Relationship Basics Adult Sibling Rivalry - Part 2

Hopefully after listening to this episode you will feel confident in knowing that you no longer have to tolerate the gossiping and bullying antics of a jealous sibling. It is perfectly fine for you to sever the biological ties with vicious siblings who are making your life a living hell. It's time to cut the ties that bind you to a toxic family dynamic in order to protect your mental wellbeing and allow yourself to heal from those painful memories. I read that the rivalry develops as children compete for their parents’ attention, love, and respect, and typically rears its head in various forms of fighting and expressions of jealousy. Relationship dynamics between aggressive sibling and the victim sibling often remain unchanged from childhood into adulthood. The bully continues to victimize their sibling because having someone to pick on boosts their own fragile sense of self-worth. The victim, worn down by years of ill treatment at the hands of their sibling, may feel resentful, but may also be at a loss as to how to change the situation, thus allowing the abuse to continue. The jealous sibling may have become so used to having a sibling who can’t or won’t defend themselves that they don’t want the dynamic between them to change and become more healthy. Having someone to blame for their problems or take their frustration out on suits the bully and so they deliberately resist any attempts at sincere reconciliation. After many attempts at trying to have a healthy relationship with the gossiping, bullying sibling, most victims simply give up and accept the situation, however miserable it makes them. Some take the drastic, but necessary measure of avoiding contact with their sibling. Estrangement between adult siblings is not as uncommon as most people think, with a recent study at Cornell University finding that one in ten adults have one or more family members from whom they are estranged. For many people in this situation, it is a last resort and one they may grapple with for years before finally taking the plunge. However, most report feeling a strong sense of relief that they no longer have to endure their bullying sibling’s behavior. Feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to speak privately about your struggles dealing with sibling rivalry.