Inadequate Response

I heard something last week at two of my Gamblers Anonymous meetings and I can't get it out of my head because it makes so much sense. The member was talking about the Seventh Step of Recovery; Humbly asked God (of our understanding) to remove our shortcomings. In this step GA speaks of compulsive gambling as a Learned INADEQUATE response to life. The member went on to explain using a 2 year old child as an example. If a two year old child has a disappointing or frustrating experience they don't instantly walk out of the house and go to the nearest casino and start playing the slot machine. They either cry or deal with the situation some other way. Some where along the line me as a compulsive gambler learned to deal with my situations/problems by gambling excessively which is not the way to face life.

I know everyone is different and I can only speak for myself. Some where along the way to adulthood gambling took hold of my psyche and wouldn't let go until I found a Program which has showed me to let go. This program is the Gamblers Anonymous Program of Recovery. I am learning the proper responses to life which do NOT include gambling. Sure for some people gambling is a means of recreation and fun but not for me. Fun in gambling stopped a very long time ago and it took me a very very long time to realize there was no fun involved in any of the process.

I was reading an article in Time Magazine titled; "Happiness Isn't Normal". This article was about a new form of psychology called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is being implemented by a widely renown psychologists named Steven Hayes. This is the third wave of treatment by psychologists; the first being Freudian or behavior therapy (everything has a meaning), the second being cognitive therapy (think Dr. Phil) which focuses on what needs to be changed. This third wave of treatment ACT accepts or embraces the negative factors hence the title of the article "Happiness Isn't Normal".

I can go on and on about this article but I wanted to tie this to what I have learned in the Gamblers Anonymous Program which has been around for almost 50 years well before this third wave called ACT. To me the Gamblers Anonymous Program teaches the elements of acceptance and commitment. I am a compulsive gambler and I accept the fact that I cannot gamble like normal people so I choose to NOT gamble. If I don't accept this fact like I didn't accept this fact for 20 plus years I am doomed to failure. If I do accept this fact I am on the road to a very positive recovery.

This may seem very simplistic and to me it really is simple once I fully surrendered my powerless to my Higher Power. However; it took a long time to come to this acceptance and the second part is making a commitment to a life without gambling. I have committed and will be committed to this life for my lifetime. I know it is a one day at a time Program and all I have is today which is why my commitment is for today. Today is everyday and that will never change. Today I woke up and committed myself to a positive purpose and that purpose just like it has been for the last 11 months and 11 days was to NOT gamble. Tomorrow which will be a today will have the same purpose.

The article in Time Magazine went on and on about the founder of the ACT movement and how this form of therapy has shown promise in treating all types of afflictions from drug addiction to depression. However; for me the one thing the ACT movement seems to miss is the group benefit of a 12 step program. This group benefit comes with so many perks and they are called MEMBERS. Each member in the GA Program is there to arrest their gambling problem and help others to do the same. I know I couldn't arrest my gambling problem on my own and needed help. I have found this help and with this help my life continues to get better and better as each today passes.

Learning is something I want to do every day and I continue to learn more and more about myself. As I learn more and more about myself I continue to get better and understand how pathetic my gambling addiction had become. I denied it for so long which lead to some horrible consequences; however; I am no longer in denial and I live life honestly, with an open-mind and I am willing to do anything to get better. Yes, I am so much more aware of myself today than I was one year ago. One year ago I was in a fog and this fog gets clearer and clearer each day as I apply the principles I have learned in the GA Program.