Question by Yolanda Ngo: How can i convince my parents that i need therapy?
I am not depressed… I don’t think I am… But I just need to talk to someone about what’s going on with my life, before I actually become crazy. And I don’t have a school counselor because I go to an online high school. My brother has gotten even more childish and immature ever since he entered high school and now he’s picking fights with my parents 24/7, and things get broken and objects gets smashed, I really think that he is crazy or have some disorder, but my parents refuse to acknowledge that their precious son can be some monster. He even threatened to mess up my car in a way that would cause an accident when I’m driving, and he also threatened to kill my cat (I even recorded him saying it). I called one of those teen hot lines (which were useless) they told me to go to some family counseling (that would be quite difficult because my parents don’t speak English, and my brother would never agree to it). The only useful thing they said to me was that it was not my responsibility to handle the problem, I was also a child and I should be not the peace maker. And they were right, while all of my friends are having the time of their life, I have to scream at my brother to stop swearing at my parents (and they don’t do anything back to defend themselves they just let him scream at them, it’s so sickening I tell them to punish him, kick him out and see how good he has it here, but they are so scared he will run away forever). My mom tells me I am just as bad as him, but I know I am not, I would never threaten to take someone else life, or even dare talk to my own mother that way, she says that to make me think I am below him (because he was their first born child, and thus their favorite and they even told me that last year, it makes her feel better that their non- favorite child is just as bad). I know that some psycho paths were born and others are made, I honestly think that he was made, when he was a child (in elementary and kindergarten) He was so kind hearted, he play with his little race cars and he would kiss mom and dad goodnight. But to be honest he was ‘weak’. When other 9yr old boys were playing with Legos, he would be playing with me and my stuff animals. When other boys were looking at insects he would be taking care of my bunny, and making sure it didn’t starve to death. My brother was so innocent when he was in elementary, but he had horrible acne and he was never social with other boys his age, he would always befriend little kids, and still played with toys even in 5th grade. He began to turn into a monster when he entered middle school (the time when my classmates would get nose piercings at 11 years old, and losing their virginity at 13) He began to sag and wear oversized white Tee-shirts that reached his knees, and buy Nike shoes (back then shoes were just shoes, he never cared about the brand), just because the other boys were doing it. Then in 8th grade he became a ‘gangster’, and in 10th grade-11th grade he became those jerks and idiots who have ‘swag’ (those guys with khaki pants, colorful shoes, and an oversized cap that they call ‘snap-back’). I need some pointers on asking my parents for therapy, because they refuse to punish him and shell out thousands of dollars a year to pay for his fine (because he shoplifts), drug abuse, and destruction. I cannot force my parents to punish him, so I think that talking to a professional would help me cope with my situation, and let me carry on for just two more years until I go to college.    Read more...