Will I Ever Be Good Enough?: Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers

This book made me cry. It's so good! I related immensly to it in so many ways. The book made me realize so much. I was addicted the second i started. I finished it in 48hrs. I was reading it relating to it but as if it wasn't me and someone else. The bokk has been very healing , please do yourself justice and read it if this is relatable to you.

Excellent book! Highly recomend it! Excellence in telling who you are and what to do with yourself! Why did it take so long!

There is not a single page in this book which doesn't resonate with me. I was my mother's mini-me, her mirror of the world, my actions a reflection of her, and, always, always, I had to present perfection and a happy exterior. As a child I knew this was an odd existence and I knew I was being set up to fail but I had no voice nor the language of empathy to express my feelings. Everything was superficial, about how 'other people' would perceive me (or rather her). I just tried to please and to seek acknowledgement at every turn but ultimately was left wondering why I never received it and why I was never quite good enough. I am 50 now and my mother died nearly 15 years ago. I saw the light in my early 20s and knew that I had to begin the process of disassociation but I had no explanation for what was going on around me. Now I know what has been going on. If you are wondering whether this is a painfully exposing read, it is not. It is written in a friendly, hugely accessible way - like talking to someone who really knows you well - but if you are not already in therapy you may want to consider dovetailing this with some counselling. I have nearly finished my training as a counsellor and this book has opened up elements of my Jungian 'shadow', freeing me to think independently and enabling me to understand my behaviour, my past relationships and the way I interact with my own children today. The book is divided into three sections: 1/ Recognising the Problem 2/ How Narcissistic Mothering affects Your Entire Life; and finally 3/ Ending the Legacy. The check lists, the questions to ask ourselves and the tips and suggestions for 'managing' your mother are relevant and achievable. There are masses of case studies and reflections from McBride's own clients which make the text real. The book doesn't advocate happy endings or attempt to encourage us achieve harmonious relationships with our mothers, rather it offers ways to keep safe, to foster healthy relationships away from mother with a focus on our own internal healing. The focus of the book is on dealing with a mother who is still alive so my only small gripe is that there is one small paragraph entitled 'What if mother is deceased?' I would have liked to see a bit more on this aspect but I think this is where therapy comes in. However, do not let this put you off. Reading this book has been a true revelation but, most importantly, I now realise that I am not alone.

Seul livre sur les victimes des PN: les enfants du couple. Alors que cela devrait etre le coeur du probleme.

Great book. It is a great insight for anyone who has been struggling all their life thinking they are not good enough due to a damaged childhood. It made me cry a lot in the beginning of a few chapters and towards the end of the book it was healing. It felt like I was finally being seen and reading some pages felt like a hug. Please read if you have had narcissist mother/emotionally unavailable parents. Many hugs to anyone going through a chronic difficult adult life like I have been. I truly know how it is. The little wounded child inside me has been screaming all these years. This book saw me, heard me and helf my hands and said I am going to get through this and it brought me so many tears and i owe a great thanks and a hug to Karyl. Thank you so much for writing this book.