Jump to content

A really weird book question ... help?


ariadne1880
This topic is 5700 days old and is no longer open for new replies.  Replies are automatically disabled after two years of inactivity.  Please create a new topic instead of posting here.  

Recommended Posts

I have been counseling a young friend about his inability to love (the usual he wasn't loved as a child, has been screwed over in relationships) and am feeling that I am not professionally qualified to give him any further advice. I still want to help him, though. He won't go see a therapist .. at least not yet. But I was wondering if there was a book or books out there that someone could suggest that might be helpful to this young man?

 

He is gay. He is interested in someone. He has told the person "I love you, too" but has been unable to go any further. To the extent that he has kept communication with this person to a bare minimum because he is so emotionally stunted in his growth.

 

I am looking to get him a book that might deal with this perspective. I'm hoping it might help him decide to go to a therapist to get more answers.

 

I checked Amazon but the choices were so enormous I barely knew where to start.

 

Thanks for any suggestions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's not a book but it's something it took me over 40 years to learn: you can't can't love anyone unless you in some way love yourself first. If your friend is from a dysfunctional family, it may well be that he needs to find a way to replace the disaffection of his parents with some acceptance and love himself first before looking for ways to express love of another.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey man!

 

I have been reading Psychology books and related material for many many years for my professional training and my favourite two dealing with Love, either towards oneself or in a relationship are:

 

"The mastery of Love" by Miguel Ruiz

 

Incredibly easy to read. Simple and to the point. Uplifting, and at the same time ruthless. You will not find it in the Psycology area but perhaps in the New Age one. Don't be fooled by that, this is serious and useful stuff.

 

and,

 

"Conscious Loving" by Gay Hendricks and Kathlyn Hendricks

 

The ultimate guide to jump into a relationship without falling into the trap of co-dependency and thus loosing yourself.

 

I really recommend both of them. Whether you are in a relationship or not, they are amazing tools if you are interested in self-empowerment and personal growth.

 

My best wishes to you and your friend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do think you are right about that. My friend -- who is 20 -- seems very secure on the surface (has the looks, the body, the brains, etc) but inside feels he was never loved. Both parents basically abandoned him when he was 5 and he never saw them again until he was 15. He's had 2 boyfriends and both relationships broke up when -- as he says -- "I finally gave myself to them and then they didn't want me anymore." He was unable to say "I Love You" to either of them. He has no relationship with his father whatsover.

 

It's a fairly typical story I'll admit.

 

I realize you can't learn everything from a book but I was just hoping there was a title out there that might at least get him looking at the right questions and might provide some guidance on how to get the answers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...