Breaking the cycle of general dysfunction, is important if we are to bring peace into our lives. And unless we choose to break the cycle, we will pass those dysfunctional traits on to our own children.

We have to want to break the cycle

We have to want to break the cycle. We have to want to change, we have to want to make it happen instead of talking about making it happen. We have to want to unlearn the behaviour patterns we’ve lived with for so many years. We have to want to change our mindset, we have to want to move on.

We can relearn new healthier patterns

We can change our mindset, we can rebuild our lives. Even though we may start with learned dysfunctional patterns, we can relearn new healthier patterns, based on new values that we’re happy with, and not values passed down by our family.

Be 'the change'

It is important to be the change, rather than just wait for change to happen. Change can't happen unless we change. We can't wait to be rescued, we need to rescue ourselves.

Breaking the dysfunction cycle, also means we may be empowered to make our own decisions, decisions that in the longer term should be healthier for us.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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2 comments on “The general dysfunction cycle”

  1. The type of behaviour you talk about can run in families, but not all families will have dysfunctional traits. It is up to each of us to make sure we work together.

    If Covid-19 teaches us one thing, it's that we all need to come together. We couldn't be further apart.

    1. Thank you. Yes, agreed. I hope we are able to come through our Covid-19 experiences, better for it.

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