Freeing Your Mind from Memories That Bind
Author:
Genres: Health, Fitness & Dieting, Christian Books & Bibles
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: Health, Fitness & Dieting, Christian Books & Bibles
Book Type: Paperback
It pains me to write a negative review of anything by Florence Littauer, one of my favorite Christian and self-help authors and speakers, but I question the "wisdom" of this book. The main premise is that if you have large memory gaps you were probably abused and have forgotten it or pushed it out. You are then urged to explore those "forgotten" memories until you can dig them out.
In typical Littauer fashion - a good one, I should add - the book is written with numerous personal examples of people Fred and Florence have encountered over the years. The problem is that all of these examples end up w/ the "abused" person uncovering "memories of abuse." Never does it end up that the person discovers they just have a poor memory.
I question the wisdom of this approach for three reasons: 1) Memory repression/retreval is very controversial by the psychological professionals, and is often proven to be faulty. 2) The book leaves no room for the possibility that someone w/ holes was anything but abused in some fashion. 3) Florence's impecable reputation puts her in the realm of "expert" in a field that she is not qualified as an expert.
I found myself - as someone who can't always even recall memories of some of the things my 6 year old did - questioning and searching for the "terrible" event in my past that caused me to be unable to remember so much. After going through this very dark search, I finally allowed myself - the book doesn't allow for such things - to come to the conclusion that the only thing wrong with me is I need more Ginko, not therapy for childhood abuse.
If you know you have been abused in the past, have questions about it, or know someone who has been, then this book may help you find answers. Otherwise, be very careful. It's a dark path with a questionable destination. ~ Amazon review.
In typical Littauer fashion - a good one, I should add - the book is written with numerous personal examples of people Fred and Florence have encountered over the years. The problem is that all of these examples end up w/ the "abused" person uncovering "memories of abuse." Never does it end up that the person discovers they just have a poor memory.
I question the wisdom of this approach for three reasons: 1) Memory repression/retreval is very controversial by the psychological professionals, and is often proven to be faulty. 2) The book leaves no room for the possibility that someone w/ holes was anything but abused in some fashion. 3) Florence's impecable reputation puts her in the realm of "expert" in a field that she is not qualified as an expert.
I found myself - as someone who can't always even recall memories of some of the things my 6 year old did - questioning and searching for the "terrible" event in my past that caused me to be unable to remember so much. After going through this very dark search, I finally allowed myself - the book doesn't allow for such things - to come to the conclusion that the only thing wrong with me is I need more Ginko, not therapy for childhood abuse.
If you know you have been abused in the past, have questions about it, or know someone who has been, then this book may help you find answers. Otherwise, be very careful. It's a dark path with a questionable destination. ~ Amazon review.
