Psychology says people who were the emotional anchor for their families rarely experience loneliness as a single event. They experience it as a slow accounting where they realize the support only ever flowed in one direction and nobody designed a return current. - Silicon Canals

"What most people believe about family support is that it flows reciprocally, that love and emotional care operate like a current that naturally circulates. But anyone who has been the designated anchor knows this is a pleasant fiction."

"Support systems in families are often engineered around a single node, and that node is a person, not a structure. When the person who holds everyone together finally needs holding, the system doesn't reverse."

Support in families typically revolves around one individual who provides emotional care and assistance. This person often finds themselves in a position where their needs are overlooked, leading to an imbalance in support. The expectation of reciprocal support is a misconception, as the dynamics often leave the designated anchor without the necessary support when they need it most. The realization of this one-sided flow of support can be a painful awakening for those who have been the primary caregivers.

Read at Silicon Canals