The Emotionally Abused Woman: Overcoming Destructive Patterns and Reclaiming Yourself (Fawcett Book)

This book really helped me!! Everyone would benefit from reading this book!!! It would help with almost all relationships. I LOVE that it breaks down different kinds of abuse and specifically lays it all out so it is easy to recognize that I have in fact been abused in that way. It is great to read books that show me what I have been going through is abuse. That being said a few times in the book I feel she makes excuses for the abuser. He does in fact know what he is doing and he can in fact choose to be kind instead of controlling, abusive and demeaning. This book helped so much I read it a second time a few months after the first and I will probably read it again in 6 months to a year. Chapter 9 was really helpful to me. Some other books I also recommend: -10 Lifesaving Principles for Women in Difficult Marriages by Karla Downing -Why does he do that? By Lundy Bancroft -The Verbally abusive relationship By Patricia Evans -Not to People Like Us By Susan Weitzman -The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner -Codependent No More by Melody Beattie -Love Honor and Negotiate By Betty Carter -Boundaries in Marriage by John Townsend and Henry Cloud - When Love Goes Wrong by Susan Schechter and Ann Jones

I was glad I read the 5 star customer reviews here. Once therapy helps you to realize the abuse then this wonderful book can take over the nuts and bolts of your recovery. Engel explains everything very clearly into the what- when- wheres- and why's of emotional abuse and its effects on you. Most importantly she explains the pitfalls of the emotionally abused woman and how she sets up her life (subconciously) for repeated abuse. Engels doesn't leave out the ways to help yourself recover. I plan to read this book again and in my opinion this book qualifies as the bible for adult women who have been emotionally abused as children. Thank you past reviewers!!! And yes I can really see how this book would be fabulous for group therapy. It is very easy to read.

For me, this book above all other self-help books on the subject I've read really hit home. I was physically and emotionally abused for most of my childhood. Once I grew up and left home I became involved with emotionally abusive men again and again, for the last several years. I couldn't understand why I always seemed to pick the wrong guy, and why life was so painful, and demeaning. Through therapy and self-help books I was able to come to some realizations. This book was so powerful that halfway through I had to put it down for some time because the personal truths I arrived at were so painful to face. I hope any person out there who is going through or has been through an emotionally abusive relationship will give this book a try. It is well worth it.

This book is so right on in every way! It addresses what emotional abuse is, why we choose to get in these kind of relationships, looking at the past/family, and how to deal with the problems today in constructive, appropriate ways. I highly recommend it if you feel you or a friend needs to learn more about relationships that aren't working or aren't equal. You may be surprised at what you learn, especially if you've been in denial. A real eye-opener.

This book helped me to see my situation for what it was--and really opened my eyes. The abuse I was experiencing began as verbal/emotional and escalated into physical. The book was loaned to me by a friend and I cannot put into words how much it helped to read the scenarios that seemed to be exactly what I was going through. Beverly Engel offered step by step help, first explaining the situations, how to identify my role, and how to deal with it. Taking her advice to heart, I am happy to report that I was able to safely leave my abusive relationship and have gone on to help others in the same situation. The book is helpful for all types of abuse, not just emotional. The book is also wonderful to use in conjuction with therapy. Thank you Beverly for being there!!!

Engel gives a concise description of what emotional abuse is, and the types of abusers and victims. She helps to uncover the patterns and reasons for abuse, ways to recover from it. Like many women in emotionally abusive relationships, it was very difficult for me to even see it occurring. Her book is a constant reminder of how to stop the cycle, both for me and for my children.