Brutally honest, poignant, painful, but ultimately uplifting and hopeful.
Music has the special ability to resonate with humanity as a beautiful borderless language, one that can be shared across an endless variety of locations and circumstances, and one that possesses a gravity all its own. Rock to Recovery: Music as a Catalyst for Human Transformation by Wes Geer and Constance Scharff, PhD highlights a fascinating and innovative tool in the fight for mental health and sobriety. While not all of us are naturally musical, we all have the capacity to enjoy, feel and create music. It is this tangible human connection to music that Rock to Recovery leverages in order to offer participants the relief that comes from becoming a part of something larger than themselves.
The straightforward idea in Rock to Recovery is that participants come together in a small group to write an original song. They are able to perform and record the song, essentially becoming a band. This chance to come together, in a place where people’s experiences make them more alike than different, can be cathartic and motivating, a real lifeline for people who are struggling with the torments of trauma, abuse and addiction. This expressive outlet provides a creative opportunity to accomplish something beautiful, even while in the midst of epic personal struggles.
Sincere and worthwhile, Rock to Recovery dives deep into the tortured waters of addiction, PTSD and other mental health issues, offering a refreshing life preserver. Besides a succinct summary of the supporting science, the pages are a veritable who’s who of celebrated musicians that have been ravaged by addiction, each one sharing their unique story. Additional personal accounts include some who were unknowingly introduced to drugs and others who became addicted in order to cope with horrific physical abuse. All paint an intimate portrait of addiction that is brutally honest, poignant, painful, but ultimately uplifting and hopeful. Although not everybody’s journey is a smooth one, some commonalities among the success stories includes gratefulness, humility, accountability and an ability to let go of deep resentments. Completely authentic in its highs and its lows, Rock to Recovery is an essential and indispensable book that might just be the helping hand that guides troubled souls toward recovery.
