Kenneth M. Adams, Ph.D., CSAT The Silent Seduction An Overlooked Precursor to Sexual Addiction, Co-dependency, and Relationships Struggles Kenneth M. Adams, Ph.D., CSAT www.drkenadams.com kadams1009@aol.com

Different Labels- Similar Construct Parentification (Jurkovic) The Chosen Child (Minuchin) Emotional Incest (Love) Covert Incest (Adams) Enmeshment

Overview Enmeshment leads to an attachment disorder Attachment disorders are largely attributed to abuse, abandonment, or neglect Little, to no study, is given to enmeshment as a causative factor in its own right “Closeness” looks like attachment Mother/son; mother, father/daughter Societal implications – single parent households, Italy reporting contributing factor to population decline

Overview Continued Enmeshment damages sexual unfolding, prejudicing the capacity for intimacy Enmeshment key precursor to addiction Male sex addicts report (40%) enmeshment Parentified females report eating disorders

Enmeshment Disrupts Intimacy Separate emotionally from the family of origin you grew up in, enough so that your identity is separate from your parents and siblings (The Good Marriage, Wallerstein and Blakeslee) Relationships have ever-deepening levels, and a relationship can only go to the depth of the more limited person( The Seven 7 Best Things Happy Couples Do, Friel and Friel)

Key Concepts Enmeshment and intrusion characterizes the relationship Demand for loyalty to the needy and lonely parent prevails - creates “loyal object” (Jurkovic) Entrapped, engulfed, guilty, and angry Overly eroticized atmosphere Disloyalty toward love objects other than the parent

Factors in Parents Deprivation Disrupted attachment with caregivers Undifferentiated self Distorted cognitive schema that prevent seeing children as separate (Jurkovic) Personality disorders (traits, features)

Factors in Children Temperament Capacity for empathy and caring (Jurkovic) Birth order Gender

Setting Factors High stress – substance abuse, mental illness Single parenting Marital discord Role induction (parents display of neediness, helplessness, and dependency) Poor boundaries- enmeshed with one parent, disengagement with the other (Jurkovic)

Aggravating Factors Entrapment, intrusion, and engulfment occurs before age five Punishment/physical violence in retaliation for separation attempts Participation by the other parent to encourage the entrapment or their physical or emotional absence Physical sexual abuse

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Isn't it good to be close to your parents growing up?

Mother Attuned To Son: He Can Be Himself attunement His Self His Needs His Life attuned to Figure 4-1. When a mother is attuned to her son, he can have his own life. When a son must be attuned to his mother, his outward energy is blocked. He is trapped with her and must devote his life to serving her needs. In adulthood, the MEM remains attuned to the needs of others at the expense of his own. Son Attuned To Mother: He Loses His Identity not attuned to

How can a relationship with a parent be considered incestuous without actual sexual touch?

Enmeshment and Sexual Unfolding Enmeshment inverts the parent-child bond and leaves child over-eroticized and over-stimulated with the parent (no boundaries) Sexuality is filled with intense conflict- shrouded in danger, taboo, ambivalence, and shame Sexuality is split off, fragments or compartments are created Unencumbered erotic desire needed for bonding Adult love relationships become gateway to disappointment and loss

My mother was the only parent there for me My mother was the only parent there for me. I feel so guilty thinking of having my own life. How can I abandon her?

Intrusion Intrusion of parent’s needs and demands into child’s psychic, emotional, and sexual world Child’s separation causes parent to feel abandoned - will intrude into child’s world even harder Child’s self is unable to “unfold", parent molds child as an extension of their own narcissistic wish (e.g., be the man your father isn’t), must fragment “True” self goes into hiding and “false” self emerges and becomes compulsively attuned to the feelings and needs of others

How do I set boundaries with others without them feeling hurt or being angry with me?

Boundary Considerations Getting together Phone calls Physical touch Topics of conversation e.g.: I don’t respond to my mother’s criticisms of my dad I don’t talk to her about my dad I say out loud to them both that I don’t want to talk with either of them about their conflict Money

Basic Strategies for Holding on to Self Wait 24 hours - “ I need to think about this and get back to you” Develop interest and hobbies Build friendships and decrease tendency to be dependent on only one person Set boundaries around the amount of time you will give to mom/dad Screen calls, wait to respond Pace romantic involvement, hold boundaries tight in early part of relationship

Steps in Setting Boundaries Make a list of ten most burdensome, inappropriate things you do for mom from most to least damaging Write down a few statements that are clear and specific ways to set limits e.g.,“ I can’t talk now, I will call tomorrow” Identify feelings that arise during rehearsal List that behaviors your mother does that trigger the guilt and disloyalty response e.g., weepy, angry, threatening, martyrdom, silent, etc. Develop new beliefs that counter guilt and fear response

Why is so hard for me to commit to a romantic partner?

The Disloyalty Bind Sphere Of Enmeshment MEM Wife Partner Girlfriend MOTHER Emotionally Disconnected FATHER

In his unconscious – and sometimes conscious – mind, a mother-enmeshed man (MEM) is representing his mother’s interests, while his own have become secondary. If he does something he thinks she wouldn’t like, he feels disloyal to her. If he “gets serious” about a woman, suddenly, without understanding why, he is overwhelmed with feelings of fear, anxiety, and guilt. Ambivalence and withdrawal inevitably follow. From: When He’s Married to Mom: Helping Mother Enmeshed Men Open Their Hearts to True Love and Commitment by Kenneth M. Adams, Ph.D. with Alexander P. Morgan

I married a man who is his mothers surrogate husband I married a man who is his mothers surrogate husband. I am always second to her when he sorts out his priorities. How can I get him to see that he is hurting our marriage?

Partners Concern’s and Issues Frustrated by lack of availability and commitment of partner Tries harder to persuade partner to commit Blames self for sexual or emotional rejection Feels like “other” woman in relationship to mom Accommodates or compromises to hang onto relationship May have lost years to the relationship and tries even harder to persuade commitment when loss is felt Often comes from a family in which she was cast in the role of being a caretaker or over responsible

I can’t stop womanizing I can’t stop womanizing. Is it related to my covert incest with my mother?

Sex Addiction and Covert Incest Sexual addiction is a perceived gateway to emotional and sexual freedom - It temporarily reassures a damaged, entrapped, and ambivalent sexual self Sexual addiction is not disloyal, allows the CI survivor to avoid the trap of loyalty to the parent while asserting sexual freedom It permits discharge of the rage and anger and allows the covert incest survivor to reject and disappoint the partner, which is not allowed by the parent

Are there any differences when a daughter is the surrogate companion to her mother?

I tried avoiding men like my father all my life, but I seemed to have picked another just like him-demanding, jealous, controlling. How did that happen?

What if I’m a single parent?

Guidelines for Parents Be aware Be reassuring and address his/her needs Seek adult connections Set healthy boundaries Create and maintain strong bond with both parents Build strong bond with partner Maintain appropriate boundaries for conflict between parents

I’ve identified with many of these characteristics, but can I really be happy and content?

Transference and Countertransference Issues T: Dependency, will be in role “good pt” rather than true self, may feel that they are putting therapist out and not want to return, feel therapist is also controlling if too much advice, feel the therapy process is smothering CT: Pressure the pt to separate too quickly from parent, too much advice and intervention too quickly, getting angry at parent, failing to validate enmeshment (own enmeshment issues), trying to fix -overinvolvment

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Bibliography When He’s Married To Mom: How to Help Mother-Enmeshed Men Open Their Hearts to True Love and Commitment- Adams, K. with Morgan, A. Silently Seduced: When Parent’s Make Their Children Partners, Understanding Covert Incest - Adams, K. Clinical Management of Sex Addiction- Carnes, P. & Adams, K. The Emotional Incest Syndrome: What To Do When A Parent’s Love Rules Your Life- Love, P. with Robinson, J. Mother’s, Son’s, and Lovers: How A Man’s Relationship With His Mother Affects The Rest of His Life - Gurian, M. Lost Childhoods: The Plight of the Parentified Child Jukovic, G.