Whole Again by Jackson MacKenzie is one of the newest books on healing from emotional abuse. It is a phenomenal book, and I highly recommend it! He explains what is going on inside a victim’s mind and heart in ways that are easy to understand and apply to your own situation. He gives great tools and ideas for the healing process. This book is well worth your time! Click the link below to go directly to it.
Books on Narcissism
When our kids suffer, parenting hurts. When our co-parent only has their own selfish interests at heart, parenting crushes our soul. Narcissistic parents consistently do damage to their kids. They stomp all over their feelings on a regular basis with no concern or regret. They have a complete lack of recognition of it and a complete inability to make it right with that child. The abuse entails emotional, verbal, psychological, and physical abuse. It is impossible to co-parent with a narcissist. If you are dealing with this, please read my book Parenting with a Covert Narcissist.
why is it always about you?: the seven deadly sins of narcissism
This book is my number one recommendation for anyone wanting to learn more about narcissism. It is by Sandy Hotchkiss and James F. Masterson MD and a priceless resource for EVERYONE!! They give voice to the many questions all of us are unsure how to ask. Why are people behaving this way? Where did it all come from? How do we get out of its grip? How do we stop its growth to the next generation? This book answers all these questions and much more. It is an excellent source for everyone.
An extra note: This is MUST-READ for all parents!! With narcissism so clearly on the rise, it is up to us to put a stop to it. I was panicked by the narcissistic behavior I was seeing in my teenage boys, extremely worried they were following in their dad's footsteps. However, this book lays out so well the normal stages of narcissistic development in kids. Parents, please read this book!
The Covert Passive Aggressive Narcissist
This is a MUST-READ for anyone dealing with covert narcissism. Debbie’s insight is amazing. She shares that insight in such a way that it is easy to understand and digest. She is able to put into words what so many of us are struggling to grasp.
She helps you to understand why this has happened to you and how to make sense of it. She guides you on a path of healing to break this cycle of damaging relationships and grasp a life of beauty and peace.
the wizard of oz and other narcissists: coping with the one-way relationship in work, love, and family
This is the first book I ever read on narcissism. I was struggling so much in my marriage and really did not understand why. Within 10 minutes of the very first session with a therapist regarding my marriage, he recommended that I read this book. I bought it that day and started reading that night. I read the first chapter, put the book down, and started crying. Finally, to know that I wasn't crazy, that other people understood what I was going through, and that it had a name was incredibly reassuring.
In this book, written by Eleanor D. Payson, M.S.W., you learn not only how to identify narcissistic behavior, but also destructive impact it has on others. You learn how to set boundaries with the narcissist in your life. You must do this because they never will. This book will guide you through the healing process for your inner world. It is an excellent book for the beginner to narcissism, as well as for the seasoned reader.
Psychopath Free
Extreme behaviors become normal to us when we are dealing with charmers and manipulators. These toxic individuals lacking empathy wreak havoc on the lives of others. Their empty flattery turns into ruthless mind games and torture, leaving their victims devastated and confused.
This guide is written by a survivor. It is easy to read and understand and clears up so much of the confusion.
rethinking narcissism: the secret to recognizing and coping with narcissists
This book is written by Dr. Craig Malkin, a Harvard Medical School psychologist. He lays out the many different levels of narcissism, explaining the myriad of faces it can take. He explores the spectrum of narcissistic behavior, differentiating between healthy narcissism and unhealthy narcissism. He explains the dangers of extreme narcissism, as well as the dangers of the extreme lack of narcissism.
The self-applied Narcissistic Test found in the book offers an incredibly insightful look at yourself. I challenge you to be honest with yourself as you read this book.
Books on Mindfulness
One of the sure signs that you are dealing with a narcissistic person in your life is the sheer craziness that is running though your own head. They leave our minds spinning in circles. We replay conversations and scenarios over and over again. Analyzing, mentally arguing, defending, and justifying. We build more arguments that our city lawyers, and yet many of these arguments remain unvoiced. They just spin around and around inside us. This is why they call is "crazy-making."
It's time to stop the craziness. In order to do so, you must get on a path of mindfulness. What is that? It's quite simple. It is the process of becoming aware of all that crazy activity of your mind. With awareness comes control. You learn to slow your mind down and to use it the way you choose. You control it, not it controls you. A path of mindfulness has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in life. The benefits are unbelievable! Here are some of my absolute favorite books on mindfulness.
The Power of Now
The book by Eckhart Tolle is incredibly powerful and eye-opening. The simplicity of the language is easy to connect with and follow. He teaches how to leave the analytical mind and embrace your life now. This book will change your life forever.
The Book of Awakening
The author, Mark Nepo, is a poet and teacher. This book contains short inspirational readings for every day of the year. These stories and simple truths provide great wisdom and insight. His words are tender and yet profound. This is a great book to begin each day, setting yourself up for a more mindful day. It is also great for coming back to in the middle of the day when the mind is running on high power. This book is great for the beginner on a mindfulness journey and serves as small daily reminders for the traveler already underway.
Awareness: The Key to Living in Balance
I cannot possibly describe this book adequately. The author, Osho, takes an incredibly unique approach to the quality of awareness. It is in-depth teaching, yet with a simplicity that is extremely applicable to life. Osho has quite a few mindfulness books, and I highly recommend any and all of them.