Charlotte and the quiet place

NOVEMBER 2022: THIS WORKBOOK, FORMERLY TITLED BREAKING FREE OF ADDICTION, HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY NEW HARBINGER PUBLICATIONS. THE NEW, UPDATED EDITION IS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE IN SPRING 2024, WITH A FOREWORD WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER GERMER, PHD. STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS!

SYNOPSIS

Addiction to drugs and alcohol is one of the most serious medical, psychological, and social problems facing Americans today. But, with help, recovery is possible. When people struggling with problem drug or alcohol use feel less alone and more empowered with tools that work and a supportive community, they can begin to build a happier, healthier life—the life they’ve always wanted.

Grounded in mindfulness concepts, cognitive-behavioral theory, and the wisdom of self-help movements, this workbook offers forty-two therapeutic exercises to help people learn about their problem substance use, make healthy choices, practice new skills, and try strategies to prevent relapse. The book is divided into nine sections: Start on the Path to Recovery, Get Ready, Know Your Triggers, Take Action, Build a Safety Net, Know Your Feelings, Know Your Thoughts, The Mind-Body Connection, and Look Back and Look Ahead. Each exercise includes an objective, a brief discussion, and an illustrative vignette, followed by the activity. Readers are invited to reflect on their process throughout and offer feedback. Daily worksheets and a relapse prevention checklist are included.

SAMPLE EXERCISES INCLUDE:

Weighing Your Pros and Cons

What Are Your Triggers?

The Stages of Change Model

Noticing Your Urges and Cravings

Your P.L.A.N. for Social Events

Reasons Not to Use

Alternatives to Using

Creating a Safe Network

Asking for Help

Stretching Out of Your Comfort Zone

Feelings 101—It’s OK to Be a Beginner 

Responding, Not Reacting, to Feelings

Connecting Your Thoughts and Feelings

Mindful Self-Compassion

Revising Your Inner Dialogue

Mindful Meditation 101

Getting Active

What Are Your Passions?

Reexamining Your Relationships

H.O.P.E. Is in the Air   

PRAISE FOR BREAKING FREE OF ADDICTION

“If you are willing to face and release yourself from the prison of addiction, this brilliantly constructed guide will provide an ideal companion and support. Grounded in the transformative practices of mindfulness and the best of Western psychological wisdom, Breaking Free of Addiction offers a practical and powerful pathway of self-awareness and healing.”
—Tara Brach, PhD, author, Radical Acceptance and True Refuge

“A valuable companion for anyone who wants to stop using drugs or alcohol.  The whole book is inspired by mindfulness—the power to change your life through self-awareness and self-kindness. It gives readers a chance to explore every corner of their lives at their own pace. Written with smarts and clarity, but never preachy, this workbook will guide you into a more meaningful life and teach you important skills to make it stick.”
—Christopher Germer, PhD, Lecturer, Harvard Medical School; author, The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion

“Addiction, whether it manifests as an unwholesome habit or dependence on a substance, touches all human beings and is a particularly urgent issue amid the current opioid crisis. In her beautifully written and organized book, Breaking Free of Addiction, Deborah Sosin has addressed the subject of addiction treatment in a way that is direct, pragmatic, and inspiring. Her artful linking of the practice of mindfulness with recovery engages simultaneously the understanding of a problem and the empowerment to approach it with curiosity and confidence.

The workbook format at the same time orients and educates as the reader is challenged to coauthor both the book and his or her own life by completing thoughtful exercises and practicing embodied awareness.

Who surrenders to and succeeds in recovery continues to be a mystery. In the dual diagnosis partial hospital program where I work, we are always looking for creative resources and I find Breaking Free of Addiction to be a remarkably thorough and effective guide for both practitioners and those aspiring to heal.”
—Lawrence Peltz, MD, author, The Mindful Path to Addiction Recovery: A Practical Guide to Regaining Control Over Your Life  

“A beautiful and wise collection of resources for recovering and rebuilding your life from addiction.”
—Christopher Willard, PsyD, Lecturer, Harvard Medical School; author Growing Up Mindful and Raising Resilience

"Debbie Sosin's book is a welcome addition to the growing resource literature for leveraging mindfulness skills to address one's challenges with addiction. Her book is very accessible and provides a wide range of tools for deepening awareness of one's addictive patterns, as well as effective methods for changing them."
—Mitch Abblett, PhD, author, The Heat of the Moment in Treatment: Mindful Management of Difficult Clients; and the upcoming Five Hurdles to Happiness and the Mindful Path to Overcoming Them

"Unlike many self-help books, this one is actually based on the science of addiction. It attempts to destigmatize addictive disorders by using supportive, nonjudgmental language. It incorporates the latest in addiction treatment, such as the Stages of Change Model and client-centered interventions. The book is well organized, with each activity building upon the next. The exercises are holistic, comprehensive yet readily approachable and achievable. 

Each exercise has a similar structure and format, which should assist clients in successfully completing each step. I particularly liked the “Does this sound like you?” sections, which give clients concrete and realistic scenarios in which to compare their current situation. Although the book is designed for clients, it is also a great tool for clinicians who are doing individual and/or group work with clients struggling with substance use disorders."
—Patrick Griswold, MSN, MEd, RN, LMHC, LAC, Assistant Professor, Department of Human Services, Addiction Studies, Metropolitan State University of Denver; Adjunct Faculty/Instructor, Department of Nursing, UMass Medical School, Worcester, Mass., MCPHS University, Worcester, Mass.