Recovering from Being the Child of an Alcoholic

Szifra Birke has written a insightful and tender new book which is just being released. This new work titled Together We Heal: A Real-Life Portrait of Recovery in Group Therapy, takes a unique look at the journey from suffering to healing with the support of others in groups. I have agreed to help get the word out about Szifra’s book because it is very much needed in our sometimes painful family lives. And, I think it is great that she is literally *giving away* a copy from her website, but only for a limited time.

Together We Heal is about how ten people who grew up with alcoholism in their families. If you or someone your know has experienced this trauma, then you know it can be a very painful experience. Her work is not just about the struggle but more about what you can do about it. And, most importantly, her book is truly about the messages of hope regarding how they change their lives for the better. This book is great for anyone who grew up in a “dysfunctional” family and wants to get the recovery and results they deserve.

Szifra has figured out how to do what most people only dream about doing their whole lives – move past a really tough childhood trauma of growing up in an alcoholic family. The most important message is how suffering can be transformed into living a happy, content life with lots of friends, loving family, work that is satisfying and have a great time, too. Healing is possible with the right approach.

Why would she just give away her book Together We Heal? It turns out there are three excellent reasons.

First, even though so many children come from alcoholic and troubled families, the issues that children of alcoholics face have received distressingly little attention since the 1980s, when celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Suzanne Somers and comedian Louis Anderson came forward to discuss their experiences. By giving away a free download of her book during National Children of Alcoholics Week, Szifra hopes not only to push this issue back into the spotlight, but to help all adults with similar issues of shame, guilt and fear of not being good enough to deserve love.

Secondly, she invites us all (without any obligation) to make a token donation to help children of alcoholics–figuring that if she’s willing to give us the book, and we get help from it, we might want to help also. There is no obligation; you get the book first, then have the option to donate if you like. Doing good feels good while helping others with similar struggles.

And lastly, she believes that giving the book away for a short time, and putting it in the hands of selected people who will create success with it, is a way to make a difference. I have to agree with her. And, so because of the good this book will do, I am helping my friend and colleague Szifra Birke promote this important work on recovery in groups.

Regardless, it’s a great deal, and a great book–take a look and learn more at this link on Together We Heal, the book.com

I particularly like how she and her co-author have written such an easy-to-read book; it’s like a novel with ten people sitting in group therapy telling us about themselves. It’s a good read and you can learn more about yourself or someone you love. And if you enjoy this offer as I did, pass it on to your friends, family, clients– let them score a free valuable book and do some good for charity at the same time.

Here’s the link again: Together We Heal, the book.

This is a book about learning to love yourself again, and to let in the love of those around you who deeply value you as a unique person. It’s a journey about coming home to the love you’ve always deserved.

Enjoy the book! I think it will help you and those who read it.

Christopher Lee May
Author of
Making Friends With Angels

Tags: children of alcoholism, fear of not being good enough, guilt, love yourself again, National Children of Alcoholics Week, shame of being the child alcoholic, Szifra Birke, Together We Heal