My sibling is the black sheep in the family. How can I help them?

Try to understand him/her first by becoming his/her best friend. You will have to treat him as an individual and put yourself in his/her shoes only after which you would be able to understand his/her thought process and would be able to help effectively.

Every family has a black sheep so to speak, but its important that you treat them as an equal family member. There is nothing worse then feeling like an outcast in your own family. Love them and support through thick and thin!

I would suggest you support them and be their friend to the best of your ability. Let them know that you have their back and you're on their side.

You can try to make them feel better by showing more affection and appreciation. You should also consider why your sibling is the black sheep. Is it because he/she has bad behaviors? Does he/she behave disrespectfully towards others? If so, you might want to bring those issues into light and talk about them. Targeting the root cause of a problem is always the best way to approach it.

First of all, you should never call a sibling the black sheep. No one is perfect. That is a fact. However, these imperfections make use beautiful. Many people like to mistake being different or unique as something unacceptable or embarrassing. But , you got to think about it from a different point of view. If it's really bothering you, you should try to at least understand why he or she acts in that way. Do not assume things. It'll just make it worse. As a sibling, you should give them a chance to explain themselves. That's all i got to say.. Cheers!

Yes, he may be the black sheep on the family but, on top of that, he's your sibling. Being the black sheep it isn't easy, and it can mess up with your head that's why he needs you, not to change but to except the way he is.

You've observed that your sibling is singled out in the family. They may be feeling isolated, alone, unheard, unwanted, scapegoated, blamed, guilty, afraid, angry, and other feelings. You seem to have some compassion for this sibling. You can handle this situation however you are most comfortable, however you may want to consider letting this sibling know that you are truly in their corner, that they are not alone. Consider different specific ways you'd be willing to show that you support this person, and tell them those things, such as, offering to be available for late-night chats, hugs, or standing up for this person under certain circumstances, or introducing them to people you may know who they might be friends with, &c. Ask this person, 'What else can I do to help you?' acknowledge that nothing you do will be a 'quick fix,' but that you're available to them if they think of anything, and that they're not alone. You're good intentions are amazing, but unless this person knows about them and finds the self-esteem to accept your love, they are just intentions. I truly hope you find a way to express your compassion to your sibling and that it brings you both closer together! Good luck!

As a black sheep myself I can tell you that love and acceptance is the best remedy. You can help your sibling by trying to be close to him/her, help him/her understand that there is nothing wrong with who he/she is and that your acceptance is unconditional.

First of all, I think it's wonderful that you want to help your sibling. Could you clarify how your sibling is considered the 'black sheep' of the family?

I can really hear you feel an injustice is being served with how your sibling is being mistreated by your family and that you curious to be a source of emotional support for them. Try your best to be there for them! Being considered or seen as the black sheep can leave one feeling ostracized and lonely. Those who have experienced this feeling of being ignored want know there is someone there to be with them on their journey of ups and downs. Even just one person supporting your sibling would mean a lot more than being completely ignored. If you were in your sibling's situation do reflect on how you would want to be supported. Ask yourself how the interactions between yourself and family member's vary compared to the interactions between your sibling and family member's. Changing the family dynamic is hard. It's not an easy task! But, know that it does not always take many people for someone to change their mindset. Consider your sibling's personality. You can ask your sibling what they think of communicating with their family member about feeling left out or if they would like you to communicate on their behalf. As long as you are in their corner, they know that at least someone is looking at their experience in a validating, accepting and compassionate way. This help's normalize their situation and not make them feel guilty or bad about what they feel. The power of just listening and being there is amazing. You learn things about the individual which was not obvious to you beforehand and have a chance to clear misunderstandings if any. It's understandable when you’re in a position where you feel bad for someone yet want to help them but don't know how to go by it. You can ask yourself: Will I make it better by intervening? Will I make it worse by intervening? When something is indirectly affecting you it can be particularly difficult to navigate what can be done. You are welcome to communicate with one of our listeners or online therapists on our site who have experienced family stress or specialize in family stress.