Recovery Memoirs

An elite competitive figure skater growing up, Keri Blakinger poured herself into the sport, even competing at nationals. But when her skating partnership ended abruptly, her world shattered. With all the intensity she saved for the ice, she dove into self-destruction. From her first taste of heroin, the next nine years would be a blur—living on the streets, digging for a vein, selling drugs and sex, plunging off a bridge when it all became too much, all while trying to hold herself together enough to finish her degree at Cornell.

The author of Blessed by the Best: A Memoir by David Kearse, a former journalist (The Baltimore Sun), now writes screenplays, one of which has been optioned by a producer, and has sustained an acting career in Hollywood. Having studied with some of the greats in theater, opera, improvisation, and creativity, he brings what he has learned explicitly to his memoir.

Trouble is a Gift is the story of a recovered alcoholic who humbly asked for help in finding a purpose and meaning in his life, whose prayer was answered, and who then turned his dream into a reality devoted to the care and treatment of millions of sick and suffering addicts and alcoholics. James S. Cusack, alcoholic, caregiver, and astute businessman, recounts his inner struggles and self-doubt, the stages of his recovery from alcohol addiction, and the moment of clarity when his mission came to light and he saw how, with the help of God and a Twelve-Step program, he could fulfill his purpose.

"Stolen Plates: A True Story of Crime, Cars, and Redemption" is a captivating memoir that takes readers on a journey through the author's childhood in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Growing up with three older siblings and their parents, Larry and Vicky, the author stumbles upon a shocking discovery of stolen DMV registrations. Unbeknownst to them, their father had a connection to Jimmy Burke and the notorious Lucchese Crime Family. As the story unfolds, the author delves into the world of car theft, revealing their father's role in stealing cars and earning for Jimmy Burke. The demand for printing ...

This is a very real and bloody look at the journey I made from 19 to 29. I will walk you through the icy halls of drug addiction and dealing, college in Santa Barbara (specifically Isla Vista), depression, suicide, and overdoses. The second part of the book I could only write just recently, as I was, by the Grace of God, able to live the life I knew I always should. Please come with me through the very real and honest look at what it was like to be a young man in the 2010s and how through a million close calls, I finally found life.

There have been two great loves in Matt Rowland Hill’s life so far: Jesus and heroin. Hill grew up the son of a minister in a strict Baptist church. After a crisis of loss of faith, he obsessively turned to literature before becoming addicted to crack and heroin in his early twenties. Hill’s addiction stretched over a decade, culminating in a suicide attempt and weeks in a secure psychiatric unit. After undergoing rehabilitation, which forced him to confront the religion he had spent his whole life running from, he finally got clean.

Sobering is the story of an insecure teenager turned Liverpudlian party girl, schoolteacher turned alcoholic and now recovering alcoholic turned award-winning podcaster. Melissa’s story is as dramatic as her unique voice, but her message is universal: mental health issues often drive vulnerable people to addiction, and working on mental health and personal development can help recovery.

In "Book About Cancer," Danny Worth shares his inspiring journey of overcoming cancer through natural methods. Faced with a daunting diagnosis, he turned away from conventional treatments and embarked on a holistic path, exploring the healing power of nutrition, mindfulness, and alternative therapies. With unwavering determination, Danny transformed his lifestyle, uncovering the vital connection between mind, body, and spirit. This heartfelt memoir chronicles his struggles and triumphs, offering readers practical insights into natural healing practices. Through his story, Danny empowers ...

An adventurous and free-spirited young man, Winston "Win" Williams, was destined for adventure. He spent years sailing around the world, experiencing life many only see through the movies or TV. From Tahiti to New Guinea and the far east, to the Indian Ocean, Africa, and the Philippines, Win had it all under a cloud of sails. Until he didn't. This dramatic memoir brings us from the highs of life on the seas to the lows of addiction and, devastatingly, losing it all. Win shares openly and honestly his experience of recovery from alcoholism, and the restoration of relationships and a new life...

Like the never-ending war on terror, the drugs war is a multi-billion-dollar industry that won’t go down without a fight. Pills, Powder, and Smoke explains why. The war on drugs has been official American policy since the 1970s, with the UK, Europe and much of the world following suit. It is at best a failed policy, according to best-selling author Antony Loewenstein. Its direct results have included mass incarceration in the US, extreme violence in different parts of the world, the backing of dictatorships and surging drug addiction globally.

I became addicted to heroin at the age of 18. I thought my life was over, but here I am with a story to be told, and hopefully with a message in there for anyone who is struggling with addiction, suicide, and depression that there is light at the end of the tunnel. My journey was not easy, and there are scars both physical and mental to prove it, but I am the man I am today because of these times. If this book can help one person, then I feel my struggles with addiction won't have been in vain.

After two decades of suffering with the mental disorder known as obsessive-compulsive disorder, Derek has reached his breaking point. His past attempts to find inner peace had lead him astray. At last he longs for a life of ease and tolerance without the handicap his illness brings. Enter the next phase of his life as he copes with obstacles ahead in this true story. Follow his path to recovery as he seeks help, wisdom, and clarity to rise above what has grounded him for so long.

"Recovery from the Passage of an Iron Bar Through the Head" is a report by Dr John M Harlow on the case of Phineas P. Gage who survived an accident in 1848 in which an iron rod was driven completely through his head, destroying much of his brain's left frontal lobe, and for the injury's reported effects on his personality - friends considered him “to be no longer Gage." The author states that the case serves to show the wonderful resources of the system in enduring the shock and overcoming the effects of so frightful a lesion....

Waking Up Tomorrow chronicles my struggles against anxiety disorder and depression. It's a no-holds-barred account of how I have coped with anxiety-related issues over the years and the methods I adopt to continue to move forward, day after day. I share my analysis on what I perceive to help listeners progress more positively with their lives and what I also found does not help and can be counterproductive.

Roma brings authenticity and refreshing keys that guide you out of despair, pain, and grief to a place where you can smile again. A life filled with one trauma after another: her daughter brutally murdered, and her husband and grand-daughter killed in a light plane crash. Roma has stepped out of the prison of grief and become a prisoner of hope and wholeness.

After the disintegration of the most significant relationship of his life, the demons Luke Turner has been battling since childhood are quick to return - depression and guilt surrounding his identity as a bisexual man, experiences of sexual abuse, and the religious upbringing that was the cause of so much confusion. It is among the trees of London's Epping Forest where he seeks refuge. But once a place of comfort, it now seems full of unexpected, elusive threats that trigger twisted reactions.

This true and inspirational story of Alan Eisenberg's life offers a raw and honest portrait of a bullying survivor and takes you on a journey that, in the end, leads to recovery and solutions to help heal from the trauma of the long-term effects of bullying. The issue of the long-term effects that bullying has on people is brought to life through Alan's story and how he tried to suppress the childhood trauma brought on by bullying, but finally had to confront it when anxiety, self-esteem issues, and finally depression set in.

The war on drugs has been official American policy since the 1970s, with the UK, Europe, and much of the world following suit. It is at best a failed policy, according to best-selling author Antony Loewenstein. Its direct results have included mass incarceration in the US, extreme violence in different parts of the world, the backing of dictatorships, and surging drug addiction globally. And now the Trump administration is unleashing diplomatic and military forces against any softening of the conflict.