Immediate support
Immediate support

Relationship and family issues

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

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Jump to
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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.

All discussions

Start a discussion

Gb72 Feeling low and overwhelmed by this mad situation
  • replies: 3

Hi about 8 weeks ago my wife left me for someone else. We had been married nearly 9 years. We were in same sex marriage. When I found out I got mad and shouted at her she then made an allegation to Police that I hit her. I’ve got an IVO hearing next ... View more

Hi about 8 weeks ago my wife left me for someone else. We had been married nearly 9 years. We were in same sex marriage. When I found out I got mad and shouted at her she then made an allegation to Police that I hit her. I’ve got an IVO hearing next week led by Police. I came to Australia from UK about 3 years ago. Her friends and family were mine but now they have turned their backs on me. I have no one apart from work colleagues and then it’s just work. My ex now wants me out of the rental we shared. Financially I’m screwed as I’ve been left in loads of debt. When I was with my ex I used to put money into her account and she would pay the bills. Anyway apart from rent she hadn’t been paying them so I’m trying to sort that out and I’m broke. At Christmas I got one card from my parents from UK. It’s my birthday next month and I’m dreading it as I can’t help thinking how lonely I am and that I’ll be alone whilst my ex will be enjoying it with her new girlfriend. I’ve tried talking to my mum but she said as I’ll be working on my birthday I will be kept busy and that I should stop feeling sorry for myself. I told my Mum I’m sleeping about 3 hours a night and she responded well at least your getting some sleep. Because of IVO thing I can’t contact my ex as I really want to know what is happening and why? Especially over the bills. My ex has messaged my sister in UK saying they need to get me back as I’m mentally I’ll and that I’m going to be deported. I work come home cry repeat. I just sob at how things have gone wrong and I feel overwhelmed. I know that if I died I wouldn’t be missed for probably 4-5 days. I’m trying hard not to let the darkness overtake me.

KA2007 I hate my dad
  • replies: 5

When I was younger, he used to hit me whenever I misbehaved. And I was quiet chubby when I was little so he would call me fat every day and even now when my body is a whole lot different I cry myself to sleep every day about my body. When I was young... View more

When I was younger, he used to hit me whenever I misbehaved. And I was quiet chubby when I was little so he would call me fat every day and even now when my body is a whole lot different I cry myself to sleep every day about my body. When I was younger, he and my mum had a fight about how there was too much food in the fridge. He grabbed food from inside the fridge and smashed it everywhere. He grabbed a book and smashed our tv. Now, that I'm older he doesn't hit me anymore. But every little thing I do he shames me for it. Whenever I try helping around the house he tells me that I'm not doing it properly and he calls me lazy and stupid and he says I lack common sense or knowledge. He says I'm dumb and that I'll never make it in the real world. He has this mindset that he's never wrong and that he's on top. That he's the most best person in the world and that he can make no mistakes. For the past year he and my mum have been fighting a lot. I was at a family gathering one day and I was sitting in a room with my cousin, my aunt, and my mum. My mum started crying saying that he told her he hates her and my aunt was comforting her. She told my aunt that he doesn't care for her anymore, forgets her birthday and their anniversary and he only expects her to cook and clean. I cried on the way home that night. For many months she was distant and when my dad left for a business trip I heard her crying in her room every night. Its not like my mum could leave him. My parents both Immigrated to Australia in 2005. She didn't have a job so she had to depend on my dad for work. And she still has to. If she left him she wouldn't have anything left because she can't work and we would all fall under my dads custody and she would have no one. I don't talk to him and he doesn't talk to me. Our relationship is non existent. That was until a few weeks ago when all of a sudden my parents weren't fighting anymore. They started watching tv shows together and they started cuddling up in bed and acting like nothing happened. Time and time again when things go wrong for him he blames my mum and its so clearly obvious that he's manipulating her. I don't even sit in the living room anymore. I can't stand him. And now he's claiming that he loves me and that he wants the best for me. Then where was he when I was younger? I recall him laying on the couch watching tv and beating me up when I misbehaved like any other child would.

lilykitten Cutting off a toxic Ex after divorce
  • replies: 2

This may go against popular opinion but I'd be interested in your thoughts. You see I was the toxic person who was cut out. The separation wasn't totally unexpected but his reactions were. I don't know if it was his friends or his lawyer but from the... View more

This may go against popular opinion but I'd be interested in your thoughts. You see I was the toxic person who was cut out. The separation wasn't totally unexpected but his reactions were. I don't know if it was his friends or his lawyer but from the time financial settlement became a court matter my partner of 17 years refused to speak to me. I had so many questions about why he had left, was he alright, did he have somewhere to live, how could he support his kids and keep a relationship with them. Then why didn't he organise custody, why didn't he take them out, why didn't he ask about their medical appointments? Everything was so out of character for him. I became the toxic person, asking mutual friends, stalking him on facebook, finding out where he lived. Perhaps the fact I never found out if he was working had more to do with him avoiding child support but I understand I crossed the line in the grief of losing a long term friend and a history of reminiscing about family holidays and our children's milestones.The fact is being sent to Coventry was cruel. He doesnt want to know me and couldnt care less how I am or what I am doing. It hurts so much!The reason I am posting this now is that the kids do not know him anymore. They don't know what he would like for Christmas. They don't know his interests. He visits them each week, sometimes he leaves early, sometimes he spends a lot of time on the phone but when they ask why he says its none of their business. He is losing them in his efforts to wipe me from his life.What do you think?

AnotherRandomUser Lack of empathy from sibling
  • replies: 13

My sister never seems to care about my feelings or well-being. I'm not sure if its intentional or if perhaps she has a genuine problem showing empathy. She messages me about her life, feelings, and well-being and I show active interest in her life.Bu... View more

My sister never seems to care about my feelings or well-being. I'm not sure if its intentional or if perhaps she has a genuine problem showing empathy. She messages me about her life, feelings, and well-being and I show active interest in her life.But then she never asks me about my life other than the typical "how are you?" and "what have you been doing?" but even then never responds to my answers.There's no "Im sorry youve been sick, I hope your doing okay" Or "Im glad you and your friends had fun" Or "Ive missed you lately, I hope your good." There's no emotion, and no follow up questions.I either get "okay," no response, or she'll just keep talking about herself.There is never ever any mention of her feeling anything towards me, or having any interest in my life.I've tried telling her how I feel about this but she doesn't understand at all. She just says she does care and she shouldn't have to prove it. Ive tried to tell her that she does have to prove it because my feelings matter, and how am I supposed to know she cares if she never tells me.She will then say she'll consider my feelings more in future, but nothing changes.I dont know what to do at this point. I tried asking her to get therapy, hoping maybe a therapist could explain it to her. But she refuses.And I still dont know if its intentional or not. Like maybe she really doesn't care about me, and I'm trying to salvage a friendship that doesn't exist!?I feel hurt though, I feel like if I disappeared tomorrow she wouldn't even notice. She thinks so little of me its like I don't even exist sometimes. Even when I've ended up in hospital; she doesn't call me, she doesn't worry about me, she doesnt react at all. When I ask her why she says "I was busy" or "I forgot." Theres literally no emotion, and she doesnt seem to get why it matters.Should I give up? I love my sister, but I often wonder if she cares about me at all.

white knight When to cut ties with family
  • replies: 6

Yet again this xmas just passed I've endured toxic family behaviour which halved our xmas numbers as the family imploded. At 66yo it's not new to me. A family of which most have a mental health issue of sorts but even so patience wears thin over time... View more

Yet again this xmas just passed I've endured toxic family behaviour which halved our xmas numbers as the family imploded. At 66yo it's not new to me. A family of which most have a mental health issue of sorts but even so patience wears thin over time. In my case narcissistic tendencies, triangulation, emotional blackmail and other horrible personality disorders make maintaining any stability near impossible. Even my wedding was ruined. So cutting ties, when and how do you go about it? If you suffer any kind of guilt excess than normal that would make it hard to move on- you should IMO give every opportunity for some members to redeem themselves. Such opportunities are fair and kind to the younger adults that have got caught up, or in my case have fallen victim to become "flying monkeys" (google) which are people that follow blindly their narcissistic leader into battle. Before you know it you are in conflict with 2,3,4 or more people and the person you had an issue with is sitting back winding up his/her puppet strings. Most psychs say there is no cure for narcissism! What is terrible is that some of these situations result in losing several family members when, had one of the 2 initial members in conflict had rang the other and tried to sort it, it could have been contained. Certainly in a situation with a narc and some others, no contact is best. Communication will result in twisting your words. Silence can be seen and used as a weapon also, so be sure you aren't using it as leverage but to protect your mental well being. Dont forget you have rights- embrace them. Going NC could mean losing grandchildren, children, parents and so on. So remember one thing- ... as hard as the grief will be life eventually sorts itself out especially when you find stable empathetic and wonderful people to share it with. And that young boy down the road that doesnt fit in at the footy field just might enjoy your train set or Billy cart you make for him. The heart can go on and on... TonyWK

white knight Emotional blackmail- surviving it
  • replies: 32

For me and many others that are subjected to emotional blackmail, it can have lasting lifetime effects. What is emotional blackmail? In my experience emotional blackmail develops in a person that, for whatever reason, believes their conventional meth... View more

For me and many others that are subjected to emotional blackmail, it can have lasting lifetime effects. What is emotional blackmail? In my experience emotional blackmail develops in a person that, for whatever reason, believes their conventional methods of accomplishing control, no longer work. They think of other techniques in a desperate attempt to maintain their status rather that using other tools like love and persuasion. EM can also develop when a parents children turn to adults, an era when a parent often loses the control they once had over their child. The parents lack of control is unacceptable to them and unless they do accept their child as having the ability to make adult decisions, it becomes a downward spiral that wont recover. The parents demands become louder and their techniques more desperate. Sometimes the child/adult child is unaware of such unacceptable conduct like emotional blackmail being used. I was 27yo before it hit me between the eyes. I was educated at a GROW meeting and a chapter was dedicated to the topic in one of their booklets. From then on I had a fight on my hands with my mother as the EB continued. I had a girlfriend at the time that my mother didnt like "if you dont split up from her I'm going to pack my bags and go visit my cousin for 2 weeks"... my answer "I'll help you pack". Sounds nasty but you need to equalise the injustice/car for yourself. The people that use EB are desperate souls so it isnt limited to that technique to get you to do what they want you to do. Triangulation is another hurtful form of manipulation. Have a fall out with the parent, parent rings your sibling to get them on side, you then have a serious fall out with your sibling. It's all about power and power over an individual isnt freedom. It isnt developing strong relationships. Sadly you have few options. In fact my sister and I stopped all contact with our mother 11 years ago. She is now 90yo and no children in her life nor 3 grandchildren as they were treated similar (not from our influence or that would make us as guilty). I'm convinced there is mental illness at play however strong denial means nothing can be done to save the situation. Refusal to get treatment by a perpetrator means they also often deny themselves of family and friends and, sadly, thats a choice they make for their own lives. Those with EB can be tyrants. The victims can be scarred for life. Make the best out of a bad situation and seek peace. TonyWK

-sensitivesally Fighting for nothing
  • replies: 4

My husband and I have been together for 12 years. We have 2 kids together. Our relationship has had its ups and downs but for the most part, we are happy. My husband is a good man and a good father but he has always struggled to deal with my emotions... View more

My husband and I have been together for 12 years. We have 2 kids together. Our relationship has had its ups and downs but for the most part, we are happy. My husband is a good man and a good father but he has always struggled to deal with my emotions when I'm upset. He ignores me, is mean to me and makes me feel worthless which is the opposite of how I need to be supported. I have expressed this to him but when he is annoyed he is a different person. Mean, heartless and stubborn. I do 90% of things for our house and family and lately I've been feeling pretty burnt out. I also work part time and study at uni part time so I don't get a lot of free time. When my husband gets home from work sometimes he claims he is too tired for anything so I cook, clean and do it all. Give him a massage ect anything to make his day better. When I'm exhausted and looking for the same treatment, I'm told no and that's just what wives do. I am a very equal role household so to hear my husband say I should be doing 90% because I'm the wife, makes me speechless. Tonight we were meant to have a movie night with our son. Instead he went to the pub and got drunk, letting my son and I both down. Letting me down has definitely happened on many occasions when he is the mean version of himself, but to let my son down broke my heart. I believe he isn't happy with me any more which is why is he so cold and heartless. He claims it's un true but actions speak louder than words and I don't know how much longer I can go on feeling undervalued, unloved and worthless. It makes me feel lower than I've ever felt before. He holds this power over me that can make me feel my happiest or my absolute worst. Sorry for rambling but any advice would really be appreciated.

MummaF Struggling!
  • replies: 1

Does anyone have any experience dealing with your ex moving in with his girlfriend (she was my best friend of 18years at one stage) when you have 2 children together and 50/50 care... This is not a person I want around my kids (which I know I can't s... View more

Does anyone have any experience dealing with your ex moving in with his girlfriend (she was my best friend of 18years at one stage) when you have 2 children together and 50/50 care... This is not a person I want around my kids (which I know I can't stop) but with a toxic recent history, taken her own kids away from their father and so many other reason I find it hard to deal with. My kids already feel the pressure that they are sometimes second best to her daughter, it kills me to hear some of the things my youngest comes out with about how she feels sometimes. I say that she needs to speak with daddy about her feelings but he never listens as she puts it. Hearing what has been said about this possible new change and hearing how my kids are already being left out, I just can't!

anon143 Young son rejecting parent
  • replies: 5

My young son is only 4 & is starting to vocalise not wanting to contact his father. The marriage & separation between his father and I has been a toxic, DV & hurtful situation for all involved. We 1st separated when he was over 1 y.o however I have s... View more

My young son is only 4 & is starting to vocalise not wanting to contact his father. The marriage & separation between his father and I has been a toxic, DV & hurtful situation for all involved. We 1st separated when he was over 1 y.o however I have stupidly gone back throughout the last 3 years to rekindle a relationship for myself & my son. My son & I are safe and are renting our own home that we have lived in for almost 3 years. Over the years we have stayed with his father and his fathers family who he lives with as we both live in separate states. During those stays (the first stay was only supposed to be for 2 weeks which turned into 8 months thanks to Covid) his father made very little effort to bond or spend quality time with my son. He failed to see my sons worth and would discipline my son over tiny things by slapping him or really yelling at him like he is a grown man (only 2 turning 3). Obviously I made it known that his behaviour is not on. I tried to encourage his father to make an attempt to bond with my son however he was busy working & drinking. My son rarely asks about his father, very rarely will ask to ring his father without me encouraging it. His father and I have a parenting plan in place after he had a DVO. In the parenting plan, there's no set amount of contact they need to have, we have outlined the avenues of how communication can be held. Overall, I am unsure how to support my son during this time as I know he is only young but I know he is not stupid. He has a very good memory. I haven’t had a good relationship with my father either which is partly why I kept pushing for my sons father to be around. I'll ask my son if he would like to call his father and he always says no. When I ask him why, he always responds because he doesn’t want to. Now that my son is openly communicating with me that he doesn’t want to engage in a conversation with his father, I don’t push for it. Am I doing the right thing by listening to my son? His father will rarely make contact and when he does it is not about my son. I feel upset that my son doesn’t want to contact his dad. The reason I feel upset for my son is because he realises his father is unavailable to his needs and that his father does not meet his needs. I have given up on reaching out to his father as it has always been one sided from me and he continues to manipulate me by becoming abusive if I refuse to give in to his demands.

adamc Mum Forbidding Me Seeing My Young Sister For Christmas
  • replies: 7

Firstly, I'm 39-years old, have my own bank account and when I see something in in the shops I want to buy, like a new release DVD, I get it. But mum tries to dictate what I can and can't buy. Back on Mum's birthday, my 26-year old sister stood up to... View more

Firstly, I'm 39-years old, have my own bank account and when I see something in in the shops I want to buy, like a new release DVD, I get it. But mum tries to dictate what I can and can't buy. Back on Mum's birthday, my 26-year old sister stood up to Mum and told her that I have every right to buy what I like with my own money. Mum didn't like that and since demanded an apology off her which she won't get. As my sister said, she's not apologising for speaking the truth. Mum doesn't like anyone standing up to her. She wants me and my two sister to be exactly how she was with her parents; "Yes mummy, whatever you say mummy." My 42-year old sister is already doing it and it's disgusting. Mum told my sister until she apologises, she is not to come over. Now, I have naturally bought my sister and two young nieces presents for Christmas and Mum is forbidding me from going over there to see them. She's even stated "Don't ask your father to take you over as that'll say he's siding with her." I find the whole thing disgusting. As I said to my Dad while out on a walk earlier to get today's paper, what right does my Mum have to prohibit me from visiting my sister and nieces for Christmas?