How do you cope with abuse and favouritism?

My mum shows extreme favouritism towards my two brothers. I am the youngest in the family and the only girl, my dad isn't around so it's only my mum. For as long as I can remember my mum has always shown clear favouritism towards my brothers. She will always praise them, always tell them she loves them and I never recieve any sort of affection from my mum. My brothers catch onto this and give me a lot of abuse. Mainly verbal and emotional abuse, Everything I say I'm wrong even when it's an opinion it's wrong. Their always calling me names, telling me I'm fat and ugly and always telling me to kill myself. Whenever I try and stand up for myself they will hit me, slap me, pin me agaisnt walls and scream in my face. My mum however sees this abuse and never says anything. When they are shouting at me I'll tell her I don't like it and she'll tell me that I'm not fun. That I'm taking everything to heart, as you can imagine this is taking a huge toll on me. I'm suffering from insomnia because at night is the only time I think. I end up thinking that much that I can't sleep. I know I have depression and even suicidal thoughts. I've told my mum about my suicidal feeling and I was told I was stupid. So talking to her isn't an option.

Hello Moonwalker-x,

I had a similar family set up--two older brothers, a mom who thought they were the be all and end all to "WONDERFUL"--yet, I was "just a female".

Sounds terrible, the way you are treated. I cannot say that my family was that overtly abusive; it was more psychological. I just KNEW I was ugly, I was stupid, I was of no value. The people I loved the most said so!

How I coped: I became very introverted, I read every book I could get my hands on, and lived in and through those. I'd watch other families--families who treated their female children like real people; I learned that what my family was doing to me was not acceptable. I got into therapy, I learned more about "WHY my mother was like that"--- I learned a great deal about myself, my REAL WORTH...

And here I am!

Isn't there a school counselor, or a good family friend you can go to to help you? This ought to be reported. There is physical abuse here also...it must be so hard on you!

I am so saddened to know you are suffering through this. Families can be so cruel--hurts the most if you love them too, as I did, and do now that I have learned to forgive them. (NO they are not a part of my life today!)

I hope things get better for you soon,
just a girl once ---Deyzanne