Relationship and family issues

Anything to do with managing relationships and family, including parenting, separation, loneliness, divorce, family and friendships.

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

Pinned discussions

BeyondBlue Hey there - read this to see what this section is all about
  • replies: 0

Hello and welcome This is the Relationships and Family section where members can talk about what is happening in their lives and the people they live with. We know that who we live with can make a big impact on our wellbeing, both in a good way or a ... View more

Hello and welcome This is the Relationships and Family section where members can talk about what is happening in their lives and the people they live with. We know that who we live with can make a big impact on our wellbeing, both in a good way or a negative way. As always, we want to hear your story and how it impacts you and encourage everyone to support each other with kindness. There are a few things to consider when posting in this section so we can all get the most out of it: Everyone’s situation is unique. We all do our best to share what is important in our story but we can never share it all. Let’s be mindful we can’t know all of everyone’s story. Anonymous but public. These posts are available to everyone and while the moderation team keeps the Forums anonymous, posts are still online for everyone to read. Have a think about what you want to share to get the best support for you. Please stay safe. This space is an amazing way to seek support from others who might understand what you are going through. We want to hear how you are going and what is happening for you. Please also consider 1800RESPECT if you don’t feel safe or 000 if you are in danger right now. You deserve to be safe. Thank you again for joining this conversation, your contributions are worthy and important to us here. Beyond Blue

All discussions

Meme I've left it too late to grieve
  • replies: 3

A few years ago I lost every one close to me, not all at once but within a few months period. Tragic accidents, undiagnosed illnesses, suicide and so forth, I couldn't grieve for any of them because at the time I had a child in hospital a house full ... View more

A few years ago I lost every one close to me, not all at once but within a few months period. Tragic accidents, undiagnosed illnesses, suicide and so forth, I couldn't grieve for any of them because at the time I had a child in hospital a house full of distant family members taking advantage of me and a job. My problem is I have all this greif left, so heavy on my chest that I feel I suppressed so long that I can't deal with it. Like as if the time to deal with it has passed and now the weight of it is permanent. I just really miss the person I was before all of this. I want to feel happiness again take enjoyment in things I use to. I know I've pushed away the living.

Guest_16760328 Relationships
  • replies: 2

I have been with my partner for 30+ years. She told things about her past when we first met and up until this day it still plays on my mind. Some.days I can handle it other days I can't. She was rather promiscuous and even slept with her best friends... View more

I have been with my partner for 30+ years. She told things about her past when we first met and up until this day it still plays on my mind. Some.days I can handle it other days I can't. She was rather promiscuous and even slept with her best friends boyfriend while her friend was asleep in the other romm. If they wasn't bad enough she told me it was the best sex she'd ever had. On top of that she never told her friend and even wanted me to be friends with the guy she slept with. This issue still causes me pain and causes issues in our relationship

Guest_18620376 I think my husband is gay
  • replies: 2

Hi, my husband and I have been in an occasional open marriage since forever. It has never been an issue until I saw him on adult sites as "Bisexual". He is on a lot of male oriented sites also. A lot. I have asked him about it as we talk openly and h... View more

Hi, my husband and I have been in an occasional open marriage since forever. It has never been an issue until I saw him on adult sites as "Bisexual". He is on a lot of male oriented sites also. A lot. I have asked him about it as we talk openly and he said he has just been experimenting. This is ok with me but I just feel as though I am missing something. Especially since I know he watches so much male on male porn. Please don't think I am being judgemental but I am unsure how to handle it and it is making me feel suspicious and anxious. Also if he is gay, then I want to support him 100%. Any advice from others that have experienced similar situations would be so appreciated. Have a great day.

Coco25 Moving on from an abortion
  • replies: 7

I recently had a medical abortion. Baby was 7 weeks. It was unplanned and I am 9 months post partum with a baby girl that took 3 years of infertility to get to. When my baby was born, it was the miracle my husband and I had been dreaming of. I am a s... View more

I recently had a medical abortion. Baby was 7 weeks. It was unplanned and I am 9 months post partum with a baby girl that took 3 years of infertility to get to. When my baby was born, it was the miracle my husband and I had been dreaming of. I am a stepmother to his children, 13 and 11 (boy, girl) and prior to me finding out we were pregnant, my life was complete, my cup was full and I was just so grateful to have my baby. I rushed through the abortion process knowing that prior to 9 weeks, a medical abortion was the quickest and most effective process. I didn’t consult my friends or family, my husband and I at the time said life is too expensive to add a forth child and I talked myself out of wanting a second child that I so deeply had been wishing and hoping for. I am filled with regret now. My husband didn’t pressure me to have the abortion, we decided that now isn’t the time to bring another child into the world and I told myself I wouldn’t be able to do all the things I was excited to do by with current baby because I would be strapped with a newborn. I am 44 years old, my husband doesn’t want anymore kids (he told me that after our baby was born) but this miracle baby came at a surprise and if I was happy to go through with it - he would be too. I gave myself 5 days to decide whether to go ahead with the abortion, my decision was rushed. I am now trying hard to get back to being grateful that I have my miracle baby when I so deeply feel I blew the opportunity I had been praying for to have a second child.

TryingMyBestAA I had been dating a guy for a year, and he recently ended things.
  • replies: 5

Hi there,This is my first forum post, and one I never imagined making. I (23F) was recently broken up with by an amazing guy (22M). We had been dating for a little over a year - we celebrated our one-year anniversary in November. We were taking thing... View more

Hi there,This is my first forum post, and one I never imagined making. I (23F) was recently broken up with by an amazing guy (22M). We had been dating for a little over a year - we celebrated our one-year anniversary in November. We were taking things slowly because it was my first relationship, and he had only dated briefly before meeting me.I was completely comfortable with the slow pace as we got to know each other before becoming exclusive. I never expected a major commitment from him because we are still young. I did ask him what certain milestones meant to him, but ultimately what mattered most to me was that we were moving toward a future together, whatever the timeline. I wasn’t in any hurry.I truly believed everything was going well. There were no signs that he was considering ending things. I met his parents a couple of weeks before the break-up, and every date felt special. He told me he liked and admired me very much - and I felt the same. We loved spending time together.On Saturday, he messaged me to arrange a lunch date. I was excited, because we usually had weekly dates and nightly check-ins. Nothing seemed off, except that he didn’t spend the night, but he had other plans and I understood.On Sunday morning, I got all dressed up for our date, not knowing what was coming. He messaged asking if he could come over earlier. I was happy to see him sooner. I was in the bathroom when he arrived and left the door unlocked. He asked if anyone else was home, and I told him no.When I came out, I found him sobbing. I sat him down and asked what was wrong. He struggled to speak, but finally said that he needed to end things. He told me he had been crying for days and felt he couldn’t commit - that I knew what I wanted, and he couldn’t give me what I deserved. I didn’t agree, because what we had was exactly what I wanted. He said I needed someone who would commit and take care of me - but he already did that, and I wasn’t asking for more. He also said he did not want to lead me on which made no sense to me. At one point he paused to think and walk for a bit, and I hoped he might change his mind. He asked me to hold off on calling my friends, but I tried calling one anyway and she didn’t pick up. He must have seen me, because when he came back he said we needed to end it now and not prolong things.Everything had felt perfect earlier that week, which is why I’m so confused. I reached out once afterward, but he didn’t respond, so I haven’t sent anything else. It’s been a few days now, and he still follows me on Instagram and LinkedIn.During the breakup, I pleaded with him to stay and listen to what I wanted for us. I told him I would wait for him, but he said I shouldn’t, because he isn’t sure he’d be ready to commit even in 5–10 years. I’m afraid that I somehow caused this. He has always been such a rational, thoughtful person, so this felt completely out of character.Should I blame myself? How long should I wait for a response - I really want clarity. And how do I deal with this heartbreak over Christmas, especially since this is my first heartbreak? I truly believed I loved this man, and he is a genuinely good person, so I don’t fault him for anything.Sorry for the long post. Has anyone in this irrational and emotional state ever reached out afterwards for clarity, or even to possibly make up?

LostSoul Am I Selfish?
  • replies: 2

About six months ago I had an issue with my stepdaughter and felt that she was being disrespectful towards me at a time when I needed her support and here we are... I feel the same way again!. But, With outside influences, I feel as though I'm being ... View more

About six months ago I had an issue with my stepdaughter and felt that she was being disrespectful towards me at a time when I needed her support and here we are... I feel the same way again!. But, With outside influences, I feel as though I'm being told, im being selfish and disrespectful towards her. My stepdaughter has been a major part of my life for the last 11 years. She has become my best friend. Things started to change a little when her partner proposed about 12 months ago, they started getting a bit more involved with his family. She recently acquired her licence and was so thrilled to tell me that she was able to pick me up from work when I needed and about all the things we could do together but that very quickly faded when the mother in law started asking her to pick up her kids, baby sit her kids, take her second eldest to and from work when needed, that now I hardly see her and the couple of times I've actually needed her help I just get told "cant someone else do it, as im too busy chauffeuring everyone else around and looking after kids". She so desperately wants kids that I feel as though this women is just using her and using her kids to get to her.Maybe I'm the selfish one??

Bushy Blinded by my own stupidity
  • replies: 2

My partner and I of 7 years have recently split up. We have 2 beautiful kids and alot of happy times. We were stuck in a vicious cycle that I was to silly to realise after 2 years of her attempting to connect with me and fix the issues. After having ... View more

My partner and I of 7 years have recently split up. We have 2 beautiful kids and alot of happy times. We were stuck in a vicious cycle that I was to silly to realise after 2 years of her attempting to connect with me and fix the issues. After having chance after chance I would fall into my old ways and repeat the cycle. I feel ashamed to admit it but ive been unintentionally shrugging her off, not making time for her and not being able to show my emotion. After she called it quits ive had alot of time to reflect and realised everything on how to improve myself and be better to her and our kids. I want to be that better person that she deserves to have. I've finally woken up to the issues that ive been to blind to see right infront of me and with a burning fire in me for change I'm met with nothing. I'm struggling with losing her and cant stop beating myself up over it! I want to give her everything she's ever deserved and a life full of happiness but I feel I've been blinded for so long being emotionally unavailable that ive ruined our family and will never be able to have the love of my life back. I'm struggling so much and don't know what to do. Most days I don't even want to be here as I feel like such a failure of a partner and dad

KateH Marriage turmoil
  • replies: 1

I have been married to my husband for over 25years. He worked away on a DIDO (drive-in/drive-out) crazy "lifestyle" roster for 15 years. I was the one at home raising kids, working part-time etc. Since he resigned from the roster work and came back h... View more

I have been married to my husband for over 25years. He worked away on a DIDO (drive-in/drive-out) crazy "lifestyle" roster for 15 years. I was the one at home raising kids, working part-time etc. Since he resigned from the roster work and came back home (now over 3 years ), we have been struggling to keep our relationship going. I truly love where we live and I don't want to leave here but I am unable to maintain it on my own. I asked him to go to counselling with me 2 years ago and he refused. He brought the counselling idea up to me recently and said that he will go. He is now trying to rescind on this. He has been verbally abusive and once (recently) threatened to punch me because "I stir him up". I know I am not perfect and I have been holding myself in because I never know when "Hyde" will surface. At times, life will be smooth.. I just don't know if this is part of a long term relationship cycle - a "bad patch" or if this marriage is over. I don't know that anyone has answers - I know that I am the one to make the decision but I just had to get it out.

Mitch93 I’m a 32 year old gay male struggling to find a partner
  • replies: 2

Hi all, Thanks for reading this. I’m a fairly new resident of the Newcastle, NSW region (roughly six months) and I have recently settled down here with a home and a full time job. I do have a supportive family and a good circle of friends but one thi... View more

Hi all, Thanks for reading this. I’m a fairly new resident of the Newcastle, NSW region (roughly six months) and I have recently settled down here with a home and a full time job. I do have a supportive family and a good circle of friends but one thing that I am struggling with and have been for years is finding a partner. I am a 32 year old gay male and of course have been trying all the apps - Grindr, Hinge, Tinder, Bumble etc but have had no success with them. So many guys that I have matched with don’t even bother responding which is quite frustrating. Haven’t even gone on dates to tell you the truth. The process is frustrating and I’m not really sure how to try to overcome this challenge. Any ideas on what to do next?

Halecia I’m 38 and have traumatic DV experiences and I’ve never been understood by immediate family
  • replies: 1

I’m 38 now 12 years ago I left a horrific full abusive DV relationship I just walked away he never understood my wants and needs. I’ve never been understood by my family because they have failed to get to know me always crossing me off and singling m... View more

I’m 38 now 12 years ago I left a horrific full abusive DV relationship I just walked away he never understood my wants and needs. I’ve never been understood by my family because they have failed to get to know me always crossing me off and singling me out. I have not opened up to a councillor yet. As this is the first time I’ve spoken properly about this. It is Such A Touchy Subject!!! With a phycologist I think it will be good. I left home when I was 16. Home being dad’s house. I’ve always turned to food for happiness and I’ve always had an eating disorder. Still I’ve managed to not get past 72kilos. When my boyfriends at 17 and 18 parents chucked me out. I turned to food and got to 100. I met boys and girls along the way from school who I had to become friends with. So yes never really a clear healthy forms of relationships. I’ve got rentals alone. I met my now ex in a Shared living house. He beat me up every two weeks for three years. Yes police were involved. AVO is on him. But I went online to a dating site as an escape. And I was fcked over. So badly that I couldn’t determine who I was or think like I was feeling & thinking previously. He kept seeing me relentlessly without me wanting him to. Happily took my life and helped himself to my time. Police were involved but they said to focus on my other relationship and heal. I’ve now moved . And I am so lost. I get up and do extra thinks every day. But I don’t want to.