Running on Empty

Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect

By: Jonice Webb PhD, Christine Musello PsyD

Narrated by: Karen White

Do you sometimes feel as if you're just going through the motions in life? Are you good at looking and acting as if you're fine, but secretly feel lonely and disconnected? If so, you are not alone. The world is full of people who have an innate sense that something is wrong with them - who feel they live on the outside looking in, but have no explanation for this feeling and no way to put it into words.

If you are one of these people, you may fear that you are not connected enough to your spouse, or that you don't feel pleasure or love as profoundly as others do. You may drink too much, or eat too much, or risk too much, in an attempt to feel something good.

Running on Empty will give you clear strategies for how to heal, and offers a special chapter for mental-health professionals. In the world of human suffering, this book is an emotional smart bomb meant to eradicate the effects of an invisible enemy.

©2013 Jonice Webb, PhD (P)2015 Tantor

A Must Read for every clinician

I found this book to be not only highly enlightening but extremely applicable. I believe every clinician should take the time to study the concept of emotional neglect.

Having said that, I also feel this book is extremely helpful for those who may have experienced emotional neglect, such as myself. Dr. Webb is very down-to-earth and this read is user-friendly to the layman as well.

Very insightful and helpful

This book helped me see how emotionally neglected I was. It finally makes sense why I feel so empty and alone. I knew I had a bad childhood resulting in depression and great anxiety but this is another big piece of the puzzle. Feeling like I never quite fit in, feeling flawed and unloveable. Unworthy of love or attention. Emotional neglect is a terrible thing and causes many struggles until you get lots of help. She really describes me and the effects of this neglect perfectly.

I don’t know if I’ve ever identified more with a book

I’m a therapist and a child of an alcoholic and his enabler. Although there was no physical abuse growing up, I always felt that something was missing. This book helped fill in some of the gaps and will help with clients as well. The worst part was the monotoned narrator. She sounded like she was emotionally neglected as a child... well played.

This book has changed my life.

Would you listen to Running on Empty again? Why?

I will be listening to this again! The material was so rich, deep and meaningful.

What other book might you compare Running on Empty to and why?

it felt like the book, 'Attached' but delving into the actual causes of these attachment styles in a way that I completely related to.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved her list of actual common mindsets of those who have experienced emotional neglect because i could relate to every single one fully. This was a huge wake up call.

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

I was stunned by the whole concept of emotional neglect because, as the author says, i never missed what i didn't know was missing. i came to this book because i was in a dead end romantic relationship that kept continuing despite how unhealthy it was for me. Listening to this book really helped me understand the root causes of why i would even have been attracted to this partner and stayed- because it replicated the same circumstances of my youth.

Everyone needs to read/listen to this book!

Wow! Such new insights for me and my husband! Answers to many things I was perplexed about like not being able to connect with him in a satisfying way. It was a very validating listen for him too! A whole new world with these answers and insights. Thank you so much Jonice & Chtistine!