
06/10/2025
I don't know who needs to hear this, but...
Sibling abuse is one of the most overlooked forms of family violence.
It often stems from dysfunctional family dynamics and can be perpetuated by the silence or enabling of other family members. This toxic family dynamic doesn't end after childhood. The abusive sibling may grow up with no sense of accountability or empathy.
It might look like verbal abuse through insults, demeaning comments, mockery, or belittling your choices. It might look like emotional abuse through gaslighting, manipulation, guilt-trips, conditional love, or invalidating your emotions. It might look like physical abuse, which includes threats. Or it might look like psychological abuse as they undermine your confidence, isolate you in your family dynamic, scapegoat you, and make you feel shame for all of it.
Abusive adult siblings often lack empathy. Even weaponizing your sensitivity against you, knowing it will inflict the most pain and cause the most damage.
The victims often grow up with complex trauma and have difficulty trusting others, fear of conflict, low self-worth, and feelings of shame.
LET'S BE CLEAR...
You are not overreacting.
You are not too sensitive.
You are not imagining it.
You are not obligated to keep toxic family ties at the expense of your own mental health. REPEAT THAT!