(Part 2) Best products from r/addiction

> Alcoholism is not a phase. It’s a chronic, incurable, and PROGRESSIVE disease

Neuroscientist & former drug-addict Marc Lewis does not agree that addiction is a disease:

>…is addiction a disease?
>


>This book makes the case that it isn’t. Addiction results, rather, from the motivated repetition of the same thoughts and behaviours until they become habitual. Thus, addiction develops—it’s learned—but it’s learned more deeply and often more quickly than most other habits, due to a narrowing tunnel of attention and attraction. A close look at the brain highlights the role of desire in this process. The neural circuitry of desire governs anticipation, focused attention, and behaviour. So the most attractive goals will be pursued repeatedly, while other goals lose their appeal, and that repetition (rather than the drugs, booze, or gambling) will change the brain’s wiring. As with other developing habits, this process is grounded in a neurochemical feedback loop that’s present in all normal brains. But it cycles more persistently because of the frequent recurrence of desire and the shrinking range of what is desired. Addiction arises from the same feelings that bind lovers to each other and children to their parents. And it builds on the same cognitive mechanisms that get us to value short-term gains over long-term benefits. Addiction is unquestionably destructive, yet it is also uncannily normal: an inevitable feature of the basic human design. That’s what makes it so difficult to grasp—socially, scientifically, and clinically.
>


>I believe that the disease idea is wrong, and that its wrongness is compounded by a biased view of the neural data—and by doctors’ and scientists’ habit of ignoring the personal. It’s an idea that can be replaced, not by shunning the biology of addiction by by examining it more closely, and then connecting it back to lived experience. Medical researchers are correct that the brain changes with addiction. But the way it changes has to do with learning and development—not disease.

For more information on this subject, read The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease by Marc Lewis.

If you want to read another book by another doctor that refutes the “disease” idea, I recommend Addiction: A Disorder of Choice by Gene Heyman.

The Neurobiology of We is a great book about the neuroscience of human interaction and how it shapes our lives. Not addiction specific but I found it incredibly useful in understanding the basic science behind WHY people behave the way they do and how addiction arises.

This book, How to Understand and Help an Addict, is one someone on Reddit posted about (they wrote it) and it's free. I'm reading it right now and it's dealing more with alcohol than anything, but it might be helpful

Also, here's a couple YouTube channels from research on addiction:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Institute4Addiction

https://www.youtube.com/user/kevintmccauley1965

Having spent an entire year on a psychotic spectrum detail in 2014-15, and being intimately familiar with psychotic bipolar I as well as the schizopherniform disorders, I have to suggest that trying to take responsibility for the behavior of people with transient psychosis is beyond the capacity of most professionals, let alone those who haven't been through extensive and intensive post-graduate education and training. The very best you can do is a) do what you can to make sure she's on the local social services radar, b) stay on her about taking her oral meds, and c) see if they can get her to go on depot medication.

I would also get a copy of this book and this book... and read them cover to cover.

I really liked Change Anything. It has a lot of useful science behind it for ways to change your life. Of course, I haven't followed it long-term, but it was interesting.

http://www.amazon.com/Change-Anything-Science-Personal-Success/dp/0446573906

Do you have a therapist that you can talk to help you work through these feelings, ideally someone specializing in trauma and/or substance abuse? I was pretty resistant to pursuing therapy and just stuck to meds for my depression/adhd for way too long. Finding a counselor I can trust that really gets me has been a huge game changer for turning my mental health around. I also really recommend reading the book Healing the Shame That Binds You

I enjoyed reading Noah Levine's Dharma Punx -the story of how he kicked drugs using meditation -- so much that I've been listening to his 'Against The Stream' dharma talks for years. He's stayed clean now for 20 years. Apparently people in his community have started an alt (or addition) to AA called RefugeRecovery that aims to help people deal with their addictions via buddhism/meditation. It's early days but there might be a group in your area.

Excellent, concise book detailing the biology of addiction. Hooked by Dr. Arwen Podesta

I'm nearly finished this book and I love it. Honestly have only taken a few concepts on board but still felt a difference.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0671708821?pc_redir=1408677214&robot_redir=1

Your best results will come from speaking to a licensed therapist. There is no doubt that food can be an obsession, which can manifest into an eating disorder. The key is to love yourself and build your self-esteem so that it is not linked to physical appearance. This may require cognitive behavioral therapy. This book really helped me with self-esteem problems. Males are not impervious to eating disorders, so please look into getting help.

Also the feelings of guilt are is called co-dependent. Do yours self a favor read up on it. Here is a good book:
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself https://www.amazon.com/dp/0894864025/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hw3gzbAKFH85N

still recommend this book after just slamming the rehab this guy founded

http://www.amazon.com/Believable-Hope-Essential-Elements-Addiction/dp/0757317308

This is what I use and like. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U464HYK/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_OZ8xCbZ3JRZVB

I think actually snorting a substitute substance will make you just want it more and be a bad long-term solution.

I went through 7g of great quality coke in 5 days around Thanksgiving time myself. For me, I just think about how bad it messed up my sinuses, the diminished returns from doing more lines, the money, and the possibility of a deviated septum scares the shit out of me.

Read the short book”Alcohol Explained”. Applies to all addictive drugs, not just alcohol.

https://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-Explained-William-Porter/dp/1516997190/

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.amazon.com/dp/1893007162/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_n97PDbJYN06RW

https://www.amazon.com/Confidence-Game-Manager-Streets-Bloomberg-ebook/dp/B003E8AK82/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510262930&sr=8-1&keywords=confidence+game+bill+ackman

https://www.amazon.ca/timelockingsafe-com-Time-Lock-Safe/dp/B00NFIDTMK/ref=sr_1_2/144-2560398-2679916?ie=UTF8&qid=1526423392&sr=8-2&keywords=time+locking+safe

Here’s an article.

Studies are found in this book.