I think it is one of those, if you don't live it you will never understand it situations, but:
My mother is seriously mentally ill, so is my aunt and two of my uncles, I have cousins who need my support as they aren't getting it from their parents and I have a little sister who only has me left of her biological family... I can't cut them off, I will never cut them off, I will just move as far away as humanly possible.
But really it mostly consists of talking on the phone with them* (mostly my mother) and trying to nudge them into getting whatever help they need, making sure none of them have drunk themselves to death (or taken an overdose), whom is in prison so I know they are relatively safe and who is arguing with who at any given moment so I know what I can and can't say.
*As the moving as far away as humanly possible has already begun and I am 6 hours away...
Re: Disowning your family
My mother is seriously mentally ill, so is my aunt and two of my uncles, I have cousins who need my support as they aren't getting it from their parents and I have a little sister who only has me left of her biological family... I can't cut them off, I will never cut them off, I will just move as far away as humanly possible.
But really it mostly consists of talking on the phone with them* (mostly my mother) and trying to nudge them into getting whatever help they need, making sure none of them have drunk themselves to death (or taken an overdose), whom is in prison so I know they are relatively safe and who is arguing with who at any given moment so I know what I can and can't say.
*As the moving as far away as humanly possible has already begun and I am 6 hours away...