About DREAMS DENIED: Surviving Childhood Trauma, Parentification, Neglect, and Control within a Dysfunctional Cult-like Family in a Communist Utopia:
Surviving Childhood Trauma, Volume I of TRUTH DENIED, exposes the severe psychological and developmental trauma under Ceausescu’s regime—a time when the illusion of a communist utopia masked systemic domestic violence, emotional neglect, parentification, and coercive control. Oppressive policies reduced women to reproductive vessels, while children—especially those in rural regions—were used as disposable labor.
This true story of survival illuminates the pervasive dehumanization that normalized abuse and sustained cycles of unchecked power. From a deeply personal lens, it dissects the enduring impact of narcissistic abuse and manipulative tactics like gaslighting, boundary violations, passive-aggressive behaviors, deception, projection, and emotional blackmail—each eroding identity and self-worth.
These toxic dynamics contribute to Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), manifesting as emotional dysregulation, cognitive impairments, and chronic trauma symptoms.
Please note: This memoir spans three volumes, each delving into diverse forms of victimization. Presented in a reflective, real-time style, it captures the fragmented reality of ongoing trauma.
• Volume II: LIFE DENIED explores adult trauma, compounded by racism, scapegoating in emigration, and aphantasia—a unique condition that amplifies trauma by limiting the mind’s ability to visualize, deepening feelings of disconnection.
• Volume III: FREEDOM DENIED reveals the toll on body, mind, and life, detailing the scars of cumulative stress, self-sabotage, and intergenerational trauma.
An integrated edition, TRUTH DENIED, is also available.
Trigger Warning: This book includes sensitive content, including themes of suicide, parental alcoholism, physical violence, and mental health struggles.
Reader discretion is advised; please seek support if needed.
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Author Bio:
Cristina Gherghel, formerly Cristina G., discovered her love for writing at age 8 while growing up in communist Romania.
As an introvert shaped by various forms of abuse, she found clarity in solitude, turning to writing as her refuge.
At 24, she moved to Italy, and later, at 38, to the UK, where she faced new challenges, including racism and instability, while confronting the lingering effects of trauma.
These experiences deepened her insight into human behavior, particularly narcissism and the complexities of the mind.
By 40, Cristina emerged as a thoughtful, incisive author, encouraging readers to reflect on their own truths and embrace the transformative power of self-awareness and compassion.