Have you ever sent a text or email to your estranged adult child that you later regretted? Most rejected parents have done something like this at one time or another.
If you haven’t yet, you probably will… unless you listen to this episode (use the player below to listen).
Regrets often follow from behavior that’s impulsive. But what causes impulsive behavior, and how can you get control of it? That’s the subject of this week’s show.
In a nutshell, impulsive behavior is the result of a temporary shutdown in the executive functioning of the brain. This is caused by an automatic physiological response to a perceived threat.
In the bad old days, threats consisted largely of physical dangers like wild animals and natural disasters. Nowadays, being rejected by someone you love can trigger exactly the same physiological response, called the Threat Response.
Fortunately, there is a simple, effective way to combat this response and head off the impulsive behavior that it often provokes.
You’re not alone in your estrangement from your child(ren). If you’re a Reconnection Club member, let us know what you think of this episode by leaving a comment in our General Discussion forum.
If you’re not a member, you can still keep in touch. Join our mailing list and receive our “Top 7 Things to Avoid When Trying to Reconnect with an Adult Child” checklist. (Members, you can find this in our library inside the Club.)
To learn about how to respond effectively to your adult child’s estrangement, order Tina’s book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child: Practical Tips and Tools to Heal Your Relationship.
Order from your local bookstore
Links:
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Belly breathing
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