A twin without twins is a twin who has lost a sibling, even if the sibling died in utero. This can cause psychological difficulties later in life, and the bond between co-multiples is strong, even in the womb. Missing twin syndrome is a common cause of this. Twins without twins may feel compelled to live for two and experience feelings of loss or incompleteness. Support organizations exist to help them.
A twin without twins is a twin who has lost a brother. This term is also used to describe other co-multiples, such as a hat-trick that has lost a sibling. These people are a topic of interest to some psychologists because their experiences are quite unique; even if the sibling dies in utero, a twin without twins often experiences psychological difficulties later in life that appear to be related to the loss of the co-multiple.
In some cases, a twin without twins loses a sibling in utero, due to pregnancy complications. Even though twins never meet in life, their co-development in the womb seemingly leaves a strong mark, and many in this situation report feelings of loss or incompleteness later in life. A twin without twins may actually assume they have a sibling in the womb before this fact is revealed, suggesting that a very strong connection is forged between co-multiples, even at an early gestational age.
One of the most common causes for a co-multiple to die during pregnancy is a condition known as missing twin syndrome. Missing twins die and are reabsorbed into the body, sometimes before the mother realizes she is carrying twins. Estimates of the frequency of missing twin syndrome vary, but it can be common in up to six in one hundred pregnancies. The powerful bond between twins is unlike that between other siblings and endures even beyond the confines of the womb.
Since it is unusual for co-multiples to die at the same time, each twin runs the risk of becoming a twin without twins. These twins often experience immense psychological distress, especially if their siblings lived into adulthood, allowing the twins to develop an even stronger bond. They’ve reported a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from depression to fear of mirrors, and there are a number of support organizations to connect non-twins with people who understand what they’re going through.
Studies seem to suggest that a twin without twins can sometimes feel compelled to live for two. These twins may be pushed, for example, to excel personally and professionally, to compensate for the loss of a sibling’s contribution to the world. Others said they felt obligated to work hard to please their parents. A twin without twins may also develop feelings of incompleteness, loss, or confusion from the loss of their sibling, even though the two have lived relatively independent lives.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
