by Andrea Gurney (@DrAndreaGurney)
As Christmas approaches, many homes fill with familiar sights and sounds: twinkling lights, shared meals, well-worn traditions, and the annual hope—sometimes fragile—that family gatherings will bring warmth and connection. Yet, for a growing number of Americans, the holidays instead highlight an aching absence. Empty chairs at the table, unreturned invitations, and carefully avoided conversations tell a quieter story—one of family estrangement.
Going No Contact
Thenumberofestrangedfamiliesisclimbing—onmycaseloadandacrossthecountry.Agrowingculturalphenomenonknownas“goingnocontact,”inwhichanindividualseverstieswithafamilymember,hasbecomeincreasinglycommon.Arecent study foundthatnearlyone-thirdofAmericansareestrangedfromsomeoneintheirfamily,and studies indicatethatthevastmajorityofestrangementsareinitiatedbytheadultchild.Onsocialmedia,thehashtag #toxicfamily hasbeenusedmorethan2billiontimesasadultchildrenseekaffirmationforsteppingawayfromaparentorrelative.Andtheyarefindingit.Onlinecommunitiesoffervalida
