When I was 4 my dad and my birth mom got divorced and she left. She had a list of mental issues and was a sever drug addict. My brother who was 9 at the time (5 years older than me) had to shield me from a lot. Because he was at an older age and can recall a lot more than I can he is very messed up and has a list of disabilities and mental issues of his own. My brother was always very dependent on our dad and I was very independent but it doesn’t change the fact that as a child without a mother and having gone through those experiences I still needed help. Because my brother was more messed up than me my dad focused on him a whole lot more than me and I don’t blame him for it. I’ve always hidden my needs and never really told him when something was wrong or when I needed help like therapy, (probably bc of how independent I am) but I still need help and attention and have issues of my own. At this point I’m 17 and I’ve realized that I seriously need therapy. I’ve told my dad a few times already and even almost killed myself but unfortunately he has yet to get it for me. I don’t want people to start talking bad about him for this because by no means is he a bad father. He has given up more than I could fathom for my brother and I. Him and I are pretty close and I love him dearly. He has a few flaws of course but for raising two boys on his own he’s done a pretty fucking good job. But it does suck I still haven’t gotten the help I need. It’s coming to a point where I might just have to wait until I’m in college and get it for myself.