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Conditional Love, Unconditional Love, and What Leads to Shame: Part 1

Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

In this episode of “Coming Up for Air”, Dominique, Kayla and Laurie discuss how even when love is not conditional, there sometimes must be conditions regarding people’s behavior. Love in romantic relationships may change if you break up, but with family members, conditionality applies to behavior, not love. What we as family members can modify is how we react and our expectations. Conditionality goes back to boundary issues – there are edges someone comes to where they must stop what they’re doing. Simply wishing someone would go away is a normal, protective reaction to difficult feelings.

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In your comments, please show respect for each other and do not give advice. Please consider that your choice of words has the power to reduce stigma and change opinions (ie, "person struggling with substance use" vs. "addict", "use" vs. "abuse"...)