Are there any additional books about addiction that you recommend? If you want even more books, we’ve got 16 books about the unglamorous parts of addiction here. Son of David Sheff (Beautiful Boy), Nic Sheff describes the challenges of staying sober after several rounds of rehab and his non-linear but ultimately successful path to recovery. A pregnant, drug-addicted teenager check herself into rehab in hopes of giving her child a life different from her own. Long before I was falling asleep with my iPhone in hand, I read Very LeFreak, a young adult novel about a technology addicted girl. Very can’t stay away from screens and it lands her in tech rehab.
“I’m Black and I’m Sober: A Minister’s Daughter Tells Her Story about Fighting the Disease of Alcoholism–And Winning”
When I first read this book over ten years ago it felt like I was reading my own journal (if my journal was written in incredibly eloquent prose). I almost wanted to snap it shut, but instead finished it in one day and have read it at least three more times since. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Knapp so perfectly describes the emotional landscape of addiction, and as a literary study it’s as perfect a memoir as I’ve ever read. I often think about what it took to publish this when she did, in the 90’s, as a female and a journalist in Boston.
Step 2: Reach Out
Once his 30 days are up, he has to figure out how to return to his New York City lifestyle sans alcohol. Burroughs’ story is one of triumph and loss, professional success and personal failure, finding your way to sobriety, falling into best alcoholic memoirs relapse, and starting all over again. Anyone who wants to understand the complex roots of addiction should familiarize themselves with Dr. Gabor Mate’s work. Mate has worked with drug addicts in some of the most dire straights.
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: Discovering a Happy, Healthy, Wealthy Alcohol-Free Life by Catherine Gray
And I’m grateful for the ability to recognize the briar patch and to know the freedom of not always lugging that shell around. We spent the better part of a year identifying the briar patch, and I learned how to be a turtle without a shell. Today, when I’m feeling poked and jabbed by life, my first instinct is still to reach for the shell, but now I catch myself. My briar patch is not enough sleep, too much work, too many expectations, resentment, perfecting, pleasing, proving, and a few other thorny things. The romance of wine clubs, scotch tastings, and “a few beers while we watch the game” is dead for me. I know there are many healthy, moderate drinkers, but I also see drinking culture as a great cover for pain.
- When I first read this book over ten years ago it felt like I was reading my own journal (if my journal was written in incredibly eloquent prose).
- Ultimately, Augusten tells the story of how his most difficult experiences led him to getting clean and helping others.
Step 6: Build Support for Recovery
- A structured routine will help you achieve other goals in your life, whether they are short-term (like being on time for work) or long-term (like going back to school and changing careers).
- It’s important to develop a structured daily and weekly schedule and stick to it.
- We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand.
I told him,” Hyden’s ex-girlfriend, with whom he shares a 12-year-old daughter, told The Post on Friday. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand.
What Is Sobriety, Anyway?
If you open the door for any reason, you know it will kill you. The non-abstinence-based addictions are the same, but you have to open the door to that cage three times a day.” Sounds about right. Best-selling memoirist Mary Karr longs for the family and stability that eluded her in childhood.
- The Sober Diaries follows the narrative of author Clare Pool’s journey in quitting drinking.
- Augusten Burroughs’ memoir covers a decade-long battle with sobriety, with a variety of wins and losses along the way.
- Instead, focus on things, experiences, and activities that will support your new, healthy lifestyle.
- For more severe addiction issues, healthcare professionals may suggest inpatient care, which requires you to live onsite at the hospital or facility for the duration of treatment.
It will help prevent relapse once the formal treatment program ends. For many people with a substance use disorder, it’s simply a matter of never having learned the appropriate way to manage anger. Talk to your therapist, other healthcare provider, or sponsor about how to deal with your anger in ways that won’t cause you to harm yourself or others or turn to alcohol or drugs. I once heard someone say, “Abstinence-based recovery is like living with a caged, raging, tiger in your living room.
A Piece of Cake: A Memoir by Cupcake Brown
Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker
- But she recognizes her relationship with alcohol is different than that of the casual-drinking moms in her friend group.
- But seriously, I hope at least one of these memoirs speaks to you.
- If you’re involved in a 12-step program, you likely already know the importance of milestones.
- He has also recently worked as a counselor at Montefiore and an addiction clinician at Lincoln Hospital, which is part of NYC Health + Hospitals.