I have read more than 2 books and I believe that is one of the many reasons I haven’t found it necessary to kill myself with chemical anymore.
In my beginning days of recovery I was told to read the BigBook of Alcoholics Anonymous , the white book (basis text) of Narcotics Anonymous and the 12×12 over and over again, and that if I couldn’t justify other information with the first 164 pages of AA’s BigBook, it is a lie.
I was also told that The 12 steps were all anyone ever needed to get and stay clean and sober. I bought this hook line and sinker because I sure did not know any better or any other way. “Then” I went to Counselor Training School (1973-1975) and was exposed to some new ideas and concepts about recovery, therapies and abstinence.
Over the years, I read many books on addiction and recovery (1975-2016). I was introduced to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Gestalt Therapy, Hypnosis, Inner Child Work, Grief Work, Voice Dialogue, Parts Therapy, Psychodrama, EMDR, TFT, EFT, Auricular Acupuncture, Acupressure, TAT, Energy Psychology, The Master Mind Process, The Course in Miracles, The Silva Method, More to Life, The Sedona Method, Healing Touch, Pranic Healing, Touch for Health, Applied Kinesiology, Rapid Induction in Hypnosis, Grief Work, Visual Imagery, Thoughts are things, Massage Therapy to clear Body Memories, Radical Forgiveness, Meditation, Breath-work and more I am sure. I have been exposed to Women/Men for Sobriety, SMART Recovery, The Master Mind Process, Rational Recovery, SOS, Christian based 12 steps as alternatives to 12 step programs. I liked this because I am cautious whenever I hear that there is only 1 way to do something.
Today I am extremely grateful for this wealth of knowledge I have amassed. Relying on only two books alone are insufficient to effectively counsel people or to heal, explore possibilities, resolve life’s ups and downs. The knowledge is limited and incomplete. AA even states that 62% of its members also received medical or psychiatric care.
For the past 42 years I have seen people maintain their abstinence in a variety of ways. I do know from observation that 100% of people in recovery stay in recovery regardless of the program if they follow that programs guidance most of the time and do other things to expand themselves away from their old lifestyle, friends, thinking, acting and reacting.
Here are some great links, books and videos that will add to your growth process. Thanks and enjoy. Your always – Michael Yeager
As A Man ThinkethWhen AA Doesn’t WorkThe Road to WellbrietySermon on the MountThe Silva MethodThe Sedona MethodVoice DialogueThink and Grow RichThe Grief Recovery HandbookHow to get Along with Difficult PeopleWhy People Don’t Heal and How They CanTransactional AnalysisGestalt TherapySMART Self-Management and Recovery TrainingEnergy PsychologyEFT for Pain Management5 Minute Phobia CureCreative VisualizationHealing the Shame that Binds YouEMDR
