As an openly gay man, Alexis struggles with some of the political talk that the other side brings to the table during family occasions. It's clear in how my relatives talk that they don't care how my rights to live as a gay man are impacted by their vote, Alexis told me. In the past, he has tried to establish boundaries to put politics off-limits, but this has not been effective.
Research on estranged family relationships is still in its infancy: the lack of longitudinal studies means there is no way to understand the phenomenon's development over time. However, we know that millions of families across the world experience estrangement, and one in five British families will have an estranged relative.
New polling data from the US, published around Thanksgiving, shows that one in two adults are estranged from a close relation. The study revealed that two in five participants attribute this breakdown in relations directly to political differences.
Specialist therapists such as Karen Stockham can play an important role in helping individuals navigate family discord. Part of the problem may be the need we have for family members to mirror and validate our values to help us feel like we belong.
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