A Dance with Shadows; The Journey Beyond Sexual Abuse, Addiction and Chemical Imbalance

By the time Eric Adreon was in middle school, his role in life had already changed from being a child of light to a child of the shadows, raiding liquor closets and in time trading in his No. 2 pencil for a syringe. What followed was a descent into darker places yet, with time in prison, crippling addiction, and chemical imbalances. A Dance With Shadows; The Journey Beyond Sexual Abuse, Addiction and Chemical Imbalance is the author's intimate account of his journey through dark days to emerge through recovery and spiritual living. This inspiring, transformative story is certain to resonate with anyone who suffers from addiction, abuse, or chemical imbalances. It offers firsthand insight on how to move beyond the things that threaten our well-being. As a young child, Adreon experienced sexual abuse at the hand of an older female, a confusing circumstance that he hid deep within himself. Instead of processing his pain, he sought refuge in the liquor cabinet of his friend Mike's father, and soon graduated to more intense highs and illicit substances. His book reveals the tragedies he experienced as an adolescent, as well as the triumphs of renewal. From the insights of those who mentored him; to the extreme highs and lows of being an IV addict; and his struggles with Bipolar I disorder, PTSD, and ADHD, Adreon chronicles a story that is sadly, all too familiar. As a homeless drug addicted teen, he was held against his will by meth dealers, and incarcerated at a young age for various drug-related crimes. He chronicled his life within prison walls by writing letters to his mother, choosing a spiritual path instead of a life lived in accordance with prison politics and the "convict code." With brutal honesty, Adreon offers a rare and raw perspective of an adolescent drug addict, a recovering adult, and an addictions counselor in training. By casting a cold and candid eye on the dark terrain of abuse and addiction, this hopeful memoir clears the path for a journey to a life of light.