A Wounded Daughter’s Survival by Deborah Leigh Alexander

Foreword
Introduction

Part I
The Origin of Emotional Damage

Chapter One: My Family's Beginnings
Chapter Two: The Storm
Chapter Three: Generational Rejection-The Baggage
Chapter Four: Family Life before My Parents' Divorce
Chapter Five: The Doll Buggy
Chapter Six: After My Parents' Divorce
Chapter Seven: Grandpa's Attitude
Chapter Eight: Dad's Contribution
Chapter Nine: Billy Jeff
Chapter Ten: Grandpa's Addiction, Denial, and Emotional Disconnection
Chapter Eleven: My Mother's Secret
Chapter Twelve: Rationalizing Reasons to Relive the Dysfunction
Chapter Thirteen: Memories of Grandma Ada
Chapter Fourteen: Good-bye Security-Hello Dysfunction
Chapter Fifteen: Living in Confusion and Chaos without God
Chapter Sixteen: Lack of Qualifications
Chapter Seventeen: Old Problems Resurface
Chapter Eighteen: The Worst Part of Childhood
Chapter Nineteen: Emotional Pain Becomes a Physical Illness
Chapter Twenty: Fourth-Grade Abandonment
Chapter Twenty-One: More Experiences of Emotional Abuse

Part II
Childhood Healing Begins

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Beginning of a Time that Felt Better
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Best Experience of My Life
Chapter Twenty-Four: Major Life Changes for the Better

Part III
The Dating Era

Chapter Twenty-Five: The High-School Dating Years
Chapter Twenty-Six: The Beginning of a Forever Love
Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Worst Decision I Ever Made

Part IV
The Functional Era Begins

Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Proposal of Marriage
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Our Wedding Day
Chapter Thirty: God Provides a Safety Net for Life and Marriage
Chapter Thirty-One: Newlywed Adjustments
Chapter Thirty-Two: A Memorable New Year's Eve
Chapter Thirty-Three: God Blesses Us with a Son
Chapter Thirty-Four: Grandma Ada's Sixty-Eighth Birthday
Chapter Thirty-Five: Continuing My Education
Chapter Thirty-Six: Overcoming Obstacles and Reaching Graduation Day
Chapter Thirty-Seven: 1984
Chapter Thirty-Eight: God Blesses Our Family Again
Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Key to a Functional Family Life
Chapter Forty: A Healing, Growing Period
Chapter Forty-One: More Blessings than Pain
Chapter Forty-Two: How Life Would Be Different for Our Children
Chapter Forty-Three: Our Family Becomes Complete

Part V
Moving to Texas

Chapter Forty-Four: Our New Life Begins in Texas
Chapter Forty-Five: Living a Genuine Miracle
Chapter Forty-Six: The Peace that Comes from Knowing God
Chapter Forty-Seven: Always Put Your Faith and Trust in God-Not Man
Chapter Forty-Eight: The Trigger Revives Old Emotional Trauma

Part VI
Life After the Trigger

Chapter Forty-Nine: Many Normal Life Changes
Chapter Fifty: Ending the Denial and Facing the Past
Chapter Fifty-One: Seeking Professional Help
Chapter Fifty-Two: Working Through the Dysfunctional Childhood
Chapter Fifty-Three: Making Sense of the Past and Discovering the Truth
Chapter Fifty-Four: Fitting the Pieces Together
Chapter Fifty-Five: Ending the Compensating through True Healing
Chapter Fifty-Six: Tangible Proof of My Survival through Faith in God-The Functional Legacy Begins

Part VII
A Future Free of the Past-A Future Lived in Truth

Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Power of Forgiveness
Chapter Fifty-Eight: What Is Your Family Legacy?
Chapter Fifty-Nine: Our True Reality
Chapter Sixty: Why Some People Believe There Is No God
Chapter Sixty-One: How Emotional Abuse Affects Us All