Over
the
past
year
I
have
received
a
significant
number
of
emails
seeking
help
in
their
battle
against
compulsive
gambling
addiction.
My
goal
was
to
help
others
who
were
going
through
what
I
went
through.
I
have
read
every
email
received
from
around
the
world.
I
realized
that
people
affected
by
gambling
addiction
needed
help
and
they
wanted
it
now.
I
received
emails
from
teenagers
to
seniors,
family
members
and
friends
all
looking
for
a
solution.
I
also
received
emails
from
high
school
parents
looking
for
statistical
information,
reporters
from
around
the
world,
talk
shows
and
political
parties.
I
was
amazed
that
people
were
finally
realizing
that
compulsive
gambling
addiction
was
negatively
affecting
our
society.
Based
on
the
information
in
the
emails
I
have
learned
that
people
are
very
similar
around
the
world.
It
doesn't
matter
what
country
you
live
in,
we
all
have
feelings,
emotions
and
a
desire
to
live
a
better
life.
I
have
also
received
a
few
hostile
emails
from
compulsive
gamblers
lashing
out
at
the
world.
These
are
people
who
have
lost
all
their
financial
resources,
trust,
family
and
friends
and
had
no
where
to
go.
This
at
first
was
the
most
difficult
emails
to
handle.
As
time
went
on I
began
to
understand
what
they
were
looking
for
and
through
this
process
we
have
become
comrades
in
our
battle
against
gambling
addiction.
Then
there
were
individuals
who
emailed
me
and
used
the
words
I
can't
go
on
living
like
this
anymore.
These
emails
concerned
me
the
most.
I
always
responded
"If
you
are
feeling
depressed
or
suicidal
you
should
go
and
talk
it
out.
There
are
emergency
hotlines,
family
doctor,
friends,
relatives
and
other
professionals
who
can
help
you
get
through
this
period
in
your
life.
I
also
shared
with
them
others
who
felt
the
same
way.
As
each
day
passed
and
they
started
their
recovery
their
self
esteem
increased
and
their
desire
to
live
increased.
Then
I
received
emails
from
gamblers
anonymous
members
upset
by
some
of
my
articles.
These
emails
I
enjoyed
because
I
knew
people
were
listening.
To
set
the
record
straight
Gamblers
Anonymous
is
wonderful
for
the
people
that
they
have
helped
and
continue
to
help.
The
GA
program
has
a
lot
to
offer
those
that
are
willing
to
participate
in
a
twelve
step
program.
Compulsive
gamblers
need
to
find
a
program
that
works
for
them.
It
just
so
happens
that
a
large
percentage
of
the
emails
I
receive
are
from
people
who
tried
Gamblers
Anonymous
and
were
unsuccessful.
People
involved
in
gambling
addiction
recovery
programs
need
to
be
very
realistic
and
open
minded.
I
received
one
email
from
a
person
who
replaced
his
gambling
addiction
with
exercise.
He
told
me
that
it's
been
eighteen
months
now
and
his
life
has
completely
turned
around.
Other
emails
I
received
were
from
people
who
were
able
to
stop
on
their
own,
but
their
friend
was
not
able
to.
Companies
who
are
involved
in
gambling
addiction
recovery
programs
should
all
work
together.
We
also
have
different
approaches
to
helping
people
with
their
gambling
addiction
but
the
one
thing
in
common.
We
are
all
here
to
help
people
rebuild
their
lives
in
order
for
them
to
have
a
brighter
future.
It's
time
to
work
together.
You can read some of these emails at my website
Stop
Gambling
Addiction
