Running on Empty

By: Jonice Webb PhD, Christine Musello PsyD

Narrated by: Karen White

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

Do you sometimes feel as if you're just going through the motions in life? Are you good at looking and acting as if you're fine, but secretly feel lonely and disconnected? If so, you are not alone. The world is full of people who have an innate sense that something is wrong with them - who feel they live on the outside looking in, but have no explanation for this feeling and no way to put it into words.

If you are one of these people, you may fear that you are not connected enough to your spouse, or that you don't feel pleasure or love as profoundly as others do. You may drink too much, or eat too much, or risk too much, in an attempt to feel something good.

Running on Empty will give you clear strategies for how to heal, and offers a special chapter for mental-health professionals. In the world of human suffering, this book is an emotional smart bomb meant to eradicate the effects of an invisible enemy.

©2013 Jonice Webb, PhD (P)2015 Tantor

Good book with somewhat robotic sounding narrator

I loved the content and it's great for therapist use. It was difficult to listen to this narrator. It was similar to listening to Siri trying to narrate a book which is the reason I left off one star overall

17 of 17 people found this review helpful

Epiphany

Dr. Webb described my symptoms perfectly. And also my childhood perfectly. Like the white space in a painting, it's not what happened, but rather what didn't happen. Having this knowledge will help me to create and plan treatment. Thank you Dr. Webb!

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

long on diagnosis, short on solutions

Really good book for those of us who are trying to deal with our childhood issues, and it's always very validating and strengthening to understand better the conditions and causes of unmet needs, but there's not a whole lot of follow up to that. No real way forward into making yourself full again, to retrain, or re-parent yourself into more abundant life.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Little Lee Lee~ pretty powerful

I listened to this book twice. And will listen to it again. So much information. A lot of insight as to why as adults we feel so empty, scared, lost and lonely. Even though we have children, a husband and friends.
We were emotionally neglected at such a critical time.
I cry uncontrollably almost every day. I'm 48 years old and just now able to start breaking through to the real pain. It's a horrible feeling to have SADNESS all of the time. But through therapy and books like this one I am beginning to put the painful pieces together.
I would highly recommend this book.
Lisa

12 of 13 people found this review helpful

If you need solutions don't buy this book

Would you try another book from Jonice Webb, PhD and Christine Musello, PsyD and/or Karen White?

No. This book did not deliver as promised.

What could Jonice Webb, PhD and Christine Musello, PsyD have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

More information should have been given on recovery. To much information was given about the problem. I know the problem that is why I purchased the book. I was seeking ways to overcome the issues caused not read a bunch of case studies about the issue.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Lol! The voice of the narrator only made it worst.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment. But not because of what was written. I was disappointed by the promise of help that was not delivered.

Any additional comments?

When I purchased this book I was looking for direction on how to handle the fallout of emotional neglect. In stead this book seems to be geared toward people who away looking for affirmation of their neglect. As previously stated, I am aware of the issue, which is why I purchased the book. This book fails to provide comprehensive help and direction. Therefore I will be returning it.

29 of 33 people found this review helpful

A Must Read for every clinician

I found this book to be not only highly enlightening but extremely applicable. I believe every clinician should take the time to study the concept of emotional neglect.

Having said that, I also feel this book is extremely helpful for those who may have experienced emotional neglect, such as myself. Dr. Webb is very down-to-earth and this read is user-friendly to the layman as well.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Eye Opening!

Well informed. Excellent for ones self development and for parenting as well. Two in one. New skill to help parents not repeat cycles.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

great content, annoying voice.

the author nails it on the head, getting to the root of most common conditions. I'll recommend this to anyone. the lady reading the book sounded so raspy and cold that I had to listen to it sped up just to get through it. I'm buying the hard copy to re-read just to avoid that whiny dogmatic voice and because it's a great book.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Very helpful!

Great book! I like that it has sheets to help you work on things, something to actually do! I learned alot.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

life changing!!

This book was the aha moment that I've been looking for my whole life! It explains me to a tee! Great strategies and support for healing. Thank you!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

multi level marketing hook, expect spam.

book loosely based on emotional intelligence concept, but really a marketing tool to push you towards a 1,400 dollar online learning module. few basic tit bits, then the sales pitch begins. amazon should carry warnings for this type of deception.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Interesting book

I thoroughly liked the book. It was so relieving hearing about the things that did not happen also has a big impact on children. I found the person reading the book sounded a bit robotic. It annoyed me to begin with until I got used to it.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great book

The person performance is not fluid but the content is exceptional. The ideas and findings by Dr Webb will receive resonate with the majority.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

An interesting concept

An interesting concept. Book veers between over simplistic and over explanatory.
Certainly has great merit and very useful. Could easily be better edited but certainly a useful learning tool.

brilliant!!!!!

loved it so precise and answered so many of my questions thank you doctor j

A tool of self-compassion

Thanks to this book I really started to feel some self-compassion, it explains so well the mechanisms that make me miserable that I felt ....wow I should really be more understanding for myself, taking all that mess into consideration.
If this book helped me in anything, that would be it - I am less hard on myself for not being perfect.

I now understand myself.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

A must read if you think you or someone close to you, may be are struggling emotionally with the lasting effects of childhood emotional neglect. This is a constructive, empowering and life changing book.

What other book might you compare Running on Empty to, and why?

Yes. Over many years I've spoken to councillors, psychologists, physiatrists and none have ever got to the heart of my problems like this book. I now understand myself. It also give strategies and advice on how to move on and not stay feeling empty and stuck.

What does Karen White bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Childhood Emotional neglect is clearly explained, how it can affect someone's life, why they may feel empty inside but not know why, it discusses reasons for possible suicidal thoughts that are hard to put into words or explain, especially if life is generally good. It explains why someone may struggle with things life self control with diet, exercise, daily routine jobs etc. and it gives positive advice and strategies on how to move on.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Warning, if like me, you initially find the readers voice hard to listen to, to get past this - it is a life changing book.

Very Interesting

A very interesting theory for the "why am I so unhappy when everything seems right" category of mental health. Manages to tread carefully around blame, even while putting emphasis on causal effect of parental behaviour.