We are living in a world where narcissists are coming out of the woodwork. Certainly the White House seems to be occupied by one.
And what about the victims of narcissists — their spouses and their children? Victim wounds are usually deep, painful and crippling. However in our society we prefer not to acknowledge any affliction that cannot be proven in a laboratory or a court of law.
And this is why I believe every parent — from the brand new parents all the way to the seasoned grandparent — needs to read Toxic Parents, Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy And Reclaiming Your Life by Susan Forward.
Maybe you were affected by a toxic parent. Maybe you do not believe you were. Certainly you do not want to be or become one.
I am not referring to blatant abuse that happens in the public eye. I am talking about hidden, secret, unconscious abuse that takes place in families where narcissism and other disorders are untreated and running rampant.
And let’s say your parents were not toxic and you are not toxic. It’s crucial to not dismiss or minimize the real-life trauma that others have experienced and are experiencing. You can also be a healthy adult with good boundaries in an abused kids’ life. People like this can make a huge difference to a child who does not even know how traumatized he is.
Personally, I believe that President Trump is in the White House to give the world a crash course in narcissism. We all need to raise our awareness about what narcissistic abuse is and isn’t. And then we need to examine our own families and family histories. Because kids are traumatized each and every day by narcissistic parents, who are never, ever going to seek help themselves. What are we going to do about it?
We can at least educate ourselves. Even if we cannot change narcissists, I think we can still empower victims. And I think we can start by making books like this more known and more widely recommended. Please share this post if you agree with me and comment on any other books you admire on this topic in the comments section.
