When in Pain Over Your Biological or Adoptive Parents, is Estrangement Always the Best Option?

Damage from parental estrangement can be substantial.

Joel Eisenberg

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Photo by Ricardo Maruri; iStock

We only have one set of biological and/or adoptive parents.

Save, of course, for those of us who have been legally adopted more than once, or raised by a single parent or close relatives.

The larger point is however you identify your parental unit, falling out or permanent estrangement from them will likely impact you for the rest of your life.

The likelihood the other side will be impacted as well will usually hold little sway when it comes to deliberate estrangement due to self-preservation.

I was reminded of all this early this morning while on my way to Dunkin’ Donuts for a Midnight dark roast coffee and avocado toast.

My car radio was on; unfortunately, I was skimming stations and did not take more than a cursory note of either the host or her guest. They were, though, speaking of the importance of reconciling with one’s parental unit while the opportunity was still there to do so, as an estranged child’s loss without closure often makes unmanageable a mutually dangerous and influential degree of pain.

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Joel Eisenberg
Joel Eisenberg

Written by Joel Eisenberg

Joel Eisenberg is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and producer. The Oscar in the profile pic isn’t his but he’s scheming. WGA and Pen America member.

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