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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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Darkfairy91 Struggling with husbands depression
  • replies: 2

My husband and I have been through so much together so I thought we would make it through this one but I am really struggling with his attitude towards everything. In March my father in law left a note on our front door which I saw first saying he is... View more

My husband and I have been through so much together so I thought we would make it through this one but I am really struggling with his attitude towards everything. In March my father in law left a note on our front door which I saw first saying he is moving back to England (where he was born) and not coming back. I was the one who had to tell my husband his dad has just up and left everyone without warning. My mother in law a few years ago was diagnosed with early onset dementia, she is 54. She is currently at a stage where she tries to cook toast on a hot plate. It took me months to convince my husband to see a psychologist. Now it is December, he has been angry all the time, he sleeps as much as he can and the romance has gone out the window. I have been through depression myself I know it’s hard but no matter how I try and help him it doesn’t change a thing. It feels like sex is the only thing we do together anymore and after stumbling on his porn a couple of nights ago it feels as though I am not good enough for him in that respect either. All I feel the last 2-3 months is unwanted and not good enough. Since I have been feeling like this I feel I have been less of a mother to my children. I don’t know how much longer I can keep taking it all. Part of me feels it would be better if my husband and I separated.

Mikkyk Alone At Xmas
  • replies: 8

G'day Everyone, Just wondering if anyone else out there is spending Xmas alone? Partner of 10 years springs on me that she is spending Xmas with her adult son and his gf this year, takes the little money we had and gone. No prior discussion, no plann... View more

G'day Everyone, Just wondering if anyone else out there is spending Xmas alone? Partner of 10 years springs on me that she is spending Xmas with her adult son and his gf this year, takes the little money we had and gone. No prior discussion, no planning, Just up and gone. I battle with anexity & depression....this has really knocked me for a 6.

manila My mum has depression
  • replies: 2

My mum has been diagnosed with depression for as long as I can remember. She takes daily medication and will see a psychologist when she feels out of control. Over the past year her depression is severely worsening, and now she won’t speak to myself ... View more

My mum has been diagnosed with depression for as long as I can remember. She takes daily medication and will see a psychologist when she feels out of control. Over the past year her depression is severely worsening, and now she won’t speak to myself or my brother. All of her answers consist of one word, she is hardly eating and asks us to leave her alone when we try to support her. Last night she said ‘I don’t know how I am going to do this’ and I am so worried that she going to harm herself/take her own life. When I asked her what that meant, she didn’t respond. We constantly remind her that we love her, that we are there for her and that we will work through everything together, but we just aren’t getting through. She said that she is too upset to see her psychologist, and needs time to herself but I am scared to leave her alone. What can I do to help her? She has spent the past five days in bed and when I spoke to her about how I am worried, she didn’t say anything. I don’t have depression myself but I am struggling with supporting her and don’t want to lose her.

nadssss_ Relationship over due to lying/ cheating. How to fix it
  • replies: 5

A week ago I got super drunk at my work Christmas party and kissed a work colleague who was not my boyfriend (now ex) My ex and I were having problems beforehand and I used that as an out by cheating. I regret my actions deeply and I told my ex what ... View more

A week ago I got super drunk at my work Christmas party and kissed a work colleague who was not my boyfriend (now ex) My ex and I were having problems beforehand and I used that as an out by cheating. I regret my actions deeply and I told my ex what happened and he broke it off (as expected) but he didn’t break it off only because of the kiss ,he broke it off because of my constant lying too. I have struggled with persistent lying even lying about little things that someone doesn’t need to lie about. I didn’t tell my then boyfriend that I was still talking to my ex , I didn’t tell him about my religious views. I realised I was on a bad path and I was treating him badly while together but it’s like I couldn’t stop, I was on toxic path and I knew I was ,but it’s like I couldn’t change it. And then finally the bad behaviour caught up to me when the events of the cheating happened . It was a wake up call that I needed help. I don’t want to play victim here and I realise I’m at fault and all the things that happened, I did them, but now I want to make amends for all the bad things that happened . I want to stop lying ,I want to be truthful , I never want to cheat again it was the biggest mistake of my life, I want to repair what’s left of my relationship if there’s any hope of a reconciliation between my ex and I , I want to be better but I don’t know where to start. I don’t know where and how to get help. I don’t know how I am going to get my ex to ever trust me again. Like why should he trust me, I broke his trust many times. But I love him and we were so happy and we were planning our future together and I don’t want to lose that over a drunken mistake and the fact that I can’t seem to be honest. I am just so lost but I need hope in order to keep fighting. I need hope that I will get better and that I’m not just a lost cause. I need hope that I won’t be like this forever because I can’t live like this.

scully78 How to identify what is depression or what is lack of interest
  • replies: 14

Hello, I recently met a man who I think is really kind and sweet. We have had only one date together and were in daily contact via text message ever since. He told me he suffers depression and ptsd due to recent trauma. We met up about 3 weeks ago an... View more

Hello, I recently met a man who I think is really kind and sweet. We have had only one date together and were in daily contact via text message ever since. He told me he suffers depression and ptsd due to recent trauma. We met up about 3 weeks ago and his messaging has decreased, especially in the last week. I messaged him 3 days ago and haven't heard back from him. We are not in a relationship and are still at the friendship stage, but how do I know if him ignoring my message Is a sign of disinterest or his depression? He seemed very interested at first and was planning to do things together in the future, but nothing has eventuated. Now communication is scarce and I don't know what to do. I know he is struggling and probably needs space, so I won't message him back until he responds to my last text, in which I made my interest in him clear. Have I potentially scared him off? How do I know if im being a burden? How do I know he even wants to keep communicating with me. I know he has been online, but isn't reading my last message and this isn't the first time he has done this. Its the second in 3 weeks. Is that a bad sign?

Guest_598 Falling back in love when love is gone?
  • replies: 28

Hi All, when someone has fallen out of love with a person, has moved out a year ago, says the trust and attraction are gone, wants to move on but feels obligated to do the right thing (i.e. giving the old partner a chance to talk through all issues),... View more

Hi All, when someone has fallen out of love with a person, has moved out a year ago, says the trust and attraction are gone, wants to move on but feels obligated to do the right thing (i.e. giving the old partner a chance to talk through all issues), told their old partner they wouldn't date or marry them given the person they are today, and there is another person they have feelings for, is it likely that the love for the old partner comes back when they spend a few (2-3) weeks with together? Or is this likely the end and the meeting serves more the purpose of showing it's over and planning a clean separation?

MJthrice Losing weight
  • replies: 2

So I had a medical issue recently and the Dr advised I could loose some weight , get fit and cut back alcohol. So I joined a gym and started exercising every day, cut down in sugars and alcohol. i hit my target weight loosing 8% of my body weight in ... View more

So I had a medical issue recently and the Dr advised I could loose some weight , get fit and cut back alcohol. So I joined a gym and started exercising every day, cut down in sugars and alcohol. i hit my target weight loosing 8% of my body weight in 2 months. Thought my partner would be happy for me as she has been saying for a while I needed to loose weight. in fact I thi me the words were ‘your obese‘. Except the best I got was ‘ you still have all that belly fat’ Feeling very depressed that all that effort is going unnoticed it not recognised , was expecting some encouragement .

Pharaohess I think my partners too controlling?
  • replies: 4

Hi First of I've never done something like this before so please bear with me I have been with my partner currently for 5-6 years. But I have known him for much longer. We met at work in teen years he was new and we just clicked talked most nights me... View more

Hi First of I've never done something like this before so please bear with me I have been with my partner currently for 5-6 years. But I have known him for much longer. We met at work in teen years he was new and we just clicked talked most nights messaged each other constantly and then we didnt. Years later we reconnected after he moved away and came back and been in a relationship essentially ever since. Now I do love my partner dearly. we have 2 young children. But I feel lately he has become way more selfish and everytime I try to bring something up he shoots me down and turns everything into my fault. Eg hell clean one room of the house once a month and if I don't give praise straightaway he gets very annoyed and says that I don't appreciate his help. He doesn't praise me when I do more or less. It's true I don't clean every single day but I do most days but I'm exhausted. He works during the night and even on his days off doesn't change his sleeping pattern demands his 8 hours sleep so is asleep most of the day and is missing his kids grow up. I do everything I feel. I have to organise the house, the clothes, the kids because I also work but during the day and lifts for my partner because he doesn't drive. He won't organise his own lifts because he won't go to work. And it's so hard. Everytime I try to bring up something he claims i grew up in mess and he doesnt need to learn but I do and doesn't help. Or brings up I just need to exercise more for more energy To this day I haven't had a full over 7 hour sleep since well before my youngest was born. However I cannot go to bed any earlier because he doesn't get out of bed until he has to leave for work but doesn't set an alarm I have to wake and dress him. And have a coffee ready and not speak alot or he'll be angry. He has gone so far to say I can't have the washer on when he is in bed co it'll wake him and he'll explode. Or our kids too loud. One time our eldest and i were playing they were laughing I was laughing it was normal volume. It woke him up sent them to bed in angry tones and proceeded to scream at me and minorly pushed and grabbed me degraded me. While our child was crying in bed. This happened while I was pregnant with our youngest before I returned to work he changed our youngest nappy countable on one hand times and I was off for months. I just want him to help and do more. Sometimes I weep about it because I'm so exhausted. But I just feel I don't have a voice but I love him so much.

Clear82 Vicious cycle of dating
  • replies: 3

Anyone else get tired of dating. This is the third time this year where I let my guard down when dating a guy. Think it’s going well and then he calls it off. Anyone use any mantras or Advice to deal with this constant heartache?

Anyone else get tired of dating. This is the third time this year where I let my guard down when dating a guy. Think it’s going well and then he calls it off. Anyone use any mantras or Advice to deal with this constant heartache?

Nomes6 Feeling lost and like it’s never getting better..
  • replies: 4

Hi guys, this is my first post here.. I just feel so lost my mother died suddenly a couple of months after I found out my partner of 14 years was having an affair.. I struggled with mum getting sick suddenly and taking over her car she went from well... View more

Hi guys, this is my first post here.. I just feel so lost my mother died suddenly a couple of months after I found out my partner of 14 years was having an affair.. I struggled with mum getting sick suddenly and taking over her car she went from well to dying within 2 months when I was told she would be ok but the cancer she was supposed to be okay from but it suddenly spread.. the my brother couldn’t cope so he committed suicide.. I promised my mum I would look after him.. my dad moved on with different woman straight away so much so he wanted to bring one to my mums funeral.. I had to put my foot down and say no my brother wouldn’t cope... even when my brother died he refused to pay for a funeral... I had to fight him over it as he had the money as he takes his girlfriend all over the world... this Xmas is my first one without anyone as my brother isn’t here and my dad is spending it with his girlfriend in another state... I feel so lonely and even though people are nice to me etc I can’t shake the feeling I don’t want to be here anymore... I wish I had a family Xmas like others.. I don’t know how to spend it.. I would like to help people who are alone but not sure how.. it’s the only way I think I can bring any meaning to my life ...