My Mother, Munchausen's and Me
A True Story of Betrayal and a Shocking Family Secret
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My Mother, Munchausen's and Me
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Narrated by:
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Helen Naylor
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By:
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Helen Naylor
About this listen
There was a time when I loved my mother. It’s shocking to imply that I stopped loving my mum because mothers always love their children and always do their best for them. Mothers are supposed to be good. But my mother wasn’t good.
Ten years ago, Helen Naylor discovered her mother, Elinor, had been faking debilitating illnesses for 30 years. After Elinor’s self-induced death, Helen found her diaries, which Elinor wrote daily for more than 50 years. The diaries reveal not only the inner workings of Elinor’s twisted mind and self-delusion, but also shocking revelations about Helen’s childhood.
Everything Helen knew about herself and her upbringing was founded on a lie. The unexplained accidents and days spent entirely on her own as a little girl, imagining herself climbing into the loft and disappearing into a different world, tell a story of neglect. As a teenager, her mother’s advice to Helen on her body and mental health speaks of dangerous manipulation.
With Elinor’s behavior becoming increasingly destructive, and Helen now herself a mother, she was left with a stark choice: to collude with Elinor’s lies or be accused of abandoning her.
My Mother, Munchausen’s and Me is a heartbreaking, honest, and brave account of a daughter unravelling the truth about her mother and herself. It’s a story of a stolen childhood, mental illness, and the redemptive power of breaking a complex and toxic bond.
©2021 Helen Naylor (P)2021 Thread, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.Listeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about My Mother, Munchausen's and Me
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ann
- 13-01-22
recommended
thanks for sharing your story. My mums main focus is her ailments and her self. I am glad I am not alone. I wish you the best .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- lou_2_you
- 01-12-21
Therapy in a book
I could have written this story. It was amazing and emotional to hear another woman experience what you had, think the same thoughts and feel the same turmoil. Calmly and beautifully read, a poignant story of a mother and a daughter, a daughter who wanted that loving relationship, but couldn't have it. Heartbreaking really. The positive is that we have learnt how not to do motherhood and surround our loved ones with warmth and compassion! Not enough is shared about mothers who damage their families. Glad this book is out there.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mrs Amanda Edwards
- 06-02-22
Totally Fascinating!
Excellent story, totally shocking as it's true. Well written and narrated. Well worth a read if you know someone like this, a real eye-opener.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sally
- 16-02-22
Interestingly Sad
A compelling read - a brilliant insight into a complex world of family life and habitual lies and deceit surrounding fabricated parental illness.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- BessieRay
- 05-05-22
Worth a listen
I enjoyed it overall although I found it rather long drawn out. What a strange, awful and fascinating woman her mother was.
I found the repetitive references to being middle class a bit irritating as I don't feel it's a point that deserves so much emphasis in the context of the woman having this condition.
She was obviously very mentally ill and that's sad but I find other reviews berating the author for not being more sympathetic to her mother pretty judgemental, her daughter is totally entitled to her feelings based on her experiences and I hope she continues well on her healing journey.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jillian
- 15-02-22
The Appitomy of survival.
Very moving and unbelievably raw. Sadly recognising aspects of my own childhood and its complex dynamics. A sad waste of not living, to feed upon the thrill of I'll health and its medical attention.
We'll done Helen for sharing, surviving and living your best life. X
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Ian W James/Kathy James
- 07-01-22
Familiar ?
Very illuminating listen. Some poignant parallels with my relationship with my mother. Great empathy with the author
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- KirstyL
- 06-07-22
Truly astonished
I lost count of the amount of times I rolled my eyes or outwardly said what the f*ck or even got angry for this poor lady!
This is truly worth the listen
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jackie
- 09-11-22
A sad truth, a wise daughter
Living in an attached terrace next to a sociopathic narcissist who exhibits periods of munchausen, a woman who actively incited 3 assaults on me and vocalizes wishes for me to be killed or to die, i get it... all of it I see, too, the affects on her 2 now adult daughters....also manipulated to harm and harass me while brainwashed into believing lies...and so, i can once again intellectually enhance my understanding of the family more thru Helen's painful story. BUT, what does upset me still are the levels of abuse of power and neglect of duties.. and simple gut understanding...of authorities...social services, police, doctors. Then again, Helen shows again why the world has so many ugly sides to it....the lack of people in positions of power willing to do what is needed....lazy leaders not exerting the energy to change the laws, stop supporting bad people and making good folks suffer through it all! So glad Helen was able to resolve and grow.. too many people remain in denial and hurting children grow into angry and dysfunctional adults. Thanks for bravely sharing your life.. .i wish you more love and laughter. xo
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Keith
- 31-12-21
An education
I learned so much about my own upbringing.
This book has explained so many of the issues of my upbringing and my mother's unusual and unexplainable behaviour.
Like a light being switched on. Nothing to the extent of ealanors behaviour but so many similarities. Thank you for recording all of the painful experiences.
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