PeerGalaxy Original Calendar
Welcome to PeerGalaxy Calendar featuring over 187,600+ monthly offerings of FREE telephone- and online-accessible peer support, recovery support, and wellness activities! Plus 50+ warmlines, helplines, chatlines, and hotlines. Plus workshops, webinars, job postings, resources, observances, special events, consumer input opportunities and more.
WE ARE PEER FOR YOU!
Click the Accessibility Button on the right side, halfway down in the middle, for enhanced viewing and/or access options! Click the Translate Button in the lower left corner for language options.
Your use of this site is subject to the Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions of Use.
If you have an event to add, email us: webmail@peergalaxy.com
7
Training Opportunities in July 2020
List Provided Courtesy of State of Oregon, Oregon Health Authority
Click here to download PDF Format, 16 pages
Calendar Event Sorting
At the top, the 24/7/365 SAMHSA Disaster Helpline and similar links.
Next, Bundled “All Day” Events
Some organizations (like 12 step recovery programs, AA, NA, AlAnon, etc.) have so many events happening throughout the day that they need to be in a bundled listing to spare endless scrolling. Often there is a link to look up events by zip code and other criteria.
Lastly, Time-Specific Events
So you can see what’s happening in the next hours, time specific events are tagged and listed by start time from 12:01am early morning to 11:59pm late night. There can be events and warmlines operating in different time zones, though we try to list all in Oregon’s Pacific Time Zone.
Page Advancement
The calendar displays ~50 listings per page. To advance to next page with ~50 more listings, click the right arrow in the lower left corner of the calendar
Families Anonymous Virtual Group 337
Thursdays, 4-5PM PT
Meeting Login Information:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/114964644
Meeting ID: 114 964 644
There are rare occasions when we are unable to meet. Text 423-580-6203 to confirm that there is a
meeting.
What is Families Anonymous?
Families Anonymous celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2021. We were formed in 1971 by a group of concerned parents in California who were seeking ways of dealing with the problem of substance abuse and addiction in their children. Our members include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, significant others, other family members and friends of those with a current, suspected or former drug problem. We have been one of the best kept secrets in the recovery community, even though we have groups throughout the world.
Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems. When you come into our rooms you are no longer alone, but among friends who have experienced similar problems. Any concerned person is encouraged to attend our meetings, even if there is only a suspicion of a problem.
Your identity is protected in our meetings. We know each other by our first names only. Anonymity of our members is paramount to the success of our program. Not only is anonymity an underlying principle of the program, but it is so important that it is part of our name.
You have nothing to lose but your pain and anger. Read on if you are ready to find the peace and serenity that our members have found through the working of the FA program.
Thursdays, 5-6:00PM PST
What is Families Anonymous?
Families Anonymous celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2021. We were formed in 1971 by a group of concerned parents in California who were seeking ways of dealing with the problem of substance abuse and addiction in their children. Our members include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, significant others, other family members and friends of those with a current, suspected or former drug problem. We have been one of the best kept secrets in the recovery community, even though we have groups throughout the world.
Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems. When you come into our rooms you are no longer alone, but among friends who have experienced similar problems. Any concerned person is encouraged to attend our meetings, even if there is only a suspicion of a problem.
Your identity is protected in our meetings. We know each other by our first names only. Anonymity of our members is paramount to the success of our program. Not only is anonymity an underlying principle of the program, but it is so important that it is part of our name.
You have nothing to lose but your pain and anger. Read on if you are ready to find the peace and serenity that our members have found through the working of the FA program.
Act immediately if you believe your child is missing.
Download this checklist of actions to be taken by families in the initial stages of a missing child case.
If you have any questions call the NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678). If you are not located in the United States, call your country’s hotline.
NCMEC is the nation’s largest and most influential child protection organization.
We lead the fight to protect children, creating vital resources for them and the people who keep them safe.
When you call NCMEC, a Call Center specialist will record information about your child. A NCMEC case management team will next work directly with your family and the law enforcement agency investigating your case. They will offer technical assistance tailored to your case to help ensure all available search and recovery methods are used. As appropriate NCMEC case management teams:
- Rapidly create and disseminate posters to help generate leads.
- Rapidly review, analyze and disseminate leads received on 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) to the investigating law enforcement agency.
- Communicate with federal agencies to provide services to assist in the location and recovery of missing children.
- Provide peer support, resources and empowerment from trained volunteers who have experienced a missing child incident in their own family.
- Provide families with access to referrals they may use to help process any emotional or counseling needs.
Parent Stress Line
1-800 – 632 – 8188
Call our Parent Stress Line any time and any day of the week
if you need to vent about the stress from taking care of a child or children. 18006328188
A Kids Book About School Shootings
Crystal Woodman Miller
Many of us are going to need to find the words to talk to the kids in our lives about tragic events like the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Here’s a free resource from A Kids Company About to help you do that was written by Crystal Woodman-Miller, one of the survivors of the Columbine school shooting.
I hate that we need tools like this. I can’t wait for us to have to write the book “A Kids Book About Why It’s So Hard To Buy A Gun”
Link: www.akidsco.com
There aren’t enough words to explain all the thoughts, emotions, and heartbreak that comes with yesterday’s tragedy in Uvalde. We hope this book helps everyone start somewhere.
We’re making #AKidsBookAboutSchoolShootings free for kids, grownups, and educators everywhere, so that this conversation can get started when it matters most.
FREE DOWNLOAD
A Kids Book About School Shootings by Crystal Woodman Miller:
Link: akidsco.com
The Ultimate List of Support Groups for Black Moms
Brown Mamas – Pittsburgh & U.S. – Brown Mamas, Inc. has been around for seven years in the Pittsburgh region. Brown Mamas began in the living room of Muffy Mendoza. What started as 5 moms has grown to over 4000 Our mamas love our Pittsburgh chapter so much that we are expanding. If you are mom who is ready to not just find her tribe, but to inspire other mothers and be the change she wants to see in her community, click here to learn more about starting your own Brown Mamas chapter.
Black Moms Connect – Canada & U.S.
Mommin’ Society – North Carolina & Online
Moms of Black Boys United – Atlanta & Online
Moms Make It Work – NYC
Mocha Moms, Inc. – U.S. (seriously, everywhere)
Whine & Cheese – 27 Chapters in U.S. (including D.C., PA, South Carolina, New York, etc.)
Motherwork by Mater Mea – NYC
Beautiful Brown Girls Brunch Club – New Jersey
District Motherhued’s DMV MomTribe – D.C. Metro Area
Soul Food for Your Baby – Hawthorne, Calif.
Black Moms Blog Events – Atlanta, GA
Birthing Beautiful Communities – Cleveland, OH
Tessera Collective – Online, Self-Care Support
Melanin Mommies – Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Black Breastfeeding Circle –
Not-So Melinated Support Groups for Black Moms
Facebook Support Groups for Black Moms
Black Stay-At-Home Mom Village
Black Moms in College & Beyond
Who We Are
All family and friends of compulsive gamers welcome
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83671786251
Meeting ID: 836 7178 6251
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,83671786251# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,83671786251# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 826 013 5782
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k0jt3FGFs
All family and friends of compulsive gamers welcome
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83671786251
Meeting ID: 836 7178 6251
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,83671786251# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,83671786251# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 826 013 5782
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k0jt3FGFs
Gamers Find A Local Support Group
Use the link below to get more information about local groups and a notification when a local meeting is started. Due to the COVID pandemic, most meetings are currently held in an outdoor setting or online.
| Oregon | Contact |
| Bend, OR | bend@cgaa.info |
| Eugene, OR | eugene@cgaa.info |
| Medford, OR | medford@cgaa.info |
| Portland, OR | portland@cgaa.info |
| Salem, OR | salem@cgaa.info |
SUPPORT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
What Can I Do?
Video gaming is a common pastime. To many people, it is surprising that it can become a serious addiction, that is, an activity that is engaged in compulsively, without control or concern for consequences.
Video gaming addiction is a very serious problem that is harmful to everyone it touches. Since everyone involved suffers from it, everyone involved needs some help. Here are some important things to know.
First, no one is responsible for someone else’s compulsive gaming. As the Al-Anon slogan goes, “I didn’t cause it, I can’t control it, and I can’t cure it.”
You didn’t cause it.
Some people partly blame themselves for the dysfunctional behavior of their family members, particularly with addicts who are very quick to shift responsibility off themselves and blame others. Perhaps you played games with your loved one, purchased games, or encouraged it, thinking it was a harmless leisure activity. Maybe you’ve been involved in some conflict and wonder if that has driven him or her to hide away in gaming. But no one is responsible for another person’s behavior or mental disorders.
You can’t control it.
You may have already tried to talk to your friend or family member. Perhaps you have bargained with them, or given ultimatums. You have tried to help them see what damage they are doing to themselves and others. And none of it has worked. This is baffling to you. Why don’t they seem to understand or care? Why can’t they see what is obvious to you? This is actually a symptom of the disease of addiction, one that destines efforts for control to failure.
You can’t cure it.
We all would like to believe that we have the ability to help those we love. We often think that if we can just get the right information, figure out the right thing to say or do, perhaps change something about ourselves, we can fix the problem. People should be able to solve their own problems. Why can’t we do that with this one? There is a simple reason. There is no cure for addiction. It requires treatment. The recovery process is long and difficult. And there is only one person who can start that process, the one who is gaming compulsively. There are things you can do. Here are some suggestions that you may want to consider, that other family members and friends have found helpful.
Get information.
The literature of recovery fellowships for family and friends of addicts (such as Al-Anon) has much helpful guidance, some of which is available online as well. There are people who have been in situations very similar to yours, who have learned much from them, and who are willing to share the lessons learned, their experience, strength and hope. We hope you avail yourself of such resources.
Detach with love.
Putting energy into arguing with someone who is playing compulsively will not help either of you. Your loved one has a serious problem that you are powerless to control or cure, and that they will not get help until they want it. As much as you love someone, you cannot force this process on another person.
Stop enabling.
Paradoxically, at the same time people are arguing with, bargaining with or shaming a compulsive gamer, they are often (perhaps without realizing it) supporting the addiction in many ways. Anything that shields an addict from the consequences of his or her behavior is enabling, and can include such basic things as providing food, shelter, money, companionship, housekeeping, and covering for employment and legal difficulties. Helping a compulsive gamer keep up an appearance of normalcy is helping him or her continue in the destructive behavior. While you cannot change him or her, you can make changes for yourself. You can shift your energy away from enabling behaviors and toward meeting your own needs.
Take care of yourself.
Whether or not your loved one ever stops gaming, you deserve to have a healthy and happy life. Once you have accepted that you are powerless over their gaming behavior, you can begin to focus on what you can do for yourself, to accomplish your own goals. With the help of others who have been where you are, you can learn to set healthy boundaries and stick to them.
Join our WhatsApp Chat Site for Family and Friends!
Game-Anon
WhatsApp Group Invite
Visit whatsapp.com/dl on your mobile phone to install.
By installing WhatsApp, you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.
Chat Using A Macintosh
Mac OS X 10.10 and higher. WhatsApp must be installed on your phone.
By clicking the Download button, you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.
Download for Windows 8 and higher (64-bit)
Download for Windows 8 and higher (32-bit)
One of the things we were trying to do with our gaming was meet some basic needs. If we do not meet those needs in normal healthy ways, we will suffer much stronger urges to game again. Some basic needs to cover are social needs, self expression, creativity, a sense of challenge and accomplishment, stress relief, a sense of purpose and meaning, and a sense of safety through control and predictability.
Here are some ideas for activities that will help meet these needs, reduce cravings, help with recovery from addiction, and fill some of the hours freed from compulsive gaming.
Please don’t let the length of this list overwhelm you. The idea is not to start ten new things and try to change everything all at once. We seek small bits of progress, not perfection. A good place to start is to put first things first. What need is currently most important? What’s right in front of me? What opportunity has come my way recently? If we take steps of small improvement with one or two areas each day, we are moving in the right direction.
Stress Relief
- Talking with a sponsor or recovery buddy, CGAA meetings, or step work
- Getting outside for fresh air and sunlight by taking a walk or doing some outdoor work
- Meditation, coloring, craft work, journaling, or reading
Sense of safety through freedom, control, and predictability
- Goal setting
- Counseling or psychotherapy
- Home organization, renovation, or spring cleaning
Sense of purpose, meaning, and self-respect
- Supporting and growing the larger CGAA fellowship through service work like helping run a meeting, starting a local meeting, doing outreach to professionals, or attending CGAA business meetings
- Attending a spiritual group like meditation, yoga, spiritual retreat, or religious gathering
- Doing volunteer work like teaching, helping others, animal care, or building community places
- Caring for a pet, house plants, or garden
Social needs
- Attending CGAA meetings, connecting outside of meetings, reaching out to newcomers, or calling someone
- Joining a hobby group like theater, a hiking group, art workshop, book club, public speaking, board games or card game group
- Hosting a fun event like board games night or karaoke
- Playing team sports, taking up martial arts, or playing one-on-one sports
- Going to fun events like concerts, dances, or events on meetup.com
- Calling up, video conferencing, or visiting with friends, family, neighbors, or other communities
Self expression and creativity
- Journaling, opening up to a CGAA sponsor, or sharing openly in a meeting
- Art work like drawing, photography, sculpting, or creative writing
- Performance art like theater, singing, playing music, or writing music
Sense of challenge and accomplishment
- Working the steps with a sponsor
- Crafts like woodworking, origami, knitting
- Outdoor activities like gardening, geocaching, bird watching, star gazing, tracking, plant identification, survival skills, or boating
- Learning something like a foreign language, dancing, magic tricks, mechanical repair, cooking, a musical instrument, or computer programming
- Career goals like getting a new job, starting a business, enrolling in school, or taking classes
Reconnection to one’s body and whole self
- Meditating on breath, sounds, or bodily sensations
- Exercise like walking, hiking, swimming, cycling, yoga, jogging, going to a gym, or playing a sport
If you are in your first week or two off of games, it’s likely that few of these ideas will appeal to you. That’s normal. Until our minds and bodies have some time to heal, we have low interest, energy, and motivation. This list will probably not give you something that you can plug in place of video games and immediately throw yourself into with the same zeal. This list is meant to help us explore new ways of spending our time, meeting our needs, and connecting with people. Find a few that hold some appeal and try taking some small steps in their direction. If you can’t seem to think of anything fun to do except game, you can come back to this list, find the most appealing thing, and just take a couple of little steps in its direction.
Consider setting reminders for yourself or keeping a schedule of your time and new activities. It is important to appreciate the small victories of exercising willpower, regaining motivation, and socializing. It helps to discuss our progress and the challenges we experience with a CGAA sponsor, recovery buddy, personal counselor, or therapist.
Rediscovering What is Fun
It is normal to think that nothing but gaming sounds fun. For most of us, our years of compulsive gaming warped and narrowed our idea of fun. As small children, it meant almost anything new or interesting or social or even mildly rewarding. Years of pulling the dopamine lever with video games changed our concept of fun to require instant gratification, frequent rewards, clear and constant progress, excitement, intense visuals, control, and/or predictability.
Part of recovery is letting our concept of fun expand back outward to a wide world of possible new challenges and experiences, many of which are calm and subtle compared to video games. It takes time to overcome withdrawals and heal from the damage, but the change does happen if we abstain from all gaming long term and focus on new pursuits and improving our lives. This list has many activities that do not meet the old, narrow, warped idea of “fun,” but those of us who persist at exploring them do find many to be gratifying and enjoyable.
Take, for example, a hike up a mountain. To a group of hikers excited to venture into the wilderness with friends and see wildlife and panoramic views from on high, all while getting a great workout, it’s a ton of fun. To someone who is uninterested in hiking, out of shape, and focused on every little unpleasant aspect of it, it’s a torturous death march. It is exactly the same hike in either case. The difference is in the attitude and conditioning.
The same is true with every item of these lists. Whether or not an activity sounds fun or torturous depends entirely upon attitude and conditioning. Every one of them has the potential to be gratifying and enjoyable if we adopt a positive attitude, try to have fun, and persist at it, especially when we involve friends and like-minded people.
Helpful fellowships and resources
While CGAA does not endorse and is not officially connected with the following groups, we believe that friends and family may be able to connect with others and find helpful resources. They can provide guidance on dealing with addiction in general, on healing from its effects, and on how to go about building a recovery fellowship. Meetings are available in many places. Al-Anon, Nar-Anon and CoDA each has its own recovery literature.
The Gamer-Anon fellowship is for parents, spouses, and other family to support each other in dealing with compulsive video gaming within the family.
The Al-Anon fellowship has existed since 1951 for the family and friends of alcoholics. As the oldest and most well attended of the fellowships for family and friends, its members have a wide breadth and depth of experience to share on living with addicts and healing from the ill effects and dysfunctional patterns.
The Nar-Anon fellowship has existed since 1968 for the family and friends of those suffering from addiction.
Co-Dependents Anonymous has existed since 1986 and is a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships.
This group is in e-mail format. Participants send and receive e-mail to take part in discussions. You can receive your posts all together, in one delivery each day, or you can receive them one-by-one, as they are sent.
The choice is yours. It’s fun, easy, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To join, complete the form below and click the submit button.
Subscribe to Caregiver-Online
You can subscribe to Caregiver-online by following this link and completing the form. After completing the Subscription form you will email requesting confirmation, to prevent others from gratuitously subscribing you. This is a hidden list, which means that the list of members is available only to the list administrator.
To subscribe, Use this Link and complete the subscription form online:
http://lists.caregiver.org/mailman/listinfo/caregiver-online_lists.caregiver.org
Using Caregiver-online
To post a message to all the list members, send email to caregiver-online@lists.caregiver.org. Be sure to subscribe first!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/familyrecoverysupport
Families Anonymous Virtual Group 831
Fridays, 8-9AM PST
Please contact group for login information or any questions
Contact: 847-721-6348
What is Families Anonymous?
Families Anonymous celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2021. We were formed in 1971 by a group of concerned parents in California who were seeking ways of dealing with the problem of substance abuse and addiction in their children. Our members include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, significant others, other family members and friends of those with a current, suspected or former drug problem. We have been one of the best kept secrets in the recovery community, even though we have groups throughout the world.
Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems. When you come into our rooms you are no longer alone, but among friends who have experienced similar problems. Any concerned person is encouraged to attend our meetings, even if there is only a suspicion of a problem.
Your identity is protected in our meetings. We know each other by our first names only. Anonymity of our members is paramount to the success of our program. Not only is anonymity an underlying principle of the program, but it is so important that it is part of our name.
You have nothing to lose but your pain and anger. Read on if you are ready to find the peace and serenity that our members have found through the working of the FA program.
Fridays, 4:15-5:15PM PST
When asked for meeting use GotoMeeting #115-381-933
Call Janice at 631-647-3946 or Donna at 631-589 3790 or email Donna526@aol.com
What is Families Anonymous?
Families Anonymous celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2021. We were formed in 1971 by a group of concerned parents in California who were seeking ways of dealing with the problem of substance abuse and addiction in their children. Our members include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, significant others, other family members and friends of those with a current, suspected or former drug problem. We have been one of the best kept secrets in the recovery community, even though we have groups throughout the world.
Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems. When you come into our rooms you are no longer alone, but among friends who have experienced similar problems. Any concerned person is encouraged to attend our meetings, even if there is only a suspicion of a problem.
Your identity is protected in our meetings. We know each other by our first names only. Anonymity of our members is paramount to the success of our program. Not only is anonymity an underlying principle of the program, but it is so important that it is part of our name.
You have nothing to lose but your pain and anger. Read on if you are ready to find the peace and serenity that our members have found through the working of the FA program.
Families Anonymous Virtual Group 1152
Fridays, 4:45-5:45PM PST
What is Families Anonymous?
Families Anonymous celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2021. We were formed in 1971 by a group of concerned parents in California who were seeking ways of dealing with the problem of substance abuse and addiction in their children. Our members include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, significant others, other family members and friends of those with a current, suspected or former drug problem. We have been one of the best kept secrets in the recovery community, even though we have groups throughout the world.
Families Anonymous is a 12-Step fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems. When you come into our rooms, you are no longer alone, but among friends who have experienced similar problems. Any concerned person is encouraged to attend our meetings, even if there is only a suspicion of a problem.
Your identity is protected in our meetings. We know each other by our first names only. Anonymity of our members is paramount to the success of our program. Not only is anonymity an underlying principle of the program, but it is so important that it is part of our name.
You have nothing to lose but your pain and anger. Read on if you are ready to find the peace and serenity that our members have found through the working of the FA program.
Act immediately if you believe your child is missing.
Download this checklist of actions to be taken by families in the initial stages of a missing child case.
If you have any questions call the NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678). If you are not located in the United States, call your country’s hotline.
NCMEC is the nation’s largest and most influential child protection organization.
We lead the fight to protect children, creating vital resources for them and the people who keep them safe.
When you call NCMEC, a Call Center specialist will record information about your child. A NCMEC case management team will next work directly with your family and the law enforcement agency investigating your case. They will offer technical assistance tailored to your case to help ensure all available search and recovery methods are used. As appropriate NCMEC case management teams:
- Rapidly create and disseminate posters to help generate leads.
- Rapidly review, analyze and disseminate leads received on 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) to the investigating law enforcement agency.
- Communicate with federal agencies to provide services to assist in the location and recovery of missing children.
- Provide peer support, resources and empowerment from trained volunteers who have experienced a missing child incident in their own family.
- Provide families with access to referrals they may use to help process any emotional or counseling needs.
Parent Stress Line
1-800 – 632 – 8188
Call our Parent Stress Line any time and any day of the week
if you need to vent about the stress from taking care of a child or children. 18006328188
A Kids Book About School Shootings
Crystal Woodman Miller
Many of us are going to need to find the words to talk to the kids in our lives about tragic events like the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Here’s a free resource from A Kids Company About to help you do that was written by Crystal Woodman-Miller, one of the survivors of the Columbine school shooting.
I hate that we need tools like this. I can’t wait for us to have to write the book “A Kids Book About Why It’s So Hard To Buy A Gun”
Link: www.akidsco.com
There aren’t enough words to explain all the thoughts, emotions, and heartbreak that comes with yesterday’s tragedy in Uvalde. We hope this book helps everyone start somewhere.
We’re making #AKidsBookAboutSchoolShootings free for kids, grownups, and educators everywhere, so that this conversation can get started when it matters most.
FREE DOWNLOAD
A Kids Book About School Shootings by Crystal Woodman Miller:
Link: akidsco.com
The Ultimate List of Support Groups for Black Moms
Brown Mamas – Pittsburgh & U.S. – Brown Mamas, Inc. has been around for seven years in the Pittsburgh region. Brown Mamas began in the living room of Muffy Mendoza. What started as 5 moms has grown to over 4000 Our mamas love our Pittsburgh chapter so much that we are expanding. If you are mom who is ready to not just find her tribe, but to inspire other mothers and be the change she wants to see in her community, click here to learn more about starting your own Brown Mamas chapter.
Black Moms Connect – Canada & U.S.
Mommin’ Society – North Carolina & Online
Moms of Black Boys United – Atlanta & Online
Moms Make It Work – NYC
Mocha Moms, Inc. – U.S. (seriously, everywhere)
Whine & Cheese – 27 Chapters in U.S. (including D.C., PA, South Carolina, New York, etc.)
Motherwork by Mater Mea – NYC
Beautiful Brown Girls Brunch Club – New Jersey
District Motherhued’s DMV MomTribe – D.C. Metro Area
Soul Food for Your Baby – Hawthorne, Calif.
Black Moms Blog Events – Atlanta, GA
Birthing Beautiful Communities – Cleveland, OH
Tessera Collective – Online, Self-Care Support
Melanin Mommies – Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Black Breastfeeding Circle –
Not-So Melinated Support Groups for Black Moms
Facebook Support Groups for Black Moms
Black Stay-At-Home Mom Village
Black Moms in College & Beyond
Who We Are
All family and friends of compulsive gamers welcome
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83671786251
Meeting ID: 836 7178 6251
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,83671786251# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,83671786251# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 826 013 5782
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k0jt3FGFs
All family and friends of compulsive gamers welcome
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83671786251
Meeting ID: 836 7178 6251
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,83671786251# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,83671786251# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 826 013 5782
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k0jt3FGFs
Gamers Find A Local Support Group
Use the link below to get more information about local groups and a notification when a local meeting is started. Due to the COVID pandemic, most meetings are currently held in an outdoor setting or online.
| Oregon | Contact |
| Bend, OR | bend@cgaa.info |
| Eugene, OR | eugene@cgaa.info |
| Medford, OR | medford@cgaa.info |
| Portland, OR | portland@cgaa.info |
| Salem, OR | salem@cgaa.info |
SUPPORT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
What Can I Do?
Video gaming is a common pastime. To many people, it is surprising that it can become a serious addiction, that is, an activity that is engaged in compulsively, without control or concern for consequences.
Video gaming addiction is a very serious problem that is harmful to everyone it touches. Since everyone involved suffers from it, everyone involved needs some help. Here are some important things to know.
First, no one is responsible for someone else’s compulsive gaming. As the Al-Anon slogan goes, “I didn’t cause it, I can’t control it, and I can’t cure it.”
You didn’t cause it.
Some people partly blame themselves for the dysfunctional behavior of their family members, particularly with addicts who are very quick to shift responsibility off themselves and blame others. Perhaps you played games with your loved one, purchased games, or encouraged it, thinking it was a harmless leisure activity. Maybe you’ve been involved in some conflict and wonder if that has driven him or her to hide away in gaming. But no one is responsible for another person’s behavior or mental disorders.
You can’t control it.
You may have already tried to talk to your friend or family member. Perhaps you have bargained with them, or given ultimatums. You have tried to help them see what damage they are doing to themselves and others. And none of it has worked. This is baffling to you. Why don’t they seem to understand or care? Why can’t they see what is obvious to you? This is actually a symptom of the disease of addiction, one that destines efforts for control to failure.
You can’t cure it.
We all would like to believe that we have the ability to help those we love. We often think that if we can just get the right information, figure out the right thing to say or do, perhaps change something about ourselves, we can fix the problem. People should be able to solve their own problems. Why can’t we do that with this one? There is a simple reason. There is no cure for addiction. It requires treatment. The recovery process is long and difficult. And there is only one person who can start that process, the one who is gaming compulsively. There are things you can do. Here are some suggestions that you may want to consider, that other family members and friends have found helpful.
Get information.
The literature of recovery fellowships for family and friends of addicts (such as Al-Anon) has much helpful guidance, some of which is available online as well. There are people who have been in situations very similar to yours, who have learned much from them, and who are willing to share the lessons learned, their experience, strength and hope. We hope you avail yourself of such resources.
Detach with love.
Putting energy into arguing with someone who is playing compulsively will not help either of you. Your loved one has a serious problem that you are powerless to control or cure, and that they will not get help until they want it. As much as you love someone, you cannot force this process on another person.
Stop enabling.
Paradoxically, at the same time people are arguing with, bargaining with or shaming a compulsive gamer, they are often (perhaps without realizing it) supporting the addiction in many ways. Anything that shields an addict from the consequences of his or her behavior is enabling, and can include such basic things as providing food, shelter, money, companionship, housekeeping, and covering for employment and legal difficulties. Helping a compulsive gamer keep up an appearance of normalcy is helping him or her continue in the destructive behavior. While you cannot change him or her, you can make changes for yourself. You can shift your energy away from enabling behaviors and toward meeting your own needs.
Take care of yourself.
Whether or not your loved one ever stops gaming, you deserve to have a healthy and happy life. Once you have accepted that you are powerless over their gaming behavior, you can begin to focus on what you can do for yourself, to accomplish your own goals. With the help of others who have been where you are, you can learn to set healthy boundaries and stick to them.
Join our WhatsApp Chat Site for Family and Friends!
Game-Anon
WhatsApp Group Invite
Visit whatsapp.com/dl on your mobile phone to install.
By installing WhatsApp, you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.
Chat Using A Macintosh
Mac OS X 10.10 and higher. WhatsApp must be installed on your phone.
By clicking the Download button, you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.
Download for Windows 8 and higher (64-bit)
Download for Windows 8 and higher (32-bit)
One of the things we were trying to do with our gaming was meet some basic needs. If we do not meet those needs in normal healthy ways, we will suffer much stronger urges to game again. Some basic needs to cover are social needs, self expression, creativity, a sense of challenge and accomplishment, stress relief, a sense of purpose and meaning, and a sense of safety through control and predictability.
Here are some ideas for activities that will help meet these needs, reduce cravings, help with recovery from addiction, and fill some of the hours freed from compulsive gaming.
Please don’t let the length of this list overwhelm you. The idea is not to start ten new things and try to change everything all at once. We seek small bits of progress, not perfection. A good place to start is to put first things first. What need is currently most important? What’s right in front of me? What opportunity has come my way recently? If we take steps of small improvement with one or two areas each day, we are moving in the right direction.
Stress Relief
- Talking with a sponsor or recovery buddy, CGAA meetings, or step work
- Getting outside for fresh air and sunlight by taking a walk or doing some outdoor work
- Meditation, coloring, craft work, journaling, or reading
Sense of safety through freedom, control, and predictability
- Goal setting
- Counseling or psychotherapy
- Home organization, renovation, or spring cleaning
Sense of purpose, meaning, and self-respect
- Supporting and growing the larger CGAA fellowship through service work like helping run a meeting, starting a local meeting, doing outreach to professionals, or attending CGAA business meetings
- Attending a spiritual group like meditation, yoga, spiritual retreat, or religious gathering
- Doing volunteer work like teaching, helping others, animal care, or building community places
- Caring for a pet, house plants, or garden
Social needs
- Attending CGAA meetings, connecting outside of meetings, reaching out to newcomers, or calling someone
- Joining a hobby group like theater, a hiking group, art workshop, book club, public speaking, board games or card game group
- Hosting a fun event like board games night or karaoke
- Playing team sports, taking up martial arts, or playing one-on-one sports
- Going to fun events like concerts, dances, or events on meetup.com
- Calling up, video conferencing, or visiting with friends, family, neighbors, or other communities
Self expression and creativity
- Journaling, opening up to a CGAA sponsor, or sharing openly in a meeting
- Art work like drawing, photography, sculpting, or creative writing
- Performance art like theater, singing, playing music, or writing music
Sense of challenge and accomplishment
- Working the steps with a sponsor
- Crafts like woodworking, origami, knitting
- Outdoor activities like gardening, geocaching, bird watching, star gazing, tracking, plant identification, survival skills, or boating
- Learning something like a foreign language, dancing, magic tricks, mechanical repair, cooking, a musical instrument, or computer programming
- Career goals like getting a new job, starting a business, enrolling in school, or taking classes
Reconnection to one’s body and whole self
- Meditating on breath, sounds, or bodily sensations
- Exercise like walking, hiking, swimming, cycling, yoga, jogging, going to a gym, or playing a sport
If you are in your first week or two off of games, it’s likely that few of these ideas will appeal to you. That’s normal. Until our minds and bodies have some time to heal, we have low interest, energy, and motivation. This list will probably not give you something that you can plug in place of video games and immediately throw yourself into with the same zeal. This list is meant to help us explore new ways of spending our time, meeting our needs, and connecting with people. Find a few that hold some appeal and try taking some small steps in their direction. If you can’t seem to think of anything fun to do except game, you can come back to this list, find the most appealing thing, and just take a couple of little steps in its direction.
Consider setting reminders for yourself or keeping a schedule of your time and new activities. It is important to appreciate the small victories of exercising willpower, regaining motivation, and socializing. It helps to discuss our progress and the challenges we experience with a CGAA sponsor, recovery buddy, personal counselor, or therapist.
Rediscovering What is Fun
It is normal to think that nothing but gaming sounds fun. For most of us, our years of compulsive gaming warped and narrowed our idea of fun. As small children, it meant almost anything new or interesting or social or even mildly rewarding. Years of pulling the dopamine lever with video games changed our concept of fun to require instant gratification, frequent rewards, clear and constant progress, excitement, intense visuals, control, and/or predictability.
Part of recovery is letting our concept of fun expand back outward to a wide world of possible new challenges and experiences, many of which are calm and subtle compared to video games. It takes time to overcome withdrawals and heal from the damage, but the change does happen if we abstain from all gaming long term and focus on new pursuits and improving our lives. This list has many activities that do not meet the old, narrow, warped idea of “fun,” but those of us who persist at exploring them do find many to be gratifying and enjoyable.
Take, for example, a hike up a mountain. To a group of hikers excited to venture into the wilderness with friends and see wildlife and panoramic views from on high, all while getting a great workout, it’s a ton of fun. To someone who is uninterested in hiking, out of shape, and focused on every little unpleasant aspect of it, it’s a torturous death march. It is exactly the same hike in either case. The difference is in the attitude and conditioning.
The same is true with every item of these lists. Whether or not an activity sounds fun or torturous depends entirely upon attitude and conditioning. Every one of them has the potential to be gratifying and enjoyable if we adopt a positive attitude, try to have fun, and persist at it, especially when we involve friends and like-minded people.
Helpful fellowships and resources
While CGAA does not endorse and is not officially connected with the following groups, we believe that friends and family may be able to connect with others and find helpful resources. They can provide guidance on dealing with addiction in general, on healing from its effects, and on how to go about building a recovery fellowship. Meetings are available in many places. Al-Anon, Nar-Anon and CoDA each has its own recovery literature.
The Gamer-Anon fellowship is for parents, spouses, and other family to support each other in dealing with compulsive video gaming within the family.
The Al-Anon fellowship has existed since 1951 for the family and friends of alcoholics. As the oldest and most well attended of the fellowships for family and friends, its members have a wide breadth and depth of experience to share on living with addicts and healing from the ill effects and dysfunctional patterns.
The Nar-Anon fellowship has existed since 1968 for the family and friends of those suffering from addiction.
Co-Dependents Anonymous has existed since 1986 and is a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships.
This group is in e-mail format. Participants send and receive e-mail to take part in discussions. You can receive your posts all together, in one delivery each day, or you can receive them one-by-one, as they are sent.
The choice is yours. It’s fun, easy, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To join, complete the form below and click the submit button.
Subscribe to Caregiver-Online
You can subscribe to Caregiver-online by following this link and completing the form. After completing the Subscription form you will email requesting confirmation, to prevent others from gratuitously subscribing you. This is a hidden list, which means that the list of members is available only to the list administrator.
To subscribe, Use this Link and complete the subscription form online:
http://lists.caregiver.org/mailman/listinfo/caregiver-online_lists.caregiver.org
Using Caregiver-online
To post a message to all the list members, send email to caregiver-online@lists.caregiver.org. Be sure to subscribe first!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/familyrecoverysupport
Saturdays, 6:30-7:30AM PST
Contact Donna at 631-589-3790 or 631-835-8788 Email donna526@aol.com
Download the GotoMeeting app on your mobile phone, tablet or computer or go to www.gotomeeting.com on your computer
When asked for the meeting ID type in 115381933
What is Families Anonymous?
Families Anonymous celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2021. We were formed in 1971 by a group of concerned parents in California who were seeking ways of dealing with the problem of substance abuse and addiction in their children. Our members include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, significant others, other family members and friends of those with a current, suspected or former drug problem. We have been one of the best kept secrets in the recovery community, even though we have groups throughout the world.
Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems. When you come into our rooms you are no longer alone, but among friends who have experienced similar problems. Any concerned person is encouraged to attend our meetings, even if there is only a suspicion of a problem.
Your identity is protected in our meetings. We know each other by our first names only. Anonymity of our members is paramount to the success of our program. Not only is anonymity an underlying principle of the program, but it is so important that it is part of our name.
You have nothing to lose but your pain and anger. Read on if you are ready to find the peace and serenity that our members have found through the working of the FA program.
Families Anonymous Virtual Group 1187
Saturdays, 7:30-8:30PM PST
Meeting Contact: Call 860-922-4548 for meeting and link information
What is Families Anonymous?
Families Anonymous celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2021. We were formed in 1971 by a group of concerned parents in California who were seeking ways of dealing with the problem of substance abuse and addiction in their children. Our members include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, significant others, other family members and friends of those with a current, suspected or former drug problem. We have been one of the best kept secrets in the recovery community, even though we have groups throughout the world.
Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems. When you come into our rooms you are no longer alone, but among friends who have experienced similar problems. Any concerned person is encouraged to attend our meetings, even if there is only a suspicion of a problem.
Your identity is protected in our meetings. We know each other by our first names only. Anonymity of our members is paramount to the success of our program. Not only is anonymity an underlying principle of the program, but it is so important that it is part of our name.
You have nothing to lose but your pain and anger. Read on if you are ready to find the peace and serenity that our members have found through the working of the FA program.
Saturday, 12-1PM PST
Meeting Contact:
NOTE: THIS IS A PHONE MEETING ONLY
phone meeting 605-313-5141, passcode 164804#
Please contact the group for information on how to attend the meeting.
Email go@familiesanonymous.org
What is Families Anonymous?
Families Anonymous celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2021. We were formed in 1971 by a group of concerned parents in California who were seeking ways of dealing with the problem of substance abuse and addiction in their children. Our members include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, significant others, other family members and friends of those with a current, suspected or former drug problem. We have been one of the best kept secrets in the recovery community, even though we have groups throughout the world.
Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems. When you come into our rooms you are no longer alone, but among friends who have experienced similar problems. Any concerned person is encouraged to attend our meetings, even if there is only a suspicion of a problem.
Your identity is protected in our meetings. We know each other by our first names only. Anonymity of our members is paramount to the success of our program. Not only is anonymity an underlying principle of the program, but it is so important that it is part of our name.
You have nothing to lose but your pain and anger. Read on if you are ready to find the peace and serenity that our members have found through the working of the FA program.
Families Anonymous Virtual Group 2175
Saturday, 2-3PM PST
Meeting Contact:
Please contact the group for information on how to attend the meeting. Email JMcClain@covenantatlanta.org
What is Families Anonymous?
Families Anonymous celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2021. We were formed in 1971 by a group of concerned parents in California who were seeking ways of dealing with the problem of substance abuse and addiction in their children. Our members include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, significant others, other family members and friends of those with a current, suspected or former drug problem. We have been one of the best kept secrets in the recovery community, even though we have groups throughout the world.
Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems. When you come into our rooms you are no longer alone, but among friends who have experienced similar problems. Any concerned person is encouraged to attend our meetings, even if there is only a suspicion of a problem.
Your identity is protected in our meetings. We know each other by our first names only. Anonymity of our members is paramount to the success of our program. Not only is anonymity an underlying principle of the program, but it is so important that it is part of our name.
You have nothing to lose but your pain and anger. Read on if you are ready to find the peace and serenity that our members have found through the working of the FA program.
Saturdays, 5:30-6:30PM PST
Meeting Contact: jeffmpma@yahoo.com
or
Text/call 847-778- 1008 ( cell)
What is Families Anonymous?
Families Anonymous celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2021. We were formed in 1971 by a group of concerned parents in California who were seeking ways of dealing with the problem of substance abuse and addiction in their children. Our members include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, significant others, other family members and friends of those with a current, suspected or former drug problem. We have been one of the best kept secrets in the recovery community, even though we have groups throughout the world.
Families Anonymous is a 12 Step fellowship for the families and friends who have known a feeling of desperation concerning the destructive behavior of someone very near to them, whether caused by drugs, alcohol, or related behavioral problems. When you come into our rooms you are no longer alone, but among friends who have experienced similar problems. Any concerned person is encouraged to attend our meetings, even if there is only a suspicion of a problem.
Your identity is protected in our meetings. We know each other by our first names only. Anonymity of our members is paramount to the success of our program. Not only is anonymity an underlying principle of the program, but it is so important that it is part of our name.
You have nothing to lose but your pain and anger. Read on if you are ready to find the peace and serenity that our members have found through the working of the FA program.
Act immediately if you believe your child is missing.
Download this checklist of actions to be taken by families in the initial stages of a missing child case.
If you have any questions call the NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678). If you are not located in the United States, call your country’s hotline.
NCMEC is the nation’s largest and most influential child protection organization.
We lead the fight to protect children, creating vital resources for them and the people who keep them safe.
When you call NCMEC, a Call Center specialist will record information about your child. A NCMEC case management team will next work directly with your family and the law enforcement agency investigating your case. They will offer technical assistance tailored to your case to help ensure all available search and recovery methods are used. As appropriate NCMEC case management teams:
- Rapidly create and disseminate posters to help generate leads.
- Rapidly review, analyze and disseminate leads received on 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) to the investigating law enforcement agency.
- Communicate with federal agencies to provide services to assist in the location and recovery of missing children.
- Provide peer support, resources and empowerment from trained volunteers who have experienced a missing child incident in their own family.
- Provide families with access to referrals they may use to help process any emotional or counseling needs.
Parent Stress Line
1-800 – 632 – 8188
Call our Parent Stress Line any time and any day of the week
if you need to vent about the stress from taking care of a child or children. 18006328188
A Kids Book About School Shootings
Crystal Woodman Miller
Many of us are going to need to find the words to talk to the kids in our lives about tragic events like the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Here’s a free resource from A Kids Company About to help you do that was written by Crystal Woodman-Miller, one of the survivors of the Columbine school shooting.
I hate that we need tools like this. I can’t wait for us to have to write the book “A Kids Book About Why It’s So Hard To Buy A Gun”
Link: www.akidsco.com
There aren’t enough words to explain all the thoughts, emotions, and heartbreak that comes with yesterday’s tragedy in Uvalde. We hope this book helps everyone start somewhere.
We’re making #AKidsBookAboutSchoolShootings free for kids, grownups, and educators everywhere, so that this conversation can get started when it matters most.
FREE DOWNLOAD
A Kids Book About School Shootings by Crystal Woodman Miller:
Link: akidsco.com
The Ultimate List of Support Groups for Black Moms
Brown Mamas – Pittsburgh & U.S. – Brown Mamas, Inc. has been around for seven years in the Pittsburgh region. Brown Mamas began in the living room of Muffy Mendoza. What started as 5 moms has grown to over 4000 Our mamas love our Pittsburgh chapter so much that we are expanding. If you are mom who is ready to not just find her tribe, but to inspire other mothers and be the change she wants to see in her community, click here to learn more about starting your own Brown Mamas chapter.
Black Moms Connect – Canada & U.S.
Mommin’ Society – North Carolina & Online
Moms of Black Boys United – Atlanta & Online
Moms Make It Work – NYC
Mocha Moms, Inc. – U.S. (seriously, everywhere)
Whine & Cheese – 27 Chapters in U.S. (including D.C., PA, South Carolina, New York, etc.)
Motherwork by Mater Mea – NYC
Beautiful Brown Girls Brunch Club – New Jersey
District Motherhued’s DMV MomTribe – D.C. Metro Area
Soul Food for Your Baby – Hawthorne, Calif.
Black Moms Blog Events – Atlanta, GA
Birthing Beautiful Communities – Cleveland, OH
Tessera Collective – Online, Self-Care Support
Melanin Mommies – Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Black Breastfeeding Circle –
Not-So Melinated Support Groups for Black Moms
Facebook Support Groups for Black Moms
Black Stay-At-Home Mom Village
Black Moms in College & Beyond
Who We Are
All family and friends of compulsive gamers welcome
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83671786251
Meeting ID: 836 7178 6251
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,83671786251# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,83671786251# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 826 013 5782
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k0jt3FGFs
All family and friends of compulsive gamers welcome
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83671786251
Meeting ID: 836 7178 6251
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,83671786251# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,83671786251# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 826 013 5782
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k0jt3FGFs
Gamers Find A Local Support Group
Use the link below to get more information about local groups and a notification when a local meeting is started. Due to the COVID pandemic, most meetings are currently held in an outdoor setting or online.
| Oregon | Contact |
| Bend, OR | bend@cgaa.info |
| Eugene, OR | eugene@cgaa.info |
| Medford, OR | medford@cgaa.info |
| Portland, OR | portland@cgaa.info |
| Salem, OR | salem@cgaa.info |
SUPPORT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
What Can I Do?
Video gaming is a common pastime. To many people, it is surprising that it can become a serious addiction, that is, an activity that is engaged in compulsively, without control or concern for consequences.
Video gaming addiction is a very serious problem that is harmful to everyone it touches. Since everyone involved suffers from it, everyone involved needs some help. Here are some important things to know.
First, no one is responsible for someone else’s compulsive gaming. As the Al-Anon slogan goes, “I didn’t cause it, I can’t control it, and I can’t cure it.”
You didn’t cause it.
Some people partly blame themselves for the dysfunctional behavior of their family members, particularly with addicts who are very quick to shift responsibility off themselves and blame others. Perhaps you played games with your loved one, purchased games, or encouraged it, thinking it was a harmless leisure activity. Maybe you’ve been involved in some conflict and wonder if that has driven him or her to hide away in gaming. But no one is responsible for another person’s behavior or mental disorders.
You can’t control it.
You may have already tried to talk to your friend or family member. Perhaps you have bargained with them, or given ultimatums. You have tried to help them see what damage they are doing to themselves and others. And none of it has worked. This is baffling to you. Why don’t they seem to understand or care? Why can’t they see what is obvious to you? This is actually a symptom of the disease of addiction, one that destines efforts for control to failure.
You can’t cure it.
We all would like to believe that we have the ability to help those we love. We often think that if we can just get the right information, figure out the right thing to say or do, perhaps change something about ourselves, we can fix the problem. People should be able to solve their own problems. Why can’t we do that with this one? There is a simple reason. There is no cure for addiction. It requires treatment. The recovery process is long and difficult. And there is only one person who can start that process, the one who is gaming compulsively. There are things you can do. Here are some suggestions that you may want to consider, that other family members and friends have found helpful.
Get information.
The literature of recovery fellowships for family and friends of addicts (such as Al-Anon) has much helpful guidance, some of which is available online as well. There are people who have been in situations very similar to yours, who have learned much from them, and who are willing to share the lessons learned, their experience, strength and hope. We hope you avail yourself of such resources.
Detach with love.
Putting energy into arguing with someone who is playing compulsively will not help either of you. Your loved one has a serious problem that you are powerless to control or cure, and that they will not get help until they want it. As much as you love someone, you cannot force this process on another person.
Stop enabling.
Paradoxically, at the same time people are arguing with, bargaining with or shaming a compulsive gamer, they are often (perhaps without realizing it) supporting the addiction in many ways. Anything that shields an addict from the consequences of his or her behavior is enabling, and can include such basic things as providing food, shelter, money, companionship, housekeeping, and covering for employment and legal difficulties. Helping a compulsive gamer keep up an appearance of normalcy is helping him or her continue in the destructive behavior. While you cannot change him or her, you can make changes for yourself. You can shift your energy away from enabling behaviors and toward meeting your own needs.
Take care of yourself.
Whether or not your loved one ever stops gaming, you deserve to have a healthy and happy life. Once you have accepted that you are powerless over their gaming behavior, you can begin to focus on what you can do for yourself, to accomplish your own goals. With the help of others who have been where you are, you can learn to set healthy boundaries and stick to them.
Join our WhatsApp Chat Site for Family and Friends!
Game-Anon
WhatsApp Group Invite
Visit whatsapp.com/dl on your mobile phone to install.
By installing WhatsApp, you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.
Chat Using A Macintosh
Mac OS X 10.10 and higher. WhatsApp must be installed on your phone.
By clicking the Download button, you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.
Download for Windows 8 and higher (64-bit)
Download for Windows 8 and higher (32-bit)
One of the things we were trying to do with our gaming was meet some basic needs. If we do not meet those needs in normal healthy ways, we will suffer much stronger urges to game again. Some basic needs to cover are social needs, self expression, creativity, a sense of challenge and accomplishment, stress relief, a sense of purpose and meaning, and a sense of safety through control and predictability.
Here are some ideas for activities that will help meet these needs, reduce cravings, help with recovery from addiction, and fill some of the hours freed from compulsive gaming.
Please don’t let the length of this list overwhelm you. The idea is not to start ten new things and try to change everything all at once. We seek small bits of progress, not perfection. A good place to start is to put first things first. What need is currently most important? What’s right in front of me? What opportunity has come my way recently? If we take steps of small improvement with one or two areas each day, we are moving in the right direction.
Stress Relief
- Talking with a sponsor or recovery buddy, CGAA meetings, or step work
- Getting outside for fresh air and sunlight by taking a walk or doing some outdoor work
- Meditation, coloring, craft work, journaling, or reading
Sense of safety through freedom, control, and predictability
- Goal setting
- Counseling or psychotherapy
- Home organization, renovation, or spring cleaning
Sense of purpose, meaning, and self-respect
- Supporting and growing the larger CGAA fellowship through service work like helping run a meeting, starting a local meeting, doing outreach to professionals, or attending CGAA business meetings
- Attending a spiritual group like meditation, yoga, spiritual retreat, or religious gathering
- Doing volunteer work like teaching, helping others, animal care, or building community places
- Caring for a pet, house plants, or garden
Social needs
- Attending CGAA meetings, connecting outside of meetings, reaching out to newcomers, or calling someone
- Joining a hobby group like theater, a hiking group, art workshop, book club, public speaking, board games or card game group
- Hosting a fun event like board games night or karaoke
- Playing team sports, taking up martial arts, or playing one-on-one sports
- Going to fun events like concerts, dances, or events on meetup.com
- Calling up, video conferencing, or visiting with friends, family, neighbors, or other communities
Self expression and creativity
- Journaling, opening up to a CGAA sponsor, or sharing openly in a meeting
- Art work like drawing, photography, sculpting, or creative writing
- Performance art like theater, singing, playing music, or writing music
Sense of challenge and accomplishment
- Working the steps with a sponsor
- Crafts like woodworking, origami, knitting
- Outdoor activities like gardening, geocaching, bird watching, star gazing, tracking, plant identification, survival skills, or boating
- Learning something like a foreign language, dancing, magic tricks, mechanical repair, cooking, a musical instrument, or computer programming
- Career goals like getting a new job, starting a business, enrolling in school, or taking classes
Reconnection to one’s body and whole self
- Meditating on breath, sounds, or bodily sensations
- Exercise like walking, hiking, swimming, cycling, yoga, jogging, going to a gym, or playing a sport
If you are in your first week or two off of games, it’s likely that few of these ideas will appeal to you. That’s normal. Until our minds and bodies have some time to heal, we have low interest, energy, and motivation. This list will probably not give you something that you can plug in place of video games and immediately throw yourself into with the same zeal. This list is meant to help us explore new ways of spending our time, meeting our needs, and connecting with people. Find a few that hold some appeal and try taking some small steps in their direction. If you can’t seem to think of anything fun to do except game, you can come back to this list, find the most appealing thing, and just take a couple of little steps in its direction.
Consider setting reminders for yourself or keeping a schedule of your time and new activities. It is important to appreciate the small victories of exercising willpower, regaining motivation, and socializing. It helps to discuss our progress and the challenges we experience with a CGAA sponsor, recovery buddy, personal counselor, or therapist.
Rediscovering What is Fun
It is normal to think that nothing but gaming sounds fun. For most of us, our years of compulsive gaming warped and narrowed our idea of fun. As small children, it meant almost anything new or interesting or social or even mildly rewarding. Years of pulling the dopamine lever with video games changed our concept of fun to require instant gratification, frequent rewards, clear and constant progress, excitement, intense visuals, control, and/or predictability.
Part of recovery is letting our concept of fun expand back outward to a wide world of possible new challenges and experiences, many of which are calm and subtle compared to video games. It takes time to overcome withdrawals and heal from the damage, but the change does happen if we abstain from all gaming long term and focus on new pursuits and improving our lives. This list has many activities that do not meet the old, narrow, warped idea of “fun,” but those of us who persist at exploring them do find many to be gratifying and enjoyable.
Take, for example, a hike up a mountain. To a group of hikers excited to venture into the wilderness with friends and see wildlife and panoramic views from on high, all while getting a great workout, it’s a ton of fun. To someone who is uninterested in hiking, out of shape, and focused on every little unpleasant aspect of it, it’s a torturous death march. It is exactly the same hike in either case. The difference is in the attitude and conditioning.
The same is true with every item of these lists. Whether or not an activity sounds fun or torturous depends entirely upon attitude and conditioning. Every one of them has the potential to be gratifying and enjoyable if we adopt a positive attitude, try to have fun, and persist at it, especially when we involve friends and like-minded people.
Helpful fellowships and resources
While CGAA does not endorse and is not officially connected with the following groups, we believe that friends and family may be able to connect with others and find helpful resources. They can provide guidance on dealing with addiction in general, on healing from its effects, and on how to go about building a recovery fellowship. Meetings are available in many places. Al-Anon, Nar-Anon and CoDA each has its own recovery literature.
The Gamer-Anon fellowship is for parents, spouses, and other family to support each other in dealing with compulsive video gaming within the family.
The Al-Anon fellowship has existed since 1951 for the family and friends of alcoholics. As the oldest and most well attended of the fellowships for family and friends, its members have a wide breadth and depth of experience to share on living with addicts and healing from the ill effects and dysfunctional patterns.
The Nar-Anon fellowship has existed since 1968 for the family and friends of those suffering from addiction.
Co-Dependents Anonymous has existed since 1986 and is a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships.
This group is in e-mail format. Participants send and receive e-mail to take part in discussions. You can receive your posts all together, in one delivery each day, or you can receive them one-by-one, as they are sent.
The choice is yours. It’s fun, easy, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To join, complete the form below and click the submit button.
Subscribe to Caregiver-Online
You can subscribe to Caregiver-online by following this link and completing the form. After completing the Subscription form you will email requesting confirmation, to prevent others from gratuitously subscribing you. This is a hidden list, which means that the list of members is available only to the list administrator.
To subscribe, Use this Link and complete the subscription form online:
http://lists.caregiver.org/mailman/listinfo/caregiver-online_lists.caregiver.org
Using Caregiver-online
To post a message to all the list members, send email to caregiver-online@lists.caregiver.org. Be sure to subscribe first!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/familyrecoverysupport
Heroin Anonymous World Services
Pacific Region
A New Direction
Sundays 8-9PM PT
Heroin Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship of men and women who have found a solution to heroin addiction. H.A. is a fellowship of complete abstinence from all drugs and alcohol. We are recovered heroin addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay sober. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop suffering from heroin addiction. There are no dues or fees for H.A. membership. H.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy and neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other heroin addicts to achieve sobriety.
To Attend Online, Use the Link Provided Below
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6661431439
No Password
CONTACT
Melissa (458) 292-7867
Act immediately if you believe your child is missing.
Download this checklist of actions to be taken by families in the initial stages of a missing child case.
If you have any questions call the NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678). If you are not located in the United States, call your country’s hotline.
NCMEC is the nation’s largest and most influential child protection organization.
We lead the fight to protect children, creating vital resources for them and the people who keep them safe.
When you call NCMEC, a Call Center specialist will record information about your child. A NCMEC case management team will next work directly with your family and the law enforcement agency investigating your case. They will offer technical assistance tailored to your case to help ensure all available search and recovery methods are used. As appropriate NCMEC case management teams:
- Rapidly create and disseminate posters to help generate leads.
- Rapidly review, analyze and disseminate leads received on 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) to the investigating law enforcement agency.
- Communicate with federal agencies to provide services to assist in the location and recovery of missing children.
- Provide peer support, resources and empowerment from trained volunteers who have experienced a missing child incident in their own family.
- Provide families with access to referrals they may use to help process any emotional or counseling needs.
Parent Stress Line
1-800 – 632 – 8188
Call our Parent Stress Line any time and any day of the week
if you need to vent about the stress from taking care of a child or children. 18006328188
A Kids Book About School Shootings
Crystal Woodman Miller
Many of us are going to need to find the words to talk to the kids in our lives about tragic events like the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Here’s a free resource from A Kids Company About to help you do that was written by Crystal Woodman-Miller, one of the survivors of the Columbine school shooting.
I hate that we need tools like this. I can’t wait for us to have to write the book “A Kids Book About Why It’s So Hard To Buy A Gun”
Link: www.akidsco.com
There aren’t enough words to explain all the thoughts, emotions, and heartbreak that comes with yesterday’s tragedy in Uvalde. We hope this book helps everyone start somewhere.
We’re making #AKidsBookAboutSchoolShootings free for kids, grownups, and educators everywhere, so that this conversation can get started when it matters most.
FREE DOWNLOAD
A Kids Book About School Shootings by Crystal Woodman Miller:
Link: akidsco.com
The Ultimate List of Support Groups for Black Moms
Brown Mamas – Pittsburgh & U.S. – Brown Mamas, Inc. has been around for seven years in the Pittsburgh region. Brown Mamas began in the living room of Muffy Mendoza. What started as 5 moms has grown to over 4000 Our mamas love our Pittsburgh chapter so much that we are expanding. If you are mom who is ready to not just find her tribe, but to inspire other mothers and be the change she wants to see in her community, click here to learn more about starting your own Brown Mamas chapter.
Black Moms Connect – Canada & U.S.
Mommin’ Society – North Carolina & Online
Moms of Black Boys United – Atlanta & Online
Moms Make It Work – NYC
Mocha Moms, Inc. – U.S. (seriously, everywhere)
Whine & Cheese – 27 Chapters in U.S. (including D.C., PA, South Carolina, New York, etc.)
Motherwork by Mater Mea – NYC
Beautiful Brown Girls Brunch Club – New Jersey
District Motherhued’s DMV MomTribe – D.C. Metro Area
Soul Food for Your Baby – Hawthorne, Calif.
Black Moms Blog Events – Atlanta, GA
Birthing Beautiful Communities – Cleveland, OH
Tessera Collective – Online, Self-Care Support
Melanin Mommies – Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Black Breastfeeding Circle –
Not-So Melinated Support Groups for Black Moms
Facebook Support Groups for Black Moms
Black Stay-At-Home Mom Village
Black Moms in College & Beyond
Who We Are
All family and friends of compulsive gamers welcome
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83671786251
Meeting ID: 836 7178 6251
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,83671786251# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,83671786251# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 826 013 5782
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k0jt3FGFs
All family and friends of compulsive gamers welcome
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83671786251
Meeting ID: 836 7178 6251
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,83671786251# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,83671786251# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 826 013 5782
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k0jt3FGFs
Gamers Find A Local Support Group
Use the link below to get more information about local groups and a notification when a local meeting is started. Due to the COVID pandemic, most meetings are currently held in an outdoor setting or online.
| Oregon | Contact |
| Bend, OR | bend@cgaa.info |
| Eugene, OR | eugene@cgaa.info |
| Medford, OR | medford@cgaa.info |
| Portland, OR | portland@cgaa.info |
| Salem, OR | salem@cgaa.info |
SUPPORT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
What Can I Do?
Video gaming is a common pastime. To many people, it is surprising that it can become a serious addiction, that is, an activity that is engaged in compulsively, without control or concern for consequences.
Video gaming addiction is a very serious problem that is harmful to everyone it touches. Since everyone involved suffers from it, everyone involved needs some help. Here are some important things to know.
First, no one is responsible for someone else’s compulsive gaming. As the Al-Anon slogan goes, “I didn’t cause it, I can’t control it, and I can’t cure it.”
You didn’t cause it.
Some people partly blame themselves for the dysfunctional behavior of their family members, particularly with addicts who are very quick to shift responsibility off themselves and blame others. Perhaps you played games with your loved one, purchased games, or encouraged it, thinking it was a harmless leisure activity. Maybe you’ve been involved in some conflict and wonder if that has driven him or her to hide away in gaming. But no one is responsible for another person’s behavior or mental disorders.
You can’t control it.
You may have already tried to talk to your friend or family member. Perhaps you have bargained with them, or given ultimatums. You have tried to help them see what damage they are doing to themselves and others. And none of it has worked. This is baffling to you. Why don’t they seem to understand or care? Why can’t they see what is obvious to you? This is actually a symptom of the disease of addiction, one that destines efforts for control to failure.
You can’t cure it.
We all would like to believe that we have the ability to help those we love. We often think that if we can just get the right information, figure out the right thing to say or do, perhaps change something about ourselves, we can fix the problem. People should be able to solve their own problems. Why can’t we do that with this one? There is a simple reason. There is no cure for addiction. It requires treatment. The recovery process is long and difficult. And there is only one person who can start that process, the one who is gaming compulsively. There are things you can do. Here are some suggestions that you may want to consider, that other family members and friends have found helpful.
Get information.
The literature of recovery fellowships for family and friends of addicts (such as Al-Anon) has much helpful guidance, some of which is available online as well. There are people who have been in situations very similar to yours, who have learned much from them, and who are willing to share the lessons learned, their experience, strength and hope. We hope you avail yourself of such resources.
Detach with love.
Putting energy into arguing with someone who is playing compulsively will not help either of you. Your loved one has a serious problem that you are powerless to control or cure, and that they will not get help until they want it. As much as you love someone, you cannot force this process on another person.
Stop enabling.
Paradoxically, at the same time people are arguing with, bargaining with or shaming a compulsive gamer, they are often (perhaps without realizing it) supporting the addiction in many ways. Anything that shields an addict from the consequences of his or her behavior is enabling, and can include such basic things as providing food, shelter, money, companionship, housekeeping, and covering for employment and legal difficulties. Helping a compulsive gamer keep up an appearance of normalcy is helping him or her continue in the destructive behavior. While you cannot change him or her, you can make changes for yourself. You can shift your energy away from enabling behaviors and toward meeting your own needs.
Take care of yourself.
Whether or not your loved one ever stops gaming, you deserve to have a healthy and happy life. Once you have accepted that you are powerless over their gaming behavior, you can begin to focus on what you can do for yourself, to accomplish your own goals. With the help of others who have been where you are, you can learn to set healthy boundaries and stick to them.
Join our WhatsApp Chat Site for Family and Friends!
Game-Anon
WhatsApp Group Invite
Visit whatsapp.com/dl on your mobile phone to install.
By installing WhatsApp, you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.
Chat Using A Macintosh
Mac OS X 10.10 and higher. WhatsApp must be installed on your phone.
By clicking the Download button, you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.
Download for Windows 8 and higher (64-bit)
Download for Windows 8 and higher (32-bit)
One of the things we were trying to do with our gaming was meet some basic needs. If we do not meet those needs in normal healthy ways, we will suffer much stronger urges to game again. Some basic needs to cover are social needs, self expression, creativity, a sense of challenge and accomplishment, stress relief, a sense of purpose and meaning, and a sense of safety through control and predictability.
Here are some ideas for activities that will help meet these needs, reduce cravings, help with recovery from addiction, and fill some of the hours freed from compulsive gaming.
Please don’t let the length of this list overwhelm you. The idea is not to start ten new things and try to change everything all at once. We seek small bits of progress, not perfection. A good place to start is to put first things first. What need is currently most important? What’s right in front of me? What opportunity has come my way recently? If we take steps of small improvement with one or two areas each day, we are moving in the right direction.
Stress Relief
- Talking with a sponsor or recovery buddy, CGAA meetings, or step work
- Getting outside for fresh air and sunlight by taking a walk or doing some outdoor work
- Meditation, coloring, craft work, journaling, or reading
Sense of safety through freedom, control, and predictability
- Goal setting
- Counseling or psychotherapy
- Home organization, renovation, or spring cleaning
Sense of purpose, meaning, and self-respect
- Supporting and growing the larger CGAA fellowship through service work like helping run a meeting, starting a local meeting, doing outreach to professionals, or attending CGAA business meetings
- Attending a spiritual group like meditation, yoga, spiritual retreat, or religious gathering
- Doing volunteer work like teaching, helping others, animal care, or building community places
- Caring for a pet, house plants, or garden
Social needs
- Attending CGAA meetings, connecting outside of meetings, reaching out to newcomers, or calling someone
- Joining a hobby group like theater, a hiking group, art workshop, book club, public speaking, board games or card game group
- Hosting a fun event like board games night or karaoke
- Playing team sports, taking up martial arts, or playing one-on-one sports
- Going to fun events like concerts, dances, or events on meetup.com
- Calling up, video conferencing, or visiting with friends, family, neighbors, or other communities
Self expression and creativity
- Journaling, opening up to a CGAA sponsor, or sharing openly in a meeting
- Art work like drawing, photography, sculpting, or creative writing
- Performance art like theater, singing, playing music, or writing music
Sense of challenge and accomplishment
- Working the steps with a sponsor
- Crafts like woodworking, origami, knitting
- Outdoor activities like gardening, geocaching, bird watching, star gazing, tracking, plant identification, survival skills, or boating
- Learning something like a foreign language, dancing, magic tricks, mechanical repair, cooking, a musical instrument, or computer programming
- Career goals like getting a new job, starting a business, enrolling in school, or taking classes
Reconnection to one’s body and whole self
- Meditating on breath, sounds, or bodily sensations
- Exercise like walking, hiking, swimming, cycling, yoga, jogging, going to a gym, or playing a sport
If you are in your first week or two off of games, it’s likely that few of these ideas will appeal to you. That’s normal. Until our minds and bodies have some time to heal, we have low interest, energy, and motivation. This list will probably not give you something that you can plug in place of video games and immediately throw yourself into with the same zeal. This list is meant to help us explore new ways of spending our time, meeting our needs, and connecting with people. Find a few that hold some appeal and try taking some small steps in their direction. If you can’t seem to think of anything fun to do except game, you can come back to this list, find the most appealing thing, and just take a couple of little steps in its direction.
Consider setting reminders for yourself or keeping a schedule of your time and new activities. It is important to appreciate the small victories of exercising willpower, regaining motivation, and socializing. It helps to discuss our progress and the challenges we experience with a CGAA sponsor, recovery buddy, personal counselor, or therapist.
Rediscovering What is Fun
It is normal to think that nothing but gaming sounds fun. For most of us, our years of compulsive gaming warped and narrowed our idea of fun. As small children, it meant almost anything new or interesting or social or even mildly rewarding. Years of pulling the dopamine lever with video games changed our concept of fun to require instant gratification, frequent rewards, clear and constant progress, excitement, intense visuals, control, and/or predictability.
Part of recovery is letting our concept of fun expand back outward to a wide world of possible new challenges and experiences, many of which are calm and subtle compared to video games. It takes time to overcome withdrawals and heal from the damage, but the change does happen if we abstain from all gaming long term and focus on new pursuits and improving our lives. This list has many activities that do not meet the old, narrow, warped idea of “fun,” but those of us who persist at exploring them do find many to be gratifying and enjoyable.
Take, for example, a hike up a mountain. To a group of hikers excited to venture into the wilderness with friends and see wildlife and panoramic views from on high, all while getting a great workout, it’s a ton of fun. To someone who is uninterested in hiking, out of shape, and focused on every little unpleasant aspect of it, it’s a torturous death march. It is exactly the same hike in either case. The difference is in the attitude and conditioning.
The same is true with every item of these lists. Whether or not an activity sounds fun or torturous depends entirely upon attitude and conditioning. Every one of them has the potential to be gratifying and enjoyable if we adopt a positive attitude, try to have fun, and persist at it, especially when we involve friends and like-minded people.
Helpful fellowships and resources
While CGAA does not endorse and is not officially connected with the following groups, we believe that friends and family may be able to connect with others and find helpful resources. They can provide guidance on dealing with addiction in general, on healing from its effects, and on how to go about building a recovery fellowship. Meetings are available in many places. Al-Anon, Nar-Anon and CoDA each has its own recovery literature.
The Gamer-Anon fellowship is for parents, spouses, and other family to support each other in dealing with compulsive video gaming within the family.
The Al-Anon fellowship has existed since 1951 for the family and friends of alcoholics. As the oldest and most well attended of the fellowships for family and friends, its members have a wide breadth and depth of experience to share on living with addicts and healing from the ill effects and dysfunctional patterns.
The Nar-Anon fellowship has existed since 1968 for the family and friends of those suffering from addiction.
Co-Dependents Anonymous has existed since 1986 and is a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships.