Hopeful Healing: Essays on Managing Recovery and Surviving Addiction

by Mackenzie Phillips

Actress and author of the courageous New York Times bestselling memoir High on Arrival , Mackenzie Phillips—Hollywood’s go-to person on substance abuse and a visible and outspoken advocate for addiction awareness and education—brings her knowledge and voice on the subject of recovery for the first time, and shares her experiences for those who are trying to overcome addiction.As the daughter of lead singers of the 1960s band The Mamas and The Papas, Mackenzie Phillips grew up in a dysfunctional environment and subsequently battled a near-fatal drug addiction. Now, delivered with warmth and candor, she presents the wisdom she gained from her own personal journey through addictions and her understanding of practical treatment from her work as a rehabilitation counselor. Using her own life experiences as examples of proven recovery methods, she shares the tools and holistic approaches that are available to help you on your journey to recovery.Treatment is not “one-size-fits-all” and Mackenzie encourages addicts and their support networks to research the methods that most effectively address their individual physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. Used by both recovering addicts and their families, Mackenzie’s book is a message of hope and reminds us that sobriety is a lifelong journey of the spirit that allows us to lift ourselves up even when we stumble and fall.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, Self Help

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2017

About the author

Laura Mackenzie Phillips is an American actress and singer best known for her roles in American Graffiti and as rebellious teenager Julie Cooper Horvath on the sitcom One Day at a Time.
In September 2009, Phillips' memoir High on Arrival was released. Phillips appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show for an hour-long interview. She told Winfrey that she first tried cocaine when she was 11 years old, and that her father did drugs with her and injected her with cocaine.
During the interview, Phillips read excerpts from her book. She said that at the age of 19, on the night before her first wedding, "I woke up that night from a blackout to find myself having sex with my own father." Both reportedly were under the influence of drugs at the time. Phillips then told Winfrey, "It became a consensual relationship," describing her participation as "sort of Stockholm Syndrome, where you begin to love your captor."
Phillips said the incestuous relationship lasted ten years, and that she ended it when she became pregnant and did not know who had fathered the child. She stated that her father paid for her to have an abortion, "and I never let him touch me again."

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read almost everything on addiction and recovery and to be honest, I never thought that Mackenzie Phillips would survive to write this book.

Hopeful Healing is a calming, soothing, loving testament to the power of recovery.

This book is not very large (about 200 pages) but I loved the tone and the embrace in which Phillips wrote this.

Mostly essays, sprinkled with Phillips own experiences, although she does not go into much detail, preferring to focus on her mindset as she describes her hell into addiction. She also describes her mindset and feelings about recovery and how she admits it wasn't easy at all.

She now works as an Addiction Counsellor and writes about the more practical aspect of rehab and how to choose one.

The strength is this book is obvious - Phillips comes at this from a very deep and personal connection to her own demons, but what I love most is that her writing is about loving yourself, forgiving yourself and finding hope that you can recover.

This book is like a warm hug.

[Darla Belflower · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really solid book. I have read so many books on Recovery, but the personal stories, mixed with what worked for her and the exercises made this a great book. I have already quoted it often!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this as a follow up to her memoir. She tells us many of her steps to her recovery and how she now helps others in their recovery journey. She seems to have finally put her demons to rest and is living a happy and fulfilling life.

[Alex Enahoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished reading the amazing and inspirational Mackenzie Phillips's powerful second book HOPEFUL HEALING, which is a collection of essays on addiction and recovery.

Mackenzie is a recovering drug addict and now drugs & alcohol counselor herself.

Mackenzie highlights the importance of self talk, self compassion and hope as tools in recovery, as well addressing relapse and trauma as a root cause of addiction and how to work through them, amongst other topics relating to recovery.

A brave and inspiring must read!

[Sian Lile-Pastore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read a book that looks at recovery and addiction in this way (am sure there are some obvs) and loved the way it was less about Mackenzie's personal story (which I believe is in her previous book) and more tips about recovery and staying sober, how being sober isn't the same as recovery, and how you have to do the work on yourself and your trauma in order to stay sober. Kind and wise, I imagine this would be helpful to so many people.

[Vanessa Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this quick read. It is uplifting for someone who is in recovery, such as myself! I really enjoy reading about some of her struggles and how she works with her patients. I will definitely read her memoir soon! I recommend this book to addicts who are struggling with this whole recovery thing or are new to recovery!

[Gato Negro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent follow up to Mack's autobiography. Each chapter is like a "step" and offers both interesting accounts and practical tips about recovery. This would be a great read for anyone who needs hope.

[Nikki Basten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read not only for those focused on their own healing journey, but also those in support networks seeking to show up more mindfully for those they love, while gaining a better understanding of the journey from an addict’s perspective.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and interesting and thought provoking.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this was illuminating. It’s a helpful resource for those battling addiction, and also for those seeking to understand those who struggle with it.

[Staci Kauffeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw emotions, therapeutic writing.

[Janis]

I did not realise this was about helping recovering addicts.
I read it out of interest because I had just finished her memoir.

[Gregory Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book helpful for me getting through some tough times. Mackenzie’s book became a friend.

[Robyn Obermeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really packed a lot of information in it. I really got a lot out of it, the way she describes leaping and mindfulness and faith and grace were very encouraging and has giving me the courage to move forward and be ok with who I am and not live in the past or with the weight of shame and guilt on youre shoulders! Right on Mack, you are a very beautiful person and I respect you and admire youre ability to choose youre own path and carry on!