HI Monica
I didn’t know what to feel when I read your post on Laura’s thread – pleased that you would think that a post from me could make a difference and sad that you felt overlooked.
I read your whole thread through the other day before I read your post to Laura and it contained so many strands of thought in it that I was bowled over.
This is just one thought I had as a result of reading your thread. Gam-anon uses the same 12 steps as GA except for a slight difference in the wording of the first step so I understand why you resent their implication because I did too. This site wasn’t offering much support to F&F when I needed it but Gam-Anon changed my world and I found working the 12 steps was a good starting block for my recovery. It is interesting to me that my Gam-Anon was mainly matriarchal and the odd male that came in was always very different to the female in what they were prepared to do to improve their own life and relationship. I remember that the Gam-Anon females were not as gentle towards the male as they were with each other but the opposite was true when we were invited in to GA for open evenings. There is more to this male/female divide with the addiction to gamble methinks, than meets the eye!
In the hope that I can give you a little of what you gave me when I read your thread I offer the following. You were considering moving to Kent and I wondered if you have had further thoughts on this. I moved away from the place where I had been unhappy and it was the best thing I ever did – there are no bad memories around me now. It is important, I believe, to face your demons before you move, however, so that they don’t move with you. With that in mind I know you are working your way through the GMA programme and I hope it is all going well for you – I look forward to hearing your progress.
Your positive attitude and readiness to look forward means, I am sure, that GMA have a determined lady working the programme. You have said a few times that you were not feeling better for being gamble-free but this takes time. You had already planted the seed of recovery before you went on the project; GMA will nurture that seed and help it to grow strong but blossoming comes later so please be patient until you can reap your reward.
There are so many new unexplored opportunities in life for you, opportunities that perhaps have previously passed you by. It is fantastic that you now have a job. You deserve a good life and I hope you grab it with both hands.
Velvet
