"The Invisible Battle" by Joe Berry is a comprehensive look at the psychological dynamics of an abusive relationship. The author, a former victim of an abusive relationship, uncovers the psyche of the abuser and the ways in which the victim can cope with and leave the relationship. I found the book interesting and engrossing, especially the portions dealing with the abuser's psyche. While I was reading the book, I found myself thinking about similar things, and coming to similar conclusions about how to deal with similar situations. However, I think Berry does a good job of making this material accessible and convincing readers to consider different perspectives and possible solutions. The book makes a strong case for learning empathy and not just accepting things as they are.
At times, I felt the book was too focused on the victim blaming herself for the abuse, as if somehow her behavior caused the situation to occur. However, she does offer some suggestions for how to deal with this sort of self blaming, and how it can be useful in getting out of a psychologically abusive relationship. I also liked that the author makes a distinction between physical and sexual abuse, even listing specific types of each that might be occurring in the relationship. This made the book far more easily accessible to those who have never experienced this type of relationship.
What I learned about the author is that she knows all too well about the problems involved in abusive relationships, and offers some practical suggestions about how to avoid them. In addition, she offers some practical suggestions about how to deal with an abusive relationship in your own life. In addition, I think the book offers a helpful perspective on unhealthy relationships, even offering an argument against waiting too long to get out. The author provides a rather vivid description of what a psychologically abusive relationship is like, and how to spot signs of one forming. I personally feel that she oversimplified the problem of abusive relationships, and didn't offer enough positive suggestions about how to deal with them.
What I also found lacking was a detailed look at how to deal with emotionally abusive relationships. This seems like a minor gripe, but it's one that I've been annoyed about, because while the text does offer some advice, it doesn't go into the forms of how to deal with the situation once the abuse has started, or even offers resources for escaping an abusive relationship. In addition, I felt like the text was sometimes a bit too focused on talking about how to cope with abuse rather than offering actual advice on how to get out of one. This is probably fine if you are dealing with a particularly abusive relationship, but if you are going through a relationship woes, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
Overall, I think that The Invisible Battle - Overcoming Mental Abuse offers good advice. The book is simple to read, and provided me with some good ideas. The only complaint I have is that it did not go into as much depth into the topics as I would have liked. Other than that, this is a book that might be useful to anyone who wants to know how to deal with this type of situation.
If you are going through relationship troubles, this is a great book to read. It's a quick read, and even though it does touch on a lot of topics, it doesn't drag on for too long. It's a quick read, and I recommend it highly to anyone who needs a little practical advice on overcoming abusive relationships. It's a great intro into the world of self help and personal development.