BECAUSE you ARE good enough, we’re building a list of books that address the experience of growing up with a toxic mom. Here’s my short list. What is your favorite book on this topic? What book helped you with this issue?
Horrible Mothers: Breach of a Sacred Trust by Alice Thie Vieira Phd
Will I Ever Be Good Enough?: Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers by Karyl McBride
Toxic Mom Toolkit 
Thank you for this book list. I may have a title to share. I need to look at my bookshelf at home. I am certainly going to read a few of these. Dr. Susan forward’s books are very meaningful. I fill them up with notes and highlighter for my own therapy.
If you have any book recommendations – please come back and post and I’ll add them to the list. We need all the titles in one place. I’m also thinking of creating a second book list with fiction titles that have toxic mom characters. Some of those can help readers see their own toxic mom/daughter dynamics. Classic titles also offer illustrations on how to break free of toxic bonds. My list of Things to Do is growing…
I can think of a book for that list and it’s not fiction….Mommy Dearest, The Story of Joan Crawford! Talk about a toxic mother.
I agree – Mommy Dearest is a keeper! Thanks for suggesting it.
This is a wonderful list of books to consult! I already had a few of them, but will check into the others.
I often find myself searching Netflix for movies about toxic mother/daughter relationships. Haven’t found too many, so any suggestions would be great. I saw Mommie Dearest (yikes) years ago and I just finished watching “Sybil” again. I first saw “Sybil” when it aired on TV in the 70s and was completely blown away emotionally. Thankfully, my mother never subjected me to the psychotic physical abuse Sybil endured, but I could relate to a lot of the emotional abuse. Also, suggestions for novels involving toxic mother/daughter relationships would be of interest to me also. I’m constantly searching for ways to come to terms with the bad relationship I had with my mother, getting past it and feeling better about myself and life in general.
I’m new to this blog and slowly making my way through everything. So informative! Thank you for all the insights!
also see “The Mirror Has Two Faces” and “Tangled” (lol) for toxic mothers.
Thank you, Kelley. I just added them to my Netflix queue 🙂 I think I saw Mirror years ago. Sounds very familiar. Worth another viewing, I’m sure.
An added note about the movie “Sybil,”
After watching Joanne Woodward’s compassionate portrayal of Sybil’s therapist, Dr. Wilbur, I was so moved that I wished “Wilbur/Woodward” was my mother! I was also moved by Sally Field’s incredible performance as Sybil. She poured every ounce of herself into that part and admitting aloud that she hated her mother was one the most emotionally draining scenes (for me) in the whole film. The abuse of Sybil as a child is heart wrenching and very hard to watch even though it’s off camera and implied. I can’t imagine how hard it was for the actress playing Sybil’s mother to act this part with the child actress. Wow, this movie still gets to me.
Thanks so much Rayne!! i have some to give ya too.
ok, these i have:
TOXIC MOTHERHOOD – By Randi Crawford
Children of The Self Absorbed: A Grown-Ups Guide to Getting Over Narcissistic Parents
By Nina Brown
Poisonus Parenting: Toxic Relationships Between Parents and Their Adult Children By Shea M. Dunham
If You Had Controlling Parents: How to Make Peace With Your Past and Take Your Place in the World By Dan Newharth
Choosing Light-Heartedness: A 33 Day Journey To Oavercome Anxiety, Depression, and Dysfunctional Family Issues, By Kari Joys
AND..this absolutley fun and funny book.. The Dysfunctional Family Fun Book: Games and Activities to keep you Sane Your WHOLE Visit Home By Catheryn J. Brockett
*Poisonous Parenting, Sorry for the typo!!
Thank you Debbie – We’re getting there! The list grows every week – which is good for people struggling with this topic. Stories! Stories help!
Thank you for the list. I have a few books to add as well. Surviving Mama: Overcoming the Strained Mother Daughter Relationship by Dr. Pamela Thompson http://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Mama-Pamela-E-Thompson/dp/0983188904/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359872863&sr=8-1&keywords=surviving+mama
Difficult Mother: Understanding and Overcoming Their Power by Terri Apter, http://www.amazon.com/Difficult-Mothers-Understanding-Overcoming-Their/dp/0393081028/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359872949&sr=1-1&keywords=difficult+mothers+understanding+and+overcoming+their+power
A Letter To My Mother: A Daughter’s Perspective by Sharisa T. Robertson http://www.sharisarobertson.com
Also here is a list of movies that deal with the mother/daughter issue: http://www.amazon.com/14-films-about-mother-daughter-relationships/lm/X7TJVI643TDY
I would also like to add, One True Thing
I Am Not Mad, I Just Hate You: A New Understanding of the Mother Daughter Conflict by Roni Cohen Sandler http://www.amazon.com/Not-Just-Hate-Understanding-Mother-Daughter/dp/0140286004/psychcentral
I Love My Mother, But…….: Practical Help To Get the Most Out of Your Relationship by Dr. Linda Mintle http://www.amazon.com/Love-Mother-But-Practical-Relationship/dp/0736930590/psychcentral
A Daughter’s Journey Home: Finding A Way to Love, Honor, and Connect with Your Mother by Dr. Linda Mintle http://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Journey-Home-Finding-Connect/dp/B000IOEXPQ/ref=pd_sim_b_4
Daughter’s and Mother’s: Making It Work by Dorothy and Julie Firman
http://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Mothers-Making-Julie-Firman/dp/075730124X/ref=pd_sim_b_8
Thank you Sharisa for so much good information!
My pleasure. Thank you for the forum to share.
i would like to suggest a book. it’s “The first time she drowned ” by kerry kletter. i highly recommend it