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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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Lindsey30 Single at 31....
  • replies: 12

My boyfriend walked out 4 weeks ago, we had been going through a rough time and not really speaking and i came home from work and he had gone. Since then there has been harsh words from both sides and apparently he has moved on (in the bedroom lets s... View more

My boyfriend walked out 4 weeks ago, we had been going through a rough time and not really speaking and i came home from work and he had gone. Since then there has been harsh words from both sides and apparently he has moved on (in the bedroom lets say) I'm totally heart broken we were together 3 and a half years and now i feel totally worthless and a failure. I wasn't born in Australia so have hardly any friends and my family is across the world. Everywhere i look i see happy couples, engagements on facebook and people having kids. That's all i ever wanted and now i feel that the chances of that have gone. I have even taken blood tests to check my fertility as i'm scared to death of not having any children. I just feel absolutely no joy in ANYTHING i do. I'm trying to force myself to go do things but i just cant find any happiness in it. Even walked down to the beach on Saturday and cried the whole way along it as it reminded me of my ex. When will these horrible times pass because it sucks? I HATE life and see no point anymore really.

BasilThree Alone & Lonely
  • replies: 8

I had a bit of a scroll on here, looking for a thread where people may feel how I’m feeling, but didn’t come across one that really fits how I’m feeling. I feel for all the people who are in difficult marriages, relationships, situations etc. My issu... View more

I had a bit of a scroll on here, looking for a thread where people may feel how I’m feeling, but didn’t come across one that really fits how I’m feeling. I feel for all the people who are in difficult marriages, relationships, situations etc. My issue is a bit the opposite....never ending singledom. I’ve been single for 2 years, and have been in short relationships all my life. Little stints or maybe 10 months in a relationship, then a big gap etc. I didn’t like who I was in my last relationship (codependent) & am glad I have evolved from that now. But now, well I’m 32, and I don’t think I will ever have a relationship. A FULL relationship, where I’m challenged and feel joyful & and we both feel enthused about each other. Do these relationships even exist? I moved to a small city where people marry young, have children & don’t really look much outside their comfort circle. I’ve not found many people at all that I can connect with on a deeper level. I have friends, and since my last relationship, make a big effort to get involved socially, join groups and keep busy. But I can’t shake the feeling of not belonging, and of feeling that the people I do know, don’t actually know me at all. And also, feeling like actually, most of the people that I do see in relationships look bored out of their mind, or deeply unsatisfied. I look for miserable people, to make myself miserable too lol. For the first time ever, I am also feeling the maternal urges. To have children & to have family. And not having that is becoming a bit like an open wound. I’m not sure how to deal with that, because I don’t want to get bitter, and I don’t want to feel sad over it. I have a friend in her 40s who is so sad over the fact she has no children, and I don’t want to feel like that. What’s the best way to tackle that one?? Ive done heaps of travel, had some great jobs, done some things I’m very proud of. But doing it all solo is starting to have an effect on me, and it feeds into me feeling sorry for myself, and feeling really helpless (and hopeless...and anxious) about my future. Also, being single means I have to do everything myself, which I’m so tired of doing! Food shopping, house cleaning, dog walking, lawn mowing, socialising. I am in a constant state of making myself do stuff, because I’m the only one that can do it. Thankssssss

tobeme Torn
  • replies: 3

Hi, Long story! I have been with my husband since I was 15 (so over 18 years) and married for almost 11years. In the early days (dating) we had major issues as he is 6.5yrs older than me, so we had break ups/ reconciliations etc until I was about 17.... View more

Hi, Long story! I have been with my husband since I was 15 (so over 18 years) and married for almost 11years. In the early days (dating) we had major issues as he is 6.5yrs older than me, so we had break ups/ reconciliations etc until I was about 17. I was too young and so was he to be with someone so young! I had eating disorders and so was clingy and totally obsessed with this man. 6 months before our wedding I found out he had cheated on me a few weeks earlier with a girl I knew at a party we were both at. I was devastated but still desperate to marry him and have children. Only a few of his friends new. None of mine did nor did family. We went to counselling and got married. Our first child was conceived after a year of IVF with 5 cycles and 2 miscarraiges. After our first miscarriage he took me home and left me on the lounge to go watch a sports event. I cried for weeks by myself. Our son was born, had open heart surgery at 6 months (he is 100% healthy now!) and we moved in with my parents to build our house in our dream suburb. 12months later we move into our new home and I find out I'm pregnant with our daughter. I was estatic! The look on his face when I told him was blank. He was distant the whole pregnancy - emotionally. Even in the labour ward he was playing games on his phone or texting. During the first 6 months of her life he was just not there. She didn't sleep, my son didn't sleep and I was barely coping. One day I found messages on FB between him and another woman. From what I read I had believed it was physical but he swears it was only emotional. Again we went to counselling. I loved him, I was too scared to leave. My feelings towards him started to change a soon after. I still loved him, but not like I had. I was resenting him. I wanted another baby, but he said he wouldn't cope... and I agreed. But my feelings wouldn't go away. I didn't trust him either - ever. My feelings for another child peaked a year ago. We went to counselling again. He said he didn't want one but eventually said we could try if it was what I wanted. We gave ourselves 6 months and it didn't work. I was devastated.

HydeSansTheGoodDoctor It’s supposed to be easier than this
  • replies: 3

Hey, I honestly thought talking to someone would actually be easier than this. The online chat was only to point in directions of things to sign up for, now I’m here on a social media thing and not even sure anyone is actually going to read this....

Hey, I honestly thought talking to someone would actually be easier than this. The online chat was only to point in directions of things to sign up for, now I’m here on a social media thing and not even sure anyone is actually going to read this....

Crowley22 Better off without me
  • replies: 3

My depression and my anxiety is now hurting the only person I care about. He is physically ill because of me. And today was the first time he outright blamed me and told me to stop. Of course straight after that I panicked. And things have gotten wor... View more

My depression and my anxiety is now hurting the only person I care about. He is physically ill because of me. And today was the first time he outright blamed me and told me to stop. Of course straight after that I panicked. And things have gotten worse. It’s a constant cycle and I will never be free of this. Most of the time I’m too scared to ask for help. And whenever I have there’s never any actionable advice. It’s all platitudes, hippy bullshit and impossible statements. It’s such a cliche to say the ones you love will be better off without you but in this case i think it’s true.

Amali High anxiety over an ex
  • replies: 3

My relationship ended over 18 months ago and yet I still haven't let go emotionally. It is really affecting my mental health. My ex and I had an amazing relationship in the beginning (he was my first and only love) things got very rocky, we had broke... View more

My relationship ended over 18 months ago and yet I still haven't let go emotionally. It is really affecting my mental health. My ex and I had an amazing relationship in the beginning (he was my first and only love) things got very rocky, we had broken up and were trying again to make it work until his constant lies and manipulation pushed me over the edge and I broke it off again. i recently saw him out at a pub, it was a whole year since I'd seen him. I don't think he saw me. I was surprised that I felt stronger and didn't have a melt down but it brought up a lot of old memories and now I can't stop thinking about him. I play out our break up over and over again in my head, he's the first thing I think about when I wake up and I've started thinking maybe I threw away a chance to be happy. One thing I do know is that he loved me wholeheartedly and I just gave up on it. I've protected myself by blocking him completely out of my life, and I ignored his calls a few months after the break up, which I still feel guilty about. It's just so painful having someone you love gone from your life. It kills me to think of him having the life we talked about with someone else. These thoughts are keeping me from moving on. I haven't met anyone I want to date. I thought I'd be over him and happy with someone else who treats me way better than him but it hasn't happened. Any ideas for setting myself free of this pain would be helpful. thanks

future_ calming down my thoughts
  • replies: 9

hi, i only write short messages because if its to long I lose my train of thought. but i need help with calming my thoughts i love my young adult daughter so much but i am disappointed in her aspirations of school and employment all she does is sit i... View more

hi, i only write short messages because if its to long I lose my train of thought. but i need help with calming my thoughts i love my young adult daughter so much but i am disappointed in her aspirations of school and employment all she does is sit in her room and watch youtube this has dumbed her down so much. I look at her and feel so so sorry for her moving forward, this brings me to tears daily. please dont pass judgement on her i feel so so terrible even feeling this way about someone i gave birth too. xox

fears4tears My parents make me feel like they can’t wait for me to move out
  • replies: 2

My mum is a stay at home Mum (has been since my 20 years old brother was born) and my dad works as a tow truck driver so he is home a lot. I’m not trying to be unfemenist but she is a stay at home Mum. She doesn’t cook anything (unless it what my dad... View more

My mum is a stay at home Mum (has been since my 20 years old brother was born) and my dad works as a tow truck driver so he is home a lot. I’m not trying to be unfemenist but she is a stay at home Mum. She doesn’t cook anything (unless it what my dad wants even though she knows no one likes it or will eat it). I go without dinner atleast 4 times a week (usually I will heat up something in the microwave). I just want a dinner with my family but it’s so rare, she never cooks. Why can’t she cook she’s a stay at home Mum. We all go out to work and school and she’s at home why can’t she just cook. And when she does my dad has the tv on so know one can talk at dinner. Me and my sister cook dinner atleas once a week, my dad is never expected to cook and my brother never did either when he lived with us. My mum never cooks, she is too lazy every night. My mum never talks to me and I often tell her this but she doesn’t care or blames me. I tell her “why won’t you talk to me?”. And she says I’m carrying on. When I try to talk to her she is on Facebook and not paying attention or watching tv. In the car she never talks to me. The only times she talks is when she is bitching about her mother in law. (That’s literally the only thing she talks to me about) Here’s some example of why I think my parents can’t wait for me to move out (I’m currently 17). My mum hasn’t read my school report from two terms ago (I’m in year 12). I asked my Mum and dad if they would go out for dinner with me and my sister. They said no so we went out just us two. As soon as we left my Mum and dad went out together somewhere else. It really upset me more than they think. They know I have anxiety but my dad constantly teases me about it and my mum says things like “when can you stop seeing your psychologist” and “I wish you would just learn to stop being anxious so you didn’t have to go anymore” I am am just very frustrated and feel like I have depression because of my family. They never want anything to do with me and we constantly go without dinner. I’m sick of this I constantly feel self conscious like my mum just wants to live with my dad and wants me to move away.

Lolly1986 I don't know where I belong and who I belong to...
  • replies: 1

I recently made an extremely impulsive move from where I have been living with my partner of 2 years back to where my family lives, 2 and a half hours away due to reaching what I thought was the end of the road for our relationship. Out of frustratio... View more

I recently made an extremely impulsive move from where I have been living with my partner of 2 years back to where my family lives, 2 and a half hours away due to reaching what I thought was the end of the road for our relationship. Out of frustration and hurt I packed up my belongings and animals and moved in with my sister and friend. after the weekend moving I have been riddled with feelings of remorse, guilt and depression. I just want to go back home. Ive just moved more of my stuff last weekend with the help of my dad so I feel like 'it's done' now and to say 'im going back' would make everyone do a combined SIGHHHHH FFS SORT IT OUT! I miss my girlfriend so painfully that I cant sleep, barely eat, turn to alcohol and just feel so lost and empty. We have decided not to end our relationship so now it has turned into like a long distance relationship but finding it really hard going from an every day routine with a home together, to being apart and totally alone. I wake up every day thinking its all been a bad dream, and i just want to go home and for things to go back to normal. We clash because I feel that when there is conflict it doesnt get resolved, due to us dealing with our emotions in different ways, but ive come to the realisation now that 'running away' or moving away in this case, is not the answer. I really wish I had stayed and given it some time and maybe a couple of days breathing space for us both because it really helped but now I feel its too late to go back. Im so confused and so scared to make the wrong decision. sick of feeling unsettled, unstable, not knowing where I should be and what is best. I want someone to just give me the answer but I know its not possible. Im just so lost and feeling so incredibly down.

To_Old_For_This Lost, confused and heartbroken after husbands affair
  • replies: 11

Hi all, I'm new here. I'm not one to air my dirty laundry in this kind of forum but I have zero support and need some outside perspective. After 10 years of marriage, 15 years in the relationship I had my world turned upside down by infidelity. Not j... View more

Hi all, I'm new here. I'm not one to air my dirty laundry in this kind of forum but I have zero support and need some outside perspective. After 10 years of marriage, 15 years in the relationship I had my world turned upside down by infidelity. Not just a fleeting affair, but it turned out my husband had been seeing a woman from his work for sex for 8 years!! We (I thought) had a pretty good, normal life. When I found out, he promised to stop and break all contact. He moved jobs and we have since moved town. I have had to quit my job of 10 years. I have fallen apart. My family have abandoned me because they see it as me being in the wrong (They have very strong religious beliefs). For his part he has been very supportive of what I want. However he says he stopped loving and caring for me, throughout those years and figured I would always be there when his 'fun' with 'her' was over. He tells me he loves me now and is extremely remorseful. We have spent hours fighting and crying. It's been many months and things for me, just seem to get worse. I feel deeply depressed. I am seeing a psychologist, but its like once every 6 weeks. I don't know where to turn. I don't have any financial backing and currently don't feel I can work (due to my mental state). I have zero support, other than him. I love him, but I'm not sure if I can deal with all this information. The more I learn about his past feelings for me, the more disgusted I feel. I don't understand how he could treat me this way. He was a master of disguise. I am not an idiot, how could I be so fooled? Leaving doesn't feel like a viable option. But how do I deal with this? He promises from now on to be the best partner he can possibly be, but how do I trust him? And worse...how do I trust myself? I have been left with nob confidence, I feel everything I have ever worked for both within and outside of my marriage is destroyed. I am struggling to see a way forward. I don't know what to do.