Healing from Hidden Abuse: A Journey Through the Stages of Recovery from Psychological Abuse Paperback – August 25, 2016

This book is fantastic it explains so incredibly well what is going on in an abusers head. It really captures how incredibly sick and disconnected some humans can be. It really resonates in a scary but well written way how disturbed psychopaths and sociopaths and narcissists are. They actually avoid all normal reflection and truly lack empathy and connections to others. Abusers are deeply sick, really really wired wrong. There is something deeply wrong with their lack of ability to bond and form connections with others. These people are sicker than I had any ability to understand and how they really don’t form healthy attachments to others. They lack real remorse and the void of empathy is terrifying! The book drives home the depravity that abusers see the world as, they live in a distorted reality. However it is also victim centered and does a fantastic job of walking thru the stages of recovery and pathway choices and decisions during recovery.This book is so desperately needed. Having a romantic relationship with someone that is profoundly sick and depraved to the point of deeply evil in their toxicity this allows the victim to be seen and it doesn’t shy away either from the brutal realities. It has blunt conversations about assessing the victim for depression and suicidal thoughts and makes it clear that these are common challenges in these victims. That break-up’s with people that psychologically torture their partners, the victims very often struggle with suicidal thoughts and depression. It gets real about the massive destruction that these abusers can cause to their victims. It is real about how the damage can often be lifelong and destroys who the victim used to be. The extremely well written recovery sections are fabulous. This book should be read by anyone that has been a victim of emotional abuse.

This book is exactly what I needed at this time of my life. My abuse is within my close circle and within my family. I woke up one morning 4-5 years ago with a completely different perspective on life. Which is great really I’m grateful for that moment. But since I’ve felt all the emotions a person can feel every single day. The amount of hurt, frustration, and confusion I had from the thoughts/reality of my life grow everyday that passed. So the last 5 years have been a emotional roller coaster literally. After years of feeling this way I just wanted it to stop. I’ve seen three therapist over the years and the first two were a joke. The third therapist in my opinion made things worst after almost two years I realized. All this eat I’ve been sitting in of those emotions praying for it to stop. I came across this book on Amazon after reading the title (not thinking I was actually dealing with hidden abuse) then read a lot of reviews. After reading all information 2-3 times I was excited about this book. I received the book a couple days later and read half the book in a day. Then got to a point I had to go back to the beginning and read the studies and research. Im in shock completely and outer shock. This has been one of the most interesting, well written, easy to understand, very helpful book I’ve read in years. While still in shock I start to feel this calming feeling inside over the next week it became stronger and stronger. It turns out my whole life has been surrounded by psychological abusers from all (I mean all) every single family member sadly even myself. I was a abuser myself for the first 28 years of my life. Admitting it and understanding the part I played is just disgusting. It has been in my family I’m assuming for decades. I knew something was different with my family more and more as I got older. But what did the job completely waking me up. Actually had something to do with custody of my children between their father and his family. That parent child relationship and what my children actually mean to me and what I wouldn’t do for them for the rest of my life here. They didn’t ask to be here and it doesn’t matter what type of situation a baby is born in to. Babies are innocent and kids are too. And if kids are not taught about life, the responsibilities it comes with, etc. Those kids almost always have a ruff start and continue to have a ruff ride until they learn the hard way. I’m currently reading over my book for the second or third time and starting to journey in the back. My shock turned in to a calming feeling (deep down I felt I was going to be ok now) which now has turned to feeling at peace with my situation. This book has answered all the questions I’ve ever had that my mom (that choses to not communicated with myself or my child the last 5-7 years , Might texts for birthdays MIGHT) my dad, both grandmothers have sugarcoated, ignored, or gaslighting me. I’m so thankful to the author for writing this book. Thank you Shannon Thomas you did a amazing job on this book. I know it was written years ago exactly when my started to derail. But I personal just finding it and I’m so grateful I did. I’ve been inspired to believe in myself again and never to allow another human being to change that again. Since I started the journeying in the back (which btw is a genius idea that’s going to help me personal and I know it will for others.) I’ve realized this is the way of life for my family. Their choses doesn’t have to effect or include me and in order to communicate with them I’m going to need a plan from a therapist. I’ve also know now that if the plan doesn’t help change things going no contact is the next option and I’m completely ok with that. I unbelievable for the first time in years feel like I have control of my own life and feelings again. I lastly the peace I’ve been looking for all those years I’ve found in this book. Thank you I appreciate you taking your time to help millions of people.