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Learning how to deal with dysfunctional family members is key to emotional wellbeing | Leanne Schubert | The Guardian

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Catherine’s mother’s relentless criticism wore down her self-esteem. Setting boundaries changed their relationship from damaging to supportive F amily relationships can be some of the most significant and influential connections in our lives. However, when these relationships are dysfunctional, they can also be sources of considerable stress and emotional turmoil. Learning how to navigate interactions with dysfunctional family members is essential for maintaining your emotional wellbeing and ensuring that these relationships do not negatively affect your mental health. Catherine*, 41, spent more than two decades attempting to win her mother’s approval and admiration. “I know she loves me deeply and is always helping me out,” Catherine said in our first therapy session, “but she couldn’t help but criticise me in every way – how I looked, how I was raising my two children, even how I would park my car. She had set impossible standards for me, and it became too much for me to handle.” Des

‘I reached a breaking point when I realised I was passing on this anxiety to my own children.’ Photograph: Mukhina1/Getty Images/iStockphoto View image in fullscreen ‘I reached a breaking point when I realised I was passing on this anxiety to my own children.’ Photograph: Mukhina1/Getty Images/iStockphoto The modern mind Mental health This article is more than 1 year old Learning how to deal with dysfunctional family members is key to emotional wellbeing This article is more than 1 year old Leanne Schubert Catherine’s mother’s relentless criticism wore down her self-esteem. Setting boundaries

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