Things That Are Challenging for Cycle Breakers — Nedra Tawwab Being a cycle breaker is powerful work, but it’s not easy. You’re not just healing yourself — you’re rewriting patterns that have existed for generations. You’re teaching yourself how to …
Category: Family
Raising Children on the Other Side of the World from Grandparents
I raised my children on the other side of the world from my parents. It wasn’t something I planned; I married someone from another country. Yes, my kids missed out on having my parents in the same city, but they …
They Were Just Broken — But That Doesn’t Make It Okay
Me, to my therapist:“But they weren’t evil. They were just broken. They had their own trauma.” My therapist:“And that’s valid. But let me ask you something… did their trauma give them the right to create new trauma inside you?” And …
How to Heal From Being the Scapegoat in Your Family
If you were the scapegoat in your family, I want you to know — it was never your fault. You were blamed, criticised, or labelled the problem not because of who you are, but because your family system needed someone …
If You Were Scapegoated in Your Family, Please Read This
If you were scapegoated in your family, you likely learned to doubt your own perception. You were blamed for things that weren’t your fault. Treated as the problem — while everyone else avoided their own pain. You may have been …
The Scapegoat: Understanding the Most Misunderstood Role in the Family
In some families, one child is subtly (or overtly) assigned the role of the scapegoat — the one who is blamed, criticised, or pathologised more than the others. This dynamic allows the rest of the family to avoid looking at …
The Black Sheep: When a Child Carries the Weight of the Whole Family
Sometimes, when there are unresolved issues in a parental relationship, the focus shifts away from the adults and onto the child. Instead of facing the tension or conflict between them, parents may begin to over-focus on one child. The child’s …
Triangulation: When a Child Is Drawn Into Their Parents’ Conflict
When conflict exists between two adults — often parents — and remains unresolved in a healthy way, a child can be drawn into the tension. This is called triangulation. It typically begins with an unspoken or unresolved conflict in the …
Parentification and Caregiving: Why Putting Others First Feels So Exhausting
If you grew up always putting others first, caregiving and parenting can feel deeply draining. Not because you are failing, but because your nervous system never learned what it feels like to be cared for. You may feel guilty taking …
Were You Pulled Into Your Parents’ Fights?
If you were pulled into your parents’ fights, you may have grown up feeling like it was your job to fix things. To soothe one parent. To protect the other. To stay quiet. Keep the peace. This is a form …