Choreographer's Childhood Trauma: Parents' Split Shaped Him

Choreographer Zaid Darbar has opened up about the significant impact of his parents' separation on his childhood. Divorced when Zaid was 10, his parents' subsequent remarriages created emotional turbulence, leading him to live independently from the age of 12. This early life experience taught him the necessity of hard work and financial self-sufficiency from a young age.

Psychologist Rasshi Gurnani explains that early parental separation can affect a child's attachment security, potentially leading to anxious or avoidant styles in adulthood. The chronic stress of such formative years may also result in heightened emotional reactivity and difficulties with intimacy. Remarriage can further complicate a child's sense of identity and belonging, with potential long-term effects including hyper-independence or unresolved grief.

Parentification, where a child assumes adult responsibilities, can foster resilience but often at the cost of unmet emotional needs. Similarly, early exposure to financial stress can instill a survival mindset, linking financial security with emotional safety. This can manifest as workaholism or anxiety around failure in adulthood, emphasizing the importance of balancing financial identity with emotional validation.