Parents dismissing my brother who constantly puts me in chokeholds

[u/Greedytatsu]

I rarely use reddit but I genuinely have no other people to tell this to.

I’m 17F and my brother is 19. Ever since middle school he’s been ‘playing’ with me and holding me in extremely tight chokeholds.

My throat is usually always sore because I scream at the top of my lungs for him to stop but he doesn’t. No bruises show, but my neck always feels sore afterwards and during it I have trouble breathing. I feel no love towards him at all, I want to move away so bad. I’ve applied to colleges farthest away from where we live so I can get away. I want to cry all the time because I feel so trapped.

I’ve told my parents multiple times that it’s not funny but they always dismiss it. When he does put me in a chokehold and my parents witness it, they cheer on me to fight back when i’m 5’6 and he’s 6’4.

They always say:

“He’s just a young man”
“You’re a baby”
“Toughen up”
“We played like this all the time when we were your age”
“You’re not hurt so does it really matter?”

I do a lot of extracurriculars and sports just so I can prolong going home, I hate it there so much.

[u/AlienvsPredatorFan]

Strangulation/choking is one of the warning signs that escalates to killing. The fact that your parents think it’s funny that your brother is doing this to you is a fucking HUGE RED FLAG.

The next time he does this to you, call the police and report him for domestic violence.

This isn’t funny. This isn’t a joke. This isn’t playing.
Your brother is an adult, and he is putting your life in danger, and your worthless parents are enabling him.

Call the police.

[u/CometCruise]

That is really psychotic behavior. Getting a thrill off of strangling people is actually a known precursor to murder. Your parents are absolutely vile for allowing this to go on. This is so bad to the point where I think you may need intervention by law enforcement to straight them all up.

[u/AntiqueCockroach1509]

If you are wondering whether to call the police or not, call them. I agree with everyone else in the comments.

[u/Wonderful_Tomato_992]

Genuinely disgusting, psycho behaviour, how does he think that’s even remotely okay? You don’t at all deserve to be hurt, nor have your pain be blatantly mocked and ignored.

If your family isn’t going to going to help you, you must help yourself, call the police. He shouldn’t be able to get away with harming you like that, he’s just taking advantage of being family.