Relationship and family issues

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Chris_B PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: 3 important tips to get the most out of this section
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, The Relationships & Family Issues section is one of the busiest here on our forums. It's also one of the areas where we find members can get themselves into trouble! Before posting here, take a deep breath and be mindful of the following... View more

Hi everyone, The Relationships & Family Issues section is one of the busiest here on our forums. It's also one of the areas where we find members can get themselves into trouble! Before posting here, take a deep breath and be mindful of the following 3 tips: 1. Do you really want to share this with the world? This is a public forum. Are you thinking of posting something that could identify you to a friend or family member? Once you've posted, you can't delete what you've written and we don't take posts down from here unless they've broken one of our community rules. This is because our members spend a lot of time composing replies, and there is a much wider audience that gets a lot out of reading what has been written. It's not fair to ask the community for support, then ask to have it removed once you've read it so others can't also benefit. Use discretion when posting here - think about the level of detail you are sharing, and think also about who might know you are posting here. Also, please keep it clean: this is an all ages forum and explicit discussions about sexual problems are not permitted. Threads and posts of this nature will be removed and your account placed on a moderation hold. 2. What do you want to get out of posting here? Relationship and family issues are stressful. Members sometimes post here seeking advice about a relationship that has broken down, but find themselves getting upset when they don't agree with the response they get. This is a peer support forum, meaning we are not mental health professionals. We are people of all ages and backgrounds, with a wide range of life experiences. While we aim for our discussions to be conducted respectfully, people here will respond with the truth as they see it, from their own experiences and perspectives. We are not here to take sides. Offence is almost never intentional, but it can be sometimes taken. The advice you will see here is not intended to be a substitute for professional counselling. 3. What other support do you have? Most people posting on our forums (about any issue) use this space as a supplement to other supports. This forum is not and cannot be a substitute for offline supports, but it is often a good place to start the ball rolling and find the courage for seeking help. If you are relying solely on an internet forum to resolve your relationship or family issues, you are likely to be disappointed. Check out the Healthy Homes section of our Healthy Families website for further information and resources.

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artgirl1234 My boyfriend doesn’t want sex, but is fine with other sexual favours
  • replies: 7

I’ve been with my boyfriend for a little over 3 months now. Our sex life in the beginning was fine. but now he doesn’t want sex, at all, but he’s fine with fother things, and actively wants me to do them. He says he’s still attracted to me, but says ... View more

I’ve been with my boyfriend for a little over 3 months now. Our sex life in the beginning was fine. but now he doesn’t want sex, at all, but he’s fine with fother things, and actively wants me to do them. He says he’s still attracted to me, but says he doesn’t want sex anymore, he just doesn’t feel right doing it or says he’s not in the mood. This issue has been going on for over a month, and i want to be there for him and help him with getting past this but it’s difficult when i don’t know the reason why, and neither does he. He has a history with depression and body image issues, if that information is relevant. can anyone help me with some advice?

theaussiedude Relationship with my Dad
  • replies: 4

I posted before about my ex breaking my heart about not opening up... I don't want to talk to my friends about this topic because they value my dad very highly and I don't want them to think anything different of him As I mentioned in my post, Heartb... View more

I posted before about my ex breaking my heart about not opening up... I don't want to talk to my friends about this topic because they value my dad very highly and I don't want them to think anything different of him As I mentioned in my post, Heartbroken- need advice-- I said my Dad has cancer I have found it hard to love him as I get older, he was extremely abusive physically and emotionally to my siblings and Mum. He is just verbally/emotionally abusive now... The last physical incident happened 16 years ago now. I can see how sad and lonely he is, and I feel sad for him, but I am struggling to care and love him.. and I know when he passes, his final words will be "I am so sorry for the way I treated you".. and that will destroy me if he says that

Marsia Husband drinking again
  • replies: 1

I posted in here back in Dec 2020 when I was having huge problems with my partners drinking. Big issues, around drinking & his behaviour which I won’t go into now. Thank you for the support I received back then (I think it was Geoff who I spoke to se... View more

I posted in here back in Dec 2020 when I was having huge problems with my partners drinking. Big issues, around drinking & his behaviour which I won’t go into now. Thank you for the support I received back then (I think it was Geoff who I spoke to several times). Was able to seek AOD support for him & even though he never rang the numbers or went to appointments, he seemed to slow his drinking down & made all sorts of promises that he would stop drinking soon. But he’s back into the big binges. Just went out for the evening to come home & find him very drunk at home alone. I am in bed but have heard him swearing & slamming a door as he went to bed himself. I am not looking forward to having to deal with all this again. Don’t know how I’m going to tell him all over again he has to stop. It was very draining last time

Mary_A Husband cheating online for 10 years
  • replies: 1

Hello, I have been with my husband for the last 10 years. All the years, he has been on and off cheating online talking to girls and flirting. I have stayed because I want to keep what we have and hoping that he will change. Now I am not sure if its ... View more

Hello, I have been with my husband for the last 10 years. All the years, he has been on and off cheating online talking to girls and flirting. I have stayed because I want to keep what we have and hoping that he will change. Now I am not sure if its worth it anymore. We have two children together. I must admit that I have been cruel to him verbally abusing him and would lash out and physically hurt him. I have no respect for him and things has been painful for him as well. Yesterday I found out that he has been subscribing for online prostitution and have engaging in it. I have found multiple and it’s terribly hurting me. He told me due to my behaviour he had been making bad choices and I said to him that my behaviour comes from the pain that I have been feeling in our relationship and that I’m depressed. I don’t know how to stay and forgive him when I have not been. I want to seperate but I feel guilty for my children. I want us to stay as a family for them but I don’t think I can keep allowing him to treat me like this. I don’t know what to do.

Rhianna_n Absolutely fuming...
  • replies: 2

Hi there, A little long but context is important... A month ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. The pregnancy itself was fine, no issues or complications. At one of my prenatal appointments I discussed the fact that my living situation wasn’t i... View more

Hi there, A little long but context is important... A month ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. The pregnancy itself was fine, no issues or complications. At one of my prenatal appointments I discussed the fact that my living situation wasn’t ideal and was promised help via a hospital social worker. For four months I was promised to be high-priority for housing, something I’ll admit I felt too proud to take but wanted as a temporary option for me and my baby so we could be safe until I got back on my feet. I felt good about escaping a domestic violence situation and overcrowding and looked forward to the birth. Fast forward to 5 days after giving birth in a hospital with no visitors because of covid, having endured a 36-hour labour that was painful and needed medical interventions that terrified me, the social worker announces that the hospital can no longer keep me there and the house she found for me is deemed unsuitable so if I have no family to house me, my son would go into foster care. I had no choice but to return to my parents house with a manipulative mother. She never congratulated me on the birth so I hesitantly sent her a message updating her about the baby. That same day the social worker announces that child protection workers have been contacted as a complaint was made against my baby’s father. I 100% believe that she made the complaint along with my dad. They have no grounds to file one. In fact, I spent 10 years in a house with her while she drank herself stupid nightly, didn’t feed me and my siblings, verbally abused and manipulated us, refused to wash our clothes, assaulted my dad along with many, many other things. And her emotional abuse and manipulation is still happening. I’m scared of her and I feel pure hatred towards her. Honestly, if she dropped dead tomorrow, I wouldn’t shed a tear. I hate how she makes me feel and I hate how angry and jaded I’ve become in what should be one of the happiest times of my life. I’m not sure if others have experienced similar, but it would be nice if anyone could offer any ways of coping until I can leave and be free of both her and my dad. I really needed to reach out as I feel alone and severely depressed.

Dayon So close yet so far
  • replies: 8

My husband always go home from work and sometimes he got 2 weeks off from but I can't feel his presence because we don't eat together,we don't sleep together same bed but different sleeping time he slept after lunch up to 7 in the evening and my slee... View more

My husband always go home from work and sometimes he got 2 weeks off from but I can't feel his presence because we don't eat together,we don't sleep together same bed but different sleeping time he slept after lunch up to 7 in the evening and my sleeping time is 8pm he would go back to bed maybe 12 midnight i'm not sure because I already sound asleep I haven't experience cuddles before going to sleep we can only have sex when I followed him to bed on his afternoon sleep but sometimes he will refuse if I will hug him because he said his tummy was full and I will feel neglected plus I'm the one who will always drive when we are having sex he will just lay in bed and just let me do all the things until I get pregnant still the same I always do the first move and he is like dead lying down I felt embarassed of myself and felt he doesn't love me until the baby came out so I am too busy with the baby and gets tired all the time and got no time to follow him to bed when he will have his afternoon sleep because I need to look after our baby and our marriage become sexless now for 9 months I' m still 34 and he is 54. And all I have to do is look after our baby and household chores and his routine is work watch tv drink smoke and sleep . I felt so alone and neglected plus I don't have a job so I don't have any money. Questions is that because of his age that's why he is not interested in sex anymore or he doesn't love me? How can you leave a husband like this when you got no job and with 2 children one is 10 year old and the other is 9 months hard to live in the relationship where you felt unwanted but can't survive on your own when you leave.Please I need some advice.

FayS New parents
  • replies: 1

Been blessed with a beautiful baby 3months ago and been over the moon. My husband has been helpful but we are now struggling as a couple on emotional level so much so that after having a yelling episode at each other he said let's get divorced. First... View more

Been blessed with a beautiful baby 3months ago and been over the moon. My husband has been helpful but we are now struggling as a couple on emotional level so much so that after having a yelling episode at each other he said let's get divorced. First thing I'm hurt that he thought about it as an option second thing, idk if I'm ready for divorce. He's right now complaining about how I'm not able to be intimate with him which I find hard as result of postpartum pains/harmonal melt down etc and how I react towards what he says. He pushes me to verge of anger and expects patience. I'm so lost. We were not like this and have been married for over 6 years. I have been independent and working before baby and now on mat leave. Idk who to turn to talk it out but I do know he's wrong and expects a lot for now and I am not able to control either. I need help plz!!

Overblue stealing from my wallet
  • replies: 2

My partner steals cash from my wallet, have resorted to hiding my wallet, she finds it anyway. Im thinking of writing a note and taping it to the money so she knows that I know.

My partner steals cash from my wallet, have resorted to hiding my wallet, she finds it anyway. Im thinking of writing a note and taping it to the money so she knows that I know.

JT85 Wife had affair for 2.5 months, while we were trying for babies. Help!
  • replies: 6

Hey everyone, My wife and I have been married for a year, and I just found out she had an affair with a druggie. whilst this was happening we were trying for kids. She made me go get baby furniture whilst this was all happening. I work in mining on a... View more

Hey everyone, My wife and I have been married for a year, and I just found out she had an affair with a druggie. whilst this was happening we were trying for kids. She made me go get baby furniture whilst this was all happening. I work in mining on a 7/7 roster, during this time we had never been happier. I knew something was happening but she said I had developed anxiety and got me medicated. Now I don’t know what to do, As she’s my wife I feel like i owe it to her to try but I keep finding out stuff and it makes me feel worthless. Please give me some advice.

Overblue *trigger warning* It says something about a relationship when you wonder if your partner is dead in their room
  • replies: 1

When I came in the garage from mowing our acreage yesterday about 9:30 am I was surprised to see my partner up and awake having a smoke. She says "I thought you were dead in your room because your door was shut and you were not up when I went to town... View more

When I came in the garage from mowing our acreage yesterday about 9:30 am I was surprised to see my partner up and awake having a smoke. She says "I thought you were dead in your room because your door was shut and you were not up when I went to town" She doesn't go out much, and I was surprised she had already been to get her eyebrows done at the beauty salon. It says something about a relationship when you wonder if your parter is dead in thier room, but you dont go in to see if they are alright. To be honest, I've thought the exact same thing many times, over the past few years, wondering if she is dead in her room. I didnt want to go in and see either.