Since I have spoken about stopping drinking, people have asked what resources I used to help make the transition. Below are the top three books I read and a little bit about each.
This Naked Mind – By Annie Grace. If you are even CONSIDERING how much you drink, please read this book. It is the LEAST preachy book I have ever read. It broke down the “reasons” why I drank with such accuracy that it was scary. I have read it twice.
The Sober Revolution – Women Calling Time on Wine O’Clock – by Sara Turner and Lucy Rocca.
(From Amazon) Do you count down the minutes to wine o’clock on a daily basis? Is a bottle of Pinot Grigio your friend at the end of a long hard day? If you want to give up being controlled and defined by alcohol then now is the time to join The Sober Revolution… Fed up of living in a fog of hangovers, lethargy and guilt from too much wine? Have you tried to cut down without success? You are not alone. When it comes to alcohol, millions of people around the world find it hard to exercise moderation and become stuck in a vicious cycle of blame, guilt and using more alcohol as a way of coping. The Sober Revolution looks at women and their relationships with alcohol, exploring the myths behind this socially acceptable yet often destructive habit. Rather than continuing the sad spiral into addiction it helps women regain control of their drinking and live happier, healthier lives. Sarah Turner, cognitive behavioral therapist and addictions counsellor, and Lucy Rocca, founder of Soberistas.com, the popular social networking site for women who have successfully kicked the booze or would like to, give an insight into ways to find a route out of the world of wine. The Sober Revolution will open your eyes to the dangers of social drinking and give you the tools you need to have a happy life without the wine. Read it now and call time on wine o’clock forever.
Between Breaths – A Memoir of Panic and Addiction – by Elizabeth Vargas. I read a few memoirs, but this one was my favorite. While the details of her story were vastly different than mine, the overarching themes were similar enough that after reading this book – the FIRST one I read of the above three – I knew that I had to make a change in my life.
Quick – not “disclaimer” but really common sense – I am not a therapist; nor do I claim that if you read these books “all will be good”. I found these books instrumental in moving toward a life without alcohol. I recommend them as a resource.
