When a relationship with a narcissist ends, the caretaking partner is often left confused, deeply hurt, and often still emotionally connected, while the narcissist seems to easily move on to the next relationship. Healing from a Narcissistic Relationship offers guidance about what to expect as the relationship unravels and how to cope with the fallout. It also helps the reader learn to truly disengage and move through the grief process.
Presenting techniques for healing and rebuilding self-esteem and self-confidence, this book offers a guide to developing emotional strength and encourages forgiveness and reconciliation with the past. It shows the reader how to increase emotional self-protections, quit caretaking in relationships, and become more independent and self-loving. Using real stories, Margalis Fjelstad offers a process of healing that can direct the reader away from former patterns of inequitable relationships and toward loving, caring connections that can truly grow healthfully and flourish. It shows that ending a relationship with a narcissist may be the best thing that ever happened.
Read Sample
Margalis wrote this book in 2017, right after retiring after 30 years of being a clinical therapist. She shares how her mother qualified for a borderline personality disorder, which has dysfunctional similarities with narcissism. So she speaks from personal experience, clinical experience, and proper education. The reader benefits from this book from a professional publisher (these qualities make for good use of your time, money, and energy).
This book is excellent in focusing on helping you leave the caretaking relationship, heal after the crash, become empowered, and then transform your life. If you want another book on narcissism, I suggest:
---- The Narcissist in Your Life: Recognizing the patterns and learning to break free. Julie Hall (2019) $15 (Includes 3-pages specifically on parental alienation, but you buy it to learn how your ex thinks!)
If you are a parent, you'll also want her newest book, "Raising Resilient Children with a Borderline or Narcissistic Parent." by Margalis Fjelstad and Jean McBride (2020) $18. And you will also need a book on "Parental Alienation" (which is when the other parent undermines your parenting and indoctrinates your children to reject you). Good "starter" books for that include:
---- Divorce Poison: Protecting the parent/Child bond from a vindictive ex. (2009). Richard Warshak, Ph.D. $10
---- Don't Alienate the Kids! Raising resilient children while avoiding high conflict divorce. Bill Eddy JD, LCSW (2nd edition 2020) $18
---- Splitting: Protecting yourself while divorcing someone with a borderline or narcissistic personality disorder. Kreger, Eddy (2011) $16
---- BIFF for Co-Parent Communication: Your Guide to Difficult Texts, Emails, and Social Media Posts by Bill Eddy, Annette Burns, Kevin Chafin (2020) $13
---- The high-conflict custody battle: Protect yourself and your kids from a toxic divorce, false accusations, and parental alienation. Amy J. L. Baker, Ph.D., Bone, Ph.D., Attorney Ludmer (2014) $14