Support
Support

Relationship and family issues

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

Start a conversation

FAQ

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

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

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

View the guidelines
Categories
Start a conversation

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

Start a conversation

atreljjj Should I leave with 3 kids
  • replies: 3

My husband and I have been married for almost 4 years next month, we have 2 children together I had 1 child before we met, whom he adores and tells everyone he knows that she is his, which is one of the reasons I married him, he is very much a materi... View more

My husband and I have been married for almost 4 years next month, we have 2 children together I had 1 child before we met, whom he adores and tells everyone he knows that she is his, which is one of the reasons I married him, he is very much a materialist, and I am careless, and very forgetful I have to keep replaying my drivers license because I swear it has legs, long story short, he buys the kids clothes and god forbid if I loose it at daycare he’s furious, I have lost gold he has given me, I have lost car keys many times, thankfully he always keep the spare, I have lost a brand new blanket, I have lost money that was literally in my hand, I have even lost my wedding band, all these things I have lost, I’m wreckless and careless, I can admit that I take full responsibility, but the thing is, all these things can be replaced, more money can easily be made, but his reaction and what he’s says when I loose things is driving me to negative thoughts. He tells me I’m useless, I’m worthless, I’m a bad mother, I don’t deserve a single tear at my funeral, he can do soo much better on his own, I’m not needed in this house, I’m not even wanted in this house and many more, I work soo hard I have a full time which may I add is quite physical I work mon-Friday 8-5 but I get up early and get all 3 kids ready as they are all under 5, I get them to daycare, I go to my job, I pick them up, I feed them all, shower them all, try to shower myself but it’s never peaceful, I do all the laundry, I cook our dinner, and I repeat, the weekends I get up for the kids make their breakfast change them drive us to do whatever unload all the kids unload our shopping put it all away and still it is not good enough, he always has something to complain about, weather it’s the kids but it’s mostly me, he constantly brings me down, tells me daily look how beautiful this lady is (someone on tv) I heard it maybe 3 times since we’ve been together, he tells me he can make it better than me when I’ve cooked dinner, he tells me he cleans it better, which he does because I take the kids so he can clean, but when I clean I have to hold the kids as well, here’s the kicker, when I had our first kid not even an hour old while I’m still in a pool of my own bl**d he asks if he can go home, seriously, then our second kids I had to beg him to pick us up from the hospital I wasn’t worth the 30mins travel after giving birth to his child, that should have been my que to leave, I knew then I wasn’t truly worth it, but because of them I fought everyday to make it work, now I’m just depressed every day, he doesn’t listen to what I have to say and i drive for a living and I recently scared myself, but I’m still here to fight another day, any advice on what to do? I feel I need professional help

Lorenth210 Partner has gambling addiction
  • replies: 17

Hi there, it's my first post. I suspect that my partner has a sport betting/gambling addiction. He's taking loans behind my back and has multiple apps that let you make sport bets. I don't know what to do, when I confronted him he keeps denying every... View more

Hi there, it's my first post. I suspect that my partner has a sport betting/gambling addiction. He's taking loans behind my back and has multiple apps that let you make sport bets. I don't know what to do, when I confronted him he keeps denying everything. Am I making this up? I saw what I saw. Do I leave? Do I help him? I am so lost and lonely.

Gossamerose What now?
  • replies: 11

I've had to deal with a lot in my marriage and now I feel like it's all to much! I'm a quiet introvert and I avoid confrontation at any cost and I'm not sure if I'm thinking straight. My hubby went to work wearing design underware and came home weari... View more

I've had to deal with a lot in my marriage and now I feel like it's all to much! I'm a quiet introvert and I avoid confrontation at any cost and I'm not sure if I'm thinking straight. My hubby went to work wearing design underware and came home wearing a different pair. Then hid the design pair in the kids bathroom. I noticed he took the spare pair with him that morning and thought it strange so I paid attention when he arrived home that evening. Yes I did ask him and he said (Quote: II could have changed because of diarrhoea or something. Then proceeded to tell me I was imagining things.I don't trust him any more, what do others think?

Sar667 Much needed advice amd help
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm after some help and advice. My partner and I have been together for 5 years. Unfortunately last year for 3 months we had broken up. During this time my partner had started seeing someone else.. Then we decided to work things out, but my partn... View more

Hi, I'm after some help and advice. My partner and I have been together for 5 years. Unfortunately last year for 3 months we had broken up. During this time my partner had started seeing someone else.. Then we decided to work things out, but my partner had a change of heart and was confused wanted us both. I was unable to handle that situation.. So my partner continued to see her leaving me heart broken. Then only 8 weeks after she decided she couldn't be without me. And we got back together. But she still want to continue to be friends with the other person. And I'm not coping at all with this. I've told her how I feel. But she thinks I need to get past it. As she loves me and only wants me. Amd sees the other person just as a friend. Unfortunately I do not see her the same way. And I don't know if im being ridiculous and just need to move on. Or if my feelings are valid???

Carus I Feel Absolutely Terrible*
  • replies: 23

Thankyou for creating this place for us to write stuff out*I've been with my wife for 4 years. No kids together but she has a young daughter. My wife lives and works an hour away so we only see each other on the weekends, but we video chat every nigh... View more

Thankyou for creating this place for us to write stuff out*I've been with my wife for 4 years. No kids together but she has a young daughter. My wife lives and works an hour away so we only see each other on the weekends, but we video chat every night. This suits me as I really value time alone. About 8 months ago I hired a girl to work for me. In that time, unfortunately we have grown very close. To the point where I deeply feel we are more compatible and should be together. The problem obviously is, I'm already married. We have not been intimate and I don't want to go down that avenue* The greater problems are, I'm not unhappily married and my wife is fantastic and prides herself on being the best wife she can be. I don't take that for granted. I admire her and am very proud of her. However, I'm not sexually attracted to her and never really have been. I believed I could overlook and perhaps nurture that but unfortunately, it's not gotten better and I don't think it ever will. Greater problem still is, she has made me her whole world. I always knew that was wrong and tried to dissuade it, but she really doesn't have much of a life outside 'us'.....It would completely devastate her if we were to separate.....Having been through that kind of pain myself, I find it incredibly difficult to inflict it on someone else... If the other girl didn't work for me I would just cut ties with her and move away from the situation as that would be the easiest thing to do. But I don't feel it's fair either to fire her just because of the way I feel about her. So I'm stuck! At this stage I've been trying to change the way I feel about her but it's just not working and it's driving me into a very unhappy place. I feel just terrible....! At the end of the day I know these decisions will be mine and I'm going to need to sort this out. I used to be a marriage and relationship counselor myself. How ironic! So I know it helps to write things out.Thanks for reading*Regards*

Ijord8 advice please - toxic wife
  • replies: 4

I'ma keep it short sorry if I left anything out. me and my wife have been together for nearly 2 years after the worse time of our lives ( in emergency housing ) so ofc we moved in as quick as possible, she fell pregnant to find out she was trying aft... View more

I'ma keep it short sorry if I left anything out. me and my wife have been together for nearly 2 years after the worse time of our lives ( in emergency housing ) so ofc we moved in as quick as possible, she fell pregnant to find out she was trying after I told her I wasn't ready really hurt.. I've seen change in her appearance suddenly wearing revealing clothes whenever she's doing something without me, at night rolling over on her phone, the other day she labelled our son as hers, I tried to bring up my feelings but that got shut down, I suggested counselling but that was shut down and told it was all me, i haven't even a kiss in 4 days nor a hug or cuddle, times where she's hung out with guys in her new dress I haven't got to see not even wearing undies underneath, ofc I brung up us and OUR boundaries but I was wrong for that too.. she'll sit in the room all day eating and making a house a mess which Im left to clean up, I tried to make a chores schedule something simple n easy for her I do the dishes and she does the washing.. then she'd leave plates around the house mouldy pizza that's sat in the fridge for weeks, after of 2 hours of dishes I want to go out to do groceries but then .. no clothes, I'm broke cus I'm help paying her fines n bills, the cars always empty and now I just feel so empty too.. it hurts cus this isn't what I wanted in life AT ALL but I sacrifice every day even my nights for her.. night time I lay on the other side of the bed where I get up cus I can't sleep cus I feel so alone.. my force attempts of sleep turn to night terrors. As a male I'm losing it .. I don't get sex or emotions in this, I force myself out of bed each day for my boy.. I used to fight for my family but now I have to fight for my own voice, I'm slowly seeing patterns where I'm not interested in anything anymore sometimes I won't even have time to shower. Am I wrong for asking for some common ground or structure cus atm it seems like there's only broken promises.. I'm sick of begging, waiting and now refusing help cus idek how I feel anymore..

MaryDDD Should I get divorce
  • replies: 22

Me and my husband has been together for ten years and we had two kids. My husband was used to be a loving caring person toward me. Everything changed since we were in a situation when we have to strive so hard everyday to work and earn income to surv... View more

Me and my husband has been together for ten years and we had two kids. My husband was used to be a loving caring person toward me. Everything changed since we were in a situation when we have to strive so hard everyday to work and earn income to survive. Since i had my second child ( she is 9 months), he has never helped me with the house chore or even tried to look after my kids. He claimed that he was too busy at work and tired. But im working too you know. I have to go to work at 5am till 2pm 5 days a week then drove my kids from school, feed them cook meals and cleaned. I wouldnt have time for myself. Im very depressed at the cost of living plus the uncareness from my husband. We fought a lot and he often hit me when it happened. I wanted to divorce so bad but thinking abt my kids and also my income isnt high as his, how am i going to pay the mortgage and everything. I really scared my kids will have a worse life. But i am really stressed. I felt everyday is torment. House is a jail. I felt i couldnt cope with everything. I wish i just have a better income source that I can provide my children, buy off the house and leave him. What should i do

loner_311095 I dont Know what should i do
  • replies: 2

I have a 13-month-old baby. I feel like my husband lost interest in me. Before i got pregnant i found he had cheated on me (Just had phone and video conversations with other girls). Then when i caught him he told me, he not gonna do it again and woul... View more

I have a 13-month-old baby. I feel like my husband lost interest in me. Before i got pregnant i found he had cheated on me (Just had phone and video conversations with other girls). Then when i caught him he told me, he not gonna do it again and would make an effort in our relationship. Then i fell pregnant and since i got pregnant and still now we haven't had any sex last 2.5 years. i had vaginal delivery so i thought that's why he is giving me some time to heal my baby is almost 14 months now but he doesn't seem any interest in me and sex. I am very introverted so indirectly i asked him but he didn't talk with me this elaborately.I am a working mom. Sometimes i feel like i need someone who also loves me and pampers me but i don't want that as a charity, i want someone who feels for me.I dont have any close friends either whom can i share my feelings. Last few months i am feeling so depressed and tired of this.

Grace53 Increasing rents putting strain on me and my family
  • replies: 4

Hi I'm a British migrant with no family here I have a husband that suffers from depression and doesn't work and my daughter has anxiety I work full time but with the increasing rent rises I'm struggling financially im alone have a big burden on my sh... View more

Hi I'm a British migrant with no family here I have a husband that suffers from depression and doesn't work and my daughter has anxiety I work full time but with the increasing rent rises I'm struggling financially im alone have a big burden on my shoulders and fear we will run out of money I don't get any government assistance my husband won't claim for Centrelink im a support worker so I'm caring for people all the time some times i feel sick with worry mght end up living in a tent or my car my daughter is still at school 15 I'm 53 and life gets tiring and hard for me I will keep going till the money runs out hopefully my husband will help out and get a job its frustrating as he smokes and wastes the money i earm

Bubby36 Getting blocked by a close online friend- Feeling the sadness and anxiety the past month
  • replies: 6

This is my first time on here but I look forward to the interactions! My (22 yr old guy) close online friend from America (20 female), I've known since December 2022 blocked me last month and I've been grieving everyday. We were really close, we talk... View more

This is my first time on here but I look forward to the interactions! My (22 yr old guy) close online friend from America (20 female), I've known since December 2022 blocked me last month and I've been grieving everyday. We were really close, we talked everyday and I even sent her a gift in the mail as she shared her address with me, we were that close. I'm really hurt by how it happened and I tried so hard to prevent it but my anxiety was the driving force of why she did, she tolerated it at first but when life got in the way she couldn't talk or interact as much, but she tried her best. I feel so guilty because she asked for space so many times but I would not give it, in terms of I would always text and get anxious when she doesn't specify a time to get back to me. The block came out of nowhere but in context we had an argument the night before and when I woke up to greet her good morning, she blocked me upon seeing my text. I've tried to reach out to friends for advice and help, some helpful more then others. I had a panic attack on the train today as I tried to reach out to a friend from another state by calling her. Her new (3 months) boyfriend saw it and texted me to not do that again but my anxiety compelled me to call and her boyfriend insulted me and accused me of not being her friend as she was being supportive of my situation and therefore blocked me on her account which caused the panic attack as it triggered memories of my American friend blocking me as another person as blocked me (All be it potentially not my fault this time due to the controlling boyfriend). Lucky a man around my age consoled me and gave me some tissues and his attention to talk about how I feel throughout the whole train trip. Today feels like a new low due that incident on the train and it being 3 weeks since my American friend blocked me. I know I have to move on but I am struggling to accept it, one thing I did that was bad was making alternate accounts to get her attention in order for her to forgive me. I regret that and I realise that is part of my grief to get something back I lost, I really cared for her and that connection with someone is special and I don't have any of that with my existing friends. I hope this is all ok and I can get some responses about some things I can do (I have being seeing a therapist and trying to get a routine) but happiness is hard to come by, every happy thing I do seems to not work and I have felt sadness every single day for a month.

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map