A Brief Synopsis of the Tools of Gam-Anon

When we first come to a Gam-Anon meeting we hear of The Twelve Steps and the Tools of Gam-Anon. We wonder how these will help us. Our Tools help us better understand and work the Gam-Anon pro- gram. The tools of Gam-Anon are meetings, telephone and email, literature, writing, sponsorship, service, pressure relief, and anonymity.

Meetings: The only requirement for attending meetings is that you are a person who has been aﬀected by someone with a gambling problem. In addition to the spouse or parents, the widow or widower, the companion, the divorced spouse, the child, the friend, the employer or employee, etc., can attend. . . We share our fears, burdens, and worries with the group, as well as our experience, strength, and hope.

Telephone and Email: Using the telephone or email between meetings is a helpful way to stay in touch with the program and receive the experience, strength, and hope daily. . . . No longer do we have to do it alone. We simply pick up the phone or send an email. . . . The more seasoned member can reach out to the newcomer to oﬀer words of encouragement between meetings.

Literature: At meetings all over the world we read from the same Gam-Anon literature. Gam-Anon has a rich variety of books, pamphlets, and information sheets about the Twelve Steps of Recovery, personal growth, and reflections on our lives, offering us strength, hope, and the Gam-Anon experience. . . . How calming it can be to carry one of our small pamphlets to read during a stressful day! . . . Reading from our Gam-Anon literature at meetings and using selections to guide our sharing

provides an inspirational focus.

Writing: Writing gives us insight into ourselves. It is helpful in strengthening our

thoughts and resolutions. . . . We can use writings as another dimension in communicating with others. . . . Taking the time to get our thoughts together and not talking in a hasty manner eases the turmoil and helps us when we are confused.

Sponsorship: Sponsors are members in our program who are willing and able to share their experience, strength, and hope with a newcomer on a one-to-one basis. They keep regular contact with the newcomer between meetings. A sponsor does not have all of the answers . . . but a sponsor listens and is objective. This offers the newcomer a sense of belonging and trust, and the experienced member a renewed sense of sharing and worth.

Service: Service is the principle of the Twelfth Step of Recovery. It is a way of giving

back to the program what has been so generously given to us.

Pressure Relief Group Meeting: Most of us come into Gam-Anon with issues of debt and ﬁnancial pressures. Sometimes the debts are overwhelming and in the name of the gambler; other times the debts are held jointly or are in the name of the Gam-Anon member. Regardless . . . the Pressure Relief Group Meeting is an invaluable tool in getting the ﬁnances in order. The goal . . . is to relieve the ﬁnancial pressures by suggesting a budget that prioritizes the normal needs of the family, which addresses all debt, and is livable.

Anonymity: An important principle for group survival is ANONYMITY. This means that each person in the Gam-Anon Program has the right to be as anonymous as he or she chooses. Maintaining anonymity is vital if Gam-Anon is to give support to its members and attract newcomers to the fellowship.. . . Anonymity means that we all equals in Gam-Anon. We are all affected by a compulsive gambler.