My brother's friend has been calling me a lot recently. Four weeks ago my brother (mentally ill, alcoholic & drug user) was found on the floor of his apartment - laying in his own urine. He was unable to stand up.

Let me back up just a little. My brother is 69 years old and has been an A/using since he was a teenager. Due to many of his alcoholic black-outs and seizures, my brother's body is broken, bent and twisted. Up until recently, he was able to move slowly. Now he can't stand up anymore.

The person who found my brother called an ambulance. My brother was taken to a hospital. After the hospital cleaned my brother, they were able to run tests. They found that she is suffering demetia and other problems caused from the long-term effects of alcohol & drug abuse.

My brother was in the hospital for two weeks. Now he is in a nursing home. He is mad as h&ll to be at the nursing home - and is violent and yells at the staff. They have had to sedate him to care for him. (The doctor's diagnosis states that he won't be able to go home - so I've told my brother's friend that I would help clean out my brother's apartment this weekend.)

Meanwhile - my sister (who is mentally ill), waited 4 months before telling me that my aunt died and that my mother was taken off of hospice. I sent her an email to let her know how hurt/angry I was for her waiting to give me this news. She yelled at me because I stood up for myself.

My mother (also mentally ill and in a nursing home) has dementia. She, like my brother, is very mean, hateful, and violent with the staff of the nursing home.

Where's my father (NOT mentally ill & NOT an A) in all this? Dead. He died in 1977 from cancer. He had hoped that since I was the only one in the family that wasn't mentally ill that I would be able to care for my family (meaning: stop them from using).

Fact is: I have no control over the adults in my life (As, drug users or mentally ill - and able to live on their own). Over the years I have  held on to the role of victim because I was the person that they could abuse. I am the youngest. I'm not mentally ill - so I am not able to understand them, etc., etc.  

NO MORE. I have released my brother and sister with love. I am standing up for myself. I am setting boundaries. I love them, but I will not be abused by them!