In my last article, I talked about ego defense mechanisms, and how these can play out with siblings that exhibit these primitive and neurotic strategies. As we’ve seen, these are unhealthy expressions of the ego, which leave us hurt or bewildered. Here, we’ll be looking at what mature defense mechanisms can look like, and howContinue reading “Mature Defense Mechanisms and Sibling Estrangement”
Tag Archives: #estrangement
Understanding Sibling Estrangement: Ego Defense Mechanisms Explained
In our quest to understand the underpinnings of sibling estrangement, one particular perspective is almost universally experienced, and it’s that of our sibling’s ego defense mechanisms. These were initially described by Sigmund Freud, and later, his daughter Anna Freud expanded upon them. Many of us have been subjected to disproportionate reactions on our sibling’s part,Continue reading “Understanding Sibling Estrangement: Ego Defense Mechanisms Explained”
Stopping Intergenerational Estrangement: Key Strategies
Every now and then, the question arises within our online support group with just how we can stop intergenerational estrangement. This is a perplexing question for a number of us, as we are highly conscious of what the effects of estrangement are, and don’t want them to be perpetuated to the next generation. It’s concerningContinue reading “Stopping Intergenerational Estrangement: Key Strategies”
The “Almost” Sibling Relationship
Estrangement happens in degrees. Contrary to what some people may think, it’s more than about simply being estranged or not. It can be wildly confusing when you may still be talking with your sibling, yet feel there is something missing. Perhaps it’s certain subjects that are off limits, or an emotional depth that you somehowContinue reading “The “Almost” Sibling Relationship”
Indifference and Sibling Estrangement
The estrangement journey presents many different realities. Be it through the involuntary forms that arise with little to no answers when we’re on the receiving end, just as with situations that cause us to have to act and cut ties for our own good. And yet, there is another form of sibling estrangement that manifestsContinue reading “Indifference and Sibling Estrangement”
The Influence of Politics on Sibling Estrangement
One day following the election, some of the participants and I in our online support group discussed the impact of this choice. While we were careful to avoid going into specifics of one camp over the next, the commonalities that came out with sibling estrangement were staggering. We were all able to hold each other’sContinue reading “The Influence of Politics on Sibling Estrangement”
Grieving the Sibling We Never Had
Every now and then, people in our community experience an overwhelming sense of sadness with their sibling estrangement, which is normal. And yet, another type of hardship can emerge, which is the realization of what we don’t have. Some people may quickly conclude that they shouldn’t be sad for the sibling they never had, andContinue reading “Grieving the Sibling We Never Had”
The Wisdom in being Estrangement-Informed
When it comes to being trauma-informed, certain key principles arise with respect to safety, trustworthiness, freedom to choose, mutuality, empowerment and cultural consideration. These are all important elements to ensure the well-being of individuals facing trauma. Just as with trauma, estrangement can appear invisible, until it is openly shared and spoken about. What would anContinue reading “The Wisdom in being Estrangement-Informed”
The Inner Child and Sibling Estrangement
Our experience with sibling estrangement can leave a lasting mark on our lives. Being in an estrangement-prone family, we can be left with the experience of fear, hurt, misunderstanding, hostility, avoidance, or rigidity within us. These reactions can cause us to become something we are not, and play themselves out in unhealthy ways that driveContinue reading “The Inner Child and Sibling Estrangement”
Acknowledgment and Sibling Estrangement
As more and more of us start to name and understand sibling estrangement, we start to see the underlying elements that create suffering for us. These can include rumination, the lack of answers, the rejection of who we are, or the hijacking of a narrative about us within the family system that is false, justContinue reading “Acknowledgment and Sibling Estrangement”
Sibling Estrangement 