Covert Incest and Emotional Enmeshment

Covert incest is where children and parents become inappropriately enmeshed in order to serve the parent's emotional needs. Boundaries are crossed, and at times the child is treated like a "little husband," "little wife," or best friend. Dr. Murray Bowen talks about enmeshment and lack of differentiation as a system gone wrong. Children are triangulated into this dysfunctional system in order to "balance" the dysfunction and get sick in the process. They may turn to drugs and other addictions, or become avoidant in relationships. This dynamic overlaps the narcissistic dynamic. These bad patterns go on multi-generationally. Our special guest, my grandson Alexander broke down the Mind Map from a child's point of view. THANK YOU Alexander!