What is Gam-Anon?

Gam-Anon is a fellowship of men and women who are husbands, wives, relatives or close friends who have been affected by the gambling problem. If you are seeking a solution for living with this problem, we would like you to feel that we understand, as perhaps few can. We too are familiar with worry and sleepless nights and promises made only to be broken. Our thinking had become confused and unreasonable.

Gam-Anon can offer you a new way of life.

Our Purpose

• To welcome and give assistance and comfort to those affected by the gambling problem
• To learn to understand the gambling problem and its impact on our lives
• To give encouragement and understanding to the gambler when they join Gamblers Anonymous
• To use the programme and its problem-solving suggestions as aids in rebuilding our lives

GamAnon meetings are usually held on the same nights as GA meetings but in separate rooms. The two fellowships do not share experiences or information about each other.

 

 

 

 

from a spouse:

When my wife and I returned to GA and Gam-Anon after a two year absence, I resolved that I would never again turn my back on the program and became entirely committed to it. This commitment served me well, as my wife returned to gambling after six years of abstinence and left the GA program again. But this time, I continued to attend my weekly meeting and started to look at and work on myself, instead of concentrating on her. With the Gam-Anon program and support of my room and faith in my Higher Power, I grew in self-confidence and maturity, living one day at a time, always with the the hope that one day my wife would return to GA.

After five years of attending Gam-Anon while my wife was gambling, this hope became a reality when she did come back...and without any nagging, begging, or pleading on my part. My wife has admitted that she probably would not have returned if I weren't going to Gam-Anon.

Today we share a much closer relationship and are enjoying the serenity we deserve, thanks to GA and Gam-Anon.

from a companion:

Years ago I acknowledged my identity and became active in the gay community. Shortly after I met my partner, a compulsive gambler, we went to Lake Tahoe and gambled at several casinos there and in Reno. Gambling became a problem and I attended my first Gam-Anon meeting later that year. After about four meetings I stopped attending as the gambler stopped gambling and it didn't seem to be a problem anymore. Within a year my partner started gambling again and the situation became unmanageable for me, so I resumed attendance in Gam-Anon and have been attending on a regular basis since that time.

Gam-Anon has become an important part of my life. When gambling became a problem, I felt like I was drowning. I already knew something about 12 step programs, having had an alcoholic friend. I started coming to Gam-Anon because there was nowhere else to turn to, but, I had deep reservations and a sense of insecurity in turning to a group of unknown people. From that first meeting the atmosphere was of trust and honesty. I was accepted without question by the group and was able to unburden myself at the initial meeting. By the end ofthe meeting, I knew I was in the right place with the right people.

My partner came back to GA when I started attending Gam-Anon again. Life is good for us.

from a child:

I grew up in a dysfunctional family: my father a compulsive gambler and my mother an enabler having hang-ups of her own. There was never much room for caring, sharing, or a lot of "I love you." If I wanted to give or receive a simple thing like a hug, the response was, "What do you want now?"

After being in that environment for 18 years I married. I found that I was the same person, but in a new home with another person, unable to give of myself both physically or emotionally. When I discovered after ten years of marriage that my husband was also a compulsive gambler, I realized I was an enabler like my mother and that I had no feelings left at all.

Coming into Gam-Anon was very painful for me. It made me realize that though I was used to being the way I was, I did not like myself and wanted to be different. The first time a Gam-Anon member put her arms around me to comfort me, I cringed, not knowing how to accept this love. Gam-Anon and GA became the warm, caring, sharing family I never had. The friendships I developed helped me to build better relationships with family, but at the same time, accept the things I could not change.

After being in program for several years and working on myself all the time, I have learned how to let down the wall I had erected around myself. This barrier of pain and distrust came down very slowly and I truly believe that not only can I be a very warm and caring wife, mother and friend, but I can also receive love. Today, even though there are problems, I honestly feel great about myself and my situation. I finally know how to love and be loved in return.