Alex's Answer

Hi there,

 

Thank you for reaching out to Ask Alex about how you are feeling.

 

You mentioned that you hate your dad. “Hate” is such a strong word, and it must have been really hard for you to say. It can be difficult to know what to do with these big feelings you have towards your dad, and we think it’s very brave of you to reach out and express how you feel.

 

We wonder how long you have had these feelings towards your dad. Have they been around for a long time, or have they grown stronger since an argument or disagreement? Sometimes we might say that we hate someone in the heat of the moment, and sometimes it might be a feeling that has been building for a while. It’s important to understand why you feel that you hate your dad.

 

Sometimes we might say that we hate our parents when they put rules in place that we don’t agree with, and we find it hard to express this. If you feel this might relate to your current feelings, you may find this article helpful to read: www.childline.ie/5-reasons-why-you-should-give-your-parents-a-break/

 

Another reason we might say we hate someone is if these feelings have been building for a while, perhaps because we don’t feel safe around them. You have the right to feel safe in your own home and around your family. It might help to talk to a trusted adult about this further if you are feeling unsafe around your dad. Speaking to another family member, teacher, or coach can help you access support to deal with this feeling.

 

If you don’t feel ready to talk to someone in your life just yet, or if you need to vent about your parents or home life, you can call Childline on 1800 66 66 66 or use the Live Chat on www.childline.ie. Childline is available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, for free, confidential, and non-judgmental chats about anything that’s going on in your life.

 

We hope this answer has been helpful, and thanks again for reaching out.

 

Take care,

Alex