"Hey Addiction, Thanks for NOTHING: A Brutally Honest Guide to Loving an Addict Without Losing Your Mind" is a self-help memoir penned by Meredith Beardmore, LMHC, an expert therapist in substance abuse. She thought her professional expertise would shield her and her loved ones from addiction's devastating impact-she was wrong. Like many, she saw addiction seep into every facet of her loved ones' lives, dragging her into the crossfire. Addiction is indiscriminate, blind to gender, socioeconomic status, and job title-it traps everyone in its collateral damage.
Frustrated by the lack of helpful resources, Meredith decided to create a guide to understanding and surviving the addiction of loved ones, aiming to step out from its shadows. With an authoritative voice, laced with humor, she offers practical tips for navigating this daunting reality.
Who better to help than a therapist who's been in the trenches herself? Meredith leaves professional veneer behind, opting for honesty, inclusivity, and authenticity. She shares her experiences of loving an addict and her trials and failures in stopping the addict from destroying their lives.
Utilizing gritty artwork to illustrate the desperate lengths people will go to help their addicts, Meredith offers her readers a sense of identification and validation. She incorporates techniques from various treatment modalities, including Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Expressive Arts Techniques, to guide her readers out of trauma and back into their lives.
"Hey Addiction" serves as an authentic yet authoritative guide, providing best practice skills, reflection exercises, and a dose of humor to address the harsh realities of loving someone with an addiction.