Substance-abusing High Achievers: Addiction as an Equal Opportunity Destroyer

Front Cover
Jason Aronson, 1998 - Psychology - 221 pages
0 Reviews
Denial of addiction is the most prominent symptom of individuals who have problems with alcohol and substance abuse. Whatever its psychodynamics, their denial is reinforced by (1) fear that acknowledgment and treatment might jeopardize their professional status, and (2) the misconception that intellectual superiority constitutes a safeguard against loss of control. High achievers–doctors, lawyers, business executives, clerics, nurses, professors–are particularly vulnerable to such denial. Moreover, their spouses may share the fear that exposure could jeopardize and even undermine the family's livelihood. Some people become high achievers or overachievers in order to compensate for feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. These feelings almost invariably surface in the substance abuser, antedating the onset of abuse. A particular challenge in treating this population is to address the negative consequences of low self-esteem without crippling the impulse to excel. Dr. Twerski demonstrates that chemical dependency is indeed an equal opportunity destroyer and he illuminates the makeup of high-achieving substance abusers as their narratives unfold. Addicted individuals will recognize themselves in these pages while providers of human services will discover ways and means to diagnose and intervene.

From inside the book

 

What people are saying - Write a review

We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.

Contents

Foreword by Terence T Gorski
1
The Executive Suite
5
Surreptitious Development of Chemical Dependency
13
Copyright

29 other sections not shown

Common terms and phrases

able accept achieve addiction alcohol asked became become began beginning behavior believe called cause chemically dependent client cocaine continued course denial deny developed didn't disease doctor don't drank drinking drug drunk entered everything example experience fact father feel felt finally friends function getting give happened hospital human husband important individual knew later lawyer leave live look meeting months morning negative never night nurses occur once one's pain parents patient period person physician pills position practice present problem professional realize reason received recovering recovery remember responsible result seemed started successful talk teacher tell things thought tion told took treat treatment tried turn understand week wife

About the author (1998)

Dr. Abraham J. Twerski, an ordained rabbi, held a pulpit until 1959 when he graduated from medical school and went on to complete a psychiatric residency. Formerly Clinical Director of the Department of Psychiatry at St. Francis Hospital, Pittsburgh, he is currently Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Dr. Twerski is founder and medical director of the non-profit Gateway Rehabilitation Center for the treatment of drug and alcohol dependence in western Pennsylvania. Recently, in conjunction with Gateway and the Pittsburgh Jewish community, he has undertaken a similar project called Shaar Hatikvah (Gateway to Hope) in Jerusalem.
Recognized as an authority in the field of chemical dependency, Dr. Twerski is the recipient of three honorary degrees and the author of twenty books. He appears frequently in the popular media.

Bibliographic information

QR code for Substance-abusing High Achievers
TitleSubstance-abusing High Achievers: Addiction as an Equal Opportunity Destroyer
Library of Substance Abuse Treatment Series
Library of substance abuse and addiction treatment
AuthorAbraham J. Twerski
Editionillustrated
PublisherJason Aronson, 1998
Original fromthe University of Michigan
DigitizedAug 28, 2007
ISBN0765701103, 9780765701107
Length221 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Psychology / Psychopathology / Addiction
Self-Help / Substance Abuse & Addictions / General
  
Export CitationBiBTeX EndNote RefMan