The Abstinence Myth: A New Approach for Overcoming Addiction Without Shame, Judgment, Or Rules

119 Pages·2018·1.11 MB·English

by  Adi Jaffe

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For additional information or questions contact [email protected] THE
ABSTINENCE MYTH. Copyright © 2018 Adi Jaffe. All rights reserved. No
part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever
without written permission except for brief excerpts in compliance with
copyright laws.
Published by IGNTD Press, Los Angeles, CA, USA Editorial development by Janet Goldstein First edition
2018
Print ISBN: 978-1-73223-940-1
eBook ISBN: 978-1-73223-941-8
To my parents, for being there when I needed them the most, my sister for
putting up with the wreckage I’d caused for so long, and my wife and children
for serving as the torch that lights up my days and nights.
“Hope is the foundational quality
of all change.”
—Alfred Adler, psychologist
CONTENTS
PRAISE FOR DR. ADI JAFFE AND THE IGNTD RECOVERY METHOD
1. WHAT I KNOW:
My Story
The Current Recovery “System” Isn’t Working
The IGNTD Recovery Method—Starting Where You Are and Where You Want to Go
EXERCISE: Your Transformation Objective
2. THE MYTHOLOGY OF ADDICTION
“From Party Girl to Lost Mom... to a Way Out” (Terry’s Story)
The Wider Lesson—Getting to the Tender, Hidden Spots
EXERCISE: Starting Your Journey
3. THE POWER OF STORIES
The Pygmalion Effect
How Confirmation Bias Tricks Us
EXERCISE: Identifying the Roles You Play
4. THE POWER OF EXPLANATIONS
The False “Cure” for Addiction
The Limits of Explanations
The Four Addiction “Camps”: The State of Our Explanations
Joining Together: Why We Need to Embrace All the Explanations
People Are Not Fixed—Nor Is Addiction
The Myth of Sustained Abstinence as a Cure
EXERCISE: Exploring the Explanations That Fit YOU
5. A NEW MODEL OF RECOVERY
Searching for a Recovery Path That Fits
Truth Is a Catalyst
Challenging the Barriers to Treatment
A New Entry Point for Recovery
“A Successful Life Cast with a Dark Shadow”—Julia’s Story
The IGNTD Principles
The Process of IGNTD Recovery
EXERCISE: Simple Steps to Start Your Recovery
AFTERWORD
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
NOTES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Praise for Dr. Adi Jaffe and the
IGNTD Recovery Method Starting
Where You Are and Where You
Want to Go “A fresh and much
needed perspective. Through his
methodical research and personal
life experience, Dr. Jaffe exposes
some of the most dangerous myths
in the recovery movement. This
book is not only educational and eye
opening, it is transformational for
anyone struggling with addiction.
Thank you Dr. Jaffe.”
—Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind
“Dr. Jaffe cuts through the mythology that engulfs addiction and presents us
with scientifically backed ideas to help resolve this growing problem. This book
is an absolute must-read for anyone who is struggling or trying to help someone
and wants real solutions that are not based on hand-me-down wisdom.”
—Andy Ramage, author of The 28 Day Alcohol-Free Challenge
“ I cannot speak highly enough about the [IGNTD] work. I could probably write
a book on just how much your methods have changed my life.”
—IGNTD Recovery Online Course participant
“Dr. Jaffe, thank you for the most amazing experience that has changed my life
forever, and for publicly sharing the story of your personal struggles... [It] gave
me hope and confidence that I could change my behavior. I am excited for my
future.”
—Workshop participant, Savannah, GA
“I feel so lucky to have found the IGNTD Recovery. It has been such an amazing
mind shift to see that as my whole life improves my problems with substances
also improve.”
—IGNTD Recovery Online Course participant
“Having Dr. Jaffe’s help to get to the bottom of the problem and to dig deeper
than just the substance abuse was tremendously helpful. Adi is a very positive
person who helped transform my life in many ways besides helping with my
substance abuse issues.”
—client, AM, Denver, CO
“What a relief to find IGNTD! I’ve tried other treatments for years but always
hit a wall. If I questioned the program, I was told that I wasn’t trying hard
enough. It never felt like a good fit. It’s great to be heard.”
—IGNTD Recovery Online Course participant