Prisoners Of Childhood: The Drama of the Gifted Child and the Search for the True Self

The "Healthy Narcissism" book by Alice Miller is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the importance of genuine vitality in our lives.

Through her extensive research and psychoanalytical work, Dr.

Miller reveals the devastating effects of unavailable parents on their children's emotional development.

The book provides a detailed overview of the "drama" of the gifted child, who recognizes his parents' needs at an early age and adapts to them, resulting in the repression of intense feelings.

This leads to emotional insecurity and loss of self, which are revealed in depression or concealed behind a facade of grandiosity. Dr.

Miller defines "healthy narcissism" as the ideal state of free access to the true self and authentic individual feelings that have their roots in childhood.

However, narcissistic disturbances represent a tragedy rather than an illness, as they result in the solitary confinement of the true self within the prison of the false self. The book offers practical examples and insights into the child's unarticulated suffering and the tragedy of parents who are unavailable to their children.

Through her work, Dr.

Miller helps patients regain their capacity for genuine feelings that are the source of natural vitality.

The "Healthy Narcissism" book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of emotional development and the importance of nurturing healthy relationships in their personal lives.