I take medication for anxiety and sleep-do you? It REALLY helped me a lot. Is there any way you can make a plan to not have to be anywhere near him-ever again? Maybe that would make you feel a little less scared.

I just got on medication for it and its for insomnia ... And i'm working with my school counselor to hopefully be able to stay on campus

It's not your dreams that are most important (although they are most immediate), it's the prospect of seeing your abuser and of being re-attacked. Please please please think what you can do to prevent this happening. Can you go and stay with a friend or supportive relative? Get a summer job in another part of the country? Anything to get away.

In order to get away I have to work so i'm going to have to face him for some time

Does the rest of your family know what happened? Maybe if they knew they would help you out and arrange so you won't have to be around him. I finally had to step up to my parents and tell them I refused to be in the same room as my brother anymore. It took a few times talking to them before they got how serious I was, but now if he's at my house I just leave and once my parents see how angry I am they start to take me more seriously. It probably won't be easy but if you're really firm about it they should help you out.

They know and yet they still allow him to come and sleep over my house, they have this thing where they would rather pretend like everything is fine instead of facing the issue....

Unfortunately that's the problem in a lot of families, my parents did the exact same thing. So I just started leaving the house when he came over and I would spend the night at a friends house, maybe you could try doing that?

I have but he pops up at the weirdest hours and then my parents would get mad that i'm never home, or wont give me a ride

You have GOT to find the strength to get away from this dysfunctional situation-you can't be around this-it is really going to mess you up. Isn't there anywhere else you can go? You can't stay in an abusive situation. Please find a way to keep yourself safe.

Wow- your family knows and yet they still allow him to come and stay? I know you are young and still dependent on your family it seems but please try to find some place you can go. No ride maybe a bus? Call a friend?

It's inexcusable that you and what you have gone through is being swept under the rug. I am so sorry that you feel you are limited on what you can do. Maybe your counselor can help figure it out with you.

I agree that the nightmares and anxiety is amplified by this cousin coming home. It is bringing it all up and raises fear. Just awful all around.

Please take care.

Maybe if you try to convey just how difficult it is for you to be in the same house as him. Tell them that you can't sleep and you have bad dreams and you're worrying for your well-being. A lot of parents need a stern kick in the ass before they get it.