I got the book as a reference from one of Keatings book. It is fantastic!! I recommend that all who face any disturbing addiction to read this book and indeed if you think you dont, read it and you will be surprised what you are addicted to. May shows the neurological aspect of addictions and very important he discusses the travials that occur during recovery. How your body adapts and readapts to habits and substances. He says the root of the problem is in the psycho-toxins in our sub-conscious and recommends grace and contemplative prayer as a remedy. Where we let go of trying to solve it ourselves and allow God to heal us, to heal from the root. Here is where keatings book is useful for keating then expoundes on Mays recommended contemplative prayer namely, the prayer of silence of letting go. The healing takes time and if you are looking for a quick fix, then forget this but if you want a root solution then pick this up. May says the beginning of a solution is when you say "I have a problem, I need help", God the healer, awaits to help you. May shows how to make an appointment, keating shows how to have a session and take the anti-bodies.
A relative of mine is addicted to crack. His wife is addicted to him. My father was addicted to cigarettes. My father-in-law is addicted to food. And many, many other people in my life are addicted to a wide variety of things. I was watching all this addiction go on around me, not understanding. I dont even remember how I found this book. Ive now given away about five copies to people who also were struggling to understand the addicted people in their lives. Gerald May takes you through the process from the beginning to the end. The whys and the wherefores. Every word that is written in the beginning of the book is absolutely necessary to understand the conclusions reached at the end. Now, I understand. This book has brought great relief to me personally in that I am not so perplexed and lost in trying to understand why addicted people do the things they do. If youve ever asked yourself questions like Why dont they just stop? and Why doesnt she/he just leave them? then you need to read this book. Its short and sweet and incredibly well written.
I read this book (skipping the chapter on the biology of addiction and the brain) and was blown away. What simple, profound, essential insights May offers here. With the help of Gods grace, using what May teaches, I was gifted with six straight days free of my food addiction for the first time in years - just eating like a normal person, eating what I wanted most when I felt physically hungry and stopping when I was full. It was a beautiful time of freedom and I want more. I know with the help of His grace many more such days are ahead of me. Thanks again and again, Dr. May - and thank you Lord for such a gift.
