Woman of Substances: A Journey into Addiction and Treatment

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This is the story of Emma Harte, a poverty ridden young woman employed by a wealthy family, who eventually works her way to the top of a rich and powerful business empire. Her personal disappointments, hardships, loves and losses all play a role in solidifying Emma’s fortitude, as her instincts for human nature develops, helping her to become a wizened, formidable businesswoman. She lives in New York City with her husband, television producer Robert Bradford, to whom all her novels are dedicated. That’s why the first sign on our list is that you know your core values and you govern your life by them. Shortly after reading this I read a news article telling about the life of Estee Lauder and the rise of her eponymous cosmetics empire. It was so similar to Emma Harte's story I told my mother, a devotee of all things Estee Lauder, and she recommended A Woman of Independent Means, which I devoured and it was an equally wonderful novel which also changed my life. I believe I recommended both novels to my newly married daughter at the time.

Woman of Substances also examines the influence of cultural messaging, peer pressure, temperament, genetics, and other factors that may shape an individual's relationship with drugs and alcohol. My favorite part was when she talked about her sobriety because she is very real about it. Sobriety isn't sunshine and rainbows and she was very honest in her portrayal. I especially loved how she went through every week her first year of sobriety and how she was feeling. I also had to laugh during the "a word from my sponsor" part because I could relate to that. They are happy to guide from the front, rather than follow from behind like sheep. 11. You think before you speak I strongly recommend this book to anyone working with women who have a history of trauma, and/or substance misuse issues, or anyone who loves/loved someone going through that, or if you are that person yourself.

1. You’ve got a strong moral compass

In the six months before she finally quit alcohol for good, journalist and author Jenny Valentish did everything she could to not stop drinking. Another interesting thing I learned was that many people who get clean and sober die because of their cigarette smoking. Being a cigarette smoker won’t get your children taken away from you, and you won’t get thrown in jail, detox, or the hospital, and you won’t get fired, so many addicts increase their smoking when they give up alcohol and other drugs.

Engages readers with storytelling while presenting scientific findings and theories in a way that is accessible to a broad audience' Broadsheet. A fabulous read. Raw, revealing, at times heartbreaking, but searingly honest and clearly aimed to support anyone who is wondering if they will ever recover from addiction. Yes, says Jenny, you can: just don't expect unicorns to visit immediately. Beautifully written, it prompts a broader discussion around the role women's (little-discussed) hormones can play in one's ‘addiction and recovery story’, and how rarely this has been considered when it comes to models of recovery. Jenny tells a truly hopeful story about one woman who has come to terms with who she is. She looks the beast in the eyes. Well done.’ —Clare Bowditch, Valentish mixes her own careening story with some truly fabulous research. This book taught me things I wasn’t expecting about the landscape of substance use.’ —Kate Holden Mir’s piece was also published in The Guardian which made it go viral. Her account gives an excellent insight into family relationships and social expectations and the dilemmas faced by Muslim immigrants growing up in the West. During our meeting, she mentions, in passing, that she decided to write that piece because she thought it was important that these things be talked about, even though she was concerned how it might affect her parents.Woman of Substanceswill resonate with women readers who have never really questioned the role that patriarchy has played in their drinking habits.’ —Katherine Gillespie, Vice Emma's life goes on. Her children marry and have children of their own: Edwina marries Lord Jeremy Standish and has a son Anthony; Kit has a daughter Sarah; Robin has a son Jonathan; Elizabeth marries repeatedly, resulting in son Alexander, daughter Emily, and twins Amanda and Francesca; Daisy marries David Amory and has two children, Philip and Paula. And if there’s one thing a woman of substance wants in her life, it’s to blossom into a better version of herself. 6. You’re smart in so many ways