Lombard radio host of AgingInfoRadio tackles family fallout
Sue Zawacki tackled the topic of family fallout on her show Aging Info Radio, which broadcasts each Saturday morning from 6-7 am on AM 560WIND.
Sue opened the show by proposing that words have the ability to hurt or heal.
“Sometimes in the wrong moment, you can say or do something that creates conflict with family members or friends, which may end a relationship. These family fallouts can have long-term ramifications,” said Sue.
To address the topic of family fallouts, Sue's guest was Joyce Marter, Founder and psychotherapist of Urban Balance, which provides psychotherapy as a healthy, proactive way to achieve balance and wellness for personal and professional success.
“In a family relationship, small things can get blown out of proportion. Serious conflict can occur between one or more family members, which may result in members not talking to one another or even ending a relationship. But there are usually underlying issues that contribute to the dynamics of the relationship,” said Marter.
Marter noted that the ultimate result of family fallouts is loss: loss of time together, loss of intimacy, the loss of sharing celebrations and holidays, and losing the positive dynamics of the family.
Marter notes that the core of family fallouts is poor communication and the inability to resolve conflict. She recommends some ways to deal with family fallouts:
• Don't ignore the issue. Address it before it gets out of hand.
• Realize that conflicts are inevitable, but with empathy, a relationship can be repaired. Put yourself in their shoes.
• When you are angry or hurt, this is not the time to send an email or make a phone call. Take a breath and relax. It will give you time to gain a broader perspective.
• In some extreme cases, a person may need to end a relationship with a family member. For example, in situations of abuse, domestic violence or addiction where the person refuses to seek help.
• A conflict is often a time to learn things about yourself that can help you and your relationship grow. Be open, and practice forgiveness. You don't always have to be right.
• Realize that some things we can't control, so concentrate on the things we can control.
• Don't be afraid to reach out to your support network or seek professional counseling.
Marter noted that caregivers can often be in conflict with other family members when dealing with elderly parents. There may be feelings of anger that one sibling has more responsibility than others. (Remove this sentence: A family member may consider themselves a “martyr.”) These issues need to be worked out through financial and elder care planning, so that they don't negatively impact the family dynamics.
About AgingInfoRadio.com
Aging Info Radio broadcasts each Saturday morning from 6-7 am on AM 560WIND. The coverage area for AM 560WIND is all of Chicagoland, southern Wisconsin, N.W. Indiana and S.W. Michigan with the potential to reach nearly half a million listeners and millions more by the way of www.560WIND.com where the show streams live. The show's philosophy is that boomers and seniors are aging, but not growing older. For more information, visit www.aginginforadio.com.