The black sheep of the family

Non-acceptance, guilt and self-worth. The family doesn't miss anyone. The relationship with family members is our first social experience. It shapes us, it is far-reaching, it determines our feeling in life, we cannot escape it. We are born into our family, no one asks us and we have no choice. In this sense, family is destiny. Some people experience a lack of emotional support or even terror in their childhood. Such an experience contributes to anxiety, feelings of guilt, and other difficulties for them. Black sheep often wonder if they are ungrateful because they don' t feel love for their family. They long to be recognized and at the same time feel burdened by a sense of responsibility for not being. Psychotherapist Peter Teuschel' s book provides a number of therapeutic recommendations for people with similar experiences. One of the key steps, he says, is creating emotional distance from family and controlling your own impulses. Black sheep also need to learn to focus on their own values and not depend on external recognition. Author, among others: suggests “order therapy” – creating a practical order that supports these individuals’ sense of control over their own lives.