Do these "endearments" sound familiar to you? -- "Of all my children, I expect the most of you." TRANSLATION: I'VE SELECTED YOU TO BE THE ONE TO MAKE MY LIFE WORTH LIVING. -- "You've never caused me a minute of trouble." TRANSLATION: IGNORE YOUR OWN NEEDS, I CAN'T HANDLE THEM. -- "You're the only one who truly understands me." TRANSLATION: I WOULD BE TOTALLY ALONE IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU. If so, you may have been a "Chosen Child," seemingly the focus of loving and devoted parents, but in reality a child walking a psychological tightrope -learning early on to deny your own needs in order to meet the emotional needs of a parent. Today, there is a name for this devastating and increasingly common form of child abuse: emotional incest. Here, Dr. Patricia Love offers adults real hope -- and help in overcoming the hurtful legacy of being a Chosen Child. Based on proven therapeutic techniques and using real-life case histories, her total program of recovery will help you: -- identify the telltale signs of emotional incest -- confront your parents -- and your past -- with love and understanding -- disentangle your life from theirs -- even if your parents are no longer alive -- create a positive relationship with your parents -- and your own children. Filled with hope and compassion, The Emotional Incest Syndrome is a life-transforming guide to health and healing for all Chosen Children and the people who love them. A marvelous, much-needed work on a difficult subject." -- Pia Mellody, author of Facing Co-Dependence Sensitively and compassionately written, this book addresses a problem of painful importance in the lives of millions of men and women... This book can be enormously helpful." -- Nathaniel Branden, Ph.D., author of The Psychology of Self-Esteem and Honoring the Self Therapists will find this book to be a 'regular' to give their patients. Clearly written with useful exercises, it will be very clarifying for victims." -- Patrick J. Carnes, Ph.D., author of Don't Call It Love