07/06/2026
Deciding to go no contact is immense, painful, and complicated. ⠀
It usually comes about when a client is working on their childhood trauma or truth, and the family or family members suck them back while trying to heal.
It's hard to tell our inner child they are safe when our family directly contradicts that healing work. We can't heal in the environment that we got abused in. ⠀
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Some examples of how this plays out and disrupts healing:⠀
*family paints the client into a drama corner or a no win⠀
*flying monkeys come to a toxic parent's rescue at your expense⠀
*toxic parent acts out in front of your partner or, worse, your children⠀
*boundaries crossed for the 100th time⠀
*a thoughtless casual betrayal happens again⠀
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Those moments where we awaken and it is undeniable that our family system is unsafe for us is a gift. Although it's painful, we finally get it. We then plunge into the unknown. ⠀
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But it isn't just those gift moments. ⠀
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These examples have been going on for decades for us. Most of us have been gaslit long before kindergarten. Except now, we are healthy enough not to be able to tolerate them. That's what progress is—lowering our tolerance for abuse.⠀
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We are giving up on family, which is supposed to be the basket that contains us in this life. That's big. ⠀
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The other side of going no contact is the grief and, gradually, profound relief. ⠀
What is/was your process like?