Real Life - Mamamia

"I'm not cold-hearted." What life is like when you're asexual and aromantic.

'I was a victim of narcissistic emotional abuse. It took me 12 years to recognise it.'

The 16 things I wish my husband's therapist would tell him.

Lori Welch Brown

'I was semi-estranged from my dad when he died. The guilt almost destroyed me.'

"I'd found my forever person in a 'paediatrician'. Until I found out about his other, much younger, girlfriend."

"My husband cheated on me. I know I drove him to it."

'I was forced into a sex act. When I told a friend she said: "But that's not sexual assault..."'

'I knew I was a woman from the age of 7. I didn't start living as one until I was 46.'

I've been widowed twice and lost my 16-month-old child. Here's how I survived.

Monica Zwolsman

'At 12 years old, my family shamed me for my anxiety. It affected me for years afterwards.'

A day in the life of a single person on Valentine's Day who's just petty as hell.

Heart palpitations and vomiting: 3 women on the side of heartbreak we never talk about.

'I moved back in with my parents after 13 years out of home. Here's what I learned.'

Jessica Lovejoy

'After I left my abusive ex, he tormented me by text message for another 5 years.'

'It chilled me.' While out running, a 10 year old boy made a comment about my body.

Virginia Tapscott

'I'm in my early forties, and I'm terrified of becoming invisible.'

Jennifer M. Wilson

"Water seeks its own level." I kept dating bad guys, then my therapist told me why.

Tara Blair Ball

'My mum was stolen from her mum. Please stop telling me to "get over it."'

Amanda Fotheringham

'When I walked down the aisle, I knew I didn't want to marry my husband.'

'I rushed into buying a house with my boyfriend. Now we've split, we're stuck living together.'

'I've been widowed twice and lost a child. I can't face losing my father.'

Monica Zwolsman

'She sent mean texts after I gave birth': What it's like growing up with a narcissistic mum.

'For years my husband criticised and intimidated me in front of others. No one said anything.'

I'm an AFL WAG. Already, you've got a picture in your mind. And I'm not it.

'I signed into a venue on a COVID sheet. Then I received a DM.'

A letter to the person stuck in a toxic relationship. You're not alone.

'I discovered my first love is dying. Despite 20 years apart, it's broken me.'

"I'm happily married and in my 40s. Stop asking me about kids."

Advice

"Don't do what I did: 10 terrible mistakes I made in my 20s."

Jessica Wildfire

"Run the dishwasher twice." The life advice to follow when you're at your lowest.

Jessie Stephens

The 5 commandments of improving your skin while you sleep.

Is it normal to have spotting during pregnancy? 9 red flags you should never ever ignore.

"People are not mind readers." 21 lessons everyone should learn before their 40th birthday.

"There is continuous deliberate hurt." 5 telltale signs that your relationship is over.

"Don't buy silk." 20 lessons everyone should learn before their 30th birthday.

Jessie Stephens

"Non Zero Days: The piece of self-care advice that changed how I live my life."

Jessie Stephens

"Don’t get a loan for a boob job," and 30 other lessons I've learnt since turning 31.

'Making jokes at your partner’s expense.' 4 tiny mistakes that will destroy your relationship.

"Live with them first." 21 women share what they wish they knew before getting married.

"My life at 38 looks so different to my life at 30. Here's what I'd tell my younger self."

Kristen Sharkie

"You’re worth more than you know." The 29 things I'd tell my 20-something self.

Jessica Wildfire

"Less is definitely more": 40 women over 40 share the beauty advice they swear by.

Tamara Davis and Amy Clark

"Moments of silence feel awkward." The 10 signs you're with the wrong person.

'My husband and I found provocative photos of our 14-year-old. Our reactions were poles apart.'

Constance Hall: "Too short, too fat, too loud." I spent my whole life being told I wasn't enough.

"Do yourself a favour": I'm a mum of 4, and I can tell you what smug parenting advice to ignore.

"Ask them out." Women over 30 share their advice for women in their 20s.

Billi Fitzsimons

My best friend stayed in a relationship with a married, abusive man. Now they're engaged.

"I carried a picture of little Lou." Claudia Karvan on that Love My Way scene we'll never forget.

"It was a nightmare." Gladys Berejiklian on what happened when her private world became public.

Teela Reid is a criminal lawyer. But in the courtroom, she's been mistaken for the accused.

"Bucks' parties are horrendous. Most won't go near them": The reality of working as a stripper.

LGBTQI

'Gender conversion 'therapy' is a public health crisis. I know this because I lived it.'

'I knew I was a woman from the age of 7. I didn't start living as one until I was 46.'

Victoria is about to pass "the world's most significant achievement" on gay conversion.

The 6 biggest myths about lesbian sex we all need to stop believing. Like, right now.

Lacey-Jade Christie

"I was so ashamed of my feelings." Why Netflix's The Prom is the film I needed growing up.

"We wanted to become mums and our journey to parenthood was a little different to most."

"A new kind of conversion therapy." Why everyone is talking about J.K.Rowling... again.

'Sara Hegazy was jailed and tortured for a photo. It could have been me.'

'If there's one thing to learn from the Wilson Gavin tragedy, it's tolerance. On all sides.'

"Completely terrifying": When Magda Szubanski realised she was gay, she broke down.

'I'm intersex. It was a secret my parents kept from me for 17 years.'

Narelda Jacobs was pushed into her first marriage. 20 years later, she had to fight for the right to a second.

'We need to talk about the fear that every gay man of this generation still carries.'

The love of Elizabeth Gilbert's life died 10 months ago. But she still calls her every day.

At last. Schools will no longer be able to expel kids for being LGBTQI.

A former Sesame Street writer has shared the truth about Bert and Ernie.

Chelsea McLaughlin

Wren and Ayla's story: When your wife is trans.

WEDDING OF THE WEEK: Why Sarah and Megan couldn't wait for the yes vote to have their big day.

The one horrific thread that ties together the suspicious deaths of 27 men in NSW.

Jessie Stephens

The NRL just defended this viral State of Origin photo with three powerful words.

"We live with his guilt." Melissa's son made a choice that cost 5 lives, including his own.

Megan Gale miscarried at 9 weeks. Lying there waiting for her procedure, she was recognised.

'After my stillbirth, I requested time off work. It was declined.'

'I spend my days handling dead people. This is what it's taught me about living.'

Emma Jane Holmes

Exactly ten years on, Brittany Murphy's mysterious death is still haunting Hollywood.

"You're grieving someone that you didn't even get to see": Heather Maltman on the heartbreak of miscarriage.

"I've never been loved like that before." Robin Bailey on life after Sean Pickwell's death.

"It still hurts." Libby Trickett on the 'weird grief' of early pregnancy loss.

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'There were three people in my marriage. Me, my husband, and his mental illness.'

"I was a successful psychologist when I was diagnosed with autism at 58."

'How cheating on my husband made me a better mother.'

'I'm a qualified psychologist. It took me years to realise I was a victim of coercive control.'

Billi Fitzsimons

'My boyfriend had a fight with his sister. It sent me spiralling into an emotional breakdown.'

daniella fleischer

'I asked my husband for a divorce. But he refuses to let me go.'

Jennifer M. Wilson

'After ending my marriage, I knew there'd be guilt. But I didn't expect the grief.'

'How my kids stopped me from cheating on my husband.'

"She said she was bow-legged." My mum constantly compared my body to my friends' bodies.

'I was in Year 12 when my English teacher groomed me.'

"A dead bedroom is not normal." 7 reasons why I cheated on my husband.

Jennifer M. Wilson

'From the outside, I had the perfect family. But they didn't love me.'

'To my ex's new wife: I'm not sure you know what he's really like yet.'

'I was 27 when I found a list in my husband's wallet. That's when I learned about the affair.'

'I've been called ugly to my face. Twice.'

'I'm 50. And every day I struggle with the scars left by my cruel, angry mother.'

'I fell in love with a quiet, kind man when I was 20. He never hit me. But he scared me.'

Mary Rose Madigan

Embarrassment. Guilt. Vomit: The reality of being an alcoholic mum.

Victoria Vanstone

"He was terrified of me being fat." My boyfriend wanted me to lose weight.

Estrella Ramirez

My sister’s learning disability and mental illness are not ‘a blessing’.

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