Hi there
Thank you for getting in touch to talk about your worries at home.
In your letter you said that life is becoming increasingly uncomfortable for you because your brother and sister are taking drugs and you are really worried about them. You have been quiet at home and this is causing arguments between you and your mum. You are dealing with a lot on your own and it has been going on for 2 years which is a long time to deal with by yourself. It sounds like you really care a lot about your brother and sister and have a good relationship, but this secret is making it very difficult for you. I’m wondering if you have ever talked to them about what it is like for you dealing with all of this?
You said this is affecting your school work and you have your GCSE’s coming up, it may help to tell someone in school about the pressure you are under at the moment. Is there someone you could speak to at school like a teacher, school counsellor or school nurse?
It can be difficult to talk to someone for the first time. It's important to recognise you are putting more pressure on yourself by not telling anyone else about what you are dealing with. Whilst talking to someone might be a challenge for you, it would give you the opportunity to get some help and support; maybe even help you find ways to talk to your family members in the future. You mentioned that your stepdad has brought you up, do you think that you would be able to talk to him about some of the things you are dealing with?
It's okay if you need some time to think about all of this and it's okay if you need to talk about this a bit more. You are more than welcome to talk to a ChildLine counsellor online or call free on 0800 1111. You can also check the ChildLine message boards, where you can share your experiences with other young people and find out what they think.
Take care,
Sam