I'm 17, female, and I live in the United States in a small town. My parents divorced, and my father married a woman about 6 years ago. She treated me nicely while my dad was trying to get custody of me, because my real mother wasn't in a good shape to take care of me. She was an alcoholic and the divorce tore her up. My step-mom wanted me to come live with her and dad, mostly because it would make my father happier.

I've been living with my dad and my step mom for roughly 5 years now. I still never feel comfortable here. I absolutely avoid being home alone with my step-mother.

I will come home, and she won't say a word to me let alone look at me when I walk past. Her son, who is three weeks older than me, will come home and she will say "How was your day? How was practice? How's your girlfriend doing? Do you want me to make this for dinner?" Then, she'll look at me and she'll say, "You're welcome for making food tonight."

Last week, my grandfather, my mom's dad, was dying. I asked my stepmother if she would mind throwing my soccer uniform in the washer when they washed their clothes, so that I could go see my grandfather. She said sure, I said thank you. I got home from the hospital, balling my eyes out. She looked at me and she said, "You're welcome for washing and folding your uniform." To me, her voice said you don't deserve it. I couldn't even take it, I swallowed 14 migraine strength excedrines and went to soccer practice... Only my boyfriend talked me into puking them out.

This is only one instance. She is gifted in making me feel worthless or nonexistent. She judges me, and if she really needs to tell me something... she tells dad to tell me...

Plus, her son comes on to me. He tried to make me do sexual things... and when I tried to tell my dad and her... they called me a no-good liar.

What should I do?

Depending on your state law you can possinly move when you turn 18. Do your bedt to get aling with her the best you can, avoid dealing with her when you can. It is quite possible she tells your dad to tell you things because she feels uncomfortable approaching you. My boyfriend of 2 years, daughter is 15 and has no responsibilities. I can't even bring myself to tell her to do the dishes sometimes. What you need to do is ignore the tone and any attitude and just do what she asks. Do you ever spend any quality time going out doing girl things together? That might help some.

Five years is a long time to be miserable for all of you.

I think personally, without knowing more, that your step mother was very generous in wanting you to be in her home with your father. I think she was aware of the problems your mother had, and obviously your father was worried about you- at least at that time.

You said she did that to make him happier, but, he would have still been happy with a new wife and a new life too, without you.

So I take it that right from the get go, things have not been good, and aren't getting any better. It is possible that both you and your step mother share some responsibility for how things have turned out. Your dad is stuck in the middle, and if your attitude toward her is truthful at all, perhaps he felt he had to make a united stand.

I don't know. Maybe little things have all added up, for instance, had you said thank you for doing my uniform first, she would not have had to point out that she did it, and seemed ungrateful, which is why she mentioned it at all.

What exactly do you mean by "he tried to make me do sexual things". Can you explain what you mean? Did he ask you for sex? Show up in your bed one night? Was he angry, aggressive, secretive, sarcastic, overbearing, sneaky, threatening? Or was he seemingly kind, compassionate, caring, consoling, in such a way as to trick you into thinking he actually cared, and then he tried something sexual?

What exactly did you tell your father, and were the two of you talked to, or him, and what was learned or said about this statement. Has it happened before, or since, and have you considered calling the police? Have you confided in anyone outside your family- a friend, school counselor, etc.

What is the situation with your mother. Do you see her? Is she involved in your life at all? Do you miss her and want to move back with her? Is she still an active alcoholic?

Could It be that when you came in from seeing your grandfather bawling your eyes out as you said, that your step mother was afraid of how you would react if she said anything? Maybe you would have taken your grief out on her? Do you think you seem unpredictable to her?

To blame her for the overdose of Tylenol, instead of the terrible suffering you were experiencing because of your grandfather dying, was unfair. Maybe under different or better circumstances, your family could have all been there for you.

I get the impression that you are not the only one suffering in this household. I am sorry you have gone to extremes (suicide attempt) to ease your pain, but there are better ways.

Have you been in counseling, or would you consider counseling. Would you be willing to go with your father, and your step mother, and your step brother as well?

Do you see this as a family problem that could be helped, or do you see this as a lost cause with you being in the position of always being a victim, of all of them.