Coping with Parents, Lovers, or Children While families are, for many, a relatively consistent source of comfort and support, they can also be a cause of conflict and stress. Our early experiences with our families directly affect our identity and self-esteem. The interactions we have with our family members influence our personality development and expectations toward others and ourselves. Given the impact our families have on our lives, it is understandable that difficulties we experience with them can interfere with our functioning well and feeling positive about ourselves. Learning how to recognize and understand our patterns of relating to others can help us to more effectively interact with others.
Many people find it helpful to talk about their family experiences with a therapist.
At the core of many family problems is anxiety. Anxiety is a common emotion. It is characterized by uneasy thoughts and apprehensions about possible future misfortunes or past events. Very mild anxiety can sometimes be helpful, energizing people to complete tasks and be more productive. Sometimes, however, it becomes so intense and pervasive that it interferes with normal functioning.