The Lost Years: A Captivating Story of Addiction and Recovery

I was stunned by the depth of her denial.  She truly believed that somehow this was all going to pass and everything would be okay.  She was so wrong.  I was worn out and ready to get on with my life, even if she was not. ~  Constance Curry

Have you read The Lost Years: Surviving a Mother and Daughter’s Worst Nightmare by Kristina Wandzilak and Constance Curry?

This is a book I would definitely recommend if you are struggling with addiction in your family. 

A friend heard Kristina speak, and recommended the book to me.  This is not a book of advice about the disease of addiction, but rather tells Kristina’s innermost struggle with the pain of substance use for not only her but her family as well.

The Lost  Years is one of the most engaging books that I’ve read on the topic. Kristina takes you from her teen years of experimenting with her father’s alcohol to running across fields during winter in the middle of nowhere to escape treatment.

The most painful part of street life is the loss of dignity, and that sends people over the edge. Dignity is the glue that holds the mind, body, and spirit together, and once that is gone, the person breaks apart, held together only by skin. Streetlife corrodes the decency that lines the soul of every wakeful human.

The Story

The story is a page-turner. I couldn’t put it down.

You yearn to find out more, as you feel the depth of despair that Kristina’s family endured.  This is a book that can be read several times, and the reader gets a little more out of it, each time. This is a memoir that can help you feel less isolated. It can move you through the stigma and shame. By reading stories about addiction and recovery, you realize you are not alone.

Constance, Kristina’s mother, had a strong approach with her daughter. She is truly a role model for any mother or father dealing with this situation in their family.

Helping Others

Kristina has gone on to use her experience as a person in long-term recovery to help others in this devastating situation. She is now an addiction counselor, and a nationally recognized interventionist, with her own company, Full Circle Intervention.

You may also have seen Kristina as the host of “Addicted,” on TLC. Kristina has been a role model for many and the beacon of hope.

If Kristina, who was on the verge of death in a homeless shelter, can turn her life around, hope is out there for your child as well.

Do you have a book you can recommend on the subject of addiction?  Let me know in the comments. If you liked this post, please share it on social media. Thank you!