For fellow survivors of chronic childhood abuse, this is a comprehensive list of affordable and accessible resources I have personally engaged on my journey healing from complex PTSD and Fearful Avoidant Attachment. Sending you love, light, courage, ...
Sections
7
WORKBOOKS
MEMOIRS
EDUCATIONAL BOOKS
ARTICLES
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
PODCASTS
WORKBOOKS
Extremely effective for improving self awareness and breaking out of unhealthy patterns, workbooks are my FAVORITE self-help tool. Strongly recommend to people who are interested in therapy but don't have the resources at the moment
The ultimate guide to cPSTD, this workbook helped me make sense of my more ambiguous symptoms and begin to identify my internalized abusive parent
Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving Guide
Recently purchased after seeing a viral TikTok - 3 chapters in and LOVING it. Soothing and inspiring guide to inner peace
The Inner Work: True Freedom and Happiness
The activities in this workbook changed my life!!! Allowed me to look at my childhood through a lens of objectivity and finally break out of the trauma bond with my mother and other abusive figures in my life
Breaking Free: A Recovery Workbook for Codependence
MEMOIRS
Stories from other survivors of fucked up childhoods have been a great source of comfort and perspective on my journey. Love love love healing through memoirs!
Came out on my birthday… thanks Jennette! 🫶
I'm Glad My Mom Died
A powerful read, this is actually the book that triggered my repressed memories of being badly beaten in childhood 3 weeks after I quit drinking. Tough to read at times (trigger warning) but I highly recommend
What My Bones Know: Healing from Complex Trauma
Especially recommend to domestic violence survivors, people who have endured racism, and late bloomers looking for inspo
Finding Me
Super inspiring - although admittedly a tad condescending at times - Jewel's memoir is a great mix of storytelling and personal development advice, especially for those also recovering from substance abuse
Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story
The first memoir to make me feel like my childhood wasn't so bad after all… this memoir truly made me sick at times. Extremely valuable for perspective taking. Danielle is a fucking badass.
Uncultured
Especially recommended to high achievers from dysfunctional families and children of alcoholics. My childhood therapist got me this memoir when I was 13 years old… crazy to reflect on
The Glass Castle
Another great one for perspective taking, a therapist wrote this about her work with her most traumatized clients. An insightful reminder of the unspeakable things people around us have endured and overcome.
Good Morning, Monster
For all the girlies with an on again, off again relationship with a crazy mom 😅
With or Without You
For those questioning their relationship with alcohol!
Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget
Great for survivors of families where fathers (particularly alcoholic ones) called all the shots and readers interested in feminist themes. Bit of a slow read at first but overall I really enjoyed this story of a girl growing up in the 60s.
KooKooLand
The story of a girl with an incarcerated father and emotionally unavailable mother - described as a ‘slow and steady read’ in an Amazon review and I would agree. Trigger warning for CSA. Themes of self esteem and realistic expectations for reconcilia...
Somebody's Daughter
Fascinating story of a girl growing up with mentally ill, off the grid parents and achieving great academic success. Falls short of true vulnerability in my opinion as she divulges sensitive details but doesn't give insight to her thoughts, feelings,...
Educated
EDUCATIONAL BOOKS
Books to help you make sense of what you've been through
One of the most highly recommended books for survivors of toxic parents. Extremely comforting and illuminating, reading it feels like a hug.
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
FREE PDF! 😘
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
Part 2!
Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents
Recommended by my current EMDR therapist, I have only been able to read in small doses as I find myself getting fucking angry 😅 So real it hurts. Extremely insightful
Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters Can Heal
This one was really great to read again and again throughout this journey and notice how my reactions to it changed as I heal more and more. The more you heal, the more it resonates and makes sense
Whole Again: Healing After Toxic Relationships
This one gets a bit woo woo but it's very soothing and inspiring - also helped me break out of a long term dissociative episode I didn't even realize I was in… 😅
Emotional Freedom: Liberate from Negative Emotions
Great complement and/or starting point to the workbook I recommended earlier in this list!
Codependent No More: Stop Controlling Others
If you've been in close relationships with disturbed people who have absolutely 0 remorse for the unspeakable things they've done… this one's for you!
Psychopath Free: Recovering from Abusive Relationships
Workbook lite! Loved the exercises in this one
Healing Adult Children of Narcissists: Essays
For my r/raisedbyborderlines girlies (and boys 😊)
When Your Mother Has Borderline Personality Disorder
ARTICLES
Quick reads 😊
Funny and real 😂
The Pros And Cons Of Growing Up With Crazy Parents
Healing can be overwhelming… I've been diligently unpacking my childhood for 4 years now and have years to go. Really appreciated this sort of step by step guide!
9 Steps to Healing Childhood Trauma as an Adult
Although rona is “over” this is a timeless piece on coping with life's stressors as a cPTSD survivor
Still Scared After All These Years: Traumatic Stress Reactivated in a Time of Global Crisis
Informative explanation on the development of PTSD in child abuse survivors
PTSD in Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
More in-depth, scientific read on the impact of child abuse on the brain
Wounds That Time Won’t Heal: The Neurobiology of Child Abuse
Brief discussion on how the mind represses mems of abuse
It's Not Your Fault: How the Mind Copes with Abuse by Someone Close to You
Fellow survivors of Family Scapegoating Abuse, I see you!
Child Roles in the Narcissistic Family: Scapegoat
One of the most powerful articles I've read on the scapegoat experience
The narcissistic family's scapegoat: Survival and Recovery
Insightful read for scapegoats and golden children alike
Toxic Sibling Dynamics in Narcissistic Families
This one will help you stay sane as you navigate a journey many people will never understand
5 Powerful Reality Checks For Survivors Of Narcissistic Abuse
NO CONTACT GANG 😁
Tips for Going “No Contact” with a Toxic Parent
For those who don't feel NC is the right choice for them 💕
Adult Survivors Continuing Relationships with Abusive Family
SUCH a good read for Fearful Avoidants
Do you choose power over love?
Are you doing this? Or have you been triggered by someone who does when expressing your grief? Really common issue in our society and I never knew there was a name for it
Spiritual Bypassing as a Defense Mechanism
Memoir lite ❤️
My Mom Didn’t Want to Be a Mother - Dame Magazine
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
Queen YouTube 👑
My favorite video on this topic EVER! So empowering
“Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers Disown Themselves”
This felt a lil kooky at first and then I was crying by the end. Powerful, powerful, powerful
Understanding PTSD's Effects on Brain, Body, and Emotions
My favorite podcast! The host Amanda is so well informed on trauma recovery and very articulate
New View Advice
My other favorite podcast - short episodes that always lift me up <3
The Mindset Mentor
A specific episode that really resonated
Narcissistic Mothers: The wounds they cause and what you can do about it now
REDDIT THREADS
Specific threads that stood out to me, definitely recommend browsing the associated communities as well!
From r/AskReddit
What's a sign of childhood trauma?
From r/DecidingToBeBetter
how do I stop hating myself
From r/raisedbynarcissists
If you can survive this, you're a superhero
From r/raisedbynarcissists
I never realized how f**ked up my relationship with my parents was, until I witnessed a murder and tried to tell my nmom. And I should have known a long long time ago. TW:rape and murder
