Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents

By: Lindsay C. Gibson PsyD

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

In this breakthrough book, clinical psychologist Lindsay Gibson exposes the destructive nature of parents who are emotionally immature or unavailable. You will see how these parents create a sense of neglect and discover ways to heal from the pain and confusion caused by your childhood. By freeing yourself from your parents' emotional immaturity, you can recover your true nature, control how you react to them, and avoid disappointment. Finally, you'll learn how to create positive new relationships so you can build a better life.

©2015 Lindsay C. Gibson (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD, gives practical insight into a prevalent problem.... The book is impeccably clear.... This utter lack of confusion makes the book quite soothing, despite the heavy subject." ( Foreword Magazine)

Great insight for ALL relationships not just parents

We all come from some dysfunction of childhood dynamics in whatever defined your family of origin. I am so glad to have more awareness of things I do and the way I was/am treated in the past and to this day by friends and family. Also helpful as a parent to stop bad habits and gaining some new good character traits! Anyone reading this will benefit!

All people should read this book

For yourself, for soon to be parents, for empathy of friends or family members read this book!

Amazing book

This book is amazing. It explains all the dynamics of all parent-child relationships, but really it can be used to understand ALL relationships!

so much of my life makes more sense

my family is abusive. my mother is abusive, but she isn't evil because of it. she is abusive because my grandmother was abusive and traumatized by someone else. I can't change them, but I can see the abusive victimized mentality of my mother and see it as a reflection on her, not me. I release my fantasy of her learning to be a living person. motherly love is something I will never get from my mother, but I can give it to myself. and thats ok

Opened my mind. Changed my life.

This book opened my eyes to myself and my parents. That my child hood coping strategies as an internalizer included healing fantasies and a role self. I realize how not knowing who I truly am or what I want lead me to my abusive ex husband who externalizes. It helped me have compassion for everyone. Myself, my x husband, my parents. We all did the best with what we knew but subconscious coping skills built our egos and robbed us from our true selves and from giving and receiving true love and having deep emotional connections with others. I now know what is lacking and what I can do to have deeper relationships. Now to practice and grow from what I learned. Great book! I liked the readers voice too. Thank you!

Helpful, Honest, Not Judgmental

I found this book to be profoundly helpful. Dr. Gibson does an excellent job at identifying types of emotionally immature people, while also showing them compassion and explaining how they came to be the way they are. Learning about the different ways children cope with such parents and how to recognize those coping mechanisms as they present in adulthood was illuminating. I am very grateful to have found this book, as I think it will really help me to better understand my family's behavior and know how to relate to them without sacrificing who I am.
I thought Marguerite Gavin spoke clearly, and I enjoyed her narration.

Eye opening

I’ve been on this journey for a couple of years now, trying to unravel my relationship dysfunctions and challenges. This book hit every single nail on the head. Every line she read, I threw my hands in the air in agreement. I wish I had been given this book when I was younger.

Makes so much sense!

What has been revealed in this book makes me want to buy it for my whole family! And it validated the path I'm on to break the cycle.

Incredibly insightful

What did you love best about Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents?

It opened my eyes to what I've been trying to figure out answers to for years!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed out loud at parts that literally the author said that I've said to myself and others. Gosh I wish I'd discovered this book years ago! Thank you!!!! From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Best Self Help I've Read this Far

For anyone who grew up constantly worried about making your parents happy, and you feel lost, confused, and unable to adjust in an afult world, or you feel awkward and out of sync give this a read.