Have you ever asked yourself “why do I keep getting into the same situations or the same types or relationships?”
We first learn how to interact with others as infants/toddlers and through these early interactions, we learn many of our values/beliefs, how to communicate, deal with our emotions, give and receive love and affection, and get our needs met. We all need caregivers who can consistently help us regulate our emotions through the use of physical touch and emotional connectedness. This helps a child’s brains and bodies to develop in a healthy way. Your learning can be disrupted if your parents were not in a good position to provide you with the love and care that you needed.
Common Origins of Disrupted Development
- Mental health struggles
- Trauma
- Personality disorders
- Substance abuse
- Violence or neglect
- Negative intergenerational patterns
- Exposure to war, poverty, or other extenuating circumstances
- Being otherwise unprepared or unavailable for parenting
Unfortunately, if your parent was not able to provide you with the care that you needed during these crucial stages of development—whether due to being unresponsive, unavailable, anxious, rigid, shaming, judgmental, abusive, chaotic, narcissistic, or enmeshed—it can keep you stuck in repetitive cycles within your current relationships.
Areas Often Impacted by Family of Origin Issues:
- Ability to feel and give affection
- Setting healthy boundaries
- Creating stable relationships
- Managing emotional regulation
- Self-care and caring for others
- Work performance
- Sense of self and self-esteem
Many individuals dealing with these issues struggle with pervasive negative self-talk, feelings of worthlessness, vulnerability, and shame. Our therapists in Edmonton work with you to understand these patterns, heal from early developmental gaps, and create new, healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.