When Family Ties Break: Understanding Parent-Child Estrangement
Sometimes the cause of the estrangement lies somewhere in that vast desert between where the complexities of each person’s personalities, histories, challenges, or genetics ping-pong back and forth off the other’s, and conflict operates less as cause and effect and more like a feedback loop, endlessly amplifying the worst instincts of the parent, adult child, or anyone else who wants to step into the fray. — Joshua Coleman
The relationship between parents and children is often considered to be one of the most important and influential relationships in a person’s life. However, there are times when this relationship can break down, leading to estrangement between parents and children. Estrangement is a complex issue that can have significant emotional and psychological consequences for both parents and children. But why does estrangement happen in these most critical of all relationships? And what can be done to prevent or repair this breakdown in family relationships?
Defining Estrangement
Estrangement is the term used to describe a situation where parents and children become emotionally and/or physically distant from each other. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as disagreements over lifestyle choices, values, or beliefs, conflicts related to personal or family history, or…
