THGdysfuntional

Types of Dysfunctional Families
Dr. Janet Kizziar characterizes four types of "troubled family systems", which are "breeding grounds for codependency:" 5
(1) The Alcoholic or Chemically Dependent Family System
(2) The Emotionally or Psychologically Disturbed Family System
(3) The Physically or Sexually Abusing Family System
(4) The Religious Fundamentalist or Rigidly Dogmatic Family System
(5) The "I just had to click the button that said 'DO NOT CLICK' on the internet family system.

Codependency expresses in these dysfunctional families through the typical strategies of minimizing, projection, intellectualizing and denial. Minimizing acknowledges there may be a problem, but makes light of it. Projection blames the problem on others, and may appoint a scapegoat to bear the family's shame. Intellectualizing tries to explain the problem away, believing that by offering a convenient excuse or explanation, the problem will be resolved. Denial demands that other people and self believe there is no problem.
The patterns of codependency can emerge from any family system where the overt and covert rules close its members off from the outside world. These family systems discourage healthy communication of issues and feelings between themselves, destroy the family members' ability to trust themselves and to trust another in an intimate relationship, and freeze family members into unnatural roles, making constructive change difficult. Rules that encourage the unnatural patterns of relating in these codependent family systems include:
Ą Don't talk about problems
Ą Don't express feelings openly or honestly
Ą Communicate indirectly, through acting out or sulking, or via another family member
Ą Have unrealistic expectations about what the Dependent will do for you
Ą Don't be selfish, think of the other person first
Ą Don't take your parents as an example, "do as I say, not as I do"
Ą Don't have fun
Ą Don't rock the boat, keep the status quo
Ą Don't talk about sex
Ą Don't challenge your parent's religious beliefs or these family rules

Why did YOU click that Button? It said NOT TO! But you did anyway. Maybe you come from a large Irish/German dysfuntional family. Perhaps you yourself are: