Rebalancing the Addictive Mind: Beating Addiction with Exercise and Nutrition

"Rebalancing The Addictive Mind" is a very impressive book on many levels. The short review is: this is an excellent book with five star rating for readability, writing, content and relevance to everyone, not just recovering addicts and counselors. After citing the effects on the biology of the brain of both 'using' and exercising, the author presents an easy to follow life regime of exercise and nutrition. She explains in understandable terms the rationale of why the brain and body demand each step. Ms Poerio also introduces the idea of "small wins". Take a step, no matter how small, to start the road to accomplishment. Each step, or "win" eventually brings you to the goal. This idea is certainly applicable not only to recovery but life in general. From the riveting first chapter to the relevant anecdotes, to slight hints of humor, one admires the author for coming from her worst nightmare to a successful place where her intent is to help those facing the same the same type of difficulty. This is not someone theorizing -- this is someone who has 'walked the walk'. That circumstance encourages one to believe he or she can do the same with hard work and persistence. Hers is an admirable journey and choice of endeavor. There is one phrase from the book that stays in my mind: "Exercise and movement are critical to healing and maintaining a healthy brain and body."

The author has a gift for deciphering advanced scientific research and restating it in terms that make sense to a layman reader such as myself. She achieves this in three areas, explaining addiction, components of a sustainable, healthy diet, and the benefits of moderate exercise. She stresses many times that the diet and exercise required to beat addiction are attainable by everyone, even if the adjustment takes shape in multiple steps over a long period of time.The author is uniquely qualified to deliver a message that makes sense to recovering addicts (of any kind: food, drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling). Not only has she done exhaustive research, but she has survived all of the stages of recovery herself, and offers many personal anecdotes to support her statements. Furthermore, she has become a licensed conselor and trainer during her recovery, and through her professional work has collected a vast array of anonymous stories which provide salient examples of how to do and how not to do things during recovery. It would be difficult to read the book without identifying with at least a few of these examples.

I cried through the first chapter of this book as Rochelle Poerio told her story, because it told my story, too. I cried remembering the pain and loneliness, just as Poerio described. It’s a pain to which all recovering addicts can relate.In the chapters that follow, Poerio provides insight about lasting recovery and guidance to help us deal with the underlying issues that caused many of us to become addicts in the first place.I learned in my recovery that many are called but few are chosen, and I’m grateful to be one of the “chosen,” able to tell my story to others in the hopes of helping them become free. I’m grateful that Rochelle Poerio told hers, too, in such a moving and meaningful way.Today, I’ve got five years’ sobriety, but I want to improve my overall physical and mental health, too, to help me live better and stay sober. This book is just what I needed to get motivated.

There is a very compelling and fascinating story told in this book and there is a lot of excellent information about the science behind how our bodies and minds process chemicals which is great. Beyond that aspect of this excellent book it is just a good read. Substance abuse is a rampant problem in our society. It is a problem which most of us have had some experience with either personally or by those closest to us. This proximity to our own lives makes this book a must read so that we may be better equipped to understand those who struggle with substance abuse. There is also a wealth of stories regarding Shelly's personnel experiences coping with her recovery and her work helping others with their recovery. Bravo Miss Poerio!

This book supplements Twelve Step Program literature very well, reinforcing the general teachings of recovery in such programs. However, it brings in the physiological aspects and the importance of exercise and nutrition in recovery that is rarely touched on in most Recovery Programs. I would highly recommend it to anyone trying to overcome addictions and live a healthy lifestyle. Narcotics Anonymous Collection: Basic Text, Sixth Edition; It Works - How and Why; and Just For Today, Revised Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book Trade Edition

Thank you, Rochelle! This is truly a gift to those of us who have a loved one facing addiction. This book offers concrete examples of what can help people stay on the path to recovery, and also gives insights about what people in recovery face. Your candor about your own trials and your success are an inspiration. This book offers hope, understanding, and a method for heading toward health *right now* that is very straightforward. This is a must for anyone touched by addiction.

This book should be read by addicts and those who work with addicts. I was addicted to cigarettes, and I traded smoking for jogging almost 40 years ago. I completely lost the need for smoking by trading that unhealthy habit for a healthy one. It never occurred to me that this could work for abusers of other drugs, but this author has seen much success for helping those hooked on drugs and alcohol using exercise and other simple techniques. I highly recommend it.