Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery: Twenty True Stories from the Soul (Reflections of America) [Paperback]

Barbara Sinor (Author), Cardwell C. Nuckols (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Reflections of America | Publication Date: April 23, 2010

Whether addicted or not, we all have stories to tell

The stories of tragedy and redemption found within Tales of Addiction are not about the well known celebrities you find in the usual tabloids. Rather, these stories are true-grit tales told by people you will never meet but whose words will haunt you for months, years maybe. The author collected the stories for over two years through a "call for stories" she put in journals, workshops and lectures. Interwoven throughout, Barbara and her son share their own story of pain and struggle. In this book, you'll learn:

How an addict's life begins

Understand the difficulties in taking initial steps to uncover denial

Intimate details of how many stay straight and sober

Gain a new perspective about our national addiction population

Learn why that Something More means so much to so many

What happens when the addict or alcoholic loses their battle

How you can help

Praise for Tales of Addiction

"This inspiring and penetrating new book by Dr. Barbara Sinor shows us how we gather the courage and the force of will to make a transformational change."
--Mark Thurston, PhD, author Willing to Change: The Journey of Personal Transformation

"Like a tapestry, this book works by holding the reader's interest with unique tales smoothly interwoven with both a spiritual and intellectual thought process."
--Bill Ford, Addiction Recovery Blog

"Filled with stories of heroic struggle, victory and defeat, it is both illuminating and inspiring. The book is intensely personal yet sadly universal, the stories recounted are for anyone touched by the trials of addiction."
--Rev. Steve Doolittle, Astara, author From the Heart: Five Minute Inspirations

"These heart-wrenching and ultimately heartwarming stories, provide the inspiration for each one of us to know that recovery works."
--Ken Seeley, PhD, host of Intervention 911, author, Face It and Fix It

About the Author

Barbara Sinor, Ph.D. is a Psychospiritual Therapist dealing with childhood abuse/incest, PTSD, addiction recovery, and adult children of alcoholics. Dr. Sinor uses integral holistic methods encompassing forms of hypnotherapy, regression therapy, Jungian dreamwork, and other transpersonal techniques. Dr. Sinor holds a Doctorate in Psychology, a Master of Arts from John F. Kennedy University, and her Bachelor of Arts degree is from Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges.
Learn more at www.DrSinor.com

From the Reflections of America Series at Modern History Press

PSY038000 Psychology : Psychopathology - Addiction
SEL013000 Self-Help : Substance Abuse & Addictions - Drug Dependence
SEL003000 Self-Help : Adult Children of Alcoholics

Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: Modern History Press (April 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1615990372
• ISBN-13: 978-1615990375
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #131,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Recovery > Adult Children of Alcoholics

More About the Author

I have been a counselor for over thirty years, retiring in 2010. I love to write and will continue share myself in this manner. My interest in childhood abuse and addiction recovery walk hand-in-hand as noted in my books. My book "Addiction: What's Really Going On? Inside a Heroin Treatment Program" was released in 2009 and my newest title "Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery" was released in 2010. Please join me for this book's Blog: www.drsinor.blogspot.com

Currently, I have begun writing my sixth book which is a metaphysical memoir novel. I would like to take this opportunity to give a big "Thanks" to all my readers who have followed my writing career!
Barbara~

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A national program to expand addiction treatment for those who desire treatment is needed!, February 16, 2011

By 

Barbara S. Reeves "Barbara S. Reeves" (Grove Hill, Alabama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery: Twenty True Stories from the Soul (Reflections of America) (Paperback)

"Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery" by Barbara Sinor is a collection of stories about addiction and recovery, some of which are inspirational, some which portray the hard-fought successes and some which depict the heart-breaking realities of addiction. The most poignant story by far is the author's own tale of dealing with her son's alcoholism and eventual death. It angers me to read about someone losing their fight with addiction while waiting to get into treatment after being repeatedly told there are "no beds available." It's absurd that this should happen in a country that spends billions in a futile "war on drugs." The focus obviously needs to be shifted from putting people in prison to putting them in treatment. Sinor includes information about many different organizations, one of which is Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap, a national program working to expand addiction treatment for those who desire to reach out for help. Currently, four out of five Americans who need treatment are unable to get it.

In her own story, Sinor says, "David and I were heartbroken that our son had chosen such a difficult path." I think it's unfortunate that she believes her son "chose" the path that led to his death. If I chose my path, I made that choice long before I first drank alcohol and smoked pot at fourteen. By then, my personality and character were well-formed in a way that made my "choice" more of an involuntary contraction or reaction. I was a curious and naive dare-devil, and I made an ill-informed decision that lead to much misery before I could see what was happening to me. No one knows exactly how one becomes addicted. I believe, for me, it was a recipe with many ingredients. I would say 50 percent of it is genetics since I have addicts and alcoholics on both sides of my family. 25 to 35 percent I would attribute to experiences and conditions in my family and school. And the hand that flipped the switch that my genetics and environmental conditions created had to be my exposure to the drugs themselves at an early age. A close family member introduced me to the needle, and I doubt I would ever have been exposed to it had this relationship not existed the way it did. So basically I'm saying I was too young and too many things were out of my control to say I "chose" the disease of addiction. I'm not absolving myself of responsibility here either. I, and no one else, am responsible for my recovery. I chose recovery after twenty years of hell, twenty years of not believing I had a choice.

In her stories of addiction, Sinor also includes one by a woman who has been on methadone for forty years and one by a woman who continues to smoke pot every night after deciding not to do hard drugs anymore. I relapsed many times after hearing such stories when I attempted to quit. They always fooled me into believing I could control my use. These two people write about how great their life is "in recovery," but I suspect they are not telling the whole story. I could not begin to recover until I was able to see my addiction as a beast living inside me. Using any drug, even the ones I "never had a problem with," keeps the beast alive and gives him strength. I could not arrest my addiction until I stopped feeding the beast.

All in all, "Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery" is a book full of love, heartbreak, compassion, and ultimately, hope. As Sinor says, "Living with addiction is a spiritual journey." Whether we chose this path or not, it is the one we are on and there is much to learn, and this book has taken me another step in the right direction on the right path.

David Allan Reeves
Author of "Running Away From Me"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful!, May 3, 2010

By 

Irene Watson (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery: Twenty True Stories from the Soul (Reflections of America) (Paperback)

Addiction is a disease that often doesn't present itself in a form that onlookers notice; it's often hidden by the addict to a point even the closest friends and family don't know about it. And, at other times the family of the addict cover it up so well that closest friends don't even realize there is a problem. As I read each story in "Tales of Addiction" by Dr. Barbara Sinor I felt the pain, dismay, denial, and hopelessness of each writer. Some stories are just down-right difficult to read and offered much contemplation as I reflected back on my own life and experiences.

Yet, every one of the stories offers hope. We get the distinct guidance that a shift happens in us and we begin to accept the addiction as real and seek recovery. This goes for both - the addict and the family member. Just because we don't have a substance addiction, it doesn't mean we aren't susceptible to enabling, which ends up being an addiction in itself.

Poignant, reflective, and offering the knowing there is hope and recovery, "Tales of Addiction" gives the reader the sense they are not alone. But most of all, the stories reflect compassion and in the end the true identity of each person.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Different Perspectives, May 5, 2010

By 

John E. Smethers, PhD (Barstow, California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tales of Addiction and Inspiration for Recovery: Twenty True Stories from the Soul (Reflections of America) (Paperback)

Dr. Sinor has again provided dynamics concerning addiction/recovery that anyone can learn from. Being a recovered addict and a contributor to this anthology, I found this book hard to put down. The different perspectives offered gives the reader an insight not only into the lives of addicts but also into the lives of those affected by addicts.

John E. Smethers, PhD - Author of Scumbag Sewer Rats: An Archetypal Understanding of Criminalized Drug Addicts