Voices of Alcoholism: The Healing Companion: Stories for Courage, Comfort and Strength (Voices Of series)

In this collection of inspirational stories from all walks of life, the silence shrouding the disease of alcoholism is broken. Filled with unforgettable and informative true accounts by the victims of alcoholism, their families, and friends, each tale is written with remarkable candor about how this disease affects everyone—and not just the alcoholic—at every level of society, from the first drink through the challenges of achieving a lasting recovery. With a comprehensive resources section for those seeking current information on treatment and recovery, this is a heartfelt, emotional, and informative volume that affirms the strength of the human spirit. Cover......Page 1 Title page......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Foreword......Page 12 Foreword: High Society......Page 14 Introduction......Page 20 The Healing Project......Page 24 Acknowledgments......Page 26 Part I......Page 28 As If It Happened Yesterday......Page 30 The Promise of Hope......Page 32 Understanding Alcoholism......Page 37 Generations......Page 38 Sober, Not Dry......Page 44 Part II......Page 48 Daddy Hyde......Page 50 King Alcohol andHis Loyal Subject......Page 56 A Parent’s Trial......Page 62 A Sister’s Regret......Page 68 Two Mothers......Page 72 The Healing Power of Truth......Page 78 Part III......Page 84 May Day......Page 86 He’s Not an Alcoholic......Page 88 The Whites of His Eyes......Page 92 Family Tree......Page 102 I Really Am Special......Page 108 Mothers Can’t Be Drunks,Can They?......Page 114 The Day He Left......Page 122 Guilty Feet Have Got No Rhythm......Page 126 Part IV......Page 134 The Path Was Rocky (But Worth It)......Page 136 Amazing Grace......Page 140 Losing Control......Page 146 To Drink or Not To Drink......Page 150 Buzz......Page 156 My Story......Page 162 My Demon......Page 168 Part V......Page 172 The Wake Up Call......Page 174 No Longer in Charge......Page 180 A Mother’s Journal......Page 184 Reason to Believe......Page 192 Breaking Point......Page 200 The Journey to Hope......Page 206 Part VI......Page 212 Do You Know the Way to A.A.?......Page 214 My Dark Nights of the Soul......Page 216 A Simple Cup of Coffee......Page 222 Reprieve from Insanity......Page 226 Desperation......Page 234 Do As I Say, Not As I Do......Page 240 Blessed by Truth......Page 244 Till Death Do We Part......Page 250 Better than Better......Page 256 Drunk......Page 262 A Look to the Future ofAlcoholism Treatment......Page 270 Afterword: Caregiver, Heal Thyself......Page 276 Resources......Page 284 Presents the personal experiences of recoving alcoholics, along with their families and friends, describing how the disease has affected their lives.