Description

Book DescriptionPublication Date: April 30, 2013A nationally recognized expert on compulsive behaviors explains the phenomenon of craving and gives us tools to achieve freedom from our seemingly insatiable desires by changing our actions to remap our brains.When we find ourselves wanting something strong enough, we’ll do just about anything to get it–sometimes at the expense of our bodies, brains, banks accounts, and relationships. So why do we sometimes have the irrepressible feeling that we need something–such as food, cigarettes, alcohol, or sex– that we really just want? And how do we satiate that feeling without indulging it?In Craving, Omar Manejwala, M.D., translates the neurobiology of this phenomenon into real and accessible terms, explaining why we just can’t seem to get enough. He then gives us tools and guidance to find satisfaction without giving in to our cravings. Dr. Manejwala explains:• how and why our brain drives behavior• how to change the part of our brain that fuels our cravings• the warning signs that craving is evolving into addiction• why craving is the most difficult component of addiction to address• why certain groups are so effective at changing behaviors, receiving encouragement, and remaining accountable—–The Tenacity of Craving, Excerpted from Craving”What is allowed us is disagreeable, what is denied us causes us intense desire.”–OrvidMany of the people I have worked with over the years point out how stubborn cravings are. They often describe the sense that something has sunk its teeth into them and is not letting go. The harder they tug to try to remove it, the deeper the bite. Many of my patients describe this as wanting what they cannot have.But we don’t always want what we can’t have… What you believe about the reason you can’t have something affects whether or not you want it. If you believe that the primary power that controls your life is also the primary reason you can’t have something, you want it more. This has significant implication when it comes to cravings, because it means that if you can develop a different perspective about why you are experiencing cravings, you may be able to reduce the depth of the bite. In my successful patients who believe in a higher power, when they experience cravings, they don’t blame God. They simply describe it as a part of their illness that they can diminish or alleviate by talking with others and practicing their programs.32021ihttp://www.amazon.com/Craving-Why-Cant-Seem-Enough/dp/161649…Editorial Reviews“The author lucidly explains the neurological changes that occur when cravings give way to addiction, and he offers practical ways to deal with and resist temptation…”- Publishers Weekly“A SOLID book. It’s filled with good science, which I find both illuminating and reassuring. It’s filled with concrete, positive suggestions for addressing the issues of craving. It’s also compassionate at its core. It’s like, Give yourself a break. There are reasons you do this stuff, and it’s not your fault, but it’s not helping you, so here are some good tools that can give you a way out.”– foodfoodbodybody.com“This book will help addiction professionals be better able to explain cravings and addiction to patients. Anyone who has ever tried to squelch a craving – unsuccessfully – by willpower alone will be interested in this book.”- Jana Burson, M.D., Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and Internal MedicineMedical Director, Stepping Stone of Boone, Author Pain Pill Addiction: a Prescription for Hope.“This compassionate book is highly recommended for anyone struggling with cravings or addictions of any type, as a first step on the road to recovery.”-San Francisco Book Review“Inspiring, practical, and insightful for individuals considering or participating in a recovery program.”— Library JournalContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1: Craving: Why It MattersChapter 2: Beyond Neurotransmitters: The Real Brain Science of Craving and Decision-MakingChapter 3: How Cravings Drive Self-Defeating Behaviors and the Tenacity of CravingsChapter 4: Addiction Is Addiction: How Gambling, Food, Sex, Alcohol, and Drug Addiction Are RelatedChapter 5: Plasticity: How Thoughts, Actions, and Experiences Actually Change Your BrainChapter 6: Spirituality and Recovery: How Twelve Step Recovery and Other Spiritual Approaches Reduce CravingsChapter 7: You Can’t Do It Alone: Why Groups Can Reduce Urges and Improve Behaviors That Individuals Can’tChapter 8: The Naïve Perception of ImmunityChapter 9: Apparently Irrelevant Decisions (AIDs): How Simple Actions Can Reduce CravingsChapter 10: Joy, Hope, and RecoveryFinding Help for Alcoholism or Drug AddictionTips for Specific CravingsAppendix: A Field Polarized: The Uncomfortable Gap between Cognitive Therapies and Twelve Step ProgramsNotesAbout the AuthorAbout the AuthorOmar Manejwala, M.D., is the senior vice president and chief medical officer of Catasys in Los Angeles, California, and is the former medical director at Hazelden Foundation. Dr. Manejwala is a transformative public speaker and appears frequently in the national media to address the topic of addiction.