A Woman's Addiction Workbook: Your Guide to In-Depth Healing

by Lisa Najavits PhD

Overview

Women and girls are now becoming addicted at greater rates than ever before, and until very recently women in recovery were dependent on treatment models based solely on work with men.

Harvard addiction and trauma expert Lisa M. Najavits offers this step-by-step program to help women overcome the often-overlooked problems associated with their drug and alcohol addictions, such as body image, trauma and violence, relationships, stress, and thrill-seeking. She explores how women differ from men in their addiction and recovery, and adapts this information to help you embark on your journey to healing. A chapter on co-occurring emotional problems allows you to evaluate whether you have any of the key disorders common among women with addiction, such as depression, post-traumatic stress, eating disorders, or phobias.

With this strengths-building workbook, begin to come to terms with your personal addiction story. Healing exercises in four areas—feelings, beliefs, action, and relationships—help women build self-respect. Exercises include "Listen to That Small Quiet Voice," "Extreme Self-Care," "Self-Soothing," "Become Friends with Women," "Rethink," "Take Charge," "Share Responsibility," and "Mourn." In addition to these exercises and techniques, the book offers valuable resources of recovery support information.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781572242975
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	10/10/2002
Series:	Workbook Series
Edition description:	Workbook
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Lisa M. Najavits, PhD, is professor of psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine; and lecturer, Harvard Medical School. She is a research psychologist at Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System and the Bedford VA; clinical associate, McLean Hospital; and director of Treatment Innovations. Her major clinical and research interests are substance abuse, trauma, co-morbidity, behavioral addictions, veterans' mental health, community-based care, development of new psychotherapies, and outcome research.  She is author of over 175 professional publications, as well as the books Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse;  A Woman's Addiction Workbook; and the upcoming book Creating Change: A Past-Focused Treatment Manual for Trauma and Addiction. She has served as president of the Society of Addiction Psychology of the American Psychological Association; and is on various  advisory boards including the Journal of Traumatic Stress; the Journal of Gambling Studies; and Addiction Research and Theory. She has received various awards, including the 1997 Young Professional Award of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies; the 1998 Early Career Contribution Award of the Society for Psychotherapy Research; the 2004 Emerging Leadership Award of the American Psychological Association Committee on Women; and the 2009 Betty Ford Award of the Addiction Medical Education and Research Association. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association; board certified in behavioral therapy; a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts; and conducts a psychotherapy practice. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt University and her bachelor's degree with honors from Barnard College of Columbia University.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	ix
Part I	Exploration
	Introduction: Starting Out	1
Chapter 1	Why a Book for Women?	7
	The Good News and the Bad News
	What About Men?
	Some History
	You Are Not Alone: Rates of Addiction in Women
	Who Are the Women with Addictions?
	One Woman's Story
	Telling Your Story
	How this Book was Developed
	Resources
Chapter 2	Understanding Addiction	33
	What Is Addiction?
	Listening to Yourself
	Negative Impact
	More About Addictions
	Models of Recovery
	Inspiration
	A Promise to Yourself
	Follow-up
	Messages You May Hear
	Responding to Difficult Messages
	Resources
Chapter 3	Exploring Your Life Patterns	55
	Life Strengths
	Life Difficulties
Theme 1	Body and Sexuality
Theme 2	Stress
Theme 3	Thrill-Seeking
Theme 4	Relationships
Theme 5	Trauma and Violence
	Self-Understanding
	Resources
Chapter 4	Dual Recovery	79
	Some Encouragement
	Identifying Emotional Problems
	Depression
	Bipolar Disorder/Mania
	Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
	Eating Disorders
	Generalized Anxiety Disorder
	Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
	Phobias
	Panic Disorder
	Personality Disorders
	Other Emotional Problems
	Keys to Dual Recovery
	Next Steps
	Resources
Part II	Healing
Chapter 5	Ideas on Healing	107
	Keys to Healing
	An Example of Coping
Chapter 6	Healing Through Relationships	113
	Growth Exercise: Tell a Secret
	Growth Exercise: Share Responsibility
	Growth Exercise: Become Friends with Women
	Growth Exercise: Seek Support
Chapter 7	Healing Through Beliefs	129
	Growth Exercise: Listen to That Small, Quiet Voice
	Growth Exercise: Ask Questions
	Growth Exercise: Create an Ideal to Live For
	Growth Exercise: Rethink
Chapter 8	Healing Through Action	143
	Growth Exercise: Control an Impulse
	Growth Exercise: Extreme Self-Care
	Growth Exercise: Do One Thing You're Afraid of Every Day
	Growth Exercise: Take Charge
Chapter 9	Healing Through Feelings	157
	Growth Exercise: Soothe Yourself
	Growth Exercise: Choose Self-Respect
	Growth Exercise: Mourn
	Growth Exercise: Accept
Chapter 10	Advice for the Journey	173
Appendix	Self-Test	177
	Multiple Choice
	True/False
	Answers
	References	185

Editorial Reviews

This excellent workbook is an important contribution to the self-help literature. Its ideas, stories, and resource lists create a comprehensive framework that will be very helpful to women struggling with addiction. Dr. Najavits combines her strong clinical skills with compassion, respect, and an understanding of women’s lives.”
—Stephanie S. Covington, Ph.D., LCSW, Author of A Woman’s Way Through the Twelve Steps and Helping Women Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction

“A terrific and much needed book! Over the last decade, rates of addiction have steadily climbed among women. This book speaks directly to the hearts and minds of women experiencing addiction problems. It successfully balances a gentle, nurturing approach with scientifically grounded, highly informative content. This workbook is filled with motivational exercises that work well across different types of addiction, recovery stages, and life experiences. It’ sa wonderful contribution.
—Mary E.McCaul, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Director, Johns Hopkins Hospital Comprehensive Women’s Center

“In this clear, useful, and empowering book, Dr. Najavits deftly explores the broad range of issues related to women’s sobriety, including self-care, healthy relationships, trusting one’s inner wisdom, and the ability to stand firmly in the center of one’s power. Through helpful information and detailed exercise, she offers a map that leads to maintaining sobriety and living a full life.”
—Charlotte Sophia Kasl, author of Many Roads, One Journey: Moving Beyond the 12 Steps and If the Buddha Dated

“This is a wonderful book for any woman seeking to explore an addiction problem. It is a practical guide for looking inward that is both heartfelt and straightforward. Drawing on her extensive professional experience, Dr. Najavits offers a holistic approach to help women explore all aspects of their lives. The book is valuable as a self-help guide and also as a resource for clinicians seeking to enhance their clients’ treatment experience.”
—Joan E Zweben, Ph.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco; Executive Director, East Bay Community Recovery Project, Oakland, California

From the Publisher