However It’s Your Household…: Slicing Ties with Poisonous Household Members and Loving Your self within the Aftermath

Comforting book
I was raised in an emotional abusive family with a dictatorial father and a controlling and manipulative mother. I was close to my father because he always gave me love and encouragement…when he gave me instruction and directives I immediately obeyed him because I knew he loved me & was doing it for my own good—-my mother passed during COVID so we could not have a funeral, after COVID we had our immediate family only for a short word over her grave. The rest of my family, cousins& such, have been furious with me and we r not speaking to one another. My mother and I were not close at all nor did we like each other. But This book helped me to understand the intricate ways families work and it is ok to not be close to distant relatives. Very comforting and encouraging book.

Quick read!
I loved this book. Extremely validating and easy to read!

Amazing read for people with dysfunctional families
This book helped me gain an entirely new and higher perspective on toxic or dysfunctional family dynamics.It’s very informative and the content is well organized. I can’t begin to explain the many ways in which this book enlightened me on toxic people as well as family. It has helped me learn to give myself some grace, and gave me the tools to handle future situations with family if/when they arise.I have 4 stars because….It doesn’t summarize family systems in the way I had hoped, and does tend to lean on being a book more so written for those who have been identified as the scapegoat (psychological term) in their family, or the golden child.However, there are other roles assigned which the author seems to brush over. Which to me, seems useful for the reader to be aware of.Some graphics to summarize the content would have been helpful. For easier digestion.Can be a bit triggering to read for some, especially those in the scapegoat role. So take your time!This book also reads a bit black and white, but when it comes to dysfunctional or toxic family systems, there are so many grey areas. I personally believe life isn’t as simple as the book makes it out to be, at least to me anyway.So be warned. Have an open mind, but don’t forget everyone’s situation is unique and it’s not meant to make the decision to cut ties with family for you…but guide you to make the decision for yourself (preferably with a therapist). Take what applies and process it.Overall, this book has changed my life for the better, and helped me figure out how to begin to process the grief, shame, and guilt over my mother’s recent passing, whom I had cut ties with a couple years prior. And who knows how much therapy that would have taken.So, thank you to the author for putting this out into the world so others might have a similar benefit when reading and gain a higher perspective on their own toxic family / family member(s)… which enables them to move forward on their unique path towards self growth and discovery.

Thank you, Dr Sherrie Campbell, for saving my life!!!! After 55 years of abuse from a very dysfunctional narcissistic family, you opened my eyes and for the FIRST time in my very difficult life I felt validated and understood. You were the voice I needed to hear to tell me not to believe the lie I have been telling myself all these years. My super empath heart was finally comforted, I was not alone anymore in this abuse. You warmed my heart in a very big way, this started my journey to healing. I am still going through the process, but I will forever be thankful and grateful for the gift you gave me and so many others.Your purpose is huge, I hope you know how much of a difference you make to a multitude that suffers in silence. God bless you and all your dear ones. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Very objectively written with multiple practical examples. A must read for all especially for people who are undergoing a similar situation in life. A great self help read. Thank you so much Dr. Sherrie

EDIT: I read the whole book within a few days. It was just an incredible read. I was amazed at how near identical the authors story is to my own. Also, all the various personality traits that are listed throughout the book that relate to people who are considered narcissistic, manipulative and evil are EXACTLY like my mother! I read this book out aloud to my wife after chapter one right to the end because I wanted to see if she agreed how spot on the author is with her descriptions of these dangerous, pathetic and evil relatives. My wife couldn’t believe how the author got it 100% right. We left it for over a year and now we’ve started reading the book again from the start! This book has helped me realise that NOTHING was my fault and that my behaviour was nothing other than ordinary. It made me realise how evil, manipulative, childish, game-playing, unsupportive, unloving and dangerous my mum is. And since reading the first time my sister has turned toxic and it turns out she was the ringleader all along; the one stirring the pot and causing the trouble behind our backs with lies. So now I can see how spot on the author is with her descriptions of toxic siblings too. Seriously… I wish I could give the author a massive hug and tell her how much she’s helped!! If you’re reading this… im forever grateful for you putting this book together but of course sad that it took a lifetime of unhappiness and toxicity from those who should have loved you, to put this together.Original review ….I am only a third of the way through this book and already I am completely blown away at how good it is. In fact, I read just the first few pages to my wife and we were amazed by then at just how utterly great this book is. It’s hard to believe that I didn’t write this myself, because every word so far is about something I can relate to. Not just the descriptions of a toxic parent/mother but the author’s own experiences and how she describes her mother is identical to my own situation and mother. Again, I’m only a few chapters in and have many more to go, but I absolutely love this and cannot wait to read the rest tomorrow. My wife has supported me tremendously recently thru my awful experiences with a toxic mother, father and sister all of which have without any justification whatsoever fallen out with me last year. My wife was so interested in this book that she allowed me to read it out aloud to her also. She is amazed like me at the similarities between the authors toxic family and my own.I got this book for a bit of help coping with the three terribly sad incidents that led to misunderstandings which ended my relationships with mum, dad and sister. As I’m only a third thru this book I haven’t ventured amongst the chapters relating to recovery, healing and learning to love yourself. But I am excited to read it.This is not necessarily a self help book. There are ways to help through the sad times, but a lot of what Sherrie writes about is to do with her own experiences, as well as those of her clients who come to see her. But this isn’t a bad thing. I feel sad that she has been thru so much in her life, but relating to it myself makes me feel like I am not alone. Knowing that toxic mothers share the same awful personality defects confirms to me that it’s not me that’s imagining things and that these family destroying people all share the same traits.If you’re after a book which just lists a load of ways in which you can get help, then this is not for you. This is a real life story book with descriptions of toxic people you will relate to, mixed with helpful suggestions of the recovery and healing processes.I cannot recommend this book enough and want to thank Sherrie for writing such an amazing publication. Thank you so much for sharing your stories and both professional and personal tips for getting back to normality.