This book is also called “the Brutal Path” by those who have worked through its pages!!!

This is our No 1 choice for a step working guide!  I struggled for a long time to get into Step Work….mainly because I am co-dependent.  If you asked me to do the 12 steps for the addict in my life, I would have have done it in a month.  But looking into myself and knowing what I feel and having to think through my own life and issues..No Way!  

Patrick Carnes has put together a step working guide for addicts and co-dependents.  He starts you off on this journey, explaining how the program works and explains concepts of addiction and co-dependence.   Step one looks at family of origin, addiction history, abuse checklist and lots of things that you would rather not look at.  This of course gives you a good foundation and opens places in your soul that were closed for a long time.  The light starts shining on it so that it can heal.  We all know that this disease thrives in darkness!

There are lots of “Gentleness Breaks” with suggestions on doing something gentle for yourself after walking part of the path.  Dr.Carnes guides you in questions and never just leaves you to fumble around.  You are reminded to speak to guides or sponsors and your group.  He uses different mediums to create self-awareness, e.g. guided meditations, affirmations and examples.

I love this book and would recommend it to Addict and Co-addict alike.

Wow…what an amazing book!!

Yes, you will hear me say that about a lot of the books that will be review here…so make a plan to read it and comment!

In the fellowships they talk about: “Stinking Thinking” And in a nutshell this book is about that abnormal thinking in addiction that misleads the addict and the addict’s family.   The first time I read this book was when we just started dealing with addiction and the effects of it in our lives.  I gave the book to the Addict in my life and said: “Read this!  They wrote a book about you!”  After I came into recovery for myself, I realized that this book is written for Addicts and Co-dependents alike.   Abraham Twerski is a brilliant author with the talent to put recovery concepts in easy to understand language.  He uses examples from his clinical practice that you have heard or have said yourself.

Twerski reveals how self-deceptive thought can undermine the recovery process and threaten the sobriety of the individual.  It is so obvious that what addicts are doing is destructive to themselves and the people around them, we think. So why can’t the addict make the connection between the alcohol or other chemicals and the problems in their lives?  Why can’t the Co-dependent family member not make the connection that the more they try and control their lives and that of the addict, the more unmanageable their lives become?  Why do we do the “insanity thing” over and over again, expecting different results?

  Twerski takes us on a very structured path to understand and recognize when this self deception is happening. He examines its origins and explores this Addictive way of thinking in Conflict, guilt, shame, anger, managing feelings, defences, spirituality and co-dependency.  

This book is for everyone! Counsellors, addicts, family of addicts and anyone who wants to live their live in awareness.

This book was put together by Stefanie Carnes, the daughter of Dr Patric Carnes. Dr Carnes is an expert on sexaddiction and was the speaker at a conferance on this subject in South Africa during May 2008.

Well, back to “Mending a Shattered Heart”.  If you are the partner of a sexaddict, this book is for you!  Stefanie brought together several authors to guide the reader through frequently asked questions.  She deals with all the basic questions and takes the reader through a process of understanding the impact of the addiction on his/her life.  She guides the partner in an understanding of how important personal Healing and Recovery is. 

Taking the fokus off the sexaddict and finding healing for the partner who has been deeply wounded by the addict’s behaviour.  This book offers the reader hope, provides clarity and direction and lessens the shame.

 I am new to all this  blogging stuff……but not new to Recovery!  This must be eazier than recovery!