The world is your oyster: Nearly everyone recognizes this timeless motto. Most people take their first steps toward a career just after high school graduation. But what if you feel you have something or someone holding you back – like family? Feeling as though your own family doesn’t support you can be soul-crushing. We’ll help you discover how to move forward in this helpful post.
Chase your dreams and make them a reality. If being tied down to family is holding you back in any way, it can destroy your self worth. Find ways to deal with family members who are controlling and codependent. Learn how to make positive changes and start living your best life!
Break Free From Problematic Family Ties Fast with This Guide.
Caregiver for a Loved One
Caring for an ailing parent or sibling everyday? You realize they depend on you. Maybe you’ve been helping out by offering respite to a tired caregiver or you’re the only one available to do it. You may feel you’re losing out on important after-school activities and spending time with friends. If an out-of-state college is calling your name, you’ll need to make arrangements so your loved one is still getting the attention they need while you’re absent.
Your family may point fingers at you because you’re putting your needs first. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of making time for your studies, or you’re getting burned out, know that it’s okay to reach out for help or occasional relief. Maybe consider some online or evening classes, giving you the time to handle responsibilities and better yourself all at once. You can also speak to another family member about getting more help for your loved one. Adult respite care, or alternating caregiving duties with family, can also help relieve the burden placed on you.
Extreme Codependency
Family can hold you back at any age, especially if they are codependent. Not all parents or family members are happy to see a child succeed. Some feel they should still live at home and provide the companionship they’ve been offering since birth.
Extreme codependency is unhealthy. If anyone is having a problem letting you grow, suggest family therapy. A therapist can provide healthy ideas for breaking away and help your loved one establish healthy lifestyle patterns to cope with your absence.
Financial Dependency
Have you been working two jobs to support your family? If you leave for college, you might not be able to contribute financially like you did before. This can leave your family short on funds. So, what can you do to find balance without sacrificing your own success along the way?
Find ways to get the best of both worlds. Join a work study program and bring in cash while you learn and improve yourself, rather than just stopping work altogether. Or, take distance learning courses that help you learn from home without having to pay for a dorm or walk away from your existing day job.
Abusive Tendencies
Your dream job is waiting for you. All you have to do is move a state away and put a downpayment on that loft apartment. But what if you’re in the middle of an abusive relationship? Toxic and abusive relationships can leave you paralyzed; sometimes the offender will threaten to hurt you or destroy personal belongings if you try to leave. The harder you push to move on with your life, the harder the abuser will push back to control you and keep you pinned down.
Risks are very high for people in romantic relationships with an abusive partner. In fact, nearly 75 percent of all abuse-related homicides occur in the two years after a victim leaves their abuser.
Unfortunately, these situations can be really complex, and just walking out the door isn’t always an option. Barriers to leaving, like shared custody of children, a lack of financial independence, or fear of retaliation or physical harm can leave you feeling lost and confused about what to do.
But, that doesn’t mean you don’t have options. Whether your abuser is a parent, a boyfriend or girlfriend, or someone else entirely, you deserve to be safe, protected and free from physical and mental harm. Check with local shelters, advocacy groups, and law enforcement agencies for help formulating a safe exit strategy. You can also reach out the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
Addiction Issues
If someone in your family is battling addiction, you may be the one picking up the slack when they are feeling down and out. This could be by providing constant transportation for them or digging into your savings to feed their drug or alcohol habit. Dealing with unpredictable behavior from an addict, can drain you emotionally and financially. Reach out for help now. Inpatient therapy for your family member and outpatient support for yourself can provide proper coping mechanisms to get through this rough spot.
Certain family members can make you feel like you have limited options in life. The good news is there’s a resolution for almost every situation. All you have to do is reach out for a little help. That’s the best way to take care of yourself and achieve a positive outcome!
~Here’s to Your Success
