Advice Goddess Radio: Dr. Frederick Woolverton On Overcoming Addiction
Nationally syndicated advice columist Amy Alkon's Advice Goddess Radio -- "Nerd Your Way To A Better Life!" with the best brains in science.

I'm very excited about this week's guest, Dr. Frederick Woolverton, co-author (with Susan Shapiro) of Unhooked: How to Quit Anything.

When I was having problems with my writing, I wanted to see a therapist, but I know that many have little wisdom -- and also, that the methodology of many therapists is simply to let you talk and not tell you what you need to do. Seems kind of a ripoff, huh?

Susan Shapiro, a friend of mine since the late 80s in New York, sent me her compelling book Lighting Up. The subhead says it all: "How I Stopped Smoking, Drinking, and Everything Else I Loved in Life Except Sex, A Memoir." Interwoven throughout are bits about the therapist she was seeing.

I realized that he was the therapist I also needed to see. He thought I was a bit, well, nuts, to fly from Los Angeles (where there are therapists practically handing out cards on every street corner) to see him in New York (for a double session on a Sunday night).

I told him that I could see therapist after therapist in Los Angeles and not find one who was good, but I knew he was wise from what I read in the book, so off I went. (And he solved my problem in the first 15 minutes -- though I kept seeing him over Skype for six months, for reinforcement, and frankly, because it was a better economy and I found him and our sessions interesting.)

He's also really terrific on overcoming addiction -- the subject of tonight's show. Additionally, I found "Unhooked" a very moving book -- and not in a tearjerky way.

Tonight's show will be a very interesting and helpful one, even if you aren't addicted to anything -- so do tune in to the live show from 7-8 p.m. Pacific, 10-11 p.m. Eastern, and feel free to call in with problems, comments, questions. Here's the link (where you can also listen after the show and/or download the podcast [click "play in your default player"]):

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon/2012/03/12/advice-goddess-radio-amy-alkon

And don't miss last week's show with one of the rock stars of anthropology, Dr. Robert Trivers. We'll be talking about his very interesting new book, "The Folly of Fools," on deception and self-deception. Listen at the link or download the podcast afterward (click "play in your default player"):

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon/2012/03/05/advice-goddess-radio-amy-alkon

Trivers lays out we evolved to be liars, and how, in order to lie better to others, we often lie to ourselves first. (Even infants practice deception.) He debunks the myths people believe about how they can detect lies, and discuss how "cognitive load" (limitations of memory and mind) plays a big part in our detection of deception in others and how minimizing it in ourselves helps lesson our chances in getting caught in a lie.

Join me for Advice Goddess Radio every Sunday, 7-8pm Pacific, 10-11pm Eastern, with podcasts available afterward. Catch shows you missed at http://my.blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon.

Amy I just ordered the book!

Purplepen at March 11, 2012 2:32 PM

Amy Alkon

http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/03/11/advice_goddess_46.html#comment-3058238">comment from Purplepen

Ooh, great, PP. I really got a lot out of it. He's amazingly open about his own problems in it -- but not in an icky way; in a very helpful way, and it's very moving. The stories about Sue and others are also helpful and moving -- I'm not usually a fan of books with stories leading the psychology, but I thought this one worked. (Sue is a friend, but I have lots of friends who write books, and I wouldn't have a very good audience if I didn't stick to books and authors I think have real value.)

Amy Alkon at March 11, 2012 3:06 PM

Looking forward to tonight's show Amy!

Eric at March 11, 2012 3:18 PM

Amy- I also just added this to my Amazon cart. Is there any way to embed you into my Amazon account so that you receive proceeds from all my future orders, or do I have to go through your website link each time?

Eric at March 11, 2012 3:22 PM

Amy Alkon

http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/03/11/advice_goddess_46.html#comment-3058348">comment from Eric

Thanks so much, Eric! And actually, if you just go through my link on the left on my Amy's Mall page, "powered by Amazon," it'll give me the credit. You can also go through any of my links, but I think I get better credit if you go through that "Powered by Amazon" thingie.

And really -- so appreciate everybody who buys through these links. Working day and night on my book, and this is helping me keep the lights on right now.

Amy Alkon at March 11, 2012 3:27 PM

Amy--I bought the book for my Kindle (thru your Amazon link) and have been devouring it all afternoon. A fabulous read.

Casey at March 11, 2012 3:59 PM

I 1966, I took educational psychology at the University of Alabama. We had a visiting professor come to our lecture class—don't remember his name. He said that the development of language in human evolution facilitated lying. He said that before language, it was impossible to lie. His example was that without language, you could not tell someone the water hole was some place where it was not. I believed him then but I don't anymore because I have met some dogs who could lie. However, I think he had a good point. Language does facilitate lying.

ken in sc at March 11, 2012 4:03 PM

Amy Alkon

http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/03/11/advice_goddess_46.html#comment-3058566">comment from Casey

Wow, thanks, Casey...so happy to hear that!

Amy Alkon at March 11, 2012 4:13 PM

Good show. He is so open-minded about the problem. So many addiction specialists don't get it.

Jim P. at March 11, 2012 8:19 PM

Amy Alkon

http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/03/11/advice_goddess_46.html#comment-3060730">comment from Jim P.

Thank you so much, Jim, and for your very good question. I'm so glad to see what you say above. Sue is my friend, and I like to support my friends' books, but I had him on because I think he really has some extraordinarily helpful thinking on addiction.

Amy Alkon at March 11, 2012 11:13 PM

I've seen Dr. Woolverton's name as a guest a couple times, and I can't resist the temptation to ask if he's related to Basil.

Vinnie bartilucci at March 12, 2012 7:28 AM

Great show, Amy.

It is interesting to see a different point of view from our "Just say No" policy.

He seems to think that all drugs are medicines for the illness no matter they are legal or not.

It is also fascinating for him to point out that even people, who are hooked to good habits like work or exercise, are also running away from the reality they cannot handle.

It is good to know that drugs are not the cause but the temporary solutions to the deeper problems of the addict.

These comments definitely make you think about whatever you are addicted to.

chang at March 12, 2012 7:46 PM

Amy Alkon

http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/03/11/advice_goddess_46.html#comment-3065031">comment from chang

Thank you so much, chang. I find him very insightful and compassionate -- and successful at helping people; this person included (though not with an addiction).

Amy Alkon at March 12, 2012 11:27 PM

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