Stage 1 - Recognising gambling as a mental disorder

We encounter stress in our lives when there is uncertainty or a lack of knowledge about a problem. Not fully understanding a gambling disorder will add to your stress. Stage 1 begins to explore the impact of gambling on the whole family and its effect on your everyday life.  

Surrounding yourself with people who understand the problem will help in your understanding too. The GRA5P workshops provide the opportunity to talk with those who have experienced what you are going through; they are a core part of the programme and key to you not feeling alone. 

Stage 2 -  Working on your own recovery makes you best placed to support the family member 

By reaching out and recognising that you alone cannot stop the family member from gambling, you have taken a huge step towards your own personal recovery. If they have no control over their gambling disorder, how can you be expected to control it. Stage 1 was designed to help you have a better understanding of a gambling disorder. Now you have a deeper knowledge, and an awareness of its addictive nature, you are in a better position to approach things differently. 

Stage 2 aims to help you recognise that your own emotional needs and well-being should be at the forefront of everything you do if you are to support your family member in their recovery.  

Stage 3 -  Adopting a different approach to help the family member emotionally and practically 

Stage 3 explores how we react and respond to the family member’s actions and behaviour and builds on the work carried out in Stage 2 on mindfulness and well-being 

Stage 4 -  An opportunity to revisit Stages 1-3 and evaluate your progress 

Stage 4 provides an opportunity to revisit the first three stages of the GRA5P programme to review your progress. This is an important stage as it allows you to look at each stage of your recovery in a positive way, rather in ways that may not have worked previously. Think of it like a recipe. You would not use the same recipe again and again if the dish was not to your liking. You would make small adjustments or find a suitable alternative. 

Stage 5 -  A most rewarding stage in your family’s recovery is supporting others in a similar situation 

Helping others who are experiencing a similar situation is one of the most rewarding aspects of recovering from the effects of a gambling disorder. It also acts as a reminder of how unmanageable life once was. We all appreciate the guidance and support we received at the start; by helping others we continue to reinforce the importance of attending workshops and revisiting the recovery programme. The supportive and protective barriers we have in place, both emotionally and physically, are also kept at the forefront of our minds.