Sometimes families function in survival mode.
So much time and energy can be spent managing behaviors or treatment needs of one person that other family relationships are neglected or uncared for.
Relationships take work, time, and energy to grow.
This can often be difficult if one person in the family is struggling with behaviors, lack of motivation, or skill deficits that prevent or interfere with family relationships.
Families often adjust by adapting unbalanced roles and withdraw from interactions with each other.
Disproportionate relationships begin to take place and become more and more reinforced over time.