Kick Your Addiction: How to Quit Anything

by Frederick Woolverton, Susan Shapiro

Overview

Is a smoking, alcohol, food, gambling, Internet, drug, or sex addiction holding you back from getting what you want most? Over the past twenty-five years, renowned addiction therapist Dr. Frederick Woolverton has used his dynamic, empathetic approach to help thousands of addicts achieve long-term recovery—including himself. He sees the specific habit as less important than the underlying chaos and fear that motivate the urge to soothe ourselves with bad habits. The solution, he has found, requires only a better understanding of yourself and a change in attitude.

Using real patient examples as well as research and his own experience, Dr. Woolverton and coauthor and former patient Susan Shapiro show how to thrive without self-medicating. Woolverton’s specific instructions do not require an expensive therapist, rehab, a twelve-step program, or a higher power (though he does make readers aware of those viable options). Let him help you beat your addiction. When you conquer a toxic habit, you are leaving room for something beautiful to take its place.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629145877
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	11/11/2014
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Dr. Frederick Woolverton is a clinical psychologist who has specialized in addictions for the past twenty-five years. He is director of the Village Institute for Psychotherapy in New York City and in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was the former clinical director of the Baldwin Council Against Drug Abuse. He’s written for the New York Times Magazine, Psychology Today, and AOL. He resides in Fayetteville, AK, United States.

Susan Shapiro is author of nine books, including Lighting Up and Speed Shrinking, about her successful therapy with Dr. Woolverton. Her memoir Five Men Who Broke My Heart is being made into a movie. She has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Salon.com, and the Daily Beast, and teaches at the New School and New York University. She resides in New York, NY, United States.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Dr. Frederick Woolverton's Personal and Professional Connection 1

Chapter 1 Is Your Habit Addictive?: Caffeine, Web Surfing 9

Chapter 2 Write to Find Out What You Think: Anorexia, Social Functions & Dysfunctions 19

Chapter 3 Learn to Rely on People, Not Substances: Cigarettes, Alcohol, Sugar 37

Chapter 4 How to Cultivate Core Pillars: Ecstasy, Extreme Sports 45

Chapter 5 Feelings Misinform: Cocaine, Sex & Shopping 59

Chapter 6 Understanding How Addicts Think: Hallucinogenic Drugs & Stealing 75

Chapter 7 Commit to Stopping One Addiction at a Time: Promiscuity & Alcohol 83

Chapter 8 The Secrets of Soft Habits: Binge Eating 97

Chapter 9 The Hidden Perils of All Addictions: Cigarettes 103

Chapter 10 Learn How to Suffer Well: Overeating, Cigarettes 109

Chapter 11 The Importance of the Right Social Life: Painkillers & Food Addiction 113

Chapter 12 Quitting An Addiction Everyone Loves (and Encourages): Gambling 133

Chapter 13 Beware the Substance Shuffle: Piercings, Tattoos, Oxycodone 143

Chapter 14 Why An Addict Needs Rules to Live By: Overexercising 155

Chapter 15 Chipping the Edge off Narcissism: Pornography 165

Chapter 16 Switch to Healthy Substitutes: Surviving Bulimia & Alcoholism 175

Chapter 17 The Realities of Relapse: Crack: Crime 185

Chapter 18 The Dangers of Addiction Therapy: Alcohol, Violence 199

Chapter 19 Staying Clean and Careful Forever: Recovery 217

Chapter 20 Keep Holiday "Cheer" From Turning Harmful 221

Chapter 21 The Problem with Depending on People 227

Acknowledgments 231

About the Authors 232