Rating: 
Summary: Well Done-Let the healing begin
Review: Thank goodness I found a wonderful therapist who told me that my family was narcissistic. Then I found this book on amazon (it wasn't what my therapist recommended though). I needed a book that was not autobiographical, I needed to hear many stories of others lives with covert and overt male and female narcissistic abuse, in order to unlock myself from my disbelief. Finished it last night, still crying this morning, but I know things are going to be uphill for me from here. This book was written by therapists for therapists but I got so much out of it, I would recommend this highly for any adults recovering from "N" abuse who have had at least some therapy. As a victim I found that some of the techniques and methods described for recovery very helpful. (The Lavender Saphire is one of them) There are so many very specific things included in the Pressmans book that really touched home for me, opening doors and fitting puzzles together that had been unsoved for a lifetime. My book is filled with my highlights and dogears,well worth many times its listed price.
Rating:
Summary: Well Done-Let the healing begin
Review: Thank goodness I found a wonderful therapist who told me that my family was narcissistic. Then I found this book on amazon (it wasn't what my therapist recommended though). I needed a book that was not autobiographical, I needed to hear many stories of others lives with covert and overt male and female narcissistic abuse, in order to unlock myself from my disbelief. Finished it last night, still crying this morning, but I know things are going to be uphill for me from here. This book was written by therapists for therapists but I got so much out of it, I would recommend this highly for any adults recovering from "N" abuse who have had at least some therapy. As a victim I found that some of the techniques and methods described for recovery very helpful. (The Lavender Saphire is one of them) There are so many very specific things included in the Pressmans book that really touched home for me, opening doors and fitting puzzles together that had been unsoved for a lifetime. My book is filled with my highlights and dogears,well worth many times its listed price.
Rating:
Summary: Such a great find!
Review: The Narcissistic Family has been a book of great help and insight to me. Like other reviewers said, the authors are very kind and did not clog up their writing with psychobabble. Now, I finally have an idea of my own upbringing and family. I am from a covertly narcissistic family and many told me about how wonderful my family was when I was growing up. Those people did not know the inside story about what daily life could be life. I have often felt blamed by my family unfairly. Not that I belive I am perfect, but they always seemed to minimize the roles of others in problems/conflicts and maximize mine. If I ever put an emotional demand on them, they often put me down or gave out sterile advice in a rude, condescending way. There was a large lack of communication between my parents and I can remember several instances of verbal abuse between them. Something was not right, but I could not put my finger on it until I found this book
Two techniques that really helped are the "notebook" exercise and the "lavender sapphire." I also have really benefited from the Pressmans' assertiveness model: I feel....I want. Simple, direct and right to the point. This book has really helped me set limits in a positive way as well.
This book is a bit on the pricey side, but well worth it. I recommend it to all who have issues related to family upbringing and in particular to those from covertly narcissistic families so that they may finally be validated and understood.
Once again, such a great find!
Rating:
Summary: Finally, A Family like mine
Review: The Narcissistic Family is an eye opener. I grew up with a terribly Narcissistic Father. I realize all my siblings and their families have been impacted, some in devastating ways. This book defines Narcissistic family so that anyone can understand where their feelings of no self worth and other destructive behaviors originate. It is written for therapists, but is easily understandable. I am sending copies to all my family and my husband's family.
Rating: 
Summary: The Hydra of Abuse
Review: This book has an important mission - to re-define abuse. Most people associate the term with beatings or verbal onslaught. But abuse is a spectrum of behaviours. Perhaps the most pernicious kind is the subtle, non-discernible and socially acceptable one. A doting mother, a demanding father, unrealistic expectations, a family ethos of not expressing one's emotions - are all forms of abuse and all might lead to trauma. Treating the child as an extension of the parent, a toy and the conduit of the parent's frustrated dreams and unfulfilled wishes is a violation of the child's forming boundaries. It is a perversion of the all-important processes of individuation and separation. It is a travesty and the child pays its price all its remaining life. Personality disorders are often reactions to such all-pervasive and pernicious abuse. Read all about it in this (somewhat academic) book. Sam Vaknin, author of 'Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited'
Rating:
Summary: On Target!
Review: This book is simple, clear and straight forward. It covers cause, symptoms, and strategies. Of the several that I've bought, this book on narcissism is the single most helpful.
Rating:
Summary: An eye opener for therapists and any member of a family
Review: This book may change the way you see life, or if you are a therapist, the way you conduct therapy. It is clearly written without "psycho-babble." Most importantly, it gives more than just reasons WHY certain things happen in therapy and in real life; it tells you WHAT to do about it when it does. It defines a broader and more helpful way of understanding and helping people who may have gotten "stuck" in therapy and life.
Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK NOW AND READ IT IMMEDIATELY!
Review: This is the best book I have read in my life concerning unhealthy child development. The authors clearly understand people like me -- even better than I understand myself!This book has the answers you've been looking for. Why are some people hostile and distrusting? Why are some people angry all the time? Why do some people sabotage their own relationships? The answers are all here. BUY THIS BOOK NOW! It will be the best money you have ever spent.
Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK NOW AND READ IT IMMEDIATELY!
Review: This is the best book I have read in my life concerning unhealthy child development. The authors clearly understand people like me -- even better than I understand myself! This book has the answers you've been looking for. Why are some people hostile and distrusting? Why are some people angry all the time? Why do some people sabotage their own relationships? The answers are all here. BUY THIS BOOK NOW! It will be the best money you have ever spent.
Rating:
Summary: A light bulb moment
Review: Wow. The light bulb went on over my head when I read this book. After years of dealing with depression, anxiety and panic attacks, therapy and prozac, I finally "get it". If you recognize yourself in the description in the introduction, I would recommend this book. It described my covertly narcissistic family to a T. Knowing the sources and causes of misconceptions I hold about myself and the world at large have already begun to help me improve my outlook and my relationships.
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