Shadows of the Holocaust

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

My mother’s German synagogues today…

  In my mother’s town, Stockstadt am Rhein, two Jewish families had lived among 2,000 people for centuries. On the Sabbath, my 98-year-old mother remembers that her family walked to synagogues in Biebesheim or Erfelden to worship with other Jews who lived in towns along the Rhein River. Decades after the Holocaust, all that remains of Jewish life in these two towns are the synagogue buildings. In 1988, fifty years ...

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.

A bribe and a card game save a life!

Last month, I went to my cousin’s house to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Our mothers are sisters who came to the United States from Nazi Germany as unaccompanied minors, a year apart, via a little-known American program, The One Thousand Children. Aunt Betty married another Holocaust refugee, Uncle Walter, who brought us his own amazing family story. When I entered my cousin’s living room, he pointed out an eye-popping painting ...

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