cover image Blind Devotion: Survival on the Front Lines of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Addiction

Blind Devotion: Survival on the Front Lines of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Addiction

harlene Prinsen. Hazelden, $14.95 trade paper (360p) ISBN 978-1-61649-409-4

Prinsen’s book begins with a traumatic ending: a scene in which Prinsen escapes, children in hand, from her raging husband, Sean, a veteran of the NATO peacekeeping force in Bosnia. Then, with the aid of hindsight, Prinsen brings us through the events that led to her situation. She describes the signs of Sean’s depression, addiction, and wartime PTSD that were evident from the very beginning of their relationship, in 2000, and she captures how falling in love with Sean was an addiction in itself, characterized by extreme highs and lows. Indeed, the only middle ground in this memoir is Prinsen’s calm retrospection as she describes incessant arguments, Sean’s time in jail, and the difficulties for her children. She is open but not imposing about the role of the 12 steps in her healing process; emphasizing the importance of spirituality and support. Sidebars offering practical information about addiction, PTSD, and recovery can feel like forced interruptions, but they are undeniably useful for people in similar situations. At the end of the book Prinsen notes that, while she remains with her slowly recovering husband, their journey is never-ending and rocky. The path marked by her memoir, meanwhile, radiates strength and serenity. (Oct.)