Family dysfunction is something that all of us have experienced. It’s what happens when the people who are supposed to love and support you the most fail in their duties: they don’t hear or see your pain, they don’t listen to your fears or worries, and they don’t care enough about you to give you personal space, let alone as someone who’s different from them.
Yitzhak D Stern will now explain the consequences of dysfunctional family life and how to avoid them.
How to Avoid a Dysfunctional Family Life per Yitzhak D Stern
Effects of a Dysfunctional Family Life
According to Yitzhak D Stern, having a dysfunctional family can severely affect your mental and emotional health. You might feel like you’re going crazy because the world doesn’t make sense to you anymore: your family is supposed to be a place of refuge, but it’s the place where you are at your most vulnerable – and yet you can’t turn to them for help.
Your relationships with other people may also suffer as a result of growing up in an abusive or neglectful home environment. You may develop trust issues that lead to difficulties in forming new friendships and partnerships, or you may simply not believe anyone who tells you they love you.
What Can You Do?
Fortunately, there are ways that we can avoid our dysfunctional families becoming too much of an influence on our lives.
Yitzhak D Stern will now give you some tips for creating boundaries and setting yourself up for a more positive family dynamic:
Recognize That It Is Not Your Fault
You may feel like you need to “fix” your family to make things better, but this is simply not the case. It’s important to remember that it’s the actions of the dysfunctional adults in your life that have created this situation – not anything about you or something you did.
Limit Their Involvement in Your Life if Possible
If there are certain toxic relatives whom you see too often, such as an abusive parent or alcoholic sibling, consider limiting contact with them where possible. This could mean seeing them less frequently, only talking on the phone when necessary, or attending events on designated days rather than every time they’re scheduled.
Find Support from Your Friends and Other Family Members
You may have to be careful about who you confide in since some people may try to turn against you if they feel threatened by your attempt to get out of an abusive situation. But it’s important that you find and nurture positive relationships with others who can be there for you when times are tough.
Channel Your Focus Properly
Focus on yourself – your own needs, goals, and dreams for life outside of the dysfunctional home environment. This can help remind you that there is more to life than what is happening at home, even if it doesn’t feel like that right now. Setting goals for yourself and working towards them will also provide a much-needed distraction from the dysfunction.
Final Thoughts by Yitzhak D Stern
In order to avoid family dysfunction, it’s important to understand and respect your own boundaries. This might mean refusing to participate in abusive or toxic behaviors, or setting limits on the amount of time you spend with people who are causing you harm. According to Yitzhak D Stern, stepping away from a dysfunctional situation is the best way to protect yourself and create a healthier life for yourself.