Coping with / advice about drug and alcohol problems Books

Book SynopsisDo you worry that you drink too much? Or perhaps you fear that your dependence on drugs, food, sex, or some other vice is spiralling out of control, and taking your quality of life with it? In Who Says I'm an Addict?, David Smallwood looks at the issue of addiction with compassion, clarity, and wisdom that comes not only from his own difficult journey with addiction, but from his considerable experience overseeing treatment programmes in rehabilitation clinics.David looks in detail at all areas of addiction, from denial, hitting rock bottom, and dealing with shame and guilt, to how our family of origin and the traumas we go through in childhood influence us in later life. He then explores the road to long-term recovery, guiding the reader on how to do the emotional work necessary to ensure that they avoid relapse and can finally lay their demons to rest and get on with re-building their life.Trade ReviewThis offering by David Smallwood contains a wealth of insight, wisdom and help for anyone who wants information about addictions and recovery. I found this book to be a beeezy read as David has been able to simplify a rather complicated subject. Pia Mellody This book provides an excellent overview to the topic of addiction. It's honesty gives the reader true insight into what it is like to have an addiction, and it is through this integrity that it highlights the need for more clinicians and treatment services to combat addiction. -- Kathryn Roberts & Dr. Henrietta Bowden-Jones, National Problem Gambling Clinic, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

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Book SynopsisA wasted life is such a wasteIn my life I have seen and experienced happiness and sadness in equal measure but the sadness sometimes outweighs the happiness. Four friends succeeded in committing suicide when they had all to live for and friends who died or suffered life threatening injuries because of one thing or another. Was it them or society or the system that failed?

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Book SynopsisDo you have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol? Enjoy one glass too many? Or one bottle? You are not alone. Millions of people are in a desperate fight with alcohol right now. Andy Smith was one of them. Alcohol was ruining his relationships, his health and his sanity. Other options (AA, willpower, counselling, hypnotherapy) hadn't worked for him and he was desperate. Crippled with gout and walking with a stick, he took everything he had learned from an award-winning business career and as a coach and a mentor and he turned it all back on himself. One year and 3500km later he cycled into Paris, having ridden the entire Tour De France route and raised thousands for charity. What Andy learned in that year transformed his life and his relationship with alcohol for ever. 'Sober in Seven' details each of the seven stages that Andy worked through, to wrench his life back from the clutches of alcohol. It offers inspiration, help and hope to anyone else seeking to do the same. "Without Andy and this process, I'd be dead. It's that simple" David, Sober in Seven graduate

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Book SynopsisDuring his drinking days Paul Campbell let down and hurt many people — his family and loved ones in particular. Alcoholism is known as the 'family illness' and it truly is. Before alcoholism kills, it usually destroys the lives of loved ones, the ones ironically that care about the alcoholic the most. Much of this book is written with these people in mind. To Paul Campbell's mind, family members are usually the silent victims of alcoholism. This book is not written by an academic or a doctor. It doesn't have carefully drawn charts or squiggly diagrams describing a variety of personalities and behaviour patterns. This book is written by someone who had everything, who lost everything, who went through the living hell of chronic alcoholism and the tough times of recovery. Ultimately though, he is proof that there is hope for everyone — even the most crazy, out-of-control, self-destructive alcoholic. Paul Campbell discovered that giving up drink was only half the battle. Living and enjoying life is the real challenge.

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Book SynopsisWhat better way to get to the heart of helping people addicted to drugs or alcohol than by raw experience? If you have a loved one or friend caught-up in the vortex of addiction or chemical dependency, then the Cusack formula presented here is a place to start understanding the disease, and also a beginning in understanding how the disease affects you. (Jim Cusack began his sobriety in 1952.) The words in this book help to comfort you from the fear that you are the only one with a tremendous weight on your shoulders-you are not alone. Through the 12-Step program you will read about, recovery and healing begin with love and caring. Family love and caring form the essence of a proven treatment approach that can only be learned by doing. Jim Cusack is practising these principles and sharing these experiences with us.

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