so my brother is sort of my caregiver you could say. we both work and live together and pull our own weight but he is very understanding of my limits and mental instability. I’m also selective mute and 99% of the time am not speaking, so he has to deal with that. he has always had to help me when I get too disconnected with reality or too scared to go outside or horribly depressed. we both had rough childhoods — who’s comforting him about it? he says he doesn’t mind taking care of me because he loves me, but it still bothers me to see him so tired / burnt out from work and having to ground me back down from having a a paranoid episode. or deal with me screaming and throwing things from a night terror at 4 AM. it’s like I’ve made him a parent in a way, because he’s always checking in on me throughout the day and being patient — which don’t get me wrong, I deeply appreciate and love my brother and will always be thankful for his help and support and kindness. I just feel bad for needing it :(