Lost In The Shuffle The Co-Dependent Reality, By Robert Subby. Health Communications Inc., Pompano, Florida. 1987. 142 pages. Reviewed by Taylor A. Ward. (ADS R###)
I. This book was chosen for review because the subject of co-dependency is one of particular interest, and is quite relevant to the study of addiction. The author, Robert Subby, is a licensed Psychologist, M.A., C.C.D.P. As of the writing of the book had been involved in the area of addiction and mental health for fifteen years. He was a founding board member of the National Association of Children of Alcoholics, as well as Director of Life Design Out-Patient Chemical and Co-dependency and Compulsivity Treatment program out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
II. The book approaches the …show more content…
It begins with childhood and discusses how the family system, especially the parents, will lay the groundwork for development of co-dependency. There is an emphasis on the addicted parent, as well as the co-dependent child who also becomes an addict at some point in their life.
III. The author takes the reader through the realm of growing up with addicted parents as well as the struggles of personal addiction. It truly delves into the family unit dissecting the ways in which a dysfunctional family can cause a child to gravitate toward co-dependent habits, behavior and thought patterns. The first section sort of humanizes the author, by showing the reader that he can empathize with the nature of a co-dependent. He reflects on his initial feelings about the programs that he had attended to help him through his struggles with alcohol. He drives his point home with real world language which appeals to