Product Description
In this revolutionary analysis of addiction, Peele and Brodsky draw on years of research to refute the contention that addictions are biologically based diseases that last a lifetime. Examining addiction within the context of people's lives, they show that addictive behavior is a way of coping with situational stress--and that it can be overcome without medical treatment or 12-step groups. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Cool
Very important subject; tools to assist in the recovery of substances are extremely valuable. New information is necessary to keep us all up to date.
Aaron Bryant: BSW, CSAC AuthorA Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery

Awareness Enhanced
Reading this book shows that there are other thoughts on the issue of addiction. When the disease concept doesn't sit well, when talking, and talking in that self-help place seems like, well, just talk, and a higher power leaves you feeling inpatient, it's good to know that it there are others that feel another direction, or method is worth doing. Awareness of self. development of new coping skills, and a change of environment are key factors. I find a lot of stuff here that makes perfect sense. There are those who have had repeated treatment episodes (residential or out patient) only to find themselves back in another(program), maybe it's time to revise the form of treatment. This is the thinking of this book, and why I like it and will enjoy reading it for the second time.

not evidence based and pathetically out-of-date
Since this book was published there has been a great deal of ground breaking scientific research in the addiction's field. Physical evidence, including MRI's etc. have shown that it is indeed a disease, a brain disease, a chronic, relapsing disease.It has become the largest cost to our health care in the US, and recognizing it as a disease simply removes the stigma and allows for associate health care solutions that would impact all of us.AA or not, whatever works for the individual-go for it. Do some research on what are ("evidence-based", not Peele's circular thinking) the most effective treatment approaches.Be a critical thinker and don't just jump on Peele's bandwagon.His only claim to fame is the regurgiation of the same ole same ole anti-disease model information.If he were not so unique and contrarian, hewould be selling pencils outside Bloomingdales.

Zero Stars and Zero Value
Save your money, this book can be summed up in 16 words:"I hate AA and NA because they won't let me continue to drink and use drugs."

A total waste of time to read

Not the truth
This guy is stupid and crazy and has no idea what he is talking about. Not one person I have ever met in this field agrees with this idiot or any of his books. Nothing he claims has ever been proven and nobody outside of his book has ever stepped foward to agree with his methods or opinions on addiction. He really needs some sort of treatment himself. Dave. ... Read more

Product Description
This book carefully walks someone struggling with porngraphy through the steps to recovery. This book begins with how pornography becomes a problem in the mind and how it becomes addictive. Then it teaches the reader how to rewrite the patterns in the mind. It closes with the key steps of recovery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Important topic
The continued education and search for additional information is imperative to addiction.
Aaron Bryant: CSAC, BSWAuthorA Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery

Amazing
This book is amazing, for any women who has a partner struggling with this it is also good for you.

Useful tips, but taking the entirely wrong attitude towards recovery
From someone who has recently stopped smoking through Allen Carr's Easy way to quit smoking, I have an idea of what helped me along that process (or the addiction process in general) and an understanding of things that may not have. I turned to this book because it was specific to quitting pornography.
To start with, Dr. Skinner does a great job of illuminating the "reaction sequence." This little illustration in his book, along with a description of what you feel when facing an addiction, is phenomenal and does help with self awareness. Therefore the first half of the book is down to earth, encouraging and great. And then comes the second half..
He spends most of the second half saying.. You'll fail.. You'll fail and should continue therapy.. It's dam tough, and yeah you'll fail so keep someone close. Absolutely no positivity, I was almost considering resuming my addiction because he made it seem so hopeless [in stark contrast to Allen Carr's optimism which I found inspiring]. In addition, way too much of a moral overtone and help seeking from "God." This is an addiction, I think we have all tried whining to a higher power and it hasn't gotten us far. Jokes aside if you want to have faith great, but he certainly didn't do a good job incorporating that aspect in.

In conclusion, good read, but pick it up if you want to learn more about your addiction, not if you want some inspiration to start or continue your journey.

great for therapy
This book has basic condensed skills that is helpful for treating porn addiction.I like the exercises and the graphs that the client can complete and learn from.It is also a faster way for the theraputic process than the usual psychotherapy.

Very Helpful
I have been in a 12 step program for sexual recovery for years and this
book put things in a new way that was very helpful.Rather than just
depending on a vague higher power there are very concrete tools and processes to use in this book.The author certainly understands pornography addiction thoroughly (unlike most therapists) and talks about it in a way that anypornography addict can relate to.A definite addition to a toolkit to deal with this horrible addiction ... Read more

Product Description
"No matter what happens, you don't have to pick up a drink or drug today." These words tend to strike fear in the hearts of many alcoholics and addicts who are new to recovery, because just one day without booze or drugs may as well be an eternity. It can seem like an impossible task to get through twenty-four hours, never mind a week or a month - so just how do we get that proverbial monkey off our backs?

This book is full of suggestions that can work for anyone who is new to recovery or trying to get clean and sober again. The author has drawn on her own experiences and those of others in early recovery to determine the 'Fifty Things Every Alcoholic and Addict Should Know,' including:

The First Thirty Days-What to expect and how to get through it......Things to Avoid-Protecting your recovery and coping with stress......Relapse-Warning signs and tools for moving forward again ......Family-How to include them and rebuild relationships......Dating in Recovery-The not so good, the bad and the ugly......Dry Drunk-How not to be one......Twelve Step Programs-How they work and what you should know.

Believe it or not, it doesn't matter how you got to this point in your life - the most important part is that you did. Too many alcoholics and addicts die from this disease before they get a chance to fight it. Just remember that you don't have to do it alone. There are people who want to help, those who have been to the bottom and back and are now living a life without drugs and alcohol. All you need to have is the willingness to follow some simple suggestions that have worked for many others and can work for you too. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Don't Let the Bastards Grind You down:
This book offered me a lot of insight into the mind of an addict.It was well written & offered the author's thoughts, not a "do this" attitude.I am not an addict but have an alcoholic son that I love but realize that I cannot help...only try to understand.I would recommend this read to someone who cares about an addict as well as the addict seeking recovery.

Nice!
Very important subject; tools to assist in the recovery of substances are extremely valuable. New information is necessary to keep us all up to date.
Aaron Bryant: BSW, CSAC AuthorA Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery

a sense of humor about a serious human problem
Well written for all of us folks who have ever been in an alcoholic family,what a ride. And the legacy it leaves some family members with. Either future participants, or just collateral damage. Laughing or crying so being a part of everyones' life; just seems to have much more drama when alcohol is being consumed . This book is a bare bones account of what you can do to help yourself.

great book
this book is great in early recovery.i was thrown off by the cartoon like cover but after starting to read it i just love it.it's written in an easy way so that it keeps ur interest.great book!

Lacking.
I bought this book for my husband and we both found it extremely lacking. It read like a magazine article or a pamphlet. There was no insight in it at all. If you want to read somehting in an hour just to say you did than this is the book for you, if you're looking for more - keep looking. ... Read more

Product Description
The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure contains the powerful three-step program to total recovery that is the basis of the miraculous success of the Passages Addiction Cure Center in Malibu, California. You'll learn the three steps to permanent sobriety; the four causes of dependency; how your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs are key factors in your recovery; and how to create your own personalized treatment program with the help of health professionals where you live--one that gets to the real, underlying causes of dependency. A visionary and an innovator, Chris Prentiss brings new hope to people everywhere who are dependent on drugs, alcohol, or addictive behaviors. This groundbreaking approach will show you how to end relapse, end your craving, end addictive behavior, and end your suffering. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (84)

Worth the read
A very different approach to curing addictions from AA or NA but an option some may find appealing.Many AA members could be offended by some of the Authors beliefs but they have been proven (according to the Author) to work for over 80% of his addicts.It is a very interesting read.

It's a scam!!!
This book is a scam, the author does not delivered the name of the book, it tells you to go to one of their rehab centers, I bought it and I feel a fool for believing about this book, there is nothing that teach you about curing yourself, it tells you to go to a rehab center, you don't need to buy this garbage book to know that. I wish they would take this scam book off the market.

Refreshing Approach to Addiction
"The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure:A Holistic Approach to Total Recovery" is a breath of fresh air in the treatment of addiction issues.The stories that are shared in this book make it a "marvelous read".The honesty and authenticity of both father and son are clear on each page.They believe in their message and the success rate of their program speaks for itself.There are other models for dealing with addiction and this book highlights an approach that is well worth investigating for yourself or someone you know who struggles with addiction.

Kelli Malcolm, Esq.
Author of forthcoming book, "Sidestepping the 12 Steps:Using Metaphysical Principles to Move Beyond Addiction"

Interesting
I think it is an interesting book. That said I have been an alcoholic/addict for many years. I am a strong believer in Eastern medicine, massage, acupuncture, and some things in western medicine like Naltrexone which they do not mention (the Sinclair Method which is brilliant). Even with the latter, I LIKE to be out of my mind at times. WHY? Because I was abused as a child? I am an emotional mess? Perhaps, but perhaps it is just some way I found of coping. I hate myself often afterwards, I know how to fill my body with "good flora for my intestines" massage, exercise, name it. The fact is that like MOST addict/alcoholics I believe we have a deeper more profound sense of feeling. How it developed I am not sure, we just see the finite fact of life. Loves come and go, money comes and goes, family comes and goes, everything goes--why not be happy if even it is artificial. I believe by nature we are atheistic, that is why the religious do so well in AA---they are genetic alcoholics/addicts who can hand their lives over to the afterlife that some of us do not believe is. This is the impediment to sobriety for most of us that relapse or continue to drink/drug. I see NO future after death, I see the fact that life is what it is, a finite venture about reproduction and passing on our genes just so we move on and die and become part of the soil and the building blocks of new life. Sorry to sound this way, but I would bet MOST alcoholics/addicts that cannot or do not recover 100% feel this way. Why do I say 100%? Because at 19 I was told I can NEVER drink again, at 37 I have drank most of my life. yes after the "indoctrination" I lost all control, but I learned controlled functional, recreational usage and for me it works. I may die younger, likely already have some form of liver disease, but I do what I can to meliorate the damage through supplements, nutrition and controlled "craziness".

B.S.
Save your time! Save your money! Maybe 100 pages of content in a 316 page book. 85 pages of author's pampered son's escapades in addiction, which border on bragging. 76 pages of questions and answers. Come On!!! One can only hope that the California treatment center is better than the book! ... Read more

Product Description
For writers, artists, musicians, and creators in every field, this book offers a complete addiction recovery program specifically designed for the creative person. Full of explanations and exercises, this book presents ways to use your own innate creative abilities in service of your recovery and at each stage of the recovery process. Topics include: the biological and developmental risks unique to creative people; the special personality traits that can inform the recovery process; ways to approach your recovery much like your art; and exercises that promote your creativity and art that aid the recovery process. This book gives a clear picture of the relationship between creativity and addiction and lays out a complete program so that you can live a fully creative and addiction-free life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Creatively Addressing Addiction Problems
It's a pleasure to read this self-help book for creative types who want to look at their relationship with alcohol or drugs. Psychotherapists who want an overview and new ideas about how to work with people with these problems will find this a terrific resource too. As a psychologist who specializes in treating alcohol and drug problems, I am impressed that the approach draws on up-to-date information in the field, but in a fresh way. My favorite chapter is call "The Existential or Spiritual Leap." It shows a deep understanding of the power of AA, but also outlines the existential path for people who do not consider themselves to be spiritual. Philip Keddy, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, Oakland, CA.Creative Recovery: A Complete Addiction Treatment Program That Uses Your Natural Creativity

mandatory reading for artists and their loved ones
I am an artist in recovery (24 years sober).I wish this book had been available when I first sobered up, but, hey, it's here now.My path has been the 12 Steps and I appreciate the fact this book acknowledges many different paths while remaining very respectful of the 12 Steps. It has been my impression that there are a lot of musicians, painters, actors, and performers in recovery.The idea that our creativity can be intimately involved in the healing of our addiction really moved me.The exercises are great and worth doing. Most of my drinking, as odd as it sounds, was an attempt to live at a deeper level within myself.I still seek this in recovery without booze and art is a way to spend part of my day at a deeper level.Call it spiritual,... whatever. This book is a manual and set of directions for what I have been trying to practice on my own.I sponsor several guys in our program, and creativity (writing, drawing, music, drama, dance) is a centerpiece of keeping balance in many of their lives.It's a way to let the soul breathe, if you will.I congratulate the authors and thank them for linking creativity and recovery together in a practical, life- and career-saving way. Recommended for people trying to stay sober and clean and live a vital, engaged life in recovery. Recovery is not for wimps but we can learn from one another and this book pulls a lot of accrued wisdom together.Very well written. Exhaustive coverage of the subject but pretty easy to read.

A guide for creative types who have been plagued with an addiction they have struggled to overcome
The creative energies that all people have can be used for more than art or inventing. "Creative Recovery: A Complete Addiction Treatment Program That Uses Your Natural Creativity" is a guide for creative types who have been plagued with an addiction they have struggled to overcome. With many examples and ideas for readers to help put their creativity to use, no matter what it is, be it prose, poetry, painting, or anything else, it helps creative types deal with the addictions that may plague them. With solid and fresh ideas throughout, "Creative Recovery" is worth acquiring for any artisans who want to be free of the diseases that plague them.

The most intelligent and compassionate information about the Recovery process ever.
This is a unique, incredibly insightful book about the courageous journey of recovery.One will understand addictions and be relieved to know that there is a path to a joyful life.There are specific recommendations for the journey, tapping into the oftentimes hidden creative forces within us.Thank goodness for this loving yet instructive book.I have been in the substance-abuse recovery profession for over 25 years and in Recovery myself.I will be recommending this book to anyone interested in the real work and understanding of his/heraddiction.Janet K; Oakland, California ... Read more

Product Description
Sustained abstinence from an addiction is only the first stage of recovery; real recovery begins with Stage II--the rebuilding of the life that was saved in Stage I. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Cool
Very important subject; tools to assist in the recovery of substances are extremely valuable. New information is necessary to keep us all up to date.
Aaron Bryant: BSW, CSAC AuthorA Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery

Timely
At 18 months of recover I was beginning to ask myself (fretfully) "Is this all there is to being sober?!" I was burning out on meetings, sick of the tedium and the platitudes, actually bored with "working the program". Then along came Larsen's book and within a few pages the light went on in my clearing (not yet cleared) brain that not drinking doesn't equal being sober; it just means I no longer take the elixer that makes me not care about being an ass. I'm still an ass, a non-boozing one.

"Stage II Recovery" is a road map for continuing the journey, which by the way isn't an easy ride. I'm still trudging and at times laboriously ~ in a healthy direction. Maybe someday I'll be sober AND happy; maybe not, but I will have given it my best shot.

Stage II Recovery
I am a recovering alcoholic and I ordered Stage II Recovery per a friend's recommendation.I am so glad I did!It is a simple plan that gives good advice and direction once you have sobered up and you ask, "Now what?"I found it totally inspiring, and it helped me get a plan for myself in action.

A must for those newly on this journey.
This book is a must for those newly on the journey of recovery. It offers insight rarely seen to help people battling addictions of all kinds.

Take the next step
There's a lot more to recovery than sobriety.Earnie Larson lays it out clearly and concisely in this little book full of big opportunities for taking inventory of all the ways addictions to patterns of behavior can be just as damaging as addictions to substances.This is a must read for anyone struggling to participate in healthy, happy, conscious relationships, and a great reminder that sobriety is only the first stage of real recovery. ... Read more

Product Description
On June 28, 1996, Patricia Holloran’s life changed forever when Drug Control confronted her for the theft of narcotics from the hospital where she worked. So begins a journey that will change everything about what she knows about herself and the world of addiction.

As a nurse in a labor and delivery unit, Holloran was working full time on the night shift and taking care of her three children, her husband, and her severely disabled father. She started to take Stadol, a narcotic ten times stronger than morphine, to help her sleep. She kept taking it because she could not stop.

Putting a face on addiction and recovery, and the taboo subject of healthcare worker abuse, Impaired takes readers on Holloran’s journey to fight for her sobriety, her nursing license, her marriage, and ultimately, to help other nurses and healthcare workers who suffer from addiction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

a must read for health care professionalsKaren RN,MN
Like many nurses, I spent most of my 27 years as a RN thinking of alcoholism and drug abuse as more of a character flaw than a disease. This book helped me open my mind to begin to understand. All nurses could learn so much about the illness and recovery if they will read this book.Thank you Patty for sharing this very personal and pain filled time in your life.I inhaled this book in a few days and plan to start over again for a second read because there is so much to learn.

Up front and honest
This is a very important topic substance abuse concerns permeate all facets of our society. Hearing the courageous stories of people's struggle with addiction helps to bring strength to all of us.
Aaron Bryant: BSW,CSACAuthor A Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery

AWESOME!!!
Being an Rn Addict myself this book was wonderful. It helped me work through many of my feelings. It also has helped my friends and family exactly understand about my addiction, feelings, action, etc.

Broadened perspective
Having a loved one experiencing the struggle described in Impaired, I looked to many sources for guidance on how to best support her in her recovery. Understanding the depth of her struggle is key and this book provided new insight. With an impending appearance before the nursing board, the detailed description of the authors experience provides us tools with which we can prepare. Valuable not only to medical professionals, I enthusiastically recommend Impaired to family members, loved ones, or friends of nurses struggling with addiction.

Not Just for Nurses
I think this book would be especially useful to those in the medical profession - addicts, whether in recovery or needing to be, as well as their colleagues and administrators.There is a wealth of information that could help anyone needing to know how to navigate the path of getting help, especially if there has been disciplinary action taken.Others would also be well served in knowing the struggles of their co-workers to be able to view them with empathy and provide support.

Much of the information could be helpful to anyone, not just medical professionals, who is dealing with their own addiction or that of someone else.

I also am simply a fan of memoirs, and I enjoy reading about the triumph over struggles.This book is an enjoyable read on that front as well. ... Read more

Product Description
Evaluate medications and treatment programs

Break free from addictive substances or behaviors and get a fresh start

Think you have an addiction? This compassionate guide helps you identify the problem and work towards a healthy, realistic approach to recovery, explaining the latest clinical and self-help treatments for both adults and teens. This book also offers tips on reducing cravings, handling your relationships, and staying well for the long run.

Discover how to
* Identify the reasons for addiction
* Choose the best treatment plan
* Handle slips and relapses
* Detect addictions in a loved one
* Find help and support ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Cool
Very important subject; tools to assist in the recovery of substances are extremely valuable. New information is necessary to keep us all up to date.
Aaron Bryant: BSW, CSAC AuthorA Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery

Addiction & Recovery for Dummies
I am dealing with the very real issue of addiction with my son and this book has opened my eyes in ways I can't explain.It has also given me the hope that there is a "better" way to beat addiction with the basic tools I have learned from this book.It is a definite 'go-to' book for the average person dealing with the addiction and recovery process of a family member or friend and I seem to not be able to put it down.I read briefly about a treatment option (Ibogaine) that is not used in the US because it is not approved however, I really think this treatment might be exactly what he needs.Any Comments?
[...]

Sweet
I am a professional in the Substance Abuse field, there are ALLOT of crap
books out there...

This one is simple and to the point...

JUST BUY IT...

understanding addiction
I am medical doctor,but not an expert in addiction.With this book ,I could
understand some issues about addiction and help one member of my family.
I recomend purchase this book if you have problems with addiction or know a friend or a member of your family with this problem.

got it for a friend
I bought it for a friend and he enjoys it--information he didn't know was in here! ... Read more

Product Description

Hope and Healing for Children
Hurt by Addiction in the Family

'I have spent my adult life in the company of children who have been my teachers. We got to know each other because someone in each child's life was addicted to alcohol or other drugs.

For thirty years I have had a front-row seat in group watching, learning, and helping these youngest victims of addicted families, children who live with a legacy that can break hearts and destroy souls--one they certainly did not choose. They arrive carrying secrets, confusion, and pain. But almost all find their voice. These children can and do heal.'

Understanding Addiction and Recovery Through a Child's Eyes shares the poignant and profound healing journeys of children who have found their voice and reclaimed their sense of self-worth. Each story reminds us that children have a unique way of viewing the world and shows how, with help, they can build upon strengths and deepen their resilience in spite of living in the shadow of addiction. In addition to the life-affirming stories, esteemed children's counselor Jerry Moe reveals how the healing process transcends the children and has a dramatic impact on the entire family system--especially their parents, giving them a new, deeper commitment to break the multigenerational legacy of addiction.

Customer Reviews (2)

Outstanding read on the effects of the disease of addiction on the children.
I knew the author when he was in the bay area....I've heard from the children that were in his groups....He is real, honest and loving and the children see this and feel this...This book I use to educate my parents on the importance of educating their children around issues of addiction and the importance of letting go of secrets...It has been a great tool to educate incarcerated men and women on the effects of their disease on themselves and their children. They don't seem so much to care about themselves, but they do care about their children. This book has been a great motivator for parents to do something about their addiction.

Deeply Touched
A vital book for understanding the effects that addiction can have on the children, who are so often forgotton amongst the chaos of the disease.Heart touching stories paint a realistic view of what occurs in families who are plagued with alcohol and drug addiction. Easy to read. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A MUST HAVE BOOK for practitioners in the RECOVERY field!!!
This book was suggested to me by one of my professors. It is one of the best books written on the History of the profession of RECOVERY!
I believe that ALL practitioners in the field of RECOVERY should read this book, or at least OWN it as a reference guide. You will use it over and over again.
I liked it so much, I bought two copies.

The perfect alcoholism history
I'll bet not one person in a hundred who is employed in the addictions field has any idea of the history of their profession. This is a history book that is chock full of the befuddled efforts of millions of people who have tried almost everything to get sober. Carrie Nation, The Keeley Institute, Kellogg and his corn flakes, the gold IV injection treatment, and the use of methamphetimine right down to MADD... this book details a group of people who, on their own, tried to fight addiction and support each other in their sobriety. All this without the help of the government until recent times. A textbook, a whodunnit, an emotional journey through helland out the other sideThis is the definitive history of addiction treatment attempts in the United States of America. How anyone can call themselves a therapist and not have an intimate knowledge of this material is beyond me. Three thumbs up!

Excellant history of chemical dependency
As a clinical person both in mental health and addiction medicine I can say without reservation that this is the most complete and interesting books on the topic. You won't be sorry you bought this one and will keep in you libray for life.

Slaying The Dragon
A very thorough account of the addiction field from it's first conception up the the conflicts in this area in the present day.
This book contains an excellent historical context which is useful to many addictions professionals.

One of the BEST Histories of Treatment in the U.S.
This is one of the most comprehensive historical books on the history of addiction treatment and recovery I have read. Not just a history of Alcoholics Anonymous, it covers the cures, the fakes, the trials and tribulations of attempting to treat alcoholism and other drug addiction in America.

It should be a "must read" for anyone interested in treatment and recovery. William L. White did a great service for the treatment field by writing this book ... Read more

Product Description
"A very up-to-date 'Consumer's Guide' to the best-of-the-best in addiction solutions. A must read for everyone trying to help solve this problem."-Mark F. Kern Founder and Director of Addiction Alternatives and Life Managements Skills, Inc.

"An instant classic, Professors Cloud and Granfield carefully show how solving existential problems is the only way people "recover" from the metaphorical disease called "addiction." Recovery from Addiction should be required reading for anyone who believes addiction "treatment" is necessary, let alone effective.-Jeffrey A. Schaler, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor of Justice, Law and Society,American University, Washington, DC, and author of Addiction Is a Choice.

"In Recovery from Addiction, Drs. Cloud and Granfield have illuminated the secret side of addiction. The model of addiction most prominently paraded in American culture today represents a one sided view built on observations of the behavior of a MINORITY of persons suffering from addictive disorders, i.e., those unable to make positive changes without some type of outside intervention. In dispelling the myth of the universality of that model, Cloud and Granfield accurately describe how persons fall into addiction and the characteristics of the majority of this group who develop and follow strategies for unassisted positive change. This book is must reading for addiction students, educators and those desiring a reality based understanding of addictive behavior."-J. Michael Faragher, Psy.D. CACIII, Associate Dean, School of Professional Studies,Metropolitan State College of Denver

Millions of people enter or seriously consider entering alcohol or drug treatment each year. In their understandable state of urgency, most first-time treatment seekers and their loved ones may rush to the first treatment option they encounter. They are unlikely to be aware of why one form of intervention would be a good choice for their particular problem or why some approaches may, under some conditions, actually be harmful. Lacking reliable information, they are unable to make informed choices.

Recovery from Addiction offers a concise, reader-friendly guide for substance dependent persons, their families, and friends to help make sense of the full range of available treatment options.

Cloud and Granfield introduce readers to their options, from inpatient and outpatient programs and today's major pharmacological approaches to alternative therapies including strategies for using the Internet to access support meetings and approaches which do not call for life-long abstinence from the substances now causing the problem. They outline the underlying principles of each program, its pros and cons, and what a participant can expect when entering that type of treatment, guiding readers in choosing the approach likely to be best for them or their loved one. They also provide specific strategies for addicted individuals who wish to consider recovery on their own, without groups or treatment.

A vital resource for addicts wishing to recover and their loved ones, Recovery from Addiction is also a valuable tool for health care professionals, from social workers to school counselors, responsible for referring clients to drug and alcohol recovery programs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Important topic
The continued education and search for additional information is imperative to addiction.
Aaron Bryant: CSAC, BSWAuthorA Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery ... Read more

Product Description
The key to ongoing freedom from alcoholism or any other kind of addiction is right before us, here and now, in the ordinary and perfect present moment. The problem is that addictions are often the result of our efforts to escape living in the present in the first place. Bill Alexander’s unique approach uses mindfulness (a nonjudgmental awareness of our moment-to-moment experience), story, and meditation to help alcoholics and others learn to come back to the present moment and find healing there. Emerging scientific research suggests that mindfulness can help prevent addiction relapse.

Ordinary Recovery is a revised edition of Alexander’s book Cool Water, with a new foreword, a new preface by the author, updates throughout the book, and a new resources section. ... Read more

Product Description
"Dr. Patrick Carnes is a creative,pioneering, and courageous human being. His books arechanging the lives ofthousands!"

"I lost three marriages, all because of affairs.""I became suicidal because of multiple intenseinvolvements."

"I spent money on sex when Ineeded it for children's clothes."

"Ilost promotion opportunities and a specialscholarship because my co-workers found out about my sexlife."

Every day they face the possibility ofdestruction, risking their families, fiances,jobs, dignity, and health. They come from all walksof life: ministers, physicians, therapists,politicians, executives, blue-collar workers. Most wereabused as children--sexually, physically oremotionally--and saw addictive behavior in their earlylives. Most grapple with other addictions as well,but their fiercest battle is with the mostastounding prevalent "secret" disorder inAmerica: sexual addiction. Here is a ground-breakingwork by the nation's leading professional expert onsexual addiction, based on the candid testimony ofmore than one thousand recovering sexual addictsin the first major scientific study of thedisorder. This essential volume includes not only therevealing findings of Dr. Carne's research withrecovering addicts but also advice from the addicts andco-addicts themselves as they work to overcometheir compulsive behavior. Positive, hopeful, andpractical, Don't Call It Love isa landmark book that helps us better understandall addictions, their causes, and the difficult pathto recovery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Nice!
The continued education and search for additional information is imperative to addiction.
Aaron Bryant: CSAC, BSWAuthor A Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery

I don't need any more books.
After reading several books about sexual addiction to help me heal and to save our marriage, I found this book.It was so helpful that I saw a light at the end of the long and dark tunnel.It is very realistic, blunt, but caring.A lot of other talks so much about god which didn't really help for me.i do believe in god, don't get me wrong.but for some reason, i needed more facts and knowledge of this awful sickness more than trying to grab something you don't understand.my husband and i read it together and we are working towards our true happiness again.thank you!

Most helpful book on sex addiction and recovery so far... albeit really dumb title
As the wife of a recovering sex addict this book has been immensity helpful.Although it may be dated (and what's up with the title?) it is the best I've read so far (and I ordered about 20 books on the subject) because it deals with the underlying reasons why an addict "acts out" and the causes and faulty belief patterns of the addict.This helps one to understand the shame cycle and how it developed through a rigid and disengaged family life and how the addict uses a quick fix to fill the void, escape, self medicate for the pain caused by low self esteem and high desire for acceptance.This will help recovering sex addicts, porn addicts and their families through the recovery process.

a masterpiece
this book is a masterpeice for the 12-step program. Even though it is not listed as an " official" SLAA literature, it's been helping many addicts and will help many more. Strongly recommended!

Don't Call It Love
Excellent book.I felt so alone and didn't know where to turn.This book helped me see that others are stuggling with the same behaviors that I am.Behaviors that may have endagered my life, but that I am at least able to stop now.Hopefully I'll live through this and become a better person.The person that I believe God wants me to be. ... Read more

Product Description
(The Haworth Medical Press)Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Enables readers with little or no background in science or health care to understand the complex issues surrounding drug use. Provides current, unbiased information on methods for dealing with dependency. Softcover, hardcover not yet available. ... Read more

Product Description
"This wise book provides practical exercises that will help us to develop conscious awareness and inner understanding, and the ways and means to free us from unsatisfying habits, addictions, and unconscious behavior patterns. I recommend it highly."
––Lama Surya Das, author of the bestselling Awakening the Buddha Within

"Anyone interested in finding a kind, spiritual guide to recovery that focuses on flexibility rather than the ‘one true way’ will benefit from this enjoyable and helpful book."
––Maia Szalavitz, coauthor with Joseph Volpicelli, M.D., of Recovery Options: The Complete Guide

In Mindful Recovery, you’ll discover a fresh and effective method for healing from addiction that can help you handle important challenges, from managing anxiety and resisting cravings to dealing with emotional and physical imbalance.

Drawing on both ancient spiritual wisdom and the authors’ extensive clinical psychological work with their patients over many years, Mindful Recovery shows you how to use the simple Buddhist practice of mindfulness to be aware of–– and enjoy–– life in the present moment without the need to enhance or avoid experience with addictive behaviors.Mindful Recovery guides you step by step through ten powerful "doorways" to mindful recovery, giving you specific strategies that can help you cultivate a sense of calm awareness and balance in your life.

Filled with personal stories of recovery, practical exercises, instructions for meditation, and more, Mindful Recovery accompanies you on a journey of exploration and healing that will help you find the strength and the tools to change, leading you to a fresh new experience of everyday living. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

compassionate
Very important subject; tools to assist in the recovery of substances are extremely valuable. New information is necessary to keep us all up to date.
Aaron Bryant: BSW, CSAC AuthorA Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery

the spiritual link
This is a good book that will gently assist you in finding the spiritual link to recovery without the religious overtone.

There are many great practices that will help heal the source of addiction.

Early 'sobriety' (whatever the addiction) can be extremely difficult to maintain just by reading books...tho this is a good one.

What worked best for me?A 12-step support group.12 years ago, that is what finally helped me to get clean and sober...and stay clean and sober.

Blessings on your journey!

great book...took a little long to get here
The content of the book is great and we are glad to have it. We just feel that it took a little long to arrive. Usually we receive items quicker.

Non totalitarian, very wise, aproach to addiction and related issues
This book is the best I have read on dealing with recovery from alcohol
and addiction. I have read most of the classic works in this field including AA's "The Big Book," Albert Ellis's book "When AA doesn't Work for you," "Sober For Good....." and work as a volunteer group facilitator for SMART Recovery, a self help group based on Ellis's REBT and Cognitive Psychology that has an astounding success rate in a very short time span.


The book is very sensitively written, and contains much wisdom and practices on dealing with this devastating social, psychological epidemic, which is spreading rapidly due to the increasingly stressful aspects of modern life. I particularly liked what the author says about the importance of living in the movement and the 9 doors of recovery.

There is a westernized, non-religious, Buddhist ideological foundation based on compassion, mindfulness, and living an authentic life in the "NOW." However, unlike the largely Christian based AA (which is the proverbial 1200 pound gorilla in this field, and has helped millions of people), this isn't "in your face" religious like the majority o 12 step initiatives: you can take or leave the "Buddhist Element" and get a lot out of this book. Also, unlike AA/NA, this doesn't take an "all or nothing approach." and doesn't deem the person experiencing these problems "powerless" or having a lifetime disease.

Nevertheless, AA is very effective in dealing with people at all stages
of the addiction recovery cycle, while this work is really more appropriate for people in a post abstinence phase and in preventing relapse- although it does give "some" credence to the highly controversial moderation maintenance approach for people with less severe cases of this affliction. Bien, also, gives an excellent portrayal of Diclemete's Stages of Change model for addiction and recovery, and, as I stated originally, is perhaps the most insightful contemporary book (AA started in the 1930's)for a mass audience in this domain. Also, Ellis, before his passing last year, was rumored to be working on a book linking cognitive (in his case rebt) thought and mindfulness, a noble and,perhaps, necessary global synthesis. Finally, I know my statements could draw some ire from AA diehards, where I think that their general inability to tolerate criticism, like some world religions, is one of their greatest weaknesses.

Worth Your Time
This is definitely a book worth reading, whether you are dealing with your own addiction (of any kind) or if someone you know is.It is written from a "spiritual" perspective, though not spiritual in the sense of any one particular religious or philosophical tradition. For example, the author looks for inspiration from Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, etc.

Thomas Bien writes in a gentle, understanding and encouraging tone. Thisis one of those books that can be picked up and read a few pages at a time, from any point.It is worth your time and money. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether addicted or not, we all have stories to tell

The stories of tragedy and redemptionfound within Tales of Addiction are not about the well known celebrities you find in the usual tabloids. Rather, these stories are true-grit tales told by people you will never meet but whose words will haunt you for months, years maybe. The author collected the stories for over two years through a "call for stories" she put in journals, workshops and lectures. Interwoven throughout, Barbara and her son share their own story of painand struggle. In this book, you'll learn:

Product Description
This profound yet practical guide by a veteran recovery professional goes further than any other book in pinpointing why addictions are so tenacious, how we all suffer from them to a greater or lesser extent, and the true, time-tested steps toward freeing yourself.

No social problem today causes greater confusion than addiction. Whatever form it takes—alcohol, heroin, cocaine, nicotine, etc.—it tears apart homes and relationships, destroys careers and futures, and leaves loved ones asking: Why couldn’t he stop once and for all? Or “get better”? Or control himself?

Despite everything that’s been said and written, many people remain deeply confounded about these problems. The addiction-treatment field itself is in a state of civil war because there is no consensus on what addiction is, much less what to do about it.

Based on years of hard-won experience by a preeminent specialist in addictive behavior, Thinking Simply About Addiction explains the core truth of addiction: It is not a neurosis, a physical malady, a behavioral choice, or, in the narrowest sense, a moral failure. It is an “automatism”—an involuntary, non-stoppable behavior that once triggered leaves the addict powerless. It is a human problem and a part of human nature. As such, it is something that we all experience.

In four to-the-point chapters, Thinking Simply About Addiction rises above the noise level and provides real-world help and new ways of thinking for addicts and those who care for them. Its insights are so profoundly clear and sensible that many readers will be able to say: Finally, someone gets it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Of Bicycles, Swimming, and Addiction.
Back when I first became interested in the science of addiction, I was fascinated by an article in Parabola magazine by Dr. Richard Sandor, a Los Angeles psychiatrist with many years of experience treating alcoholics and other drug addicts. In the article, Sandor suggested that a good deal of addictive behavior could profitably be viewed as a form of dissociation. I quoted from that article in my book about addiction, and now he has published a book of his own.

Thinking Simply About Addiction: A Handbook for Recovery, focuses on the current controversy over Alcoholics Anonymous and its 12-Step variants, and takes a reasoned, thoughtful approach to the so-called spiritual aspects of recovery.

While acknowledging that addiction is "correctly understood as a disease," Sandor diverges a bit from the mainstream disease theory of addiction, believing that addictions are "diseases of automaticity--automatisms--developments in the central nervous system that cannot be eliminated but can be rendered dormant."

As examples of simple automatisms, Sandor cites bicycle riding and swimming, two behaviors it is impossible to "unlearn." Consider swimming: If, for some reason, it became extremely dangerous for you to swim (pollution, a heart condition, sharks), the problem is that "you literally cannot choose not to swim. Your only reliable choice is to stay out of the water, to become abstinent."

Much of the confusion over addiction, the author maintains, is that "we miss the essential quality that defines addiction as a disease: Something someone has rather than something they're doing."

Where does the "Higher Power" concept fit into all this? Sandor endorses the wider view taken by many psychologists and thinkers, from Gregory Bateson to C.G. Jung. In line with his theme of keeping it simple, Sandor suggests that thinking about a Higher Power may mean coming to realize that "the body's capacity to restore itself is part of something much larger than our operations and medications... If you like, it comes from God. If you don't like, it comes from a Higher Power, from Nature, from five billion years of the evolution of life on Earth, from the created universe, from whatever you want to call it."

A sympathetic, informative look at the realities of addiction treatment and recovery.

Deeply Flawed
The author fails to account for NIH project Match which showed that the 12 steps were no more effective than secular methods. The author is biased because he assumes that you can't have spirituality without a Higher Power implying that Buddhism isn't spiritual. The author is misinformed because a 12 step Higher Power must be able to remove character defects and have a will for you making a 12 step Higher power incompatible with the Higher Powers found in Deism, Non-dualist Hinduism, and in Spinoza's God. The author is arrogant by implying that those who do not agree with his spiritual/religious precepts are narcissistic.

Potent and Straight-Forward
I recommend this book for people struggling with addiction and those in the treatment industry.I have read this book twice and refer back to certain parts numerous times.It is a keeper.

All four chapters of the book lay it all out...

Is Addiction a Disease?None of the same tired arguments here.This chapter has a lucid discussion of the automaticity theory of addiction that is gaining momentum in the field.The author takes to task the black and white thinking of both sides of the disease debate.Both sides seem to have muddied what should be a simple discussion of the loss of control a person may or may not have with the substances of addiction.

Why Me?This chapter reaches deep into what the author deems as the best research in the field.It best exemplifies the "Thinking Simply" part of the title for this book -- written for easy understanding.

Does Treatment "Work"?This is a very informative chapter for caregivers and those in the treatment industry.Throw out all those claims of "success rates" by treatment providers.The author supports treatment, but gives a candid review of why it may or may not "work."

Is A Spiritual Awakening Necessary for Recovery?The short answer is yes, but the author has a very wide definition of spirituality.Although the premise may seem like a downer: addiction as a metaphor for suffering, and in suffering a search for meaning... this chapter is actually very hopeful, upbeat, and positive for those struggling with addiction.This chapter might be good for addiction caregivers that wonder why abstinence doesn't necessarily lead to relapse-free recovery.

The only negative about this book (for some): the constant drumbeat toward 12-step participation.In summary (P.98): "The goal of treatment is to help patients overcome obstacles to becoming dedicated, active members of a 12-step group."The author admits his bias (p. 156): "I stress the 12-step groups here because they are widely available, free, and adapted specifically for recovery from addiction."The author leaves open the possibility of finding other paths but the heavy emphasis is on the 12-step groups.

A Solid Voice in a Sea of Nonsense:
This is a must read for anyone with any level of interest in the topic of addiction.
Within these pages one can explore the evolved medical meaning of addiction, the pathway out of this horrific condition and a solid set of suggestions for recovery. It is not often that an "expert" (in this case, the author has earned that rank) spells out what to demand from (what I refer to as) the recovery industry/experience but the author here spells out those expectations. This is all simply addressed within this excellent book in a field/topic to often crowed with sad nonsense.
As devoted agnostic - I found much in this book stimulating to the 12 Step "spiritual" conversation and I found the link between Gurdjeff and C.S. Lewis as not only greatly amusing but also profound.
If one is interested in the addiction topic or pondering the spiritual aspects of 12 steps - THINKING SIMPLY will be a highly helpful read.
... Read more

Product Description
Renowned therapist, eating disorder specialist and recovering food addict Kay Sheppard has helped countless individuals win their battles over food addiction—people for whom diets, pills and purging have become a way of life. In 1993, her groundbreaking book, Food Addiction: The Body Knows, explained the illness of food addiction from the physiological origins through recovery.

Today, obesity is on the rise. In addition to the 300,000 overweight people in this country, millions more who may not look overweight are unable to control their eating. From the First Bite, offers the latest medical insights into food addiction coupled with time-tested, practical advice.

This book includes compelling personal stories and do's and don't's from other recovering and relapsed food addicts, including the author herself. It explains:

how to avoid the physiological and situational triggers that lead to relapse;how to establish a balanced food plan that eliminates cravings; andhow to avoid the hidden dangers in cleverly packaged foods.

It also includes a handy Twelve-Step workbook.

Just as Sheppard’s first book broke new ground, her latest work offers a critical first step for food addicts on the road to physical, emotional and spiritual recovery.

------------- Could You Be a Food Addict?

Your answers to the following questions may help you identify whether you have a food addiction problem:

Has anyone ever told you that you have a problem with food?

Do you think food is a problem for you?

Do you eat large amounts of high-calorie food in short amounts of time?

Do you eat over your feelings?

Can you stop eating whenever you wish?

Has your eating or weight ever interfered with your jobs, relationships or finances?

How often do you get weighed?

Do you ever judge yourself by the number on your scale?

Do you often eat more than you planned to eat?

Have you hidden food or eaten in secret?

Have you become angry when someone eats food you have put aside for yourself?

Have you ever been anxious about your size, shape or weight?

How many weight-loss programs have you tried?

List all of the ways you have attempted to lose weight.

Do you manipulate ways to be alone so that you can eat privately?

Do your friends and companions overeat or binge eat?

How often do you overeat?

If your answers to these questions concern you, seek guidance. The path to recovery involves recognition, admission and acceptance. Identification of the problem-realizing that something is wrong-leads to recovery. Help can be found in treatment programs, private therapy and in self-help programs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Food addiction recovery.
For those who want to release themselves from food addiction, this is an excellent manual.

From the First Bite
Easy reading and understanding of food addiction. A worthwhile book to use on a regular basics and to study either alone or with others.

Hold the wheat and the sugar...for life.
I grabbed this book off the shelf of a bookstore....and it just floored me. I knew I had found an answer for me. The writer, Kay Sheppard, is very strict and she tells the reader what to do and in a way that makes you agree to follow her orders, because it makes sense and you know, deep down, that what she is saying true. I have not finished the book, yet, but I have been wheat-free and sugar-free for one month. And I am feeling better than I have in a long long time. My energy is beginning to come back, my mood is stable, my brain fog gone. I am still working on the portion control, but I know that Kay Sheppard will tell me what I need to know, and show me how to get there. No excuses allowed.

Helpful!
Not the best book that I have read on the subject but worth the read.

This Plan Works Miracles
I have not tried this diet myself but I am friends with a man who has been doing the plan for the past 3 years and he has lost over 300 pounds and continues to maintain his weight.

For all of the reviewers who says this is a ridiculous plan, many overweight people don't want to face the fact that they are addicts and in order to lose weight and keep it off, they must forever give up certain foods, especially the processed junk that contains sugar and bleached flours.These are the foods that keep you overweight and yo-yo dieting.I am not a follower of Kay Sheppard's.I just know this from experience and common sense.If you are overweight and have a history of yo-yo dieting, yes, you are a food addict and should take a serious look at the foods that you eat and how they are affecting your body, as well as your mind.Removing certain substances from your diet is the REAL key to losing and maintaining your weight, not "miracle" diet pills and other fad diets.

This is a very hard diet to stick to, especially if you're used to eating junk and/or overly processed foods.However, if you are truly sick and tired of being overweight, obese and addicted, then there is a very strong possibility this can be your answer.As with any successful plan, it's very important that, while you are on it, you have a very strong support system, whether it be attending meetings or having family/friends there for support.

I have seen first hand, with my own eyes, what this plan can do.How it can change your life.I highly recommend this to anyone who has tried everything else and continues to fail. ... Read more

Product Description

Addictions specialist Dr. Ruben explodes myths of romantic love and exposes sex for what it really is—a power hungry craving on everyone's mind. The book graphically reveals secrets of sex addicts and nonsex additions. It explicitly tells why people want sex, how they get sex, and where they get sex. Rapid cures are given for curiosity seekers turned addicts. Easy-to-apply steps convert sex addicts into sex lovers in days, not months.

ASK HIM: What drives average people to be sex maniacs? How does it consume their lives? Is sex like food—do you need it? How much and how little do you need sex before you, too, get addicted? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

OVERLY SIMPLISTIC
First let me say that there are a few good points in this book, but if your looking for a book that will help you understand sex addiction and heal from it,there are much better choices! This book is overly simplistic and incredibly superficial. It's take on sexual addiction, I believe, will only frustrate someone that is looking for legitimate reasons and solutions to problem sexual behaviour.It also trivializes the idea of love.I definitely wouldn't buy this book again. ... Read more

Product Description
The Substance Abuse & Recovery Workbook contains self-assessments, exploratory activities, reflective journaling exercises and educational handouts - all reproducible - to help participants discover their habitual and ineffective methods of managing substance abuse, and to explore new ways for bringing about healing.The book contains five sections that help individuals: Determine the level of their addiction; Examine personality traits that predispose them to various addictions; Measure codependency characteristics; Understand relapse warning signs; Identify excuses they may be using to continue their abuse of substances. Addictions come in many shapes and forms. The assessments and activities help participants deal with a wide variety of addictions including: drug and alcohol, caffeine, tobacco products, computers, gambling and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great workbook
I have used this workbook when working with both adults and teens.The work is easy to do and touches on areas that just talking alone may miss. ... Read more