Gransnet forums

Relationships

what is this behavior called does it have a name?

(4 Posts)
gigi1958 Wed 13-May-26 21:36:57

So I had cancer back in 2022 my sister who is considered the "saint" of the family got really weird about it. She took this very stern cold and almost hurtful attitude about it. To the point that I simply no longer discussed it with her. Yet her friend who had a much lesser form of cancer she said "oh I call Lisa every day to check on her" I'm like what???? How stupid of me I find out that a lot of my current GI issues are due to Eagles Syndrome and I will probably have surgery, and I told her and once again she did it again. She did it to her son who's wife had preeclampsia and was admitted back to hospital after she went home and could have easily died or had a stroke. When I asked her was she on her way down she said in that cold voice...no she had to work and she was going down in 2 weeks as previously planned. And her son had no one to help him manage a new infant alone and his wife in hospital. This has to have a name is it narcissism? She sent me one of her cold sort of apologetic emails and I never responded and I'm not trying to be passive aggressive but I also don't' want to say something to her I will regret. Normally we get along and have a great relationship but when stuff gets tough she gets really weird!

AuntieE Wed 13-May-26 22:10:08

I think you sister is just not able to cope with serious illness in the family and behaves like this because she is scared.

She can manage to discuss illness with those who do not mean so much to her, but not with those she loves.

Scribbles Wed 13-May-26 22:20:53

I was going to say exactly what AuntieE has said.
Your sister can only handle the stress and worry of serious and life-threatening illness among those closest to her by pretending it isn't happening and carrying on as normal. If it has a name, it's called being in denial.

cornergran Wed 13-May-26 22:29:17

Agree. Your sister is using denial. It’s a common protective mechanism, when in place it’s not there to be hurtful to others but to protect the individual from overwhelming feelings. Although I know it’s hard to be with gigi, it might help to think your sister has very strong reactions she can’t cope with, she’s not minimising what close family members are going through. Rather the opposite.