What exactly is Family Estrangement?

A question I have been asked a lot lately is "What is family estrangement?".

This video hopes to help provide more clarity by exploring:

1) Several definitions of family estrangement from the existing research,
2) The 3 common perspectives of estrangement,
3) The 2 types of estrangement nature (voluntary and involuntary) 4) And the 2 basic estrangement methods (direct and indirect).

FREE Dysfunctional Family Training Video:

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The research cited:
Family Estrangement Establishing a Prevalence Rate (Conti, 2015)

(De)constructing family : exploring
communicative practices in accomplishing and
maintaining estrangement between adult children
and their parents (Scharp, 2014)

No Longer on Speaking Terms: The Losses Associated
With Family Estrangement at the End of Life (Agllias, 2011)

[Ursaminor]

One of the most painful actions I have had to take was estranging myself from blood family. It was harder than taking the abuse because I was the one who had to act. When you are 'conditioned' it is horrible to have to do this but so utterly necessary to salvage a quality life and to find authentic happiness and peace.

[pinkiedabney]

Glad I found your channel! Keep the videos coming

[GnosisMan]

From the trials and tribulations I experienced in life, especially unrequited love, I ended up with depression. During this time, I became estranged from everything, my family, friends, and the society in which I lived in. I was suffering from existential angst. I recovered from it but nothing was the same anymore as I was estranged even from myself. I felt like I had been asleep in my waking state for most of my life only to be awakened by the pain of unrequited love. It was depressing to have realized I was not who I thought I was. I was instead akin to an automaton programmed by the society in which I live in. As painful as this awakening was, it was also salvific from what Dr. Charles Tart calls the *consensus reality orientation* It truly is a liberating quality but at the same time very lonely one since no one understands me. Even now, with the loneliness epidemic in the US, it's making it that much harder to find relationships with others.

[sallyg]

By going to therapy I was able to give an ultimatum to my parents. The advice I was given was to simply put “We have to be friends now not parent child. That means we start over and have to only be kind to one another.” When my dad was visiting me he criticized me for trying to push a door open that was a pull. I turned and told him the simple rule stated above. He paused and said OK, I can do that. I know this is probably the exception but I was shocked at the total turn around that led to 30 years of really good times together. The bad news, I am now trying to deal with sibling estrangement which is even worse now that my parents are deceased.

[josedia]

Family can become of anyone. You don't have to stay with those of your "blood line".

[kingsleyukwuoma]

Your understanding is deep! Good work.

[aquamarine]

I relate so much, there is so much estrangement in my family and it destroys me

[sandrathornton]

I had such a hard time listening to you—you speak sooofast! I want to hear your careful and interesting knowledgeable comments.

[upstatenewyork]

Why do you talk so fast? Hard to listen to because of that.