I am writing this to unpack that link.
Psychological literature has a term for the “link” I felt: enmeshment . Enmeshment is when family boundaries dissolve. You stop knowing where you end and the other person begins. my older sister falling into depravity and i link
“Don’t tell Mom,” she whispered.
For my older sister, depravity meant:
When I was ten and she was fifteen, she caught me crying after I’d failed a math test. She didn’t lecture me. She didn’t tell our parents. Instead, she took me to the 24-hour diner at 10 PM using her learner’s permit and her own saved babysitting money. She ordered us two slices of apple pie and said, “You are not your grades. Repeat that until it feels true.” I am writing this to unpack that link
Navigating a family member’s "fall into depravity"—whether due to addiction, mental health issues, or behavioral changes—is rarely a journey you should take alone. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration You stop knowing where you end and the other person begins