Too drunk to care

Dear Suzie,

It's taken me seven years to talk about this. When I lived at home I was raped by my brother. It went to court, but he has the brain of a nine year old so wasn't responsible for what he did. It only happened because my dad was at work and my mum was too drunk to care properly.

Whenever I hear about abuse it brings up all the old feelings. I've started gettting into crime and can't settle anywhere. I really want to sort my life out.

Heather, 16, Liverpool

Suzie's answer:

You're bottling up the anger you feel about what happened and turning it on yourself.  However painful it seems, really looking at - and talking about - the abuse and how you felt about the family members who didn't protect you is the best way to get over this. Tell your social worker you need counselling to address your abuse, and make use of it.  

Trust me - it's not pleasant going over such painful emotions but in the end it works.