CRA Christians in Recovery (anonymous)

Just replace the word Gambling with gaming and ignore what dosn't apply the following excerpt came directly from GA;


There has been abundant scientific research on compulsive gambling, which is sometimes called “gambling disorder” or “pathological gambling”. Today this is generally considered in the scientific community to be an addictive disorder similar to alcoholism or drug addiction. Typical symptoms of compulsive gambling are:
• Uncontrollable urges to gamble
• Losing time from work, school or family obligations due to gambling
• Feelings of remorse after gambling • Borrowing money to gamble or to pay other financial obligations caused by gambling.
• Chasing losses
• Selling possessions to gamble
• Committing or considering committing crimes to get money to gamble.
• Gambling for longer time periods and/or for more money than one had originally planned.
• Interference with sleeping
• Depression or thoughts of suicide

Gambling often creates problems in many areas of the compulsive gambler’s life including their personal finances, career, family life, social status, physical health, self-esteem and legal consequences. Another useful way to think about compulsive gambling is as both an allergy of the body and an obsession of the mind. By allergy we just mean that we have an “abnormal reaction”. If for example someone has an allergy to strawberries, their abnormal reaction is to get hives if they eat strawberries. For us, when we gamble, our abnormal reaction is the need to keep gambling – often for higher and higher stakes. For the normal gambler, when they lose their allotted $20 in the casino on their cruise ship vacation, they typically close their wallet and head out to the pool. This is something we compulsive gamblers are almost never able to reliably do. In this way, we actually have an allergy or abnormal reaction to the gambling activity indicating that our only solution is one that results in complete abstinence.

However, in addition to this allergy of the body, we also have an obsession of the mind. This is the part of compulsive gambling that is especially baffling and insidious. For unlike our friend with the strawberry allergy who carefully avoids strawberries for his entire life, when we are not gambling we begin to obsess about gambling again without thought of the consequences. Eventually we can only remember what gambling did for us, such as the winning and the escape from boredom or stress.

We completely forget about what gambling did to us, such as the losing, the wasted hours, and the damaged relationships and careers. Once we succumb to the obsession and begin gambling, the allergy takes effect and the entire cycle starts again.
Here's a link for GA it's a free downloadable on PDF format;

http://trusteewebsite.com/conference/2018_cancun/attachments/attachment_24_c18.pdf

It was much worse when I was younger lose of sleep and spending to much time on it when I play certain games are my biggest problems. And spending to much money on them as well. My biggest problem is lack of other things to do. I'm going to as my mom to hide my game systems like she does with my phone. Most games I play for an hour and I'm fine putting them down but others not so much. When my hair dries I'm going to get a job application I stayed away from work for awhile due to surgery than due to mental health as a result from surgery. But I think I should just do it at this point

Our complicated lives can be made a lot less complicated if we concentrate on a few simple things—sharing our experience, strength, and hope with others, regular meeting attendance, and practicing the principles of the program in our daily lives.

By sharing our experience, strength, and hope with other addicts, we provide a powerful example for newcomers to follow. The effort we put into helping others also helps keep self-centeredness, the core of our disease, at bay.

Many of us pick one group, a “home group,” whose meetings we attend faithfully. This regularity gives some routine to our lives, and lets others know where they can find us if they need us.

Practicing the Twelve Steps in our daily lives makes the difference between a balanced recovery and simply not using. The steps give us some much-needed guidance in managing our everyday affairs.

Yes, we are complex people. But the 12 step program simplifies our lives, enabling us to live a life free from active addiction. Our lives can be filled with serenity and hope when we live by the guidance of the simple principles of our program.

Okay needs some more prayers and possibly medication I asked God to help me with my life but I'm pretty sure it's not him doing this to me I decided to start my card game up as I need something to do or I will go crazy then awful thoughts about the characters entered my head and would not go away so I'm like okay I will not do this then I tried to draw a new comic same thing. Tried looking through other card games same thing. I was almost at the point of tears last night. I used to have these problems when I was young it was OCD overdrive my mind will think of the worse thing possible and still it into my brain. The things in my head I can no way attribute to God. I think I may need to start medication again. I wanted to avoid it but I may not be left with a choice. I can get rid of my stuff but not my brain. So more prayers if you please

"Often when one has lost their spiritual equilibrium, the mind is out of balance with reality
and unreality. Confusion sets in when the mind is out of tune with life happening in the now.
With spiritual 'awareness' is an individual's personal relationship with God, in prayer and meditation.
The physical and materialistic world is a separate realm of ones living life. And, it is self discipline
that is necessary to be in harmony with the right attitude and behavior, to know the difference,
and to act accordingly with mind 'consciousness' to attend to living in balance and harmony. The
spiritual 'principles' shall help in coping with worldly things. I pray you find what is needed in your life."
'Praise God'

"My sponsor told me if I stayed away from that first drink, one day at a time
and followed the suggested Twelve Steps, I could lead a sober life. They didn't
promise me anything except...Sobriety! Along this journey I have experienced some of the
realities of real life happenings, such as health problems, lose of loved ones,
heartache of family problems, and uncomfortable stressful events. But I have also
found the greatest, joy, love and happiness of my life, a peace within of being sober
and knowing of God in my life...Priceless!
'Praise God'

Today is Friday. TGIF!!! This is today's reading from a book I have
had for years called A Garland of Love, by Daphne Rose Kingma.

July 5, Hard Traveling

The road to love is paved with potholes. It's not a four-lane, high speed,
great scenery freeway. Rather it's a little back road that moseys through
beautiful countryside; you stop for a picnic now and then, are often late
to your destination, and sometimes wonder if getting there was worth all the trouble.

Knowing this about your relationship will encourage you to be more
patient when, against your hopes and wishes, the road doesn't simply
and without so much as a detour unravel in front of you.

Being realistic generates tolerance of yourself, of your partner, of the process.
Love is a beautiful Journey, but the road can be bumpy and slow as well as fast and exhilarating.

"Many of us think today the main problem of Alcoholics Anonymous is this: How, as a movement, shall we maintain our humility -- and so our unity -- in the face of what the world calls a great triumph? Perhaps we need not look far afield for an answer. We need only adapt and apply to our group life those principles upon which each of us has founded his own recovery."
( archive from Grapevine )
'Praise God'

I apologize that I've been absent from here. Part of my recovery is seeing a doctor and taking required medications for blood etc., and they switched me from Diuretics to a Beta blocker with an ACE inhibitor. Together they reduce my pulse rate over 20 bpm and make me feel exhausted. But I just wanted to say hello and good morning. This too shall pass.

"Stay well my brother!"
'Praise God'

Exactly where I am right now. The only thing that has given me hope is my new faith and the kindness of the people I’ve spoken to.

I pray that I’ll never drink or do drugs again and I’ll find some inner peace and happiness.

Matt, I have just followed your postings from your intro to your prayer request for your job and to your post here in CRA. As a new Christian prepare for the battle ahead. For you have just declared war on this world system. Satan pretty much runs it.

1 Peter 4:12, 13 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

This process happens to all new Christians. If Christ has truly called you, just hang on and keep trusting Him for the right decisions. We also will hold you up in prayer and we at CRA will be watching you. If you have any questions ask or PM if it is sensitive. Do not take your life. That is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

I will pray for this for you too. My struggle is smoking. Nicotine is my drug of choice. I am an addict. I believe that God has sent certain people your way for this specific time and place. My inner peace is lacking and any happiness is fleeting. I do have the blessed assured hope that came from God of my salvation. I will find joy in the Lord. Someday. Right now I just need rest. The struggle is real.

Hello Matt, and welcome to the family The serenity prayer has been suggested to me at least a couple of times recently, and I know that in early recovery it really did help me a lot when I was trying to take my mind off things over which I was powerless and disturbed me. I also found as a new Christian that I was extremely hungry for the Word of God. To that end, I hope you have found a supportive and loving church home, and avail yourself of other resources if they are available in the community where you live, such as twelve step groups, more specifically AA and/or NA. I have attended both for around thirty years It is a one day at a time life-long journey. Buckle up

The easier softer way seldom lasts very long. "I have seen the enemy, It is me!" I'm in recovery too. The keys are facing ourselves. That's what the 12 steps are about. We can't change the things that happened to us or the things that we've done or what we've become, past tense. We can change what we've become present tense, and the things that we do. Honesty, Acceptance, Repentance and action are the answers.

If we admit and repent of the past. Live in the present and keep on truckin' to the future, even the Devil himself can't stop us!

I’ve just found a church and will be going on Sunday. I’m really anxious about it. But then I get nervous of most things now I’m not inebriated most of the time! 🤣