Covert incest can be influenced by factors such as a parent's personality disorder, enmeshed background, mental illness, or addiction in the family. A dysfunctional marital or relational bond between parents is also a common factor, with one parent being checked out while the other transfers their neediness, anxiety, and depression to the sensitive child. Sensitive children are more likely to absorb their mothers' worries and pain, leading to psychosomatic issues and school phobia. As adults, these children may struggle to separate from their parents, feeling tethered and making compromises to meet their parents' needs without feeling like they have a choice.
How does emotional enmeshment (aka covert incest) with a parent shape our mental health and relationships? Dr. Ken Adams is here to help us understand.
What We Discuss with Dr. Ken Adams:
- What enmeshment is, and how it entwines family members in an emotionally unhealthy way.
- How enmeshment dictates the course of future relationships.
- The connection between enmeshment and abuse.
- The underlying causes for enmeshment to take hold.
- How to spot enmeshment and begin the process of healing from its repercussions.
- And much more...
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/942
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals
Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!