Hello,
I just wanted to send this e-mail to thank Mr. Prentiss and Pax for literally saving my life. I have been a drug addict and alcoholic for over 35 years, and a year or so ago I bought your book. I read the first half of the book (Pax's story) and set it down and continued using the way I had before. My wife and kids were in misery, I could think of nothing else but how to use. I had developed Avascular Necrosis which the doctor had informed me was caused by my addiction; I had to have a hip replacement due to my hip joint rotting out. I then added Vicoden and Valium to my list of addictions that included cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol on a daily basis, this did not stop me. I ended up in in-patient treatment and step programs to no avail.
I am 49 years old. A couple months ago my luck with the law ran out, and I was arrested while driving extremely intoxicated on valium and alcohol, I am just so thankful that I didn't hurt anyone or myself as I had no idea where I was or why. My family was in ruins I was a train wreck of a man, I had been laid off and was thinking there was no way out, and life was as good as over for me. I told my wife that I needed to see a physiatrist to get stronger drugs and find out if something was wrong with my brain. The night after I was bailed out of jail, I sat thinking and contemplating my miserable life, and I remembered your book I had shelved, and I got it back out and started reading the second half. It was as if a miracle or something happened and it just "clicked" I don’t know how to explain it. I read it over. I stopped using ALL drugs and alcohol that night started exercising, taking long walks, eating better. I was forcibly detoxed several times without help, but I managed to detox myself at home...it was rough at first, I got very little sleep, but I did it myself. I left all the lies and denial behind, for 35+ yrs I was an addict because of cause 2 and 3 in your book. I started to feel like a new man, it was actually exciting to me to start my new life and live without drugs or alcohol. I am now looking forward to every day with enthusiasm, I feel much better, not only physically and mentally but spiritually. The last few weeks have been bliss, it’s strange but I now KNOW I will NEVER use again. I had told myself this before, but deep down it didn’t click. Instead of getting high and drunk every night now, I read and enjoy time with my wife and kids. I know I am a long way away from being a totally free man, but I know in my heart and soul like never before that I will never, ever use again. I no longer need it amazingly and never will. All this just from picking up a book.
Just as Mr. Prentiss wrote, it took a "bad" thing to happen in my life, to turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to me and save me. Although I now have a court date that I will possibly face jail time and severe fines and penalties that I cannot afford, I will walk into the courtroom with my head held high and accept my punishment for I know this incident and book has saved me and saved my family from my addictions. I write this lengthy note with tears in my eyes, and hope that whoever gets it will show it to Mr. Prentiss and/or Pax and accept my most gracious thank you. I hope to someday be able to afford to travel to California to thank them personally. I look forward to every day and take one day at a time, with your book close by. Again, thank you so very much for helping me see what life can be, I haven’t seen it since I can remember, and it's exciting to me:)
Very Sincerely,
Paul
I'm only half way through the book but have learned so much. I am reading this for my husband, who has gotten into a lot of trouble with his drinking, but have realized that I have become dependent on the emotion of anger. I also felt depressed at times and now realize that I can change my emotions and my thinking. I will change my feelings of hopelessness around, starting today. I look forward to finishing the book and handing it to my husband very soon.
Laura
Dear Chris and Pax,
It's only been a couple of days of sobriety but I don't feel any more cravings or withdrawal symptoms so this must be it. I just want to thank you both. It's been two months since I start working with the Addiction Cure book, and have also read your Art of Happiness and Little book of Secrets, and I just had to say that I've never learned so much like this in my life before. Since then, I've learned wisdom I've never heard, learned more about myself and met new increcible people. I've never been to passages to meet with you guys but I could feel your gentle voice from here guiding me with your every words in my journey. I want to thank Pax by inspiring me to endure through the pains of my withdrawal symptoms. Thanks to him, I feel that I can work with any challenges in the future. I'll work my way to meet with you guys soon. Again, thanks for guiding me out of my dependency, and into happiness! I'll keep studying I-Ching as I move along. My dreams to be an "exceptional man" all these years... thanks for helping me to make it a reality!
Respects,
John
I just received this book yesterday and absolutely love it; can't put it down. I was a cocaine addict. I do attend occasional AA meetings but do not practice the traditional 12-step program, do not have a sponsor and don't get on my knees and pray to God to get me through the day. I know that I have the power to stay clean because it's worked for me now for 18 months. I still have work to do in addressing those underlying causes but for now I actually like myself and know that it's going to be another drug free day; and that's a good thing. I'm so glad I found this book - thank you for putting it out there!
-Nancy
Thank you thank you thank you thank you......the book confirmed what i knew to be true. thank you for telling the truth. thank you for helping me get my life back and my personality.
Sincerely,
Patrick
This book... I can't find the words to explain what it has done for me. I was drinking since I was 21, dabbling in drugs until I was 35. I spent 10 years as a full blown 'functioning' addict. I went through several rehabs, mental hospitals (Baker acted because I wasn't dying fast enough with the booze and drugs). I really did not want to quit, and deal with reality-no thanks. Recently, I went with my roommate on our weekly trip to the library. I was standing in front of the new book section and pulled a book out next to this one, your book then fell out and I thought, what the hell? Chris and Pax, without the gushy, drooling, wailing screams of gratitude, please accept my sincere thanks for saving me and my family and friends. I am trying to pass along the message (without beating it into my wounded friends with a message of hopelessness as in AA) but I am still learning the delicate balance of encouraging and being pushy. PS I did buy my own copy after returning the libraries copy.
Thanks ∞ Laura
Dear Chris,
FINALLY I don't have to pan for gold at AA meetings. Someone has sold me the road map to El Dorado from Itunes for $9.95. I always knew sitting in the countless AA meetings that something was amiss. I knew they were on to something but somehow were misssing the mark. What a relief to know I dont have an incurable disease. So freeing it is. Please keep spreading the word. I hope you and Pax are to become the new sign posts for DR Bob and Bill. As Eckhart Tolle has told me "You will know the truth when you try it."
-Ernie
I was given this book to read actually when i got locked up into an o and a program, and it has helped me to over come my dependency. its given me a different perspect on my dependency that its now easier for me to quit. thanks chris and pax may god be with for all the help this simple little book has done for me. and if its done something for me i know it can for others.
-Venus
I'm 48 years old and have been a binge drinker since I was a young adult. I knew I wanted to stop but I was under the mistaken belief that it would just be too hard and too long a process so I never got started. I had a lot of excuses for not getting sober. When I saw the word "cure" in the name of your book I knew that's what I was looking for, although I remained very skeptical. When I received the DVD set I was hungover from the night before and feeling terrible once again, but I decided to start listening right away. I literally played the entire set that day. It truly was like a light being turned on. I not only haven't had a drink since that day (4 months ago) but I haven't really even been tempted. I now have total control over my decision not to drink and it feels incredible. I guess you can say I'm cured and the first step I discovered was believing that there is a cure. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing this book. You guys are truly life savers.
-Chris
I just finished Chris's book. THANK YOU!!!! For the first time I at least have a plan to follow to help come to terms with what makes me want to relapse constantly. This had been nothing less than a breath of fresh air for my soul. I look forward to learning and putting into practice the outline laid down in your book to start healing the underlying causes of my dependency.
-Carl N.
This is the most powerful book on addiction and alcohol abuse I have ever read. It was courageous of Pax to tell his story like he did but even more courageous to take a stand against the status quo of addiction treatment philosophies and give hope to those of us who know without a doubt there is a cure. AS a Mother of an addict I have been lost for years without really knowing where to go, who to call and what resource or information was going to help me. I built an entire treatment program for my son using this book as a guide and am now actively engage in recovery coaching for families of addicts. It is not an instant answer but a foundation of common sense to build upon. I recommend it to everyone.
-Nancy
My wife and I have just finished reading "the Alcoholism & Addiction Cure". It was very informative and hit home in many areas. Our 32 year old, very intelligent son has been an "addict" now for several years. He has probably tried about anything and everything out there. He graduated to being a needle using heroin addict. Pax's struggle and stories with his heroin addiction struck home. we need to convince our son to read your book and to move forward from there. He had moved back in with us and did well for awhile and them started using substitute drugs on occasion. He is back on the street now, the day before xmas. Bless you for all you have done. I recently retired as Police Chief in our community and spent many years "fighting the war on drugs". That war will never be won without a change in "attitude". The award and availability of drugs will always be there. Its the attitude that needs to be changed. Thank You!
-Gene
I wanted to thank Chris and Pax for the wonderful book The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure. My boyfriend has been having relapses on crack cocaine. He has expressed a desire to be free of it. Yesterday when I couldn't reach him, I knew that he was relapsing again. He had only not followed a routine one other time when he relapsed. I was watching TV and the commercial advertising the book came on. I was immediately at peace with what was going on and went out to buy the book. In one night I have read half of it and will finish it to give it to him this weekend. I know it will make a tremendous difference. Thank you again so much!
-Elizabeth
I was skeptical at first, thinking it was mostly hype and a marketing ploy. Boy, was I wrong! I recommend this book to all of my friends in the recovery community and I strongly suggest that all of my clients listen to the audiobook because Chris has distilled everything I believe, teach and have proven in my own experience as a holistic recovery coach and spiritual counselor into a concise guidebook. I don't necessarily agree with everything that his staff of experts say but I do agree with about 95%, which is a huge statement for me to make.
-Mary
I saw an advertisement on T.V about a month ago. I had to rush online and purchase the book right away. I have the book on cd and I am only up to the fifth cd right now. I have cried while listening, and completely relate to the stories of Pax. It has been very emotional for me to listen to the cd's, and I can't wait to finish the book. I have also purchased Be who you want have what you want along with the other books in the package. I can't wait to read those as well. I have always suffered from anxiety disorder, depression and agoraphobia. Seeing me you would never know, as I am very outgoing. All the while I suffer inside. I reside in New York and have been on disability for many years. I only wish I could afford to get help at your center. I have tried hospitals and therapists and I have never received the right type of help. I am forty four years old and my wish for myself is to be normal. To find happiness, be in a healthy relatioship and have the children I've always wanted.
Sincerely,
Lisa
I really understand the concept of the book. I went through traditional treatment, am still clean, but I found it nothing but the teachings of the 12 step program.
I feel each person needs to find that works for them. The legal system uses 12 step as free therapy. I am mandated by a dmv supervision to attend 12 step meetings. I was never given a choice for my treatment.
This book makes sense with your methods of treating addicts. I see too many people trying 12 step groups over and over and not getting well. I have always believed that people need to deal with their issues to stop using. I am tired of being told that the 12 step method is the only way to recover. Doing that is like saying that only one form of medicine works for everyone. It's time to stop mandating people into meetings.
-Diane
Greetings and salutations, First of all I would like to express my deepest and most sincere gratitude to Chris for writing this extreemly insightful text. It literally saved my life! I originally purchased the book for my spouse as she didn't achieve much success with Alcoholics Anonymous. Sadly, she never even cracked the cover. Needless to say, she is no longer in my life due to her inability to face life without drugs and alcohol. We used lethal quantities of drugs and alcohol together. In the end of our using "career" together, I could not go 30 days without overdosing on pharmaceuticals, yet she was the one with the problem! One day I decided I'd had enough pain. I had gotten into legal trouble and the Judge, in his infinite jurisprudence, said I could either go to jail...AGAIN, to face the agony of withdrawl in the "four star" accommodations of the County Jail, or I could go to treatment. Being the master manipulator I chose rehab. I thought I was beating the system by chosing the "easy way out"! The facility I was admitted to employed a treatment modality based on the 12 steps of A.A.. I had a great deal of difficulty grasping the principles of the program. In fact, at about day 45 of the 28 day program I was caught with two female clients in my bed, was reprimanded for "skinnydipping" in the pool, got into a physical altercation with another client, and overdosed on Xanax and Oxycontin! Being a man of science, I struggled with the whole God concept. Mind you, I was an Atheist, or so I told myself. My therapist, (such a brilliant soul), so ever gently informed me that I wasn't "smart enough to be an Atheist!", and told ME to to read your book. At first I took offense and was bewildered by his observation of my intellect.
In retrospect, he was absolutely, "spot-on". He could see right through my facade of power and control. He saw the emaciated, lost, major depressive that I had become and had accepted as my destiny. Full of bitterness and rage with no sense of direction or concept of where I fit into the grand scheme of the Universe. At first I found "The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure" a slow read. As touching as Pax's story was, I was all too familiar with the wages of addiction. When I progressed to "Changing the Treatment Paradigm" I started to become enthralled. Through meditation and deep introspection I began examining the reasons I began seeking the "relief" that drugs and alcohol originally afforded me through self-medication. I discovered that I was deeply depressed, insecure and fraught with self loathing. In addition, I had legitimate chronic pain issues. With these issues in mind, I prescribed myself therapy with a psychiatrist with intensive training in addictions. Through extensive labwork and diagnostics we discovered that I have a chemical imbalance which caused major depression. Furthermore it was revealed that I have a hormone deficiency. I now take an anti-depressant and Testosterone. I then consulted with a nutritionist and developed a diet and supplement regimen.
Then I enlisted the services of a physical therapist to address my chronic pain. Finally I sought the help of a spiritual adviser to assist me in the development of a personal philosophy on life and to help me see realistically just exactly how and where I fit into the the Universe as a whole. I initiated all of this while I was still in the treatment center, just as your guidelines suggested with the exception of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (Due to denial of insurance benefits for same.). However, I remain open-minded to the potential of Chinese medicine. Anyway, to lend some brevity to an already long story, I have been free from all mood altering drugs including alcohol for the better part of a year now. Through actually studying (not simply reading) your book and practicing the fundamentals contained therein I have addressed the core issues that were the reasons I used drugs in the first place. I do not crave drugs and I KNOW I am cured, freed from the chains of active addiction! Thank you for teaching me about myself and above all for believing in me. Your book truly saved my life!
Deepest Gratitude,
Dr. English
Where to start. First of all your book has given me the first REAL feeling that I have ALWAYS known and that's that I can fix myself. That I am not doomed to be a failure all my life. I have been drinking, taking drugs and have promiscuous tendencies. I certainly use these things to self medicate. I have SEVERE anxiety problems, SEVERE self image problems. For the first time I feel there is hope for me. I have known my whole life that I have been capable of more than what and who I am but have ALWAYS self sabotaged it and have become a slave to the vicious cycle of ups and downs. I know now that I can lead a HEALTHY HAPPY life with help which I desperately need or stay stuck forever in this endless cycle. Though I am the type of person that would flower under a direct intense 30 day program of rehab and healing myself nor my family could afford such a thing. Ive asked. They would love to help but cant. So, I am going to try and attempt to figure this out on my own but have found it very overwhelming to find Drs in Florida where I live to help and believe. I need the correct testing and care and cant find it. I need help. I am tired of watching everyone I know and love have loving lasting relationships, successful careers. I have spent the last 10 years shut down and off cause I felt nothing could help me. I have hope and I am craving to become the person that I know that I have the potential to be. Is there anyone there that can suggest Drs and/or testing facilities in the Delray Beach, FL area that may help me. Its been a very discouraging search but I don't want to give up. Please help me. I want to feel like a person thats worthy of love. I want a real life worth living. I'm tired of being so all alone. Thank you in advance for your help but most of all for The book. Its changed my life.
T
Your concept of why Addition occurs is, I feel on mark. Abuse of a person/women is one of most common occurances and with that not totally addressed with a loud voice it is something that needs to be heard. I am in the process of writing an informative read regarding this in every form. To make it easier for the person reading it along with your book, to open their eyes, what to watch for.Are they already in the eye of the storm of an abusive relationship? Do they need to have an in your face book about a women that was in this type of relationship for 16 years. This is a book that will need a highlighter attached!!! It tells of how he slowly did this and the signs to watch for. How she responded to life and how she got out. Its a spiritual journey that will be hard to put down and relief in spirit to the reader.
Thank You
Elizabeth J Saxton
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