Note: Treatment Talk is giving away a free copy of Grace Lost and Found. You must be a subscriber and a Treatment Talk Facebook Fan to win. Leave a comment and you may be the lucky winner.
1. Please introduce yourself to the readers who don’t know you.
I have over 35 years of experience in the field of addiction treatment and related issues, counseling individuals, couples and families via telephone and office. I am the author of Grace Lost and Found: From Addictions and Compulsions to Satisfaction and Serenity. I am a national speaker, and also taught in universities for 29 years. I have a Master’s degree in psychology and am a registered addiction specialist. You can visit my website at www.marycookma.com for further information.
2. What inspired you to write the book, “Grace, Lost and Found?”
I have always been very curious about the nature of life on earth, humanity and God. As a child, I created stories and dialog in my mind. Later I wrote and published poems, stories, essays, and articles, and contributed to others’ books. In my adult career as a Professor and speaker, people urged me to write a book. Grace Lost and Found is likely the first of many books.
3. What do you hope people gain from reading your book?
I want people to get excited about the unlimited possibilities within them and their life. I want them to experience how identifying, working through and transforming negative habits allows them to see their true nature. This work takes us out of autopilot and gives us a deeper, holistic view of who we are and our spiritual destiny.
4. At this stage, what are the three most important things you’ve learned about addiction and/or compulsions?
The quality, clarity, and depth of engagement with addicts is critical, in order to assist them in treatment. Addicts typically have a wounded child within them and a defensive system which includes mind altering substances to numb and distract them from pain, and produce a temporary artificial euphoria. It’s important to suspend judgment while listening and observing clients, so that we can understand the nature of their problems and solutions.
We can help clients to identify defenses, false beliefs, and adaptations to trauma and other stress, which created a false self and vulnerability to addictions. We can create a compassionate climate for conscious awareness and discussion of hidden wounds, so that addicts can learn to relinquish the negative energies and internalize healthy ideas, feelings, communication and actions, which allow them to heal.
We can assist clients in identifying something that demonstrates pure, wholesome, unselfish love, given or received, and build on this to foster re-connection to a conscious active relationship with a healthy, loving Higher Power. Addiction constricts life and our sense of self. It disconnects us from higher truth and authentic bonding with self, others, God, and life. Reuniting with spiritual love ignites the true self and creates expansion for all that God created us and our lives to be.
Additionally, this is work that all of us can do, as we all have a tendency to attach ourselves and over-empower unhealthy habits of thought, feelings and behaviors. This then restricts us from our full human and spiritual potential.
5. What advice do you have for parents of drug addicts/alcoholics who are just coming to terms with the diagnosis or suspicion of their son or daughter’s substance abuse?
Be a positive example of what you hope for your loved ones. Seek education, support, personal examination and growth for yourself, and strengthen your spiritual practices. Identify the assets and liabilities of your kids. Spend some positive, quality time with them and listen, to understand them better. Provide positive bonding and enriching opportunities, and set reasonable boundaries, supervision and firm consequences for them. Learn about and make use of accurate drug testing methods. Research treatment options and make this a part of consequences for addictive behavior. If addictions or compulsions run in the family, educate yourself and them about this.
6. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Spending time in nature, interacting with family, friends and animals, practicing Sundo yoga, and photography.
If you enjoyed this post, consider a free email subscription and receive my ebook, “Embrace the New Life.”Connect with me on twitter or on Facebook. Join the discussion and leave your thoughts in comments. You may win a free copy of Grace Lost and Found.
WE HAVE A WINNER: I’m very happy to announce that Lisa Fredericksen won a copy of Grace Lost and Found. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your thoughtful comments.
Beyond Addiction:
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Hi Cathy & Mary,
Thank you for sharing some of Mary’s story. Transforming negatives habits in our Life is a major part of what I do In my daily Life. Whether it be addictions or generally poor habit forming, getting a better angle on the positive things in Life is such an eye opener. Mary mentioned that addiction constricts Life……which is a shame. The boundaries and possibilities are endless with a positive outlook. Thank you
be good to yourselves
David
David Stevens recently posted..Living Life Today – Excuses don’t cut it
Hi David,
Addiction does constrict life, I think Mary said it beautifully. Life is stalled for the addict and the positive aspects in life are just out of their reach. Hopefully when the addict seeks recovery, their world will open up for them again. Thanks so much for your comment.
Cathy recently posted..Grace Lost and Found: An Interview with Mary Cook
Thank you, Cathy, for sharing your interview with Mary. I especially enjoyed her comment with regards to her book, “I want them to experience how identifying, working through and transforming negative habits allows them to see their true nature.” It’s so true!
Lisa Frederiksen – BreakingTheCycles.com recently posted..How Alcohol and Other Drugs of Addiction Hijack the Brain
Hi Lisa,
Her book is really wonderful, and I highly recommend it. I like that comment as well, and believe until we go through the transformation process, we don’t see the damage that the negative habits is causing. to ourselves as well as family members and friends.Thanks for your comment.
Cathy recently posted..Grace Lost and Found: An Interview with Mary Cook
Hi Cathy & Mary,
Wow Mary, you have a ton of credentials and I am looking forward to reading your book. I am like you about being curious about life, people, and God. So many mysteries to unravel and so little time.
Justin | Personal Growth recently posted..Taking Responsibility for Yourself and Choices
Hi Justin,
You would enjoy Mary’s book. Thanks for your comment.
Cathy recently posted..Grace Lost and Found: An Interview with Mary Cook
Hi Mary and Cathy,
This is a wonderful interview. Mary you sure are passionate about your work! I agree non-judgment and leading by example are two ways we can best help others no matter who they are.
Hi Tess,
So true. Leading by example is excellent as opposed to trying to fix someone else. Mary has many wonderful points in her book and I was so happy to be able to share the interview. Thanks for you comment.
Cathy recently posted..Grace Lost and Found: An Interview with Mary Cook
Hey there,
So here I am today with the “Grace once lost and now by the grace of Higher power, found”…Hope, faith, transformation in all aspects of oneself life, reconnecting with scared lost inner girl, with the loved ones affected with my addiction, with the society, learning who I truly am, yep, there are many false me, much harm has still yet to be repaired, courage, honesty, and of course willingness, and then change, and pain, and sending love to numb parts ,process of awakening all the repressed unpleasant scary past, and awakening, reborning, so much, and the thiny moment of the serenity I’ve finally experienced, humble and sacred, and then they come, much more often, what a trip… And of course for an addict like me, there is much more to it. Would be value for my recovery to hear view of a person with so many experience. Thank you Cathy&Mary, lots of Love, Keep on inspiring, GBU.
I like your yoga approach to the cycle of recovery. I noticed to many times over and over again that ER doctors would unknowingly help people to relapse simply because thats how the system works. I got so tired of this that I created a ID tag that helps to stop the cycle with hospitals that are working with us. I love the idea of putting actions with the words and in this way this site really gets a thumbs up from me. I want people to know that they do have some power and that it is through work and support that we gain progress over an addiction that can keep us locked up even when we look freed to others. Like I told one person that asked me if I had any drugs that I wanted to turn in during the pill take back day- I said “any addict that has narcotic pills to turn in is already way ahead of you and probably not of this earth.” Addicts think differently and must act in accordance.