My estranged sister and brother refuse to believe our dad was abusive to me

DEAR DEIDRE: I’M estranged from my brother and sister and choked with sadness and guilt every day.

I want to be there for them both, but that would mean seeing my horrible dad and his witch of a wife.

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I am a male aged 21 and the eldest. When I was seven and the others were five and two, our mum died and dad married again. He and his wife were physically and mentally abusive to me.

I was put into care and didn’t see any of them for nine years. Then my brother wanted to meet. It was wonderful seeing my siblings again.

But they were never ill-treated and refuse to believe dad was abusive to me. So how can we ever get close when they think I’m a liar?

I’ve suffered depression for years. I can’t risk getting hurt by my family again.

DEIDRE SAYS: I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. Please don’t feel guilty for how things are now as it isn’t your fault.

Get in touch with the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (napac.org.uk, 0808 801 0311).

And StandAlone supports people estranged from their family (standalone.org.uk).

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