Brothers, Sisters, Strangers

Sibling estrangement and the road to reconciliation.

Five Ways Estrangement Does Lifelong Damage

Some relationships are too toxic to sustain, but the estranged often suffer a loss of self-esteem, trust, and well-being.

The Shame and Isolation of Sibling Estrangement

The estranged feel socially disenfranchised and judged by a culture that expects family cohesion, and they internalize this shame.

How the Pandemic has Altered the Definition of “Family”

The pandemic has loosened family ties. Many prefer to spend time with "chosen" friends, rather than family members.

How Family Estrangement Echoes Across Generations

When estrangement echoes through generations, adults and children lose family members and suffer the lingering consequences of ostracism and isolation.

Can Prince Harry and Prince William Reconcile?

The royal brothers seemed frosty toward each other at the Jubilee celebrations. Reconciliation will require commitment, goodwill, listening, and mindfulness.

Is a Narcissistic Sibling the Reason for Your Estrangement?

Narcissistic behavior is often the hidden factor behind sibling estrangement. Here are some characteristics of narcissistic siblings.

10 Ways to Stop Ruminating

Rumination often plagues the estranged. Here are ten tips on how to stop loop thinking.

The Five Stages of Grief for an Estranged Sibling

With respect to the famous psychologist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the five stages of grief for a death differ from the five stages of grief for a sibling estrangement.

Mothers of Estranged Siblings May Suffer on Mother’s Day

Mother's Day may not be so happy for parents who have estranged children; many hope to sustain relationships with all of their children, but they often get caught in the crossfire.

5 Moments When Siblings Are Most at Risk of Estrangement

Siblings are vulnerable to estrangement during certain life stages including adolescence, marriage, the birth of a baby, divorce or illness, parental illness, death or inheritance.

Children fleeing Nazi Germany. Neck tags identified who they were, where they came from, where they were going

Child Refugees Struggle With Mental Health

At 96, my mother still struggles with traumas from her childhood immigration journey as an unaccompanied minor. The Ukrainian child refugees likely will have the same struggles.

Mark National Siblings Day by Making Peace With Estrangement

On National Siblings Day, social media is flooded with pictures of happy siblings that often trigger the estranged. Here's how to cope.

10 Things That Can Drive Adult Siblings Apart

Be aware of these 10 risk factors for sibling estrangement.

Siblings May Grow Closer When Parents Divorce

Brothers and sisters may feel like one another’s sole constant in an upended world over which the children have no control.

What to Do When Partners and Siblings Can't Get Along

Sisters and brothers face one of the most perilous moments in their relationship when one chooses a life partner.

The Pain of Ambiguous Family Estrangement

Did a sibling cut you off? Estrangements can be ambiguous, and some wonder if a brother or sister is controlling the thermostat of intimacy in their sibling relationship.

8 Things People Need to Understand About Sibling Estrangement

Stigma, alienation, and silence create fertile ground for misperceptions about sibling estrangement.

What Resources Can Help Those Estranged From a Sibling?

Are you suffering from the grief and rumination that often comes from terminating a sibling relationship? A few resources can help you find strategies to cope.