12 Smart Things to Do When the Booze and Drugs Are Gone

by Berger, Allen

• ISBN13: 9781592858217
• ISBN10: 159285821X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-08-16
• Publisher: Hazelden

Summary

Whether it's called 'dry drunk' or 'white knuckle sobriety', it's that stage in recovery when we realize that 'putting the plug in the jug' isn't enough. The next step is taking responsibility for the emotional immaturity that fuels our addictive personality, and which has a tremendous impact on ourselves and others. In 12 Smart Things to Do When the Booze and Drugs Are Gone, Allen Berger, Ph.D., draws on the teachings of Bill W. and psychotherapy pioneers to offer twelve hallmarks of emotional sobriety that, when practiced, give people the confidence to be accountable for their behaviour, ask for what they want and need, and grow and develop a deeper trust in the process of life. These 'smart things' include: Understanding who you are and what's important to you. Learning not to take others' reactions personally. Trusting your own inner compass. Taking responsibility for your reactions to problematic situations. It is in these practices that we find release from what Bill W. described as an 'absolute dependency' on people or circumstances, and develop the tools to find prestige, security, and belonging within.

Author Biography

Allen Berger, Ph.D., is a nationally recognized expert on the science of recovery. For more than thirty years, he has been on his own journey in recovery while helping thousands of others discover a way of life free from addiction.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xi
Introduction: Understanding Emotional Sobriety	p. 1
Know Yourself-and How to Stay Centered	p. 23
Stop Allowing Others to Edit Your Reality	p. 33
Stop Taking Things Personally	p. 45
Own Your Projections as an Act of Integrity	p. 57
Confront Yourself for the Sake of Your Integrity	p. 67
Stop Pressuring Others to Change, and Instead Pressure Yourself to Change	p. 81
Develop a Healthy Perspective Toward Yourself, Your Feelings, and Your Emotional Themes	p. 89
Appreciate What is	p. 103
Comfort Yourself When You Are Hurt or Disappointed	p. 113
Use Your Personal Compass to Guide Your Life	p. 127
Embrace Relationship Tensions as the Fuel for Personal Growth	p. 137
The "Problem" Is Not the Real Problem	p. 147
A Vision for You: Putting All the Pieces Together	p. 161
References	p. 175
About the Author	p. 179
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