Writers on the Edge: 22 Writers Speak about Addiction and Dependency

Recently, I read a very touching book called Writers on the Edge: 22 Writers Speak About Addiction and Dependency by Diana M Raab. What made it so touching was that it shared the personal stories of people who either suffered from some kind of addiction or had to deal with someone who did. As you may know, addiction is something that millions of people across the world suffer from. Many people think that there is no way that they could ever become an addict, but that is quit untrue. If you take the time to read this memorable book, you will see that through the journey of these authors. This book includes stories and poems from people who have dealt with this harsh struggle. One cannot know what it is like to be an addict or to deal with an addict unless they actually have. Reading this book opened my eyes and let me see just how hard the world can be. A lot of people like to stereotype the word “addict” with drugs and alcohol. Yes, these can be a part of being an addict, but there are also other things that one can become addicted to. When reading this book, you really get an insight on that. You see that, not only can you be addicted to common things such as drugs and alcohol, but you can also become addicted to nontraditional things such as food and sex. You also learn just how much these people have had to struggle, and how their whole lives get turned inside out. One of the things that really called out to me was that the stories were from people who actually experienced this first hand, instead of doctors who may have just read about it. I think that this makes the book great because it truly reaches out to people and gets them to open their eyes up to reality. Another thing that really caught my attention was the stories that were told by the people who faced their problems in the 50s and 60s. As we all know, back then people weren’t as accepting to other people’s personal life and the problems they faced. Oftentimes, people had to face their problems which were not as socially acceptable all alone. Also, a lot of people think that to be an addict you have to have a rough life or something along those lines. That is VERY untrue. Even the slightest change in one’s life can cause one to become and addict. Or, the person may want to experiment. Trying something like drugs, just out of pure curiosity, could also lead to addiction in many cases. So, as you see, addicts have a very rough life. Even after they are recovering, they face the constant struggle to remain in control every moment; even if they have been in recovery for many years. This book really shines a light on all the struggles that addicts, and people dealing with them, have to go through. It is a wonderful book and I would advise anyone who faces these types of struggles to read it.

Writers on the Edge tells 22 real-life stories from addiction to depression. This book shows the struggles these writers had with their inner demons in an organic form that is eye-opening, and heartbreaking at times. Whether the addiction is love, alcohol, sex, food, or drugs, these stories and poems take you through the highs and lows that these writers felt as they go through the addiction. You read about how they tried to hide the addiction, keeping their dirty secret from everyone they love. That is until everything comes crashing down around them, and they finally hit rock-bottom. At the bottom, most feeling it almost impossible to ever get well, you journey down the path to recovery with these writers. The stories of depression not only take you through the journey, but shows you how difficult it really is to live with depression especially when the people around you don't understand why. These brave writers fought their way from being depressed, and at times suicidal, to finding their reason to not only live but love the life they have been given. Personally, I always thought of writers as these perfect people with fabulous lives. But after reading Writers on the Edge, I now know that addiction and depression can happen to anyone no matter who you are. But most importantly, it shows you that you can get help and you can recover, no matter who you are or how bad it may be. Recovery is possible, for anyone.

As an addict and alcoholic in recovery, I found this book inspiring, touching, and I can relate to pretty much every piece in it in some way. If you aren't addicted to anything and want to understand addiction, this book may give you some insight, as I can see that the writing in it is all geared toward the layperson just as much as it is to the addicts like myself.