Nowadays, if you have a problem, there is a self-help book for it. Drug and Alcohol addiction is no exception. While it is helpful to read the personal stories of others like yourself or your family members, these books are not designed to replace a drug and alcohol treatment program, whether at an inpatient drug rehab or outpatient drug rehab. Trauma, addiction, and mental illness can be very isolating. By reading the journey of other individuals, we learn their experiences and realize we are not alone. These books can be helpful during early recovery as well as during long-term recovery. Reading experiences of others can help to offer hope and support. The more you learn about your addiction, the better off you’ll be in facing it. Although reading a book won’t cure your addiction, it will educate you on how to understand it and help you embrace alternative treatment options. Our team has compiled a list of their favorite reads that they consider the best Books Addiction Recovery and addiction.
Here Are Self-Help Best Books Addiction Recovery (Alcohol And Drug Addiction)
Blackout:
Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola
A memoir that discusses a woman’s struggle with alcoholism and the 21st century. She reveals that she drank alcohol until falling down staircases, sleeping with men she didn’t know, and blacking out completely. Sarah expresses the shame she felt after turning to Alcoholics Anonymous to get sober. This book does a deep dive into the mind of an alcoholic.
Tweak:
Growing Up On Methamphetamines by Nic Sheff
A best-selling memoir of a young teen’s drug addiction to Methamphetamines describes his journey of addiction, recovery, and relapse. At age eleven, Nic Sheff was intoxicated for the first time. This began his journey of drug abuse that transformed into regularly smoking pot, snorting cocaine, and taking Ecstasy. He later developed habits of crystal meth and heroin.
High Achiever:
The Incredible True Story of One Addict’s Double Life by Tiffany Jenkins
This book begins with the Author detoxing behind bars in a Florida jail charged with multiple felonies. Jenkins takes you on her journey from addiction to recovery. She is now a wife and a mother, and a vast social media success.
Breathing Under Water:
Spirituality and the Twelve Steps by Richard Rohr
Richard Rohr is an American author, spiritual writer, and Franciscan Friar. Rohr shows how gospel principles align with the 12 Steps of Recovery and can assist those drowning by addiction who may not even realize they are struggling. Regardless of the substance use disorder, this book can be a comforting tool.
Rewired:
A Bold New Approach To Addiction and Recovery by Erica Spiegelman
Rewired is focused on the concept of self-actualization; this novel will guide you towards not only physical sobriety but mental, emotional, and spiritual sobriety, as well as finding your internal authenticity, honesty, gratitude, and understanding a need for solitude. Some people believe they are high functioning; therefore, they are not addicted. However, this book can help you improve regardless of where you are in the recovery process.
Recovery:
Freedom From Our Addictions by Russel Brand
A helpful guide from a celebrity that has struggled with a long history of substance abuse. Brand battled with addiction from heroin, alcohol, and sex. He provides insight for individuals in active addiction and their families by providing his interpretation of the twelve steps. Russell Brand recently celebrated 19 years clean.
Beautiful Boy:
A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction by David Sheff
An honest book that parents can relate to regardless of their child’s drug of choice. This book details the lengths a parent will go to save their child. This book helps you to understand addiction from a parent’s perspective. It later became a major motion picture starring Steve Carrell.
The Gifts of Imperfection:
Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown
A motivational and inspirational guide to living, rather than just your average self-help book. Brown boosts self-esteem and personal development due to her original research and plenty of encouragement. She promotes living authentically even if it is considered” imperfect.Brown’s easy-to-follow “guideposts are benchmarks for authenticity that can assist in establishing a practice for mindfulness and living a perfectly imperfect life.
Quit Like a Woman:
The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol by Holly Whitaker
Whitaker discusses society’s emphasis on alcohol and how almost all social gatherings include or revolve around it. She discusses her journey of overcoming addiction and the creation of a sober community. The unique way she examines drinking culture will have you looking at drinking differently in the future.
Terry:
My Daughter’s Life-and-Death Struggle with Alcoholism by George McGovern
A parent’s account of their daughter’s struggle with alcoholism eventually led to her death. Terry McGovern, who was a 45-year-old girl that walked out of a bar and was later found frozen to death in a snowbank, was the daughter of a former Democratic Senator. After her death, he reflected upon his family’s relationship with alcohol and now believes her death resulted from a genetic predisposition.
If you find yourself struggling with the temptation to drink or use drugs, attend a meeting, speak with your sponsor, or contact us to speak with one of our professional counselors.
Avatar Residential Drug and Alcohol Recovery in New Jersey provides quality health care for drug and alcohol addiction treatments and behavioral health services. Please call(973)-774-7222 for more information if you or someone is going through difficult times with substance abuse. We provide various treatment services for individuals struggling with addiction and mental health issues at our alcohol and drug rehabs in New Jersey.
