Emotional Sobriety

Picking up right at the point where Janet Woititz’s 1990 hit book Adult Children of Alcoholics left off, clinical psychologist Tian Dayton’s latest contribution contains fresh perspectives and new analysis on how to gain back emotional stability after growing up with the trauma of addiction, abuse, and dysfunction. Dr. Dayton accomplishes this by presenting and explaining the latest research in neuropsychology and the role trauma plays on chemically altering the brain. With compassion and clear explanations and her own personal journey, Dayton teaches readers how to undo the neuropsychological damage of trauma to rewire the brain and reverse the negative effects trauma has on our future relationships and behaviors to gain emotional sobriety. In Emotional Sobriety, Dr. Dayton teaches readers: How to understand the mind/body relationship of addiction and relationship trauma How to rewire your brain to undo the negative effects trauma has on personal, career, and romantic relationships How changing the way one lives and perceives adult relationships can change the way one thinks and feels and vice versa

Guides those in recovery in developing the awareness and skills to deal with life's issues by practicing authentic spirituality and emotional sobriety. Spirituality is a critical aspect of the Twelve Steps and other recovery programs. Yet, for those of us disposed to addiction, it can be easy to get so caught up in the idea of our Higher Power and the abundant joys of a spiritual life that we experience "spiritual bypass"--the use of spirituality to avoid dealing with ourselves, our emotions, and our unfinished business.In Recovering Spirituality, researcher and clinical psychologist Ingrid Mathieu uses personal stories and practical advice to teach us how to grow up emotionally and take responsibility for ourselves. Without turning away from the true benefits of an active spiritual program, she shows us how to work through life's challenges and periods of pain while evolving and maintaining an authentic relationship with our Higher Power.

In times of crisis like the coronavirus pandemic has caused, we need all the recovery tools we can get. Smart sobriety means working on all the stuff our substances were covering up. Learn the attitudes and behaviors that are key to attaining and sustaining emotional sobriety and developing a deeper trust in the process of life. Dr. Allen Berger draws on the teachings of Bill W. and psychotherapy pioneers to offer us twelve hallmarks of emotional sobriety. These “right actions” help us develop the confidence to be accountable for our behavior, to practice asking for what we want and need, and to cultivate a deeper trust in the process of life. Dr. Berger’s list of smart things includes understanding who you are and what’s important to you learning not to take others’ reactions personally trusting your inner compass Through practicing these twelve things, we find release from what Bill W. described as an “absolute dependence on people or circumstances. Freed from the emotional immaturity that fueled our addictive personality and hurt ourselves and others, we can develop the tools to find strength from within and continue our successful journey of recovery.

In addition to staying connected to our support systems and avoiding opportunities to use during the coronavirus pandemic, we can also keep confronting and conquering the self-destructive things we think and do that undercut our health and sanity. Concise advice on hunting down the personal culprits that sabotage sobriety and personal happiness. To grow in recovery, we must grow up emotionally. This means getting honest with ourselves and facing up to the self-defeating thoughts and actions that put our sobriety at risk. Although there are as many ways to mess up recovery as there are alcoholics and addicts, some general themes exist, which include: confusing self-concern with selfishness; not making amends; using the program to try to become perfect; not getting help for relationship troubles; and believing that life should be easy. In simple, down-to-earth language, Allen Berger explores the twelve most commonly confronted beliefs and attitudes that can sabotage recovery. He then provides tools for working through these problems in daily life. This useful guide offers fresh perspectives on how the process of change begins with basic self-awareness and a commitment to working a daily program.

Here are the creative, heartfelt insights of several dozen sober seekers whose articles in the Grapevine offer insights that can light the way to our own "quiet place in bright sunshine."

Your old, destructive lifestyle is fading into the past and now you are a woman in recovery. What an amazing gift you’ve given yourself. So why aren’t you happier? As sobriety takes hold and your head starts to clear, a wide range of emotions can begin to emerge—feelings that until now you’ve “medicated” with chemicals. Yet to stay sober, and to grow and flourish as a person, you must engage in healing and take responsibility for these long-neglected emotions. Beverly Conyers, a prominent voice in recovery, uses personal stories and informed insight to guide you in achieving emotional sobriety by addressing behaviors and feelings unique to the female experience. Learn how to develop the inner resiliency to face and process difficult, buried emotions—such as shame, grief, fear, and anger—while freeing the positive feelings of self- worth, independence, and integrity. Discover how to heal your “damaged self” by improving your communication skills, expanding your capacity for intimacy and trust, and reawakening a spiritual life. As you heal your wounded heart, you can free yourself to a life of self-acceptance and lay the foundation for a rewarding and relapse-free second stage of recovery.

Have you ever tried to move forward from a broken relationship, only to keep circling back? Why can't you get over this person? Questions like these are more common than you think. The Hangover takes you through the 12 steps of recognizing, dealing and healing from Emotional Addiction. You already know what didn't work in your past relationships, now let's understand why and how not to repeat the same nonsense. Having a sober heart and mind is the only way to really find happiness. Once this is a reality, intimacy and love won't be far behind.

Language of the Heart contains all of AA cofounder Bill W.'s Grapevine, including a vivid description of how he came to organize the Steps.

Covid-19 days can place us under unusual stress which, over time can produce many of the same symptoms as trauma; such as grief, sadness, anxiety, sleep troubles, intrusive or disturbing thoughts and body aches and pains. But in this case, we're not talking about an event that happens once and is over.

"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems ..." You may already know of Dr. Paul's wisdom through the often-quoted passage from his story in the 3rd and 4th editions of A.A.'s Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous. Dr. Paul continues sharing his astute insight and gentle humor in "There's More To Quitting Drinking Than Quitting Drinking" with discussions of the physical, mental, emotional, interpersonal and spiritual aspects of sobriety. "Acceptance," Dr. Paul writes, "has to be repeated over and over and over again with every new situation and circumstance. It isn't a destination; it's a continuous process, a journey, a philosophy, a way of life.” This book is for the person who has achieved his or her initial goal in a Twelve Step program and now wants more -- more of everything the program has to offer, more of everything they can get by expanding their thinking and extending themselves.

Emotional Sobriety: Feel-Good Secrets for Everyone provides uplifting mental practices, powerful encouragement, and straightforward advice to anyone seeking to improve the quality of his or her life. Easy-to-follow, simple exercises and suggestions give you a step-by-step practical program to master your emotions and to tune in, tap in, and turn on to your Inner Being. This guide provides a new, innovative approach to steps ten and eleven found in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous that can change and raise your awareness to feeling good all day, every day. You can learn to use words that support what you want. Words matter. Wrong words can block and delay your good coming to you. Positive words can uplift and soothe you and others. Help make your life a happier, more fun experience by applying the tools provided. Discover the number one secret to feeling good.

Featured on The Dr. Oz Show in Special Addiction Episode with Steven Tyler The disease of addiction affects 1 out of 10 people in the United States, and is a devastating—often, fatal—illness. Now, from the physician director of the renowned Betty Ford Center, comes a step-by-step plan with a realistic "one-day-at-a-time" approach to a disease that so often seems insurmountable. With a focus on reclaiming the power that comes from a life free of dependency, Being Sober walks readers through the many phases of addiction and recovery without judgment or the overly "cultish" language of traditional 12-step plans. It also addresses the latest face of this disease: the "highly functioning" addict, or someone who is still able to achieve personal and professional success even as they battle a drug or alcohol problem. Dr. Haroutunian tackles this provocative issue head-on, offering new insight into why you don't have to "bottom out" to get help. Dr. Haroutunian is himself a recovering alcoholic and knows firsthand the challenges of sobriety. His background and expertise in the field of alcohol and drug treatment give him a powerful edge and perspective that is unparalleled in his field. With a foreword written by Steven Tyler, Being Sober uses clear, straightforward language and offers a proven path toward an emotional sobriety and a rewarding new life based on gratitude, dignity, and self-respect.

365 days of inspiration for the recovery journey, filled with wisdom to ground, guide, and renew the spirit. Recovery—whether from addictive or compulsive behaviors, codependency, childhood trauma, dysfunction or loss—is not an event to be conquered, but an ongoing process of healing and self-discovery. It requires patience, perseverance, and self-awareness. Putting one foot in front of the other, moment-by-moment and day-by-day, builds courage, self-esteem, and resilience. A key component of staying on the right path is guidance from those who have walked it before. One Foot in Front of the Other gives readers a hand to hold as they face the challenges of living and provides a wellspring of knowledge from which to draw inspiration, and hope. Nationally renowned trauma and recovery expert Dr. Tian Dayton gives readers all the tools they will need on their journey of recovery, just as she has for countless of her own patients. Written in the 'I' format, each page speaks intimately to readers, offering straightforward and user-friendly wisdom through inspired readings. This powerful little book will help readers examine their lives and recapture feelings of gratitude and positivity opening to the grace of self-renewal.

The basic text for Alcoholics Anonymous.

Acute trauma and addictive disorders are often a result of psychological injuries experienced as a child while typically producing long-term and harmful generational consequences on loved ones and other family members. Claudia Black presents a portrait of a broken family system, exploring how addiction and trauma develop in families, their damaging repetition, and offers a roadmap for healing.

Boundaries in Recovery - Emotional Sobriety Through Setting Personal Limitations Many in recovery love to think of themselves as unique and, in some ways, we really are. Often from either very dysfunctional homes or, having spent a significant portion of our lives in a chemical-induced fog, it's no wonder that boundaries are either quite warped or simply non-existent when we finally clean up our acts and strive to live as productive members of society. Sometimes this is easier said than done and we find that our relationships with those about us could really use some work. We either love too quickly and too much or put up walls and don't let anyone get close to us, fearing pain and rejection. These are all boundary issues and are a big part of emotional sobriety. Learning to set limits in recovery is a learned skill for many and it most certainly can be done. Boundaries in Recovery was written to help you do just that. Written by someone who has been there and has had the same emotional sobriety struggles as most, this book takes a look at setting limitations from the perspective of the recovering person. Whether you need to learn to set healthy boundaries with family, partners, children, friends, or business associates, guidance is given to help the reader recognize and set healthy limits. If you learn to honor and respect yourself, and treat others with the same dignity you would want to be treated with, your whole life will change for the better. Tags: boundaries, emotional sobriety, addiction and boundaries, alcoholism and boundaries, preventing relapse, living sober, recovery books, self-esteem, avoiding relapse, relationships and recovery, codependency, codependents

Why are we the way we are, and why do we do the things we do? These are the fundamental questions we humans have been asking ourselves from the dawn of recorded history. The call to answer them can be traced back over 2,500 years to an injunction inscribed in a Greek temple: Know Thyself. AA's Step 4 follows in the tradition of self-examination which emerged in response to that call. Borrowing from religion, philosophy, and psychology, it's the most comprehensive and effective program of self-knowledge and self-transformation that's been ever devised. Though initially meant for alcoholics, it's available to all.However, Step 4 takes a lot of work. In it we are digging into a wide range of experience over a long period of time-the entirety of our past lives, in fact. An inventory of such depth and breadth can be daunting. It's easy to get confused, sidetracked, overwhelmed, and discouraged. Many of us procrastinate. Some never get started. Others abandon it early on. But even if we've gone through it once, we've barely begun to scratch the surface.For various reasons, these first attempts are very limited. That's why later in sobriety many of us feel the need to try again. Though sober, our recovery may have stalled. Maybe there are serious things about the past we skipped the first time around. Perhaps important issues remain unresolved which are still affecting us today. Or maybe we've gotten in trouble again, perhaps even relapsed. In any case, we feel we have to go back and take another hard look at ourselves. And yet, we're not sure we have the tools we need. We might have 10, 20, or 30 years in the program, but our understanding of Step 4 may not be much better than it was the first time we did it. This book is for those alcoholics. It's also for those, alcoholic or not, who wish to change and to grow and who are willing to practice the principles which have helped so many of us to become better people and to live happier lives.

Prescriptive and unique, Emotional First Aid is essential reading for anyone looking to become more resilient, build self-esteem, and let go of the hurts and hang-ups that are holding them back. We all sustain emotional wounds. Failure, guilt, rejection, and loss are as much a part of life as the occasional scraped elbow. But while we typically bandage a cut or ice a sprained ankle, our first aid kit for emotional injuries is not just understocked—it’s nonexistent. Fortunately, there is such a thing as mental first aid for battered emotions. Drawing on the latest scientific research and using real-life examples, practicing psychologist Guy Winch, Ph.D. offers specific step-by-step treatments that are fast, simple, and effective.

This is the official ACA Fellowship Text that is Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization (ACA WSO) Conference Approved Literature. Adult Children of Alcoholics/Dysfunctional Families (ACA) is an independent 12 Step and 12 Tradition anonymous program.