The Guilt of Being the Sibling Who Leaves
Taking a look at the lost sibling for who they really are.
Every narcissistic family has a script. Some kids are cast as golden, some as scapegoats, others as invisible wallpaper. But there’s another role that rarely gets talked about—the sibling who disappears. Not just physically, but emotionally, relationally, energetically.
They fade out of group texts. They stop showing up at holidays. Or maybe they were pushed out completely and no one really talks about them anymore. They become the lost sibling.
Maybe you are the lost sibling. Or maybe you’ve wondered what happened to the brother or sister who seemed to drift away when the family tension reached its peak. This isn’t a coincidence. In narcissistic family systems, where control is king and enmeshment is expected, some children fall out of orbit. Not because they’re weak, but because survival demanded distance.
Who is the lost sibling? Are you the lost sibling?
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Practical Growth with E.B. Johnson to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.