Filled with sound advice, Dr. DeSena's writings don't hold back when critiquing America's 12-step based addiction treatment industry. Considering rehab recidivism and the atrociously low sobriety success rate of traditional 12-step treatment and its ensuing "follow-up care" through AA attendance, the author does a just, objective and accurate job in citing the many pitfalls that far too many people are unaware of in 12-step treatment and Alcoholics Anonymous. Undoubtedly, there will be those readers who view Dr. DeSena's writings as anti AA/12-step because he dares to tell it like it is. But pointing out what's wrong with traditional treatment and AA packs a powerful punch and shows the author's understanding of this "treatment" and why alternatives are so sorely needed. In this reviewer's opinion, it's evident that Dr. DeSena isn't anti AA/12-step in as much as he's pro-choice in addiction treatment. Virtually everyone who has been subjected to addiction treatment as practiced in the United States knows that 12-step "recovery" is the mainstay of treatment. Clearly, Dr. DeSena would like the still suffering substance abuser to know of ALL his or her choices for overcoming their destructive addictive behavior. The service and information Dr. DeSena offers addicts/alcoholics (and their families) is exceptional. Knowing my options has empowered me to pursue the sobriety path that makes sense and is right for me. I'm grateful to have found this book.
Traditional addiction treatment focuses excessively on emotions both during the treatment phase and for dealing with life post addiction. While managing your emotions is important, your emotions are not as unmanageable as most addiction treatment providers and the recovering community would have you believe. In fact Dr. DeSena notes the following in reference to emotions: "Addiction therapists want to analyze your emotional/psychological disturbances. By dint of mastering ones addictive behavior, these disturbances typically fade and emotional stability and general well-being often follow within a few weeks of stopping drinking/drugging..." This is something the traditional addiction treatment providers don't want you to know.
Nonetheless, Dr. DeSena empowers the reader by showing him or her how to develop emotional security and self-reliance. He explains how your thinking creates your emotions/feelings and offers solid advice based on empirical evidence to show you how to better manage your thinking, which in turn leads to healthier, positive emotions-even if some tragedy should befall you. He addresses this through the "Downsize story" and he talks of how to attain a new perspective of your circumstances and environment to help you fine-tune your healthier, positive emotions. This is particularly helpful during sobriety's early days when emotions can run high and the urge to intoxicate is strongest. It is equally helpful for handling post addiction urges and for dealing with life's ever changing conditions as you live your newly sober life.
Many people simply want to end their self-defeating addictions and get on with their lives. They want to escape the "God speeches," and the incessant babble of miracles, which encompass the recovering mentality. Nevertheless, God is paramount in many people's lives whether or not addiction is an issue. Indeed, Dr. DeSena talks about pursuing God, religion and spirituality when you want, with whom you want, and if you want-not because you have to pursue them as the means to get and stay sober-and not because you must pursue them to handle your emotions, either. The choice to incorporate them into your life is YOURS, not zealous missionaries who masquerade as addiction/recovery counselors and experts on emotions.
So, read Overcoming Your Alcohol, Drug and Recovery Habits. I heartily recommend it. It exposes, (with candor and at times with fitting, well placed humor) recovery/addiction treatment nonsense. It contains the proven methods used by those who know how to end their self-defeating addiction(s), manage their lives and emotions, and who also live quite happily. This book gives you all that and more without the sermons of theistic extremists who evangelize their particular brand of God controlled recovery in callous disregard of the truth, your needs and your sensibilities.