I’m really struggling with liking my partner. We had our first baby in the beginning of the first lockdown and I’m pregnant again. I feel like I am just going off him and I don’t know if I love him anymore. I look at everything he does and it just frustrates me. I’m struggling to have sex with him because I just don’t feel like I want too. I feel like he doesn’t treat me nice too....

There are a few things going on in my life at the moment and I need help to just sort my head out. It all started two years ago. Me and my boyfriend found out that I was unexpectedly pregnant. At the time we were not practically able to have a baby – didn’t have full time jobs, a place to live etc. despite the fact that I would love to be a mom. So, after deciding together what we would do, on my 21st birthday I had an abortion (at which time he went out of the country for the football). This knocked me for six. More than either of us realised at the time. It’s only looking back that I can see that this was the start of a downward spiral for me. I changed and just began to notice everything. I noticed how he wasn’t there then on a day that I needed him. I noticed how he never complimented me or said nice things about me. I noticed how when we spoke or were sat at the dining room table, he wouldn’t look at me. I just became down and felt worthless, like I had to beg for his attention, and this is spanning over the two years since the abortion. We have had numerous conversations about how I feel in our relationship, to the point now where he says I am just hurting him. Needless to say, I started to notice how other people would make me feel better about myself. Notice how other guys would make me feel happy and build me up. I began to feel wanted, important, attractive via other people. I didn’t mean for it to happen, I don’t necessarily regret it happening either, but I had an affair. This guy is amazing. We were friends before the affair and I’ve always had a thing for him. He is my go to, my best friend. He makes me feel supported, loved, wanted, sexy – everything and more. He knows everything about me. It started out as just a bit of fun, both of us getting something from each other that we weren’t getting in our relationships, but then it soon became more. A year and six months later, I’m head over heels for him. Here’s the catch. He has been married for a year and has a child. He says he can’t leave because of the child, that he is happy with his life despite the fact that he loves me and wants to be with me in ways he can’t. I know I need to get over him and let him go because, no matter how tough it is, he does have a choice and that evidently isn’t us. He has told me how if he didn’t have his child then things would be different, but ultimately the child comes first (which I don’t knock him for). My issue is letting go. There so much other stuff going on in my life as well at this point. With lockdown suspending normal life, I’m not working so just stuck in the house. My mom has been institutionalised and is on suicide watch. I’m also noticing how she can be emotionally abusive towards my dad too. I just can’t deal with it all right now, I’m nearly at breaking point. Can anybody slap some sense into me?

Okay - so this is weird. Firstly I am a man and don't think they are too common on this site - could be wrong but of all the comments I have seen on here they seem to be from females - but I would welcome a female perspective if I try and give as balanced a view as possible without giving too much away. I'm not sure where to start so am a little lost... So, married for 11 years, two children, live in a lovely house very close to my sister in law and parents in law - so all three houses are close together. We went through a number of goes at pregnancy and were lucky enough to have twins. My wife would like to have four children but I don't think this is going to happen as I don't want to try and bring more children into a relationship that is already fragile - she holds this against me but it just doesn't seem right. She really really really wants more children to the point where she gets really upset when 'School mums fall unexpectedly pregnant'. I kind of say that we need to be grateful for what we have? I work full time, wife doesn't work at all - full time stay at home mum. I am really happy that I can provide for the family so she doesn't have to work but feel that she can take this for granted. I work in a pretty stressful job and also supplement my income with another company to make sure we have everything covered. We seem to live two separate lives, even in lockdown - she stays up with the kids very late watching TV and gets up very late as well. Meanwhile I hit the sack at 10ish and up at 7.30ish having breakfast on my own etc. We don't do ANYTHING together. I have been sleeping in a separate bed for three years - couple of reasons - we had a big argument years ago but also I am overweight and so snore - I'm constantly trying to lose weight but very difficult - having a good go at it at the moment. Because we live so close to the family and the way she smothers the children we don't get any time together. My wife has been away from the children one night in eight years (is this normal?). unfortunately I have been de-prioritsed over the years and feel like its the following order: Kids -> Dog -> Cat -> Hamsters/Goldfish (can't break those two apart). I effectively live in a house that I pay for lock stock as well as fund a rather exceptional life style for my wife which I think she takes for granted. I feel guilty because she does all the ironing and most of the cleaning - maybe I need to do more but just want to crash after a days work. I am on the brink of moving out but such a big decision. How will the kids take it? Where will I go? The relationship is toxic - we are like two chemicals that are absolutely wonderful in isolation but put them together and you start to get a bad reaction. There is NO intimacy, no kissing, no hand holding. I mean it's as dead as a dodo! What to do? I'm going to stop now but would welcome views from the other side of the fence as honest as possible - if you have questions I'll try and answer them as well.

Hello, I’m new here and just want to share my experience if anyone out there can relate as well. When I was 17, I met this guy who was two years older than me, he was 19. He was really cute, very outgoing and light of the life. I didn’t think too much of him as I was so naive and scared to get hurt by a guy so I was so quiet and reserved. Myself, my friends, him and his friends would always hangout together as a big group. We started chatting and got to know each other. I began falling for him and liking him so much. Whenever he texts me and I see his name pop up my heart would jump so fast and I would get crazy butterflies. We never really hung out alone we were always around our friends. We were both so young at the time but we both developed feelings for each other but just never confessed within each other. He was the kind of person where if I never saw him for a long time, we always pick up where we left off and it was never awkward. It always felt right but my vulnerable over thinking ass is too afraid to get hurt by him because I knew I was falling deep for him and I denied how I truly felt. I knew he had feelings for me too and he was also shy towards me. As time gone by, we would see each other once in a while. It became like when we’re both single it seems like something is always pulling us apart, when he’s single I was dating someone, and then when I’m single he was seeing someone. We were never really on the same page but our feelings were always there and the way he looks at me and how he talks to me or asks my friends about me I would get butterflies. He was a love that I never felt with anyone. I was just too young to truly understand what I truly felt. Fast forward to several years later, I was 24 at the time and he was 26 years old. And at that time I was already in a 3 year relationship with a different guy. And I haven’t seen the guy I always had love for in 2 years. I randomly saw him at a party and I was in complete shocked. We both reunited and talked about the good old days. I had so many mix emotions and I thought that I got over him when I met my boyfriend but for some reason I felt like all of my feelings for him came back and I felt so horrible like I was cheating on my boyfriend but I wasn’t. It felt so beautiful to catch up and see how he was doing as we both aren’t kids anymore and we both grown up. The whole night I was so happy and also so scared because I was scared that my boyfriend would find out some how even though he wasn’t even there. Again, I held myself back on the guy I always had love for. That night he asked me if I ever liked him. Never in years he has never asked me that. And all I said was “yea.. I did” when really I just wanted to explode all of my true feelings but I felt horrible because I was already in a relationship. That night when I went home I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I felt like I missed him so much. I just wanted to call him and see him and meet up and go for a walk or something but I didn’t want to be unfaithful to my boyfriend so I never said a word. Ever since that day I never stopped thinking of him. 10 months later, my best friend calls me and tells me that he had died. My heart dropped, sank and felt like it got ripped right open. I didn’t even know what to feel. I cried all night, for days and months to years and years. I regretted so much the last time I saw him, I wish I would have just open up and tell him how I truly felt. I never realized that I actually really did love him until he died. And I really wish he knew. But I know that he knows even though not in my world but on the other side of the world. I feel him and he sends me signs that he’s here with me. It’s been 7 years since he’s gone and finally it has taken me 7 years to accept that he’s no longer here and I’ve learned to forgive myself and not regret anything in life. So my advice to you if you are reading this, please express your heart and your soul. Don’t hide it. Do what you love and chase it. Tell that person you love them. Don’t hold back anymore life is too short to save it for another day or “when the time is right”. There is no right time do it now and better to feel like a fool than to ever wonder what it would feel like if you did got the chance to pour your heart out.

I have a 14 month old baby. It's been tough in lockdown. My anxiety has been quite high. When I say to my partner I’ve been struggling he says I don’t know what to say. He can be short with me on things or makes out I’m wrong for feeling. He gets angry and defensive when I say it upsets me. He won’t apologise. I need more love and support but he doesn’t take my anxiety seriously.

I have a family member who is estranged from others in my family. I've tried to stay in touch - I so desperately wanted to love and support this person, because I love and care about them and want them to be ok. I've sent supportive messages, listened (really tried to listen and ask questions), tried to make plans to see them. I think in any scenario there's always more you could have done - and I want to be open and willing to be supportive in the way this person needs me to be. Yet, I do feel like everything I say and have done, however honest and loving my intentions, have been taken badly - it's almost like everything has got twisted round into a negative. I can sort of understand this - when you're in pain nothing anyone says or does really helps. I've been through a traumatic grief and had that feeling then. I'm struggling to cope with all the unfriendly, hurtful and angry messages and letters though - I feel sick and shaky when I see one waiting to be opened. I want to keep the focus on this person and what they're going through but inevitably I have said how hurt and upset I feel too. I'm feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by the situation, and almost like perhaps the best thing to do is to step back for a bit, give them space. But that feels somewhat hurtful thing for me to do and I feel quite worried about doing that - won't that just create more distance and another reason for them to be upset with me? My family and friends think I should step back, that if a friend treated me the way this person is you just wouldn't put up with it. But I can just see how hurt and upset this person is, the anger and hate directed towards me isn't really for me, it's the turmoil of what they are going through. And yet, if I'm not helping by what I'm doing, if I'm worsening their upset, if nothing I do is right, I just don't know what to do...

These have been challenging times, to say the least, for countless parents. Going through lockdowns, then things reopening at a limited capacity, then talks of more lockdowns in some areas — such drastic changes in routine and the uncertainty of what life will be like next week, month, or year can take its toll. And when you have a child on the autism spectrum, you have additional challenges to consider.But, in whatever safe ways are available, your child needs to spend quality time outdoors. And, if you have a garden, it can be the perfect space for your child to enjoy outdoor activities. Along with understanding the benefits of your child being outside, you may have to make a few changes so that your garden accommodates your child's specific needs. Benefits of outdoor play There are many benefits to engaging in outdoor activities for children. Being outdoors can do wonders for improving your child’s attention span. Vitamin D is essential for the health of your child’s bones, muscles, nerves, and immune system, and sunlight is the best source for it. Along with providing exercise, outdoor play can help with the development of your child’s fine and gross motor skills. And there are also plenty of potential mental, social, and emotional benefits to playing outside Activities to consider Here are a few ideas for outdoor activities that can benefit children on the autism spectrum: Play 'sink or float' with items in the garden (e.g., leaves, rocks, flowers) for a good sensory activity. Put together a scavenger hunt for your child to engage multiple senses. Design a garden that will also provide your child with a great overall sensory play. Arrange a back garden camping night for the whole family to enjoy. Increasing safety and accessibility Of course, it’s critical to ensure that your garden is safe and accessible for your child. If you haven’t already, put in a fence or similar barrier to keep your child from wandering off. Make sure your garden is clear of toxic plants, standing water, pet waste, fertiliser, and other hazards. Add a safe place where your child can escape over-stimulation, such as a tube in which they can comfortably fit. If you are lucky enough to have a pool, make sure your child learns how to swim, and install a pool alarm. Now more than ever, children need to be outside. Consider the benefits of spending time outside, as well as the ideas listed here for transforming your backyard into an autism-friendly space. Not only will it help your child stay engaged in fun, educational activities, but it can also provide the whole family with ways to spend quality time together.

I'm married almost a year and a half. Me and my husband stay together in an apartment and both our parents stay in other cities. I have day shift while his is night. Hence, most of the days we can't spend time together. It's on weekends that the us time comes. But he spends more of the time in video calls with his friends and families. Some or the other would call and it goes so long, sometimes it's for more than three hours. I feel so lonely and hurt. We make plans to go for walk or shopping, but gets cancelled. Please advise.