That tore things for me, when Sam tried to strangle Dean. I was all for feeling sorry for him, when he was begging Dean to trust him. To let him lead. Dean said no. My heart broke. But then, when confronted by a junkie strung out, and begging for trust, do you give him/her that trust. NO! So I accepted it as tough love.

Still, it broke my heart.

I don't think Dean so much called Sam a monster. Gotta listen to the context of what Sam said before that. It's what you do, what he's DOING that is defining him as a monster, not what he is.

I had conversations with my friends about Sam's attempt to strangle Dean. I too believed that Sam had briefly lost control and wanted to kill Dean.

One of my Sam-girl friends said that it was Sam's way of showing Dean how weak Dean was, proving his point, proving another point too that he could pull back when he needed to.

I argue no. Kripke and the writers are never that subtle, IF that were what was intended, Sam would've leaned down and whispered something to the effect, 'See Dean, I am stronger. You are weaker. I could have killed you but I didn't 'coz I chose not to.' or something like that.

Anyway. No excuse for what Sam did. Not in my book. You can't sit there hoping to repair the relationship one moment then try and kill your brother the next. That's the mind of a man seriously twisted and out of control