It Ends With You: Grow Up and Out of Dysfunction

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Introduction
To grow up and out of a painful, dysfunctional past and all its leftovers - feelings, memories, pain, confusion, anger, fear, and persistent dysfunctional relationship patterns- may seem like a miracle, too wonderful to be possible.

Chapter 1: Dysfunctional families and how they grow
What does it mean to grow up in a dysfunctional family? If you've followed pop psychology, been in a twelve step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Adult Children of Alcoholics, watched Oprah, or read books and magazines, you've probably seen or hear

Family dysfunction often runs through succeeding generations like a snowball rolling down a hill, gathering speed and power as it goes. In 25 years of counseling people in recovery, licensed psychotherapist Tina Tessina has worked with many clients struggling with problems stemming from dysfunctional families-anxiety, depression, feeling out of control, relationship disasters, and a pervasive feeling that they don't know what "normal" is. No matter how old they are, they don't feel like they've really grown up. They never learned the confidence, self-motivation, and emotional management tools they need to live healthy, happy lives, because their families didn't provide good role models, structure, and information. The exercises and guidelines in this book will help you finally understand what a functional family is, how its members are still affected by early experience, and how to develop the skills necessary for successful living and loving. It will help you make sure that the effects of family dysfunction will end with you.

Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D., has twenty years of experience as a licensed marriage and family counselor. She is the author of seven books, including: The Real Thirteenth Step: Discovering Confidence, Self-Reliance and Autonomy Beyond the Twelve Step Programs, Gay Relationships: How to Find Them, How To Improve Them, How to Make Them Last and Lovestyles: How to Celebrate Your Differences.

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