Psychology says people who were the emotional anchor for their families rarely experience loneliness as a single event. They experience it as a slow accounting where they realize the support only ever flowed in one direction and nobody designed a return current. - Silicon Canals

Support in families typically revolves around one individual who provides emotional care and assistance. This person often finds themselves in a position where their needs are overlooked, leading to an imbalance in support. The expectation of reciprocal support is a misconception, as the dynamics often leave the designated anchor without the necessary support when they need it most. The realization of this one-sided flow of support can be a painful awakening for those who have been the primary caregivers.

"What most people believe about family support is that it flows reciprocally, that love and emotional care operate like a current that naturally circulates. But anyone who has been the designated anchor knows this is a pleasant fiction."

"Support systems in families are often engineered around a single node, and that node is a person, not a structure. When the person who holds everyone together finally needs holding, the system doesn't reverse."

Read at Silicon Canals