The Road Back to Me

Healing and Recovering from Co-Dependency, Addiction, Enabling, and Low Self Esteem

By: Lisa A. Romano

Narrated by: Gina E. Manegio

Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

This story is told through the jagged peephole of the author's awareness, examining her formative wounds and influences from the perspective of a woman who has now gained experience and wisdom. As she peers over her soul's shoulder, she recalls the chaos of her once-fragile childhood mind. She shudders as she is reminded of the sting of her lonely childhood, her feelings of abandonment, and her painful memories of being bullied. Her childhood self was once so lost that she even contemplated suicide. As the years progress, her mind is riddled with obsession, compulsion, and a crippling sense of low self-esteem. A turning point arrives many years later, after marriage and the birth of three children.

This story is about healing the faulty programming of childhood. It is about recovery from relationship addiction, food addiction, anxiety, and constant fear. It is a human story that will resonate with listeners from all walks of life, and which offers hope to anyone who has felt imprisoned by the past.

©2012 Lisa A. Romano (P)2014 Lisa A. Romano

NOT a book about recovery

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I kept waiting for the recovery part of the book to begin...it never did.

Would you recommend The Road Back to Me to your friends? Why or why not?

not recommended for those looking for a recovery story or a how to book.

Any additional comments?

This book is about the traumatic events in the authors life that formed her co-dependency. It is not about her path out of co-dependency. For me, the booked ended exactly when the title suggests it would begin.

Not Enough

I wanted to hear solutions. I understand the story is important, but I did expect there would be some information in it that was not just history.

Road back to me

A story of a woman s life. Not an instruction manual. Everyone needs to write their own story as part of their own recovery.

Not helpful

All stories about her past. But not helpful at all. Nothing applicable at all to me

no help

wonderful story but it not tell me how to overcome. no steps. disappointed. no help at all. wasted money.

Not a self help book. An autobiography

This was just an autobiography. It was not helpful in any way to the reader.

Not worth the time or money

It was like hearing a diary and ended abruptly right when it started to get good. I felt like there should have been more solutions or tips. it really was a waste of time.

what a drag!

I was only able to listen to it for an hour (this is fast forwarding hoping it would get better) thought it would have a bit more insight and clinical approach, It is basically a person telling all the dysfunction in her family. No need to hear what I have.

The Uncanny Parallel

I was absolutely taken back by the uncanny parallel "s of Lisa's life and my own.
I do not know if this is normal but her name is Lisa so is mine; she dated and married the very same type men I did. Her child was born with an Hemangioma; so was mine. My husband reacted the same exact way to counseling and the counselor told me exactly what Alice told her; the sad truth is I did not leave I was too frightened and remained in unhappiness and giving but never receiving for 16 years..I don't know if my.vibrational plane drew me to Lisa and her videos and now her books; I am just so grateful that something did. I loved every word of every page. Thank you Lisa for your willingness to be transparent.
The narrator was great as well.

not what I was looking for

if your looking for something uplifting to hear someone path down the road to getting back to themselves, this is not it. This is what led up to her path, not going along as she walked it. I was disappointed, but I think I was also misled to what I had understood this book to be about.

Nothing New

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I expected a lot more of recovery rather than it being all about the lead up to recovery and then THE END

Has The Road Back to Me put you off other books in this genre?

No it hasn't put me off other books, i will do more research in future to make sure that i choose something that addresses my needs

Did Gina E. Manegio do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

Yes

Do you think The Road Back to Me needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Definitely, the book should have been titled differently, i was expecting to learn a step by step account of what she did to change her life. instead what she wrote about was all the disfunction that brought her to the decision to seek help

Any additional comments?

This is a book about codependency and dysfunctional patterns which most people who have them are looking for a way out of. Lisa writes about her life up to the point of recovery. It is a autobiography and not a self help book and i do not like autobiography"s and would never choose to read one

Should say “my healing” rather than “healing”

It’s a great, relatable story but that’s what it is, one woman’s story rather than offering advice to people wishing to heal from those things. I enjoyed it but think the title is misleading.

Loved it!

I'm 32 and I've struggled with self unawareness issues all my life. As far as I remember myself I've had a feeling that there is something wrong me. Now I understand the I simply wanted to be heard. I wanted to matter. I wanted my feelings to be respected. I wanted to be enough. I wanted to be validated. Thanks to Lisa I understand that it's normal and the feeling of wrongness comes from detachment from myself and attachment to others. And ofcourse those others often turn out to be manipulators. Now I understand so many things. I only wish I knew it earlier! Thank you very much Mrs Lisa for sharing your story!!

Thoroughly recommend

I really related to this book! Both of my step parents were alcoholics and my parents were unintentionally neglectful and controlling. I have recently left what I hope will be my last controlling and emotionally abusive relationship. I am ready to take responsibility for my own thoughts and feelings and break the cycle. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone that identifies themselves as co-dependent as well as anyone who does not; I think we all expect others to take responsibility for our feelings at times and unfortunately most of us carry through negative patterns that we have developed as children from our parents. The book is written very well and I was impressed by the reflectiveness of the author. The narration is also very well done.

very relatable book, very honest and inspiring

You follow the author's honest description of her family's dysfunction, how it impacts on her childhood and personality, and how the true person still shines through at moments. She's able to describe both her family and herself mercilessly, with a matter of fact tone, leaving no trace of bitterness. Her strength is admirable and her faults are relatable.

Really?

I cannot believe this woman has written this drivel about her so called abusive upbringing and made money out of people who genuinely have family of origin issues. This is truly dire. Most people who have a history of alcoholism in their family have had far worse abuse thrust upon them during their childhood.she comes across as a bully with anger issues. She has jumped onto the coat tails of Melody Beattie, who in my estimation is the number one authoritarian of the concept of codependency.

not really what I expected

this is an autobiography not dissimilar to the lives of millions really although it was a busy life

Enlightening

Fabulous Lisa! You give hope to many! I found many things in this book that I resonated with.

Terrible

Hit people with no real experience of abuse and no academic experience either where it counts on the pocket


A terrible woman making money of those who really have suffered. please don't buy this rubbish

Okay

I struggle to finish the book as for me I felt there was not enough structure. Some of the situations referred to resonate and I am sure they will be doing so with many others.