Synopses & Reviews
The first book for daughters who have suffered the abuse of selfish, self-involved mothers, Will I Ever Be Good Enough? provides the expert assistance you need in order to overcome this debilitating history and reclaim your life. Drawing on more than two decades of experience as a therapist specializing in womenand#8217;s health and hundreds of interviews with suffering daughters, Dr. Karyl McBride helps you recognize the widespread effects of this emotional abuse and create an individualized program for self-protection, resolution, and complete recovery. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Narcissistic mothers teach their daughters that love is not unconditional, that it is given only when they behave in accordance with maternal expectations and whims. As adults, these daughters have difficulty overcoming feelings of inadequacy, disappointment, emotional emptiness, and sadness. They may also have a fear of abandonment that leads them to form unhealthy romantic relationships, as well as a tendency to perfectionism and unrelenting self-criticism or to self-sabotage and frustration. Dr. McBrideand#8217;s step-by-step program will enable you to: andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;(1) Recognize your own experience with maternal narcissism and its effects on all aspects of your life andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;(2) Discover how you have internalized verbal and nonverbal messages from your mother and how these have translated into overachievement or self-sabotage andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;(3) Construct a personalized program to take control of your life and enhance your sense of self, establishing healthy boundaries with your mother and breaking the legacy of abuse andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Warm and sympathetic, Dr. McBride brings a profound level of authority to Will I Ever Be Good Enough? that encourages and inspires you as it aids your recovery.
Review
"andlt;iandgt;Will I Ever Be Good Enough?andlt;/iandgt; illuminates a very common and unnamed wound -- the wound that results from growing up with a narcissistic mother. In this engaging book, Karyl McBride provides a clear, honest, and effective way to heal this wound and live life fully and joyfully." -- Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of andlt;iandgt;Mother-Daughter Wisdomandlt;i/andgt;, andlt;iandgt;The Wisdom of Menopauseandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdomandlt;/iandgt;
Review
"Dr. Karyl McBride has convened a fellowship of female voices to describe every flavor of experience with maternal narcissism. However marginalized from the mainstream of mother-daughter relationships you may have felt before this, you are no longer alone on the road to recovery." -- Sandy Hotchkiss, Psy.D., L.C.S.W., author of andlt;iandgt;Why Is It Always About You?andlt;/iandgt;
Review
"andlt;iandgt;Will I Ever Be Good Enough?andlt;/iandgt; is an amazing journey out of pain. Providing true professional guidance and clarity, Dr. Karyl McBride heaps in genuine love and kindness. This book is like having an ideal therapist at your convenience, who really helps you heal self-doubt and self-rejection. Every page is milk and honey to your soul." -- Tama J. Kieves, author of andlt;iandgt;This Time I Dance! Creating the Work You Love (How One Harvard Lawyer Left It All to Have It All!)andlt;/iandgt;
Review
"Narcissistic mothers are always there when they need you. They expect to be the center of attention, and they can be cruel if they don't get what they want. Learning how to set boundaries with narcissistic mothers is a complex challenge. Dr. McBride offers a step-by-step approach to understanding narcissism, setting limits on the abuse, and recovering from the psychological damage. This book is a must read for every woman living in the shadow of a domineering, self-focused parent." -- Nanette Gartrell, M.D., author of andlt;iandgt;My Answer Is NO...If That's Okay with Youandlt;/iandgt;
Review
"The long-term destructive consequences that narcissistic parents have for their children are well known. Until now, however, there has been little in the way of helpful advice for those who were raised by these parents. In this insightful new book, Dr. McBride presents a detailed examination of narcissistic mothers and the harmful effects on their daughters. She also offers practical, step-by-step guidance for working through these issues. This book is a terrific resource for those women raised by narcissistic mothers and looking for strategies for change." -- W. Keith Campbell, Ph.D., author of andlt;iandgt;When You Love a Man Who Loves Himselfandlt;/iandgt;
Synopsis
The first book for daughters who have suffered the abuse of selfish, self-involved mothers, Will I Ever Be Good Enough? provides the expert assistance you need in order to overcome this debilitating history and reclaim your life. Drawing on more than two decades of experience as a therapist specializing in women’s health and hundreds of interviews with suffering daughters, Dr. Karyl McBride helps you recognize the widespread effects of this emotional abuse and create an individualized program for self-protection, resolution, and complete recovery.
Narcissistic mothers teach their daughters that love is not unconditional, that it is given only when they behave in accordance with maternal expectations and whims. As adults, these daughters have difficulty overcoming feelings of inadequacy, disappointment, emotional emptiness, and sadness. They may also have a fear of abandonment that leads them to form unhealthy romantic relationships, as well as a tendency to perfectionism and unrelenting self-criticism or to self-sabotage and frustration. Dr. McBride’s step-by-step program will enable you to:
(1) Recognize your own experience with maternal narcissism and its effects on all aspects of your life
(2) Discover how you have internalized verbal and nonverbal messages from your mother and how these have translated into overachievement or self-sabotage
(3) Construct a personalized program to take control of your life and enhance your sense of self, establishing healthy boundaries with your mother and breaking the legacy of abuse
Warm and sympathetic, Dr. McBride brings a profound level of authority to Will I Ever Be Good Enough? that encourages and inspires you as it aids your recovery.
About the Author
Karyl McBride, Ph.D., is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than thirty years of experience in public and private practice, specializing in treatment of trauma. She isandnbsp;a leading authority on narcissism and author of andlt;iandgt;Will I Ever Be Good Enough? Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothersandlt;/iandgt;. She is a contributing blogger for andlt;iandgt;Psychology Today, Huffington Post, andlt;/iandgt;and her recent book was featured in the andlt;iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/iandgt; book club. Dr. McBride can also be found online at WillIEverBeGoodEnough.com, KarylMcBridePhD.com, and Facebook.com/DrKarylMcBride.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part One: Recognizing the Problem
Chapter 1 The Emotional Burden You Carry
Chapter 2 T he Empty Mirror: My Mother and Me
Chapter 3 The Faces of Maternal Narcissism
Chapter 4 Where Is Daddy? The Rest of the Narcissistic Nest
Chapter 5 Image Is Everything: Put a Smile on That Pretty Little Face
Part Two: How Narcissistic Mothering Afects Your Entire Life
Chapter 6 I Try So Hard! The High-Achieving Daughter
Chapter 7 What's the Use? The Self-Sabotaging Daughter
Chapter 8 Romantic Fallout: Trying to Win at Love Where I Failed with Mom
Chapter 9 Help! I'm Becoming My Mother: Daughters as Mothers
Part Three: Ending the Legacy
Chapter 10 First Steps: How It Feels, Not How It Looks
Chapter 11 A Part Of and Apart From: Separating from Mother
Chapter 12 Becoming the Woman I Truly Am: Deserving Daughters
Chapter 13 My Turn: Dealing with Mother during Recovery
Chapter 14 Filling the Empty Mirror: Ending the Narcissistic Legacy
Notes
Suggested Reading and Movie Viewing Source Lists
Index