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Children of the Self-Absorbed: A Grown-Up's Guide to Getting Over Narcissistic Parents Paperback – April 1, 2020
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Do you have a self-absorbed or narcissistic parent who’s made you feel rejected, unloved, or unworthy?
Being a parent is usually all about giving of yourself to foster your child's growth and development. But what happens when this isn't the case? Some parents dismiss the needs of their children, asserting their own instead, demanding attention and reassurance from even very young children. This may especially be the case when a parent has narcissistic tendencies or narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). This fully revised and updated edition of a self-help classic offers a step-by-step approach to resolving conflict and building a meaningful relationship with a narcissistic parent.
Children of the Self-Absorbed offers clear definitions of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder to help you identify the extent of your parent's problem. You'll learn the different types of destructive narcissism and how to recognize their effects on your relationships. Packed with proven techniques, you'll realize that you’re not helpless against your parent's behavior, and that you don’t have to give up on the relationship. Instead, you’ll find realistic strategies and steps for setting up mutually agreed upon behaviors, so you can fulfill your own emotional needs.
In this new edition, you’ll discover:
- Skills for managing intense emotions
- Tools for building character, self-esteem, and self-acceptance
- How kindness and gratitude can promote self-healing
- How to build trust and empathy with others
If you’re ready to begin healing from the pain of growing up with a self-absorbed parent and establish the boundaries you need to thrive—this book will guide you, one step at a time.
- Print length248 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherNew Harbinger Publications
- Publication dateApril 1, 2020
- Dimensions6 x 0.55 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101684034205
- ISBN-13978-1684034208
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Editorial Reviews
Review
—Travis J. Courville, LCSW, CGP, FAGPA, licensed clinical social worker, fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association, certified group psychotherapist, and adjunct professor in the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston
“Positive revenge and bypassing forgiveness are two brilliant strategies found in this remarkable guide that provides a detailed map to moving forward from wounds inflicted by parents who prioritize themselves above their children. This novel path can preserve and repair connection without retaliatory damage. Included are varied expressive exercises—writing, drawing, visualizing—that have broad reach for individuals, practitioners, and educators alike. With sensitivity and without judging, Nina Brown outlines how to implement these creative steps to healing that can lead the way to your most satisfying life!”
—Helene Satz, PsyD, ABPP, CGP, LFAGPA, behavioral health faculty at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI; 2018 recipient of the Harold S. Bernard Group Psychotherapy Training Award from the International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists
“Excellent reference for anyone, especially children reared by a self-absorbed parent. The book is broken down into digestible bits, making it very easy to absorb. Nina Brown invites the reader to take the path to the person they want to be. All along, I thought I assumed the role of the compliant child; reading this book helped me to realize instead that I assumed the role of the rebellious child—this new perspective has been very helpful.”
—Nial P. Quinlan, LPC, PhD, counselor in private practice in Norfolk/Yorktown, VA
“This very important book serves as a guide to recovery for those who have grown up with self-absorbed parents. Nina Brown’s voice leads the reader through understanding, self-exploration, and ultimately to healing. There is profound hope on these pages. This book provides the reader with clarity, compassion, and the tools for building a life that is full of self-acceptance and deeper meaning. The exercises suggested in each chapter offer the reader creative and thoughtful ways to integrate this material. It is truly a therapeutic journey led by a knowledgeable and trustworthy guide.”
—Tony L. Sheppard, PsyD, author of Group Psychotherapy with Children
“The journey to authenticity is often bumpy. Nina Brown helps the reader understand why they may not be living up to their full potential. Hope is offered in developing the essential inner self, and more importantly, speaks to the strategies of how to address the destructive narcissistic pattern. No false promises are made to the reader, letting the reader know it will take diligence and determination to reach for the more cohesive, authentic self. Breaking unhealthy cycles offers hope for generations to come. The author reassures the reader throughout, and her style is anything but that of a self-absorbed parent.”
—Karen S. Travis, LCSW, BCD, CGP, FAGPA, licensed clinical social worker and certified group psychotherapist in private practice, and chair of the Group Foundation for Advancing Mental Health
“For those of us who have often suffered the inevitable humiliating regression back to childhood during every holiday with the family, this book offers real help to the reader to develop the self-protective art of indifference—a cloak that can be used at many a holiday gathering—and to understand the subtle yet profound differences between ineffective and effective confrontation, empathy, and sympathy; and attaching response and defusing strategy, a completely new cupboard of techniques.”
—Joel C. Frost, EdD, assistant clinical professor of psychology in the department of psychology at Harvard Medical School
“Children of the Self-Absorbed offers practical advice and guidance. The creative techniques and exercises are priceless to both the reader learning how to identify destructive parental behaviors and how to cope with them, as well as the reader learning to nurture and protect his or her own developing self.”
—Susan Hopper, PhD, clinical psychologist in private practice in St. Louis, MO
“Children of narcissistic parents are provided techniques to dig themselves out of impossible relationships with their parents...a thoroughly well-thought-out, useful manual to help adult children move toward more productive connection to their narcissistic parents, to themselves, and to others.”
—Joan Medway, PhD, LCSW, psychologist in private practice in Potomac, MD
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : New Harbinger Publications; Third Edition, Revised (April 1, 2020)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 248 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1684034205
- ISBN-13 : 978-1684034208
- Item Weight : 12 ounces
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.55 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #36,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #55 in Personality Disorders (Books)
- #68 in Parent & Adult Child Relationships (Books)
- #205 in Emotional Self Help
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Nina W. Brown, EdD, LPC, is professor and eminent scholar in the Educational Leadership and Counseling Department at Old Dominion University. An expert on narcissism's effects on relationships, she is the author of ten books, including Children of the Self-Absorbed, Working with the Self-Absorbed and Whose Life is it Anyway?
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Does your parent have attention needs, admiration needs, the need to be considered unique and special, lack of empathy, feel others are extensions of herself, grandiosity, shallow emotions, a sense of entitlement, emotionally abusive traits, or does she exploit others? These characteristics identify a DNP, and specific examples of each trait are given.
As an adult, you can have two possible responses to being raised by a DNP. You may have a Siege Response- some traits of which include becoming defiant when given orders or demands, rebelling against restrictions or rules, being wary or fearful of intimacy, feeling anxious or panicky when others want to be nurtured, guilty feelings, personalizing others' behavior, being easily offended, etc. You may also exhibit the Compliant Response, including needing to be liked or approved of, feeling responsible for others' well-being, feeling that others are taking advantage of you, sacrificing personal needs for others, being overemotional, being overly critical of yourself and others, etc.
We are taught coping strategies which include developing emotional insulation, avoiding trying to empathize, giving up unrealistic fantasies, and meeting our emotional needs instead of putting them second to everyone else's.
The empowering strategies which are suggested are very interesting. For instance, becoming contrary when a DNP is trying to manipulate us- without explaining or announcing what we are doing, simply doing the opposite of or something entirely different from whatever is wanted or ordered. Other examples include becoming indifferent, avoiding interactions, setting guidelines your parent must follow in order to obtain your cooperation, practicing a blank facial expression and no response when being criticized, acting bored and "drifting" to another subject, asking a series of questions that will point out the absurdity of what they are saying, and declaring independence. It is important not to let them get a rise out of you or appear hurt, angry or defensive.
This book is especially valuable for those with self-centered parents who exploit them, and have probably done so since childhood. Many of us will recognize the narcissist in our own parents.
She writes from the exact key issue of these parents : their inability to shape their self esteem without outside people. You will learn something new, even if you have researched everything online. She added some simple questionnaires to fill in about your parents and some explanation for each trait. Note that someone does not necessarily score high on a lot of them; my father scores low on three traits (of 10 I think) . But regardless of this, it's been perfectlying helpful.
She also included tests at the back to fill in yourself about which narc traits you possess yourself, as a child of ... I took these a few times, and they pointed towards two traits I have. I have been working on this since I saw it written down, and have made strides with it.
This can also be a useful book if you have a parent who is maybe not a narcissist, but maybe a toxic drama queen, or an overbearing parent. The tips are useful for every (grown up) child who is still struggling to cope with their self-absorbed mom or dad, and feels like they've tried everything and are tired of fighting all the time with someone who cannot admit to being wrong.
Those in the other comments saying it is awful advice clearly don't have parents who qualify for her book. The tips are like magic in my case. Every time I digress and fall into old patterns of communication, the night is ruined as usual. Now I have evenings with my family where I don't feel exhausted afterwards, and where my dad is more or less pleasant (yes! Pleasant! Imagine that!). Yes, she advises to say things or not say thinhs against your natural grain (normal people do not ignore an insult, for example), but it helps immediately.
So thank you, Nina Brown. You've made my life a LOT easier the past year.
Note that this will not be useful for PARTNERS of the self-absorbed. You will need a different book.