Posted by Twinleaf on April 25, 2013, at 21:10:09
In reply to Re: Therapy Was Nice, posted by baseball55 on April 25, 2013, at 19:44:01
That must have been so hard. Don't you think these ruptures are caused in large part by fear of losing a beloved person? And also because severe depression causes a parent to be unable to be loving and supportive, so that a child is already in a sense abandoned emotionally?
It's so good to hear that you regained your previous loving relationship as you got better, baseball.. Perhaps I am overly idealistic, but I do believe there is always a strong need and desire to have a loving supportive relationship with parents (and with children), so there can always be reason to hope and work towards things getting better.
I do think that misunderstandings occur: for example, children of depressed parents may genuinely feel unloved and rejected, even though that was never the intent. Having open, honest discussions with children about all these issues can go a long way towards healing ruptures - especially being willing to hear their negative reactions. At least, this was so for me and my son. It feels now as though our connection is stronger than ever because of what happened.
It is so sad and painful to hear that you seem to have a permanent estrangement, Phillipa. It just seems that there is always hope and a chance to make things better. I think our children expect us to be the ones to take more chances when it comes to improving our relationships with them.
poster:Twinleaf
thread:1042531
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20130409/msgs/1042665.html