The Alcoholic Addict Within Our Brain Genetics Psychology And The Twelve Steps As Psychotherapy

Download The Alcoholic Addict Within Our Brain Genetics Psychology And The Twelve Steps As Psychotherapy full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online The Alcoholic Addict Within Our Brain Genetics Psychology And The Twelve Steps As Psychotherapy ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!

The Alcoholic / Addict Within: Our Brain, Genetics, Psychology and the Twelve Steps as Psychotherapy

Author : Andrew P
Publisher : Smashwords
ISBN 13 : 9781370106431
Total Pages : 232 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (64 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Alcoholic / Addict Within: Our Brain, Genetics, Psychology and the Twelve Steps as Psychotherapy by : Andrew P

Download or read book The Alcoholic / Addict Within: Our Brain, Genetics, Psychology and the Twelve Steps as Psychotherapy written by Andrew P and published by Smashwords. This book was released on 2017-08-19 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A doctor in recovery provides a guided tour through the brain changes, genetics, and psychology that cause addiction... and how to use this information to beat addiction. The Alcoholic / Addict Within is a book that empowers alcoholics and addicts - and those who wish to understand them - with an understanding of the science behind why we become addicted, why we do the things we do, and why it is so difficult to stop.The science is presented in everyday language, and with a sense of humor that makes it a fun read. The information enables a deeper understanding of ourselves and our addiction. It allows those who love us to get a look inside us, and (for once) find an understanding of our disease. Anyone who reads this will never again ask us: "why don't you just stop?!?" They will see first hand that alcoholism / addiction is a disorder of biology and not a failing of morality. They will learn how they can best help us.The 12 Steps are used as a framework for applying the science to recovery. The 12 Step program was chosen because it is remarkably consistent with all aspects of the science of addictions. For those working the 12 Steps or sponsoring others the information will enrich the experience by matching the science to the program. For those who are not involved in that program the information is equally applicable to their own recovery.The science is used to explain the basis of some effects widely experienced by people in recovery: the "insanity" of alcoholism/addiction, the "pink cloud" effect, relapse dreams, hostage-taking, "wet brain," co-dependency, relationships, and obsession. Also addressed are important recovery issues such as self-esteem, coming to terms with past traumas, dealing with anger, finding peace-of-mind, self-forgiveness, and putting a stop to cravings. The question: "do I have an alcoholism / addiction gene, and will I pass it on to my children?" is answered.Also explored are the intimate ties between alcoholism / addiction and mental illness. They are so alike we can barely tell them apart, and so woven together that one can kindle the fire of the other. In fact, it can be very difficult - sometimes impossible - to figure out which came first and brought the other on. Or even to tell them apart. We get to the bottom of this compelling issue that affects well over half of addicts and alcoholics.The book speaks to many audiences. The main audience is alcoholics/addicts and those who wish to help and understand them. Loved ones, teachers, clergy, medical professionals, counsellors and therapists, all will gain insight and understanding.

The Alcoholic / Addict Within: Our Brain, Genetics, Psychology and the Twelve Steps as Psychotherapy

Author : Andrew P
Publisher : Smashwords
ISBN 13 : 9781370106431
Total Pages : 232 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (64 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Alcoholic / Addict Within: Our Brain, Genetics, Psychology and the Twelve Steps as Psychotherapy by : Andrew P

Hijacking the Brain

Author : Louis Teresi, MD
Publisher : Author House
ISBN 13 : 1463444842
Total Pages : 311 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (634 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Hijacking the Brain by : Louis Teresi, MD

Download or read book Hijacking the Brain written by Louis Teresi, MD and published by Author House. This book was released on 2011-10 with total page 311 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hijacking the Brain provides the first-ever scientific explanation for the success of Twelve-Step programs. Hijacking the Brain examines data provided by recent rapid growth in the fields of neuroscience, neuroimaging, psychology, sociobiology and interpersonal neurobiology that have given us new, dramatic insights into the neural and hormonal correlates of stress and addiction, cognitive decline with addiction, as well as for the relative success of Twelve-Step Programs of recovery. Addiction is recognized by experts as an organic brain disease, and most experts promote Twelve-Step programs (AA, NA, CA, etc.) which invoke a 'spiritual solution' for recovery. To date, no one has described why these programs work. 'Hijack' tells us why. In 'Hijack, ' the role of 'working The Steps' for reducing stress and becoming emotionally centered is discussed in depth. A full chapter is devoted to the rewarding and comforting physiology of meditation and the spiritual experience. The author uses examples from animal sociobiology, as well as sophisticated human brain-imaging studies, to demonstrate that empathic socialization and altruism are instinctive and 'naturally rewarding' and, along with Step Work, act as a substitute for the 'synthetic rewards' of drugs of abuse. 'Hijack' does not challenge the Steps or the Traditions of Twelve-Step programs. The sole intention of Hijacking the Brain is to 'connect the dots' between an 'organic brain disease' and a 'spiritual solution' with sound physical, scientific evidence. Avoiding strict scientific language as much as possible, 'Hijack' is written for the layperson and abundantly illustrated.

The Sober Truth

Author : Lance Dodes
Publisher : Beacon Press
ISBN 13 : 0807035874
Total Pages : 193 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (7 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Sober Truth by : Lance Dodes

Download or read book The Sober Truth written by Lance Dodes and published by Beacon Press. This book was released on 2015-03-17 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A powerful exposé of Alcoholics Anonymous, 12-step programs, and the rehab industry—and how a failed addiction treatment model came to dominate America. “A humane, science-based, global view of addiction . . . an essential, bracing critique of the rehab industry and its ideological foundations that we have much to learn from.” —Gabor Maté M.D., author of In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts Alcoholics Anonymous has become so infused in our society that it is practically synonymous with addiction recovery. Yet the evidence shows that AA has only a 5–10 percent success rate—hardly better than no treatment at all. Despite this, doctors, employers, and judges regularly refer addicted people to treatment programs and rehab facilities based on the 12-step model. In The Sober Truth, acclaimed addiction specialist Dr. Lance Dodes exposes the deeply flawed science that the 12-step industry has used to support its programs. Dr. Dodes analyzes dozens of studies to reveal a startling pattern of errors, misjudgments, and biases. He also pores over the research to highlight the best peer-reviewed studies available and discovers that they reach a grim consensus on the program’s overall success. But The Sober Truth is more than a book about addiction. It is also a book about science and how and why AA and rehab became so popular, despite the discouraging data. Drawing from thirty-five years of clinical practice and firsthand accounts submitted by addicts, Dr. Dodes explores the entire story of AA’s rise—from its origins in early fundamentalist religious and mystical beliefs to its present-day place of privilege in politics and media. A powerful response to the monopoly of the 12-step program and the myth that they are a universal solution to addiction, The Sober Truth offers new and actionable information for addicts, their families, and medical providers, and lays out better ways to understand addiction for those seeking a more effective and compassionate approach to this treatable problem.

The Genetics of Alcoholism

Author : Henri Begleiter
Publisher : Alcohol and Alcoholism
ISBN 13 : 9780195088779
Total Pages : 420 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (887 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Genetics of Alcoholism by : Henri Begleiter

Download or read book The Genetics of Alcoholism written by Henri Begleiter and published by Alcohol and Alcoholism. This book was released on 1995 with total page 420 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume provides an in-depth look at the genetic influences that contribute to the development of alcoholism. Part I: Epidemiologic Studies contains five chapters that examine the various approaches employed in the study of the genetics of alcoholism. It provides a historical perspectiveand details all the essentials of this subject. Part II: Selective Breeding Studies highlights the results of research involving the selective breeding of rodents. This type of research has produced homogenous strains exhibiting specific behavioral responses considered significant in thedevelopment and maintenance of alcohol dependence. The studies presented in Part III: Phenotypic Studies investigate and analyze phenotypic markers that serve as correlates to the genotypic determinants of alcoholism. Through its broad scope, this volume provides for the first time a panoramic viewof the knowledge available on the hereditary influences of alcoholism.

Alcoholism/Drug Addiction: A Disease Or Not!

Author : Wax David Flowers
Publisher : iUniverse
ISBN 13 : 1440187444
Total Pages : 190 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (41 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Alcoholism/Drug Addiction: A Disease Or Not! by : Wax David Flowers

Download or read book Alcoholism/Drug Addiction: A Disease Or Not! written by Wax David Flowers and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2010-04 with total page 190 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is absolutely a must read. This book answers the many questions that we all have about addiction. What causes so many problems in our societ?. How can we prevent our children and loved ones from experiencing this fate? As one who has worked in the feild of drug addiction for so many years, finally a book has been published that explains the addiction and the person.

Molecular Neurobiology of Addiction Recovery

Author : Kenneth Blum
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 146147230X
Total Pages : 89 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (614 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Molecular Neurobiology of Addiction Recovery by : Kenneth Blum

Download or read book Molecular Neurobiology of Addiction Recovery written by Kenneth Blum and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-05-27 with total page 89 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Humans are biologically programmed to seek out pleasurable experiences. These experiences are processed in the mesolimbic system, also referred to as the "reward center" of the brain, where a number of chemical messengers work in concert to provide a net release of dopamine in the Nucleus Accumbens. In some genetically predisposed individuals, addiction occurs when the mechanisms of the mesolimbic system are disrupted by the use of various drugs of abuse. Since Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935, it's 12 step program of spiritual and character development has helped countless alcoholics and drug addicts curb their self-destructive behaviors. However, the program was developed at a time when comparatively little was known about the function of the brain and it has never been studied scientifically. This is the first book to take a systematic look at the molecular neurobiology associated with each of the 12 steps and to review the significant body of addiction research literature that is pertinent to the program.

This Strange Illness

Author : Jared Lobdell
Publisher : Transaction Publishers
ISBN 13 : 9781412839945
Total Pages : 420 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (399 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis This Strange Illness by : Jared Lobdell

Download or read book This Strange Illness written by Jared Lobdell and published by Transaction Publishers. This book was released on 2004-01-01 with total page 420 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This brilliant work, both personal and professional in character, is a study of alcoholism, of a movement aimed at its cure, and of an individual participant in this development. The author develops an interlinked theory and scientific research program that describe an illness of the mind, body, and spirit. He does so without allowing the assumptions underlying the way we look at one area of illness, say the mind, to contradict the assumptions underlying the way we look at the human body or for that matter the human spirit. That Lobdell carries this project to a successful conclusion makes this a compelling work for everyone in the field of alcohol studies and social pathology. Lobdell, who has written on a broad range of subjects, here argues the originality and importance of recognition of alcoholism as a tripartite illness, and of congruent treatment for the three parts. He thus accepts a medical view of this vast social problem, but also recognizes dimensions within it that go beyond the ordinary limits of medical practice, as well as the complexity of its treatment. His book is at once an intellectual history of Bill W.'s vision; a short history of alcohol addiction and the culture of that addiction; a treatise on the psychological, biochemical, and spiritual aspects of the illness and its treatment; and a scientific research program for the future. Norman K. Denzin of the University of Illinois has hailed the book "as a wonderful story brought to a sophisticated readership, and will widely appeal to the recovering population." Matthew J. Raphael, intimate with the subjects as well as the concerns of this book says, "This Strange Illness is an astounding book. Jared Lobdell, a brilliant polymath, traverses a spectrum of disciplines Ã» from biogenetics and chaos theory to psychology, sociology, and theology Ã» in search of a sufficiently complex and comprehensive understanding alcoholism. This is the most intellectually rigorous study I have ever seen in the field." Jared C. Lobdell is author or editor of a dozen books in history and criticism and a number of articles in fields ranging from alcohol studies to systems analysis. He has served as a fellow at the Center for Alcoholism and Addiction Studies, Brown University. His current positions are at Millersville University of Pennsylvania and adjunct professor at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania.

Intensive Psychotherapy of Alcoholism

Author : Gary G. Forrest
Publisher : Charles C. Thomas Publisher
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 244 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Intensive Psychotherapy of Alcoholism by : Gary G. Forrest

Download or read book Intensive Psychotherapy of Alcoholism written by Gary G. Forrest and published by Charles C. Thomas Publisher. This book was released on 1984 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Psychology of Alcoholism

Author : William E. Swegan
Publisher : iUniverse
ISBN 13 : 1450285988
Total Pages : 386 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (52 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Psychology of Alcoholism by : William E. Swegan

Download or read book The Psychology of Alcoholism written by William E. Swegan and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2011-11 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: William E. Swegan ("Sgt. Bill") was the major spokesman for the psychological wing of early Alcoholics Anonymous-that group within the newborn A.A. movement of the 1930's, 40's and 50's which stressed the psychotherapeutic side of the twelve step program instead of the spiritual side. This book is Swegan's major work, in which he lays out the psychiatric theories which formed the foundation of that variety of A.A. thought. He also talks about his association with Mrs. Marty Mann, Yev Gardner, E. M. Jellinek at the Yale School of Alcohol Studies, Bill Dotson (A.A. No. 3) and Searcy Whaley, in addition to recording his memories of the year he spent observing Sister Ignatia at work at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron. In 1953 Sgt. Bill teamed up with famous American psychiatrist Louis Jolyon "Jolly" West at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, to develop a method of alcoholism treatment (given further development in the mid 1960s by Dr. Joseph J. Zuska and Dick Jewell at Long Beach Naval Station) called the Lackland-Long Beach Model. It became one of the three basic types of A.A.-oriented alcoholism treatment program, along with the Minnesota Model and Sister Ignatia's more spiritually oriented approach. Sgt. Bill does not just talk psychiatric theories in this book. He uses his own life story to show how traumatic loss, poverty, inadequate selfesteem, envy, self-pity and rage can drive children and youths into isolationism, rebellion, self-sabotage, and ultimately the descent into uncontrollable alcoholism or drug addiction. But in his humanistic understanding of the twelve step program he also shows us how to make use of the healing power of the spirit of Love and Service to our fellow human beings to restore ourselves to new life.

The Biology of Desire

Author : Marc Lewis
Publisher : PublicAffairs
ISBN 13 : 1610394380
Total Pages : 256 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (13 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Biology of Desire by : Marc Lewis

Download or read book The Biology of Desire written by Marc Lewis and published by PublicAffairs. This book was released on 2015-07-14 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through the vivid, true stories of five people who journeyed into and out of addiction, a renowned neuroscientist explains why the "disease model" of addiction is wrong and illuminates the path to recovery. The psychiatric establishment and rehab industry in the Western world have branded addiction a brain disease. But in The Biology of Desire, cognitive neuroscientist and former addict Marc Lewis makes a convincing case that addiction is not a disease, and shows why the disease model has become an obstacle to healing. Lewis reveals addiction as an unintended consequence of the brain doing what it's supposed to do-seek pleasure and relief-in a world that's not cooperating. As a result, most treatment based on the disease model fails. Lewis shows how treatment can be retooled to achieve lasting recovery. This is enlightening and optimistic reading for anyone who has wrestled with addiction either personally or professionally.

Alcohol and the Addictive Brain

Author : Kenneth Blum
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 346 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Alcohol and the Addictive Brain by : Kenneth Blum

Download or read book Alcohol and the Addictive Brain written by Kenneth Blum and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents a new understanding of alcohol addiction and gives an account of new discoveries in the treatment and prevention of alcoholism.

A Mind-Powered Disease

Author : Intellective Media, Incorporated
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780970482600
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (826 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis A Mind-Powered Disease by : Intellective Media, Incorporated

Download or read book A Mind-Powered Disease written by Intellective Media, Incorporated and published by . This book was released on 2002-01-01 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Mind-Powered Disease? is life-giving for those who suffer from alcoholism, addiction and other obsessive behaviors. It is also exceptionally insightful and informative for family, friends and medical and behavioral health professionals.Bob Anderson?s communication flows out of 44 years of living experience in recovery. His message has helped thousands to achieve genuine recovery and success in life. Gently and repetitively, he exposes the mind-powered nature of alcoholism as he teaches about recovery. He provides personal examples to reveal both the strange and hopeless world of his old life as well as the transformation into a new life by the Twelve Step Program. Although he speaks as an alcoholic with alcoholism, he puts Twelve Step Recovery in the reach of anyone. A Mind-Powered Disease?:?Dispels the misconception that alcoholism is primarily an inability to control drinking.?Describes how the obsessive mind functions as a mind-powered disease and compels repeat performances, which results in confusion and despair. ?Teaches how the application of the Twelve Step principles produces genuine recovery and true success in life through a change of character.?Helps the sufferer to find true happiness, freedom and peace of mind as a way of life.Bob Anderson (1921-1997) entered an alcoholic hospital in Cleveland, Ohio on December 11, 1952 and remained sober for over 44 years. Bob has been a leader in recovery conducting numerous workshops and seminars and helping thousands of alcoholics, addicts and others to recover worldwide. In 1993, Primetime Recovery? was established with the mission to transmit his message of recovery through audio and videocassettes and this book, A Mind-Powered Disease?. Sylvie Gabriele has been in the field of recovery since 1988. She has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Business Administration. In 1992, Bob revolutionized her life and, ever since, she has dedicated her life to transmitting this message.Visit Primetime Recovery? on the World Wide Web at www.primetimerecovery?.com

Never Enough

Author : Judith Grisel
Publisher : Anchor
ISBN 13 : 0525434909
Total Pages : 258 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (254 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Never Enough by : Judith Grisel

Download or read book Never Enough written by Judith Grisel and published by Anchor. This book was released on 2020-01-14 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From a renowned behavioral neuroscientist and recovering addict, a rare page-turning work of science that draws on personal insights to reveal how drugs work, the dangerous hold they can take on the brain, and the surprising way to combat today's epidemic of addiction. Judith Grisel was a daily drug user and college dropout when she began to consider that her addiction might have a cure, one that she herself could perhaps discover by studying the brain. Now, after twenty-five years as a neuroscientist, she shares what she and other scientists have learned about addiction, enriched by captivating glimpses of her personal journey. In Never Enough, Grisel reveals the unfortunate bottom line of all regular drug use: there is no such thing as a free lunch. All drugs act on the brain in a way that diminishes their enjoyable effects and creates unpleasant ones with repeated use. Yet they have their appeal, and Grisel draws on anecdotes both comic and tragic from her own days of using as she limns the science behind the love of various drugs, from marijuana to alcohol, opiates to psychedelics, speed to spice. With more than one in five people over the age of fourteen addicted, drug abuse has been called the most formidable health problem worldwide, and Grisel delves with compassion into the science of this scourge. She points to what is different about the brains of addicts even before they first pick up a drink or drug, highlights the changes that take place in the brain and behavior as a result of chronic using, and shares the surprising hidden gifts of personality that addiction can expose. She describes what drove her to addiction, what helped her recover, and her belief that a “cure” for addiction will not be found in our individual brains but in the way we interact with our communities. Set apart by its color, candor, and bell-clear writing, Never Enough is a revelatory look at the roles drugs play in all of our lives and offers crucial new insight into how we can solve the epidemic of abuse.

TIP 35: Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Use Disorder Treatment (Updated 2019)

Author : U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Publisher : Lulu.com
ISBN 13 : 1794755136
Total Pages : 208 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (947 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis TIP 35: Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Use Disorder Treatment (Updated 2019) by : U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Download or read book TIP 35: Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Use Disorder Treatment (Updated 2019) written by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2019-11-19 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Motivation is key to substance use behavior change. Counselors can support clients' movement toward positive changes in their substance use by identifying and enhancing motivation that already exists. Motivational approaches are based on the principles of person-centered counseling. Counselors' use of empathy, not authority and power, is key to enhancing clients' motivation to change. Clients are experts in their own recovery from SUDs. Counselors should engage them in collaborative partnerships. Ambivalence about change is normal. Resistance to change is an expression of ambivalence about change, not a client trait or characteristic. Confrontational approaches increase client resistance and discord in the counseling relationship. Motivational approaches explore ambivalence in a nonjudgmental and compassionate way.

The Addiction Process

Author : Bob Colonna
Publisher : iUniverse
ISBN 13 : 0595148387
Total Pages : 110 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (951 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Addiction Process by : Bob Colonna

Download or read book The Addiction Process written by Bob Colonna and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2000-11-20 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book came out of a series of lectures given to participants in a chemical dependency treatment program. It is a provocative and powerful book that illuminates the hypocrisies and inequities in the laws and values in our society surrounding alcohol and other drug use, abuse, and addiction. These inequities stem from the lack of knowledge of the underlying addiction process on the part of our institutions and the general public. The author challenges the very foundation of our cultural values and shows us how these values give birth to an addiction process that permeates thinking throughout our family, religious, governmental, and educational institutions. This distorted thought system perpetuates a state of fear which polarizes society in an us against them mentality, and an attitude of any means justify the end

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts

Author : Gabor Maté, MD
Publisher : North Atlantic Books
ISBN 13 : 1583944206
Total Pages : 522 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (839 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by : Gabor Maté, MD

Download or read book In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts written by Gabor Maté, MD and published by North Atlantic Books. This book was released on 2011-06-28 with total page 522 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A “thought-provoking and powerful” study that reframes everything you’ve been taught about addiction and recovery—from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Myth of Normal (Bruce Perry, author of The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog). A world-renowned trauma expert combines real-life stories with cutting-edge research to offer a holistic approach to understanding addiction—its origins, its place in society, and the importance of self-compassion in recovery. Based on Gabor Maté’s two decades of experience as a medical doctor and his groundbreaking work with people with addiction on Vancouver’s skid row, this #1 international bestseller radically re-envisions a much misunderstood condition by taking a compassionate approach to substance abuse and addiction recovery. In the same vein as Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts traces the root causes of addiction to childhood trauma and examines the pervasiveness of addiction in society. Dr. Maté presents addiction not as a discrete phenomenon confined to an unfortunate or weak-willed few, but as a continuum that runs throughout—and perhaps underpins—our society. It is not a medical “condition” distinct from the lives it affects but rather the result of a complex interplay among personal history, emotional and neurological development, brain chemistry, and the drugs and behaviors of addiction. Simplifying a wide array of brain and addiction research findings from around the globe, the book avoids glib self-help remedies, instead promoting a thorough and compassionate self-understanding as the first key to healing and wellness. Dr. Maté argues persuasively against contemporary health, social, and criminal justice policies toward addiction and how they perpetuate the War on Drugs. The mix of personal stories—including the author’s candid discussion of his own “high-status” addictive tendencies—and science with positive solutions makes the book equally useful for lay readers and professionals.