Parents & Family / Question
Published: March 26, 2008

Dear TeenHealthFX,

my brother just moved back in and he's bipolar (in cuz and my opinion) lately he's been really violent and he wanted me off the tv so he could watch it. when i said no he twisted my arm and told me i was weak. i try not to fight him but when it comes to be physical i fight him, i recently broke my arm and he now trys to boss me around and he has been treating me like im a piece of trash. around my parents he an angel but around me and my cuz he's an a**hole. what should i do? signed: brother violent with me

Signed: Brother Is Violent With Me

Dear Brother Is Violent With Me,

 

TeenHealthFX is very concerned with how your brother is treating you, and we are definitely worried about your physical and emotional well-being in this situation. FX thinks that it is very important for you to talk to your parents immediately about this situation. Let them know that how he acts with them is not how he behaves around you, give them specifics of how he threatens, intimates and physically harms you, and be clear with them that you need them to intercede in this situation and protect you from his violent behaviors. It is your parents’ responsibility to provide you with a safe living environment, as well as their responsibility to take your brother for professional mental health treatment in the event that he does have a mood disorder, such as bipolar disorder, that has been left untreated.

 

If your parents do not respond to your concerns and requests for help here, keep telling adults until someone does intervene. You could also talk to a teacher, school counselor, your primary care physician, an extended family member, or anyone else who could intervene on your behalf (and on your brother’s behalf if he is not getting the help and treatment he needs). Your brother clearly needs help from a mental health professional so that he can learn to manage his anger, as well as to be treated for any mental health illnesses that may be present. And family therapy would be helpful for all of you so that a safer environment could be ensured for you, and so that you and your parents could all learn how to better cope with your brother’s behaviors and moods.

 

If you live in northern New Jersey and need help finding a therapist you can call the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 973-247-1400. Outside of this area you can log onto the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website for referrals in your area. You can also contact your insurance company to get a list of in-network mental health providers.

 

If you are in a crisis situation where you think your brother is going to hurt you or he has hurt you, you can contact 9-1-1, the Suicide & Crisis Hotline at 1-800-999-9999, 24 hours, 7 days a week, or the Youth Crisis Hotline at 1-800-448-4663, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Signed: TeenHealthFX

While 93% of teenage women report that their first intercourse was voluntary, one-quarter of these young women report that it was unwanted. ⁷