Adam B. Hill - Long Walk Out of the Woods: A Physician’s Story of Addiction, Depression, Hope, and Recovery

In the daunting face of a rising epidemic of depression, addiction, and suicide, Dr Hills personal story emerges as a touchstone of essential wisdom in how to address such hardships, energized by compassionate healing. This book is a wakeup call, not only for the medical profession, but for our culture at large. Such profound healing indeed offers great hope, and is best achieved through the sage and honest application of empathy and compassion based on our shared nature and purpose.

Eben Alexander, MD

Neurosurgeon and bestselling author of Living in a Mindful Universe and Proof of Heaven

Dr. Adam Hill tells a powerfully compelling narrative of a riveting journey, uniquely his and yet with universal insights shared by all healers who have sufferedand isnt that all of us? The reader is given a window into the inner world of vulnerability, self-doubt, and struggle, juxtaposed with the external facade of toughness that can erode our greatest toolsempathy for others and compassion for our own imperfections. Exposing the stigmatizing and illogical aspects of the culture of medicine when it comes to caring for our own, this book has the power to transform an already shifting culture and should be required reading for all professionals in the medical field.

Christine Moutier, MD

Chief Medical Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

I did not need to read this book to be able to describe the incredible integrity and merits of Dr. Adam Hill. Ive had the honor of working with him on some very difficult cases over the years. Reading the book, however, gives one the insight necessary to gain an understanding of the suffering Adam endured in a way that, hopefully, will help others in the same boat. In reading his words, he is both the fragile man in the book and the amazing man that he has become in recovery. His transparency and integrity will undoubtedly help reduce fear associated with being honest. His commitment to reduce stigma and embrace being a flawed human being as we all are is an example for us all. Thank you, Adam, for the courage and the reminder!

Jim Ryser, MA, LMHC, LCAC, TTS

Chronic Pain and Addiction Specialist Former Arista Records solo artist and guitarist for John Mellencamp

Although about addiction and depression, this is a hope-filled book that speaks directly to those overworked, over-committed, and burned out. Dr. Hill is the prototypical wounded healer whose life story exemplifies that in helping others reciprocal healing occurs. For those feeling helpless and hopeless, this book can be life-saving.

Joseph Maroon, MD

Professor of Neurosurgery and Heindl Scholar in Neuroscience University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Author of Square One: The Secret to a Balanced Life

Theres no healing without connection, no matter how much we want it to be otherwise. This is the very honest, unadorned story of a young man who wants to be a doctor without quite knowing why and who cracks up on the rocks of self-will, depression, and addiction. He very nearly drowns, but happily for him, for his patients, and the rest of us, he does not. He survives and learns how to use his suffering for his own and the greater good, and for more connection, less isolation, and more healing. Thank you, Adam.

Mark Vonnegut, MD

Adam Hill has given us an extraordinary gift. Yes, Dr. Hill is a natural storyteller and the writing is beautiful. Yes, the observations he makes about the isolation of physicians struggling in a system that despises weakness are astonishing and desperately needed. And yes, his suggestions for transforming the culture of medicine, which has grown so ill, are among the wisest and most insightful words on the topic I have read in a decade. These are all gifts, and we should be deeply grateful to him. But the truly extraordinary gift he has given us is the gift of his own honesty and vulnerability. He has offered a hope that heals to those of us who have struggled with depression, addiction, anxiety, or the lonely fear that so many of us experience in the journey called becoming a doctor. By opening himself to us, he has shown us a way out of the woods. I wish every medical student, resident, and attending physician in the country had a copy of this extraordinary book.

Raymond Barfield, MD, PhD

Professor of Pediatrics and Christian Philosophy, Duke University

Long Walk Out of the Woods is a memoir of addiction and redemption told with self-awareness, humility, and candor. Dr. Hill exposes the professional obstacles that doctors experience when they seek help for depression and substance use.

Dr. Judy Melinek

Coauthor of Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner

Stigma is a formidable barrier to mental healthcare. Consequently, despite the availability of effective treatment, many people with mental health difficulties, especially physicians, continue to suffer in silence. Dr. Adam Hills candid and courageous account of his lived experience as a doctor who recovered from a mental health condition is a watershed moment in medicine and will undoubtedly help to combat stigma and discrimination and break down the barriers to mental healthcare for those who urgently need it. Long Walk Out of the Woods traces Dr. Hills inspirational recovery journey. His moving story will make you cry tears of joy and sorrow and will provide you with a precious insight into the heart and mind of an extraordinary man.

Ahmed Hankir, MD

Royal College of Psychiatrists award-winning doctor and author of The Wounded Healer

A PHYSICIANS STORY OF ADDICTION, DEPRESSION, HOPE, AND RECOVERY

ADAM B. HILL

Central Recovery Press (CRP) is committed to publishing exceptional materials addressing addiction treatment, recovery, and behavioral healthcare topics.

For more information, visit www.centralrecoverypress.com.

2019 by Adam B. Hill

All rights reserved. Published 2019. Printed in the United States of America.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

Publisher: Central Recovery Press

3321 N. Buffalo Drive

Las Vegas, NV 89129

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Hill, Adam B., author.

Title: Long walk out of the woods : a physicians story of addiction, depression, hope, and recovery / Adam B. Hill.

Description: Las Vegas : Central Recovery Press, 2019.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019026053 (print) | LCCN 2019026054 (ebook) | ISBN 9781949481228 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781949481235 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Hill, Adam B.--Mental health. | Physicians--United States--Biography. | Recovering alcoholics--United States--Biography. | Physicians--Mental health. | Burn out (Psychology)

Classification: LCC RC451.4.P5 H55 2019 (print) | LCC RC451.4.P5 (ebook) | DDC 610.92 [B]--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019026053

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019026054