Showing titles in Dysfunctional Families

Growing up with him was like being in my own war zone, living in perpetual fear of when the bombs would fall. I was terrified of becoming him, and in moments I could feel I might. He still lives within me grimly like some battered demon spright. And I’m fearful of his shadow. The rage, and his...

Covert narcissism is a hidden and concealed form of narcissism, making it all the more difficult for the abuser to be confronted or "outed" for their behavior. Covert narcissism is a passive-aggressive, hostile, and toxic form of abuse that makes victims feel hopeless, unheard, hurt, and confused by the abusers' behavior.

From the time she was a little girl, Maryam rebelled against the terrible second-class existence that was her destiny as an Afghan woman. She had witnessed the miserable fate of her grandmother and three aunts, and wished she had been born a boy. As a feisty teenager in Kabul, she was outraged when the Russians invaded her country. After she made a public show of defiance, she had to flee the country for her life. A new life of freedom seemed within her grasp, but her father arranged a traditional marriage to a fellow Afghan, who turned out to be a violent man....

It’s a fact that the narcissist in your life doesn’t care about you. Dr. Judith Orloff said it best: “Narcissists have an empathy deficit disorder. They’re not capable of empathy as we know it.” As a result, they are more likely to engage in manipulative behaviors than to commit long-term. To the narcissist, you're nothing more than a source of attention, admiration, and praise. They need you to supply these things so that they can continue to support their inflated false sense of self.

For fans of Daniella Mestyanek Young’s Uncultured and Tara Westover’s Educated, one woman’s gripping firsthand account of falling into—and eventually escaping—a female guru–led cult as she seeks her own personal awakening. Growing up under the sway of a Brooklyn housewife turned guru...

If you grew up as a Good Kid, you probably heard these words a lot. And you were good. Quiet. Easy. Responsible. So disciplined, you basically raised yourself. You're the one everyone counts on - and you wear it like a good star. But nobody ever checks on you. And you're exhausted from proving...

Follow the author's heart-wrenching story about her domestic violence experiences with her Thai ex-partner and the secondary trauma of not being believed, being pressured to stay silent by some of her expat community, and being gaslit into questioning her reality. It's about a mother fighting to protect herself and her two babies from psychological abuse during the COVID pandemic lockdown on a remote island in Thailand. In this raw memoir, Juanelle courageously breaks years of enforced silence to share her journey from survivor to advocate.

A raw, funny, and fiercely honest account of becoming a mother before feeling like a grown up. When Meaghan O'Connell got accidentally pregnant in her twenties and decided to keep the baby, she realized that the book she needed -- a brutally honest, agenda-free reckoning with the emotional and...

Born in Liverpool, Malik was taken into care at the age of nine after his seafaring father became paralysed. He would spend his adolescence in a system that proved violent, neglectful, exploitative, traumatising and mired in abuse. Aged 18, he emerged semi-literate, penniless with no connections or sense of where he was going - until a chance meeting with Gil Scott-Heron. Letters to Gil will tell the story of Malik’s empowerment and awakening while mentored by Gil, from his introduction to the legacy of Black history to the development of his voice through poetry and music.

If you spent your childhood dealing with a narcissistic mother, then you know that the effects of living with someone so arrogant, self-centered, manipulative, and demanding don’t end when you leave home. If you have spent the intervening years trying to overcome the mental and emotional hurdles left in your way by such an experience, then now is the time to make a change!

The patriarch, C. F. Seabrook, was hailed as the "Henry Ford of Agriculture." His son Jack, a keen businessman, was poised to take over what Life called "the biggest vegetable factory on earth." But the carefully cultivated facade—glamorous outings by horse-drawn carriage, hidden wine cellars, and movie star girlfriends—hid dark secrets that led to the implosion of the family business. A compelling tale of class and privilege, betrayal and revenge three decades in the making, The Spinach King explores the author's complicated family legacy and the dark corners of the American Dream.

Break free from the chains of a narcissistic relationship, rebuild your self-esteem, and heal from the trauma the narcissist left behind.

Do you feel trapped in patterns of manipulation, defensiveness, or emotional detachment? Are your relationships suffering because of it? Change is possible—without losing your confidence or identity. How to Stop Being a Narcissist gives you the tools to develop self-awareness, emotional balance, and deeper, more meaningful connections. Learn how to recognize harmful behaviors, manage emotional reactions, and embrace vulnerability to foster trust.

This audiobook tells the true story of a family's pain as several harrowing events unfold. A grandmother so selfish she lost everything over one man's sick pleasure. A father who will stop at nothing to keep his own dark secrets from getting out. The loving mother so broke down in life she questions her own sanity. The cries that could not be heard. The beatings that could not be stopped. The teachers who got it all wrong. The twisted friend. The beast that none stopped.

Wife Mother Drunk is an intergenerational memoir recounting the author’s harrowing struggle with alcoholism, tracing it back through her ancestry to the times of the pioneers when the seeds of trauma were first planted, long before they overtook her otherwise loving life.

Stephanie’s story is one of love, hope and faith, designed to speak to all who are hurting, regardless of belief. Throughout her account, she shares details of the unexpected healing process experienced, revealing the changes it brought, offering a spiritual guide to other parents, carers and survivors. Threaded through the book is Stephanie’s simple message—healing is possible with God.

Do you feel worthless, empty, confused? Do you feel emotionally exhausted? Do you look in the mirror and not recognize yourself anymore? There is nothing wrong with you. You are caught in a narcissist trap. Toxic relationships can make you sick and destroy your life. According to recent studies, neuroscientists have discovered that long-term narcissistic abuse can lead to actual physical brain damage. That’s why we need to act now! This audiobook is designed to help you change your life.

Powerful Journaling for Inner Child Healing Part II offers guided prompts as a supportive tool on your healing journey. Journaling is a powerful method for processing emotions such as anxiety, stress, or sadness. It fosters self-awareness, personal growth, and deeper insight. For lasting impact, aim to journal consistently for 90 days—enough time to form a transformative habit.

I suffered at the hands of a malignant narcissist for seven years. I was emotionally tortured by his nasty, venomous words, his hateful behavior towards me and his sadistic enjoyment of anything that upset me. For years I was under his control, beaten down to the point where I had no perception of reality. I was a shell of a human. I wrote this book for anyone else who is suffering at the hands of a malignant narcissist. I want to offer not only healing words but also guide you through understanding the disorder in order to better help you deal with it.

Narcissistic parenting is very damaging and insidious. The parenting is always about the parent and never about the child, never about you. You learn to function, but with many defenses, and often hyper-alert to criticism. This prevents you from living a relaxed joyful life. You become super competent, always able to cope and to please others. In your relationships, this makes you a constant people pleaser, very co-dependent, or else super independent or counter-dependent.