My family is emotionally abusive. How can I fix them?
Anonymous
on
Nov 5, 2014
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Hi ! When it's raining, and we need to go out, we have 3 choices : (1) Get wet, (2) use an umbrella, (3) change the plan and don't go out. When families get to us, we also have three choices : (1) Feel miserable and abused (2) Understand what is happening and do something about it and (3) Change family. (3) can be complicated !, (1) offers little hope for the future, (2) is a great choice !! Try connecting to a listener, and see if you can't get yourself an umbrella for your family. Maybe you can't fix them, like you can't stop it raining, but at least you can protect yourself from getting soaked.
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RegularSoul
on
Nov 14, 2014
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If your family is emotionally abusive, I believe that individual counseling would be the best option. I understand how much this abuse can hurt but it comes from an issue that your parent possibly went through. I think that abuse can have a deep root in family passing on from one generation to another. People swear to themselves that they would not continue the pattern but possibly ignore the warning signs that they are doing so. Talking to a therapist and confronting the problem head on is the best way to end this torment.
simplysweet
on
Oct 30, 2014
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You can't change people, but you can try to get them to understand you. You need to understand them as well before doing that though.
TeaWithAFriend
on
Nov 9, 2014
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There is no one way to fix an abusive family. The question you could ask is: "How can I fix the situation in my life where my family is abusive to me?" The answer to that could include you refusing to participate in being the recipient of any abuse from anyone whether it's a family member or not. This doesn't mean you should be confrontational. Avoiding abuse could be as simple as ending a phone call by simply hanging up with no warning or blocking someone from emailing or on social media if their intention was to harass you or cause you distress. Most abusive people won't continue to try to contact you if you do this but some may and demand an explanation for why you hung up or didn't respond to their voice mail, email, social media. It is up to you as to whether or not you will respond and how you will/will not respond to this continual and blatant abuse.
share
on
Nov 4, 2014
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Unfortunately, we can't change how other people act but we can change how we react to them. Do you think your family would talk to a professional? Do you think it would help if you pretend it does not bother you?
Anonymous
on
Nov 14, 2014
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Unfortunately, trying to "fix" people hardly ever works because people are very rarely broken, only bent or clouded over with anxiety, depression, prejudice, etc. The best you can do is approach in a way that is non-threatening or in any way on the offensive and to try to guide them into realizing that their behavior is abusive emotionally, and maybe try to show them how unhealthy and harmful that can be.
sereene
on
Dec 21, 2015
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The truth is, you can't control other people, but you can control yourself and your situation. If sitting down and talking to them heart-to-heart doesn't change them, the best thing to do is change your perspective. Try not to let them bring you down, and look towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Stay positive :)
michellefaith0120
on
Nov 2, 2014
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I am sorry you are going through this difficult time, you are brave for speaking about your family
Anonymous
on
Nov 4, 2014
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It might be best if you were to ask them if you all could sit down and talk and you let them know how they make you feel and ask them if they can stop.
Warlock
on
Nov 7, 2014
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Its not your job to try to fix your family. When families are broken, its not one family members job to fix it, its a team effort. Everybody in the family has to be willing to seek help and try to break the cycle of abuse. Its not your job alone to "fix" them/
Anonymous
on
Nov 17, 2014
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You can talk to your family and if they dont listen you can contact someone to help you out like another relative, a close friend and if it is really bad, the police.
Creep143
on
Nov 17, 2014
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You can talk with them, tell them how you feel about it. You need to express your feelings, they are your family, the must understand you.
FloraLuna
on
Jan 4, 2015
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You can't fix people, but you can try to help change their behaviour if it's upsetting. Try telling them that you feel upset by ____. Ask them to sit down together and bring forth these points. Sometimes people aren't aware how they are affecting another person. If it's intentional, let them know how you feel. When you talk to them, don't use accusations. Begin with, "I feel upset when ________." Using accusations may cause bickering and anger. Be completely honest. If things don't seem to get better, you could seek help of a counselor and get professional advice regarding the situation.
Anonymous
on
Apr 8, 2015
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You can not fix, families are so each has its way. What you can do is talk to them about how you are feeling and whether you do not like how they are being.
But remember you can not fix family
TheGirlInMyMirror
on
Jun 5, 2015
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Try to talk to them about your aspirations and highlight the facts that makes you uncomfortable. this might help them to know your stance and might also help you in opening up.
Anonymous
on
Jun 10, 2015
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Conversation is key. That didn't exactly help in my case, so I had to fix me, instead. The only reason why they have power over me is because I value what they say. This isn't a new discovery -it's been around for a long time (check out the Stoics if you're interested). But to be able to not value what they say or do means being able to filter out which ones matter and which ones don't; you'd only know that if you understood yourself better too.
rainyUnicorns86
on
Jun 18, 2015
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I believe that there is no wrong or right way to fix emotional abuse within a family, especially because we all go through it differently and take to it differently. Emotional abuse can make someone feel like there world is falling apart, especially when it is by family.
One way to tackle this is by setting up a group meeting with the whole family and allowing everyone a chance to speak one at a time.
Anonymous
on
Jun 22, 2015
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Try and talk to them and let them know how you feel, if they won't stop ignore them and remember that youre a perfect individual
compassionateShoulder97
on
Jul 28, 2015
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You can't fix them, but you can help them to fix themselves. Communicating with them on a person-to-person level is important, in my view. Helping them to see how their behavior affects your life can motivate them to reflect on their actions.
strugglingone
on
Sep 7, 2015
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The best way is to talk to them openly about how you feel about it. If you don't talk, they will go on.