Overcoming Addictions : The Spiritual Solution

Rating:
Summary: regarding the above review
Review: Before you go to the Alcaholics Anonymous book, please know that there are other options for alcoholics. Marianne Gilliam has written a book called "How Alcoholics Anonymous Failed Me" and it is a wonderful book for people who need an alternate to the Judeo-Christian influenced path of AA. Her book is more in line with Deepak Chopra's book, and she even recommends his book for further reading. It is more about healing and getting to a point of being "recovered" than having to live a life always "in recovery" as with AA.

Rating:
Summary: Where is the spiritual Solution?
Review: I can not recommend this book to someone that is trying to overcome an addiction. I could not find where the spiritual solution was in this book. Meditation, yoga...sure I would recommend these to anyone, but they are not a solution. What I did find in this book was the definition of what the author believed an addiction to be. There are some really good books out there on addiction and this is not one of them. In my opinion, look for books that give you information on how to get to your inner child. Books with information on expressing suppressed emotions.

Rating:
Summary: A Waste of Time and Money
Review: I found that this was a complete waste of time! I consider myself a very spiritual person but this was so vague that I kept waiting for the "meat and potatoes" so to speak. I have a family member who is a severe alcoholic and I found nothing in this concept that I could use to try to help the situation. Don't waste your money!

Rating:
Summary: Where is the spiritual Solution?
Review: I found this book to be enormously helpful. Unlike several reveiwers who didn't find a step-by-step approach, "Overcoming Addictions" seemed very clear in terms of actions to take. I've used the techniques and viewpoints expressed in the book and found it THE most helpful and effective approach to overcoming addictions I've seen yet. The problem is that you have to actually read the book and get the idea, instead of looking for lists of what to do. He treats you as an adult with a sound inner core. His view is that an addicted person is essentially trying to find joy and a degree of enlightenment. He honors the reader by saying that "using" is simply a misguided but understandable attempt to find union with the already existing inner child, the wise and joyful person who already exists. He explains the karmic cycle in clear terms and advises how to insert images, memories and real experiences into the cycle of addiction to supplant the old habit with new, positive ways to cope with life. His is a message of hope. It is not a method which punishes, negates or brands you with a label of "addict" for the rest of your life. This book, if read mindfully, can clear a way to a far happier life. As to specific techniques, he provides tips for yoga poses, food programs, questions to ask yourself and other advice. He advises mediation and gives several specific ways to use meditation and breathing exercises to increase mindfullness. His is a message of hope and positive action based on an understanding, very human and highly validating view of the addicted person.

Rating:
Summary: Why this book is effective
Review: I found this book to be enormously helpful. Unlike several reveiwers who didn't find a step-by-step approach, "Overcoming Addictions" seemed very clear in terms of actions to take. I've used the techniques and viewpoints expressed in the book and found it THE most helpful and effective approach to overcoming addictions I've seen yet. The problem is that you have to actually read the book and get the idea, instead of looking for lists of what to do. He treats you as an adult with a sound inner core. His view is that an addicted person is essentially trying to find joy and a degree of enlightenment. He honors the reader by saying that "using" is simply a misguided but understandable attempt to find union with the already existing inner child, the wise and joyful person who already exists. He explains the karmic cycle in clear terms and advises how to insert images, memories and real experiences into the cycle of addiction to supplant the old habit with new, positive ways to cope with life. His is a message of hope. It is not a method which punishes, negates or brands you with a label of "addict" for the rest of your life. This book, if read mindfully, can clear a way to a far happier life. As to specific techniques, he provides tips for yoga poses, food programs, questions to ask yourself and other advice. He advises mediation and gives several specific ways to use meditation and breathing exercises to increase mindfullness. His is a message of hope and positive action based on an understanding, very human and highly validating view of the addicted person.

Rating:
Summary: Overcoming Destructive Addictions
Review: I would highly recommend this book, to any one who is going for the first time to overcome addictions. For me I have found out with this book that you can diminish greatly or completely eliminate addictions if you read it carefully, in detail and follow what Deepak Chopra is saying. Like I mentioned before it is the first step to recovery. I know that they are a lot of negative addictions out there like illegal drugs, alcohol, tobbacco, gambling and to much sex like a sex addict can also destoy lives. So if you really do want to take the first step to recovery I would recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Slight but significant.
Review: One hopes Chopra's penchant for the prolific does not dilute the forcefulness of his ideas. This book is a perfect antidote to the "just say no" approach to addictive behaviors. The style is friendly, inspirational, delightfully allusive (references from John Milton to Charlie Parker). Still one wishes for more specifics and comprehensiveness. Chopra treats alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs. What about legally prescribed yet abused drugs

Rating:
Summary: Addiction Lite
Review: Read the recommendations on the cover carefully. They are ALL for the author, NOT the book. There are good reasons the book is not recommended. It is not based upon research or even extensive personal experience with addicts. It is simply some off the cuff remarks by a famous person who does not understand addiction. I agree spirituality is the cornerstone of recovery and joy is needed, but it is not as simple as the author implies. His emphasis on psychoanalytic understanding of addiction is very outdated and has not led effective treatment.

Rating:
Summary: Could Leave People Frustrated
Review: The author's approach is natural and meditative but lacks a step-by-step strategy. For those looking for steps to recovery, I suggest reading the book, Alcoholics Anonymous. This is THE founding text from which all other 12-step recovery programs began. Believe me, a recovering alcoholic, I found the SOLUTION in the 12-steps and with other recovering people. It saved millions of lives as well as my own.