A central focus is how early neglect and abuse created deep-seated shame, making her feel "unlovable and rotten inside".
The book follows her through a "minefield" of childhood characters—including religious fanatics and child molesters—and her struggle to avoid falling into cycles of crime or self-destruction. Raising Myself: A Memoir of Neglect, Shame, and...
Engel recounts severe hardships, including physical and emotional neglect, being sexually abused at ages four and nine, and being raped at twelve. A central focus is how early neglect and