Bad Childhood, Good Life

How to Blossom and Thrive in Spite of an Unhappy Childhood

By: Laura Schlessinger

Narrated by: Laura Schlessinger

In this important audiobook, Dr. Laura Schlessinger shows men and women that they can have a good life no matter how bad their childhood.

For each of us, there is a connection between our early family dynamics and experiences and our current attitudes and decisions. Many of the people Dr. Laura has helped did not realize how their histories impacted their adult lives, or how their choices in people, repetitive situations, and decisions, even their emotional reactions, were connected to those early negative experiences, playing a major role in their current unhappiness.

For these people and millions like them, too much time is dedicated to repeating the ugly dynamics of childhood in a vain attempt to repair or cope with deep hurt and longings. Too often they use their emotional pain to control others or excuse their own inappropriate and destructive behaviors. Some turn to therapy, only to find themselves trapped in their self-pitying victim mode, robbed of optimism, confidence, and growth.

Dr. Laura will help you realize that no matter what circumstances you came from or currently live in, you are ultimately responsible for how you react to them. The acceptance of this basic truth is the source of your power to secure the good life you long for. In her signature straightforward style, with real-life examples, Dr. Laura shows you what you will gain by not being satisfied with an identity as a victim, or even as a survivor, but striving to be a victor!

In Bad Childhood, Good Life, Dr. Laura will guide you to accept the truth of the assaults on your psyche and soul, understand your unique coping style and how it impacts your daily thoughts and actions, and help you embrace a life of more peace and happiness.

©2006 Laura C. Schlessenger (P)2006 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Readers already of the Schlessinger school will find much here to appreciate." (Publishers Weekly)

Leave Your Past Behind You

no-nonsense take and how to I did not present and not be crippled by your childhood.

An educated listening session

This book is realistic and it challenges silly notions and garage created generalizations. If you have had a super rough childhood like me it will slap you in the face first but then pat you on the back!

Tough love

Not as good as her book “stop whining and start living but still a decent listen.
Go listen to her podcast if you’ve never heard of her before she has a rough demeanor but she is just straight to the point. Basically so you had a bad childhood time to get over it, sure you can be sad here and there but overall get over it.
I personally suffered from S abuse as a child and have done pretty well as an adult but struggled to be fully happy this book is good definitely read her other books too.

Excellent insight and advice! Helped with healing and living a happy fulfilling life.

I experienced an unhappy childhood with a father who was self-centered, mean and narcissistic, a mother who was weak, incredibly unhappy, and had to be hospitalized with a nervous break down when I was eight old. As the oldest of the last six children, I was responsible to help care for them as well as help my mother feel better by listening to her express her emotional pain, unhappy marriage and the sad story of her life prior to marriage. Dr. Laura's book helped me heal. By understanding, facing and accepting the reality of my childhood experiences, I was able to deal with the anger and loss I felt because I didn't have a supportive and nurturing childhood. i've created the fulfilling life I wanted and am very happy.

Very encouraging and provided actionable steps for happy living

Dr Laura is very straight and to the point. She offers people alternatives to self pity. She encourages people to move on with life and find joy despite bad experiences. She

Very impacting

There is a lot to unpack in this book. For me it is something I will listen to several times to glean all that there is. First read through was to get the overall gest, then more closely introspection as I revisit each chapter.

Awesome content

This book and information is and will be valuable for my clients! There are too many people stuck here. I have began recommending this book. I can't wait to discuss it with them once they have read it too!

Good Listen

With my long drive to and from work, this allowed me to drift off mentally and to reflect on my own childhood and how there are always people out there with worse experiences. So pretty much I gathered what I already knew. Get over it - learn from it - and move on.

Perpetuating your childhood trauma

My name is Brittany Embry and although I never had resentment for my mother and father I definitely see flaws in my childhood. at 16 years old I was shot in my face leaving me completely blind. I am now 29 years old and I am still completely blind living the most fulfilled life ever! Waking up the next day after being shot in my face was absolutely the best day of my life! I took a break from high school for three months and went right back to my same school with my same friends and graduated with a 4.0 going straight to a university receiving my bachelors degree in 4 1/2 years. I was discriminated against a whole lot and overcame an overwhelming amount of obstacles with grace and appreciation. I am now applying to Law School have my own nonprofit called Resilience And Confidence First trying to help people improve their emotional intelligence, confidence, communication skills, core beliefs, and the ability to manifest destiny. I played the violin since the age of nine and continue to play even when I lost my site. at the age of 25 I decided to really play the instruments I always desired but was always too intimidated to play and I am now a pianist and drummer and I am absolutely in love with these instruments way more than the violin. One thing that two of my sisters absolutely despise of my father is that he never said he loved any of us. My dad was no means sentimental but was extremely caring and was at all of our becking calls. His actions and encouragement displayed beyond love. Therefore, I have always told myself I didn’t mind that he never said he loved me because I knew he loved me. After reading this book I realized because my dad was so macho that I have been depriving myself of being my full loving self. I am extremely loving and caring as of now but I still am holding back. Most importantly at the time that I got shot I was in love with my high school sweetheart and at this time he was exposed for cheating on me for two years. Can you believe that heartbreak was way worse and much more difficult for me to adapt to than me getting shot in my face losing my site? The fact that dealing with a boy that cheated on me was more hard for me to deal with and losing my sight Boggles my mind. Essentially, with the combination of my father being macho and my first love breaking my heart has resulted in me depriving myself of an extremely loving and caring faithful man and also of expressing the tremendous amount of love I have for people. I want to say thank you to the author of this book for opening my eyes and helping me acknowledge that everyone has childhood trauma whether it’s directly or indirectly from my parents, circumstances, our environment, or our neighborhoods. I feel relieved and free today! Today is a great day and I already was in love with life but I am extremely in love with Life now! Thank you so much.

I think everyone should read this

This is a book that would benefit everyone - everyone has had some issues with their childhood that they need to come to grips with and get over and move on to a "great Life"