Date: Fri Oct 4, 2002 9:22 am

Subject: Book recommendation (long post, but ya gotta read!)

I'm halfway through a book that I think should be required reading for everyone, especially those of us who faced down the demons of benzo withdrawal. It's called Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman, PhD. I've never been one for self-help books and pop psychology leaves me cold, but this book really makes sense to me. If withdrawal has left you too unfocused to concentrate on a book, put it aside to read when you feel better.

Seligman says that psychology has primarily focused on dysfunction and ways to treat it, but lately psychologists have begun to study wellness and the ways that people can promote their own mental and emotional health. It's Seligman's contention (shared by many of his colleagues) that while genetic hardwiring is a factor in a person's well-being, it's only one factor among many. His clinical studies have demonstrated that it's possible to improve one's psychological health by focusing less on pleasure (which is transient) and more on satisfaction (which is borne of character and accomplishment, and is therefore longer lasting). He says it's more a matter of character than biology.

Of course the book is far more complicated than that and I'm doing it a disservice by oversimplifying it. But my reason for recommending it is pretty straightforward, and I can state it this way: The strength of character one needs to confront the pain of benzo withdrawal can neither be quantified nor underestimated. This is the greatest challenge I'd ever faced, and my `success' is one of my greatest achievements. I've derived enormous confidence from my ability to rise to this challenge, and that confidence has served me well since I've recovered.

When I was sick I always felt that I'd lost my connection to humanity and I had to carefully observe those around me so I could mimic `normal' human behavior. This need for observation resulted in insights into `normal' behavior that have proven invaluable. I was completely self-absorbed and self- absorption frequently leads to depression - it certainly did for me. Just enduring the pain of withdrawal taught me things about myself that I never would have learned otherwise. And this book is showing me how the withdrawal experience - along with every other life experience -- can contribute to bolstering my psychological health.

While it's full of clinical findings, it's written for the layman and I'm finding it a fast read. (At least, it's so engrossing that I find it difficult to put down.) Although you might not agree with everything - or anything! - it will make you think about yourself in ways that you might not otherwise. And that's never a bad thing.

bee