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

Bonisnothappy Narcissist parents who refuse to believe the existence of mental illness (or just any type of illness....
  • replies: 5

Hi guys, I just wanna find a tree hold to talk about my stories. From my perspective, it can be triggering so warning! I just had a fight with my narcissist, toxic and manipulative dad... He told me to grow the f up cuz I'm already 25 yrs old so I sh... View more

Hi guys, I just wanna find a tree hold to talk about my stories. From my perspective, it can be triggering so warning! I just had a fight with my narcissist, toxic and manipulative dad... He told me to grow the f up cuz I'm already 25 yrs old so I should act and think mutually.. At that time I thought it was so ridiculous cuz till now I still have nightmares, sleeping problems, hard time breathing from time to time and maybe some mental problems, I haven't been officially diagnosed. I now have difficulties trusting anyone, or even talking to anyone face to face... When I was a child my parents started to fight each other, attack each others' family members and educate me with that information. For example, my dad would tell me that people from my mother's side are all selfish typically my aunt is a psycho (not sure if she was diagnosed I guess not). Then my mom would tell me that my dad's relatives are all uneducated rude people, they are cheap and they prefer boys, unlucky I am a girl. I can remember every time I did something wrong, or when I was doing nothing, my mom would come to me to tell me that I should behave well or they were gonna have a young son cuz my dad was planning that already. I wasn't born in Australia, in my country back then every family only had one child. It was really rare to have another one because there was serious punishment for having exceeding children. I remembered I was hurt at that time because my family always told me that they loved me so they didn't care if I was a girl or not. They told me that I was treated like a boy (which means better than a girl in this context) because I got them as family members. I remembered at that time I felt like a homeless dog. Then, my parents' relationship started to fall apart. Please please don't fight in front of your children or anywhere your children can notice. I witnessed my father's physical violence towards my mother... Also, I was listening to multiple fights during the night. One of my parents turned my heated blanket to the maximum level before having a fight, and when I woke up and listened to them quietly I was sweating but I was so scared to move, nor to turn the heated blanket off. I tried so hard to close my eyes but I was roasted by the heated blanket also the chaos outside was too loud...I think I have developed some PTSD from that... every time when my neighbour makes some noises I panic.

LadyCath Feeling alone and feeling bad about it
  • replies: 7

So my partner loves me. No doubts in anyone's mind but he has add, possible undiagnosed autism and he doesn't like being touched. When we first started dating I knew he didn't like to be touched. He used to sleep on the floor sometimes when he was wi... View more

So my partner loves me. No doubts in anyone's mind but he has add, possible undiagnosed autism and he doesn't like being touched. When we first started dating I knew he didn't like to be touched. He used to sleep on the floor sometimes when he was with his ex wife. So it's not news for me. But I'm a HSP with depression and anxiety and some days I need to be held. Well he's been super stressed lately and when I was having a big sad I asked if I could have a hug. He said no but offered me to hold a finger. II understand and respect that he doesn't like to be touched. But now I'm so angry at myself for crying hysterically because I couldn't be hugged. I'm so confused. What can I do to find a way to satisfy my depression and need for being held when he doesn't want to. Help.

PsychedelicFur Acknowledging that I deserve better but still miss him sometimes
  • replies: 3

I left him ten months into our relationship because I came to terms with the fact that I do definitely deserve better. Throughout the duration of the relationship it was quite psychologically and emotionally abusive.. as well as quite mentally draini... View more

I left him ten months into our relationship because I came to terms with the fact that I do definitely deserve better. Throughout the duration of the relationship it was quite psychologically and emotionally abusive.. as well as quite mentally draining and exhausting. However, with saying that though - Sometimes I miss the memories we shared together - the fond times, the lovely times.. the mesmerising memories. The Honeymoon, Love Bombing phase! I am fully and completely aware of a thing called a ‘trauma bond’ And when I think of our fond times in the relationship I genuinely try to bring myself back to reality. Where I can think far more rationally and remind myself that I DESERVE BETTER. Because I do. I was with him for about ten months. I have not contacted him for at least seven months. And he has been blocked for a similar amount of time too. I understand that the negativity he carries within him cannot and will not enrich my life. So insecure, he was. He would project his insecurities onto me and consequently as a result I am now left with quite severe body dysmorphic disorder.. where I am practically housebound and most days I refuse to leave the home. And I am severely introverted.. so social gatherings completely amplify my anxiety and terrify me so much. That’s beside the point though.. what I am trying to say here is that he would psychologically abuse me to the point of me having a few breakdowns.. one of which I had to go into hospital and they gave me Valium to calm down. Meanwhile, as I was in hospital he would proceed to remind me of how much of a ‘horrible’ and ‘pathetic’ person I was just because I asked him that I wanted more support. DEEP DOWN I am completely aware of the fact I definitely deserve so much better. I just hope one day I don’t have times where I miss the good times and nice things we did together. I don’t like trauma bonds at all. These trauma bonds truly are debilitating and intense. PF.

..K Always my fault
  • replies: 8

Evening unfortunately I always keep my issues bottled up when I talk to my husband about anything that’s on my mind he ALWAYS blames it on me. It makes me feel completely worthless and like everything is my fault or turns it around and makes me feel ... View more

Evening unfortunately I always keep my issues bottled up when I talk to my husband about anything that’s on my mind he ALWAYS blames it on me. It makes me feel completely worthless and like everything is my fault or turns it around and makes me feel like he’s the one not good enough. then I get to over thinking everything and feel extremely insecure. I have absolutely no friends so I cannot turn to anyone. I just need some help i Want to be the best mother I can be for my kids. I want to be happy. I don’t want to be made to feel like every argument is my fault.

lilykitten How do I move on?
  • replies: 6

I separated from my husband over 3 years ago. It started out amicable until lawyers got involved (property not kids) at which point he totally cut me off emotionally from his life. I did the right thing and gave him full access to the kids. Ideally I... View more

I separated from my husband over 3 years ago. It started out amicable until lawyers got involved (property not kids) at which point he totally cut me off emotionally from his life. I did the right thing and gave him full access to the kids. Ideally I wanted a 50:50 custody arrangement but he struggled to find his feet and couch-surfed for ages even after the property payout. He now has a girlfriend and a house somewhere in the next town. He has kept up visits to the kids once a week in my home and watched videos with them but has no custody by choice. We all sat down about 6months ago after the kids didn't want their Dad to visit anymore as he felt like a stranger because he only asked them questions about what they had been up to but would never tell them any details of his life. He listened a little bit but acted very threatened. He returned my key and agreed to knock and let the kids invite him into the home on their meeting day (which gave the kids more control) and he has since then, showed them a picture of his girlfriend and told them he has a new house. He still never takes them out anywhere although he has taken the eldest on driving lessons. I am usually at work when he visits but not during lockdown. Which leads back to my problem. I have a lovely boyfriend and a busy life but for some reason I spend about 2 hours everyday wondering about my ex, what he is thinking, why he did what he did, what does he do all day that prevents him from being a better father, why cant he have a conversation with me, what should I have done differently, why am I mad at him, how do I help the situation, how can someone you lived and shared everything with for 17 years, just cut you off emotionally, how do I heal the rift? I guess I would like us to be friends and discuss supporting the kids together. Last weekend was his Birthday and Fathers Day and he was too busy to see them (it wasn't his designated Thursday afternoon) and I could tell the kids were disappointed. I know he will never at this stage financially help the kids and I'm wondering if all this is about money and if I gave him back the $800 he has paid in Child support since 2018 he might realise I don't want his money and it is safe to share his life (he claims $0 income). What do you think? How do I stop thinking about him and move on?

Suckerforpunishment Feeling helpless alcoholic partner and worried about my own mental health
  • replies: 16

Hi I’ve been with my current partner for around 6 years, he’s always been a heavy drinker but in the last 12 months or so it has become worse. He drinks around 10-12 cans of beer each night. I have tried to talk to him about the problem and the impac... View more

Hi I’ve been with my current partner for around 6 years, he’s always been a heavy drinker but in the last 12 months or so it has become worse. He drinks around 10-12 cans of beer each night. I have tried to talk to him about the problem and the impact it is having on our relationship and the example it is setting for my two young children. I’ve also recently started working as a nurse and seeing the impact alcohol has on the patients I take care of is devastating. He is not violent when drinking but can be aggressive - as in he will stand over me or edge closer to my face and point his finger at me while loudly speaking … I feel his drinking is affecting me a lot more each day I feel helpless and lost and angry most of the time. It has gotten to the point that I cringe when I hear the cans open. I don’t know what to do anymore I just feel like crying and am hating my life

Earth Girl People changing their minds about meeting me
  • replies: 4

I'm a very shy girl and have trouble making friends. A few years ago, I joined this site where I could make friends from the city I live, but most of them changed their minds about wanting to meet me. I heard good things about girl 1 so I thought I'd... View more

I'm a very shy girl and have trouble making friends. A few years ago, I joined this site where I could make friends from the city I live, but most of them changed their minds about wanting to meet me. I heard good things about girl 1 so I thought I'd ask her if she would like to meet up to see if we click and she said she would love to. On the day, she asked if we could meet the day afterwards because she had another friend who wanted to meet me who was a little girl and I said "That sounds really cool, but I already have plans that day. She sounds cute haha. Does she know me?" (Of course she didn't know me because she wanted to meet me, but that didn't cross my mind at the time) and girl 1 told me a bit about her and then said that she woke up with a head ache and asked if we could meet some other time. I met up with a different girl a while after this, girl 2, and we got along well. She was really cool and even someone I'd want to be close friends with and she might have as well because she said that even if I didn't choose her to be buddies, she'd still be happy to go to a gallery with me. The next day she asked if I would like to be buddies and I said that I would love to and she was like that's great. I also said that I'd be able to go to the gallery with her and asked her where it was and she told me but just a little while before I was going to leave, she told me she wasn't feeling well and if we could catch up next week. Girl 3 messaged me asking if I wanted to meet up and I told her that I remembered her from school and said I would like to, but on the day she told me her car wasn't working. There have been a few people that have been happy to hang out with me, but we didn't click super well (I still thought they were nice though). There were more people than these three people who changed their mind about wanting to see me though. It's not that I think people should have to hang out with me, it just makes me kind of worried that people change their minds because I feel like I must be doing something wrong, but I don't know what. Do you think they just thought we wouldn't click super well, or should I be worried?

JusJRo What more can I do for my ex-partner ?
  • replies: 4

Hi all - after 16 years together, the last 3-4 we were both pretty unhappy, I decided enough was enough and it would be better if we were apart rather than fighting and displaying an unhealthy relationship to our son. Partner has suffered from undiag... View more

Hi all - after 16 years together, the last 3-4 we were both pretty unhappy, I decided enough was enough and it would be better if we were apart rather than fighting and displaying an unhealthy relationship to our son. Partner has suffered from undiagnosed depression for many years and I have tried and tried to get him to seek help but he 'doesn't believe' in psychologists, doesn't want to reveal things about himself 'to a stranger' etc. After I left I think he finally realised that he had to do something to improve his outlook and did go on some meds (the GP referred him to a psych as well) but he no longer takes the meds and refuses to continue with the psych. Every so often I get these texts from him saying he would rather be dead, life is pointless, his life is filled with nothing but disappointment and regret and he thinks our son shouldn't see him due to him not being a good influence (on our son)... these texts are always followed by a guilt inducing 'oh sorry, i forgot you don't care anymore etc etc' comment. This is patently untrue and I have told him many times that I will always care for him and I've spent years trying to make things better for him. I cannot make things better for him and it was this realisation that set me to leave. I just don't know what to do anymore. I feel like a still have a responsibility to him due to our son but I'm at a total loss as to how to respond. I want to live a happy life and I have spent years trying to get him to understand he has some mental health issues but to no avail. I don't think he realises how much it stresses me out - hearing him say he'd rather be dead! It's horrible. Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't know what to do anymore. Thank you xx

Tay-T Struggling and feel alone
  • replies: 2

Hi! 3 years ago I came out of a long term 7 year domestically violent relationship. 6 months after I met someone new with 2 kids to 2 different mums. He is 34 I am 28. He seemed to be perfect but I was always in the middle of the exs who one constant... View more

Hi! 3 years ago I came out of a long term 7 year domestically violent relationship. 6 months after I met someone new with 2 kids to 2 different mums. He is 34 I am 28. He seemed to be perfect but I was always in the middle of the exs who one constantly threatened me to the point I had to leave my beach apartment and move and the other is closer to his family then I am even 3 years after they split she goes to all of the family events etc. that initially put a lot of stress in the relationship. After only a few months into the relationship his 1 yr old son started calling me mum. As time went on I fell pregnant twice in 1 year and we had to terminate as our life was too full on with his 1yo full time and 5yo part time. Since then my hormones have been all over the place but he started screaming at me swerving the car while driving intentionally trying to scare me in fits of rage. (He is a reformed drug addict) but he is very extrovert and talks to anyone/compulsive lies about silly things eg makes up stories that didn’t happen. Since that started he would become distant if I didn’t sleep with him 1-2 times a day he began starting fights over nothing eg. Abuse me for not wrapping the watermelon properly in the fridge. For so long I feel like I endured mental torment I began thinking maybe I am a narcissist Because he would always seem to find a way to make me to blame for absolutely everything. We get no time together as a couple it’s just instant step mum & dad. All of a sudden he has left me saying he is seeing other people 1 day after everything was fine. I know it seems trivial but I left my whole life that I rebuilt after so long in a violent relationship. I gave up my apartment because of the death threats from his ex I gave up my job to raise his son I’ve put on so much weight from all of the stress and now I’m just left alone to pick up all the peices again I feel like everything is my fault and how could this happen twice I am so scared of how to rebuild every again alone with nothing I just don’t know if I have the energy to do it all again I am terrified and heartbroken and feel so alone. I have lost all faith in ever being happy again.

Nunu How to find someone to connect?
  • replies: 9

Hi ok, so it’s hard to express but will try too. I married my first love 20 years ago. After 12 years or so he cheated and we lived separately but still married & loved. He moved to home country and I am here with my son. We always chatted, video cal... View more

Hi ok, so it’s hard to express but will try too. I married my first love 20 years ago. After 12 years or so he cheated and we lived separately but still married & loved. He moved to home country and I am here with my son. We always chatted, video calls, he tried coming back but got stuck due to visa issues. start of this year my husband passed away in an accident. It was devastating but also bcoz we live away from each other am able to cope. i feel like having a friend/partner for emotionally & intimately. But the problem is I never ever dated. Never had sex with anyone except my husband. I sometimes freak out that I will end up alone. Am not confident approaching someone to date. I feel like I can’t have sex until I love a person. I know am not ready . super confused about my feelings and how to address them?