Patrick Kennedy, who already authored a book about his own and his family’s challenges with mental health and substance use (Common Struggle), has crafted another touching book, written in the style of his uncle John F’s book Profiles in Courage. In this Profiles, there are 12 untold stories of individuals who struggled with their mental health and addiction. Included in these stories are

Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction: Recovery, Love and Loss, by David MageeDavid Magee is an incredible storyteller, who shares the story of his personal journey in this page-turnerof a book. Written in tribute to his son William, who died of an overdose, David recounts how addictionimpacted him and his relationships all throughout his life. With respect to his

The August 29, 2024 New Canaan Vigil was a success because of storytelling, specifically through ourline-up of speakers who shared their recovery journeys in a very open and authentic way. They allreceived standing ovations because of what we called “The Power of Story”, or in Ty Bennett’s book ThePower of Storytelling. Neuroscientists have proven long ago that people who hear

Whether it’s meditation or a walk in nature, reading a sacred text or saying a prayer, there are manyways to tap into a heightened level of awareness of the world around us, according to psychologist,author and researcher Lisa Miller, PhD. This awareness, or spirituality, offers hope to those like herself,who struggled with depression. The belief in the concept we are

Shauna Shapiro, the author, does a great job of highlighting the importance of self-compassion, which others like Dr. Kristen Neff have advocated for. Like Neff, she has plenty of studies to back her points. This is a self-help book that can be valuable for those who are considering mindfulness and meditation for the first time. There are practical exercises at

A few years ago, I read a fascinating book on the surfing life, Barbarian Days by William Finnegan. WithSurf Therapy, just published by Cash Lambert, I’ve learned about surfing as a emerging, science-basedfield to address mental health and addiction challenges. What a concept: asking humans to worktogether in the outdoors to find their “zone” and structurally change the brain for

Another great book on meditation that is especially helpful for those, like me, who struggle with their inner critic. Meditation teacher and author Mark Coleman provides many antidotes for negative thinking and self-talk to help us learn to be more compassionate towards ourselves. Chapters are short withpractical exercises included, mostly meditation based. Mark also describes the scientific foundation, orneuroplasticity, behind

Pleasure Unwoven is a 1-hour video and accompanying workbook about addiction, with a focus on the hedonic pleasure aspect of addiction. The author is a doctor in recovery who uses the beautiful Utah landscape to ask the question: does addiction fits the standard “disease model”? His answer is YES, because addiction is a stress-induced defect that causes dysregulation of the

A Burning Desire is a gift for those who struggle with the 12-Step programs because of the focus on theneed to surrender to a Higher Power. Kevin Griffin describes his view of a “Middle Way”, where theDharma (teachings of the Buddha) can be understood as a Higher Power. The author draws on hisexperience with addiction and recovery, and how meditation and

Judith Grisel, PdD became inspired to specialize in neuroscience after ten years of substance use and addiction. In Never Enough, she explains in layman’s terms how every drug can lead to addiction. She describes the 3 features present in addiction: craving, tolerance, and dependence, and the impact on the brain. Using drugs regularly causes the brain to become unbalanced, and