STAGES 9 to 12
Some suggestions that may assist are set out below. Each process can take any real time - depending on any individual and situation. These being suggestions only - it is up to anyone to make their own choices at their own time and pace.
**Concerned individuals should always seek professional advice in their area when necessary. Try the links on the left to find possible available help.

9. If and when a bust happens - be open about it

There are reasons to believe that just about in every recovery some kind of lapse will occur. It would be misleading to say that it won't. There may be a case here and there when people will go through recovery without a bust, but that is a rare occurance and it's possible that the addiction wasn't too emotionally connected or everything just fell into place favourably. The answer is to stay cautious and to give your support base every chance to spot the signs. If and when a lapse does happen, don't be affraid to let someone know about it. Your support base should be aware that these things do happen and to allow for possible setbacks. The stumble people create when a lapse happens is to keep it undisclosed. Keeping lapses a secret doesn't do recovery any good. In fact a lapse unchecked could easily lead to another lapse and than another, which may lead to a complete re-lapse and a feeling as if going back to the start of recovery. Recovery is a process of changing a mind set
and replacing an unhealthy habit, and that does take time effort.

10. Look for opportunities to give support back

A great way to keep a check on urges is to stay in touch and keep attending support group meetings, such as Gamblers Anonymous or group therapy, by having contact numbers from people who are already in recovery and by having a person from these meetings as a first port of contact, such as a sponsor (usually someone who has some time in recovery). All that helps immensly at times of urges. By generating and than giving support back when someone really needs it, empowers both persons in recovery. You would already know some of the answers to questions you may have in recovery and it's amazing how these answers appear when giving support back to someone else. We as human beings tend not to listen to ourselves even when we have answers about something which could help us, yet we freely give these suggestions when others raise the same questions. This is why group meetings are so effective. Questions and answers on how to deal with situations in recovery are shared among everyone attending and solutions seem to be much more clear.

11. Take time to find new activities and/or hobbies

Two of the biggest enemies in recovery are stress and boredom. Stress comes from perhaps not fully attempting to fix whatever the initial problems were behind this addiction and boredom usually descends when people find themselves without anything to do at those times when they normally went gambling. This is when urges start to play up on the mind and an internal fight between gambling and recovery commonly flares up. One of the best remedies to combat these times of procrastination and stress is to make yourself busy. Whether it is around the house, the garden, visiting other people, getting more involved with the family, or some kind of activity or a hobby. There will no doubt be withrawal symptoms from not gambling, so this is where the mind needs to have all sorts of diverters. Activities or hobbies which involve other non-gambling people is even better. Such as ten-pin bowling, social clubs, sports like tennis and/or squash, etc. At home, gardening and decorating can be terrific diverters. Keep your mind occupied with healthy choices.

12. Start being open with people you're comfortable with

This is a touchy area for many in recovery. Having a feeling of that stigma which is attached to any addiction and the sense of guilt and shame stops people from talking about this subject in a conversation when it springs up. This is understandable under the circumstances and apart from the family and perhaps some close friends, the whole world doesn't need to know if you don't wish that. This comes along naturally and by gaining confidence in your own recovery. You will sense when to talk about it and when not to. It depends on many factors, such as who the other people are and whether they would understand your situation or use it against you in some way, on what occasion this conversation culminates and whether it would affect your partner and children or whether it would be helpful to further the cause of recovery of someone else by relating to your own story, etc. In time, your confidence will allow this area to open up and you will mostly feel comfortable talking about gambling, your own experiences with it, and your recovery from it.