People like me

When it comes to mental health experiences, identity is important. Take the opportunity to connect with people dealing with similar issues.

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

Young people

A space for people aged 12-25 to discuss life. If you’re over 25, please be mindful that this is a space for younger people to connect.

tofu_puppy Bullied and betrayed
  • replies: 2

I made my first ever highschool friend on orientation. We hit off, she's amazing. Lets call her K. K and i were close and our group grew a lot from 2 people to 16. She is funny, kinda dark but your stereotypical teenager. She fit in the crazy side of... View more

I made my first ever highschool friend on orientation. We hit off, she's amazing. Lets call her K. K and i were close and our group grew a lot from 2 people to 16. She is funny, kinda dark but your stereotypical teenager. She fit in the crazy side of the group and lunchtimes were so funny. I ignored many things that she did, subtly fatshame us even though she's also overweight herself. Openly racist to the point i followed suit. Which i deeply regret now looking back. She started to fatshame my friend, telling her to commit suicide and get weight loss medication. Photoshopping her onto a fat mans body with blood and knives and needles everywhere. I was scared but i loved the few friends i had left so i took them under my wing, standing up for ourselves and telling the teacher with all the evidence i could rack up, screenshots, chats, timestamps. This was over the course of weeks and weeks of hard work and meetings and late nights. In the end, we won, they got their punishment and i felt so accomplished. The "friends" i kept under my wing? they betrayed me. all 6 of them. saying the punishment was too harsh, doubting their futures and being concerned that it would impact their future jobs like "what if they wanted to be doctors and a suspension or expulsion won't let them" keep in mind i have a super close "friend" who was also a victim alongside us which was around the same level of maturity as me and i thought she would back me up. I was wrong. She went along with it. It was the last day we were ever going to spend together at school, i was leaving for holidays and she wasn't going to be here next term because she was moving schools. I couldnt keep going on that day. i put my goodbye present in her bag and begged my mum to pick me up. I did. I only spent half of my last day with her. After coming back from my holiday and spending it fighting with my parents and ignoring all thoughts about school, it came back to me, making me break down and scream and shake and cry uncontrollably. I detached from the friends who were still going my school, the one i was closest with too. Today something happened at my mums work and she's upset. I took that into consideration and unpacked her bags, cleaned her room and went back to comfort her. Im thirteen by the way. I talked to her but she ignored it, asking how my chiropractor session went today. I told her the details but she cold and rude. I broke down 5 times in the last hour because she said, "why are you so sensitive?" Im. DONE..

Ever How to talk about feeling?
  • replies: 2

Hello! I'm Ever,I'm in year 10 and for 2 years now i feel like i've been really struggling everywhere; school, friends, self image, studies, family. Nothing to warrant immediate concern but everything's been building up so much it hurts. I've always ... View more

Hello! I'm Ever,I'm in year 10 and for 2 years now i feel like i've been really struggling everywhere; school, friends, self image, studies, family. Nothing to warrant immediate concern but everything's been building up so much it hurts. I've always been anxious, shy and have really low lows in my life already. Including panic attacks that and SH that i haven't been able to talk about how i wanted. Last when i tried to seek help from a counsellor i was brushed off, i'm wandering if it's my fault or i've blown it out of proportion or if my feelings are even relevant, i can't ever seem to tell others where they come from, even writing this i can't express myself.Anyone know how you actually talk about feelings like that? Or know what's going on, basically i could use some tips regulating my mental health, i spiral easily and am impulsive, terrible mix.

cantdothis Rant about my life in university <3
  • replies: 1

I started university and I have met so many people but I just am struggling to connect with anybody on a deeper level. I'm not actually friends with any of these people. I know these people but I don't KNOW them. AT THE SAME TIME, I'm realising I mad... View more

I started university and I have met so many people but I just am struggling to connect with anybody on a deeper level. I'm not actually friends with any of these people. I know these people but I don't KNOW them. AT THE SAME TIME, I'm realising I made NO highschool friends, but it seems i'm gradually drifting from all of those too. How the hell is this possible? I get FOMO so bad now. I don't get invited to group stuff anymore. What even happened in my life to screw up so bad that nobody wants to be friends with me. The issue isn't that I'm not meeting people because I'm meeting people. God, I feel so fucking lonely. I feel so lonely and I don't think anybody cares how I feel. And recently, it feels like my best friend has stood me up twice even though it's probably just miscommunication but I'm just upset. I'm upset because I'm already alone but now I can't even rely on my best friend. I can't rely on anybody and I am by myself and alone and I am alone. I went out the other day, great stuff, and I came home and I just don't even feel happy. I don't even feel happy when I go out. I run so I can forget about stuff. The only time I feel good is when I'm dancing to really loud music in my room or when I'm drunk. Thank god I live with my parents because otherwise I would be drinking and going out for runs at night. Bless my parents. I just don't understand why it feels like nobody cares about me and if anybody would stop to check in on me and see how I was doing I would really appreciate it. I didn't even have that many friends in highschool either. I went out w/a guy and that has made it even worse because i'll think about him whenever my life is shit and then i'll get even more sad. the worst part is if my social life sucks, my work and grades should be good right? no. somehow all aspects of my life are going shit right now. I'm grateful for everything I have (my parents, a roof over my head, my sister, food) but god. GOD. I literally cannot do this anymore. I just gotta get used to having no friends because this is some real world shit but HOW is my friend making ten times the amount of friends I am. HOW am i losing all my friends. I am alone and I want to cry but I can't even cry so it's just a hollow pit in my stomach. And don't give me no optimistic bs because i've already heard it. I don't care. Worse bc my problems are small compared to other shit. no, i dont have rent, bills. I gotta suck it up and stfu.

Sexuality and gender identity

Peer support and conversations about anxiety, depression and other issues in the mental health space affecting LGBTQI+ people.

Nia Lesbian or bi
  • replies: 1

I've known for almost 4 years now that I liked girls and it took me around 2 years to fully accept that part of myself and identify as bi. After a while I started to realise I wasn't really interested in guys and decided I was probably lesbian and I ... View more

I've known for almost 4 years now that I liked girls and it took me around 2 years to fully accept that part of myself and identify as bi. After a while I started to realise I wasn't really interested in guys and decided I was probably lesbian and I have been identifying with that for the past year. However every so often I go down a rabbit hole of trying to re-figure out whether I'm lesbian or bi (even though I haven't been interested in guys at all, and dont really picture myself wanting to marry one, i just find some attractive). Each time I conclude that I'm a lesbian once again, but it stresses me out so much to the point where it is all I think about for those nect few days. I don't know why this keeps happening. Am I actually bi, or am I just a lesbian who keeps overthinking things??? I understand I'm still young (turning 17 this year) and I have lots of time to figure things out but it just sucks when I think I finally know who I am and then my mind puts doubts every two months or so

Mezza0145 I'm confused
  • replies: 2

I am 20, all through school I had friends all through different sexualities..I have been questioning my own, as I have completely given up on guys because I'm sick of being used, cheated on and abandoned. But I've recently met an amazing young woman ... View more

I am 20, all through school I had friends all through different sexualities..I have been questioning my own, as I have completely given up on guys because I'm sick of being used, cheated on and abandoned. But I've recently met an amazing young woman and I really like her, if this does end up as a relationship it would be my first wlw relationship.. but I'm not exactly sure what sexuality I am, and how to come out to my family. I am scared and I don't know what to do

Guest_05656585 Where do I belong?
  • replies: 1

Hi, I’m Michi and still in high school but I would like some help on who I am. All of my friends are either straight or gay and I don’t think I belong under any of those terms, I just don’t know how to fit in. I also don’t think I’m asexual, I don’t ... View more

Hi, I’m Michi and still in high school but I would like some help on who I am. All of my friends are either straight or gay and I don’t think I belong under any of those terms, I just don’t know how to fit in. I also don’t think I’m asexual, I don’t know where I belong, it’s been like this for a year now and I just don’t know how my friends will react if I say I don’t know what gender I’m attracted to. It has been hard since most of my friends either have crushes or a lover, I don’t feel like I fit in with the society. Thank you for listening 🙏

Multicultural experiences

Designed for members who were born overseas, have parents who were, speak a primary language that isn’t English or have mixed cultural heritage.

Ann_ACD Fairness at work
  • replies: 2

Where do we(non-white people) seek help to find fairness at work especially when the management already decided which side they're on?

Where do we(non-white people) seek help to find fairness at work especially when the management already decided which side they're on?

Ronnie Bengali Australian
  • replies: 1

Hey there! I was born in Bangladesh and moved to Australia when I was young. I completed my Master's degree and am currently 42 years old. I also serve as a Justice of the Peace and enjoy doing a lot of community work. Even though I love being part o... View more

Hey there! I was born in Bangladesh and moved to Australia when I was young. I completed my Master's degree and am currently 42 years old. I also serve as a Justice of the Peace and enjoy doing a lot of community work. Even though I love being part of this multicultural society, I sometimes find it a bit challenging to connect with people, especially when it comes to making female friends. I’m excited to meet new people and build some meaningful friendships!

BeyondBlue Hi! Read this if you are not sure what this section is all about
  • replies: 0

Welcome to the Multicultural Experiences section of the Beyond Blue Forums. Beyond Blue acknowledges and respects the diversity of communities across Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Australians. Beyond B... View more

Welcome to the Multicultural Experiences section of the Beyond Blue Forums. Beyond Blue acknowledges and respects the diversity of communities across Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Australians. Beyond Blue also recognises the complexities of identity and that people may identify with more than one community. Depression, anxiety and suicide can affect any of us at any time – regardless of our culture or background. We also know that a range of factors can make it harder for people in some communities to seek and access support. This section is for members born overseas, are the children of parents born overseas, have a language other than English as your primary language, or come from a family with mixed cultural heritage and want a specific space to share their experience. Please be aware that posts on the Beyond Blue Forums may contain discussions of suicide, self-harm and/or traumatic life events. As per our Forums guidelines, please be mindful when posting about the level of detail you share on these topics as it can be upsetting for other members. We look forward to hearing your stories. Beyond Blue

Grief and loss

Support and advice following the loss of a family member, partner, spouse or someone close to you.

Bhel Grief losing my dad and mum
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone!I lost my dad almost two months now !i miss him a lots !I feel up and down and sad most of the time it’s too hard living in other country with out family then you lost your both parents and far away from sisters and brothers too !

Hi everyone!I lost my dad almost two months now !i miss him a lots !I feel up and down and sad most of the time it’s too hard living in other country with out family then you lost your both parents and far away from sisters and brothers too !

Mummum88 Too much loss
  • replies: 1

Hi Everyone I've had so much loss over the last 3 years, 3 family members (Brother-in-law, Sister-in-law and husband's grandmother) and most recently (Yesterday) a work colleague, and I'm struggling. I get stressed or anxious, my heartrate is risen a... View more

Hi Everyone I've had so much loss over the last 3 years, 3 family members (Brother-in-law, Sister-in-law and husband's grandmother) and most recently (Yesterday) a work colleague, and I'm struggling. I get stressed or anxious, my heartrate is risen and i get stiff and i am all over the place today at work - we are a small office and we all still had to come in. I just don't know what to do, how to cope.Home i seem to relax, i have my husband and toddler (light of my life) and more distractions i guess but work and when im trying to go to sleep are my biggest problems.I'm so sad.

Oscar Loss of grandchildren (through relocation)
  • replies: 4

I have been (surrogate) grandmother to a friend's two sons (aged 3 and 2) and have seen them at least 3 times a week since they were born and they have been the highlight of my life. I am 83. Their parents have now decided to relocate from Perth to M... View more

I have been (surrogate) grandmother to a friend's two sons (aged 3 and 2) and have seen them at least 3 times a week since they were born and they have been the highlight of my life. I am 83. Their parents have now decided to relocate from Perth to Melbourne (for housing and work reasons) so I will no longer see them. I am heartbroken and cannot stop crying.