title: Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life
author: Dr. Susan Forward
description: Toxic Parents by Susan Forward. Bantam Books, Inc.,1989
zlib_text: Who are toxic parents?
  The Inadequate Parents: Constantly focusing on their own
  problems, they turn their children into “mini-adults” who take
  care of them.
  The Controllers: They use guilt, manipulation, and even
  overhelpfulness to direct their children’s lives.
  The Alcoholics: Mired in denial and chaotic mood swings, their
  addiction leaves little time or energy for the demands of
  parenthood.
  The Verbal Abusers: Whether overtly abusive or subtly
  sarcastic, they demoralize their children with constant put-
  downs and rob them of their self-confidence.
  The Physical Abusers: Incapable of controlling their own deep-
  seated rage, they often blame their children for their own
  ungovernable behavior.
  The Sexual Abusers: Whether flagrantly sexual or covertly
  seductive, they are the ultimate betrayers, destroying the very
  heart of childhood—its innocence.
  YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU AS A
  CHILD—BUT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW!
  
  Other Books by This Author
  Toxic In-Laws: Lovi