Sibling Rivalry Disorder
Brothers and sisters fighting is nothing new, but when the rivalry goes to extreme lengths and continues for a long time, it may be a sign of sibling rivalry disorder. Symptoms include fighting that continues for more than a month and intense jealousy between siblings. The causes of this disorder vary from person to person, but enough is known that treatment for sibling rivalry disorder is possible. In fact, there is now online therapy for this disorder available from therapists here at GoMentor.com. Before showing how you can get help with this problem that affects entire families, here are some other tidbits to keep in mind about sibling rivalry disorder.
Causes of Sibling Rivalry Disorder
Rivalry between siblings has been around forever, but when it gets out of control and is left untreated, it can become a serious problem. The causes of sibling rivalry disorder center around differences in gender and age. For example, older children may have more responsibilities in a household, which can cause resentment toward younger siblings. Also, it may come down to a battle of the sexes, with a brother or sister feeling the other is treated differently and is therefore hated. Whatever the exact causes of this disorder, if the symptoms begin to appear, it is crucial to seek treatment.
Symptoms of Sibling Rivalry Disorder
As mentioned, rivalry between siblings is a natural occurrence. That said, when things begin to get "out of control," it may be a sign of a larger issue with sibling rivalry disorder. Intense sibling rivalry is usually where it starts, with feelings rooted in extreme jealousy. The big indicator that there is a problem with this disorder is the rivalry beginning to affect the peace of the overall household. Once things begin to get out of control, it can be a quick fall to utter chaos. This is why watching for the symptoms of sibling rivalry disorder is important.