Comments on: Why Do Family Estrangements Happen?

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 04:43:00 +0000

Sometimes, a ‘parentectomy’ (estrangement) is the only road to safety and sanity. My paternal grandfather, a sociopath, horribly abused his wife, children, and grandchildren in the most violent fashion. My father, a malignant narcissistic sociopath with delusions of grandeur, abused me religiously, psychologically, spiritually, and emotionally. I even suffered educational neglect. My brother, a felon and registered sex offender of minor(s), practices counseling illegally without a license. They all disowned me when I became an adult and sought to make my own way of integrity in the world. Now that my father is deceased, my felon of a brother has replaced him in our mother’s heart to the point that she holds he is her only child of integrity. She made him co-owner (not beneficiary but rather co-owner) on all of her financial and investment accounts. My point is, sometimes parents and other family members are so sick, so violent, so destructive, so downright dangerous, that estrangement is the only wise option.

By: Shirley Davis

Shirley Davis — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 13:40:03 +0000

In reply to Chris. I am sorry you saw it that way. I'm not perfect, just human. Thank you for your comment. Shirley

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 13:37:12 +0000

My God, here you have a vulnerable person who’s had so much tragedy & trauma by witnessing her own Mother being murdered; and all you can do Shirley Davis (in your reply) is talk about yourself & make it all about “you”. I can’t believe your Narcissism! God bless you Jaqueline Lewis & I hope you get a lot of support for your healing (certainly not from Shirley Davis, it appears, sadly enough).

By: EnnDee

EnnDee — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 02:32:08 +0000

Great article. One common area for family estrangement is religion – people leaving religion, religious families not accepting of different religion / athiest, agnostic, or humanist in-law.

By: Shirley Davis

Shirley Davis — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 19:21:46 +0000

In reply to Jacqueline Lewis. I'm glad you enjoyed (if that is the operative word) the article. Estrangement is sometimes what it takes for us to heal and to remain safe. In fact, the fourth article in this series that I am in the process of writing talks about just that. I am grateful for your comment. Shirley J. Davis

By: Shirley Davis

Shirley Davis — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 19:17:30 +0000

In reply to Laura-Maria Hornsby. I'm so glad you found it helpful. You are welcome. Shirley J. Davis

By: Jacqueline Lewis

Jacqueline Lewis — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 16:44:14 +0000

My heart is grateful for this article. I had endured multiple childhood incest that’s was generational. Fortunately I discovered a trauma therapist .
I have been receiving professional help for decades.
My family of origin extended family members despise me.
After witnessing my mother being murdered by stepfather and escaping gunshots. My heart felt sorrow and disgust. That none of my mother family members came to the murder trail for my mother. Therefore
I have dealt with having the same birthday as my mother.
Also having no siblings however I researched healing festered wounds from childhood. Grateful that I have discovered sanity but of course battling chronic health issues.

By: Laura-Maria Hornsby

Laura-Maria Hornsby — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 15:42:05 +0000

Very affirming and informative. Thank you.