Tian Dayton's Emotional Sobriety: Transforming Relationship Trauma into Resilience and Balance

Amazon Customer: This book delves into the science and psychology of trauma and what it does to the mind/body, and steps you can take to regulate stress and emotions. It truly is a life changer...up until the very last few chapters; a lot of harmful and dated language and information is written in the last few chapters of the book.
It's one thing to speak about the positive affects of spirituality, but it was very blatantly religious bias and a lot of talk about God, the 12 step program (which is at most 25% affective), and forgiveness (which in my opinion is not needed for healing and can be more damaging due to the shame and guilt of one's own emotions). The book also contained dated language such as "addicts" and the need to involve oneself in a 12 step/religious program. The writer writes a few sentences on the spiritual benefits of LSD but continues to criticize "addicts" who use LSD to "self medicate". LSD has been known to treat addiction and alcoholism as well as depression and anxiety along with many other psychedelic and pharmaceutical drugs but I find it funny that a God loving, white author speaks highly of western medicine and healing.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who...

Canada on May 04, 2023

Brian E Smith: First, let me say, this book was NOT what I thought it would be. It was way over my head with the limited intelligence I have with only a high-school education. So much of it I didn't really understand. However, I loved it and learned so much from it. I feel like I have taken 3 semesters of psychology classes at a university. My only problem was that I didn't have anyone to ask questions of as I went along. I will need to read it again, and then again, and look things up to completely understand a lot of it. But to me, the book was worth the price just for the last chapter called "Stick With The Winners: Habits of Emotionally Sober People". This chapter I will definitely read over and over, and will continue to work on developing these characteristics within myself. I realize that my recommendation will not mean much to anyone, but I'm really glad that I pushed myself to finish this book. It has been, and will continue to be, a tremendous help to me. I highly recommend it.

United States on Feb 27, 2023

Dariusz Wojtow: Emotional withdrawal and trauma syndromes are part of my life. Hope to find answers for questions here.

Canada on Dec 01, 2022

Angelia Whatley: I also have this book on Audio. lots of best practices+suggestions that was used by the writer. I work this book into my daily reading and I am a recovering alcoholic and am a working the 12 steps and after lots of soul search this author helped me to understand why I "act" out when I am afraid....Great book for all types of people in need of help

United States on Sep 23, 2020

VSOP: Please see my comments in response to Louisa Jay's two-star review. I can't recommend this book highly enough to anyone who has ever wondered "Why?" Clancy Imislund famously said "Get off your sinking ship and row . . . before you drown trying to figure out 'Why"!'" So, I did that. For 34.5 years in a slow slog that has given way to moments of clarity and stellar sobriety, but, still, I wanted to know Why?! This books tells me. And I am as excited as a child at Christmas. I'm 74.5 years old! Hallelujah! I feel like I'm coming home. To myself.

United States on Jun 27, 2019

Tara: I had to read this book over months because it was packed with so much learning and unlearning. So appreciative for this book, it gave me some healthy concepts and strategies I will never forget.

Canada on Nov 06, 2018

Tammy Lewis: Working with this book and it is very helpful. It helps me see and understand my behaviour and how to improve it. Highly recommend this book for healing and strengthen oneself.

Canada on Mar 23, 2018

ray philpott: A clear and excellent book linking latest neurology and psychology relating to traumatic events in relationships. Only slight reservation is lack of overall explanation of the 3 parts of the brain:reptilian, limbic and the cortex. It is assumed the reader understands these differences. A well written book that offers solutions to relationship traumas and it is linked to a very useful workbook.

United Kingdom on Aug 20, 2016

Valerie: I have been in Recovery for 8 years, sober for 6, and I first gave this book to my sponsee for her own sobriety anniversary, but after leafing through, I realized it was essential reading for me too, or anyone in recovery.

So often people like myself encounter folks who put down the drink or the drug long ago, but for one reason or another, they have not been able to mature emotionally;they remain the age they were when they began to use their substance of choice. In AA this is known as a "dry drunk" and it is an unhappy state of being, to say the least.

This book stands alone ,or as a wonderful adjunct to a Recovery program. It can be daunting to realize so much more has to be done after we get sober. "Emotional Sobriety" addresses this mental state beautifully and provides tools for a remedy as well.

United States on Sep 06, 2012

Thomas Luttrell, PhD: I am a Ph.D. candidate of Marriage & Family Therapy and work as a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern. I have run psychotherapy groups for several years already with addicts and their families, and I've been trained in multiple therapy modalities (EFT, SFBT, Gestalt, CBT, MI). This is a book that I wish I had written.

Even though I posted this review nine months ago, I continue to recommend this book to both my colleagues and friends. I still have not found any books as comprehensive and balanced, as this book offers the latest research and integrates a spectrum of our field's freshest relationship theories into one book. She helps us move closer toward a "Grand Unified Theory" of therapy and integrates attachment theory, attachment injuries, updates in the codependency literature, research on emotions, PTSD, ADHD, grief, depression, anxiety, and more, and she makes it applicable to the lay person as well as to the therapist.

This book can help clients understand how therapists can help, while giving therapists an updated look at how research on attachment theory can be integrated with the fields of substance abuse. For example, a lot of people still treat...

United States on Sep 01, 2009