The Addictive Personality: Understanding the Addictive Process and Compulsive Behavior

I bought myself a copy of this book after studying it at a treatment centre. Its a brilliant book for understanding why people with addictive personalities do what they do.I am studying psychology and am hoping to move onto addiction psychology so this is a fantastic reference book for that.I try and choose second hand books because 1. it saves paper, 2. they are cheaper, and 3. I think they have more character. This book was a little worn on the edges, but I knew that before I bought it. Aside from that it is in perfect condition and has obviously been well looked after.I look forward to go back for references in the future.

My father was an alcoholic. My mother was co-dependent. My son, a severely addicted gambler, killed himself in 2012. All my life I've had the symptoms Craig Nakken lists as endemic in people from addicted, abusive and/or shaming families; never feeling 'good enough', being very secretive, having few friends, attaching to houses and other objects rather than people, marrying an abusive man first time round, dependent on self-help books to show me how to deal with life. And I'm 58! Now I know why I'm like this, there is still time to change. This book is very readable and can change lives.

What I always remember from this book is that addicts and alcoholics do not realise they have is "euphoric recall".They remember the warm rewarding feeling being better than it was for them, but forget the consequent suffering.

At times I felt like the author had a secret portal into my childhood. Resonated deeply with me. Cameron miller

Good introduction to addiction as gentle way in to understanding the disease. Useful for me when a family member went into rehab. Also recommend Everything Changes Beverley Conyers

It's amazing book very interesting indeed helpful and has helped me no end . I have a addictive personality and it's helped me understand the process a must buy for anyone who needs help

The book describes what it terms "the addictive process" in which the addict falls deeper and deeper into addiction - whether to alcohol, drugs or behaviours like gambling. It makes a plausible (and not surprising) case that the motivation for the addictions is to bring about a predictable change in emotional state, which addicts come to be involved with to the exclusion of normal life activities and honest and open relationships with others. In the end the addictive part of the person - the addictive personality - comes to completely dominate the whole self, ultimately leading to the rock bottom of advanced alcoholism or other addiction.So what to do? Well the book stands very firmly in the 12 step tradition and the second part of the book describes some of the key concepts in this type of recovery: meetings, sponsors, higher power and so on. It isn't really a how-to book, it rather sets out some the key thinking behind that tradition. The how-to, of course, would be attending the meetings and following the programme. The author seems convinced that 12 steps programmes work well, and that individual counselling doesn't.It's a clearly written shortish book and I hope it is useful to anyone looking for help. To my mind it does, however, take a one-size-fits-all approach to recovery by staying so close to the 12 steps. Some of its generalizations about what addicts experience and how they behave do seem simplistic - surely not all addicts are alike?So, in conclusion, what have I gained from reading this book? A plausible account of how addiction develops and takes hold; and an explanation of the key elements in a conventional approach to recovery. So I'm a bit the wiser, but suspect there are more angles on recovery than are mentioned here.

A beautifully written and easy to follow book that touches the very heart of someone who suffers from the pain of addiction in their lives.

This book does not emphasize how to treat addiction in a way a new therapist may want. However, I found it extremely valuable to read because it really helped me explain and put in to words for clients that their addiction is not just about use, it’s escape and much more. If you have no experience with addiction in your life, be it personal or professional, I recommend this book because it gives insight of how addiction starts and why which I believe is just as important as how to help someone through addiction. There is a certain element of spirituality in the book, but not in the sense of a Christian addiction is a moral failing, so if you are non-religious or religious outside of Christian, Judaism or Islam faiths, you will still benefit from reading this. If you are a part of the big 3 faith groups (in the US) you may need to stretch yourself a bit because the way spirituality is conceptualized in this book. I practice secular therapy and am secular in my personal life and I still recommend this book.

Me ha gustado mucho este libro y como aborda y explica el tema de la adicción, cómo se trata de algo que puede afectar a cualquier cosa (no solo las típicas cosas que se supone que generan adicción como el alcohol o la drogas) y como funcionan sus mecanismos.

Extremely interesting and explanatory book on addictions. Irrelevant of the addiction and of whether you are personally affected or not, this is a very good read - it explains everything in a pleasant way without being too scientific in its approach, i.e. suitable for everyone who is interested in the topic. Thoroughly recommendable. An enjoyable, helpful read.

I have read a lot of literature on addiction and this book is one that explains the process and mindset very clearly. There’s no judgment on the addict, rather an empathetic explanation of the personality ad mindset.

This is a small but comprehensive text I have used as required reading in a clinical class. I recommend it.