What steps do I need to take in order to reconnect with my younger siblings?

My dad runs a company. He isn't good at business and not good at managing money. He doesn't make enough to afford his bills, and has for a long time been spending all of his money on keeping his office open, instead of taking care of his apartment bills.

My younger siblings are in their 20s but are completely dependent on him. They don't really pay bills and the only way they make money is through helping my dad with the business.

I want to get closer to them so they can feel comfortable opening up about their feelings on things like this, but we were all toxic to each other. Even up until I moved out last year. We would all bully each other. But it was worst for the youngest, my little brother. It was almost all of us against him. He would avoid us even though my older brother, my younger sister and I would still all go for walks around town until recently. It stopped after my older brother moved out a few years ago.

My coping mechanism for the toxicity at home was to just be numb and passive. If I did what I was told I could avoid conflict. So I'm not super close to my siblings. My older brother and I are getting closer since he's been texting me career advice. But I don't know how to approach my younger siblings.

I understand it will take time but I'm not really sure where to start. I'm not sure if a giant apology should be the first thing I text them. I'm afraid it will come off as me trying to suddenly act like a big brother now. Is it better to just slowly get closer, and apologize after we have a more solid connection? Or should I lead with an apology? I just want to be close enough instead of getting anxious. And then go be there for support, since I know how hard it is to grow up in our household where there was no support.
Asked by Coco
Answered
10/11/2022
Hi Coco,
Thank you for reaching out and asking this question. You have taken a step in the right direction by asking a mental health professional’s advice on how to deal with this sensitive situation. You mentioned that you are going to start therapy soon which is a great idea as I can see from your question that there are possibly many unresolved issues from your childhood that need to be addressed.
In therapy you will have the chance to revisit all of your close relationships and reflect on your past to see where some of these issues are stemming from. Apparently, your father has contributed to the toxic environment; however, I would wait to discuss this with your therapist and work on the deep rooted problems as you take on this journey.
In the meantime, the best approach to connect with your siblings would be to start communication with them. It would be best not to discuss anything negative with them. Give each of your relationships a deep thought and see where you can help them. Are there any needs that you can fulfill for them? For some, only listening to them as they vent about their life would be something you can do, and this may give you a chance to learn more about them on a deeper level. As you use this approach, be mindful about your own feelings. It is important to keep your own self away from the situation as you don't want to get all caught up with your own struggles. Remind yourself that your own struggles can be taken care of during the therapy process.
Once you have established a good relationship with your siblings where they know that you can be relied on then you can approach them with more sensitive topics such as the relationship all of you have with your father. You can also direct them to therapy since some of their issues may also need to be dealt with by a mental health professional. I suggest that you meditate daily as this would help you stay calm and help in clearing your own thoughts. I wish you the best in therapy and in your relationships. Stay positive and know that you you are capable of handling situations more than you think you are.
Best,
Dr. Saima