Professor Geoff Greif discussed family relationships in the article "When Siblings Become EstrangedIs ending a relationship with your brother or sister ever the right thing to do?" The article was published in NextAvenue.org.
From the article: A whole host of reasons can trigger disruption in sibling relationships, explained Geoffrey Greif, co-author of Adult Sibling Relationships with Michael Wooley. Physical abuse and bullying between siblings can create deep-rooted fissures and scars, contributing to eventual separation.
Relationships can suffer after a parent dies, Greif added. “Now that mom has died, there’s no reason for us to get together for Thanksgiving” is a refrain heard from many siblings.
Personal problems can cause familial woes. If a family member is mired in drug and alcohol addiction, without getting help, “sometimes you can’t be dragged down to the morass,” Greif said.