Family of origin is a term that refers to each person’s original family unit and family experience, meaning the experience with one’s mother and father. Dysfunctional childhoods can lead to a series of maladaptive behaviors and coping mechanisms which cause problems later in life. Children are remarkably resilient. Their young, malleable, developing brains are capable of creating tremendous blocks to all manners of real or perceived trauma, saving them from difficult realities. With impressive strength and endurance, they continue to live their lives, growing into adults. Some children who experience family of origin trauma grow to function normally with mild to moderate emotional issues. Other children turn to drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, compulsive behaviors, and more with intermediate to extreme emotional issues.
Family Of Origin Issues
Abuse or trauma is not always the source of family of origin issues, nor do either have to be extreme. Children are easily impressed upon by a lack of love in any form. Family of origin issues could include:
-
Physical abuse
-
Sexual abuse
-
Emotional abuse
-
Criticism from parents
-
Totalitarian or authoritative parenting styles
-
Dismissive parenting styles
-
Abandonment
-
Neglect
-
Parental alcoholism, addiction, or mental health
-
Parental conflict
-
Divorce
Children look to their parents for guidance on how to be, how to feel, and what to think about themselves. The most important lessons a child learns about themselves comes from their parents. Until children learn they are able to define themselves by themselves for themselves, their core beliefs about who they are comes from the way their parents treat them, don’t treat them, and treat each other.
Issues in family of origin can lead to difficulty engaging in intimate relationships of any kind. Adults who enter treatment for chemical dependency, have often lived with the pain of difficult childhoods or strained relationships with their parents for their entire lives. Working through family of origin issues in therapy is a freeing experience, healing the past, bringing peace to the present, and creating a future full of healthy relationships with the self, with family of origin, and with others.
You can heal from the pain of the past without turning to drugs, alcohol, or other harmful behaviors. Cottonwood invites you to explore our safe and understanding environment where our addiction rehab and behavioral health treatment programs offer hope through healing. For information on our programs, call us today by dialing (888) 727-0441.
