The essentials of recovery from gambling addiction

• Of value no matter where one is in recovery, including those first wondering whether they have a problem.

• Addresses the burning questions about the disorder. What makes it an addiction, and to what exactly are you addicted? How can you understand your loss of control? Is it important to know why?

• Will it be a chapter in your life or a life-long problem? Is it sufficient to stop gambling? How much will you have to do? And how should you measure your success?

Some of the critical issues

As reflected in the title, the book is organized around one's journey from self-deception to self-forgiveness. Chapters address issues of power and control, covert ways of continuing to gamble while not technically gambling, different types and subtypes of the disorder, and obstacles to recovery. There is an emphasis on relationships, on dealing with one's emotions, on the dynamics of boredom, procrastination, secrecy and lying, and tools for mastering urges and cravings.

What can you expect from Gamblers Anonymous? What does it do, and for whom, and should it be part of your recovery program? To help the listener make up their mind, Dr. Rosenthal reviews the benefits of the program as well as its limitations, explores its role in reducing shame and guilt, and compares it to Alcoholics Anonymous.

Presented in an accessible and highly relatable manner

• Easy to understand, with humor, and a standing invitation to skip around and see what catches your attention.

• Absent of jargon and experience near, meaning close to the language and experience of the listener.

• Clinical examples and anecdotes that are real. There are no composites or made up stories about fictional gamblers or "typical" situations.

• Good practical advice, and insights based on the author's forty plus years listening to and treating gamblers.

Of particular interest if

• You've stopped for periods of time but sustained recovery has eluded you.

• You know you should, but...

• You've quit gambling but are still unable to forgive yourself.

• You have questions about GA, perhaps have difficulty identifying, and don't know what you should be getting out of it or if it's worth it.

• You are curious about spiritual approaches.

• You have questions to which you've not received satisfactory answers. Or just want to understand more.

Also particularly worthwhile for the treatment professional, either listening to it on their own or together with the gambler.