How Do I Help My Brother?

LegacyUser

Hi all,

To get straight to the point, my brother who is in his late teens is putting a tremendous amount of stress on me and my household.

He has quit school, he heads out on for example a Monday, and will not text or call, have his phone off and come back on a Thursday. He drinks with all of the money he gets from a one-shift part-time job. He is starting to use those legal highs from the head shops.

My mother and father have recently split-up, and my father is having a very very tough time at work. There is a lot of stress on me at the minute, what with having broken up with my girlfriend who I loved dearly, college exams, my mother and father, and my brother.

How do I get it across to my brother that he is causing so much stress?

Taltos

I don't think your brother cares - or to be more precise - this might be his way of showing his control during a very difficult time.

All you can do really is encourage him to talk - either to you or someone else - maybe even a professional.

However - if his behaviour continues and deteriorates - then maybe it is time for tough love - ie if he is old enough to quit school then he is old enough to get a job & his own place... You cannot just jump out of the structured adolescent world and expect everything else to continue along in a fashion to spoil you...

But this is something your parents must address. All you can do as a sibling is to tell him to cop on but also to encourage him to talk...