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Mother of Charlie Teo's "miracle girl" shares more tragic news

<p>In the face of immense tragedy and loss, Monica Smirk, the mother of 14-year-old Amelia "Milli" Lucas, has opened up about more devastating news that has befallen her family.</p> <p>Amelia, fondly known as Milli, passed away a month after celebrating her 14th birthday on January 4, 2021, following a courageous battle against a rare and terminal genetic cancer.</p> <p>Diagnosed with a Grade VI Glioblastoma at the tender age of nine, Milli was given a mere 12 weeks to live. However, with the help of controversial neurosurgeon <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/dr-charlie-teo-breaks-his-silence-with-post-about-his-miracle-girl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charlie Teo</a>, she defied the odds, surviving another remarkable five years after undergoing two surgeries.</p> <p>Now, Monica, her resilient mother, has revealed that she is facing her own battle with terminal cancer. Inoperable tumours on her back have cast a shadow of uncertainty, leaving her and her family grappling with fear and hope.</p> <p>The Smirk family has encountered the devastating impact of Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare gene disposition that has tragically claimed the lives of Monica's mother, brother, daughter, niece, and nephew. This syndrome, affecting fewer than 1,000 individuals worldwide, greatly increases the risk of various cancers throughout one's life.</p> <p>Recalling the emotional turmoil, Monica shared that she first discovered the lumps on her back while caring for Milli in 2021, but the overwhelming emotions held her back from seeking an immediate biopsy. As her health situation progressed, treatment was halted after fluid was found in her lungs. Nevertheless, she holds on to the possibility of further treatment options pending additional scans later this year.</p> <p>In another heart-wrenching update, Monica also revealed that her 19-year-old daughter Tess is awaiting the results of a concerning annual scan. Tess, who also battles Li-Fraumeni syndrome, faced her own hardships when diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016, resulting in legal blindness. Despite the challenges, she courageously pursues her dream of becoming a professional dancer.</p> <p>As the Smirk family grapples with these overwhelming health challenges, their community has come together, rallying behind them with love and support.</p> <p>The Millstar Foundation, an initiative started by the family to honour their beloved "angel" Milli, aims to provide alternative therapies for patients in Western Australia. Their efforts have been met with an outpouring of generosity, as they have collected more than $13,000 worth of prizes for a raffle, supporting Monica in her fight for life.</p> <p>Milli's journey with Dr Teo, who she affectionately referred to as her "miracle worker," brought both hope and controversy. Though he successfully removed 98 percent of a brain tumour considered inoperable and incurable by other surgeons in 2019, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/dr-charlie-teo-speaks-out-after-guilty-finding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent incidents have led to reprimands</a> by the NSW Medical Board.</p> <p>While the circumstances are undoubtedly heartbreaking, Monica expressed her gratitude for the extra years Dr Teo provided Milli, acknowledging the precious time and memories they had together.</p> <p>Amidst the pain, Monica also spoke out about her concern for other patients who may no longer have access to potentially lifesaving surgeries due to restrictions imposed on Dr Teo. She hopes that future research and medical advancements will continue to shine a light of hope for those facing similar battles.</p> <p>In the face of unimaginable adversity, the Smirk family finds solace in the unwavering support and love of their community. For those who wish to contribute to the raffle and extend a helping hand to the Smirk family, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2378778672391405/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Millstar Foundation Incorporated Facebook group</a> provides an opportunity to make a difference and be a source of hope in their challenging journey.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Monica Lewinsky discusses her mental health during the Clinton scandal

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monica Lewinsky became a household name after she famously had an affair with President Bill Clinton during the 1990s while interning at the White House.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a recent </span><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/axe-files?episodeguid=b0c4a76a-a89d-47ce-becf-adb3002a2a6a"><span style="font-weight: 400;">podcast interview with CNN</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Lewinsky discussed how the investigation into the scandal, along with the global pressure from the media, drove her to have suicidal thoughts. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I just couldn't see a way out. And I thought that maybe that was the solution," she said, explaining how she had asked lawyers working for then-independent counsel Ken Starr about what would happen if she died.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">At the worst moment of her life, when she was seized by the FBI, questioned about her affair w/Bill Clinton &amp; threatened W/prison, <a href="https://twitter.com/MonicaLewinsky?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MonicaLewinsky</a> couldn’t see a way out. “What if I die?” she asked the lawyers interrogating her.<br />New <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AxeFiles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AxeFiles</a>!<br />Pod here👉<a href="https://t.co/6gfKHZOtJ7">https://t.co/6gfKHZOtJ7</a> <a href="https://t.co/4Yqq2pZygW">pic.twitter.com/4Yqq2pZygW</a></p> — David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidaxelrod/status/1443565658575409153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thinking back on her experience, she asks, "How was there not a protocol?" to deal with a unique situation like hers. "That's a point where you're supposed to bring a psychologist in or, you know, something," she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The interview comes as new light is being shed on the affair in a dramatised FX series called </span><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-08/monica-lewinsky-impeachment-american-crime-story-how-to-watch/100436458"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Impeachment: American Crime Story</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, for which Lewinsky is a producer. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monica told the interviewer that after being dismissed by Ken Starr, she began seeing a forensic psychiatrist that helped her get through the ordeal.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I think a lot of people who have ever had suicidal ideations find themselves in a moment where it's just – it's a moment of grace, like, you know, two roads diverged in the woods," she said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"And the forensic psychiatrist picked up the phone. And so I was, you know, pretty, pretty lucky."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In an essay published by </span><a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2014/05/monica-lewinsky-speaks"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vanity Fair in 2014</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Monica said she had never attempted suicide but that she had "strong suicidal temptations several times during the investigation and one or two periods after."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monica told the podcast that she constantly had to fight to not be defined by the affair after her views of the situation changed in the wake of the #MeToo movement. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"My narrative was stolen and then I lost it by trying to recede, trying to run away from everything that had happened for many years," she said, adding that part of "the work" she had to put in was accepting that she would have to face her past.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She said that through working on the series, she was able to reclaim her story in the eyes of the public. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"This story is about real people and I'm involved in it, but it's also about something bigger. It reflects something bigger in our society. And so as our society changes, there are different ways that this story feels relevant," Lewinsky said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Check out the trailer for the series here:</span></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rtipQ3EsGWo" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>

Mind

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New trailer for Impeachment features first look at Monica Lewinsky actress

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">New television series </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Impeachment: American Crime Story</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> revisits the scandal that rocked the US during Clinton’s presidency, and its first teaser trailer has just been released.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Viewers can get a first look at Beanie Feldstein in the role of Monica Lewinsky - the White House intern who had an affair with President Bill Clinton.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843119/lewinsky-feldstein.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9c94d85625c842408330f296eaf785b7" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monica Lewinsky (left) and Beanie Feldstein as Monica Lewinsky (right). Image: Getty</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the new teaser, Feldstein - the sister of comedian Jonah Hill - can be seen opposite famed whistleblower Linda Tripp, played by Sarah Paulson, facing off in a hallway of the White House’s West Wing.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CScU_48Jdri/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CScU_48Jdri/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by American Crime Story FX (@americancrimestoryfx)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The series is based on the true story of Lewinsky’s affair with President Clinton that occurred in Washington DC in 1995.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the synopsis, the series will depict “the national crisis that led to the first impeachment of a US President in over a century”, as told through the eyes of Lewinsky, Tripp, and civil servant Paula Jones, who filed a sexual harassment suit against Clinton.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The series will also feature Clive Owens as Clinton, and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Sopranos</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> actor Edie Falco as former First Lady Hillary Clinton.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Watch the trailer below for more.</span></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jCfbZgDKgsc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Feldstein has shared new artwork that was released alongside the trailer on her Instagram page.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Every side has a story,” the actress captioned the photo.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSF1yY1J-L1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSF1yY1J-L1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Beanie Feldstein (@beaniefeldstein)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Feldstein has said working with Paulson has been a dream come true, previously telling </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variety</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">: “If you know the story, [Lewinsky and Tripp] are best friends and then one deeply betrays the other one, [Paulson’s character] betrays me and I just couldn’t be more excited to play that out with the person I think to be one of the best actors of all time.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And she’s just so funny and warm and giving, so to take this journey with her is going to be really exciting.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Impeachment: American Crime Story</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is expected to be released in September 2021.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: American Crime Story FX / Instagram</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>

TV

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Bill Clinton reveals why he had an affair with Monica Lewinsky

<p>Bill Clinton claims that his affair with Monica Lewinsky was one of the “things I did to manage my anxieties”.</p> <p>In a tell-all documentary, the former President revealed that the reason behind his affair with the ex-White House intern while he was in office was because it helped him with issues he was dealing with at the time.</p> <p>Bill said that at the time he met Lewinsky, the pressure of the job made him feel like a boxer who had done 30 rounds and he looked at Lewinsky as “something that will take your mind off it for a little while”.</p> <p>He makes the claims in an interview featured in the new documentary series about his wife Hillary Clinton, called<em><span> </span>Hillary</em>, where the former First Lady and Secretary of State candidly reveals that in the aftermath of the scandal the couple underwent “painful” marriage counselling.</p> <p>Bill apologised to Lewinsky in the documentary that is set to premiere on Friday and says he felt “terrible” that her life was defined by the affair.</p> <p>But he said that at some point when things don’t return to normal "you’ve got to decide how to define normal", suggesting the former intern should just move on.</p> <p>The scandal resulted in Bill being impeached in 1998. But he survived the trial in the Senate and remained in office during his second term.</p> <p>His hand was forced in 1998 when it became clear that he had lied to a grand jury which was investigating his personal affairs by denying the affair.</p> <p>Bill had also lied to Hillary, and she believed him.</p> <p>He said in the interview: “I went and sat on the bed and talked to her. I told her exactly what happened, when it happened. I said I feel terrible about it. We’ve been through quite a bit in the last few years. I said I have no defence, it’s inexcusable what I did”.</p> <p>Hillary told the cameras: “I was just devastated. I could not believe it. I was so personally just hurt and I can’t believe this, I can’t believe you lied.”</p> <p>Hillary then told her husband that he was the one who had to come clean to their daughter Chelsea, who was 18 at the time. He said it was worse than telling his wife and he said that doing so was “awful”.</p>

TV

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Hillary Clinton says the gutsiest thing she ever did was stay with Bill after Monica Lewinsky scandal

<p>Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has revealed that continuing her marriage with her husband Bill Clinton after his affair was the “gutsiest” thing she’s ever done.</p> <p>Clinton made the candid statement during an appearance on<span> </span><em>Good Morning America</em>, where she sat alongside her daughter Chelsea to promote their new book<span> </span><em>The Book of Gutsy Women: Favourite Stories of Courage and Resilience</em>.</p> <p>When asked about her own “gutsy moments” throughout her career, Clinton didn’t hold back saying that it was standing by her husband after the 1998 cheating scandal that she considers her most courageous moment.</p> <p>“I think the gutsiest thing I’ve ever done – well, personally – was make the decision to stay in my marriage,” she said.</p> <p>Chelsea was taken aback by her mother’s comments, telling hosts: “I think I’m so overwhelmed by my mother’s answer that I’m a bit out of words. I’m so proud to be her daughter.”</p> <p>In 1988 a scandal broke out after it was revealed that the then US President Bill Clinton took part in a sexual relationship with then-White House intern Monica Lewinsky, who was only 22 at the time.</p> <p>The news came as a shock to the First Lady and the American public, who were disgusted that the leader of the free world was sleeping with an employee almost 30 years his junior.</p> <p>Despite the betrayal, Hillary decided to stick by Bill’s side even as he went through multiple trials and faced major public scrutiny.</p> <p>He was later acquitted and allowed to remain in office, but the incident took a toll on both their personal and political lives.</p>

Relationships

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Hillary Clinton's surprising comment about Bill’s affair with Monica Lewinsky

<p>While speaking about her husband’s presidential affair with then-22-year-old Monic Lewinsky, Hillary Clinton provided an unexpected answer.</p> <p>During an interview with <em style="font-weight: inherit;">Sunday Morning</em> in the US, Mrs Clinton claimed that Bill Clinton’s affair wasn’t an abuse of power because Lewinsky “was an adult”.</p> <p>The response of the former First Lady was surprising considering her passion for championing gender equality and that her 2016 presidential campaign focused on her becoming the first female president if elected.</p> <p>When asked if her husband should’ve resigned the presidency after the affair was exposed, Mrs Clinton replied: “Absolutely not”.</p> <p>Pressed on whether it had been an abuse of power, as the president couldn’t have a consensual relationship with an intern, Mrs Clinton held her stance, reiterating that Lewinsky was old enough at the time.</p> <p>Mr Clinton was 49 years old when the affair took place.</p> <p>Mrs Clinton then focused on President Donald Trump, who has been accused of sexually assaulting several women before the 2016 election.</p> <p>“Let me ask you this: Where’s the investigation of the current incumbent, against whom numerous allegations have been made and which he dismisses, denies and ridicules?” Mrs Clinton said.</p> <p>Regarding her husband’s affair, she said: “So there was an investigation, and it — as I believe — came out in the right place.”</p> <p>The US House voted to impeach Mr Clinton for an obstruction of justice and lying under oath, however, the US Senate later acquitted him and he remained as president.</p> <p>Despite the spotlight that has been placed on sexual misconduct with campaigns such as #MeToo, Mrs Clinton believes sexism is still rampant in politics.</p> <p>Mrs Clinton believes sexism, as well as the investigation into her e-mails and Russian election meddling, were the reasons for her loss to Mr Trump.</p> <p>“If you watched the way Trump debated me, it was just imbued with sexism. Making fun of me for preparing. Well, you know, that’s the old, like, ‘Oh, yeah, the girl in the class who’s always prepared. I don’t need to be prepared,’” Mrs Clinton said.</p> <p>During the 2016 election, <em style="font-weight: inherit;">Access Hollywood </em>leaked a damning video where Mr Trump could be heard bragging about grabbing women’s genitalia.</p> <p>Mr Trump responded to the footage by holding a press conference with several women who accused Mr Clinton of sexual misconduct and accused Mrs Clinton of trying to silence them.</p> <p>However, Mrs Clinton said she played “no role” in silencing the women who accused her husband.</p> <p>“No role,” Mrs Clinton said. “I take responsibility for my life and my actions.”</p>

Relationships

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3 reasons you attract emotionally unavailable partners

<p><strong><em>Monica Parikh is a lawyer, writer and dating coach. Deeply interested in love and relationships, she recently started <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.schooloflovenyc.com/" target="_blank">School of Love NYC</a></span> to help men and women develop happier and healthier relationships.</em></strong></p> <p>Emotionally unavailable people wreak havoc on our self-esteem. If we were only taller/richer/thinner/kinder/funnier/sexier, we'd have their love. Right? Wrong.</p> <p>Instead, these unfulfilling relationships are an invitation to look within. To examine our past. To get stronger. To speak our truth. To set boundaries. To become comfortable in being alone. To stop settling.</p> <p>I eventually summoned the strength to end my relationship with my Mr. Unavailable, but not before taking a good, hard look at myself. As much as I hated to admit it, his unavailability mirrored my own. Our relationship allowed me to feel close without having to risk my heart fully, especially after being left so traumatized by my ex-husband's sudden and dramatic departure from my life.</p> <p>I asked my friend, relationship therapist Aimee Hartstein, LCSW, why so many people remain stuck in these emotionally unavailable relationships. In her 20 years of professional practice, she has witnessed scores of women and men lose months (if not years) to relationships that are permanently stalled.</p> <p>Below, we break down the (potentially surprising) reasons you may be as emotionally unavailable as the person for whom you’re pining:</p> <p><strong>1. You haven't healed from a past hurt.</strong></p> <p>Emotionally unavailable relationships allow us to dip a toe into the pool of intimacy, without requiring us to get our hair wet.</p> <p>“If you’ve suffered a heartbreaking loss, you may be loath to risk 100 percent of yourself again. By chasing someone who won’t fully commit, you can ‘play house’—dressing up, flirting, and sharing secrets. And, you can also avoid the risk that is inherent [to] real love and intimacy,” said Aimee.</p> <p><strong>2. You like your life the way it is, and don't really want a full-on relationship.</strong></p> <p>A former client, Trisha, jets around the globe for work, visiting the far reaches of Europe and Asia. On a visit to Barcelona, she began an inappropriate relationship with a married co-worker. When he refused to leave his wife, she crumbled. I asked why she chose to fall in love with someone who could never commit. After deep exploration, she expressed an uneasiness with society’s demands.</p> <p>“Many people rebel against the ‘traditional’ path of marriage and children. They may have a hard time admitting (even to themselves) that they want a life that runs counter to socialized norms. So, instead they pick a partner who will never threaten their freedom and independence. They may very well be unconscious of what they are doing. They believe they want to settle down and get married. But, after deep analysis, they become fully aware of who they are. Once they own themselves fully, they can craft a relationship with more space or less commitment—one that actually makes them happy,” said Aimee the relationship therapist.</p> <p><strong>3. You are replaying childhood trauma.</strong></p> <p>Emotionally unavailable partners are undeniably compelling. When their sun shines, the warmth is captivating. When their interest fades, the cold shadows feel lonely and dismal. They provide just enough attention to keep us interested. But, deep down, we know we’re foraging for crumbs.</p> <p>“Many children suffer from heartbreaking neglect. Their moms and/or dads may have been emotionally unavailable—preoccupied with work, romantic entanglements, addictions, or mental illness. Children internalize the neglect, believing that they deserved the bad treatment. These children grow up and pick partners who are similarly distant or critical, reaffirming a feeling of unworthiness,” said Aimee, the relationship therapist.</p> <p>Becoming conscious of how childhood affects your psychology requires introspection and hard work. You may grieve for the childhood you never experienced. The good news, however, is that once you recognize your patterns, you can take a strong stance to undo them. Soon, your real life can begin.</p> <p>Healthy and productive relationships are relatively easy. There's no need to spend inordinate amounts of time dissecting conversations, texts, and interactions to glean insight into another person’s intentions. If a relationship feels unsettling, it’s probably the wrong one. The good news is that you have the power to turn the ship around.</p> <p>Knowing and owning your own role in the interaction is the best way for you to take back your power and create relationships that truly meet your needs.</p> <p>Inspired by my relationship with Bruce, Aimee and I wrote <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://http/www.schooloflovenyc.com/products/come-here-go-away-how-to-identify-disengage-from-an-emotionally-unavailable-man-1" target="_blank">Come Here, Go Away: How to Identify &amp; Disengage from an Emotionally Unavailable Man</a></em></strong></span>.</p> <p>Have you been in an emotionally unavailable relationship and you successfully extricated yourself from it? Tell us about it in the comments.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2016/07/5-ways-to-detoxify-from-a-dysfunctional-relationship/"><strong><em> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">5 ways to detoxify from a dysfunctional relationship</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2016/07/the-signs-of-emotional-manipulation/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">How to tell if someone is trying to manipulate you</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/relationships/2016/07/top-tips-for-online-dating/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Top tips for online dating</span></strong></em></a></p>

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