Description: Climbing Up the Downward Spiral takes a holistic approach in looking at practical, neurological, and spiritual issues, as it walks readers through the shadows of some of the most difficult problems of our time: financial loss; drug and alcohol abuse and addiction; mental illness; and suicide.The authors also share from their considerable personal experience with these problems. Bringing together some twenty years of work with people in programs of downtown, late-night ministry in different cities as well as personal experiences with illegal drugs, bipolar disorder, and a serious suicide attempt, Jones and Joseph walk readers through the shadows of our lives, offering encouragement, methods of coping, and above all, hope.
Brief description: Dean Jones has held academic positions at Seattle Pacific University, the University of Utah, Indiana/Purdue University at Indianapolis, Bowman Gray School of Medicine and the University of Washington, School of Nursing. He is the author of Face to Face with Society's Lepers: Downtown Night Ministry, The Other Chamber: A Portrait of the Mentally Ill Offender, and A New Light: The Ecumenical Catholic Communion. Michael Joseph is a Doctor of Pharmacy. He is employed as a community pharmacist by a major retailer and has completed a course of study in addiction studies.