There are paths that aren’t easy, but genuinely rewarding, for dealing with a difficult or hurtful family member
“She was unpredictable; we never knew what would set her off,” she remembers.
Chana hoped no one would notice her mother’s peculiarities. “If my mother was screaming at my father while I had a friend over, we’d escape to my room, and I’d hope my friend didn’t hear. In my head, no one knew anything.”
As she matured, Chana was astonished when she overheard a neighbor comment, “Oh, the Cohens? The ones who are always fighting?” She’d never realized the dysfunction was apparent.
When Chana reached young adulthood, she began a journey of healing that helped her realize that some of her mother’s deficits had names. Though she still can’t point to a single root with precision, she’s learned that narcissistic personality disorder and depression may have contributed to her challenging upbringing.
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