JCL3651

Any suggestion on books on getting sober and understanding why we drink

SoberLeigh

Here is an SR link which you may find helpful:

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...rituality.html

Welcome to SR, JCL; glad you found us.

Mountainmanbob

The AA Big Book I think should be read and studied by all who wish to get and stay sober. It's still rated after all of these years as one the best.

MM

live4luv

One of my favorites is Sober for Good by Anne M. Fletcher. There are tons of great suggestions on that link, Books on Recovery & Spirituality. I have read many of them and will work on reading the ones I have not yet read :-)

Aellyce

I have read many (that are also mentioned in the thread SoberLeigh linked), but when I need to recommend one, I usually mention In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Mate as my favorite.

Joe Nerv

Best book for simple practical suggestions for staying away from alcohol in early recovery IMO is the book Living Sober. The book Alcoholics Anonymous (AA Big Book) I also feel is required reading for anyone afflicted with an alcohol problem. It goes a lot deeper than Living Sober.

As for knowing why we drink, that gets REAL complicated, and there are tons of theories and opinions. I personally believe we all drank for different reasons. I also believe it's more important to understand how to stay sober as opposed to figure out the reasons we drank. That comes in time for some of us, and doesn't matter at all for others. Until we're actually sober, I think that's pretty difficult to figure out also. Alcohol messes with our thinking quite well, and will help us to find all kinds of lies about who we are, and why we do what we do. Once sober for a while, things begin to clear up and we get to investigate this kind of thing a lot more objectively.

As for other book suggestions it ould help to know a little more about you. Are you familiar with AA at all? Have you tried any methods yet of staying sober?

JCL3651

I agree I want to understand not be just sober from suds ie dry drunk

JCL3651

Yes I was sober for 3 years in AA relapsed a year ago I went to meetings min 3 times a week I thought I changed I didn't the rooms just weren't doing it for me it seemed like it was the same old war stories in the 2nd year did the commitments had a sponser didn't do all the steps I became desperate trying to force myself to find the same pink cloud that was in the beginning eventually my wife who was sober at the same time started to drink and that put me into the mind set that I was normal and could handle it .....how wrong I am desperately trying to get back the life that alcohol did not bother me.
I read the big book went to some big book meetings I related but I was a dry drunk I need to figure out my thoughts and triggers I am what they term a functioning alcoholic. I trying to get to therapy only one big issue my wife is in rehab and I have to look after our preteens and teens for 30 I love her and she me I am the sole provider I want to be clean and really sober.
Thank you for reading and response

mecanix

This thread might be helpful too, m

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...influence.html

Dee74

Welcome to SR jcl

D

Wholesome

I highly recommend Rational Recovery by Jack Trimpey.

Soberwolf

Welcome to SR

PHS11

Kick The Drink, Easily. AA was not the answer for me. This book is amazing