questions about step 1, I would like to answer this online so that
is anyone has any thoughts.

- Are you powerless over a lot of what happens in your life?

A)Sometimes I do feel powerless over alot of things that happen in my
life.

- What specifically are you powerless about?

A) That I can't control myself when it comes to gambling.

- What do you feel you have power over?

a) My work commitments, deadlines.

- Is your life unmanageable? In what ways?

a) - Can't control Gambling
b) - Can't handle my Finances
c) - I can't manage my temper
d) - Can't seem to be happy.

-What makes it difficult for you to admit you are powerless? (Or:
What makes it easy to do so?)

a) it is hard for me to admit that I am powerless because I have
always been good at everything which I think blinds my judgement.
b) my Mum has always been really tight about money all of her life
and would be disappointed.
c) It is just really hard to except that I have gotten this far and
let myself to get this unhappy.

on the other hand

its easy to admit because
1) I need to gamble everyday
2) my life feels strange when I don't gamble
3) look at my bank account!
4) I don't seem to have nice things like other people my age.


- What does it mean to you to feel powerless, to feel that your life
is unmanageable?

I hate it!!!!!!! I hate not being in control.

--- In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, "Linda"
<tearlessgerty2004@y...> wrote:
>
> Hello Rahnee
> Saw your IM saying you got through lunch, good for
> you.............and ramble as much as you like, because in reality
> it is very therapeutic.
>
> Great start to trying to work the steps and journalling is such a
> great release.
>
> We are here for and with you Rahnee.
>
> Here is another version of Step 1. You can find the
workbook/sheets
> on the home page of GPG.......www.gettingpastgambling.com......
> titled Proactive 12 Steps.
>
> What step 1 is about
> Somebody once said: If the only tool you have is a hammer, you try
> to solve everything by hammering. This also goes when we think the
> only tool we have is a hammer.
>
> At first, we couldn't think of anything else to do than to give
> more gas. We were so sure there was no other possible solution that
> we couldn't take in the obvious fact that this "solution" didn't
> work. We believed a solution that doesn't solve anything is better
> than no solution at all.
>
> At some point, however, we finally had to acknowledge that pushing
> the gas pedal didn't work. We were left with the emptiness we were
> dreading – facing the absence of solution. Surprisingly, out of
this
> emptiness came an abundance of unexpected ideas.
>
> We thought it was the end of the road - it was the beginning of the
> journey.
>
> Time for a new beginning
> How do we deal with the frutrations, the pain, hurt and anger that
> we experience?
>
> The first step is to acknowledge that what we're doing isn't
working.
>
> When we do this, we start to feel some relief. We don't have to put
> so much tension into knowing all the answers. We don't have to know
> the road before we travel it.
>
>
>
> Step 1:
>
> I realize I'm stuck. It makes no sense to keep trying to solve my
> problems with "solutions" that aren't working.
>
> Original wording (AA):
> We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had
> become unmanageable.
> Codependency:
> We admitted we were powerless over others - that our lives had
> become unmanageable.
> Generic version:
> We admitted we were powerless over things we believed we should
> control -- that our lives had become unmanageable.
>
>
> questions about step 1
>
> - Are you powerless over a lot of what happens in your life?
>
> - What specifically are you powerless about?
>
> - What do you feel you have power over?
>
> - Is your life unmanageable? In what ways?
>
> -What makes it difficult for you to admit you are powerless? (Or:
> What makes it easy to do so?)
>
> - What does it mean to you to feel powerless, to feel that your
life
> is unmanageable?
>
>
> Stuck on the road
> Say we're driving on a dirt road, and our car gets stuck in the
mud.
> It won't move an inch, no matter how much gas we give it. We keeps
> trying and trying - nothing's happening except noise and fumes.
>
> After much frustration, we finally realize it just won't do
anything
> to keep using the gas pedal. We have to try something else. We've
> got to think of other ways to get unstuck.
>
> Maybe we'll try going in reverse? Or we'll step out and put
> something under the wheels so they'll grip onto it? Maybe we'll try
> stopping other cars to get people to help us push the car? Or get
> somebody to call a tow truck?
>
>
>
>
> --- In GettingPastGambling@yahoogroups.com, "Rahnee" <rans913@y...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Today for me is pay day. By lunch my Bank Account is choca block
> > with Gambling money. A NORMAL Wednesday Lunch entailed me going
> down
> > to the pokies starting at Pub one. Putting a bit in there seeing
> how
> > I went and if no luck would move to the next one.
> >
> > By the end of lunch I would walk back to work feeling sorry for
> > myself or on the very odd occassion excited cause I actually made
> > money.
> >
> > But>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >
> > Today I sit, Wednesday typing here counting down the minutes of
> self
> > torture pushing away the urges. Its not easy but, it has too be
> done.
> >
> > I am grateful that this site is there cause without it I don't
> know
> > (well i do know) where I would be.
> >
> > I am feeling a bit strange. My mind wants me to stay here but on
> the
> > other hand my body feels the need to gamble. I know I am
rambling
> > but I have too stay in here. I think the first couple of weeks
> > lunchtimes will be hard.
> >
> > Today I wrote down Step one of the Twelve Steps. I am going to
> get
> > my head around it.
> >
> > "I admit I am and was powerless over Gambling, that my life has
> > become unmanageable."
> >
> > I'm not sure I know how to approach it I guess more searching and
> > reading might help me out.
> >
> > Anyway thanks for reading me.
> >
> > rans