Contents

Acknowledgments

Part 1: Understanding the Problem

Chapter 1: Can This Book Really Help?

Chapter 2: The Paradox

Chapter 3: What’s the Use?

Chapter 4: Tilt

Chapter 5: The Horns of the Dilemma

Chapter 6: Yes or No?

Chapter 7: Don’t Push Me

Chapter 8: Isolation and Pseudo-Intimacy

Chapter 9: Sacrifice and the System

Chapter 10: Mom, Dad, and Anger

Chapter 11: Protecting Mom (or Dad)

Chapter 12: Body Hate

Chapter 13: Double Trouble

Chapter 14: Stopped

Chapter 15: The Tie That Unravels

Chapter 16: Evicting a Source of Good

Chapter 17: Self-Sabotage

Chapter 18: Symptoms

Part 2: Finding and Living the Solution

Chapter 19: A Look in the Mirror

Chapter 20: Recovery

Chapter 21: Allergic to Progress—The Misery Addict’s Dilemma

Chapter 22: Step One

Chapter 23: The Next Steps

Chapter 24: Recovery Meetings

Chapter 25: Abstinence

Chapter 26: Now That I’m Recovering I’m Feeling Stuff

Chapter 27: Toolshed

Chapter 28: Brain Healing

Chapter 29: Therapy

Chapter 30: Making It Last or Avoiding Relapse

Chapter 31: Is It Really an Addiction?

Chapter 32: Make a Commitment to Yourself

Appendixes

Appendix A: MAA Meeting Information

Appendix B: Author Letter to Therapists

Appendix C: Resources

Appendix D: Notes

Appendix E: References

About the Author