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Why Can't I Stop?: Reclaiming Your Life from a Behavioral Addiction
At some point in our lives, we all engage in behaviors that are risky, irrational, or unwise. We might find it exciting and temporarily rewarding to gamble on the lottery or impulsively buy an expensive gadget. But just as substances like alcohol and narcotics have the potential to become addictive, so do certain behaviors. A person addicted to gambling, shopping, the internet, food, or picking at their skin may suffer shame in the shadows while their behavior consumes time and energy and disrupts their life. Some people with behavioral addictions lose their family, job, savings, and home. With a physical basis in the brain, behavioral addictions are serious illnesses--but simply willing yourself to stop is usually not enough.
"Why Can't I Stop?" is for anyone who has a behavioral addiction, as well as their supportive families and friends. Examining seven of the most common and serious addictions--gambling, sex, stealing, internet use, shopping and buying, hair pulling and skin picking, and food--the authors bring together cutting-edge research to describe behavioral addiction, its causes, and how it can be diagnosed and treated.
Featuring patient stories of behavioral addiction and recovery, as well as information about treatment centers, this compassionate guide will help readers better understand the complicated issues surrounding these addictions and teach family members how to help the addicted person while helping themselves.
"Why Can't I Stop?" is for anyone who has a behavioral addiction, as well as their supportive families and friends. Examining seven of the most common and serious addictions--gambling, sex, stealing, internet use, shopping and buying, hair pulling and skin picking, and food--the authors bring together cutting-edge research to describe behavioral addiction, its causes, and how it can be diagnosed and treated.
Featuring patient stories of behavioral addiction and recovery, as well as information about treatment centers, this compassionate guide will help readers better understand the complicated issues surrounding these addictions and teach family members how to help the addicted person while helping themselves.
232 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2016
12 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 28, 2020
Various topics not normally talked about.. skin picking, hair pulling, etc.. give this a read..
May 31, 2016
***This book was reviewed for Manhattan Book Review***
Dr. Grant’s Why Can't I Stop? provides a glimpse into the world of behaviour addictions. This book looks at those behavioural addictions that most closely resemble drug addiction. The beginning chapters cover what it means to have a behavioural addiction, how they may develop, and the fact that they oft pair with physical addictions of some sort.
The next seven chapters cover the behavioural addictions they found most resembling drug addiction- gambling, stealing, sex, internet, food, shopping/buying, and hair-pulling and skin picking. Each has its own devoted chapter that covers development, which drug addiction paths it may be similar too, genetic and environmental factors in development, treatment goals, and best therapy methods. Each also has case studies to illustrate points. The final chapters cover causes of behavioural disorders, and how family and friends can help.
This book is written by a doctor, but it is meant for the average person to read, the people who may be burdened with one of these issues, or for the family and friends of such a person, to help them better understand what is going on. Sometimes things necessarily get a bit technical, but I found it an easy read.
Honesty- I had very personal reasons for reading this book. I have one of the described behavioural conditions. My past attempts at 'resetting’ my behaviour have met with frustrating failure. Thinking of this condition in terms of a drug addiction was a bit hard to swallow at first. The mind wanted to rebel ferociously, a good sign there's truth behind the words. My next feelings were ones of relief. I may be able to fix it after all! This book was also very helpful to my family, in understanding my behaviour in a different light. Reading the section most pertinent to me helped them begin to accept that the problem is real, and how difficult it is for me to just 'stop’.
Highly ecommended if you have one of the listed behavioural issues or know someone who does. It offers a whole new perspective on things. Also recommended for psychology students or enthusiasts.
Dr. Grant’s Why Can't I Stop? provides a glimpse into the world of behaviour addictions. This book looks at those behavioural addictions that most closely resemble drug addiction. The beginning chapters cover what it means to have a behavioural addiction, how they may develop, and the fact that they oft pair with physical addictions of some sort.
The next seven chapters cover the behavioural addictions they found most resembling drug addiction- gambling, stealing, sex, internet, food, shopping/buying, and hair-pulling and skin picking. Each has its own devoted chapter that covers development, which drug addiction paths it may be similar too, genetic and environmental factors in development, treatment goals, and best therapy methods. Each also has case studies to illustrate points. The final chapters cover causes of behavioural disorders, and how family and friends can help.
This book is written by a doctor, but it is meant for the average person to read, the people who may be burdened with one of these issues, or for the family and friends of such a person, to help them better understand what is going on. Sometimes things necessarily get a bit technical, but I found it an easy read.
Honesty- I had very personal reasons for reading this book. I have one of the described behavioural conditions. My past attempts at 'resetting’ my behaviour have met with frustrating failure. Thinking of this condition in terms of a drug addiction was a bit hard to swallow at first. The mind wanted to rebel ferociously, a good sign there's truth behind the words. My next feelings were ones of relief. I may be able to fix it after all! This book was also very helpful to my family, in understanding my behaviour in a different light. Reading the section most pertinent to me helped them begin to accept that the problem is real, and how difficult it is for me to just 'stop’.
Highly ecommended if you have one of the listed behavioural issues or know someone who does. It offers a whole new perspective on things. Also recommended for psychology students or enthusiasts.
August 25, 2021
Another rubbish. Only what is, no how to.
October 3, 2023
This was not “a life changing book” it was pretty generic and I ended up skimming more than reading because it wasn’t useful information.
December 6, 2016
Good overview of some general behavioral addictions.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews