Reply to How to communicate to parents about reason of estrangement so they can stop the “we have no idea”?

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Reply to "How to communicate to parents about reason of estrangement so they can stop the “we have no idea”?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Do they display their own negative emotions?

I think what they are doing is something a therapist told them to do. They are trying to enjoy a visit, but when negative things are brought up, they try to redirect. It seems like maybe they're telling you that they can't manage your negative emotions, why do you keep trying then? Just accept that and only have surface level interactions. I'm not sure that needs to be a gray rock though. They feel like they're put in a situation in which they can't win at all when things become negative. Probably the only way to get past that would be group therapy.

I have a sister who is NC mostly with the rest of us. Anytime anything gets even the slightest bit heated, we all quickly change the subject and head to safer ground. She will become mentally unstable, scream, throw things and generally make us feel like trash. She makes wild statements (like "if you aren't spending all your free time protesting animal rights, you hate animals and shouldn't be able to live with yourself."). Gray rock seems to be the only way we can manage it. Her therapist at least yearly has her send us long 5 page letters, mostly bringing up old flaws. It would be nice to at least start over. I'm not saying you're like my sister, but my example is more about why we all run when negative things are brought up.[/quote]

This. That’s what I thought when i read your post OP. MY SIL and an ex best friend make me run for cover. Their idea of sharing their emotions is to agressively share grievances. It hurts. I don’t want conflict and I don’t want to engage with people who share negative emotions at a level that I cannot manage. I can discuss emotions when people stay calm.

Their sentence « I cannot deal with this right now » made me wonder if that could be what’s at stake here. Not saying you are necessarily like that : sharing intense negative emotions when others are not ready for it. But maybe worth asking yourself that question. [/quote]

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