Mainstream publications, both print and TV, fail to expose the anguish alienated parents, kids, and grandparents endure during holidays.

If you’re like me, Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays are the most difficult holidays to endure.

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This past Friday, I sat down and wrote a list of alienated parents and grandparents I personally know. In earlier articles, I mentioned less than 50 people. The current number is 58, and most I’ve known for over 15 years. This tally also represents 128 kids affected by parental alienation.

During my youth, I always celebrated the true meaning of Christmas in celebration for our Savior’s birth. When Alexis was just three years old, I began to endure parental alienation. Sadly, the focus of Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other holidays was minimized by the excessive grief from being an alienated parent.

I believe alienated parents and grandparents understand the grief, while those not effected from PA are less likely to fully comprehend and understand.

Over the years I’ve carefully paid attention to the 58 parents who cope with PA and realize our risk factor for suicide attempts or suicide success increases between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Based on the 58 parents, and over the years, 12 have attempted suicide and 2 are or no longer with us. This just breaks my heart in so many ways. First, they gave into the despair and couldn’t live with the loss of their children to the machinations of the other parent. Second, the children no longer have a loving parent to guide them through life and celebrate the milestones.

In a few weeks, at the request of Renee’s parents, I will release a story about my dear friend Rene. The story is sure to help many while highlighting the sadness Renee endured from not only PA, but physical abuse.

As I reflect upon the methods I used to cope, without knowing it at that time, I personally compartmentalized the effects of parental alienation. A dear friend brought this to my attention after observing me for many years. I also used this method to cope during my youth after the suicide of my father. At some point, I will devote an article about coping with parental alienation.

The point of this article is to highlight what we, as alienated parents, endure year-round but especially during the holidays. Recognizing that the high-risk holidays are emotionally and mentally draining, we also note the notion of passing through another holiday, almost gasping in relief as the dreaded cheer of society has not overwhelmed us. Many of us hold less grief now that the holidays over. We can begin to come out of our grief as the “family and friends” celebrations are behind us for another year.

While OvercomeParentalAlienation.com was specially designed as a newsletter, I’m delighted to report the site is now ranking with various SEO keywords on the first page of Yahoo, Duck Duck Go, and other search engines. That this has happened with less that ten articles is simply amazing!

I’ve written all the articles from the heart, soul, and anguish of an alienated parent to help others endure and pass through this dark time.

Love is the greatest defender,

Darel L. Long

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