What happen to me is not really unbearable under normal circumstances but coming from dysfunction in most areas of my life it was what most would call unbelievable.

I’ll begin at the age of 8 because before then most was just blocked out of my memories — why I really don’t have a clue but it was. When I was 8 I remember a very angry dad who rarely smiled or was happy unless he was intoxicated. I had two stepbrothers who hated each other and fought all the time so there was hostility around everywhere. I remember one day the oldest stepbrother cam home from working all day and went into his bedroom to listen to his records and found that they were missing. Well, he knew who took them and knew where he could find him so he marched out of the house to confront his brother. He found him at the neighbors’ house. Yelling and screaming ensued and last thing I remember before an ambulance was called was one brother being cracked over the head with a beer bottle…. this act required many stitches.

Upon release from the hospital the injured brother sought out his attacker. But this brother was on the run and eventually ended up in another state with his grandparents to avoid his revenge. Things must not have been better there because Billy later committed suicide.

This was only the beginning of the dysfunction in a dysfunctional family that has carried on for many years from one generation to another.

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 25 May 2006
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.