Volume No. IV, Issue No. 1                                              January 2002

Empowered Recovery (Part 1 of 4 articles)

Powerlessness and empowerment sound like opposite concepts, seem incompatible, but a closer examination illustrates how one can lead to the other.

At least 2 basic types of problem gamblers exist: skill/action, or early-onset, gamblers and luck/escape, or late-onset, gamblers. Some of the most significant differences between the 2 types are really rather subtle.

Simplistically put, one group of gamblers charges after the thrill, leaps to demonstrate a perceived skill, and wraps self up into image, dreams and fantasy. The other hides from chaos by gambling, avoids pain, escapes from headache, heartache, and backache by taking the medicine or "drug" of gambling.

In the earliest days of treatment development, professionals assumed no significant differences existed among gamblers. However, the "1-size-fits-all" approach didn’t work. Once treatment expanded from the relatively homogeneous group of skill/action gamblers seen by the pioneering Veterans’ Administration programs, we saw real problems in engaging and keeping this "other" type of gambler in treatment.

The luck/escape gambler didn’t do as well in G.A., didn’t engage in or stay very long in the treatment process, didn’t report feeling significantly better once the gambling had stopped; in fact they reported feeling worse. Treatment programs had a real challenge at hand.

Focus on what was originally perceived as a common concern with women problem gamblers resulted in a more specific approach geared to luck/escape gamblers. Many of the women I treated in the early ‘80s reported either no G.A. near them or being the only woman at a meeting. The latter situation presented no problem for some women; they felt welcomed and supported and enjoyed recovery in the fellowship.

Unfortunately, this was not true of all women in a predominately male environment. Many reported feeling very uncomfortable at meetings, with no one they could readily relate to—uncomfortable with the aggressive approach from many men in the program. Many of my women clients reported feeling that meetings were too loud, aggressive, demanding, and full of put-downs. They felt more stress, not less, after a meeting.

Finding the solution to these problems was not hard. As is the case with most gambling treatment, we turned to other treatment efforts and used what had proven effective elsewhere. The women’s treatment movement of the mid ‘70s had grown and developed over the years into a widely accepted collection of views, philosophies, strategies and approaches that continue to meet women’s recovery needs.

Among many motivators, a frustration with what was believed to be a very male-dominated view to recovery by A.A. contributed to the evolution of a group called "Women for Sobriety" (WFS). Of note to WFS and treaters specializing in women’s issues was the first step in A.A. While very effective for many people—millions over the years—the focus on powerlessness, for some women, was in fact counter-therapeutic.

We found a great many women with drug, alcohol and gambling problems have more than addiction in common. Many of these women seeking recovery were abuse victims, abuse that had taken many forms over the years.

Sometimes the devastation and chaos come from a partner who beats, hits, kicks, pushes, and slaps. Sometimes the violence is more subtle and full of threats, verbal abuse, and intimidation. The result is the same for the victim. She feels powerless, trapped, and angry—a desperate situation that can push frustrated people in pain into using any relief they can find for a few minutes of quiet, peace and safety.

The women’s recovery movement finds the use of strategies common to survivors’ treatment—those treatment interventions effectively used for trauma victims—very well suited for those women who brought to their search for recovery more than one need, more than one problem. These empowerment movement elements, as used by WFS, provide an alternate route to recovery.

Rather than seeking surrender and powerlessness, the first goal becomes one of understanding that one need not remain a victim. These women did not have to see themselves as trapped. They did have choices. They did have options. They could be in control of their own lives and their own futures. Acknowledging the control one does have comprises the first step in taking responsibility for one’s choices and making choices that will serve recovery rather than deny it.

The label used to represent these views and strategies is empowerment. Empowerment is not a denial of nor an effort to refute the effectiveness of the A.A., N.A., G.A. first step; rather it is another approach to the same goal. Once a woman has accepted that she need not remain a victim or subject to anyone else’s violence, a more focused view to recovery begins.

Recovery now progresses with a new energy, a new sense of freedom, a new sense of control over one’s own destiny. The woman has gained the knowledge that responsible decisions are critical to recovery, as is the knowledge that no pathological or compulsive gambler has control over her gambling.

So we are saying that having power over herself allows a woman to grow to accept the reality that she has no power over the weather, the rotation of the earth, or over her gambling. She has the power of decision making, free choices and deciding not to be a victim ever again. The abuse game stops when it lacks two willing participants.

I have watched hundreds of women work hard to access the power in their own hearts and minds, the strength to do the hard things, to make the tough decisions. They work hard to keep the power of their spirits alive and well to fuel their journey into recovery. I have found women who have embraced their own personal power—and the responsibility that goes with it—in a much better position to accept and use the "powerlessness" theme to G.A.’s first step for what it really is: the decision to not gamble just for today.

So, paradoxical as it may sound, the key to the empowerment model is a woman accepting her power and control over herself and her decisions, including the decision not to gamble today, never to be a victim again, to work to find the best answer to many of life’s toughest problems.

Empowerment means accepting that a way always exists; if a person can’t find it on her own, it is her empowered responsibility to seek out others who can help her in her journey. She has the responsibility to declare where she is without shame or embarrassment, without the belief that she caused her own abuse. Bolstered by strength, determination and power she can keep seeking recovery until she finds it.

by Joanna Franklin MS, NCGC

Joanna suggests interested readers may want to explore the language of the steps used by WFS at their web page. www.womenforsobriety.org.   Part 2 of "Empowered Recovery" will appear in the February issue of WHW.

   Meetings Make It

I have been in GA for 3 years and 6 months. I was on the verge of losing my husband of 29 years. I couldn't stand that so I called about the meeting and then confessed to my husband what was going on.

It was a very trying time for us, but he stuck it out with me and even went to a few meetings. Since he is a normal gambler, he doesn't have a clue why I have this illness. I know it is an illness ‘cause I certainly couldn't seem to stop on my own. But going to 3 meetings a week for the first 6 months I was in the program really helped a lot. I don't know what I would do without the people in my group.

At Christmas time a year ago my husband had a 2nd heart attack. Talk about stress in one's life. I was close to a casino, and I wanted to go so bad I could taste it. But I called a few of the people from the group, and I felt better and didn't go.

My GA birthday is July 4th and I joke that the whole USA celebrates my GA birthday with me. I wish that everyone who suffers with this awful illness could find a group as great as the Prescott GA's. They are my lifeline, and I hope that I help some of them as much as these nice people have helped me. Thank you........ Kay M., AZ

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