Guest Post - Vivian Eisenecher

I am thrilled, beyond words, to bring you a wonderful guest post by Vivian Eisenecher, author of Recovering Me, Discovering Joy: Uplifting Wisdom for Everyday Greatness. I am deeply thankful to have Vivian take the time to write such a wonderful and inspiring post, to share with everyone. If you have not seen or read her book, be sure to check it out!

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I am delighted to blog today at Café of Dreams, such a warm, cozy place for book lovers and dream weavers. As I contemplate my lifelong dreams, I can honestly say that not only are all of mine coming true but there are extraordinary blessings in my life that I never, ever envisaged nor anticipated. Fifteen years ago I had destroyed every dimension of my life and the chance of any future happiness seemed less and less likely as I continued my downward spiral. But what I’ve found again and again during my lifetime, is that all my setbacks (no matter how miserable and no matter how major) have all just been the outer brown paper wrapping for many joyful surprises and incredible successes.

Ever since I can remember, I had suffered from a chronic low-grade depression called dysthymia. Since it doesn’t have the blatant symptoms of major depression (sleeping and eating disorders, etc.), my dysthymia went undiagnosed for many, many years. Along with a life time filled with despair, I also suffered from social anxiety (social phobia). This, too, went undiagnosed partly because it wasn’t even recognized as a mental disorder until the 1990’s. I chose alcohol as a solution for my anxiety and for my depression. It was a quick and reliable resource but in the end a stunningly stupid decision. But this wonderful elixir worked so beautifully for so long that I found myself seeking its solace more and more until it had an incredibly destructive hold on me.

It had become my God.

For years, I couldn’t imagine living without the daily relief alcohol afforded me—even when I knew it was ruining my life! After years of incomprehensible demoralization caused my repeated relapses and my resistance to recovery, I realized I had to stop drinking or I was going to die. And so I begrudgingly stopped, not knowing that a much better life was about to unfold before me.

As I emerged from the dark bottom of my illness, I slowly gathered enough clarity of thought to begin to understand the complexity of my substance abuse. My obsession and compulsion to drink has been lifted because my dysthymia and social anxiety have finally being effectively treated.

In my life I have been blown about and tossed by some devastating winds, but God is bigger than my problems and God is bigger than my past. In Recovering Me, Discovering Me, I talk about my miraculous recovery from all my disorders. I have recovered so that I can pave a smoother path for others. In Recovering Me, there are terrific takeaways for everybody for a battle is a battle be it the bottle, lust, greed, food or any other ruinous behavior.

I want to tell everybody out there today if you are not feeling quite right, if you think you should be feeling better than you do, then it’s important for you to seek professional help. Just go out and talk to someone and get their opinion. It won’t hurt a thing and it might just end up saving your life. There are tremendous resources for help and there are so many effective treatments today that there’s no reason anyone should suffer (like I did for so long) from almost any mental or behavioral disorder.

When my depression and anxiety were finally successfully treated, it was as if a switch had been flipped. A beautiful world and a beautiful life unfolded before me.

Please read Recovering Me, Discovering Joy for more of my uplifting wisdom which has only been gleaned by trudging the road of happy destiny. God bless you and yours…

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A bit about the author:

Author of Recovering Me, Discovering Joy / Uplifting Wisdom for Everyday Greatness, Vivian Eisenecher has been an inspirational speaker, mentor and writer since 1996. Using her experience, strength and hope, she is committed to helping educate and enlighten the general public about the puzzling aspects of the addiction/recovery process and the strong correlation between anxiety, depression and alcoholism. Vivian holds a marketing degree in Business Administration (magna cum laude). Her other published works include articles for The Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Woman’s World, Viewpoint, and JUST FINE: Unmasking Depression and Anxiety Disorders (due out in 2009). She is featured on the 2009 Faces of Recovery Calendar and is a Board of Director for A New Path (Parents for Addiction Treatment and Healing).

Vivian Eisenecher has been an inspirational speaker, mentor and writer since 1996. Using her experience, strength and hope, she is committed to helping educate and enlighten the general public about the puzzling aspects of the addiction/recovery process and the strong correlation between anxiety, depression and alcoholism. With her husband in recovery from a massive stroke since 1993 and her own recovery from three life-threatening diseases, she felt compelled to share with others important lessons she’s been able to learn only in recovery. Recovering Me, Discovering Joy addresses both her and her husband’s respective struggles as they climbed from the trenches of despair to discover new and ever-unfolding joy. Her progress in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual areas of her life has led her to better understand the recovery process, its limitlessness and life in general.

She holds a marketing degree in Business Administration (magna cum laude), and a certificate in Gerontology. Her previously published works include articles for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Woman’s World, Viewpoint, JUST FINE: Unmasking Depression and Anxiety Disorders(due for release in 2009).She has been a regular speaker at The McDonald Center for over twelve years and has also given talks at Pamarro and The Aurora Behavioral Institute among others. She is involved with Junior Achievement, the San Diego Heart Walk, the 2005 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk and has been featured in Momentum magazine. Her memberships include NCHIC (a speaker’s organization for hospitals and institutions), Publishers & Writers of San Diego (PWSD), and PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association.

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Click here to visit the site for Recovering Me, Discovering Joy.

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Product Description:

Recovering Me, Discovering Joy is a stunningly honest book of creative non-fiction about how setbacks can be inspirational and the positive nature of life s problems. The book is based on the notion that pain is inevitable but suffering is optional depending on the choices we make during difficult times. It is about the journey to know oneself and covers issues such as depression, social phobia, and alcoholism which Vivian has struggled with but continues to conquer. This book raises awareness about the strong correlation between chronic low-grade depression (dysthymia), social anxiety and alcoholism. Social anxiety is the third leading mental illness in the United States today yet little is written about it, leaving it misunderstood. Social anxiety is an overlooked disorder, often left undiagnosed and can lead to alcoholism. With irresistible honesty, Vivian relates how she could not achieve lasting sobriety until her depression and social phobia were treated. The segment of the population 85 and over is the fastest growing demographic group in the United States today. Recovery becomes more difficult as our bodies age and Vivian discusses positive ways to navigate the aging process. Recovering Me, Discovering Joy offers creative ways to live better even in our advancing years. By using stories from people in recovery, examples of her husband s recovery from a massive stroke and other personal reflections, Vivian emphasizes how faith can enrich our daily lives. By paraphrasing the wit and wisdom of many, Recovering Me, Discovering Joy suggests ways to improve one s life, make it purposeful while enjoying the journey. Brimming with levity, this captivating book demonstrates that by having a life plan and by continual reference and adherence to it, we can live a more meaningful life, one filled with joy. Recovering Me, Discovering Joy is unique in that it addresses difficult subjects with a sense of humor and an uplifting spirit of gratitude. It offers a fresh look at enduring truths which we all tend to forget in our day-to-day fast-paced lives. Alcoholism continues to be the scourge of society. Since the 1960 s, the per capita depression rate has increased ten fold. Today there are effective treatments for social anxiety (a success rate of 90%!) but the majority of cases go undiagnosed. All these diverse yet interconnected issues are addressed and solutions given in this unparalleled book.