I also apologize. For those of you that AA works, God bless you. I have read the history of Bill W. and Dr. Bob and still can not understand how they were given the power to quit.

I am determined to get this devil put back into hell but I need the true path for me.

Pray for me,

JP

dang! This is a long thread full of folks who have not read this book (except for sara....).

You sound like an earnest guy jpf. Prayers your way......

I am actually am curious if the book helps you-let us know?

AA works if you work it.

"This book is like an advertisement for their expensive inpatient program and if you don't have the money for psychotherapy it may not be helpful."

JP I dont want to discourage you, and I applaud you for looking at all options. I know right where your coming from when it comes to addictive personalities. I am the same. I can be addicted to anything. The book (WHICH I HAVE READ 2X) talks about addressing the underlying reasons for addictive personalities. I agree with the book that good physical health and psychotherapies can help "fix" some of these traits.

However it cannot fix an addiction to a brain altering substance like alcohol. I have tried many of the methods in the book and they didnt work for me.

The book in fact spends part of almost every chapter recommending its extremely expensive rehab facilities where they claim to have most of their success.

I really came away from reading the book as if they were trying to sell me their services. Which by the way no modest person could afford.

...and when you are done with their expensive treatments....they suggest you attend meetings. Lol!

It seems to me it's the mention of "God" in the twelve steps of AA that puts people off. If you'll notice it says, "of your understanding" after everytime they mention, "God". AA has nothing to do with religion, it's a "Group Of Drunks" if you will helping each other stay sober by changing their cognitive thinking one day at a time.
A person can almost certainly do something for one day that would make them run screaming if they thought they had to do it for the rest of their lives, but, "Just for Today" I can abstain from alcohol.
Pretty soon you get enough days under your belt where your head clears enough to have that reprieve from the compulsion to drink. It takes the human brain about 90 days to adapt to a new concept, hence the 90 meetings in 90 days you may have heard of.
Try it, I defy you not to hear someone say something you needed to hear to make it work for you. Take what you need and leave the rest.
The easier softer way you seek has been sought by millions of drunks before you, a lot of them died drunk while seeking "the cure".
Getting to the underlying causes for addiction is a part of AA too, cheaper than in house programs and the support is amazing.
You gotta want to be sober for yourself.

Also I just want to add:

The idea that addiction is primarily caused by Freudian issues from earlier stages in life to me just doesnt work.

I have a family tree full of alcoholics. The idea that all of us suffered from some underlying psychosis is crazy. That would be a family full of bad luck and bad parenting!

It is extremely obvious to me that there is some Genetic pre-disposition to alcoholism for a lot of people (not necessarily all). Just like cancer, Alzheimer and other DISEASES.

Thanks for the info. It seems like I blew $24.99 on a book with no solutions.

Expensive rehab? Been there times 2. Rehab is a crock and a big money making racket.

I will read it but now I doubt it has anything positive for me.

JP

Believe me I understand the Disease concept (Explained to me by Dr. Ken Roy) and not being an MD I can not dispute it. I have no real history to go back into in my family tree but I am sure the addictive behavior exist out there somewhere.

JP

I totally agree with Sunflower.
I read the first 30 pages and then had to put it down. The pages I read were just that, an add for their in-patient program.
It did not help at all.

jp, i applaud your being willing to explore all options in your recovery quest. many have found recovery through means i was not successful with so i cannot be close minded about those options. i believe if you keep seeking you will one day find what works for you. just keep seeking.

on a side note i read this morning that charlie sheen (21/2 men t.v. show) destroyed his hotel room in new york after a cocaine and alcohol binge. he has been living off and on at passages for the better part of the year. it is said he will return there. so, maybe, he might want to seek a different solution as in this case "the alcoholism and addiction" cure is not working...

This book was invaluable to me and as oneone who is very holistic in thinking, resonated with me immediately.

I began using alcohol to deal with my anxieties, and I was going to continue to cope maladaptively until the anxiety issus were addressed PERIOD.

NOTHING was working ~ therapy ,meetings ~ they all made me too anxious. This book kind of filled in the gaps for me and did a huge thing for me ~ took away the SHAME. The dreaded toxic shame that John Bradshaw has built a career on.

I was not someone who could live with a label, and I don't have to. THAT demon I have now been free of going on three years. I log on DS to deal with my divorce, saw this post and had to comment. Somehow, my life stinks, I'm going through all kinds of cr*p, and thank God I'm at least free of ONE demon. It doesn't cross my mind to drink. I just don't need it.

I think it's great to have another path and more information. I am wary of anyone who says "there is only one way ~ mine". This is great supplement information in my humble opinion.