History of Gamblers Anonymous: What’s it All About?
The two men became friends; a fighting duo, if you will, who reached for their goal to stop gambling. They continued to get together on a regular basis. During every session, they discussed their addiction and how they could quit it once and for all. It was determined that they had to change themselves and their personalities. So, they followed a guide that had been used by many other people who were recovering from a variety of personality-driven addictions.
Their plan worked. As the months passed by, both men were able to resist gambling. They decided to spread the word of their success so it would help to fortify the goal they had met. They also wanted to help other people who had a gambling addiction.
Finally, on Friday, September 13, 1957, the first meeting of Gamblers Anonymous was held in Los Angeles, California. Since then, the group has constantly expanded, and it now reaches many corners of the world.
If you have a gambling addiction, they you already know how it can reek trouble and havoc in your life. Maybe it has caused you financial problems. Maybe it has caused arguments in your marriage. Or maybe it has caused you problems with your kids and extended family members.
You might want to ask yourself these questions: have you lost time away from work or school because of gambling? Has gambling affected your reputation? Does it make you feel ashamed? Have you ever borrowed money in order to gamble?
An addiction to gambling is nothing to be ashamed of. Many men and women across the globe have this same problem. And, with help, you can release its hold on you, as countless others have already done.
If you have come to terms with your problem, and you realize that it’s an uncontrollable addiction you have, then a hearty, “Congratulations!” is in order because you have taken your first step in your recovery. Your next step is to find a local Gamblers Anonymous near you. Don’t worry about being able to afford it. You won’t need money for fees or dues. The only thing you’ll need is the aspiration to quit gambling. This group is not associated with any certain religious sect, political organization, or other society either. So it doesn’t matter what religion you are, or what other organizations you may belong to.
What you’ll find when you attend your first meeting, is a fellowship of men and women who share your addiction of compulsive gambling. They also share your goal of beating the impulse once and for all, and for restoring peace, happiness, and balance to life Gamblers Anonymous follows a simple twelve-step program that is based on “ancient spiritual principles and rooted in sound medical therapy.” The most important fact about the program is that it can work for you, just as it has worked for countless others.
To find out more information about Gamblers Anonymous, you can send an e-mail to: isomain@gamblersanonymous.org. Or, you can log onto www.gamblersanonymous.org on the Internet. There is a section that will tell you about the organization, a “Questions and Answers” section, a description of their Recovery Program, and much more valuable information.
To find a local group near your location, you can click on the bottom link that reads, “Meeting Directory”. Then, clink on the state you live in. You will see a list of meeting places and the day of the week they meet, as well as the time. There are also Hotline numbers you can call.
One final note: the meetings for the Gamblers’ Anonymous organization are either “open” or “closed” admission. An open meeting is for people who have, or think they have, a gambling problem. Plus, family members and friends may also attend the meetings. A “closed” meeting, on the other hand, is only for those people who want to successfully beat their addiction to gambling.
