The Tao of Sobriety Helping You to Recover from Alcohol and Drug Addiction

by Gregson, David; Efran, Jay S.; Marlatt, G. Alan

• ISBN13: 9780312242503
• ISBN10: 0312242506
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-21
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Summary

The Tao of Sobrietyshows how to apply eastern philosophy to enhance recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. With a few simple mental exercises, readers can learn how to quiet "The Committee," those nasty mental voices that undermine serenity and self-esteem. With leaders of the recovery movement enthusiastically endorsing this uniquely helpful book,The Tao of Sobrietyis an invaluable addition to the recovery bookshelf.

Author Biography

David Gregson is a counselor currently specializing in drug and alcohol misuse issues. He practices at West Coast Alternatives Society with the best crew in all of beautiful British Columbia. Jay S. Efran, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Psychological Services Center at Temple University and has been a therapist for more than thirty years. He has served as President of the Academic Division of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association and is the recipient of several teaching awards. He also presents workshops for psychotherapists and family therapists here and abroad.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Foreword	1	(6)
Introduction	7	(5)
A Word About Twelve-Step Programs	8	(1)
What Is the Tao?	8	(4)
Alcohol, Drugs, and You	12	(9)
Discovery 1: Innocence in Spirit	13	(1)
Aaron's Story	13	(3)
Reality-Altering Substances	16	(2)
More Gain Than Pain	18	(1)
Beyond Alcohol and Drugs	19	(2)
I Think, Therefore I Am	21	(14)
Odd Insights About Us	22	(1)
Who's the Boss?	23	(2)
Journeying Deeper into Being	25	(2)
A Practical Example	27	(1)
Discovery 2: Listening to the Internal Conversation	28	(1)
Who Are You?	29	(1)
Discovery 3: The Space That is You	29	(1)
The One and the Other	30	(1)
Higher Math: The One and the Many	31	(1)
Discovery 4: Discovering Who You Are	32	(1)
Who's Got the Power?	32	(3)
Managing the Mind	35	(12)
Discovery 5: Enhancing the Manager	36	(1)
Biker Stan	36	(2)
Discovery 6: Making a Commitment	38	(3)
Discovery 7: Mindfulness and Detachment	41	(4)
Practice Makes Perfect	45	(2)
Conversing with Drugs and Alcohol	47	(13)
Discovery 8: Reflecting on chemical Substances and You	48	(3)
A Proof of Innocence	51	(1)
Discovery 9: A Heart of Innocence	52	(8)
Attaining Balance	60	(5)
Revitalizing Desire	65	(11)
Discovery 10: Identifying Mental Banditos	67	(3)
Ted's Story	70	(6)
Reexamining Transgressions	76	(11)
Discovery 11: Transgression Inventory	77	(1)
Laura's Story	78	(3)
The Hopelessness Monster	81	(1)
David's Story	81	(2)
The Possibility of Possibility	83	(1)
Discovery 12: Acknowledging Possibility	83	(1)
Possibility and Patience	84	(1)
The Pleasures of Irresponsibility	85	(2)
Thoughts, Feelings, Actions	87	(8)
Knowing More About Your System	88	(3)
Furthering Detachment	91	(4)
Practicing Detachment	95	(9)
Discovery 13: An Inch That's Greater Than a Mile	96	(2)
David's Bugs	98	(2)
Good Self-Talk	100	(1)
Hacking a New Path	100	(1)
Jack's Story	101	(1)
Discovery 14: Practicing Self-Talk	102	(2)
Strengthening Commitment	104	(11)
The Hoax of Winning	107	(3)
Taking the Good with the Bad	110	(2)
Discovery 15: Attack of the Aliens	112	(3)
Life as Theater	115	(9)
Revising the Script	124	(11)
The Power of Commitment	127	(1)
Discovery 16: Reflecting on Your Life as a Story	128	(2)
Discovery 17: A Replay with the Manager in Charge	130	(3)
Discovery 18: Self-Beliefs	133	(2)
Reality and Illusion	135	(8)
The Middle Way Revisited	137	(3)
A Real-Life Video Game	140	(3)
Plenty of Nothing	143	(8)
Discovery 19: One is the Loneliest Number	147	(2)
Bringing it Home	149	(2)
Acceptance: Choosing Life	151	(14)
Defining Acceptance	152	(2)
Inclusion and Exclusion	154	(1)
The Acceptance of Suffering	155	(3)
Discovery 20: Expanding Acceptance	158	(4)
Avoiding a Steady State	162	(3)
Retracing the Journey	165	(8)
The Tao of Sobriety in a Nutshell: A Handy Crib Sheet	173	(2)
References	175