Twin estrangement is a really important issue that is often ignored because twin mythology suggests that all twins should get along, as their closeness creates a perfect interpersonal relationship. Raising twins is hard, and estrangement is very predictable when there is not enough focus on individual development. Believing that all twins should and will be able to get along causes shame and humiliation for twins and their parents when they don't. This is an unfortunate problem.

For most of my adult life, I have been writing about twins or gifted children. In general, my focus is on the social and emotional problems related to identity development that twins or other types of multiple births naturally experience because they share their caregivers and home environment. Twin development, in general, is quite different and more complicated than the developmental identity challenges of non-twins. The most common problems that twins have when they are young are questions and concerns that revolve around the sharing of their parents, day-to-day experiences, friendships, and education. Twins also have concerns about their twin's opinion, and their need for their twin to be present in stressful situations and understand immediately what is wrong.

Specific conflicts or pressures that lead to downright unhappiness, intense arguments, or confusion with life without their twin include the following:

Separation anxiety when being apart from each other, which begins at birth and grows in different ways or changes with their life........

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