The Eternally Helpful Child

The Eternally Helpful Child

When children take on the role of parents and how they free themselves from this burden as adults

Those who had to take care of their parents as children and take on responsibility too early bear the scars for life. Psychology calls this role reversal ‘parentification’. Psychologist and award-winning journalist Jana Hauschild describes the causes and consequences of a parentified childhood, combining conversations with those affected, expert advice and scientific findings. She shows how adults can give up the role of the eternally helpful child in order to heal wounds and live their own lives with self-determination. • Triggers: sick, overwhelmed parents; difficult relationships • Consequences: self-esteem issues, emotional disorders, depression • An empathetic book for understanding your own story