[Den]

Putting some stuff under a spoiler, 'cause it's both long, and quite possibly triggery for some folks.

For the past three holiday seasons, I've been stressed out to the point of panic attacks, because of the sibling. The 'rents and I, while our relationship is turbulent at best, do at least manage to make it through holidays with minimal drama. At worst, it's just every-day drama. But with the sibling, it goes from minor drama that I grumble about to stuff that is pretty much abuse and gaslighting. In 2013, I actually left the house in the middle of the night to get away from him, because I couldn't take being in the same house as him, and that caused a big fight, too.

What makes it worse is that the 'rents seem to become blind to the fact that the sibling is being an abusive jerk. cutting off someone from their support network, because you think they're in need of help... saying that they're just making up their anxiety and depression... invading their safe haven repeatedly, forcing them into socializing when they're not in the mood to socialize...

I try to avoid him because I know he and I will end up fighting, but he seeks me out to try and 'talk', which is his excuse to berate me and harass me about stuff.

When I get out of Red Oak, I'm making sure none of my legally-related family can find me.