69: Why Siblings Drift Apart in Adulthood
From This Feels Familiar with Minaa B. by Minaa B.
April 7, 2026 · 29 min · Season 1 · Episode 69
About this episode
Minaa B. explores the reasons siblings drift apart in adulthood and offers strategies for navigating sibling distance.
In this episode, Minaa B. explores why siblings drift apart in adulthood—a question she's asked constantly as a therapist specializing in sibling relationships. Drawing from research on sibling dynamics, she breaks down the complex factors that create distance: childhood closeness that was really just proximity, personality and temperament differences, the impact of mental illness and addiction, poor family cohesion, unresolved childhood conflict, and how life transitions pull siblings in different directions. She also addresses the painful reality that some sibling alienation starts in childhood—long before adulthood makes it obvious. With compassion and clarity, Minaa offers practical strategies for navigating sibling distance, whether you want to rebuild connection or make peace with letting go. Resources Work with me: Book a 1:1 therapy consultation. Website: minaab.com Newsletter: Subscribe here Order my book: Owning Our Struggles Stay Connected! Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Minaa B.
Topics covered
- sibling relationships
- adult sibling dynamics
- mental health
- family cohesion
- conflict resolution
- life transitions
Keywords
- siblings
- adult relationships
- mental illness
- addiction
- family conflict
- rebuilding connection
- letting go
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Owning Our Struggles
More episodes of This Feels Familiar with Minaa B.
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- 74: Shame Isn't a Boundary: Stop Policing Normal Human Behavior · May 12, 2026 · 31 min
- 73: You Don't Have Imposter Syndrome, You Have a Scarcity Blueprint · May 5, 2026 · 35 min
- 72: Sibling Codependency: When You Can't Function Apart · April 28, 2026 · 27 min
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