The Heart of Addiction

A "revolutionary" look at how addictions work and how people can master their own addictive behaviors (Edward Hallowell, MD). "In a field rife with misinformation, this book represents a bright beacon of light . . . I recommend it wholeheartedly." — The Psychoanalytic Quarterly Nobody has had an answer for why people with addictions continue to repeat them—until now . . . For more than twenty years, distinguished psychiatrist Dr. Lance Dodes has been successfully helping people master their addictions—alcoholism, compulsive gambling, smoking, sexual addiction, and more—with a radical approach. Dr. Dodes describes how all addictions have, at their heart, unrecognized emotional factors that explain: Why we feel the impulse Why we feel it when we do What alternatives (really) work in that critical moment In this refreshing book filled with compelling case studies, Dr. Dodes debunks several such widely accepted myths as: Addictions are fundamentally a physical problem People with addictions are different from other people You have to hit bottom before you can get well You are wasting your time if you ask "why" you have an addiction "Destined to become a classic guide to understanding repetitive, excessive, and self-destructive behavior patterns. The illustrative cases are riveting, entertaining, and illuminating. This book marks a revolution in self-help. In fact, this book belongs on the shelf of every treatment professional facing patients with addictive behaviors." —Howard J. Shaffer, PhD, CAS, Director, Division of Addictions, Harvard Medical School