I Had to Raise Myself
There are people who grow up knowing they can rely on others, and there are people who learn very early that they can’t. I Had to Raise Myself is written for the second group. Mara Ellison’s book explores what happens when a child’s emotional needs are consistently ignored, dismissed, or made to feel like a burden. Not through dramatic storytelling or exaggerated claims, but through clear explanations of how emotional neglect and narcissistic parenting quietly shape the way adults think, relate, and survive. The book’s central message is direct: many of the struggles people carry into adulthood are not personal weaknesses, they are learned responses to growing up without emotional safety. Rather than focusing on blame, Ellison focuses on understanding. She explains why people who were emotionally unsupported often become hyper-independent, overly responsible, afraid of conflict, or deeply unsure of their own feelings. Most importantly, she shows how these patterns can be unlearned...