Brothers, Sisters, Strangers Blog

Brothers, Sisters, Strangers
Brothers, Sisters, Strangers

Welcome to my new blog! Here, you can freely discuss your challenges with sibling relationships. If you would like, I will not use your name to protect your privacy.

My interest in this topic is rooted in my personal story; my older brother and I didn't talk to each other for most of my adult life. Over time, we did reconcile, and I captured that journey in my book, Brothers, Sisters, Strangers: Sibling Estrangement and the Road to Reconciliation.

For years, I've wondered about the nature of sibling relationships and, in particular, when and how they break down, cut off, or enter the territory of estrangement. How do sibling estrangement and reconciliation define an individual?

Here, I hope to give others the opportunity to explore this underacknowledged topic, which many experts call "epidemic." Like me, you may find it helpful to think through these issues; writing a post for this blog may provide a useful structure to begin to do so. Writing is therapeutic and capturing stories in words benefits both the writer and the reader. In fact, I have created a writing workbook, The Sibling Estrangement Journal: A Guided Exploration of Your Experience through Writing, offering you a private, emotional outlet to understand and process the grief of sibling estrangement.

Here is the link to the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLLTT6SJ#SalesRank

For those who are seeking personal life coaching, I offer private sessions to discuss estrangement, reconciliation, and family relations. Please email me at fernschumer@gmail.com to discuss details. Thanks for participating and posting.

Nov 4 2023

Why Black Families Feel Intensely the Stigma of Estrangement

Chimére L. Sweeney, an advocate for Black women and founder of The Black Long Covid Experience, explains why Blacks may not want to admit they have estranged relatives -- especially to whites.
Nov 3 2023

Huff Post features FSC in article about sibling rivalry

Here's how to mend a sibling rivalry that's lasted into adulthood.
Oct 10 2023

New study finds half of LGBTQ are estranged from family

"When I came out to my parents, the rejection hit me so badly I could barely get out of bed most mornings in college..."

Can narcissism be identified in children?

  "Once you see it," one woman says, "you can't unsee it."   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202309/can-narcissism-be-identified-in-children     photo credit: Ibrahem Bana

Five Ways the Sibling Dynamic Reappears in Adult Relationships

Sibling therapist Karen Gail Lewis, Ph.D. explains how the sibling dynamic can appear in partner relationships, friendships, even co-worker interactions. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202309/5-ways-the-sibling-dynamic-reappears-in-adult-relationships  

Can family members reconcile without discussing their issues?

There are no hard and fast rules on how to reconcile after estrangement. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202308/can-family-members-reconcile-without-discussing-their-issues

How to reconcile with an estranged family member

Last month, I examined the idea of going no contact. This month's post explores what it takes to reconcile with a family member: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202307/how-to-reconcile-with-an-estranged-family-member?fbclid=IwAR3dpCxvI4pETq2nb0ItKYfw8ckZ194dU8dOtiZ9HUDNQdbuKDYhvTutIE4

How to Explain Family Estrangement to Your Children

New psychologytoday.com blog post: When relatives cut ties, children suffer. Here's how to help them understand. KEY POINTS One in four Americans are estranged from a close family member, according to a national survey. Children, who have no control over family relations, can be devastated by family losses due to estrangements. When children witness a cutoff, they often fear their parents might abandon them; they may need reassurance.

FSC featured on “They’re Driving Me Nuts” podcast

Dr. Linda Austin discusses sibling estrangement with FSC:   https://www.theyredrivingmenuts.com/sibling-estrangement/

How Photos and Social Media Posts Wound Distanced Family Members

What to do with old photos and social media accounts when there's no contact. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202306/how-photos-and-social-media-posts-wound-distanced-family?fbclid=IwAR2X6XEB653TchDCm_fA-9Vwrp4Liu-S5ShjBbsATvV1Yzkj0gSMWNZHZXo

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