Hey everyone. Throwaway account because this is pretty personal.
I'm 26 and my background is… a lot. When I was 5, I was taken from my family to be raised as the reincarnation of a Tibetan Buddhist lama. After that, I barely saw my parents maybe once every three years. I was raised in a very traditional environment and I had to go through many years of harsh training. and that went on until my late teens.
I'm still studying dharma and it's has helped me change my view on many things. But lately I've been really struggling in my relationships. I can't seem to trust my partners, I get defensive super easily, and honestly? I'm starting to notice the same traits from the people who raised me showing up in myself. The way I react, the walls I put it's them. And I hate it. I want to change.
I'm looking for book recommendations that could help me understand how to heal from this kind of upbringing. Especially stuff around childhood trauma, how it affects trust and relationships, and how to break the cycle. that would be amazing.
Anyone been through something similar or have reads that helped? Would really appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks for reading.
by karmapakshi73
2 Comments
I would focus on books with the topic on friendships rather than relationships.
If I had to pick just one fiction and one nonfiction:
Fiction: The House in the Cerulean Sea (emotionally safe, uplifting).
Nonfiction: Educated (deeply validating for people leaving controlling belief systems)
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay
Coping Skills by Faith G. Harper
Securely Attached by Eli Harwood
Attached by Amir Levine
Breaking the Cycle of Abuse by Beverly Engel
Put Your Past in the Past by Beverly Engel
The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook by Glenn R. Schiraldi
The Emotional Abuse Recovery Workbook by Theresa Comito
Healing Your Emotional Self by Beverly Engel
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents Guided Journal by Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD
Self Care for Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD
Complex PTSD From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker
The Complex PTSD Workbook by Arielle Schwartz
A Practical Guide to Complex PTSD by Arielle Schwartz