Relationship and family issues

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

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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

nellie89 Lonely mumma vent
  • replies: 4

These days I don't really leave my house. I have 2 kids under 3, I live in a small town, I've only lived here for about a year, I barely know anyone and haven't made any friends. It's made me wonder lately if maybe I'm just not cut out for friends. I... View more

These days I don't really leave my house. I have 2 kids under 3, I live in a small town, I've only lived here for about a year, I barely know anyone and haven't made any friends. It's made me wonder lately if maybe I'm just not cut out for friends. Its something I've struggled with my whole life. I remember my mum being called in for a meeting in primary school with my teachers because they were concerned I didn't have friends in my own year level. I moved just before the beginning of high school so I knew no one when I began high school and struggled with going from a primary school of 300 to a high school of 2000. I bounced from group to group the first few years of high school. I remember being told I wasn't allowed to hang out with whichever group I was currently with anymore because they didn't like me anymore. Teenage girls really suck. I spent most of year 10 on my own not really speaking to anyone. It was easier to just spend lunchtimes in the girls bathroom waiting for the lunch bell to ring. I finally thought I'd found a good group at the start of year 11. My mental health started going rapidly downhill in the beginning of year 12, And then I found a letter in my locker saying that my group of friends didn't want me around anymore. I was crushed beyond words. I spiralled and ending up throwing in year 12. It took me another 2 years until I had another group of friends take me under their wing. I thought I'd hit the jackpot. A group of strong single successful women that had a great time and seemed like great support to each other. And they were that for me for a few years. Until my depression got in the way again. One day I went to contact one of them on Facebook and realised she'd deleted me, looking further afield I realised that they'd all deleted me. These women were all over 30 and again I got told it was because I was too negative. Since then I haven't really tried too much. I thought maybe some of my sister in laws could be potential but they have their own friends and are not very receptive when I suggest anything. So here I am. Almost 30, a lonely mother in the grips of PND with that lovely anxiety disorder rearing its ugly head again. I know I'm a miserable person to be around sometimes, and I'm working on it. I'd give anything just to have a close friend to talk to. There's so much going on in my life at the moment and it's so hard and stressful. I'm sure my poor partner and mum need a break from being the only adults I talk to.

steve_53 family type questions
  • replies: 8

hello im a newbie the reason ive loged in is i think i have family members whom are older than i that may have mental issues and im just trying to get my head around the situation and how to handle different types senarios like approaching issues wit... View more

hello im a newbie the reason ive loged in is i think i have family members whom are older than i that may have mental issues and im just trying to get my head around the situation and how to handle different types senarios like approaching issues with elderly parents whom think they are all ok but their body language and how they conduct them selves on a daily basis doesnt match up to what i see as other people doing as day to day going thru life . is there anything on the forums to help family members like myself as to where to start and how to even approach issues with parents who think their day to day is going great but in my thinking they arnt

thoughtscollide I think I want to break up with my partner ..?
  • replies: 13

Hello everyone.. I don't know whether it is because of my depression, or whether I really want to? I feel awful because she is good to me, she has helped me so much this year. I feel ungrateful because of her generosity but I don't think I am in love... View more

Hello everyone.. I don't know whether it is because of my depression, or whether I really want to? I feel awful because she is good to me, she has helped me so much this year. I feel ungrateful because of her generosity but I don't think I am in love with her. I have been working on myself these last few months, it has been long overdue. But, I just keep having this thought that we are not right. I just feel awful and sad about it. I do really care about her but something is not right. I don't know what it is. I love her but I am not in love with her. I would rather be honest with her than keep on going like this. I keep waiting for the 'right time' knowing full well that there is no right time. Thanks, I hope I made sense

Pinkandblue82 Lost my job and possibly my husband days apart
  • replies: 1

I am absolutely destroyed at the moment, we found out on Tuesday that our entire department australia wide is being shut down in the next few weeks depending on leases and now last night my husband who works away messaged me to tell me he doesnt thin... View more

I am absolutely destroyed at the moment, we found out on Tuesday that our entire department australia wide is being shut down in the next few weeks depending on leases and now last night my husband who works away messaged me to tell me he doesnt think he wants to come home as he feels unloved and unwanted. I am numb, i feel physically sick and want to curl up and die but I am at work taking all the overtime i can as i have not got another job lined up. I dont know what to do i cant force him to stay and i cant force my self to pay him attention etc when i am physically exhausted and teetering on the edge as it is - hence the no sex or attention in the first place he has threatened to leave before but i think it is real this time, things have been tough for awhile I am worried about my mental state, and i have 2 kids at home that rely on me for everything...

Galactic_Gizmo My Dad just got engaged...
  • replies: 11

So my parents are going through a divorce and i am the only one of three kids who is still talking to our dad. Well i just found out today that he has gotten engaged. Ive never even met her. Ive attempted to contact her and she has spoken with me bri... View more

So my parents are going through a divorce and i am the only one of three kids who is still talking to our dad. Well i just found out today that he has gotten engaged. Ive never even met her. Ive attempted to contact her and she has spoken with me briefly on a couple of occassions, but she has never made an effort to contact me in return. (Yep he was dating her while my parents were still married). She seems like a lovely lady. I think i should be happy that he is happy, but i just feel....weird. My mum doesnt know yet. Its going to be a disaster when she finds out. I guess being 7 months pregnant with an anxiety disorder probably doesnt help my emotional state. I don't know how to react.

Denv12 Single,CFS/OCD And Feeling Down.
  • replies: 7

Hi. I havent been in here lately. I have cfs (chronic fatigue),mild OCD and living on my own.I cope at the best of times.I look after myself,things like acupressure and "Faster E.F.T". Its not so much the OCD its the cfs.I dont travel.I have to find ... View more

Hi. I havent been in here lately. I have cfs (chronic fatigue),mild OCD and living on my own.I cope at the best of times.I look after myself,things like acupressure and "Faster E.F.T". Its not so much the OCD its the cfs.I dont travel.I have to find things to do to get through a day. Good thing I have the internet. I dont own a car or have a drivers licence. I get everything home delivered.I see my neighbours in passing but I lack companions. I dont like living on my own.I do my daily budget and watch my finances so I stay in front.I guess I'm organised to some degree. I read a lot,self help books are always good.Got a few of those. If you have CFS too and or OCD you're welcome to compare notes. Thanks for stopping by.

Guest_128 This is where you can talk about your kids.
  • replies: 7

Hey everyone I thought I would start this thread for people that need to talk/ask and get support from fellow members. It doesn't matter how small or big the issues might be,there are a lot of parents here that have either dealt with similar issues o... View more

Hey everyone I thought I would start this thread for people that need to talk/ask and get support from fellow members. It doesn't matter how small or big the issues might be,there are a lot of parents here that have either dealt with similar issues or are sure to in the future. So my 19yr old I told to move out of home two nights ago, I have decided that after all these years of me giving all I can,nurturing,holidays,private school (cause I can't help there)canteen,different birthday with whole class every year,trips to Italy,Gallipoli,Bali,cruise ship,multiple camping holidays,good clothes,redoes of bedroom,welcoming bf,bla bla bla. She has told me she remembers none of it except me being pissed. That Dad will go garentor for a house, I do nothing,and don't work. Bla bla bla Hubby doesn't want conflict and neither do I,I am sick of it ,I have been a mum for 28years of my 45yrs. I have totally f up. They are all 3 spoiled rotten. I don't want her to go on bad terms,but I am sick of cleaning up after her,3 towels a day,all lids,draws doors are left open. They just think I'm crap cause I have mental issues. Later

Paullus When things couldn't get much worse!
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As if coping with depression and anxiety isn't enough, I go and get myself involved with a bloody sociopath over three years and finally get the courage to end it. Why the hell does low self worth throw you into the arms of a manipulating abuser. I'm... View more

As if coping with depression and anxiety isn't enough, I go and get myself involved with a bloody sociopath over three years and finally get the courage to end it. Why the hell does low self worth throw you into the arms of a manipulating abuser. I'm so bloody angry at myself for being so weak minded. Sorry, just venting and a little distraugut.

melbbear Not coping with break up
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Really struggling here. Boyfriend of two years left for a month’s overseas holiday 2 weeks ago. Four days into the holiday, he sends a message saying he’s not sure if the relationship is what he wants. I lost it and we had a massive blow out which en... View more

Really struggling here. Boyfriend of two years left for a month’s overseas holiday 2 weeks ago. Four days into the holiday, he sends a message saying he’s not sure if the relationship is what he wants. I lost it and we had a massive blow out which ended with him blocking me on all social media. Two days later we talked via one of the hook up apps and said we'd discuss shit when he got back. The day after that a friend sent me a link to an Instagram account that featured pictures of my BF all loved up with some other dude . This wasn’t my bf’s account, it was the other dudes and the comments he’d attached to the pics made it sound like it was a new relationship – my bf and I hadn’t actually broken up at this point. I went crazy at this and called the Bf some not very nice names but I couldn’t belive what I was seeing and hearing. Basically he had met this dude who was also on holiday at the same place, hooked up and spent 5 days together before they moved on to different parts of their respective holidays. They were going to meet up once more just before my ex Bf was due to return to Aus because they were now seriously in love and wanted to be together. My ex is now planning to return to Aus to sort out some stuff before trying relocate back overseas to be with this other guy. I don’t know how to deal with this. The worst thing is that my last ex did EXACTLY the same thing to me. Ended our relationship while away and then me finding out via social media the reason why he was ending it was another guy. I don’t know how to deal with this. I feel worthless at the moment and that the relationships were just something to fill in time till something better came along. Just so easy to dispose of. Not important enough to break up with me in person.

Leo2017 Making it worse, but just want to help
  • replies: 5

Hi, I'm new to posting in the forum, but a long term reader of all the post and advice, it has helped in so many ways. I'm reaching out to the BB community to hopefully get some support and perspective on my situation. I'm a partner of someone who su... View more

Hi, I'm new to posting in the forum, but a long term reader of all the post and advice, it has helped in so many ways. I'm reaching out to the BB community to hopefully get some support and perspective on my situation. I'm a partner of someone who suffers from depression and anxiety, we've been together for 9 years, for which he has had un-diagnosed depression for all of it. This year he was medicated and diagnosed with depressions, however, over the last few weeks he has really spiralled, he stopped seeing his psychologist around 6 weeks ago (he thought he was on the road to recovery) and the medication he's on does not seem to be taking effect. After a number of bad GP visits (unfortunately it seems there are a number of GP's out there who did not seem to understand his condition) we have finally found one that is caring, compassionate and wants to help. However, due to my partners work, he is often interstate so the appointment have been delayed time and time again. More recently he has told me that he finds it hard to be around me, because I am the only person who knows the real him. He has told me he can't be at home with our family because when he's at home he can't pretend to be someone else and can't cope with the anxiety and depression that overwhelms him. He told me that when he's with other people he can pretend to be someone else which eases the pain. He has been interstate a lot over the past few weeks, and when he is here he's being staying with friends and family as a distraction (his words, not mine!). I am finding it hard to cope myself, I worry about him a lot and just want to help. I am the type of personality that just wants to fix things, but understand that depression and anxiety cannot be fixed by another person. It's almost like I'm walking on egg-shells around him because I don't want to upset him, but more than anything I want him to come home so that I can be there by his side while he fights this battle - but am I making things worse? It's hard to not think that I am just adding to the issues. I am trying to be supportive, loving and giving him the space he needs - but I'm also human, and I'm starting to struggle with my own emotions and feel the cracks showing. I've read a lot of articles about depression but will never understand what sufferers of depression and anxiety go through, so it's so hard for me to understand where he is coming from. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.