The Joy of Recovery
Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler
“Through recovery, you uncover the truth that life is uncontrollable at times, but manageable throughout.” ~Dr . Michael McGee, Addiction Specialist
The Joy of Recovery
September is designated as National Alcohol and Addictions Recovery Month for the purpose of educating Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life.
Although strides have been made in addiction treatment, stigma and shame are still associated with addiction. People who have not faced addiction first-hand, either in themselves or a loved one can not possible know what it’s like.
The lived experience…
As the mother of an alcoholic son, I know the dark and ugly side of addiction. I also know the shame and guilt of watching a beloved child spiral downward with no hope in sight. My upcoming memoir, Just the Way He Walked: A Mother’s Story of Hope and Healing addresses the desperate search for hope and recovery from the ominous and relentless presence of addiction in our family. Our story could be any family’s story.
Surely, it takes courage to face the reality that addiction has taken over one’s life. My greatest fear came alive in vivid technicolor when I saw my son Brian drunk for the first time. He was fourteen-years-old. He drank steadily and with consequence for the next twenty–four years. I couldn’t see beyond my own pain and despair that he had a disease that had taken over his life. Active addiction became a way of life for him. I kept thinking he could change if he willed himself to change. But it’s not that simple. As I learned more about the disease, I became more open to his side of the story. In the end, it was by the grace of God and by his own determination and grit that my son achieved sobriety. I thought I was the one being brave when, in fact, Brian was the one fighting the battle of and for his life. And he was the one who fought and persevered until he achieved sobriety. Anyone who scrapes and claws their way up from the abyss of addiction to a life of sobriety and serenity is a hero. Recovery is a hard-earned, lifelong effort not to be taken for granted and requires diligence one day at a time, everyday. I’ll never know what finally made a difference for Brian. What I do know is that he had to decide for himself –and has to decide every day–that he can not drink. No one can do it for him.
This is why I read with great interest Dr Michael McGee’s new book, The Joy of Recovery: The New 12-Step Guide to Recovery From Addiction.
Here is my review:
Dr. Michael McGee is an addiction specialist who has written a comprehensive and compassionate guide for those afflicted with addiction of any kind. His goal is to help people live their best life. His twelve-step approach developed over his thirty years of experience helping people with addictions includes the following 12 Touchstones of Recovery: work on recovery, create a positive recovery environment, renounce addiction, act with integrity, heal, love, respect reality, grow, persevere, develop healthy relationships, take accountability, cultivate your spirituality. “If you work to live your life according to these Touchstones, you will see your life flourish.”
He addresses the biological, mental and spiritual aspects of addiction and offers tools for self-assessment. The book can then be used as a guide to recovery. After each Touchstone, he provides tasks and tips to further explore how addiction has impacted you and ways to develop a concrete recovery plan.
As a credible expert, Dr McGee offers much substance and hope to those who suffer from addiction. This book is a valuable asset for not only people who suffer addiction and are looking for a path to recovery but also for families and professionals who work closely with the addicted population.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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A message of hope…
I have experienced the joy of recovery with my son. It is nothing short of a miracle.
Millions of Americans have transformed their lives through recovery. The goal of National Alcohol and Addictions Recovery Month is to increase awareness and understanding about addictive diseases.
May this message of hope be spread to those struggling with addiction.
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How about you? How has addiction affected you and your family? Have you experienced the joy of recovery?
I’d love to hear from you. Please join in the conversation below~
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This Week:
Monday, 9/10/18:
I am honored to be over at Susan Weidener’s Women’s Writing Circle blog with a guest post ,
“The Pros and Cons of Writing About Family in Memoir”
Next Week:
Monday, 9/17/18:
“An Army Doctor’s First Day in a War Zone by Dr Elie Paul Cohen”
Dr Cohen is the author of Mission Afghanistan: An Army Doctor’s Memoir, translated by Jessica Levine.
