About the Book
My debut book, coming March 2025, is for anyone struggling to earn back the love, respect, and trust of family and friends after active alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness.
It will not only help you repair the damage you've done during active illness but also prevent you from creating more damage in recovery.
Pre-orders for the book are now available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble
Available in Paperback, Kindle, and Audiobook.
Good Read’s Review by Swapna (a portion of the entire review)
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“Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery is the most important book I have ever read about addiction and how to repair relationships while staying Sober”
Pre-Release Endorsements
“ Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to mend and strengthen their relationships post-addiction. It offers a balanced mix of personal anecdotes, practical advice, and emotional support, making it a must-read for individuals committed to personal growth and recovery. Janice’s emphasis on patience, self-awareness, and resilience provides a hopeful and encouraging roadmap for navigating the complexities of relationship repair and personal development throughout the recovery journey.”
— RYAN OSCAR, CCRC, CCAC, podcast host on From Darkness to Light and director of operations and education at Our Collective Journey
A (Portion of a) Message to the Reader from My Children…
We sincerely hope this book can give hope to other families that things can get better. We have seen our mom create a vision and fulfill this dream. A dream that also took a lot of hard work. It has brought reality to the belief that dreams can be achieved with time and effort. Our mom is our role model, and we are so excited for her hard work to be shared with you. We hope it helps both those in recovery from mental health struggles as well as their loved ones. But most importantly, we hope that it gives you hope.
-Dennis, Katie, Matthew and Michael
“ Janice Dowd has written a masterpiece of a book. This is a manual for all recovering people, which I believe should be placed in the hands of graduates of treatment programs everywhere as a guidepost, and available wherever possible to the public at large. Covering disease concept formation, the inception of Alcoholics Anonymous, and addressing the overarching and personalized aspects of a recovery program, Ms. Dowd bares her truth on the pages of this manuscript in the hopes of sharing her journey plainly to help the entire addictive system.… Personally, I cannot wait to share this book with my clients to aid them with their own path because I believe its effectiveness will be exponential.”
—MAGGIE W. BANGER, LPC-S, therapist
If you are interested in reviewing a pre-release copy, please reach out to me via email.
Why I Wrote This Book
Rebuilding relationships impacted by addiction or mental illness requires a different approach than that of a relationship troubled by typical marital conflicts over; money, communication, parenting, infidelity, etc. Unfortunately, information and instruction specifically directed at recovering individuals are under-represented in the self-help and addiction genre today. I firmly believe there is a market for recovering individuals who want to regain the support, love, and trust of their family members and friends.
Twenty-five million Americans sought treatment for their Substance Use Disorder, Major Depressive Episode, or Serious Mental Illness in 2021, according to the National Annual Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Most of these individuals have family members or friends affected by their loved one’s illness. Often, these relationships have been damaged to the point that the recovering individual has been completely removed from their family.
Although most treatment providers agree that family support is essential in a recovering individual’s efforts to stay sober or mentally healthy, very little information on rebuilding these relationships is provided to the recovering individual, their family, and significant others. Early treatment focuses primarily on the individual. Relationships with family, although initially addressed, are not given much time and focus as part of the treatment plan. Some treatment programs offer family programs, but these are usually limited to a week and may not involve the patient.
My book is unique from most because it emphasizes providing the information and skills it takes to find a balance between sobriety skills and family needs. It affirms that inclusive and positive family support is integral to recovery, not just a side effect. It addresses the family’s needs, the science of addiction, the disease concept, and the susceptibility to relapse while providing practical information and exercises to improve the relationships with their loved ones. My approach to writing is to be direct and somewhat confrontational. I present this information in the “tough-love” language of 12-step programs. Yet it is approachable and easy to read and understand. Ultimately, it offers hope and inspiration to the reader.
Latest Updates on the Book
In January 2024, I signed a book deal with North Atlantic Books.
The book is currently in production with a prospective release date of March 10, 2025
If you are interested in reviewing a pre-release copy, please reach out to me by email.
Keep an eye out for further details on Instagram or this site.