Cynthia Moreno Tuohy - Rein In Your Brain: From Impulsivity to Thoughtful Living in Recovery

Rein In Your Brain

Endorsements for Rein In Your Brain

Rarely do writers reveal such a transparent look into how they personally survived the overwhelming life circumstances that led to the creation of a practical and profound way of healing and change for the rest of us. And its for everyonefrom the professional counselor or educator to the shattered person recovering from addiction and childhood trauma. A must-read for all who have waited for a genuine, real-world application of the valuable truths revealed in brain research.

Jean M. LaCour, Ph.D., founder/CEO of NET Institute, Rise Professional Recovery Coaching

Having been a major advocate in the field of addiction treatment and recovery, Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, and her colleague Victoria Costello, have written an empowering book that allows the reader to take another significant step in their recovery. You will better understand both the behavior and its underpinnings that keep you emotionally and relationally stuck in recovery while being given a plethora of tools to practice that will move you forward. Congratulations to the authors for offering a major contribution to our field.

Claudia Black, Ph.D., author of It Will Never Happen to Me

I have rarely come across a book that is as well written, insightful, and filled with practical exercises that can benefit us all. Rein In Your Brain is a must-read for anyone interested in the heart and science of improving their relationships!

Rokelle Lerner, clinical director, InnerPath workshops

Rein In Your Brain is inspirational, informative, and filled with simple yet profound suggestions to change from living a life filled with impulsive, instinctual reactions to one marked by reflective, respectful responding. Cynthia Moreno Tuohy is a recovery thriver, not just a survivor. Her own recovery story that she courageously shares is filled with life and relationship lessons and wisdom. Anyone who has struggled with dysfunctional actions, emotional reactions, and relationships will be able to connect with and learn from the Ten Big Ideas she describes. They offer practical, psychologically sound, and sophisticated advice and strategies that can change lives. The book is filled with helpful self-assessments and suggestions to recover from our automatic, self-defeating, limbic reactions and sense of loss of control with a goal of building a life filled with peace, passion, and purpose that respects both self and other. Though they are easier to read than to incorporate into our lives, Cynthias Ten Big Ideas offer wonderful ways to support recovery and wellness.

Dr. Carlo DiClemente, ABPP, Presidential Research Professor of Psychology at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and cocreator of the transtheoretical (stages of change) model

Rein In Your Brain

From Impulsivity to

Thoughtful Living in Recovery

Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II,

with Victoria Costello

Hazelden Publishing

Center City, Minnesota 55012

800-328-9000
hazelden.org/bookstore

2014 by Cynthia Moreno Tuohy

All rights reserved. Published 2014.

No part of this publication, either print or electronic, may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the express written permission of the publisher. Failure to comply with these terms may expose you to legal action and damages for copyright infringement.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Tuohy, Cynthia Moreno.

Rein in your brain : from impulsivity tothoughtful living in recovery / Cynthia Moreno Tuohy and VictoriaCostello.

1 online resource.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN 978-1-61649-503-9 (epub) -- ISBN 978-1-61649-467-4 (paperback)

1. Substance abuse--Treatment. 2. Addicts--Rehabilitation. 3. Addicts--Psychology. I. Costello, Victoria. II. Title.

HV4998

616.86'03--dc23

2014009998

Editors note

The names, details, and circumstances may have been changed to protect the privacy of those mentioned in this publication.

This publication is not intended as a substitute for the advice of health care professionals.

Alcoholics Anonymous and AA are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Cover design: Theresa Jaeger Gedig

To my children, Rudy Moreno and Chelsea Mikel, who evidenced the change in our family and are amazing adults whom I love and respect. My children have grown up influenced by the Big Ideas in this book, and today they lead a much different life of wellness in relationships than the generation that birthed them. I am grateful to their fathers for giving me such beautifully spirited children and for teaching me lessons that assisted my growth, both personally and professionally.

To my current husband, Christopher Tuohy, who has been a cheerleader as the work on this book was growing and changing, just as in the seasons that it took to write, through the sun, rain, and snow.

Whatever games are played with us, we must play no games with ourselves, but deal in our privacy with the last honesty and truth.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Contents

Today, and every day, I am deeply grateful to my family of origin and the life given to me, the lessons learned and relearned, and the passion in my inner being, my soul, and my heart to work with individuals and families yet to be in recovery, which resulted from my life experiences. Im also grateful for and honored by the clients who have given me the opportunity to work with them, some now in almost thirty years of recovery and others working to achieve that first beginning of recovery. Im always and in all ways reminded how insidious the diseases of addiction are, how powerful the recovery process is, and of the synergy of people loving people to take those first and ongoing steps in the process of change.

Addiction recovery is a lifelong process. Trauma recovery is also a lifelong process. We all are in recovery from somethingjust living in this fast-paced world of get it done, do it well, be something or someone brings huge stress to the persons we are inside the shell we wear daily. This book is meant to bring hopehope for recovery in addiction, trauma, life! Without hope, there is no light to recovery.

There are thousands of addiction counselors, educators, and other professionals whom I have had the extreme pleasure to work with in some capacity. They are my heroes and colleaguesI treasure them. Many addiction counselors and other helping counselors have been trained in the Rein In Your Brain concepts and life patterns of change. They are in communities around the globe, ready to assist you in your growth and change process. At NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, we train and support counselors to use these tools to serve others. These counselors carry the hope of recovery and the belief that change is possible. Please connect with them when you need more professional support and guidance. They are earth angels!

My colleagues at NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, our executive committee, and leadership have given me a place to grow and belong for more than thirty years. They have become my extended family and support group. It is important for all of us to find an environment that will nurture us and help us developand for many of you that will be your church, temple, mosque, tribe, Twelve Step group, and other support groups. It is important to lean toward those with whom you can connect and grow. My prayer is that you find this connection if you have not already.