Last call : alcoholism and recovery

Author(s)

    • Hedblom, Jack H.

Bibliographic Information

Last call : alcoholism and recovery

Jack H. Hedblom ; foreword by Paul R. McHugh

Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007

  • : pbk
  • : hard

Available at  / 3 libraries

Search this Book/Journal

Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 201-202) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

"I knew about drunk, but did not know anything about living sober. I hadn't really been sober for fifteen years. It wasn't enough that I stopped drinking. I had to learn how to live." The journey from alcoholic insanity to sobriety-and the pivotal role of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in navigating that transition-is the focus of Last Call. Using powerful first-person narratives like the one above (composites of many anonymous speakers), psychotherapist Jack H. Hedblom provides compelling insights into the minds and hearts of addicted drinkers, from bizarre behavior and denial to the moment of "hitting bottom" and seeking change. Hedblom covers the process of getting sober, from diagnosis to detox to sobriety. He focuses on the challenge of learning to live without drinking-a long-term goal, Hedblom asserts, that is best achieved by regular participation in AA. Hedblom's vivid descriptions reveal AA meetings as gatherings of fellowship, compassion, tears, and laughter. In relating the history of the organization, he describes the role of sponsors, elaborates on the Twelve Steps and the Promises, emphasizes the importance of spiritual development in recovery, and refutes the common misconceptions that equate spirituality with organized religion. Through the stories of people who have escaped the tyranny of alcoholism with the help of AA, Hedblom shows that the road to recovery is a journey of self-discovery, change, and hope.

Table of Contents

Foreword, by Paul R. McHugh, M.D. Preface 1. Alcoholics Anonymous 2. A Matter of Definition 3. Alcohol and the Alcoholic 4. Getting Sober 5. Mending: The Steps in Getting Well 6. The Components of Sobriety 7. The Alcoholic and the Family 8. The Road to a Life Well Lives: The Promises Appendix A: Events in the History of Alcoholics Anonymous Appendix B: How It Works, the Steps, and the Traditions Notes References Index

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

Page Top