Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
How to I re-establish my relationship with my 20 year old daughter?
The relationship with my 20 year old daughter has deteriorated to the point where she will not speak to me at all. She still lives at home and is studying and working.
Our relationship was close until her mid-teenage years and has worsened to this untenable position. I have tried to talk to her about what is troubling her (regarding me) and have also written candidly to her. She will not discuss this, although long ago she admitted that if she were to start talking, it would be like lifting the lid of Pandora's Box, and she fears never being able to put the lid on again.
She refuses to attend counselling or therapy.
Her relationships with her sister, her dad (my ex-husband), her friends, her boyfriend, my current partner, etc, are all good and I sense no sign of dysfunction, except with me. She will not open up to any of them, either.
I would appreciate some advice because, while my heart is breaking, my greater concern is that this is not healthy for her. Thank you
