Understanding and Helping an Addict (and keeping your sanity)

Book Synopsis: To solve a problem one must first understand the problem. Unfortunately, that's hard to do with addiction because it makes no sense. Why do people keep on with their substance use when it's ruining their life and making them miserable? In this important book, medical doctor and addiction survivor Dr. Andrew Proulx - a leading expert on addiction psychology - explains the effects of addictive substances on the brain and mind, and why addicts and alcoholics behave the way they do. Dr. Andrew then goes on to explain exactly how to form a bond with an addicted loved one and to use this bond to help the addict to move to a willingness and mental readiness to accept the help they need. He then explains your role in your loved one's treatment and subsequent recovery and relapse prevention. Ironically, most people who try to help an addict become too involved in the problem, which may do more harm than good. They get drawn into the addict's circle of chaos, and end up participating in the addiction by being enablers. This creates chaos and insanity in their own life, and does nothing to stop the addiction. Andrew provides guidance for loved ones of addicts to remove themselves from the addict's circle of chaos and to take a different approach to helping the addict that's more effective, and also allows them to take back their own life and sanity. Perhaps most importantly, Andrew explains how to keep your own sanity when faced with the life-shattering frustration of dealing with a loved one who is self-destructing and doesn't want to be helped. Andrew practiced as a physician in the ER, hospital, and office settings for 15 years. He also practiced psychotherapy alongside his medical practice. Since surviving addiction and finding recovery, he went back to school for his Ph.D. in Addiction Psychology, and has focused his professional life on addictions research, writing, and counseling.