What To Do When You Feel Hatred Towards Your Siblings

In movies, books, and TV shows, siblings are portrayed as the ones sharing clothes, wearing matching clothes, and even standing up for the other in time of need, but is this relationship the same as in real life?

Some people are fortunate enough to have a loving relationship with their siblings and parents but some people aren’t as lucky.

In reality, having two or more siblings in a family means having two or more individuals with different personalities and attitudes. If you have a sibling, then there’s a good chance that you’ve struggled with competition, jealousy, and even intense arguments with them.

So, if you’re not on good terms with your siblings, you’re not alone. Sibling rivalry is common and over time, this sibling rivalry can turn into resentment and later, hatred.

So what can you do when you feel hatred towards your siblings? How to cope when you or your sibling are more enemies than friends?

What Does Hatred Toward Sibling Mean?

Sibling rivalry is the conflict between two or more kids of the same family. Sibling rivalry can be between blood-related siblings, adopted siblings, foster siblings, or step-siblings. Hatred towards a sibling can develop at any age and can escalate over time.

Sibling rivalry can be in the form of:

• Verbal bullying/abuse
• Physical bullying/abuse
• Name-calling
• Constantly competing with each other

Many siblings, later in life, may find it hard to get along with each other and may become estranged from each other. While healthy competition between siblings is common, any kind of unhealthy interaction, bullying, or abuse between siblings isn’t.

Why Siblings Hate Each Other?

When you live with someone 24/7, it’s easy to feel irritation and annoyance toward the other person. The same can happen with siblings.

If you’ve ever thought, “I hate my sister”, or “I hate my brother”, let me tell you, you’re not alone. Even the most even-tempered person can feel irritated by their sibling. (Trust me, I know).

But, have you ever wondered what can be the reason behind your hatred toward your sibling? Below are some of the reasons why siblings may develop negative feelings towards each other:

1. Parental Favor

If you feel that your parents favor your sibling over you, then it can cause resentment and increase the rivalry between you and your sibling.

2. Jealousy

Comparing you and your sibling by your parents is common but sometimes these feelings can foster feelings of jealousy, which can lead to resentment, and later, hatred.

3. Personality

As you and your sibling grow, you undergo personality changes, attitude changes, habits, etc which can cause you to feel adrift if you or your sibling disapproves of the others’ choice.

4. Stress

External stress or any major life changes in your or your sibling’s life can also cause resentment to increase. For example, getting a divorce, relationship issues, family conflicts, etc.

5. Bullying/Abuse

If your sibling has been abusing you or bullying you, then this can be another reason why you might feel hatred towards them.

6. Family Dynamics

Family dynamics also play a huge role in sibling rivalry. If your family dynamics lean more toward aggression, then you or your sibling is more likely to respond with aggression.

How To Cope With Hatred Feelings Towards Your Sibling?

Hate is a strong feeling that can not only bring emotions such as guilt and shame to the forefront but can also be emotionally draining. Here are some things you can do to cope with the feelings of hatred towards your sibling:

1. Know Your Parents’ Behavior

More often than not, sibling hatred develops because one sibling believes that the other is favored more. If you feel this way, then it’s time you take a step back and understand your parents’ behavior.

There’s a possibility that they might be unintentionally favoring your sibling and may not realize how they’re hurting your feelings. Take a step back and understand the reasons behind their behavior.

Are they closer to your sibling than you? Do they share common interests with your sibling?

2. Avoid Competing With Your Sibling

As I said before, healthy competition between siblings can help but when this kind of competition has been engrained from the beginning, it can be hard to avoid competition later in life too.

Avoid competition with your sibling when you can. If others say that your sister has a better-paying job than yours, it doesn’t mean you’re less than her. Instead, look at yourself as someone who loves the job they have, even if it doesn’t pay much.

3. Set Healthy Boundaries

Having boundaries whether it be a romantic relationship, parent-child relationship, or sibling relationship is important. Setting healthy boundaries can help you protect your mental and emotional health.

For example, if you feel some topics are off-limits, then you can ask your sibling to not bring it up in family gatherings.

4. Lean On Your Support System

Finding support from your support system can help you even if you’re not close to your sibling. Your support system can include your parents, children, colleagues, friends, spouse, or people you trust to offer comfort and support.

Your support system can help you understand your feelings and help you work through them. You can find support with a support group or through other means such as art, spirituality, music, books, etc.

5. Seek Therapy

If you’re constantly aggravated with your sibling and don’t know where the feelings of hate are coming from, then there’s a chance that you might be harboring some kind of irrational anger or that you are indirectly projecting your feelings onto them.

Therapy can help you with conflict resolution, can help you understand the source of your hatred, and how you can work through your issues with your sibling.

Book Your Appointment Here

When You Face Sibling Estrangement?

When you begin to drift apart from your sibling or begin to feel the hatred coming off of your sibling towards you, it can be more difficult and even more painful than any other heartbreak. No one can be fully prepared to feel the hatred towards them from their sibling. 

The signs of a toxic sibling relationship can include cruel comments towards you or being rude to your family (children, spouse, partner). You can save an estranged relationship with your sibling with these steps mentioned below.  

Severing a sibling relationship isn’t easy but when your sibling relationship turns toxic, the only way to keep your mental health from worsening is to severe the ties rather than try to fix the negative emotions and behaviors you can feel coming from your estranged sibling.

If your relationship with your sibling is difficult or turning toxic, these following tips may help you salvage the relationship: 

1. Be Compassionate

Anger can make people more prone to actions that are not thoroughly thought about. When someone does something out of anger, we assume that their actions are not thought out. In the case of your estranged sibling, try to remain compassionate towards them no matter how angry they are. Try to see things from their perspective, for once. 

2. Be Straightforward

Instead of just venting, be straightforward with your sibling. Explain what you want them to do and how you need them to act. For example, if you’re helping your parents move to a new house, tell them that you need their help in looking for potential properties. 

3. Slow Down The Communication

Instead of severing your ties with your sibling entirely, try to negotiate with them and slow down your communication. The occasional emails, texts, and calls should suffice to make sure your mental health doesn’t suffer further. 

Ending A Sibling Relationship Isn’t Easy…

Trust me, ending the relationship with your estranged brother or sister isn’t easy and the aftermath can leave you feeling hollow. In the end, the situation depends on your narrative. Do you want to be the one who has cut ties with your family, or do you need to cut the communication down to protect yourself from mental anguish? 

Family and friends are the strongest support system we can establish. So before you decide to cut ties with your estranged sibling, think twice. You can always seek solace in counseling and get advice on how to deal with the feelings of hatred from your end or your sibling’s end. 

Sibling estrangement means that there’s still hope for your relationship to be salvaged but cutting ties entirely means you’re giving up on the bond that has always been there since you opened your eyes in this world. 

No matter what, the decision lies in your hands and depends on the toxicity of your sibling relationship. Sometimes, cutting off ties can bring relief but other times, just cutting down communication with your estranged siblings can be enough.

Writer’s Thoughts

Sibling relationships are often complicated but they do not always lead to feelings of resentment or hatred. Hate is a strong emotion that can be emotionally draining and painful. If you feel hatred towards your sibling, then it is recommended that you seek help and guidance to understand the root cause of your feelings.

You can even find comfort and support from your support system. If you’d like, you can write to us at info@calmsage.com for guidance.

I hope this article helped you understand sibling rivalry, what causes hatred between siblings, and how you can cope with your feelings when your siblings don’t like you (or vice versa).

How is your relationship with your sibling? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Take Care!