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I feel embarrassed

Siblings tell us that they feel embarrassed when people stare at their brothers and sisters because of how they look or behave. Embarrassment can be a really uncomfortable feeling. People can stare when they see something or someone different.

Things you can do if you feel embarrassed

1

Get cards to hand to people to explain your brother or sister’s disability. Many siblings find this helpful if their brother or sister has autism.

2

Ignore the staring and instead think of all the nice things that are happening – like the people who look friendly, the things you like in the shops, the nice food you are eating.

3

Talk to your parent about how you feel when people stare.

I asked my friend to come with me when my family went to the park. It really helped having someone to talk to and distract me.

More about feelings

It is normal for siblings to feel a whole mixture of feelings and to find some of them hard to deal with.

Sibling info about disability

Many siblings find it hard to understand disability. Find out about different disabilities and conditions here.

Ask our sibling advisor

Need some information or advice? You can ask our sibling advisor any question about sibling issues.