I'm Dancing/Fast/Can

I read this book 24 years ago, after having just gotten out of an abusive relationship. Reading it helped me tremendously in understanding what my ex was doing. That's what I remember about this book. So, now reading the reviews, that all mention the book being about valium addiction, I'm kind of surprised that I only remember the parts that resonated with my own life at the time. To me this book was extremely powerful and I've recommended it to other strong women that have been in emotionally abusive relationship. So, I think I will have to reread the book to see, if the abuse was really only such a small part of the book and not really what it is about.

The books arrived within a few days. The book was excellent and well worth the purchase price.

While this compelling, but somewhat antiquated, true story chronicles Barbara's hell during withdrawal from Valium, the point somehow seems to have been missed by the psychiatric community. Benzo prescriptions and hospital detox admissions (at least in the US) are at an all time high. If Valium wasn't enough hell, the drug companies are peddling even stronger and more addictive version of theses benzos. Including Ativan and Zanax being 2 of the most commonly prescribed drugs in America today. Barbara's story is a power and compelling tale of the dangers of these drugs, but unfortunately it's lesson has had no effect on widespread prescribing and subsequent addition to these drugs.All one needs to do to verify what I'm saying is join the benzo group at yahoogroups.com. There you will find hundreds if not thousands of people all over the world trying to cope with living the life of an "accidental addict". Unfortunately few will ever recover from this addiction and most will die from it or at least with it.

If you're like me, and really *get into* what you're reading, this book will have you questioning your own sanity! You will fall into the deep blackness with Ms. Gordon, as well celebrate her successes as she begins to see the light! This book is timeless, powerful, and AWESOME. Not a "feel good" story -- but a tormented journey -- one which will give you hope.A must-read for women in search of inner-strength!

This is the Age of the Quick Fix, the Age of Prozac and other mind potions. Barbara Gordon's story of her addiction to Valium and striving towards recovery is a classic in the literature of addiction. From a successful career as an award-winning documentary film maker, becoming famous and rich, to having a personal relationship with "Eric," who supposably was trying to take her off Valium cold turkey with disastrous results, Barbara Gordon paints an honest and painful a portrait of addiction as you will ever read. Once the most prescribed drugs for anxiety and "Nerves" in the world, it is now potentially one of the most addictive and dangerous to get off of after taking it for a long time. This book changed my life, for I was addicted to Valium, not ever imagining how it would change my life, mostly for the worse. Barbara Gordon's struggle was heroic and her getting off the drug, finding her bearings, and heading on the road to recovery make inspiring reading and a cautionary tale, that pills do not cure everything, that the human spirit can survive deep terrors. Many books on drug addiction have come and gone, written by professionals as well as laymen, but I know of none more powerful, none that face the fear with such total honesty as Barbara Gordon's book. It should never be out of print and anyone contemplating taking the drug path to lower anxiety should read this book and have second thoughts. Barbara Gordon, like many true survivors, takes her readers to hell and back, and show us that there is hope, even after a journey into into the deepest darkness of the psyche. Highly recommended. One of the best books ever written about drug addiction of any kind.