Patrick Teahan

It's important to know what kind of family you have.⁠

Healthy families are focused on care in the present to set children up for success in the future. Keeping children in a safe harbor involves everything from healthy attachment to protection to emotional honesty. We are tethered into healthy caregivers in a good way until we're ready to go out on our own. ⁠

A toxic or abusive family isn't focused on the children's success. The focus is often rooted in chaos or drama, where the children are often caught up in the parental storm - on a short chain to "family."⁠

In our adulthood, a healthy family still provides a safe harbor through emotional connection and shared support. When life happens, members still have a safe and sound enough place to go to be vulnerable. ⁠

For those in the toxic family, the storm never really ends. ⁠

*The alcoholic stepdad has to come to the wedding, or mom won't go, and it's the same old. ⁠

*You're required to still be the responsible parent to your parent or sibling, and it doesn't matter if you are struggling in your own life. ⁠

*A simple visit returns to the old gross dynamics, and we leave triggered and disconnected, wondering what could have been done. ⁠

We have tethered to the family's anchor as their storm drags us around, damaging our worth.

What was that storm for you?

How does it play out, and most importantly - where does it leave you?

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