A Million Little Pieces Summary

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Conceptualization of :"A Million Little Pieces "by James Frey I really enjoyed reading A Million Little Pieces. This book was so far outside of the environment and people I knew or was associated with that it made me want to cry at times. This was a very intense and emotional book to read. The book had me thinking that addicts can have some very intense emotions. If certain drugs can give them a heightened sense of euphoria or a dragged down sense of depression and despair, the pleasure and pain principle must be intense! I think a common emotion was anger and shame, but even more, I think most addicts reach a point where they do not want to think or are afraid to feel because they have lost hope. I think after a while they even may…show more content…
Genetically, they told him he was predisposed because of his grandfather. Psychologically, the pain and rage that he held inside him, from his childhood ear infections, was begging to be heard, the alcohol and drugs masked the pain. Environmentally, James kept company with others that drank or did drugs. When someone tried to help him, he would turn away from him or her, often leaving the city, state, or even the country. James was very aware of how sick he was, but he did not feel worthy of being helped, because he felt he would only let someone down. When I think about disease versus choice, in James’s case I would go with choice! James proved over time that “choice” was the only way he stayed at the clinic, participated, and stayed clean. He was not given anything to stop the emotional pain, and he did not find out about his grandfathers drinking or his ear infections until he has already made the choice to stay and to complete the program on his…show more content…
, especially if they do not have a good support system in place. Having a plan, having someone who is there to help when you need help or when stressors come up that might lead you back into old habits can be the difference from staying sober and clean or starting to drink or use again. The counselors tried to tell James he would need that support. They recognized the need for support and an ongoing commitment. Habit is a powerful behavior. Places, people, events, crisis…all things that could easily bring on a relapse. James went to the bar after he left the clinic to prove to himself that he was not going to let the alcohol have power and control over
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