Eldest Daughter Syndrome: The Hilarious Trend Shining A Light On Emotional Labor
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By BERNADETTE ROE
This story contains discussions of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and personality disorders.
WARNING
Eldest daughter syndrome is trending on Twitter as many unite about their lost childhoods, excessive people-pleasing, and being forced to carry out responsibilities too young.
The trend humorously addresses particular expectations put upon eldest daughters burdened with caring for younger siblings and performing parental duties at an early age.
While discussing "eldest daughter syndrome" with humor can be a great place to start, it's not the same as genuine self-reflection if deeper issues are at play.
Dr. Gail Gross explains that eldest daughters can enter adulthood feeling sad and depressed, leading to post-traumatic stress and personality disorders.
"You can certainly talk about it in therapy," psychotherapist Sally Baker says, "You can unlearn the patterns and […] impose really firm boundaries."
Not every eldest daughter will have this syndrome, but a space online to speak about the experience and its consequences can lightly introduce some deep self-reflection.