The one book to read for an introduction to LifeRing. Written for the person who wants to get free of alcohol/drugs, for their friends and relations, and for the professionals who treat them. Reviews: “A sophisticated, insightful, well-documented view of the philosophy and practice that are at the heart of the LifeRing approach. This book offers a perspective on recovery that can motivate change in clinicians and researchers as well as among individuals struggling to find their sober selves.” —Carlo DiClemente, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, and author, Addiction and Change “With impressive analytical clarity and therapeutic generosity, Nicolaus presents a well-argued brief for understanding the complexities of addiction treatment and accepting the full range of diverse paths to recovery. . . . [Anyone] wanting insight and balance on a vitally important public health issue will appreciate the author’s lively and respectful presentation.” —Judith Herman, M.D., author, Trauma and Recovery Table of Contents Foreword by William L. White Acknowledgements Introduction My Story I Get the Wake-up Call Beginning Treatment First Encounters The LifeRing Philosophy Some Similarities and Differences with 12-Step The Majority of Recoveries Happen Outside AA Calling for Help on the Front Lines Voices from the Field AA Retains Five Per Cent of Those Who Approach It My Client-Side Perspective (1) A Person Addicted Is A Person In Conflict The Divided Self The Divided Self is a Clinical Reality Addictive Substances Hijack the Brain The Impact on Our Lives “A” (Addicted Self) Versus “S” (The Sober Self) A Radical Simplification In Conflict Lies Hope (2) Prepare Your Sober Self For Action Reinforcing Your Sober Self Stop Beating Yourself Up No S is Too Small to Start Listen For Your Wake-up Call Motivating Yourself to Start Addiction is Not A Defect of Character Every Personality Type is Liable to Become Addicted The Power of Habit The Power of Self-Conditioning Different Styles of Breaking the Habit Develop your choice muscles (3) How LifeRing Works The LifeRing Meeting Reinforcing Our Sober Selves Labels Are Optional How Was Your Week? An X-Ray of the Meeting Dynamic The Neurobiological Dimension Horizontal Synergy Feedback and Cross-Talk Mirror Neurons The Spiritual Dimension (4) Building A Personal Recovery Program Why Build a Personal Recovery Program The Recovery by Choice Workbook The Nine Work Areas for a Personal Recovery Program Abstinence, the Common Element in All LifeRing Personal Recovery Programs Building A Personal Recovery Program on Your Own The Challenges and Rewards of A Personal Recovery Program Building A Personal Recovery Program Is Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea Self Help and Professional Help (5) About Powerlessness Choice or Powerlessness The Augustinian Doctrine of Alcoholics Anonymous The Problems of the Zero Power Doctrine Augustine Won the Battle but Pelagius Won the War How the Powerlessness Doctrine Drives Out Newcomers The First Drink and the Second Feelings of Powerlessness Lead People to Drink The 12-Step Gauntlet of Negative Emotions Powerlessness for Women and Minorities The Addict Needs To Fight, Not To Surrender (6) About The Disease Theory Of Alcoholism The “Medical Business” Disease as the Hammer to Induce Powerlessness Enter the Alcohol Industry and Marty Mann Disease Is the Money Word AA And the Alcohol Industry A Political but Not a Scientific Triumph The “Medical Business” Conquers AA The Comparison to Tobacco Drinking and Public Health Does The Disease Theory Reduce Social Stigma? The Disease Concept and Abstinence The Disease Concept and the Supreme Court Why Physicians Have Trouble with the Disease Concept Disease Treatment without Doctors The Perfect Storm That Made the Treatment System The Cure for the Disease Model (7) Genetic Headlines Meet Laboratory Realities Headline Fantasies v. Laboratory Research Twin Studies Molecular Studies Searching For the Alcoholism Gene Guarded Generalities A Genetic Trait That Protects Against Alcoholism The High Risk of Low Responsiveness The Dangers of Genetic Fatalism Genetic Fatalism and Eugenics Alcoholics Are Not a People Apart Conclusion Recovery as Liberation An Invitation to LifeRing Supplement for the Second Edition Publications of Interest About Addiction Treatment The Genomics Revolution Schuckit’s Low Responsiveness Hypothesis Epigenetics Conclusion References For The First Edition About the Author Index About the Author: By Martin Nicolaus, cofounder of LifeRing Secular Recovery. He is an attorney in private practice who lives in Berkeley, California. |