Is it OK to not like my family? It is important to remember that it is not uncommon to dislike members of your family. Not liking your family does not make you a bad person. In some cases, you can still maintain relationships with people even if you may not necessarily like them.
How to deal with your toxic relatives | Mel Robbins
33 related questions found
Is it OK to cut off toxic family members?
It could be time to cut the person off if you or your child start to dread visiting that family member, especially if they only interact in negative ways with those around them. "Recognize that spending time apart from them is important to one's own mental health," adds Dr. Halpern.
Their perception of you doesn't jibe with the way you see yourself. They accuse you of things that you feel aren't true. They make you feel like you're never enough or bad about yourself, or otherwise emotionally destabilized.
They're just saying what they think they're supposed to say.
Understanding why they do so can reduce their sting. Usually, it's more about them (and their own fears and insecurities) than about you. No one wants to see the people they care about suffer, and this experience doesn't always bring out the best in them.
Remember: manipulative people are not known for their empathy. They will try to confuse you, go on the offensive, or assume the role of a victim — a familiar disguise that's like second skin to them. Stay calm, stay polite, but assertive. Don't let them bully you into submission.
When should you estrange yourself from your family?
Some behaviors that often warrant estrangement include: Sexual abuse. Mental, emotional, or physical abuse, which each person may define for themselves. Constant toxicity.
The causes of estrangement can include abuse, neglect, betrayal, bullying, unaddressed mental illness, not being supportive, destructive behavior, substance abuse. Oftentimes, parents do not square with a child's sexual orientation, choice of spouse, gender identity, religion, and or political views.
A family member may ignore you as a form of projection, meaning that when they feel triggered, they may attribute their vulnerable feelings to you, instead of dealing with them on their own. For example, they may blame you, and say it's your fault for feeling ignored, as a way to avoid their feelings of being ignored.
Definition. Family conflict refers to active opposition between family members. Because of the nature of family relationships, it can take a wide variety of forms, including verbal, physical, sexual, financial, or psychological.
Understanding that you cannot change others is an important step in being able to manage the anxiety you experience around your family. Take time to pray for the people who give you anxiety. Pray that they will be able to work through their problems. Pray that you can forgive them for the ways that they hurt you.
Here are five ways to address toxic relationships with family members that disrespect others.
Don't take it personally. Family members who are toxic often say things about others behind their backs, even when they don't intend for them to be hurtful. ...
“Criticism, looking down on you, bullying, invalidating or gaslighting, and physical intimidation or abuse – all of it happens in toxic sibling relationships.” The same goes for toxic siblings. Being unfair or hurtful is one thing. It can even happen unintentionally.
