I'm doing the first read just to get a feel (or because of being curious / avoiding the actual work). I promise myself to go back later and do the exercises. The book talks about different stages of child development and how getting stuck in each of them manifests in adult life. Later the author gives information about how to unblock.
What is interesting is that after doing the tests I find myself blocked on all stages except of the toddler stage (exploration), while my ex showed clear signs of being blocked there. Was he really the missing piece? Is this why I felt I just had to go into this relationship no matter the consequences? Is it even possible to be blocked on stages before and after toddler stage but not the toddler stage? And how come I survived that toddler period so well?
Another interesting thing I noticed is that the book says that abstract thinking and imagining one's future as an adult is possible only from around 16 years old, while I've been preoccupied with topics like the meaning of life and not getting the idea of suicide when I grow up from the age of 8. I was actually very concerned about my future adulthood and I tended to think that I'm going to have severe psychological problems because of the way my parents treat me. How did I know?
Another realisation is that the whole teenage stage I've been in the relationship with my first boyfriend, and indeed I did not score much in the teenage stage test. I think this relationship really saved me. He provided me the alternative view on my family and was the first to make me question my parents. I don't think I'd be able to get there on my own. He also validated me as a person, he saw me for who I was for the first time. I used to say that he means so much to me that it's as if he was part of my core identity - and hell yes it makes so much sense, since indeed big part of my identity formed then.
In any case, great book.