The breakdown in relationship between Parents and Adult Children that is happening to more and more families today goes by many names, “Going No Contact”, “Parental Alienation” and “Family Estrangement” to name a few. These labels describe the complex and difficult circumstance where an Adult Child has decided to distance themselves or cease all contact with their Parents. This disruption in relationship can be obvious, the Adult Child announces to their Parents that they are ceasing all contact, or subtle where the Adult Child quietly drifts and even moves away, rarely seeking or making contact with their Parents.

This circumstance and topic is, unsuprisingly, contentious and complex. It is an extreme attempt on the part of the Adult Child to remedy “something” about which, their Parents, are largely unaware and in many cases, unwilling to acknowledge or address. It is not a “stage” or something that will “blow over”. It is something happening to between 25-50% of Parents today, depending on which research and place is consulted, and in 90% of cases reconciliation or restoration of the relationship is not achievable.

SBS Insight ~ I’ve never felt so alone

SBS Insight recently aired an episode devoted entirely to the phenomenon of family estrangement in Australia. One in 25 Australian adults will be estranged from their family at some point. It’s a difficult, often-hidden experience that can elicit many emotions: shame, heartache, even happiness. Former Insight host Jenny Brockie hears what it’s like to be estranged from a family member, and under what circumstances reconciliation might be possible.

The reasons “why” Adult Children are ‘going no contact’ are complex and there are many factors contributing to this mushrooming phenomenon. Psychologist Dr Joshua Coleman has spent much of his professional life working with Parents who have lost contact with an Adult Child. Dr Coleman has written a book entitled “Rules of Estrangement” which provides some guidance, support and direction to Parents seeking to understand why this has happened to them and who would like to explore the potential of reconciling with their Adult Child.

“5 Most Common Mistakes of Estranged Parents & How to Heal Them”

“Why Adult Children Cut Ties & How to Heal the Conflict”

Diane Cohn started a YouTube Channel called “Estranged Parents” where she is seeking to support Parents in this situation through sharing lived experience. She has prepared the following video which outlines her story with her daughter. Click the image below or this link to watch her story on YouTube.

My Daughter Stopped Talking to Me [SO I LET HER GO]

How Do Adult Children View Estrangement?

Psychotherapist Tina Gilbertson produces ‘The Reconnection Club’ Podcast to help Parents estranged from their Adult Children adjust to the situation and or, where possible, prepare for reconciliation. In the episode listed below, Tina explores the hot topic of … the way in which Adult Children view the estrangement from their parents.

Estranged Parents, An Epidemic of Entitlement

Social Media is a very recent phenomenon in human history. It is, in some ways, a poisoned chalice, but Social Media is also enabling something to happen – that has never occurred before in human history.

Social Media is facilitating the expression of view points and voices that historically were never heard by the mainstream community. Said another way, Social Media enables hearing from and seeing marginalized points of view. This could be good or bad depending on whether seeing through collective blindspots enlightens, empowers and evolves or whether it colludes with hidden historical internal sources of corruption that in the past were relegated to the secret realm of ‘what happens behind closed doors’.

Jolie Roberson is a YouTuber who felt inspired to provide an analysis, commentary and a response to Diane’s video on her situation as an Estranged Parent. Her voice is a contemporary perspective and it is part of understanding the phenomenon of “Going No Contact”.