Sarah Allen Benton
Aired: January 4, 2010– 11 am PST
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TITLE: UNDERSTANDING THE HIGH FUNCTIONING ALCOHOLIC
SPECIAL GUEST: Sarah Allen Benton
http://www.highfunctioningalcoholic.com
Challenges the stereotype of the “skid-row” alcoholic Sarah Allen Benton and Allen lift the veil on alcoholics who believe they can hide behind their external successes. Benton’s book “Understanding the High Functioning Alcoholic” is intended to inform the audience that being successful professionally or personally and being an alcoholic are not mutually exclusive.
Alcoholism may manifest differently in individuals, but all alcoholics have the same disease. Research, interviews and the author’s personal experiences as both a high-functioning alcoholic (HFA) and professional experience as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) are integrated into this comprehensive work. The first part of the book is comprised of chapters describing characteristics, behavior patterns and experiences of HFAs throughout highschool, college, graduate school and as professionals. Through the use of journal entries and reflective pieces at the end of each chapter, the author offers her first-hand perspectives of the thought distortions that this disease created within her own alcoholic mind.
The second part of the book focuses on recovery and the obstacles that HFAs and all alcoholics face in terms of getting treatment. These include transcending the powerful levels of denial that exist within our society. The Twelve Steps of recovery are examined as well as the difficulties that HFAs face when engaging in this recovery process. Finally, there is an exploration of the actions that sober HFAs find necessary not only to get sober—but to maintain long-term sobriety and find peace and spirituality within their lives.
