[.ca] Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and ... (ISBN 0553284347)

From Amazon.com:
All parents fall short from time to time. But Susan Forward pulls no punches when it comes to those whose deficiencies cripple their children emotionally. Her brisk, unreserved guide to overcoming the stultifying agony of parental manipulation--from power trips to guilt trips and all other killers of self worth--will help deal with the pain of childhood and move beyond the frustrating relationship patterns learned at home.

I'll try this once again . . .:
If you are a child of a toxic parent you will find Susan Forward's book both validating and empowering. Forward says that healing is most effective when you proceed down the double track of changing self-defeating behaviors and disconnecting from traumas from the past. The goal of the book is to reverse the balance of power in your relationship with your toxic parents. Forward says all parents are deficient at times but Toxic Parents have consistently harmful effects. Focusing on their own problems Toxic Parents expect kids to take care of them, turning their children into mini-adults. Unable to control their own deep-seated rage, they blame their children. They control their children via guilt and manipulation. They are extraordinarily insensitive to both the pain they inflict and the lasting damage they do. They overtly or subtly abuse their children with constant put-downs and rob them of self-confidence. They may abuse alcohol or drugs and are mired in denial. If you are a child of a toxic parent you will find Susan Forward's book both validating and empowering. Forward says that healing is most effective when you proceed down the double track of changing self-defeating behaviors and disconnecting from traumas from the past. The goal of the book is to reverse the balance of power in your relationship with your toxic parents. Forward says all parents are deficient at times but Toxic Parents have consistently harmful effects. Focusing on their own problems Toxic Parents expect kids to take care of them, turning their children into mini-adults. Unable to control their own deep-seated rage, they blame their children. They control their children via guilt and manipulation. They are extraordinarily insensitive to both the pain they inflict and the lasting damage they do. They overtly or subtly abuse their children with constant put-downs and rob them of self-confidence. They may abuse alcohol or drugs and are mired in denial.

You can change your life:
When I saw the title of this book, my first reaction was "Gee, that's redundant." For me, "toxic" and "parents" just seemed to go together, and I'm in my forties now so you know I'm not talking about adolescent angst and power struggles. While there are many who obviously did have good parents, it's sad that the "norm" seems to be those who are toxic. This is a very useful book for anyone needing to heal. If you're interested in another great book along this line, try Louise Hay's "You Can Heal Your Life," or if you're interested in fiction, try McCrae's "The Bark of the Dogwood"--one person's journey out of the darkness and into the light. But first buy this book.

Redundancy:
When I saw the title of this book, my first reaction was "Gee, that's redundant." For me, "toxic" and "parents" just seemed to go together, and I'm in my forties now so you know I'm not talking about adolescent angst and power struggles. While there are many who obviously did have good parents, it's sad that the "norm" seems to be those who are toxic. This is a very useful book for anyone needing to heal. If you're interested in another great book along this line, try Louise Hay's "You Can Heal Your Life," or if you're interested in fiction, try McCrae's "The Bark of the Dogwood"--one person's journey out of the darkness and into the light. But first buy this book.

Right on the money:
If you are a child of a toxic parent you will find Susan Forward's book both validating and empowering. Forward says that healing is most effective when you proceed down the double track of changing self-defeating behaviors and disconnecting from traumas from the past. The goal of the book is to reverse the balance of power in your relationship with your toxic parents. Forward says all parents are deficient at times but Toxic Parents have consistently harmful effects. Focusing on their own problems Toxic Parents expect kids to take care of them, turning their children into mini-adults. Unable to control their own deep-seated rage, they blame their children. They control their children via guilt and manipulation. They are extraordinarily insensitive to both the pain they inflict and the lasting damage they do. They overtly or subtly abuse their children with constant put-downs and rob them of self-confidence. They may abuse alcohol or drugs and are mired in denial. If you are a child of a toxic parent you will find Susan Forward's book both validating and empowering. Forward says that healing is most effective when you proceed down the double track of changing self-defeating behaviors and disconnecting from traumas from the past. The goal of the book is to reverse the balance of power in your relationship with your toxic parents. Forward says all parents are deficient at times but Toxic Parents have consistently harmful effects. Focusing on their own problems Toxic Parents expect kids to take care of them, turning their children into mini-adults. Unable to control their own deep-seated rage, they blame their children. They control their children via guilt and manipulation. They are extraordinarily insensitive to both the pain they inflict and the lasting damage they do. They overtly or subtly abuse their children with constant put-downs and rob them of self-confidence. They may abuse alcohol or drugs and are mired in denial.

Lived the imperfect life:
Leanna Jackson, going to be a survivor, This is an excellent book and speaks as though it is talking about my own past. It has helped me to understand and learn to deal with the wrongs that i endured, and to learn how to make it right within myself. Also recommending: Nightmares Echo-because I was a child of sexual/child abuse and it spoke to me plainly. Lost Boy-Because I understood what he went through