Healing for Daughters of Emotionally Absent Fathers: Ways to Cope with the Emotional Aftermath of Having an Unavailable , (Paperback)

Have you been deeply hurt by your father?

Did the man who should have loved you, listened to you and protected you inflict traumas that still affect your life today?

Are you struggling every day to repair the damage that he has caused?

Being daughters raised by emotionally absent fathers is a difficult and lonely experience; you may have low self-esteem, suffer from anger and depression and feel that you have no value.

There are several ways in which fathers can be emotionally distant from their daughters: through divorce, work/careers, military service, addictions, serious physical or mental illness or death.

It is possible that these men are narcissists who have showered you with constant criticism and try to manipulate and control you. Or it may be that they were abusive to you or were simply old-fashioned fathers of few words and expressed what they wanted only with gestures.

Adult daughters of emotionally absent fathers always recognise that something is wrong, but overlook the devastating long-term effects that impact themselves, their romantic relationships, their friendships and their work or careers.

I recommend that you read this book if you recognise some of these attitudes in your father:

- Only your physical needs exist for them, not your emotional ones.

- They talk to you in a flat, uninterested tone of voice.

- They make cruelly critical comments.

- They do not listen to you or take an interest in your life.

- They never compliment you or celebrate your achievements.

- They never spend time alone with you.

- They rarely convey their affection to you with hugs or smiles.

- They are distracted when they are with you, by work, TV or their phone.

- They are addicted to alcohol or other substances.

- They spend money on unnecessary things before they meet your needs.

- They are unable to manage their emotions and express their feelings.

- They are defensive and unwilling to accept points of view other than their own.

- They blame you for their faults or mistakes.

- They do not take responsibility for their actions.

- They deny reality when you try to talk about their attitudes, making you feel crazy.

These are just some of the most common signs. In any family, the situation can be complex and varied.