Originally posted by abba
I’ve had a relapse. …
Good evening Abba (abba 4 patti),
My name is Larry and I am a compulsive gambler, my last bet was August 13, 2009. I am surprised that we have not posted to each other, both of us have been members for a year now and have each posted to the same topics of others; also I see that your posted to the "Our Daily Pledge" the other day, a place where I post daily, and that you started your recovery by a post to the original "The Daily Pledge" by justin_southafrica where I posted daily before. Our paths have crossed but not our words.
In this post I see that you have gambled again; it does concern me as a Fellow Gambler that you had a relapse, and it should concern you too but not make you feel guilty and ashamed. Although we have all shared in these feelings, while in a recovery program we learn that guilt and shame are part of the devastating effects that compulsive gamblers, not terms that describe us.
You have learned much in the past year and have enjoyed days of being gambling free; these ***** are still with you, only your clean date has changed. Keep on the path that brought you this far, you have stayed gambling free for a period of time before, now extend that period. One way to extend your time in living free is to increase the amount of time and effort you put in your recovery; visit here more frequently and benefit from all the help that is offered. There has been a post repeated a few ***** about "Relapses and Non-participation", and "Staying free and daily work" not being coincidences – when we are lax in our efforts we are more apt to have a relapse; when we are faithful and diligent in our efforts we are less likely to fall. (see: https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/en-US/showthread.aspx?ID=554292&Page=2 : also see this page on Relapse Prevention: https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/en-US/ShowThread.aspx?ID=559041&Page=1#PostID_559041 )
God’s speed. Stay strong.
Larry
"Day Two Is Another Day Behind" – With the help of a Higher Power, My 3G’s – God, GA, and GT, I will continue to be gambling free.– 8/21/2010 11:23:17 PM: post edited by paul315.