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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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Nil How to look after a depressed person after an affair?
  • replies: 3

hi all, I'm nil and I'm new here. I desperately need some advice... My family is overseas. I have just found out that my dad had an affair while my mom was away on a 2 months trip (to visit me in Austraila). He has been talking and chatting to my aun... View more

hi all, I'm nil and I'm new here. I desperately need some advice... My family is overseas. I have just found out that my dad had an affair while my mom was away on a 2 months trip (to visit me in Austraila). He has been talking and chatting to my aunt ( my mom's twin sister!). we reckon this has been going on only for 2 weeks or so and after my sisters found it out by checking their mobile phones they talked to the aunt and asked her to end it and never let my mom know about it. they asked her to end it without letting him know that my sisters are aware. and she did that and stops using social media and texting him from the day after (June). my mom went back home and apparently, dad was being very nice to her for a month and being very supportive and my sisters could feel him being regretful and ashamed at that stage. ( before this they have always been nice and friendly). last month, aunti suddenly told everybody that she is getting married and since that day dads mood changed. He is very depressed, he even cried the day after and he is not nice to mom anymore, doesn't talk much, doesn't care about anyone, having earphones all the time and being rude. its been 2,3 weeks that they don't sleep in the same bedroom and they hardly talk together and mom confused and sad. On the other hand, mom complains that Aunti has suddenly stopped coming over, she doesn't talk to me like before and I feel like something has happened and she is annoyed of something but it's not me. she is thinking too much about the changes and wonders why her sister is so depressed ( aunt is her twin sister, 50 years old, widow, has 3 children and the youngest is 20. she used to be very talkative and happy and now seems to very very quiet). I and my sisters don't want her to find out what had happened and why are they changed but we don't know if she has noticed because she loves dad and this could kill her. Dad very much looks like he is deeply depressed and we are afraid he might commit a suicide but we can not talk to him about that and we don't want him to know that we knew about this. We don't know how to make him feel better and come back to routine life. we hate and love him at the same time... but all we think about it not letting mom know anything and also look after dad. we have time to be angry at him later. What do you think we should do? how can we help? aunts wedding is soon, maybe is 2,3 weeks and we are so worried if he does something ...

Ruby2018 Ill health = depression and want relationship to break down
  • replies: 6

Hello, I’ve just joined. From the quick browse, I imagine I will receive heartfelt and considered replies. That alone worries me as I have zero, nothing, nada in the tank to help others. I’m at rock bottom. Have a serious illness and have given up wo... View more

Hello, I’ve just joined. From the quick browse, I imagine I will receive heartfelt and considered replies. That alone worries me as I have zero, nothing, nada in the tank to help others. I’m at rock bottom. Have a serious illness and have given up work for the time being. Pain, I’ll health - it’s all too much, my disease is incurable. In a de facto relationship, approx five years. Want to end it. He is financially draining me. I’ve given too much and can’t and don’t want to anymore. He told me yesterday when I said I wanted to end it, he would get legal advice so he knew his rights. He came to me with nothing. Lives in my home. Has paid zero towards mortgage, rates and insurance. Occasionally bill money drifts by and occasionally food. I know by now you all think I’m stupid. I’ve been googling de facto rights and I’m terrified he can take some of my assets. I havebeen a fool. I know that. I just want him to go and leave me alone. I’m on fairly heavy medication for my disease and for pain relief. May or may not get back to work. I don’t know. I’m 50 and can not afford a free boarder!

sop My Children are addicted to IPad /iPhone
  • replies: 8

Hi, i just wonder if anyone has the frustration with their kids using iPad/ iPhone etc. I have two young children (aged 6 and 9), it appears nothing wrong with them, school doing perfectly and excellent behaviours. However I am annoyed with them addi... View more

Hi, i just wonder if anyone has the frustration with their kids using iPad/ iPhone etc. I have two young children (aged 6 and 9), it appears nothing wrong with them, school doing perfectly and excellent behaviours. However I am annoyed with them addicting to iPad from time to time. It seems that every single minute when they are free, they can’t sit still but take the ipad and start watching YouTube, computer game, movies etc. everything I see, I stop them but it’s very annoying for me to do this. They hate me of course. I tried to hide the iPad somewhere but it won’t work. They will try to find them out anyway and play again. My key concern is that iPad affects their eyes (vision problems) so the vicious cycle goes on and on etc. I am seeking some advice / recommendations if anyone hasan idea how to control their children when it comes to iPhone iPad etc!? thank you.

AussieMum2000 Feeling lost and confused.
  • replies: 6

Hi there, Im a 39 yr old mother of two teenage girls. After almost 20 years together and 14 years married, my husband and I have recently separated. This was my decision due to me being gay. Anyhow, I do/did have a girlfriend. I’m honestly not sure e... View more

Hi there, Im a 39 yr old mother of two teenage girls. After almost 20 years together and 14 years married, my husband and I have recently separated. This was my decision due to me being gay. Anyhow, I do/did have a girlfriend. I’m honestly not sure exactly if I still have a girlfriend or not. I’m so confused. My girlfriend of 5.5 months was admitted to hospital recently due to her severe depression. Before she was admitted she told me she was done with our relationship. I’m not sure if that was her depression talking or she really wanted to end our relationship. We had a very close bond and spent a lot of time together over the past few months. I told her I loved her in August this year and on the same weekend, she told me she loved me too. Since she has been admitted, i’ve messaged her everyday and she has only messaged me once during this time. She still reads every message I send her, she just doesn’t reply. I believe she still loves me, but I’m struggling with her lack of communication and I’m feeling lost and confused.

Lost27 Bad relationship, feel alone
  • replies: 2

Hello, I just got out of a long relationship because it was getting bad and I wasn't treated very well and he blamed everything that happened all on me. Even tho everything he said and treated me really bad I want to be with him and love him but I wa... View more

Hello, I just got out of a long relationship because it was getting bad and I wasn't treated very well and he blamed everything that happened all on me. Even tho everything he said and treated me really bad I want to be with him and love him but I want it to stop. I know I shouldn't want to be with him and I want my feeling for him to stop. I put up with so much over the years of emotional abuse but I still want to be with him. How can I make it stop.

Justme834 Promised to have a baby then changed his mind
  • replies: 3

I’ve been with the same man for almost four years. We have a 15 year age gap. He is older. For the most part we have a good relationship. That said, he has a short fuse and overreacts to what I would consider minor arguments. He has been married befo... View more

I’ve been with the same man for almost four years. We have a 15 year age gap. He is older. For the most part we have a good relationship. That said, he has a short fuse and overreacts to what I would consider minor arguments. He has been married before and had two children during this marriage. His ex wife basically spent his hard earned money and nothing much else. He has never gotten over the negative things that occurred during his marriage. He was happy to have me in his life...as I am the opposite to her. But every now and then he goes into a deep depression when his ex does something or his kids don’t appreciate him. He takes it out on me. He becomes verbally abusive. Says horrible things. he promised to have a baby with me. He has now reneged on that. I’m 35. I feel like my heart has been ripped out. I love him. I don’t understand why he is doing this. I don’t know what to do. I honestly hate my life. Has anyone experienced anything like this?

Guest_7403 Leaving wife because of stepson
  • replies: 19

Hi all some advice needed please My wife and I have a newborn (ours) a stepson (hers, he's 5) and I have a daughter to another lady (she's 5 also) I see my daughter 3 times a week after school for a few hours, by choice on my side. I knew my wife had... View more

Hi all some advice needed please My wife and I have a newborn (ours) a stepson (hers, he's 5) and I have a daughter to another lady (she's 5 also) I see my daughter 3 times a week after school for a few hours, by choice on my side. I knew my wife had a son when I met her, and knew I didn't want to have a step son or another child in my life as I wasn't in a good place mentally. It was never meant to be more then a bit of office flirting I guess as I was enjoying for once being alone and myself As we started dating, getting more serious we had arguments about him being there all the time, and I told her I'd rather end our relationship...she pleaded and said I wouldn't always feel this way and I decided to stay Fast forward two years, I still can't stand having someone else's kid around me. We decided to change her custody arrangements 3 months ago yo fix this issue and give us a chance with our new child..to 3 days a fortnight and more flexible days so that she could have him while I was at work (I work shift work) to minimise our interactions Its been going great, we are better then ever and our work life balance has been enjoyable But the other night her ex messaged saying that because he has there son majority of the time as of next year he would be moving him schools to be closer to his home (about 25 minutes from us) My wife wasn't happy about this and we discussed the options of allowing it and not. The only way for it not too happen was to take her son back 50/50, something I'm apprehensive about at best. She fought for hours with him and ultimately ended up taking him back 50/50...so now I'm looking at a life with this kid again and being completely miserable What has led me to wanting to end my marriage now is that after she stopped him changing schools she told me "she's glad she beat him and he lost that control" I'm very upset and annoyed that we finally were living the life we wanted only to have it taken away because of an emotional battle between them. I know it sounds awful about her son, it's just how I feel and had my time again I would of walked and never gone down this path, but I love my wife and wanted a life with her. She's refusing to back down on her stance, not because it's what she wants (she enjoys our life balance now) but for the simple fact she doesn't want him having that full control I'm just after some 3rd person perspective as I don't see a point in living an unhappy life when it doesn't need to be. Thanks

cow Parents are getting a divorce and my dad's alcohol addiction
  • replies: 1

My parents are getting a divorce because they keep fighting and they don't go well together. My dad also had a alcohol addiction for a while so my family has been through a lot. My dad is getting help now after he relapsed after three years, but I am... View more

My parents are getting a divorce because they keep fighting and they don't go well together. My dad also had a alcohol addiction for a while so my family has been through a lot. My dad is getting help now after he relapsed after three years, but I am more anxious about my parents' divorce. I do want them to be happy but I can't picture my life being happy with them apart. I don't want them to live separately and I don't want me and my sisters to separate. There are so many emotions going on in my head which are stopping me from focusing at school and I can't find anything to make me happy. None of my friends can help me as my best friends live far away. I also don't want to talk out loud to anyone about it because I have been to a psychologist before and I couldn't open up.

JWren Feeling Isolated and rejected
  • replies: 5

I've been struggling to deal with an abusive family member whose main issues revolve around abusing me financially emotionally and verbally. I was seeing a psychologist i thought i could trust and confide in but my sibling has isolated me from not ju... View more

I've been struggling to deal with an abusive family member whose main issues revolve around abusing me financially emotionally and verbally. I was seeing a psychologist i thought i could trust and confide in but my sibling has isolated me from not just this person but the rest of my family through lies and distortion of the truth to suit her own agenda. Now I feel like I can't trust anyone and there's nobody I can talk to who will understand and not think I'm a terrible person. In my headd I know this doesn't make sense but I feel like I'm not worthwhile or loveable even when I know I've not done anything to cause this problem. The anxiety and depression caused by this situation is weighing me down bad and I don't know what to do.

Zazu What will speaking achieve?
  • replies: 2

The past four days, apart from answering direct questions or using as few words as possible, I've stopped talking to my husband. Before that, for months now, every time I speak, it's been the wrong thing to say. I'm either assuming something, asking ... View more

The past four days, apart from answering direct questions or using as few words as possible, I've stopped talking to my husband. Before that, for months now, every time I speak, it's been the wrong thing to say. I'm either assuming something, asking the wrong question, asking the right question but in the wrong way, interrupting him or some other mistake. Now, when I talk, I ask myself first "what will speaking achieve"? If there's nothing positive to be achieved, I stay quiet. It's much more peaceful at home. Even something as seemingly simple as "when would you like dinner?" was causing a half hour long argument. Now, I just make dinner and if he's ready, he eats with me, and if he's not, we eat seperately. But there are no arguments which is great, four days with no arguments has to be a record. I am naturally a combative personality - I enjoy a (healthy) debate, and can see both sides and play both sides for intellectual fun. I'm wondering if I've been bringing this part of my personality into my relationship too much - as my other half is not the type to see himself as ever incorrect about anything, in his mind it's not possible and there's always a way to explain his "right-ness". Is this the secret? Stop running my mouth every opportunity and be more mindful of what I'm saying? Only saying what is necessary instead of everything that pops into my head? We've only been married two months.... I want to put the effort in to make it work.