IT'S A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW AS A NEW YEAR BEGINS

The month of December was a blur as I worked and got ready for the holidays.  Was I on a high? Decorating for this season has always been a favorite passion of mine.  Doing these activities felt so normal there were moments I forgot I was a compulsive gambler.

Now it's just a matter of putting everything in it's place.  No hurry there.  This slowdown brought back some old feelings yesterday and in my head old tapes ran of me playing my favorite games.
I went from one to the other winning here and winning there, never losing.  But wait...here's a tape of me sitting in the car, needing to drive home, disillusioned because all those winnings are not in my purse. I played until all was lost again. 

Good thing I have those tapes to review and help keep me on the right path.  It's also good news that I can find joy in doing things the old "me" did.  I'll get my next high re-arranging the furniture this month.

To strengthen my focus on recovery I googled news articles and found a great one. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/01/prweb3401604.htm .  It's titled

Compulsive Gambling Increases as Gambling Opportunities Proliferate.

In this 2010 article it points out that as many 7% of our population may be compulsive gamblers.  Wow!

I wish everyone a Happy New Year and especially hope that all who seek help receive help.