The Heart of Addiction

A “revolutionary” look at how addictions work and how people can master their own addictive behaviors (Edward Hallowell, MD).

“In a field rife with misinformation, this book represents a bright beacon of light . . . I recommend it wholeheartedly.” —The Psychoanalytic Quarterly

Nobody has had an answer for why people with addictions continue to repeat them—until now . . .

For more than twenty years, distinguished psychiatrist Dr. Lance Dodes has been successfully helping people master their addictions—alcoholism, compulsive gambling, smoking, sexual addiction, and more—with a radical approach. Dr. Dodes describes how all addictions have, at their heart, unrecognized emotional factors that explain:

• Why we feel the impulse
• Why we feel it when we do
• What alternatives (really) work in that critical moment

In this refreshing book filled with compelling case studies, Dr. Dodes debunks several such widely accepted myths as:

• Addictions are fundamentally a physical problem
• People with addictions are different from other people
• You have to hit bottom before you can get well
• You are wasting your time if you ask “why” you have an addiction

“Destined to become a classic guide to understanding repetitive, excessive, and self-destructive behavior patterns. The illustrative cases are riveting, entertaining, and illuminating. This book marks a revolution in self-help. In fact, this book belongs on the shelf of every treatment professional facing patients with addictive behaviors.” —Howard J. Shaffer, PhD, CAS, Director, Division of Addictions, Harvard Medical School