CLEAN

Clean: One Woman’s Recovery from Addiction and the Tools that Made a Difference

By Libby Szarka

 

It is estimated by the Canadian Mental Health Association that over 21% of Canadians meet the criteria for addiction. This battle leaves several broken people in its wake. Besides those who fall victim to this disease, there are those who are forced to powerlessly watch their loved ones change into somebody they no longer recognize. No one understands this pain more than me. I was raised by parents who buried their trauma in escapism. My father would find his escape at the bottom of a bottle and my mother would find hers in constantly trying to fix him. My siblings and I grew up watching my parents unresolved issues play out right before our eyes and eventually I replicated these same addictions in my own life. Over the years I lost friends, family, my children, my career, and everything I had ever worked for. It all seemed worth it, until I finally hit my rock bottom.

 

One day, I woke up alone in hazy smoke-filled room with only my addiction for company. That moment hit me like a slap to the face. I kept asking myself “how did I get here and how do I get out?” It took several years, with lots of ups and downs along the way but eventually I did get out. In Clean: One Woman’s Recovery from Addiction and the Tools that Made a Difference, I share how I eventually broke the cycle and managed to remain sober for fifteen years. I share intimate details of my life and the life of my family to show how addiction cycles are created and how they can eventually be broken. My parents and I worked very hard to turn our lives around. If we could do it, anyone can, and in this book, I offer the reader the tools they need to make this change happen.

 

The book is divided into two parts: Addiction and Clean. The first part is a memoir style account of my own personal journey with addiction as it manifested in my grandparents, parents, and eventually myself. I shed light on the cycle of addiction, its destructive patterns, and the immense challenges faced when attempting to break free from its grip.

 

In the second part, I share a step-by-step recovery guide that readers can use to help themselves or a loved one overcome an addiction. I present a vast array of evidence-based recovery tools which helped me on my own journey and also during the last 14 years of my practice in the mental health and addiction field. I draw from several influences including the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 step model, the Ho'oponopono forgiveness practice, Law of Attraction, and the JJ Flizzannes Empowerment Strategy. Through these practices, I found an easier and softer way to work through recovery that I am excited to now share with readers.

 

The book also delves into the significance of self-reflection, self-compassion, and the development of healthy coping mechanisms in maintaining long-term sobriety. It explores the process of rebuilding relationships, repairing past damage, and cultivating a support system that encourages growth and accountability.

 

While Clean acknowledges the challenges and setbacks often encountered on the road to recovery, it offers hope and encouragement, highlighting inspiring stories of triumph over addiction. It provides valuable insights into relapse prevention, stress management, and the cultivation of a meaningful and purpose-driven life beyond addiction.

 

There is a gap in modern treatment systems between detox and the treatment itself due to long waitlists. People fall between the cracks never to recover. This book is designed to help fill that gap while those in recovery wait to receive the proper care they need, ideally readers between the ages of 30-50 who have struggled with addiction. This book is also geared towards anyone loves, or loved, someone who struggles with addiction and are searching for a way to support them. It is also helpful for those in currently in recovery and addiction support workers who would like to gain a deeper insight into the challenges their clients face.

 

Clean: One Woman’s Recovery from Addiction and the Tools that Made a Difference is an honest, vulnerable, and raw look at the journey of addiction recovery. I use an accessible stream of consciousness writing style balanced with an informed yet innocent and sometimes abruptly funny tone to draw the reader into my experience. At its core, this is a story full of inspiration, bravery, and heart that people will be supported and changed by. By combining personal narratives, practical strategies, and expert guidance, this book offers a beacon of hope and guidance, empowering readers to embark on their own transformative journey towards a life of freedom, healing, and lasting recovery.

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