Avoiding Relapse through Self-Awareness and Right Action

I recently read 12 Stupid Things That Mess Up Recovery by Dr. Allen Berger and it is one of the best books on recovery that I have read. As I am in recovery, this has been very insightful into the complexities of the disease of addiction. I plan on using it as a one of my daily life tools and am already sharing it with other people in recovery. Thank you so much Dr. Berger, I plan on reading more of your books and look forward to helping others with the knowledge you are giving us.

Grateful to be sober.

This book explains the steps in a fashion that is easy to understand. In depth of disease of addiction and our thoughts attitude and behaviors. Very very good reading. Need to read without distraction to take in all the information

And I quote:

'If we surrender, our disease loses its control over our lives'.

Hmmmm. Where have I heard that before?

A lot of references to following 'The Program'.

That sounds familiar also.

It's AA.

If AA works for you don't bother buying the book. You know all you need to know.

If AA does NOT work for you don't bother buying the book. You know all you need to know.

For the money try 'Alan Carr's Easy Way To Control Alcohol'.

Not saying it is going to be easy but that book offered a different perspective as opposed to the same old stuff that has been being preached for decades.

This book was purchased along with the 12 Smart Things to do after recovery (book) and also with the "Recovering Your Kid". I have not had a chance to read either completely as more to learn is from the one by Joseph Lee.

12 Stupid Things That Mess Up Recovery keeps the focus where it ought to be once the active addiction has past and early sobriety begins. On the individuals responsibility for their own recovery. This book guides the reader through some of the pitfalls that can occur early or even in long term recovery. Walking the path and staying grounded in reality is the key to success. This book is a solid resource tool that should be read by anyone who is finding the path of recovery to not always be what is expected. Good things will come out of the wisdom and knowledge it provides. It is really a needed self examination for all of us. Highly recommended.
Dr. Michael J. De Vito, Program Director, NewStart Treatment Center, Henderson, NV.
Author-Addiction: The Master Keys to Recovery

Relapse prevention is an often overlooked aspect of recovery. The alcoholic /addict in early sobriety is excited to be clean and sober, often riding the so-called 'pink cloud'. This almost euphoric feeling can instill an over confidence and exuberance that may cause the addict to fail to recognize early signs of relapse. Without such awareness and hence preventative measures, relapse can creep up on the individual. By the time the signs are clearly evident, the relapse is in full effect. Relapse happens long before the drug, drink or behavior is picked up or acted upon.
Regardless of what stage of recovery you are in, this book can give you an awareness that might just save your life.

John Derry,
Director,A Home Away, Addiction Recovery Retreat
Kelowna, BC, Canada
[...]

As a physician addictionist, I highly recommend this book for anyone in recovery, thinking about recovery, wanting more from recovery or working with recovering people in any capacity. Dr. Berger combines his extensive personal experience with his many years as a therapist to target 12 of the top stumbling blocks people face at any stage of their journey. (These are great lessons for everyone, recovering or not). He makes his points using references from the scientific literature as well as examples from clients and personal experiences. 12 Stupid Things is short, easy, interesting and fun to read and perfect for a recovery tune-up. I actually read it in one sitting!

Dr. Berger is a Guru of Recovery. This book reads like a road map to the land mines of recovery that we all tend to place in front of ourselves. I rely heavily on recovery literature as part of my daily regimen. Aside from the Basic Text and the Big Book, Berger's books are apart of my must-read shelf. Another great read is AN ADDICT'S CAROL, a novel by Nobody Anonymous. If you are serious about your recovery Berger's books can add new dimensions to your growth.

Having family members struggling with recovery is a challenge at best. It would be nice to present the steps necessary for success in a neat, concise package. This book might not quite fill that requirement, but it presents in simple language the traps to recovery, while offering encouragement and support. It can be a valuable tool on a somewhat rocky road.

I personally think that self-awareness comes through right action, but that's a quibble. This book is very useful, for people in and out of recovery. Who knows, it might even help people out of recovery come in.

This book is a great recovery resource. After reading it I chose it to study in our 12 step class. It has been an excellent choice. There is good information about addiction, keen insight into the head of the addict, and it is presented in an easily understandable way. I would recommend it for almost any setting.

A well-written, user friendly book that allows both individuals who are new in recovery or who have been in recovery for years to focus on the issues that are truly important in recovery. Dr. Berger interlaces his own personal recovery experiences with the wisdom that he has gained as a clinician over many years and created a book that is sure to provide hope to many in recovery. Overall, an excellent book for individuals in recovery and for clinicians who seek to understand their clients more fully.

If you are looking for something new, enlightened, alternative, contemporary or refreshing on the topic of recovery, this book is not it. Just more of the same tired, outdated, dull 12-step dogma that has been around for decades. Nothing new, insightful, novel, or innovative here. Skip this one.