Scroll social media or peruse self-help bookshelves and you’ll notice that family estrangement is attracting attention. There are viral videos and hashtags championing the decision to go no contact. But with increased visibility comes more scrutiny: Is estrangement just a fad? Are more parents and adult children becoming estranged than in years past? Are people cutting off family members too quickly or thoughtlessly?

From my perspective, estrangement is never an easy decision. Even when it’s the only path forward, walking that path can feel excruciating. As I wrote in my book, Forces of Nature, distancing myself from my family of origin felt like traveling along a corkscrew: As I pulled away, I had to revisit earlier traumas........

© Psychology Today