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

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Guest_90036321 gettibg help
  • replies: 2

hello! im lollipop and i really struggle with opening up. These recent weeks i believe ive built up too much pressure and stress on myself and it's been feeling foggy and numb (only when im alone but otherwise happy). I dont know how to reach out for... View more

hello! im lollipop and i really struggle with opening up. These recent weeks i believe ive built up too much pressure and stress on myself and it's been feeling foggy and numb (only when im alone but otherwise happy). I dont know how to reach out for help, i worry that it'll crush my friends to know that i'm struggling and i hate the attention of it as well. All the people i feel comfortable enough to reach out to have their own problems that i know of as they have come to me for help and comfort. Ive managed to actually send messages to my friends but i always end up deleting them and making an excuse for pings. Genuinely how do i get myself to open up to others without feeling disgusted?

CaringDad Struggling with conflict at home and trying to hold myself together as a dad
  • replies: 2

I’m a dad of two young children and I feel like I’m reaching a breaking point emotionally. Things at home between my wife and I have deteriorated badly over the past months and especially recently. There is a lot of tension, criticism, hostility and ... View more

I’m a dad of two young children and I feel like I’m reaching a breaking point emotionally. Things at home between my wife and I have deteriorated badly over the past months and especially recently. There is a lot of tension, criticism, hostility and verbal conflict. We barely communicate normally anymore unless it’s about the children or practical things.I feel constantly on edge in my own home. I try very hard to avoid arguments and de-escalate things, but even small interactions seem to become tense. I often feel criticised, dismissed or provoked, and when things escalate I end up emotionally overwhelmed and anxious. Recently I’ve been experiencing panic attacks, anxiety, racing thoughts at night and inability to sleep properly. Some nights I wake up at 3 or 4am and cannot get back to sleep.The hardest part is that I genuinely care deeply about my children and being a good father. I look after them every day, help with routines, daycare, meals, baths, bedtime, and I love them more than anything. My biggest fear right now is the idea of separation and somehow losing meaningful time with them or the stability of family life.At the same time, I know the current environment is unhealthy and emotionally exhausting for everyone. I’m trying to function normally, continue working, care for the kids, and keep myself calm, but internally I feel very broken down and emotionally drained.I often times feel successful at work and momentarily proud and confident again. But coming home to conflict and emotional distance has made the contrast really hard mentally.I’ve started reaching out for support, including legal advice and now posting here because I think I need help navigating this in a healthier way. I don’t want constant fighting. I don’t want my children growing up around tension and resentment but don't want to be forced to be away from them. I also don’t want to lose myself emotionally.I guess I’m posting because I feel isolated and overwhelmed, and I’m wondering if anyone else has gone through something similar and how they managed to cope emotionally while still showing up as a parent.Thanks for reading

booga having some friend issues
  • replies: 2

i have a friend who lives on the opposite side of the world from me, and so we can only spend time together at certain intervals (usually from 8 am to 2 pm) since i've turned 18, i no longer have a bedtime and have been staying up super late, causing... View more

i have a friend who lives on the opposite side of the world from me, and so we can only spend time together at certain intervals (usually from 8 am to 2 pm) since i've turned 18, i no longer have a bedtime and have been staying up super late, causing me to sleep in until 2 pm, which is when they usually go offline. they told me they feel bad about it and miss spending time with me, and i do too i feel really guilty about it, but staying up late feels almost cathartic to me because my mum used to be so strict about my bedtime that she'd always say stuff like "you're just looking for excuses to stay out of bed". my creativity comes to me most when its late, and when im in bed for too long and im not tired, i start overthinking things. i like to stay up late because it makes me feel like i am my own person choosing my own activities, but i feel bad about my friend because we cant spend much time together because of it. i just dont know what to do, i dont want this to ruin our friendship

Earth Girl Replies/comments not showing up on YouTube to my videos/comments - are they being mean?
  • replies: 8

I made a video and put it on YouTube. I received my first comment for it about a month ago, but when I checked it, it wasn't there anymore. I looked it up and it said that YouTube sometimes deletes comments that aren't nice so I thought that may be w... View more

I made a video and put it on YouTube. I received my first comment for it about a month ago, but when I checked it, it wasn't there anymore. I looked it up and it said that YouTube sometimes deletes comments that aren't nice so I thought that may be why it got deleted (which it could be), but recently, when I have made comments on YouTubes and shorts videos, it will say that I have received a reply for it, but doesn't show up and I'm not sure why and it's happened a lot lately so I don't think it's just YouTube deleting replies. I was wondering if anyone knows what could be going on and if there is a way I can see them? Also, YouTube doesn't always notify me when I have received a like, comment or reply so could someone please explain to me if there is a way I can get it to do so each time? It didn't notify me when I received a comment on my video. If they are negative comments/replies that I have received, can someone give me some advice on how to go about it and not let it weigh me down too much? I know these things are going to sometimes hurt, especially comments on a YouTube video and especially since this is my first YouTube video, but it would be great to have some advice on how to keep my head up when people are being mean.

Shar12345 I've reached my limit
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I can do it anymore. I'm at single mum with a 16 yr old daughter at home and a 21 yr old that live with his dad.I work full-time and pick up any extra work I can. I'm going through divorce and financial separation.Mortgage, car issues, solicitors bil... View more

I can do it anymore. I'm at single mum with a 16 yr old daughter at home and a 21 yr old that live with his dad.I work full-time and pick up any extra work I can. I'm going through divorce and financial separation.Mortgage, car issues, solicitors bills blah blah. I'm burnt out.Today my daughter tells me she's been thinking out suicide. She tried last year. I've tried to get her help but she just won't take it. I don't know what to do anymore.I want her father to come get her but that will do absolutely nothing for her mental health.I can't do this anymore.

imdone Feeling helpless
  • replies: 9

I am a 52 year old women, married for 25 years. I'm going through peri menopause and it's really messing with me. Besides that, my husband, who I love very much, has just retired and thinks that gives him the green light to drink everyday, gamble and... View more

I am a 52 year old women, married for 25 years. I'm going through peri menopause and it's really messing with me. Besides that, my husband, who I love very much, has just retired and thinks that gives him the green light to drink everyday, gamble and now has taken to also smoking pot every night. It's medical pot, but whatever. I've tried to tell him how I feel about his drinking etc.. but he claims that he's doing nothing wrong. For context we have had major struggles our whole marriage with his drinking and gambling. I'm at a loss, I'm so unhappy at the moment, I feel deflated, everytime I mention anything it's a huge fight. I really don't know what to do, I feel so depressed.

Guest_07328851 Is this a normal situation and what’s right?
  • replies: 3

During wedding planning, there is both a pre-wedding/layliyeh/kina and the wedding. Of course there will be gifts at these events and usually it’s money in an envelope. Story: One of the couples mothers requests that she collects and takes the envelo... View more

During wedding planning, there is both a pre-wedding/layliyeh/kina and the wedding. Of course there will be gifts at these events and usually it’s money in an envelope. Story: One of the couples mothers requests that she collects and takes the envelopes for BOTH events, so the NEXT day the bride, groom and herself go through the envelope so she can ascertain who paid what to return any favours and see family friends input. The bride AND the groom, say they should take the envelopes and go through it together, and make a list of the names and what they gifted and provide it to the mother so she knows. It was insisted there is no need for that, and that they can go through them together the next day or upon return from the honey moon. Is this a matter for the bride and groom? Or is it a normal and/or cultural thing for the mother to do and request this. Should the bride and groom accept this. Look forward to your answers.

Mar777 Sexless relationship
  • replies: 4

We’ve been together for almost 9 years. He’s never been sex driven and at some point I stop trying as the rejection kept hurting my self esteem. It’s been more than 3 years without sex now. I’ve tried to talk about it and find a way to help but he re... View more

We’ve been together for almost 9 years. He’s never been sex driven and at some point I stop trying as the rejection kept hurting my self esteem. It’s been more than 3 years without sex now. I’ve tried to talk about it and find a way to help but he refuses to talk, he probably feels embarrassed. I have not had much experience in sex and I’m not very active myself but I would like to at least have sex once a month. I do love my partner (now fiancé) and our relationship is great apart from having zero sex. I do not want to make a decision based just on sex as it’s not the most important aspect for me but I do feel like I’m missing that part in my life. I’ve never been unfaithful because I’m too loyal or perhaps hasn’t had the opportunity. Sometimes I wish to meet someone that makes me feel desired. I would like to connect with someone in the same situation

Iamsky I don't know what to do about it
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Hi everyone, I'm 12, in highschool and autistic. Same with my friend group. Yesterday two of my friends (Jacob and tanner) were fighting so I send them a long message and then left all group chats with them. This is the message: "And then you realise... View more

Hi everyone, I'm 12, in highschool and autistic. Same with my friend group. Yesterday two of my friends (Jacob and tanner) were fighting so I send them a long message and then left all group chats with them. This is the message: "And then you realise your lonely and Jacob was one of the only friends you had and regret it and become friends again. And then a month later you fight and this goes on forever and I always get caught in the middle as the therapist because I want to keep friends through high school and I fix your friendship with Jacob so often I'm ready to add it to my Callender to fix it. It honestly adds more to the weight I carry, trying to find a personality that everyone likes so that I can have friends and yk not be lonely and follow my high school plan that I made during the summer Hollidays this year. I am honestly getting tired of your stuff and I am honestly I am losing my give a stuffs and becoming someone I like but others don't know. Frick I don't even know what I like about myself anymore and honestly? I don't even know if anyone likes me so I'm always trying to read facial expressions but that's hard because I can't read people as easy as I read a book. So honestly? I might change everything about myself to be what I'm expected to be even though it'll depress me even more. You guys are best friends for 3 weeks and then it's a fight where you both come to me for advice and I honestly DONT GIVE A FRICKING STUFF ANYMORE." One of my other friends (still in primary school, doesn't know Jacob and tanner) replied with this when I sent her what I sent Jacob and tanner "Holy stuff, I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself if it was that bad and you've been botteling it up for that long then it's time you snapped. You did the right thing" I'm sorry for wasting your time on my stupid friendship drama but I just needed to get this out. Sorry -Sky

Scared Delicate Ego's
  • replies: 6

My family growing up my two brothers and Mother and I had low self esteem issues. When in my 30's I started the self help journey and thats how I found out about self esteem and thru that I was able to see this issue in others as well as myself. My d... View more

My family growing up my two brothers and Mother and I had low self esteem issues. When in my 30's I started the self help journey and thats how I found out about self esteem and thru that I was able to see this issue in others as well as myself. My dad and sister seemed to be immune from it.I learnt that people with low esteem were dangerous to me and i learnt to avoid.So I cannot believe I am once again at the mercy of a person whom has an ego and thru his ego building cuts me off invalidates me while I struggle to be a dinner guest at their house. I worked my guts out and suffered depression to get to this point in life. I am so angry that in his ego building was being a smart ass cutting me down is how I felt just to be the centre of attention again. I know the human psyche of an endangered ego and the lengths they will go to protecting it. The fact for me is he is an unhealthy toxic person for me to be around. My life has crashed as a result of this and Im angry this has been bought to me. There is no way the ego could accept my truth on him. Im angry while they lay around in luxury in their waterfrontage Sydney apartment at circular quay drinking coffee while I live in unhealthy scary dirty boarding room with people trying to break in. The worst thing is they have been helpful to me thru my depression and his wife who really is my friend is not going to take the news well by me saying Im never going to set foot in your apartment again.My attitude is this..... How dare you make me feel bad at your dinner last weekend because I have scraped on my belly for years thru depression and homelessness to get to this point and you think your going to throw that crap on me.Im trying to honour myself for what I have been thru but nit sure if zIm being unfair or arrogant. The only thing I know I am not comfortable going back there for more of that and my friend Em is going to freak out if I ever say that to her. I known Em for 20 years now but my mental health must come first.Does anyone have insight of anything Im not seeing because Im so hurt and angry and feel my life us not being validated