The Invisible World of Sibling Abuse

When Sibling Rivalry Turns Into Becomes Bullying, Assault and More

I grew up having a strained relationship with one of my siblings. The difficulties of that relationship manifested as name-calling, angry outbursts, attempts at getting violent, and emotional abuse. The behaviors my sibling portrayed were always watered down to something softer like “joking around” - but I didn’t find anything amusing about being bullied in my own home. The impact this relationship had on me created an anxious attachment and made it a struggle for me to make friends and feel safe around my peers. 

Many of us are used to hearing stories of complicated parent-child relationships, but the conversation around sibling conflict and abuse tends to be silent or lesser known. There is a community of people whose voices go unheard who have endured many forms of violence and harm at the hand of a sibling.