Customer Reviews

Sober Siblings: How to Help Your Alcoholic Brother or Sister-and Not Lose Yourself

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Sober Siblings is the book that someone should give you when your sister or brother is a hopeless drunk. For the sober and responsible one in the family, this slim paperback will tamp down your anguish and allow you to see your family's situation more clearly. There are simple suggestions for setting boundaries, avoiding nasty scenes with the drunk, and even coping with a parent who is too involved with the drinker. The book explains the additional psychological or physical problems that may dog the drinker, and even the kinds of therapy you might find useful. A true bonus, the tone of voice of the two authors, one a sober sibling and one an addiction guru, makes readers feel as if -- at last -- they've found the knowledgeable, sympathetic guide they needed so badly.

How to help your alcoholic brother or sister and not lose yourself . . . can well be applied to a toxic friend. Combining Ms. Olsen's personal experience and Dr. Levounis (Director: The Addiction Institute of New York) straight forward direction, this book addresses all emotional and dependent stresses on the person trying to help the addicted or emotionally toxic person in your life. This is a must read for anyone touched by this type of tragic situation and their own feeling of helplessness and setting boundaries.

There are personal recollections throughout this book which offer a window into the dysfunctional nature of alcoholic families. These stories link to clearly defined guidelines for coping and getting help. The book is very user friendly and well organized in terms of the topics covered so it serves as an easy reference. Dr. Levounis, a psychiatrist and renowned expert on addiction, includes comments based on current medical data as well as examples culled from his years of clinical practice. Both authors Patricia Olsen and Dr. Levounis seek to assuage the guilt and trauma of this stressful situation and are compassionate advocates for both the sober sibling and the affected family member. They offer practical advice on how to reevaluate the relationship and how to adjust expectations and parameters to establish a healthier bond that respects both individuals' responsibilities and needs. Since alcohol and drug addiction is so pervasive and causes so much heartache, a great many families could benefit from the wisdom in this book.

"Sober Siblings" is a wonderful book. Patricia Olsen, whose siblings suffer from alcoholism, writes beautifully and, at times, movingly. Petros Levounis provides the medical expertise in a manner that is both helpful and engaging. The book is cleverly organized: Dr. Levounis's comments come up every few pages under the title "Dr. Levounis Says" with a shaded background. This is an excellent (and very affordable) book that should be read by both mental health professionals and the public.

Jeffrey B. Freedman, MD, President of the New York District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association

This book was exactly what I needed when I needed it. My sibling began treatment and I read this book the month before. As the book recommended, I began al anon meetings and participated throughout my siblings 90 days treatment program. Real insights that helped me cope! Easy to read.