BOOK REVIEWS

The Truth about Addiction and Recovery by Peele and Brodsky

Book review

A non-disease,  not-12 step, approach to recovery from addiction

Some people are frustrated with the dominance of the only universally approach available to conquer addiction – the 12-Step Program, developed by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. Millions of people have found recovery, solace and help with the “Drug/Behaviour-of-Choice” Anonymous programmes, but there are aspects of the “fellowships” that trouble many and 12-step is by no means the universal solution. Peele and Brodsky argue that despite the AMA’s and AA’s views that addiction is a disease and lifelong, there has not been a single successful study to prove addiction is a disease or that it cannot be overcome. Though the science is now pointing at ADHD as being a major predisposing cause of addiction.

By far the greatest majority of people give up addictions on their own. This book sets out an alternative approach, to seeking help from higher powers and the believe in lifelong disease of “addiction”. Peele and Brodsky cite several thorough sociological studies that show addiction, whether abusing credit cards, smoking cannabis or crack cocaine, is a symptom of a life out of control, not the cause. They discuss why and how people become addicted – when their lives lack meaning and hope, during painful transitions and when they lack the life skills or coping skills to ride out the rough edges of life.

The book is intelligently written with well substantiated with studies and offers an effective “Life Process Program” for overcoming addiction, with self-help, stress management strategies and achieving one’s goals.

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ADHD Coach, Andrew Lewis

Andrew Lewis

Andrew Lewis is an ADHD Coach, writer and founder of SimplyWellbeing. He has over ten thousand hours and fifteen years of experience in coaching ADHD executives, business professionals and creatives. His expertise with ADHD is personal, with decades of his own experience, bringing up an ADHD child, running a large support group and in coaching clients often for years He has published his writing via this website and has ADHD online courses in development. His business expertise comes from a twenty years career in software, from programming, through marketing, sales and running a few start-ups.

Further reading

ADHD at work
As you can expect from Barkley, a scientifically precise exploration of ADHD yet somehow detached from the reality of ADHD?
ADHD at work
Social and technical evolution seems to have out -paced our ability to keep up
ADHD at work
A great background on the brain’s physiology, function, pathology, and problems that may occur
ADHD at work
A comprehensive look at childhood ADHD through the perspective of executive functions
ADHD at work
An exploration on the adult experience of ADHD and using Sari's three step approach to self-help
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