My sister really suffers from her skin color

[Anonymous]

I put this in the health category because I think it borders depression.

Anyways, our dad is black our mom white. My older sister nad twin bother look pretty much like what you would expect. bit lighter skin than my dad, but clearly African American. I stand out, becuase I'm white. A bit darker skin than my mom and black hair but more Caucasian than black.

My brother doesn't have any issues with it at all, but my sister does, because she got it into her head that black women are unattractive.

I don't know where it's coming from really, but she's certain no guy could ever find her attractive and she's destined to be alone. It has gotten so bad she doesn't even leave the house anymore. She tried to bleech her skin a few months ago, with something that gave her an allergic reaction, that she almost died off, since thenit got even worse, she just spends all her time in her dark room, eating chocolate. I don't know what to do really? How could I help?

That's one side of it, the other one is that she's so jealous of me for being white. In her eyes I'm much prettier than her and she feels life is treating her unfairly. Recently she even cut my hair in my sleep, so I would look more like her. It just makes it much harder to be there for her, I want to help and I'm not mad t her for doing that, but I aslo don't really want it happen again, I find it harder to trust her since then.

Sorry if this was really confusing, but the general question is, what can I do?

I looked online for support groups or something like that, but I couldn't find anything. Generally there isn't really that much advice for it online

[CrystalMinds]

I don't know if you can do much to be honest. It's in her head and stuff like that is hard to get out. What you could do is look for people with the same skin color as her in your neighbourhood or online and ask them if they can talk to her about it or write something about how they feel about their skincolor. Or maybe she could see someone professional about it? Because it seems really serious, trying to bleech her skin as well. I'm sorry I don't have such good ideas, but I really hope she gets that thought out of her head because being beautiful doesn't depend on someones skincolor.

[menina]

You should take her to a psychologist. She may be developing a depression. It's so sad to hear stories of girls who don't like themselves because of their skin color. Having light skin doesn't mean that a person is beautiful and dark skin doesn't make a person ugly.

She needs to stop having these derogatory thoughts.

[jmurk]

Your sister, just like many black or mixed with black people have been brainwashed to hate themselves and to believe that light skin is better. Self hating Blacks and Asians bleach their skin so they can look white or close to white and its a shame. It's a few people on GAG that acts just like your sister 2 mixed girls who also hate the black side of themselves.

[TedStar]

Damn this sucks. Sounds like she may have Body dysmorphic disorder link .The best you can do for her is just to be supportive and reassuring especially your parents. A professional could help with the psychotherapy

[Cottoncandydreams]

I'm really sick and tired, of all this self hate going on (especially in black people)

Not every light skin girl is pretty.

Not every darkskin girl is ugly.

Somehow your sister has been "brainwashed" by the media to think that just because she is of dark complexion = unattractive. She needs some mentoring, and a role model right now.

And..not to be mean, but has your father said anything offensive about black women at all. Parents are one of the biggest influences in a childs life. She might be thinking " Oh, my father is black and got with a white women, so he thinks his own race of women are ugly".

[yopyopyop]

It seems your sister has developped a strong neurosis. Your parents should find a psychologist for her.

Because it's really pure nonsense. Colour doesn't matter, what matters is how she feels inside.

[Asker]

I suggested therapy, but she doesn't want to and I can't make her. My boyfriend is a doctor and he said in hospital they can only do something if she harms herself or something.

I'm not sure I want to tell my parents. She had the same thing in high school, she was a bit chubby then and felt that was due to race and got bulimic. The absurd it sounds, but my dad blamed himself for it, for giving her those genes

[yopyopyop]

In my opinion, it looks more that she has a tendency to depression, and that she found a new reason to get into that. It would seem to be color-related, but first it was bulimia, now self-hate, and a lot of jealousy. I don't know how old she is, but if she's a minor, you have to explain this very well to your parents, and they must find her a therapist. If she keeps developing that, she might become suicidal.

[SaltandVinegar]

therapy sounds like a good idea