I have no idea where to start exactly with my little brother so I'll start with background on me. I was raped and abused by my older brother until I was 12. I don't know how old I was when it started. My worst fear is that I wasn't the only one abused. My little brother heard me screaming at one time, came to see if i was okay, and walked in on my older brother abusing me one of the last times I was abused. I've had a lingering suspicion that my little brother was abused for the past year or so after I went to talk to my little brother about what happened to gain closure for myself. I wanted to ask him if he remembered that day because I cant remember everything exactly. His reaction was strong and I looked into his eyes and I could see his fear. He froze in place and wouldn't talk about it with me. I had a suspicion that something happened then but I didn't want to push the issue if he wasn't ready to talk about it.

I guess I should start with my cousin coming to see me to ask for advice on my little brother because that's what's changed and what I need advice on. My cousin had just finished a vacation with my brother in Flordia and while they were there my cousin borrowed his phone to make a call. The phone was left on content that strongly suggested my little brother was gay. My cousin didnt say anything about it to my brother. When my cousin came home he arranged to do dinner with me so we could talk. He asked me if I thought my brother was gay which I said no. My cousin and little brother live together and my cousin started talking with me about how my little brother always seems to be sad. That my brother is always in bed and that he drinks bottles of alcohol in an evening and abuses substances. My cousin seems to think that my little brother is gay and ashamed of it but that he's worried because my little brothers attitude seems to getting more depressed as time goes on. My cousin asked me if I thought something had happened to my brother when he was younger which made me think of his reaction when I went to him to find closure.

My cousin called my mom to talk about it today. I talked to my mom and told her inthink he might have been abused my my older brother too. She told me that she came home one time and heard my older brother threatening to sexually abuse my brother. And my brother ran downstairs as fast as he could to be with my mom and that has stuck with her. She told me she found him posting to meet men on Craig's list before as well. My mom really wants to talk to both of my brothers about the abuse. I agree with her that my little brother is seriously depressed and it's time for us to say something constructive. I told her she needed to ask a psychologist for advice because I don't know what to do. I dont know where to start or even how to start this discussion with my little brother. When i told my parents what happened to me they didnt respond how i would have liked and instead i felt more alone. I want to make sure more than anything tht he doesnt feel ambushed or alone because I know how that feels. In light of what my mom said, I don't think my little brother is gay but maybe that it is his way of coping and trying to regain control over what happened.

Can anyone offer any advice or insight?