How do adults who grew up in abusive homes relate to their siblings?
Children who survive abusive homes often carry their childhood sibling relationships into adulthood, but those relationships are usually shaped less by genetics and more by how each child experienced the family system. The result can be deep loyalty, profound estrangement, or a mixture of both. Adult Survivors and Siblings Who Were Also Abused When siblings shared similar experiences of abuse, they sometimes become each other's closest allies. They are among the few people who truly understand what happened because they witnessed it firsthand. Adult survivors may find comfort in having someone who remembers the same events, understands the same fears, and can validate memories that others might question. These siblings often describe feeling as though they survived a war together. Yet a shared history does not always create closeness. Trauma affects people differently. One sibling may seek therapy, confront painful memories, and speak openly about the past. Another may prefer to ...