A family is supposed to be an institution that provides you with the sense of comfort and solace that you need. But not all families are functional. Sometimes, relationships between family members can be very tense, leading to yelling, neglect, and abuse. This can lead to family relations being highly dysfunctional. In this guide, Matt Teeple takes you through a few dysfunctional family traits.
Characteristics of a Dysfunctional Family by Matt Teeple
Here are a few characteristics of a dysfunctional family.
1. Lack of Communication
A dysfunctional family is where people do not talk to each other openly. There are secrets that people have and things that they never talk about with each other. They fear that certain discussions might also lead to conflicts among family members.
2. Addiction Problems
Usually, people in dysfunctional families also have addiction problems, which further paves the way for more problems in the family. It leads to a lot of unhealthy habits as well.
3. Abuse Issues
In dysfunctional families, abuse is very common- both physical and emotional. Families get stuck in a cycle where people are treated badly repeatedly, which further leads to more problems and issues. People then resort to unhealthy habits in an attempt to keep up.
4. Fear
In dysfunctional families, there is a lot of fear. People fear each other because they don’t know how others can behave. You cannot express yourself openly because the consequences will never be positive. You are constantly made to keep your opinions to yourself and shut off. Matt Teeple says that this also negatively affects how your personality develops.
5. Lack of Boundaries
Controlling and intimidating parents usually don’t understand the concept of boundaries. After a certain point in time in life, your kid is free to make their own decisions. They are grown adults, and they know how to conduct themselves well too. You need to be one to give everyone the space they need for their mental well-being and overall health.
6. Criticism
No matter what you do, you will always have to face criticism. You will never be appreciated for what you do. There will always be negative comments you will have to hear from other family members. This gives way to feelings of helplessness and low self-esteem, which can be very problematic for you as a whole, says Matt Teeple.
7. No Trust
People don’t trust each other in dysfunctional families. They behave in counterproductive ways, which is in no way healthy for anyone around. Children growing up in dysfunctional families have trust issues because they find it hard to trust most people around them.
8. Feelings of Worthlessness
In dysfunctional families, you will be made to feel worthless. No matter how capable or educated you are, you will be made to feel like you don’t matter, and that can also take a significant toll on your mental health.
Final Words by Matt Teeple
With these traits pointed out by Matt Teeple, you can better identify whether or not you live in a dysfunctional family and then can take action accordingly and get help.
