Whether you are attending a face to face meeting or one online, anticipation of your first meeting can be a daunting experience. We would like to reassure you that you are not alone and you’ll be greeted with a smile and a warm welcome. We are all there for the same reason – to get help, support and understanding of coping with compulsive gambling and the impact on our lives.

Once you are in the meeting, the chairperson will introduce themselves and then will go around the room and everyone will introduce themselves – first name only, so everyone remains anonymous. .

Once you have been introduced to everyone, you may be asked to tell a little about what has brought you to the meeting, we don’t talk about amounts of money as this is all relative but people in the room will be able to identify with how you are feeling. This can be as short or as long as you feel comfortable, remember that what is said within the meeting, stays within the meeting. Nothing that has been discussed will be repeated beyond those four walls.

Hopefully by now you are a little more relaxed and as the meeting progresses you will begin to realise that you are not alone. Every single person in that room has experience of the impact of Compulsive Gambling and will understand what you are going throughThey may have been in a very similar situation to yourself. Every person has a different story, but there are amazing connections between all our stories, and others will share their experiences with you, what has worked for them, and you can take what works for you from those shares.

The one thing we say to anyone is – COME BACK – give the meetings a chance, you won’t know unless you try. Please try and get to at least six consecutive meetings, whether in person or via one of the online meetings.

Take things one day at a time, and try not to make any big decisions until you have had chance to work things out in the room. We are here to help you to get some peace and serenity back into your life.