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If You Had Controlling Parents: How to Make Peace With Your Past and Take Your Place in the World
As Edmund Burke said, "The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse." This is sometimes excruciatingly true with parents. There are the typically anxious ones who get a little uptight about letting their teenagers borrow the car, and then there are the rigid kinds who won't even let their kids leave the house when they want to--or even eat or go to the bathroom when they need to.
Written for the 14 million adult children who've survived an upbringing with the latter type of parents, If You Had Controlling Parents takes the classic Toxic Parents to a new level. Author Dan Neuharth, Ph.D., a family therapist, knows his subject thoroughly; he survived a childhood with a father who has the candor to refer to himself as "an S.O.B."
Neuharth says, "If your parents controlled you in unhealthy ways, they may have planted land mines in your psyche."
Research shows that behaviors and traits exhibited by adult children of controlling parents include the following: depression, low self-esteem, distorted self-image, eating disorders and other addictions, stress-related health problems, inability to sustain an intimate relationship, and more. While this may seem like a heavy lot to handle, Neuharth maintains there's always hope of overcoming the past and changing yourself--even if it means making the drastic move of cutting off contact with one or both of your parents.
He gives a lengthy self-test to determine if your parents were controlling; gives profiles of eight typical styles of controlling parents to help you better recognize how you may be presently affected by your upbringing; and then delves into the process of understanding why your parents acted the way they did in order to start healing emotionally. This is especially important, he says, if you now have children of your own and want to stop the damaging cycle of parental control. He doesn't give a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all recovery plan, but rather suggests several "paths to healing" and exercises to help you, as he terms it, "emotionally leave home." The book's subtitle--"A Guide for Letting Go of Anxiety, Self-Blame and Perfectionism and Improving Assertiveness, Boundaries and Confidence"--says it all. This is self-help at its best.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
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October 27, 2014
When I found out a couple of weeks ago that this book existed, I was shocked and so extremely happy. I hurried up and bought this book off of Amazon and began reading it as soon as it was delivered. I now consider this book to be my Bible.
Growing up, I always knew that there was something not quite normal about my family. My father worked 100 plus hours a week and very rarely wanted to spend time with me on his day off. In addition, he was drunk most of the time. That meant I was with my mother all the time. My mother was very controlling, and with the help of this book, I now know she was a smothering, depriving, and perfectionist controller, with slight hints of childlike and using showing up periodically.
I will list several examples from my childhood that show what I mean when I say my mother was controlling:
- She picked out my clothes for me. She chose what was purchased, when I wore an outfit and I had no say in if I liked it or not. She did this until I started high school. It felt great when I worked at a job and made money to buy myself an outfit. I will always remember what it looked like and where I bought it from.
- She packed me the same exact lunch from first grade until she allowed me to make my own lunch, again around the high school years. I had ham/turkey slices, carrot sticks, and a slice of cheese. Not exactly what children want to eat, and definitely did not eaten every single day.
- It was hard on my mother when I had friends over because she could not really control them. By second grade, I was not allowed to have friends over or go over to their houses.
- In addition, my mother did not want me to have friends, period. She would tell me how to act in school, and when I did, classmates acted like I was crazy and wanted nothing to do with me. I would tell my mother and she would say that they were jealous of my hair (!!!!) and to ignore them. By third grade, not a single classmate wanted anything to do with me due to my weird behavior. This lasted until after I graduated high school. I was very lonely and sad.
- I very rarely was able to see extended family. If I was at my grandparent’s house, I had to call my mom daily and if she did not like what I told her, she came to pick me up. I was virtually never allowed to see my dad’s side of the family. And when my grandma or aunt would try to make plans to get together, for a lunch or just a visit, my mom invariably cancelled. She could not stand the thought that circumstances might be beyond her control.
- I had to be perfect in school. I excelled at reading and writing but did poorly in math. We would spend hours after school, her attempting to drill math into my head. All it did was intimidate me and I did not do well. She would pound her fists on the table and scream at me.
- She often threatened to kill herself if I did not act the way she liked. One time, she was upset and I did not show enough compassion for her liking, so she screamed at me that she should just go to the kitchen and stab herself.
- Everything had to be spotless in our house. We would spend hours cleaning the house and be made to redo it if not up to par. If I did the dishes and one or two of them were still dirty, she would splash dirty sink water in my face and then make me rewash each and every dish, dirty or not.
- She would call family meetings. I knew this would be a time when all my faults would come out. She would sometimes sob that if I could just listen better, or love her more, everything would be ok.
- She treated my father like a child. He never stood up for himself or for me. He would seem relieved when I got into trouble as that took the heat off of him. To this day, I cannot stand my dad and believe if he tried to stand up for me when I was younger, I would be able to tolerate him better today.
- If we dropped food on our clothes while eating dinner, my mother would fly into a rage. It got to the point, during sixth grade, that I was so nervous to eat, that I usually skipped the meal or hardly ate at all. I lost a lot of weight during this time.
I liked that this book made me realize all of my feelings towards my parents that I have as an adult are normal and that many others feel the same way as I do. I very rarely call my parents and only see them now because of my own children.
Up until recently, I was afraid to do anything unless my mom was ok with it. I am married with two kids and still worried that she might get mad if I did something she did not like.
The third part in the book was very helpful. I like that the author said we had a choice as to how we dealt with the past. I have options and like that there is no time frame. I will keep this book and refer to it often. I also plan on reading some of the other books that Neuharth referenced as I think they will help, too.
Growing up, I always knew that there was something not quite normal about my family. My father worked 100 plus hours a week and very rarely wanted to spend time with me on his day off. In addition, he was drunk most of the time. That meant I was with my mother all the time. My mother was very controlling, and with the help of this book, I now know she was a smothering, depriving, and perfectionist controller, with slight hints of childlike and using showing up periodically.
I will list several examples from my childhood that show what I mean when I say my mother was controlling:
- She picked out my clothes for me. She chose what was purchased, when I wore an outfit and I had no say in if I liked it or not. She did this until I started high school. It felt great when I worked at a job and made money to buy myself an outfit. I will always remember what it looked like and where I bought it from.
- She packed me the same exact lunch from first grade until she allowed me to make my own lunch, again around the high school years. I had ham/turkey slices, carrot sticks, and a slice of cheese. Not exactly what children want to eat, and definitely did not eaten every single day.
- It was hard on my mother when I had friends over because she could not really control them. By second grade, I was not allowed to have friends over or go over to their houses.
- In addition, my mother did not want me to have friends, period. She would tell me how to act in school, and when I did, classmates acted like I was crazy and wanted nothing to do with me. I would tell my mother and she would say that they were jealous of my hair (!!!!) and to ignore them. By third grade, not a single classmate wanted anything to do with me due to my weird behavior. This lasted until after I graduated high school. I was very lonely and sad.
- I very rarely was able to see extended family. If I was at my grandparent’s house, I had to call my mom daily and if she did not like what I told her, she came to pick me up. I was virtually never allowed to see my dad’s side of the family. And when my grandma or aunt would try to make plans to get together, for a lunch or just a visit, my mom invariably cancelled. She could not stand the thought that circumstances might be beyond her control.
- I had to be perfect in school. I excelled at reading and writing but did poorly in math. We would spend hours after school, her attempting to drill math into my head. All it did was intimidate me and I did not do well. She would pound her fists on the table and scream at me.
- She often threatened to kill herself if I did not act the way she liked. One time, she was upset and I did not show enough compassion for her liking, so she screamed at me that she should just go to the kitchen and stab herself.
- Everything had to be spotless in our house. We would spend hours cleaning the house and be made to redo it if not up to par. If I did the dishes and one or two of them were still dirty, she would splash dirty sink water in my face and then make me rewash each and every dish, dirty or not.
- She would call family meetings. I knew this would be a time when all my faults would come out. She would sometimes sob that if I could just listen better, or love her more, everything would be ok.
- She treated my father like a child. He never stood up for himself or for me. He would seem relieved when I got into trouble as that took the heat off of him. To this day, I cannot stand my dad and believe if he tried to stand up for me when I was younger, I would be able to tolerate him better today.
- If we dropped food on our clothes while eating dinner, my mother would fly into a rage. It got to the point, during sixth grade, that I was so nervous to eat, that I usually skipped the meal or hardly ate at all. I lost a lot of weight during this time.
I liked that this book made me realize all of my feelings towards my parents that I have as an adult are normal and that many others feel the same way as I do. I very rarely call my parents and only see them now because of my own children.
Up until recently, I was afraid to do anything unless my mom was ok with it. I am married with two kids and still worried that she might get mad if I did something she did not like.
The third part in the book was very helpful. I like that the author said we had a choice as to how we dealt with the past. I have options and like that there is no time frame. I will keep this book and refer to it often. I also plan on reading some of the other books that Neuharth referenced as I think they will help, too.
May 27, 2019
A pretty thought-provoking book.
"More than anything, children want love. When you are a helpless, tiny creature in a world of giants in which events happen that you don't understand and can't control--a 'blooming, buzzing confusion,' as William James called an infant's experience--a parent who loves you and whom you can trust and love is the top priority for survival. Children need not only love but also all that goes with it: nurturing touch; acceptance; safety; belonging; being seen for who they are; and the freedom to laugh, cry, rage, and be afraid. Because they need love and acceptance so desperately, children will take them in any form they can get them. When they don't get love, they'll construe whatever they do get--including unhealthy control--as love. Therein lie the seeds of problems later in life.
"The most unfortunate parallel between controlling families and destructive cults is that parental control becomes internalized in children, just as cult dogma becomes internalized in cult members. No parent can be present twenty-four hours a day. But controlling parents don't have to physically be there because the family system installs an omnipresent inner controller in the child. These twenty-four-hour internalized parents, with their nagging commentary, second-guessing, and criticism, can perpetuate deprivation, perfectionism, and speech-and-feeling control well into adult life. The inner control may surface in the form of poor interpersonal boundaries, feelings of unworthiness, lowered expectations, self-loathing, fear of closeness, or poor self-image."
Exercises:
1. Meet your future self. When faced with a challenge or decision, envision yourself in 5 or 10 years, then ask your future self for advice. Doing so underlines the faith you have in your own innate development.
2. Trust yourself. Go through an hour assuming that you are completely trustworthy, your feelings reliable, and your intuition accurate. As situations come up, ask yourself, 'If I knew I was absolutely trustworthy, what would I do now?' This can help you see that you have within yourself all you need to handle challenges.
3. Trust gravity. One helpful exercise is Napier's 'Gravity-is-your-friend'. Lie down and feel the support of the bed or floor. Feel all you weight ease down into it and gradually let the ease deepen for five minutes. The earth will support your weight, and gravity will keep you grounded. Trust it. You can take this experience of trusting into relationships and situations.
4. Express gratitude. Take a minute at the end of the day to recollect all the experiences and gifts for which you are grateful.
5. Notice what you do. For one week, each night before bed spend 5 minutes listing what you accomplished, experienced, or became aware of that day. At the end of the week, look over your lists. You'll see plenty to acknowledge. This builds the inner nurturer instead of fueling the inner tyrants.
6. Explore various paths to spirituality. Pray. Meditate. Read. Visit a cemetery. Read about or visit Jerusalem or other 'holy' sites. Explore existential philosophy. Attend various church services such as an inner-city gospel, a fundamentalist tent revival, a Catholic mass, or a New Age or Zen center. Go on a vision quest.
"More than anything, children want love. When you are a helpless, tiny creature in a world of giants in which events happen that you don't understand and can't control--a 'blooming, buzzing confusion,' as William James called an infant's experience--a parent who loves you and whom you can trust and love is the top priority for survival. Children need not only love but also all that goes with it: nurturing touch; acceptance; safety; belonging; being seen for who they are; and the freedom to laugh, cry, rage, and be afraid. Because they need love and acceptance so desperately, children will take them in any form they can get them. When they don't get love, they'll construe whatever they do get--including unhealthy control--as love. Therein lie the seeds of problems later in life.
"The most unfortunate parallel between controlling families and destructive cults is that parental control becomes internalized in children, just as cult dogma becomes internalized in cult members. No parent can be present twenty-four hours a day. But controlling parents don't have to physically be there because the family system installs an omnipresent inner controller in the child. These twenty-four-hour internalized parents, with their nagging commentary, second-guessing, and criticism, can perpetuate deprivation, perfectionism, and speech-and-feeling control well into adult life. The inner control may surface in the form of poor interpersonal boundaries, feelings of unworthiness, lowered expectations, self-loathing, fear of closeness, or poor self-image."
Exercises:
1. Meet your future self. When faced with a challenge or decision, envision yourself in 5 or 10 years, then ask your future self for advice. Doing so underlines the faith you have in your own innate development.
2. Trust yourself. Go through an hour assuming that you are completely trustworthy, your feelings reliable, and your intuition accurate. As situations come up, ask yourself, 'If I knew I was absolutely trustworthy, what would I do now?' This can help you see that you have within yourself all you need to handle challenges.
3. Trust gravity. One helpful exercise is Napier's 'Gravity-is-your-friend'. Lie down and feel the support of the bed or floor. Feel all you weight ease down into it and gradually let the ease deepen for five minutes. The earth will support your weight, and gravity will keep you grounded. Trust it. You can take this experience of trusting into relationships and situations.
4. Express gratitude. Take a minute at the end of the day to recollect all the experiences and gifts for which you are grateful.
5. Notice what you do. For one week, each night before bed spend 5 minutes listing what you accomplished, experienced, or became aware of that day. At the end of the week, look over your lists. You'll see plenty to acknowledge. This builds the inner nurturer instead of fueling the inner tyrants.
6. Explore various paths to spirituality. Pray. Meditate. Read. Visit a cemetery. Read about or visit Jerusalem or other 'holy' sites. Explore existential philosophy. Attend various church services such as an inner-city gospel, a fundamentalist tent revival, a Catholic mass, or a New Age or Zen center. Go on a vision quest.
March 25, 2014
This is a good read for anyone who had controlling parents - not just domineering parents (though these are included) those whose parents were controlling in other ways.
Neuharth outlines the different types of unhealthy control that parents might exert on their children, as well as some of the likely results in the children and the adults these children become.
One of the aspects of the book that I really appreciated was that Neuharth avoids assuming that a) a particular type of controlling parental behaviour will necessarily lead to a particular type of result in a child - he outlines the most likely and most often found impacts that people experience but recognizes that individuals have individual responses; and b) Neuharth allows the readers to choose options that might work best for themselves in modify and/or eliminating dysfunctional responses they have as adults as a result of having controlling parents.
Unlike some writers, who claim that 'you can heal so long as you follow my rules and/or my step-by-step program', Neuharth outlines a number of techniques that have proven helpful to him and/or his clients in overcoming different types of responses to different types of controlling behaviours. Neuharth is very forthright, acknowledging that while these techniques are likely to offer help to individuals, each reader might find all, some, or even none of the suggestions useful for a particular situation. Neuharth empowers the reader simply by giving options and assuming (with some gentle guidance) that the reader is capable of making decisions for themselves.
I also appreciate that Neuharth does not make 'forgiveness' a pre-requisite for healing, this is in stark contrast to many individuals and books I have come across in my own journey. Neuharth discusses forgiveness and outlines the reasons why this path might work for people and also why it not be a good choice, and might even be detrimental to an individual's healing process. Again, Neuharth empowers the reader by assuming he/she is able to assess the options and decide for themselves what the best choice might be.
I will end in the spirit of Neuharth: If you had controlling parents, consider that this book might offer some extremely valuable advice to you in your healing journey.
Neuharth outlines the different types of unhealthy control that parents might exert on their children, as well as some of the likely results in the children and the adults these children become.
One of the aspects of the book that I really appreciated was that Neuharth avoids assuming that a) a particular type of controlling parental behaviour will necessarily lead to a particular type of result in a child - he outlines the most likely and most often found impacts that people experience but recognizes that individuals have individual responses; and b) Neuharth allows the readers to choose options that might work best for themselves in modify and/or eliminating dysfunctional responses they have as adults as a result of having controlling parents.
Unlike some writers, who claim that 'you can heal so long as you follow my rules and/or my step-by-step program', Neuharth outlines a number of techniques that have proven helpful to him and/or his clients in overcoming different types of responses to different types of controlling behaviours. Neuharth is very forthright, acknowledging that while these techniques are likely to offer help to individuals, each reader might find all, some, or even none of the suggestions useful for a particular situation. Neuharth empowers the reader simply by giving options and assuming (with some gentle guidance) that the reader is capable of making decisions for themselves.
I also appreciate that Neuharth does not make 'forgiveness' a pre-requisite for healing, this is in stark contrast to many individuals and books I have come across in my own journey. Neuharth discusses forgiveness and outlines the reasons why this path might work for people and also why it not be a good choice, and might even be detrimental to an individual's healing process. Again, Neuharth empowers the reader by assuming he/she is able to assess the options and decide for themselves what the best choice might be.
I will end in the spirit of Neuharth: If you had controlling parents, consider that this book might offer some extremely valuable advice to you in your healing journey.
May 28, 2019
Unfortunately, this book was not for me; not because I didn't have controlling parents, but because 75% of the book is about identifying the problems caused by your controlling parents in your childhood and I've already done that part. I was mainly interested in the healing process and what I found here was inadequate, or things I'd already read elsewhere or figured out for myself.
There is a large part of the book that's concerned with putting everything in boxes: types of controlling parents, type of effects on their children, methods of manipulation/control and how to figure out where you or your parents belong. Personally, I can't see any use at all for that knowledge and the author doesn't offer any different advice for the healing depending on the kind of control your parents exercised.
The 'why' however can help, but I think I've figured it out myself a few years ago: My mother was neglected as a child so when she made her own family, she decided to claim the spotlight she felt she'd always deserved. That meant we all had to appear perfect to outsiders so that everyone would admire or even envy her. Outside the house she was always smiling, helping people, with a kind word for everyone and perfect manners. Inside she would criticize all those people she'd praised an hour ago, humiliate anyone who'd disagreed with her, refuse to give praise for an 'A' because -as she claimed- then we wouldn't have any motivation to strive for an 'A+'. When we'd get an 'A+' she'd remind us of the 'A-' or 'B+' we got in another class. I felt like a hamster running inside a wheel with no end in sight. She'd tell me I was 'selfish', 'ungrateful' and 'too difficult for anyone to handle' when I reached puberty and started rebelling against her. If I said that she was being hurtful or unjust she'd tell me to 'just get over it' while reminding me that everyone liked her so I obviously had to be wrong in thinking unkindly of her and since her reasoning made sense, I believed her. It goes without saying that my mother (my father was so enthralled by her, he always followed her lead) had a say on what we'll study, on what we wore, on our boyfriends/girlfriends (=that was a big fat 'NO' for both my brother and me, as flirting would take our focus away from good grades), and the friends we kept (=only those with good grades or good breeding were deemed acceptable). After I got in the university she stated that now I should find myself a good boyfriend (=one that ticks several boxes like wealth, breeding and education), after I finished and got a job that now was the time to find myself a husband and after I got married and barely 3 months into our marriage, she told me I should get pregnant soon because she was in a good age to become a grandmother and if I left it for later, she'd be too tired to help me. Even now that I'm over 40, my mother calls to say her opinion about how to raise our kids, how often I should clean the house or how to style my hair.
All that said, the stories in this book made me feel guilty for thinking badly of her, as she didn't physically abuse me, she only withheld hugs when we didn't act as she wished but otherwise would play games with us and laugh and sit by our bedside when sick, she didn't order for us in restaurants as I read in here. However, I do believe that subtler forms of control can be just as devastating because the back and forth between loving parent and emotional abuser makes it even more difficult for the children to realize that this environment is unhealthy and that their parents, while well meaning, have scarred them for life.
As for the healing part of the book, I didn't find much practical advice as I'd expected. I liked that the author doesn't 'force' you to forgive your parents in order to heal as most books out there do, nor is he a believer that you have to confront them in order to get better. But if your parents are not 100% evil, there's no clear advice on what to do to salvage your relationship with them without cutting ties with them. Plus, because my mother was not as bad as those stories mentioned in this book, I now feel even guiltier than before I picked it up for wanting to distance myself from her.
You can’t change them, you won’t beat them, and you probably won’t get them to see the “error of their ways.”
....
Controlling parents are generally disinterested in exploring their adult children’s grievances with them. When one forty-four-year-old man wrote a letter to his self-centered father telling him what troubled him in their relationship, the Using father wrote back with an attack. “He said, in essence, ‘Don’t blame me—everything good in your life you got from me, everything bad in your life is your own doing,’” recalls his son
.....
All parents want to be appreciated by their children. Healthier parents recognize that appreciation is a gift their children may give, not something they must give. Healthier mothers and fathers may crave their children’s love, respect, approval, and loyalty, but generally recognize that things like respect and approval must be earned by parents as well as by children.
Controlling parents, however, don’t seem to know that truth. If they felt they had to earn their own parents’ love, they may feel entitled to their children’s love. In controlling families, need is stronger than love. Controlling parents need, expect, even command their children to love, appreciate, admire, listen to, and reflect well on them. Because controlling parents believe they own their children, they feel justified in such expectations.
In short: This book is recommended for people who have only now began to realize that their parents may have screwed them up by over-controlling them. If you're already further along in your journey to become a really independent adult, look elsewhere.
There is a large part of the book that's concerned with putting everything in boxes: types of controlling parents, type of effects on their children, methods of manipulation/control and how to figure out where you or your parents belong. Personally, I can't see any use at all for that knowledge and the author doesn't offer any different advice for the healing depending on the kind of control your parents exercised.
The 'why' however can help, but I think I've figured it out myself a few years ago: My mother was neglected as a child so when she made her own family, she decided to claim the spotlight she felt she'd always deserved. That meant we all had to appear perfect to outsiders so that everyone would admire or even envy her. Outside the house she was always smiling, helping people, with a kind word for everyone and perfect manners. Inside she would criticize all those people she'd praised an hour ago, humiliate anyone who'd disagreed with her, refuse to give praise for an 'A' because -as she claimed- then we wouldn't have any motivation to strive for an 'A+'. When we'd get an 'A+' she'd remind us of the 'A-' or 'B+' we got in another class. I felt like a hamster running inside a wheel with no end in sight. She'd tell me I was 'selfish', 'ungrateful' and 'too difficult for anyone to handle' when I reached puberty and started rebelling against her. If I said that she was being hurtful or unjust she'd tell me to 'just get over it' while reminding me that everyone liked her so I obviously had to be wrong in thinking unkindly of her and since her reasoning made sense, I believed her. It goes without saying that my mother (my father was so enthralled by her, he always followed her lead) had a say on what we'll study, on what we wore, on our boyfriends/girlfriends (=that was a big fat 'NO' for both my brother and me, as flirting would take our focus away from good grades), and the friends we kept (=only those with good grades or good breeding were deemed acceptable). After I got in the university she stated that now I should find myself a good boyfriend (=one that ticks several boxes like wealth, breeding and education), after I finished and got a job that now was the time to find myself a husband and after I got married and barely 3 months into our marriage, she told me I should get pregnant soon because she was in a good age to become a grandmother and if I left it for later, she'd be too tired to help me. Even now that I'm over 40, my mother calls to say her opinion about how to raise our kids, how often I should clean the house or how to style my hair.
All that said, the stories in this book made me feel guilty for thinking badly of her, as she didn't physically abuse me, she only withheld hugs when we didn't act as she wished but otherwise would play games with us and laugh and sit by our bedside when sick, she didn't order for us in restaurants as I read in here. However, I do believe that subtler forms of control can be just as devastating because the back and forth between loving parent and emotional abuser makes it even more difficult for the children to realize that this environment is unhealthy and that their parents, while well meaning, have scarred them for life.
As for the healing part of the book, I didn't find much practical advice as I'd expected. I liked that the author doesn't 'force' you to forgive your parents in order to heal as most books out there do, nor is he a believer that you have to confront them in order to get better. But if your parents are not 100% evil, there's no clear advice on what to do to salvage your relationship with them without cutting ties with them. Plus, because my mother was not as bad as those stories mentioned in this book, I now feel even guiltier than before I picked it up for wanting to distance myself from her.
You can’t change them, you won’t beat them, and you probably won’t get them to see the “error of their ways.”
....
Controlling parents are generally disinterested in exploring their adult children’s grievances with them. When one forty-four-year-old man wrote a letter to his self-centered father telling him what troubled him in their relationship, the Using father wrote back with an attack. “He said, in essence, ‘Don’t blame me—everything good in your life you got from me, everything bad in your life is your own doing,’” recalls his son
.....
All parents want to be appreciated by their children. Healthier parents recognize that appreciation is a gift their children may give, not something they must give. Healthier mothers and fathers may crave their children’s love, respect, approval, and loyalty, but generally recognize that things like respect and approval must be earned by parents as well as by children.
Controlling parents, however, don’t seem to know that truth. If they felt they had to earn their own parents’ love, they may feel entitled to their children’s love. In controlling families, need is stronger than love. Controlling parents need, expect, even command their children to love, appreciate, admire, listen to, and reflect well on them. Because controlling parents believe they own their children, they feel justified in such expectations.
In short: This book is recommended for people who have only now began to realize that their parents may have screwed them up by over-controlling them. If you're already further along in your journey to become a really independent adult, look elsewhere.
June 6, 2021
Absolute must read if you've had issues with controlling parents in the past. It's been so helpful and so comforting.
November 2, 2020
"While your life may have lacked happy beginnings, there is plenty you can do to increase the chances of happy endings."
I got this read because of my Law of Attraction as to have at-least one Book about emotionally abusive children around the world with their wounds and survival against unemotional and depriving parents. This Book is unique in a sense that it focuses on children and never forces them to forget and forgive with toxic positivity. I am grateful to Dr. Neuharth for declaring that, mourning is all normal and only after that you will be able to move forward in your life!
It does feel bad that many suffered or are still suffering the pain but it does feel good also that, we are not alone, we are all one!
This Book made me cry so hard that I stopped reading it for a few days because the first rule of healing is to 'face your loss and accept the pain.' The chapters made me recall all the dark memories buried somewhere deep inside my heart and facing them with every single page required immense amount of courage. The survival stories mentioned in the Book made me feel as if I am holding hands of all the survivors by telling them that, "we are all strong."
I wanted to Thank Dr. Neuharth from the bottom of my heart for writing this extremely important Book. It feels great to have at least one person who dare to write with such courage about the dysfunctional families and child emotional abuse.
His powerful, soothing and inspiring words are still with me and I always remember them, forever.
"Though you had little power in a controlling family, you were more than a passive recipient of parental control. It's helpful to see yourself as both victim and survivor, as innocent wounded child and courageous, resourceful warrior, because you were all of them."
I got this read because of my Law of Attraction as to have at-least one Book about emotionally abusive children around the world with their wounds and survival against unemotional and depriving parents. This Book is unique in a sense that it focuses on children and never forces them to forget and forgive with toxic positivity. I am grateful to Dr. Neuharth for declaring that, mourning is all normal and only after that you will be able to move forward in your life!
It does feel bad that many suffered or are still suffering the pain but it does feel good also that, we are not alone, we are all one!
This Book made me cry so hard that I stopped reading it for a few days because the first rule of healing is to 'face your loss and accept the pain.' The chapters made me recall all the dark memories buried somewhere deep inside my heart and facing them with every single page required immense amount of courage. The survival stories mentioned in the Book made me feel as if I am holding hands of all the survivors by telling them that, "we are all strong."
I wanted to Thank Dr. Neuharth from the bottom of my heart for writing this extremely important Book. It feels great to have at least one person who dare to write with such courage about the dysfunctional families and child emotional abuse.
His powerful, soothing and inspiring words are still with me and I always remember them, forever.
"Though you had little power in a controlling family, you were more than a passive recipient of parental control. It's helpful to see yourself as both victim and survivor, as innocent wounded child and courageous, resourceful warrior, because you were all of them."
November 15, 2009
This (short) review has been moved to: http://bit.ly/Z2lKHw
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October 25, 2012Intense, but necessary for me.
July 13, 2013
The book has many disturbing examples of parental neglect and abuse. A very thought provoking read to understand how some people are the way they are. Seventy percent of the book is focused on very practical ways to deal with growing up with troubled parents. It's a book for illustrating what not to do as a parent and also how to emerge as an independent, healthy human being. Great read.
August 21, 2013
I must read for a lot of people I know who (won't) read this.
So many people who grew up in the fundamentalist community should read this.
They could use a better understanding of themselves and the healing they need to seek out.
This book offers that.
There are lots of little exercises I'll be doing in the future to help heal my screwed-up thinking about the world.
So many people who grew up in the fundamentalist community should read this.
They could use a better understanding of themselves and the healing they need to seek out.
This book offers that.
There are lots of little exercises I'll be doing in the future to help heal my screwed-up thinking about the world.
August 15, 2020
So many parts of this had me nodding my head and exclaiming, "Yes!!!" Easy to read and very helpful. It validated how much work I've already done to escape the legacy of my controlling parent. If you experience(d) this, it will help you too.
August 5, 2021
I fell in love with this journey. Gave me new ideas and a new view of my parents. It's really helpful 🤍
الرحلة كانت ممتعة جداً، فيها من الألم وتوسيع الفكر وكمية كبيرة من القبول للذات وللغير.
الرحلة كانت ممتعة جداً، فيها من الألم وتوسيع الفكر وكمية كبيرة من القبول للذات وللغير.
December 30, 2022
This is a hard book to read emotionally but has great advice and tips on healing from psychological abuse.
July 10, 2018
I am very disappointed with this book. It was not beneficial to me at all. Part of this is because the bulk of this book is identifying different abusive/controlling types of parents and identifying whether or not you may have been abused/controlled. I personally have known for years that I have, without a doubt, been controlled and continue to be controlled by my parents. I know why they are the way they are, which brings me to my next point.
I am a Middle Eastern woman, and my parents (especially father) is the stereotypical controlling Middle Eastern man. My mother has always been a victim of his controlling personality, too. However, out of fear and conditioning, she has always sided with him, been emotionally unavailable, used guilt tripping as a technique to not get involved in our issues with our father. Thus, much of the qualities and characteristics of my parents were mentioned and explained in this book.
My issue with the book, then, is a personal one. I think many people can read this book and find some level of insight. I just couldn’t relate. This book talks about the different reasons a parent may be the way they are. With my parents, it’s just a matter of cultural conditioning. Yes, I can definitely pinpoint their trauma growing up in a dictatorship as a reason for why they are the way they are. But the bottom line is - they were brought up in a culture where women are the defenders of family “honor.” This mindset has been around for centuries for one purpose alone: to control women. This mindset is deeply engrained into my parents’ minds, so there is no working through it or around it. “That’s just the way it is,” and I either accept it or I leave and have nothing to do with my parents ever again.
Anyway, I am not knocking the book. This is something I should have taken into consideration prior to purchasing the book. This is obviously not meant to target the ethnic children of crazy ethnic parents (LOL).
I am a Middle Eastern woman, and my parents (especially father) is the stereotypical controlling Middle Eastern man. My mother has always been a victim of his controlling personality, too. However, out of fear and conditioning, she has always sided with him, been emotionally unavailable, used guilt tripping as a technique to not get involved in our issues with our father. Thus, much of the qualities and characteristics of my parents were mentioned and explained in this book.
My issue with the book, then, is a personal one. I think many people can read this book and find some level of insight. I just couldn’t relate. This book talks about the different reasons a parent may be the way they are. With my parents, it’s just a matter of cultural conditioning. Yes, I can definitely pinpoint their trauma growing up in a dictatorship as a reason for why they are the way they are. But the bottom line is - they were brought up in a culture where women are the defenders of family “honor.” This mindset has been around for centuries for one purpose alone: to control women. This mindset is deeply engrained into my parents’ minds, so there is no working through it or around it. “That’s just the way it is,” and I either accept it or I leave and have nothing to do with my parents ever again.
Anyway, I am not knocking the book. This is something I should have taken into consideration prior to purchasing the book. This is obviously not meant to target the ethnic children of crazy ethnic parents (LOL).
August 28, 2017
This book helped me through some very painful parts of my life, and will continue to help me. I started it over a year ago, and put it down when it got too painful. Now, I've finished it, and I can say I've grown as a person and in being able to acknowledge the nuance that is in this book: what my parents did is not my fault, but what I do from here on out is my responsibility. It's a lot more freeing of a statement than I realized when I first saw it.
I can only highly recommend this book to folks like me who grew up with very controlling parents.
I can only highly recommend this book to folks like me who grew up with very controlling parents.
March 24, 2018
Essentially if your parents were controlling then you seem to have no backbone and thus your children might pick up on this and treat you the same as their grandparent treated you. Despite the negative effects on the child's happy childhood your attempts to counteract can backfire and start the whole process all over again. Worth a read but the upshot here is you can never have enough friends to tell the next generation that the past one was not very kind and they should not emulate them. Good luck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 16, 2017Took a long time to get through this due to much needed processing time. I thought the last third was very very good and helpful. I found the first sections quite graphic and disturbing, actually exploitative. Be forewarned. I would imagine the descriptions of people's experiences could be quite triggering to some, so just know what you're getting into.
Currently reading
December 1, 2016I have just started the book, but am shocked how much it makes sense and applies to me. The categories are helpful and puts things into perspective for me.
Although the stories in the book seem small compared to mine.
I look forward to the healing process.
Although the stories in the book seem small compared to mine.
I look forward to the healing process.
April 14, 2018
This is an extremely helpful book for anyone whose parent(s) fit the description. This book came equipped with quite a few tactics and truths. Definitely a book worth keeping as a reference.
October 17, 2024
我悟了大家为什么都活得像有病的原因了，每个人都是强控制下活的傀儡
April 16, 2014
If you had controlling parents and have never worked through the emotions associated with your experiences, this is a great book to read. The author shares a variety of stories that demonstrate mildly controlling parents to off the charts controlling parents. Each scenario gives the reader reason to pause and ponder their own experiences. Going through this exercise can help you understand yourself and stop blaming yourself for things that were out of your control as a child. Even if you have worked through your experience with controlling parents, the latter half of the book discusses reasons why your parents are the way you are. The author doesn't excuse our parents or the way they treated us. But by helping us understand our parents, and the possible reasons for their behavior, it may be easier to feel sympathy for them and ultimately forgive them so that they no longer have power over us.
August 10, 2016
Should be required reading for people in any sort of relationship with a controlling person, not just a parent. Summary: You have a right to individuate yourself, and to honour your individuality and your sense of safety in various ways, including distancing yourself from the person that harmed you.
Neuharth details the subtleties of various forms of controlling behaviour and the often decades-long devastation they wreak on the controllee's self-confidence, trust in his/her own opinions, thoughts, and perceptions of reality. He addresses parental normalization or outright denial of the fucked-upness they inflict on their children, leads the reader through the emotional complexities of acknowledging the damage, and how to deal with simultaneously loving and being justifiably angry at the controller. Most importantly, for my money, Neuharth validates controllees' feelings of hurt and anger, and offers diverse and concrete suggestions to figure out what path forward is best for you.
Neuharth details the subtleties of various forms of controlling behaviour and the often decades-long devastation they wreak on the controllee's self-confidence, trust in his/her own opinions, thoughts, and perceptions of reality. He addresses parental normalization or outright denial of the fucked-upness they inflict on their children, leads the reader through the emotional complexities of acknowledging the damage, and how to deal with simultaneously loving and being justifiably angry at the controller. Most importantly, for my money, Neuharth validates controllees' feelings of hurt and anger, and offers diverse and concrete suggestions to figure out what path forward is best for you.
September 29, 2008
You might be surprised how many of the various terrors of childhood in the shadow of bad parenting fall under the rubric of overcontrol. Author Dan Neuharth breaks down various types of controllers, and various styles and methods of control, so that the reader, provided, of course, they had experienced overcontrol when growing up, might more easily pinpoint the genesis of some of their personal anguish. He uses case histories to serve as examples of the various types of controllers, as well as to help the reader jog his/her memory as to any relatable experiences from his/her own life. Neuharth also provides suggestions of how to deal with and heal from the pain of such a childhood. Full of insights and eye-openers. Highly recommended.
October 28, 2012
I had to read this book pretty slow not because it was a difficult read but the content will bring back a lot of memories. The book surfaced a lot of emotions that I tried to ignore, but without letting them manifest I would never heal. I really appreciate the message in this book because we all were controlled and do control others in some way. The message is to recognize our faults and learn from them. Its a daily practice that will never end.
December 13, 2011
Yes, another pop-psych book. This was very insightful, and gave me lots of memories to regurgitate and detoxify. I'd recommend this for any and everyone to read, because ALL of us have been controlled and controlling at some point. Awareness is the first step to recovery--even if you didn't have controlling parents, you're interacting with many who had. It's time to grow up the healthy way!
August 25, 2013
Lots of repetition in this book but that doesn't bother me because what I find most helpful is the pages seem to validate my feelings. It's like have a personal therapist that understands me and all I need to do is read a paragraph or two. I'm not saying this is 'the book' to understanding self and family but it has helped me release deep seeded feelings inside me.
November 3, 2012
I only got through about half of this - meant to finish it but what I'd already read was a lot to chew on, and then I passed it on to a friend who needed it too. I feel like the part that I read gave me what I needed although I'm curious to read the rest.
July 11, 2015
If you fit into this category, this book is a must read. It is very helpful with breakdowns of scenarios and analysis. It provides insight, explanations and practical steps of healing. I had borrowed this book from the library and then had to purchase a copy so that I could mark it up!
May 30, 2020
Easy to read. Straight forward. Full of clear examples and case studies. Contains strategies and exercises to aid in recovery. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who feels they may have been overcontrolled in childhood. You'll find validation, relief, and a path forward.
March 4, 2009
i actually purchased this book for my boyfriend but find it very interesting and am reading it before i give it to him to read
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