

How to Resist Group Anxiety and Become a Differentiated Self
194 snips Jul 31, 2024
Steve Cuss, a former hospital chaplain and founder of Capable Life, dives into the intriguing world of Family Systems Theory. He explains how group anxiety can spread like a contagion, affecting both families and organizations. Cuss discusses the false needs that create chronic anxiety and how emotional fusion complicates relationships. He emphasizes the power of differentiation, urging individuals to become rooted selves to positively influence group dynamics. This insightful conversation reveals how personal growth can shift the entire atmosphere around us.
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Group Anxiety
- Anxiety isn't just an individual experience.
- It can spread within groups like a contagion, impacting interactions and behaviors.
Bowen's Observation
- Murray Bowen observed a mother's anxiety affecting her schizophrenic son.
- Her tentative hug, based on fear and guilt, triggered a mirrored response from him, highlighting how anxiety exists between people.
Chronic Anxiety
- Chronic anxiety stems from false needs that feel real, leading to burnout through constant low-level adrenaline.
- It manifests as reactivity, like anger at unmet needs, not worry or fear.