Book reviews

Understanding trauma, the brain on PTSD, and real options for recovery

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Book Review: The Body Keeps the Score Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma, by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

Review by Donna Andersen

Many, many Lovefraud readers say that after your experience with a sociopath, you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Even if you haven’t been diagnosed by a professional, you’re probably right. But what, exactly, does that mean? And what can you do about it?

All the answers are in this book. The Body Keeps the Score Brain, mind and body in the healing of trauma, is the best explanation I’ve ever seen on the causes, effects and treatment of trauma. I strongly recommend that every mental health professional who reads Lovefraud also read … Read more

Posted in: Book reviews, Donna Andersen, Uncategorized

The 5 Step Exit – How to leave your sociopathic partner

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Book Review: The Five Step Exit The skills you need to leave a narcissist, psychopath or other toxic partner and recover your happiness now, by Amber Ault, Ph.D.

It’s the New Year. Did you make a New Year’s resolution to really, finally, emphatically, get out of your toxic relationship, once and for all?

If your answer is yes, or even if you’re still just thinking about putting an end to the madness, you need this book:

The Five Step Exit

The skills you need to leave a narcissist, psychopath or other toxic partner and recover your happiness now, by Amber Ault, Ph.D.

In this slim, wonderful book, Dr. Ault promises to take you, step by step, through … Read more

Posted in: Book reviews, Donna Andersen

Overcoming the insanity of co-parenting with an exploiter

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Book Review: Divorcing a Narcissist One Mom’s Battle, by Tina Swithin

“The only thing more difficult than being married to a narcissist is divorcing a narcissist.” This is one of the first sentences that Tina Swithin writes in her book, Divorcing a Narcissist One Mom’s Battle. It’s a sentiment I’ve heard time and time again from Lovefraud readers who have faced the same battle.

When Tina met Seth, she didn’t know he was a narcissist. In fact, like most of us, she didn’t know what a narcissist was. But she was 25 years old and felt like she was ready to find a real relationship.

Before Seth, Tina had been in relationships in which the man required “fixing.” … Read more

Posted in: Book reviews, Donna Andersen

Why betrayal by a sociopath hurts so much

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BOOK REVIEW: Love and the mystery of betrayal, by Sandra Lee Dennis, Ph.D.

This post refers to spiritual concepts. Please see Lovefraud’s statement on Spiritual Recovery.

If you’re like most Lovefraud readers, you may find it difficult to put into words the depth of the pain romantic betrayal causes. Discovering that your romantic partner, the person who claimed to be your soul mate, proclaimed unending love and promised a future of golden togetherness, was lying all along and totally deceived you, causes indescribable agony.

Sandra Lee Dennis, Ph.D., has put your suffering into words.

I recently read her book, Love and the Mystery of Betrayal Recovering your trust and faith after trauma, deception and loss of love.… Read more

Posted in: Book reviews, Donna Andersen

BOOK REVIEW: Husband, Liar, Sociopath

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Many people equate the term “psychopath” with “criminal,” especially “serial killer.” Although it’s true that many serial killers are likely either deranged or psychopathic, it is also true that most psychopaths never kill anyone.

In fact, there is an entire group of university researchers, led by Scott Lilienfeld, professor of psychology at Emory University, are investigating the “successful psychopath.”

Scientists disagree on how to define this creature. Some consider any psychopath who stays out of jail to be successful. Others look at career or monetary success.

Read:

Is the ‘successful psychopath’ a myth or reality? on PsyPost.org.

Married to a successful psychopath

Even if a psychopath climbs the ladder of career success and makes a fortune, you do … Read more

Posted in: Book reviews, Donna Andersen

Two Legged Snakes – explaining manipulative people with outrageous cartoons

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They say picture is worth 1,000 words. The 91 cartoons in Dr. Ed Slack’s slender book, Two-legged snakes understanding and handling manipulative people, communicate the essence of sociopaths, narcissists, and other exploiters. The pictures will plant an understanding of disordered people firmly in your brain:

They are snakes.

In fact, deceptive and manipulative people have been known as snakes for millennia. Dr. Slack points out that the original deceiver, according to Christian, Jewish and Islamic traditions, was the serpent in the Garden of Eden, who tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. He says this Bible story “highlights one of our most important … Read more

Posted in: Book reviews, Donna Andersen

BOOK REVIEW: Combating Cult Mind Control

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Cult leaders are sociopaths on steroids. For this reason, Combating Cult Mind Control, by Steven Hassan, is packed with information that can help you understand how you, or someone else, fell under the spell of a sociopath, and how victims can escape and recover.

The author himself was once a member of the Unification Church (Moonies). He rose to the leadership ranks of the organization, until, with a twist of fate and the help of his family, he escaped. After his recovery, Hassan made it his mission to educate people about cults and help victims leave them.

Combating Cult Mind Control was originally published in 1988, and is recognized as one of the best books on … Read more

Posted in: Book reviews, Donna Andersen, Millions of sociopaths

BOOK REVIEW: The Wise Lesbian’s Guide to Getting Free from Crazy-Making Relationships

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Exploiters are everywhere. Personality disordered individuals can be found in all demographic groups male, female, rich, poor, all races, all religions, all nationalities and all sexual orientations.

Amber Ault, Ph.D. is s clinical sociologist and a psychotherapist, and also a member of the Lovefraud Continuing Education team. She’s written a book called The Wise Lesbian’s Guide to Getting Free from Crazy-Making Relationships and Getting On with Your Life.

Reading the book, I was struck by how much exploitative behavior is the same, no matter what community is involved. There are some dimensions to the experience of becoming involved with a sociopath that are specific to the gay community, which I’ll discuss later in this article. But for the … Read more

Posted in: Book reviews, Donna Andersen, Hooked by a sociopath

Why I Wrote “God Has Failed Me”

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By K.M. Lessing

I see many books and horror stories written by women who were the victims of psychopaths. They go on and on detailing all the pain and suffering they endured. And they leave out one vital detail: his name. So he goes on to the next victim and the next and the next. I ask you: why must we be so careful to protect men who are predators? Why must we take every precaution to make sure these dangerous men stay safe—safe to con the next woman, safe to destroy the next mind, safe to play his sadistic games”¦until the end of his life?

When I wrote my books, I decided NO WAY. I decided I … Read more

Posted in: Book reviews

Why I wrote ‘The One That Got Away’

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By Brigitte Knowles

It was 2011, a good year. I made $235,000.00 in my business that year and was at the top of my game. I went out for drinks with a girlfriend in Delray Beach, Florida. My life was only about work and I did not realize that I was out of balance. I had not gone out to a club for years and at 55, I was not a frequent dater, celibate for 5 years. I was ripe for the picking.

I did not know that there were Financial Predators in this world. I was targeted by an Italian man who professed true love and wanted to do real estate business with me. He asked for … Read more

Posted in: Book reviews, Hooked by a sociopath, Sociopaths and money, Sociopaths as predators