACE.ALSO YOUR SPONSEE CAN USE THE SLOGAN "DONT___________NO MATTER WHAT" "THINK,THINK,THINK" "JUST FOR TODAY" AND WHEN HE GET THE FEELING OF GAMGLING HE CAN REMENBER THAT "ONE IS TOO MANY AND A THOUSAND IS NEVER ENOUGH" AND THAT "THIS TOO SHALL PASS" RECOVERY IS NOT ABOUT A DRUG OR ALCOHOL IS ABOUT FEELINGS,THINKING,ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS.iN THE BASIC TEXT IS SAID "When at the end of the road we find that we can no longer function as a human being, either with or without ____________ we all face the same dilemma. What is there left to do? There seems to be this alternative: either go on as best we can to the bitter endsjails, institutions or death—or find a new way to live.YOU JUST HAVE TO SHOW YOUR SPONSEE A NEW WAY OF LIVE USING THE TOOLS OF THE PROGRAM.

Thanks folks for the suggestions, i appreciate them.

Unfortunately, the guy wasn't interested in working with me any longer. He kept making appointments and not showing up, then quit going to the same meetings. changed his phone number, now the rumor is that he's dealing meth. We can't win them all ...

i just hope he lives through this!

Thanks again, aNiMaL

We all wish him the best.

On a personal note, I have been sober from alcohol for 7+ years, but smoked pot until this summer and gambled at online poker for the past 3 years. Yesterday I cashed out my bank account online and will try to concentrate on getting fully focused on myself and working the steps.

I finally realized that I just substituted alcohol with a series of unbroken addictive behavior patterns and that I haven't really even been totally sober at all... I just kept the cycle going with lower intensity and "less harmful" habits.

So, I'm admitting that I'm powerless over drugs, alcohol and gambling, and accept the childhood traumas I endured, and I'm handing it all over to the Infinite Universe to do it's bidding with me as I work on opening up my heart and learn how to start feeling again.

Kundalini Yoga has been a huge help in raising my awareness to my many remaining issues that need work... So I thank that system for my deliverance into truth and self-awareness, and I'd like to think of today as my new beginning.

So, if you need someone new to work with Animal... I need a sponsor.

-Filly

I'm not sure what type of gambling you do.  We offer a gambling blocker, that allows you to enter sponsorship informaiton.  If you try to gamble online, a message is sent to your sponsor (can be a friend or a family member).  The message lets them know that you tried to gamble.  You can get more info at www.problempoker.com/faq.htm.

Thanks