Everything Changes: Help for Families of Newly Recovering Addicts

I watched my wonderful, loving boyfriend go from a motivated and confident young man to someone lost in addiction and alcoholism. I was ecstatic when he finally worked up the courage to enter a rehab facility after months of failed attempts to seek counseling and outpatient treatment on his own. What I wasn't prepared for was the emotional roller coaster that would ensue after his completion of the rehab program. I am truly blessed to have a strong connection with my boyfriend, even during his active addiction, but it still does not alleviate the strain of worry, anxiety, fear and uncertainty. Nor does it erase the memory of the lies, arguments and upsetting moments had during active addiction. I struggled to find literary resources that discussed the highs and lows of coping with and helping your addicted loved one in the aftermath of their recovery. This book, albeit short and sweet, brought me a tremendous amount of peace, hope and comfort in knowing that my feelings and struggles were common and that there is reason to believe things will continue to get better. The author helps the reader gain a stronger understanding of the changes going on within the addict and their typical struggles. She relates her own experiences and feelings in dealing with her child's recovery allowing you to feel a connection to your own experiences. There are bullet lists of helpful tactics and thoughts to remember throughout the book. Overall it is a simple, but well written book. I highly recommend picking it up while your loved one is in treatment so that you are more prepared when they come out on the other side.

My spouse is a newly recovering addict and I have gone through every emotion in the book (shock, despair, grief, shame, anger, panic, fear, anxiety, you name it) and Beverly Conyers has gone through it too & 'gets it' and offers real stories, insight and clear suggestions to help yourself -- first and foremost -- and also how you can foster growth for your loved one without doing too much. What a great book -- I read almost the whole book in one sitting. You need this if you are dealing with addiction in your family. It helps you remember that your feelings are typical and even normal. It gives you hope, clarity and peace. As Conyers discusses, this whole process, although scary and painful at times, can really open your eyes spiritually, as it has for me. The 'words of inspiration and support' section of the book is great, too; I like this one from Eleanor Roosevelt: "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror, I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

This book is full of great advice!!

While my son was in rehab for herion addiction I was busy. Busy with family therapy,meetings, visiting him,trying to make sure his life was safe when he got out. But I had no idea what to do with all of the information I was given. Everything changed...who I thought he was, who I thought I was. This book gave me a lot of information on how to deal with everything we would be going through. Try to buy the book before your family member gets out of rehab so you are prepared. My son has been clean for 4 months and 7 days. Every day is a blessing. He is alive. This is a story that can happen to anyone. My best of wishes to you.I just wanted to add to my report. My son has been heroin free for a little over a year now. He is happy and confident. Not the scared little boy he was when he went into inpatient treatment. I feel blessed. I hope for the best for anyone else in this lifes journey...

This book was very well written, the author has done a tremendous job. Very well thought out and helpful. I believe this book should be made available at all treatment centers, libraries, and medical facilities. A must read for families whom are affected by this terrible disease. The benefits of this book are wonderful. I have been looking for a book such as this and will treasure the information and guidance it has given me as a gift. Our son, age 18, spent 3 months in a wonderful treatment facility for alcohlism and drug abuse. He has been sober since the day he left on April 25, 2009 and continues to do well in his recovery. Taking things one day at a time and making the best out of each moment is his attitude. I am his mom and I truly, deeply appreciate your insight for this book. Thank you and God Bless!Chris, from Minnesota

This is one of the only books I found to help the family/spouse of a recovering alcoholic.Although my husband wasn't a RAGING alcoholic, he was a Weekend Warrior. It didn't affect his work, but it did affect our social life. I, personally, had to tone down some of the book to relate it to my situation. He still shows the behavior of an alcoholic (which I wasn't aware that's what it was before), but now that I know, we are working on it and I can address it.I also read Co Dependant No More, which really helped me through this process. I have learned to detach and say no.

Beverly Conyers couldn't have chosen a more apt title. I learned that my daughter was an addict when she told me she was checking herself into rehab ~ I was in shock. I knew she was unhappy, but I never knew the depths of her dispair. I was terrified to discover the truth and relieved that she would be going to a safe place. What I didn't understand was that this was just the beginning on a path to recovery that will be hers for her lifetime. "Everything Changes" is insightful, sensitive, honest, poignant and full of sound advice. It helped me to understand that addiction is a disease and that recovery is a not a destination, but rather a journey that the entire family takes together and individually.I highly recommend this book for anyone whose life has been touched by addiction.

I found the book very helpful and should recommend to other mothers. I couldn't put the book down once I started reading.

I would recommend this book to anyone dealing with a person who is recovering from an addiction. I wish I had had it earlier, but it is still relevant a year or so on into the process. I read it pencil in hand and underlined and turned down the corners on sections that were relevant to my dealings with a good friend with multiple problems. It confirmed to me that I was dealing with many issues correctly and gave me information to help me deal with issues that I had had difficulty with in the past. It offered a lot of insight into the life faced by those trying to deal with the disease of addiction. I wish that my friend's family would read this book and then they might show a little more understanding of what she is going through.

Very helpful. I will reread this often. Great resource.