Barb Rogersa book begins with the tragic death of her teenage son, Jon, and delves into the horror that was her life to that point. Due to a home life fraught with substance and emotional abuse, Barb found herself bottomed out more than once, and homeless along the way.
aWhen asked in early recovery if I knew any prayers, the one I could think of was the childas nighttime prayer, aNow I lay me down to sleep.a As I thought of it, I recalled the long nights when I simply wanted to go to sleep and never wake up.a
Barb learned most of her life lessons through pain, tragedy, and addiction. This is not a glamorous book, it is real and it is raw. It is not about survival of the fittest, but the weak, the hopeless, the helpless, the truly addicted, not only to substances, but to drama, anger, excuses, and justifications.
She describes how she got to her lowest point, just what it was, and how and why she finally reached out to a 12-step program for help. She shows the reader what itas really like to survive, to stay clean and sober, and find a way to the other side. Recovery was one of the most difficult things she ever did, but aworth every effort I put out.a
Barb Rogers would be the first to tell you sheas not special--sheas led a hard life, and she tells her story well and with humor--readers--addicts or not, but especially addicts--are going to find the kind of gritty inspiration, that if Barb can do it so can they, that will inspire life changes.

As an atheist with a background in fundamentalism, Bucky Sinister was skeptical of 12-step groups when the time came for him to get sober. He was afraid of losing his artistic abilities and had big problems with the higher power concept. In spite of his hesitations, he stuck with the programme and it rewarded him greatly. In "Get Up", he shares the knowledge he gained on his journey, from being afraid of AA philosophies to embracing them, motivating others to join him in their own efforts to get clean. Sinister, a spoken word artist, poet, and performer, well-known on the West Coast for his grabbing, truthful, funny performances, puts out his own story, no frills, no excuses, and no holds barred.He offers a tough-love approach to recovery for all those, like him, who are turned off by traditional 'recovery' books. Sinister got sober in AA and has stayed sober in AA, and now he leads the very group he joined on his path to recovery. In Get Up, he shares the stories and the steps that come from the 'self-identified scum bags who just might save your life'. He talks straight to readers about how to make it work if they can't buy into the programme right away. For example, 'Higher Power' can be a whole lot of things - Thor and metaphor among them. He helps readers to accept the group in spite of their differences, rather than walking away. "Get Up" is the book that Sinister would have bought for himself, with the advice he wanted to hear when he first ventured into recovery.

Part recovery, part self-help, and all real, raw stories of waking up for the sake of yourself and your children, "Mommy Doesn't Drink Here Anymore" follows one mother's journey from cocktail mama to sober mama. The loving mother of twins and a newborn, Brownell used alcohol to maintain a sense of her adult self and be more than 'just mummy'. It didn't take long before her drinking spiralled out of control, consuming her life and marriage, and she realized that she needed serious help. Both heart-wrenching and inspiring, this is Brownell's true-life story, from the first thirty days to the year mark. "Mommy Doesn't Drink Here Anymore" is not a book that preaches or simply takes the reader through the Twelve Steps. It provides hope and motivation to get into a programme and balance your life as a mother and a recovering alcoholic.

Reader Views Annual Literary Awards 2010

The annual literary awards were established to honor writers who self-published or had their books published by a subsidy publisher, small press, University press, or independent book publisher geared for the North American reading audience.

"Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting ," written by Robert W. Boich, and published by iUniverse has been named the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Winner; as well as the 2010 Reviewers Choice Award for the Best Regional Book of the Year.

Making a resolution to address an alcohol or substance abuse issue is only the beginning. The real work begins when the alcoholic or addict acknowledges that something has to be done. In "Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting " author Robert Boich details his battle with substance abuse and his decision to lead a sober lifestyle. He realized if he didn t change his life, he would be incarcerated or die all alone.

In this compelling, personal narrative, Boich shares his personal struggles and insights encountered during his first six months of recovery. A counselor once told him, An addict only has to change one thing: everything. "Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting " describes the many changes Boich made in his life. More than just eliminating certain people and places from a daily routine, he illustrates how a successful recovery requires a brand-new approach in dealing with life.

Blending personal thoughts with helpful information, "Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting " discusses the ideas and tools used in an addict s early recovery. It shows that sobriety is much more than mere abstinence and that alcohol and drug use is a sign of deep personal problems that only true sobriety can address.

Working a 12-step program helps keep many recovering addicts and alcoholics sober, but not necessarily happy. They are often left with unresolved feelings of fear, anger, and grief about their lives.

"Addiction and Grief" looks at the emotional "bottom" of recovery. Just as one needs to hit bottom with drinking or using in order to begin recovery, eventually one will also hit an emotional bottom of fear, anger, and grief.

Recovery author Barb Rogers challenges readers in recovery to investigate the unresolved grief and loss in their lives; negative emotions that can lead back to using if not resolved.

She begins with a "Grief" list, that helps readers understand where, when, and how fear and anger took control of their lives; then she asks a set of questions to identify how these negative emotions continue to hold them back in recovery.

"Addiction and Grief" shows that authentic recovery is more than an attitude; it is based on emotional work that involves an honest appraisal of one's life, and the willingness to change.

The medicalisation of alcohol use has become a prominent discourse that guides policy makers and impacts public perceptions of alcohol and drinking. This book maps the historical and cultural dimensions of the phenomenon. Emphasising medical attitudes and theories regarding alcohol and the changing perception of alcohol consumption in psychiatry and mental health, it explores the shift from the use of alcohol in clinical treatment and as part of dietary regimens to the emergence of alcoholism as a disease category that requires medical intervention and is considered a threat to public health. -- .

Learn how to smoke cannabis in a way that reduces the health risks of smoking. As an herbal remedy, cannabis can lift your mood and can treat a long list of ailments. But the way that most of us take a hit of pot needlessly takes a hit on our health. It is high time for health-conscious cannabis consumers to learn a new way of smoking that reduces its risks. In Mindful Marijuana Smoking, Mark Mathew Braunstein offers sound advice on every phase of the cannabis smoking experience, presenting health tips based on solid science. Whether with rolling papers, hand pipes, waterpipes, or herbal vaporizers, each method of cannabinoid delivery has both risks and rewards. Chapters are devoted to each method so that you can learn how to maximize their benefits and reduce their hazards, as well as how to protect your health even before you take a puff. And once you've inhaled the smoke, this book assures you that you don't need to hold your breath to reap all the benefits of cannabis. Additionally, this book teaches readers how to assure an herb's purity, as both black market and corporate cannabis keep dirty secrets about how they were grown, and readers will learn about the potential impurities in rolling papers and vaping oils. The stronger the dose, the less you need to toke, so you'll find instructions on how to properly store cannabis to retain its potency. Finally, after you've smoked, you'll find guidance on why and how to relieve your parched mouth and to replenish nutrients that are depleted by smoking. Potheads and patients, tenderfoot tokers and seasoned stoners, dabbling dilettantes and cannabis connoisseurs, all need to read this book. By following its many health tips, when you light up, you can lighten up.

Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life 'Brilliant' - Stella Duffy Millions of people worry that drinking is affecting their health, yet are unwilling to seek change because of the misery and stigma associated with alcoholism and recovery. They fear drinking less will be boring, difficult and involve deprivation, and significant lifestyle changes. This Naked Mind offers a new solution. Packed with surprising insight into the reasons we drink, it will open your eyes to the startling role of alcohol in our culture. Annie Grace brilliantly weaves psychological, neurological, cultural, social and industry factors with her extraordinarily candid journey resulting in a must read for anyone who drinks. This book, without scare tactics, pain or rules, gives you freedom from alcohol. By addressing causes rather than symptoms it is a permanent solution rather than lifetime struggle. It removes the psychological dependence allowing you to easily drink less (or stop drinking). Annie's clarity, humor and unique ability to blend original research with riveting storytelling ensures you will thoroughly enjoy the process. In a world defined by 'never enough' Annie takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of alcohol and specifically the connection between alcohol and pleasure. She dispels the cultural myth that alcohol is a vital part of life and demonstrates how regaining control over alcohol is not only essential to personal happiness and fulfilment but also to ending the heartache experienced by millions as a result of second-hand drinking. Finally, with perfect clarity, this book opens the door to the life you have been waiting for.

As heard on BBC Radio 4 and RTE Radio 1 A WATERSTONES BEST FOOD AND DRINK BOOK OF 2022 'An easy read mixture of wit and wisdom ... should be read by all who drink more than the limit' Prof David Nutt, author of Drink? The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health The popular broadcaster and columnist sets out to discover the unsung pleasures of drinking in moderation. The recommended alcohol limit is 14 units a week. Adrian Chiles used to put away almost 100. Ever since he was a teenager, drinking was his idea of a good time - and not just his, but seemingly the whole nation's. Still, it wasn't very good for him: the doctor made that clear. If you lined them up, Adrian must have knocked back three miles of drinks. How many of them had he genuinely wanted? A mile? There's an awful lot of advice out there on how to quit booze completely. If you just want to drink a bit less, the pickings are slim. Yet while the alcohol industry depends on a minority of problem drinkers, the majority really do enjoy in moderation. What's their secret? Join the inimitable Chiles as he sets out around Britain and plumbs his only slightly fuzzy memories of a lifetime in pubs in a quest to find the good drinker within.

A practical guide that picks up where "rehab" leaves off, and where the real work of recovery from substance abuse begins. Many of those who suffer the consequences of substance (along with their loved ones) may find relief when the substance abuser agrees to enter rehab or treatment. Too many, however, have also known the pain and disappointment that comes later, with relapse. This book provides a practical guide for both the newly sober and their loved ones for what they can do collaboratively to ensure that what begins with rehab translates into long-term recovery and a more satisfying life-style for all.

An interesting and socially-important psychological review of the criminal archetype, that views the phenomenon of criminalized drug addiction both from the inside, as well as from the academic perspective. Offers a unique, fascinating and heartfelt glimpse into the world of criminalized drug addicts, revealing both the self-indulgence and the outgoing humanity of the puer and trickster images that is so prevalent in the social order of this shadowed underworld. Dr John Smethers takes us on a deeply personal journey, looking at the root causes and effects of a sub-culture populated by society's social outcasts. Drug addicts, alcoholics and petty criminals are studied from the unique perspective of someone who has not only 'been there', but one who has also successfully struggled against the social and psychological forces that have lead so many of our young men into hopelessness and despair. This is a keen and insightful look into a little-known underworld which we all, in one way or another, have helped to create.

Growing up poor in an abusive home, Bob Beckel learned to be a survivor: to avoid conflict, mask his feelings, and to lie--all skills that served him well in Washington, where would become the youngest-ever Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and manage Walter Mondale's 1984 presidential campaign. But Beckel was living a double life. On January 20, 2001--George W. Bush' second Inauguration Day--he hit rock bottom, waking up in the psych ward. Written with captivating honesty, Beckel chronicles how his addictions nearly killed him until he found help in an unexpected ally, conservative Cal Thomas, who helped him find faith and get his life back on track. Now sober, Beckel has been enjoying his life's surprise "second act" as a co-host of a breakout hit show on FOX News Channel, The Five.

Discover how facing your underlying pain will allow you to overcome it and move forward. With practical insights and biblical teaching about what it takes to break the cycle of addiction and shame, Reframe Your Shame will set you on the path to freedom. Irene Rollins knows what it means to walk through shame, especially as a leader. She enjoyed a seemingly perfect life as a wife, mom, and leader of a megachurch while she hid a secret addiction to alcohol that almost destroyed everything. With vulnerability and wisdom, Irene offers strategies and biblical teaching to break free of the suffocating cycle of sin and shame. Many people aren't even aware that they live in an addiction cycle, unaware of how unmanageable their lives have become. Their relationships feel distant, difficult, or dysfunctional, but they often don't know why. Reframe Your Shame provides awareness and resources to help readers recognize the warning signs of toxic shame and addiction; accept truth and take responsibility for their own journey of emotional healing and growth; find freedom from shame, self-defeating hurts, hang-ups, and habits; learn to communicate, connect with others, and resolve both internal and relational conflicts; and discover practical tools to live with purpose, free from the baggage of the past. Perfect for those fighting a personal battle, or for family members and counselors walking with them, Reframe Your Shame sets them on a path to freedom.

R.E.P.A.I.R. is a Six-Stage Program for abusesurvivors that will transform your life forever
Recognize and accept your adult problems stemmingfrom childhood sexual abuse.Enter into a commitment to transform your life.Process your issues with tools and techniques that willenable you to become healthy.Awareness to discover reality as you gather andassemble the pieces of the broken puzzle your life became.Insight into the complete picture helps you begin toreturn to what you were prior to being sexually violated.Rhythm recovers the natural rhythm you had beforethe incest happened, the blueprint that is the essence ofyour true nature, becoming who you really are.
Therapists' Acclaim for "REPAIR Your Life"
"Thank you Marjorie and God bless you for adapting thisprogram for our survivors to follow. You have given survivorshope to continue on their healing journey."
-Donna Gustafson, Executive Director, Sunrise Center Against Sexual Abuse
"Anyone wanting to recover from the life-long trauma ofchildhood sexual abuse will benefit from this book."
-Marcelle B. Taylor, MFT
"This program just has to work, because whether intuitivelyor through research, Marjorie McKinnon has assembleda highly effective program of recovery."
-Bob Rich, PhD
Please visit www.TheLampLighters.org for more information or tofind a group in your area.
Special editions available for young people: ask your bookseller for "REPAIR for Kids"and "REPAIR for Toddlers."
Another life-changing title from Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com
SEL001530 Self-Help: Abuse - Sexual
SEL029000 Self-Help: Twelve-Step Programs

Rick H. often starts his "talk" at recovery meetings with this statement: "I come here because the Rick of old will drink again. So I need to change, and this is where my professors are." He then adds that, to live a sober, happy life, he had to find a replacement for the alcohol that he used in his struggles to cope with the realities of life. That replacement includes a set of "tools" that he relies on to contend with all of life's ups and downs They reflect a wide range of powerful insights and practical wisdom gathered over twenty years from fellow recovering addicts in countless meetings, retreats, and workshops.

Realizing the power of compiling and sharing this life-changing information in one source, and recognizing that every addict needs such a "toolkit," Rick wrote Under Construction. Its primary purpose is to provide a simple reference guide consisting of twenty-five life-recovery tools, described in a practical, easy-to-read format along with real-life stories of how these tools have been applied. In addition, he includes probing questions that will challenge the reader to explore how these areas relate to his or her personal journey of recovery.

"The tools presented in Under Construction can turn your life around--if you have the guts to follow this pragmatic book. It will give you insight into the triggers that can accelerate progress in recovery and all relationships. Prepare for hard-hitting questions and no-holds-barred action steps. The book goes straight to tackling the biggest challenges facing anyone in recovery. "-Todd S.

A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to organizations supporting recovery efforts.

We live in a time of more physical freedom than ever before in history and yet so many of us are limited by our lack of inner freedom - the freedom to create and believe that we can have the lives we want to live. Alena Chapman has explored her own self-imposed prison and journey to freedom. She shares the tools, insights and lessons she has learned so that others may experience the life changing power of loving life again. The Prison Effect offers the tools, insights, truths to crash through any of our obstacles and walk out of our prisons to freedom.