"Could my siblings have emotionally abused me?"

Katie Morton, a licensed marriage and family therapist, addresses the question of where normal sibling interactions end and emotional abuse begins. She explains that while siblings may argue and tease, behaviors such as belittling, name-calling, threatening, and property destruction are signs of emotional abuse. Morton emphasizes the importance of recognizing these patterns and seeking help, either from parents or a therapist, to foster healthier family dynamics.

The second paragraph discusses the issue of shutting down during therapy sessions, a common occurrence for some individuals. Katie delves into the reasons behind this response, such as feeling triggered or overwhelmed. She outlines various strategies for therapists to handle clients who shut down, including allowing the client to sit with their feelings if they have been taught grounding techniques, or guiding them through grounding exercises if they are new to therapy. The goal is to help clients feel safe and learn to manage their reactions in therapy.

Katie provides a range of grounding techniques to help individuals manage dissociation or shutting down, especially in the context of therapy. She suggests activities like counting colors, using fidget toys, and focusing on physical sensations. Cold water or ice packs can also be used to bring oneself back to the present. The idea is to find what works best for the individual to stay present and engaged in therapy, rather than checking out.

In the fourth paragraph, the topic of oversharing is explored. Katie explains that oversharing occurs when individuals share more information than necessary or appropriate, often due to a lack of boundary awareness. She advises on how to recognize oversharing and suggests ways to communicate boundaries without being rude. For those who feel they overshare, self-reflection on friendship layers and sharing patterns is recommended.

The fifth paragraph touches on the use of laughter as a defense mechanism to diffuse tense situations. Katie discusses how this behavior may stem from a need to manage uncomfortable emotions and can become an ingrained, automatic response. She advises becoming curious about these emotional responses and understanding the urge to use humor before attempting to change the behavior.

Katie ponders why mental illnesses often follow patterns, suggesting that it's due to humans being highly adaptive and using available resources to cope with discomfort. She mentions genetic predispositions and societal influences as factors. Common coping mechanisms like addiction and self-harm are seen as maladaptive patterns that people fall into when healthier alternatives are not known or accessible.

In the seventh paragraph, Katie tackles the challenges of self-care and finding effective coping skills, especially for those dealing with past trauma. She suggests reframing self-care as meeting 'basic needs' and differentiates between distraction-based and process-based coping skills. She encourages starting with basic needs and then gradually moving to more proactive coping strategies.

The eighth paragraph deals with the issue of laughing at inappropriate times as a means of emotional regulation. Katie suggests that this behavior may be a learned response to emotional discomfort. She recommends becoming aware of the triggers and emotions that lead to this response and gradually replacing it with healthier alternatives, emphasizing the importance of understanding the behavior before attempting to change it.

In the final paragraph, Katie wraps up the discussion by encouraging her audience to do their 'homework' – to reflect on their behaviors and emotions, and to seek understanding before attempting to make changes. She thanks her listeners for their engagement and reiterates the importance of self-exploration and gradual progress in personal development.