Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav
Community /

Family & Caregivers

Info
6,167 Friends
Filter by Topic
Community calendar
Group chat
Ask questions, get support and make friends
Find a group chat
My communities
Talk to an expert therapist
Hello, my name is Lianne and I look forward to connecting with you by chat thera...
New subscribers
Create a New Thread
Gif Photo Link
Family & Caregivers Community Taglist
by Sher217
Last post
 December 20th, 2022
...See more The Family & Caregivers Taglist has been moved!  Just wanted to let everyone know that our taglist has a new 'home' beginning in 2022. This thread controls an auto-updating taglist. To see the current list, go to Family & Caregivers Community Taglist [https://rarelycharlie.github.io/taglist?5e3f5e73a75214ab42c6ab21499775c0]. To add yourself to this taglist, press the Post to Thread button above and write the exact words: Please add me To remove yourself from this taglist, press the Post to Thread button above and write the exact words: Please remove me Please Note: the previous Taglist of active members is being moved into it's new location. current taglist updated 20Dec 2022 @addyor7 @adventurousPeach7700 @agreeableBlueberry7426 @AlexVincent @almarben2021 @amiableRaspberries644 @Avaray @benkimoo @bestRaspberries1517 @blue0moon @breeuniqemsns @CallunaDee @caringEyes817 @caringPink6587 @CautiousKitten4644 @ClearingBaggage22 @competentParadise6344 @Crankenstein @cyanVase4996 @Daemon85 @dancingIvory @diligentPlace1585 @discreetThinker5846 @DistortionHeart @dtanushree @dynamicPond275 @easyMango9861 @easyZebra1721 @EvelyneRose @fairmindedWisteria3450 @FluffyHamster666 @forcefulFriend4768 @freshOasis7877 @friendlySkies6250 @FrozenRob0t @gentleLove4111 @giraffe2011 @GloriaD @Goddessenergy8 @GoldenNest2727 @goodPapaya8943 @greenDrum7364 @hardworkingKite6195 @hardworkingStrawberries4640 @HempHealer @independentPrune479 @inventiveTurtle5247 @katerina214 @Kickan75 @kindCloud141 @Kjalen97 @lavenderBranch7351 @lilrezvert @Limegreen642 @LISTENER1610 @littleteddy06 @LovetoGod @lovingFlower72 @LovinHope @loyalShade3261 @Lu5566 @Margiewm @marvelloustree1111 @melloohi @miraculousPresence1609 @MissEG1988 @MoonChild1206 @Moonlemon48 @MrMarino @MsVee2021 @munchiegoosie @MusicalMelodyxX @mxmes @MySty2 @neonNest6685 @npetler24 @Onlyonefollower @peacefulPlum1025 @powerfulEast1407 @pramsay57 @quietChestnut6900 @Ramiluz1 @scarletPear1945 @selfconfidentWalker138 @sevtopaloglu @Sher217 @SherryTong @ShyCat1678201 @shymap84001 @Smokescrunch @SoarLikeAnEagle @softMusic9759 @spencer1234567 @Sraphoenix @strangermj12 @StressedTFOut0914 @Sunisshiningandsoareyou @tallFriend9158 @Taylorz27 @Tinylemon1 @toughCurrent7546 @TraumaOne @TruckKnitter @turkeybby @unassumingDog4740 @versatileSky19 @VioletPerson1783 @warmheartedSailboat2021 @WillGood @Wisesupports @WorriedNana @yellowSquare6431 @YourNeighbourhoodsuperhero ~ Sher
Constant Conflict
by Bum4Life
Last post
 17 hours ago
...See more I am married and for well over a year now things are always going wrong. Last fall my spouse was diagnosed with cancer. Surgery was successful but needs to do scans and other tests every 3 months. They are very expensive and now my spouse is refusing to go back to the drs, even though he is having bad symptoms again. He will not listen to anyone's pleas. All he cares about is the expenses we've already had and just paid a huge amount from his surgery. I am lost. Noone to turn to. Then the icing on the cake is finding out he's telling others that I don't want him to do anything..which is so untrue. I have been begging him for months now. Anyone ever gone through this?
Toxic father and step mother
by vanita66
Last post
 20 hours ago
...See more I'm the eldest daughter of my family going to be 24 next month on 6th , it's all started when my mother died in 2015 . I faced so many challenges like my father became an alcoholic addiction and my relatives manipulated and brainwashed him totally towards me , he comes abused me everytime , saying hurtful things and a lot. But in recent years my father got married second time in 2022, and my step mom is like same as relative.  At present, still my father is an alcoholic addiction  Today what happened like, she always tries to look for a way to hurt me and if I don't react then she tries to manipulate my father but the thing is today the limit was crossed, I'm unable to have strength to bearing this much pain in my chest it's affecting my day today life  I'm still a student and also I have no one to share , not even friends I don't have friends, family, not sister too  When my father was drunk I hardly try to not to face my father cause if I'm facing him , he will more became aggressive try to harm me  But step mother is saying that you have to go to visit your father  She's manipulating my father that " see yours daughter atleast not giving you a cup of glass water and all " like that  Even many more like this , and father is just abusing even he slapped me .  When I take stand on myself step mother is just raising voice upon me and provoking my father more and more . Even I do everything in perfect manner, response everything but stills my father abusing a lot on daily basis , I don't have strength to bear it. I can't even take stand on myself , I'm still student, unemployed and this thing is continuing on daily basis.  I don't know what to do ? I cried a lot  I feel so hurt this traumatic experience is involving in my day to day life like studies , sleeping disorder, depression and many more  Please what to do? I'm unable to see the future of my life....!! Please help me regarding this ...!!  It's being affecting my brain , and mental health ..!!
Caregiver for Mom and brother
by inventiveNectarine4087
Last post
 1 day ago
...See more I just wanted to share my story. I'm 20 and my mom has been living with multiple sclerosis for 12 years. It's been deteriorating gradually and she needs me here as a full time caregiver. It's random, some days she's fine others she can't get out of bed without help. My dad is very authoritarian and has all but mandated me to be her caregiver. We have looked at assisted living options and we cannot afford them near here. The state one is hundreds of miles away. Plus she doesn't always need it yet. So I feel like I have to assume this role.  As if that wasn't enough, my brother has severe autism and needs his own type of care and supervision which my mom and I share.  I just feel alone and stressed out a lot. My dad works away from home most of week. So each week is this cycle of worrying about him coming home, making sure there's nothing he's going to go off on me about, acting perfect when he's here, and relaxing as soon as he leaves. I've been making progress on not self harming or skipping meals. But I just struggle with managing emotions.  That's all I just wanted to get it off my chest. Thank you 
any more parents of children in foster care?
by WendyBird14
Last post
 2 days ago
...See more Hey, as some may know I have a 4 month old daughter who has been in foster care for the last month, I havent met any other parents with children in the system and would love to connect to parents in the same boat.  (please only supportive comments, you dont know my story or why my baby is in foster care, so please dont assume, thank you)💙
[TW] Trigger Warning, 6 year old son in crisis
by secretWatermelon3817
Last post
 2 days ago
...See more This morning my 6 year old said he thinks his “existence was a mistake” and he’s going to unalive himself.  He’s 6 for gods sake. I can only imagine what he’s going to go thru later on.  What do I do?
Is it okay to want space from your family?
by MysteriouslyFound1893
Last post
 Monday
...See more Is it okay if on most days I need space from my parents? Is it okay if on most days I just need the affection and acknowledgement? It is okay if on most days I want to just be away from this place, anywhere but here?
Dealing with opinion clashes/ value differences
by Anxiouskitten23
Last post
 Monday
...See more I’m married to a man from a different culture, we live an hour’s drive away from my husband’s family and are quite close to them. My husband’s parents are kind and supportive, although there is sometimes a clash in our ways of thinking/ opinions about lots of things, owing to cultural differences and the generational gap. Their communication style is more reserved and sugar coated while mine is more direct which causes me frustration as I’m constantly wondering how to share my opinions without coming across as rude or disrespectful. I’m anxious now as I’m going to stay with them for a while (on my own) due to house renovations and I’m afraid that I’ll either not share what I think due to fear of upsetting them or then bottle it all up and one day explode, causing tensions. How do I strike a balance and be respected/ heard without upsetting people?
Attachment issues
by alysasof
Last post
 Monday
...See more my parents have always been around but they never really cared or listened to any of my problems. So know that I’m older and suffer with health issues I attach myself to older men because I feel like they listen to me. But the problem is that I get attached to any older guy that gives me some kind of attention and I go into depression as soon as the guy I’m with doesn’t act the same.
Sharing everything
by AnonymousSynonymous
Last post
 Friday
...See more Hi all, I'd like to start by saying that I have the privilege of having a healthy family dynamic. I love each and every member and we get along most of the time. However lately there's been something bothering me that I can't tell if I'm being selfish about it or if my feelings are actually valid. The situation revolves around the fact that my elder sister and I are both graduating this year. My sister is graduating medical school, which she's worked very hard for and I am infinitely proud of her. I however am graduating from another healthcare related field. Now we'll be sharing our graduation party. Normally I'm very easygoing about sharing things with my sister. I had almost all hand-me-downs growing up and we even shared a party for my highschool grad and her undergrad (which were online). What bothers me this time is that it means a lot to me to be graduating uni/college since I had a really rough time at certain points and honestly almost wanted to drop out. But I feel like everyone's reaction towards me is very mild co.pared to what my sister is getting. People are already congratulating her and asking her advise on a bunch of stuff. But no ones really done anything about me... when I saw one of my uncles he was asking my parents to ask my sister something and I answered, but he said I'd be useless to him since I wasn't a doctor. Although it was a joke it really hurt me since it feels like everything I try and play up my role everyone plays it down or brushes me off in favor of my sister. I'm scared that if we do share this party I'm going to be set aside in favor of celebrating her. It's an insecurity of mine that I hate since my sister is AMAZING and she's been my idol for as long as I can remember, but everyone's reaction is just making me so frustrated and down on myself. If anyone has any advice on what to do or how to deal with my feelings, that would be helpful. Thanks y'all.
Should my family therapist and personal therapist work together
by AverageJoe718
Last post
 April 15th
...See more I currently see a 1 on 1 therapist but may soon be seeing a family therapist with a family member. I already spoke to my therapist and he encourages it. But should both of the therapists be in communication in regards to me? Or should I leave them separate? Anyone have experience with this?
I feel trapped
by tpwk1626
Last post
 April 12th
...See more Hi all I dont really know what to do... im 20 so still live at home but I hate it I wish I could move out because I just feel so trapped and alone in my own house and I've had enough and no one understands and thinks I'm just being moody or *** but I'm just struggling so much and anytime I try to express that I just get told to get over it in so many words.... im just fed up 😕
Sole earner for wife with chronic illness
by B26354
Last post
 April 11th
...See more Well, the loneliness and running out of friends has sent me here. Short version: for over a decade I have been the sole earner for a wife who has a chronic illness (ME). Despite a half-decent income, her lack of income and benefits means we just keep our heads above water but with no money to holiday, do nice things, go out, and make significant home improvements. In fact, over time the house will fall into disrepair and I will have to work until I die because my wife will receive no pension.  I could cope with that if we had enough time to relax and enjoy each other's company but because of her illness, I actually just spend my days getting up, caring for her, working and cleaning/fixing the house before collapsing again. I feel these are first-world problems and I shouldn't moan or complain. The tears, anger, non-existent self worth, and exhaustion however are getting too much. I need to share regularly and could do with a shoulder / ear / pair of eyes to chat or communicate with to give me the odd arm around the shoulder as well as the kick up the backside. Yeah - that's the short version!  Is anyone else in the same boat? Or even on the same sea? Or maybe you're not and you just want me to listen to you and be caring and empathetic as a distraction to my own problems?

Family & Caregivers

Welcome to Family & Caregivers! This is a supportive space to share your thoughts and experiences.

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other,”  Richard Bach.


What are the different forum topics for Family & Caregivers?

Community Space: A place for introductions, icebreakers, games, community check-ins and discussions.

Family Relationships: A place for you to discuss all things relating to family relationships.

Support for Caregivers: Are you a caregiver? Get support and guidance here!


How can I help?

You can help us by simply responding to threads and sharing your story (if you're comfortable). Check-in with us, join a discussion, or start one! Alternatively, you can join us as a Forum Leader. Check out this thread for more information.


Helpful Threads

Taglist: Do you want to stay up to date with our community? Then join our tag list to be notified whenever there is a new discussion or update within the community!


Family & Caregivers FAQ

Q: Are there any sub-community-specific guidelines that we need to adhere to?

A: You can find Sub-community-specific guidelines below, which you should follow in addition to the general forum guidelines.


Help! I still have a question! 

If you need help, feel free to contact a community leader or post here, and someone will contact you!


Community Guidelines

Guidelines specific to Family Support Community

1) Be polite, and non-judgmental - Everyone has a different idea of what a "family".  No two families are alike, so please be open-minded and supportive to everyone who shares here. 

2) Please use appropriate language for all ages - This community supports both teens and adults.  Curse/cuss words will be removed from posts.  

3) Some topics may be triggering - If you find a topic here triggering please step away and take a moment of self-care. We try to be inclusive and discuss a wide variety of topics so there will be something for everyone.

4) The GOLDEN RULE - We are Family! We will be polite, friendly, caring, compassionate and offer support to everyone to the best of our abilities. You will be polite too!

Read the 7 Cups Guidelines
Community Resources

Family Stress https://www.7cups.com/family-stress/  

Domestic Assault https://www.7cups.com/domestic-assault-survivor/  

Questions & Answers https://www.7cups.com/qa-family-stress-23/    

Financial Stress https://www.7cups.com/qa-financial-stress-26/  

Sleeping Well https://www.7cups.com/sleeping-well/   

Group Support Chatrooms Group Support chatrooms 

Family Forums https://www.7cups.com/forum/FamilySupport_191/