I was so emotionally closed off that I didn't even see that I was drifting away from my wife and kids. Growing up with an alcoholic and emotionally abusive father in a dysfunctional family setting left me with an emotional emptiness that lacked love and recognition. Combined with the harsh environment I grew up in I masked my fear and vulnerability with the toughness of my childhood masculine heroes to survive. In the years to come I grew into a driven and focused man working to build a successful career for myself to ensure I could leave my background behind me. In the process I emotionally closed down and masked my vulnerability to avoid getting hurt, while the relationships that I cared about became casualties of my coping mechanism. See how finally standing up to my father triggered my emptiness when my family allowed stigma to come between us when I needed them the most, mourning the loss of our child. My wife helped me grow aware of my unhealthy numbness, and I got the wake-up call I needed to start working on reconnecting with my emotions. Learn how a 10-week group course allowed me to practice vulnerability in a safe setting and how this helped me express it better at home. This journey, combined with therapy and educating myself on psychology, allowed me to reconnect with my wife and kids on a deeper level. I allowed trust into my life, and with it, life changed in a way that transformed my view of what a happy and fulfilling life is.