Jerry Stahl was a writer with significant and successful screenwriting credits — Dr. Caligari, Twin Peaks, Moonlighting, and more. But despite that success, Stahl’s heroin habit began to consume him, derailing his career and destroying his health until one final, intense crisis inspired him to get clean. Ahead, see the 15 stories of struggle, failure, recovery, and grace that have moved us the most.
This could have simply been called Lush Living
His writing is startling in its earnest simplicity, drawing a vivid picture of his descent into heroin use and addiction. His inner tumult seems to reflect the paranoia and uproar of the 60’s era, creating an intense portrayal of his formative years. The Basketball Diaries exemplifies Alcoholics Anonymous the euphemistic fall from grace that an addiction can cause, as well as the devastation that relapses can wreak upon an addict’s life. It teaches that by following 12 steps, no matter how big the steps may seem at first, you can change your life and be the person you’ve always wanted to be – without alcohol. Learning how others have gone through what you’re going through teaches you that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that you’re not going through it alone, and you have a whole community here beside you.
We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life by Laura McKowen
Substance users and their families may be the least qualified people to read a self-help book and then go and try and fix a problem themselves. The substance user and their family will most likely read the material through a distorted lens. Although there are plenty of delicious alcohol-free drinks available these days, drinking still remains a big part of our culture, and quitting, or just even cutting down can be tricky. That’s because, although men are more likely to drink excessively, women tend to metabolize alcohol more slowly. This makes them more vulnerable to the long-term health effects of heavy drinking. And yes — we hate to be the bearers of bad news, but even moderate drinking carries some risks.
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
This book may also help you https://famxaos.xyz/2021/09/20/solved-cognitive-dissonance-theory-is-most-helpful-2/ see sobriety as a gift you’re giving to your body. I chose Atlas of the Heart because it touches on the important theme of second chances. This book provides language for sharing our most heartbreaking moments as a way to connect. Stories heal, and no circle knows that more than the recovery circle.
- A great starter book for anyone looking to begin changing their relationship with alcohol.
- While this book is not explicitly about recovering from drinking, the information is very relevant for people who want to repair their brains and bodies after conquering acute withdrawal.
- These books offer a range of perspectives on Alcoholics, covering various aspects and approaches to the subject.
- Helen ultimately escapes her marriage and pretends to be a widow, earning a living as an artist to care for herself and her young son.
- It explains why a recovering alcoholic may need help to start over, and it talks about finding ways to let go of the past and focus instead on finding happiness in the here and now.
She also poignantly expresses the feeling of emptiness and longing that so many addicts seek to fill through the consumption of their drug of choice. Prozac Nation is an important piece of work, notable for its distinctive youthful voice and confessional nature. It also chronicles the true pain that stems from depression and anxiety, the causes that lead many people to engage in substance abuse.
The First 90 Days of Sobriety: Recovering from Alcoholism: A Guided Journal Paperback – August 10, 2021
I believe this book does a great job of helping the parents of children using drugs or alcohol understand that it is not OK not to light themselves on fire to keep their children warm. Almost every substance user we have encountered has had some form of childhood trauma. This can range from emotional, sexual, and physical abuse to growing up in a one-parent home, being adopted, or not feeling your parents’ love, attention, or affection. Alcohol Explained, explains how alcohol affects us on a chemical, physiological, and psychological level from the first drink all the way up to chronic end stage alcoholism. This audiobook provides a logical and easy to follow explanation of alcoholism and provides a step by step guide on how to attempt to overcome it.
In this book, she tells the agonizing story of how her son’s addiction affected her entire family. Codependency is prevalent among people whose loved ones are fighting addiction. All parents best books for alcoholics of addicted children are terrified, regardless of their child’s age.