Dear Crawford:

“my dad is emotionally unavailable.. feels like I am speaking to something false, something feels off… whatever I do or say I will feel bad talking to him.. he might be abusive towards himself.. he puts up a façade where he acts happy and ‘normal’… this emotional neglect towards himself. I even showed openly my irritation towards him today and it was like he didn’t even notice it at all.. (kept) on talking like the other person is perfectly fine with you”.

To understand better and reply to you further, I ask:

1. How is your father “abusive towards himself”?

2. How did you show your irritation towards him today and what did you specifically say to him when irritated today?

anita