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STEP 1- WE ADMITTED WE WERE POWERLESS OVER
GAMBLING AND THAT OUR LIVES HAD BECOME
UNMANAGEABLE.
We at Gamblers Anonymous believe our gambling problem is an emotional illness,
progressive in nature, which no amount of human will-power can stop or control.
We have facts to support this belief. We believed, at one time or another, that all of
our problems could be solved with a big win. Some, pathetically, even after making
a big win, found themselves in worse trouble within a short period of time. We
continued to gamble. We found we had risked loss of family, friends, security and
jobs. We still continued to gamble. We gambled to the point where it resulted in
imprisonment, insanity or attempted suicide. We still continued to gamble and were
unable to stop. We fell victim to a belief that if only our financial problems could be
solved, we would be able to stop gambling or even be able to gamble like normal
people. Many times we swore we would not gamble again believing we had the
will-power to stop gambling. We believed a lie. We believed we had the power to
stop or control our gambling. Our inability to honestly look at our gambling
problem enabled us to continue to gamble. In spite of all of the evidence from our
past, we still denied the truth about our gambling.
Upon entering Gamblers Anonymous, we must develop the ability to honestly look
at our gambling. This is the first step in our process of recovery. Without honesty,
we can not admit our powerlessness over gambling. We must honestly accept, admit
and unconditionally surrender to this powerlessness in order to proceed with our
recovery. Any reservations we had or may presently have that we can gamble again
means we still believe we are not powerless over gambling and that we have not
admitted or accepted our powerlessness (either we have power over gambling or we
don’t).
To those members who have difficulty with admitting their powerlessness over
gambling, they should write about their gambling, and the destruction their gambling
has caused and their countless futile attempts to stop gambling. Use the “20
Questions” as a guide. Write extensively, thoroughly and specifically using each of
the questions as a central focal point. Only with the awareness and the acceptance of
the hopelessness, helplessness and desperation of our situation (as compulsive
gamblers) can we develop the open-mindedness required for Step Two.