Understanding the Loss of Self Have you ever asked yourself, “Why do I feel like I don’t know who I am?”. You may be very capable, successful, and responsible on the outside. Yet inside, you can feel disconnected from your own needs, emotions, and sense of identity. Like you have a ‘blind spot’ when...
The Loss No One Talks About If you have never met your father, there is a good chance you have spent years trying to convince yourself it does not really affect you. You may have told yourself “I never knew him, so how can I miss him?”“It’s just normal to me.”“I don’t think it bothers...
Same House, Different Childhoods If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, its very likely you also experienced sibling trauma. You may look at your siblings as an adult and wonder How did we grow up in the same house and become so disconnected? Why is there so little empathy between us? Why does...
The Pain of Parentification As a child, you were growing up too soon if you experienced: Being the peacekeeper and mediating conflict with adults around you Raising siblings Keeping the entire house clean, doing the washing, cooking, ironing, shopping “Stepping up” to take the place of an absent parent Keeping dangerous secrets for a loved...
The best Christmas gift Christmas is a whirlwind. All the planning, preparing, shopping, wrapping, decorating – adding financial and family pressure. There is so much to do; it just doesn’t happen by magic. You have to do it all. Focusing on materialistic traditions, finding the best Christmas gifts, sorting the food, and organising the family....
Three main effects Did you grow up in a dysfunctional family? If you never really talk about growing up. It can feel like a sticky subject. You describe your family as difficult, tricky, or complicated. You may have likely lived with caregivers or parents who experienced generational trauma and may have exhibited chemical dependence, mental...
6 tips for dealing with a difficult family It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Full of Christmas cheer, warmth and kindness. Opening gifts, eating good food and spending enjoyable time with family. Furthermore – time off work! What’s not to love. This is the perfect family stereotype, that in reality doesn’t exist –...