How do I protect my brother better?
My throat closes up, I don't know whether it's nervousness, panic, or something else. Recently, I've tried to speak out to my mother about her behavior. She's violent, to her kids that is, she's not afraid to use excessive force such as chokes, kicks, slaps, and other sharp objects to us. I've tried speaking out to her earlier this night after she choked my brother (he's below 10) all because he wasn't able to pull his baby tooth out by himself and that going to the dentist was significantly more costly. I tried my best to shield him of course, majority of the situation was me consoling him while his gums and chunks of his lip were shredded.
After dinner I couldn't hold my tears and she forced me to sit down eating and crying. She jokingly asks why I was crying, "was it because you were scared of blood?" I really wanted to say it out loud but my throat was closed, like actually closed. I couldn't say anything because nothing would get forced out. I finally said to her why would she force him like that and she went ballistic. After a few back and forth (which was mostly just her), it closed up again. I just feel so weak and helpless when it happens. How do I stop my throat from closing up? It'll really help, I really need to gain confidence. I want to speak out to someone as well, but most adults I know likely would stick to my mom's side or shut me up.