The Protective Power of a Mother-Child Bond

From a developmental physiology perspective, the attachment between parent and child—particularly a child’s bond with the mother—plays a vital role in protecting life. British psychologist John Bowlby's research on attachment behavior and its impact on mental development has offered valuable insights. His observations and conclusions have drawn increasing attention from psychology and psychotherapy fields, and systemic constellation work has also affirmed the relevance and importance of his findings. Systemic constellation has not only highlighted how childhood attachment difficulties can shape emotional experiences but also revealed their effects on physical health. When children experience early separation from a primary caregiver (usually the mother, father, or another key figure), they go through emotional responses in phases: initially fear and panic, followed by anger and rage, and finally despair and detachment. Several events have been identified as triggers for attachment disturbances: • A lack of early bonding experiences due to a parent’s prolonged illness, the child’s placement in foster care or adoption, or temporary separation from the mother or father, resulting in an “interrupted connection.” • A parent’s limited capacity to give love, often due to their own traumatic experiences or unresolved family conflicts, leading to insecure attachment. Regardless of the underlying factors that disrupt the parent-child relationship, the result is often a deep, unfulfilled desire for closeness and a sense of protective boundaries. In group workshops, when the underlying dynamics are brought to light, individuals can often find resolution for these emotional divides. This healing of the soul’s inner conflict may bring about a sense of peace, which can extend to physical well-being.

Extracted from “Even if it Costs me my Life: Systemic Constellations and Serious Illness” by Stephan Hausner