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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.

Rozie-24 I dont really Know
  • replies: 1

So, I don't really know what to say, people tell me I am selfish and ungrateful, but I work so hard for what i have I work to keep my home life away from me.I need some opinions-(Dot points of my Life)My mum drinks a lot- but i still love her My dad ... View more

So, I don't really know what to say, people tell me I am selfish and ungrateful, but I work so hard for what i have I work to keep my home life away from me.I need some opinions-(Dot points of my Life)My mum drinks a lot- but i still love her My dad always says he is going to leave for the night and never dose and everyone has to pretend nothing has happened after their fights. My 2 brothers and sister are all younger than me and think nothing is happening. Oh and my mum did lose her license for being over the legal amount of acholic but not over mid rangeMy nan who is meant to be nice and loveing speaks down about my mum and that makes me sadI also go to school and hate it because its a waste of my time - I also do a school based apprenticship and I think I am pretty good at what I do. So sorry if this is too long.I just get so sad sometime I then feel its too much to get up and move and i dont know what to do

Guest_08510833 Struggling connecting with people in general
  • replies: 3

Hi My names Jim, I’ve just come to Australia on a WHV. On paper I should be over the moon with they way everything is going but I just can’t seem to connect with people on any level, I feel quite lost to be honest, and feel I can’t talk anyone with r... View more

Hi My names Jim, I’ve just come to Australia on a WHV. On paper I should be over the moon with they way everything is going but I just can’t seem to connect with people on any level, I feel quite lost to be honest, and feel I can’t talk anyone with real any substance.I don’t feel I’ve got anything to say either. I’ve become a bit mute and quiet at time's, only speaking when I’m spoken to, not really having much in the way of a response a lot of the time. It’s getting worse and I’m struggling to stop it spiralling in to a bit of dispare, I know it’s down to my confidence and lack in there of, god knows i’m trying to get a hand on it too, not even sure that this is the correct place to be putting this out. I’m really not sure about anything anymore, constant indecision. There’s probably lots of things I should do but I can’t even get out of the gate with one. I suppose I wouldn’t mine knowing if anyone else feels this way, I’m sure people do. Maybe any tips of how to deal with it a bit better than I amcurrently. Thanks to anyone who does take the time to read this anyway and comment if they’ve got the time.

Guest_45750091 Losing friends right before graduation
  • replies: 1

I’m currently in grade 12, and I’m graduating from high school next week. My friend group has had some issues for a while and I’ve considered moving to a different group multiple times but I’ve always been worried about causing drama and making schoo... View more

I’m currently in grade 12, and I’m graduating from high school next week. My friend group has had some issues for a while and I’ve considered moving to a different group multiple times but I’ve always been worried about causing drama and making school worse for myself. There’s previously been a lot of arguments, and no one is really supportive. They all gossip about each other but continue to pretend to be best friends. As I got closer to graduating, I was happy to wait it out and then begin to distance myself from them after we all graduate. However, a few weeks ago, one of the girls told another girl that I hated her (which I discussed with the girl and assured her this was not the case). But the girl ended up telling everyone that I hated her and I’d been so awful to her. Ultimately I messaged the group chat explaining that I was uncomfortable going to schoolies because of the drama, so I wouldn’t be going. This was completely ignored and in school none of the group would talk to me, even when I tried talking to them. Now I’m on better terms with some of them but I ultimately do not feel comfortable with them at all. I have formal and graduation next week and I really don’t want to go. I’m so embarrassed that this is how I’m finishing school. I also know that for multiple people to have an issue with me I must’ve done something wrong but I really feel like I haven’t. I also have my 18th birthday coming up and I’m so ashamed that I’ll most likely spend it alone. I want to try and become closer with some other people that I’ve spoken to in school, but I honestly don’t know who to trust because I know they’ll probably tell the group that I’m desperate. I know this won’t matter in a year, but right now I’m just so ashamed.

Sexuality and gender identity

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

Guest_294 I think I may be bisexual
  • replies: 1

Hi beyond blue. I (24F) have been on and off this forum for years with various relationship strains. I have had toxic relationships and painful relationships and relationships that seemed good on the outside but just felt wrong internally. My last po... View more

Hi beyond blue. I (24F) have been on and off this forum for years with various relationship strains. I have had toxic relationships and painful relationships and relationships that seemed good on the outside but just felt wrong internally. My last post was about my most recent relationship with S (26M). I broke it off for a number of reasons but primarily because I felt like I was losing a part of myself to the relationship. I felt like I didn’t know myself whilst I was with him. I have been in a series of long term relationships since I was 18 and am really genuinely single and enjoying that for the first time in my adult life. Recently I met a new friend, L (25F). L and I hit it off really quickly. After we met at an event, the next time we hung out, it was just the two of us and we were talking for the better part of 5 hours, until the early hours of the morning. I feel like she gets me and my brain. We share so many of the same interests, get excited about the same inane shit, and listen to each other passionately rant and rave about whatever hyper fixation we have each caught onto that day. We have since hung out every week, and generally for far longer than is reasonable. When I first met L, we talked about her experience of coming out and discovering her sexuality. It was something I had never considered before but as I started talking about certain things it started to make me reflect on recent experiences... The concert that I went to and felt like the female opener was more than just my normal observation of a girl being pretty, but instead I found her really hot. Or dancing with a girl at a club recently (I was quite drunk) and feeling like I really wanted to kiss her. I hope none of that sounded too vulgar, I am just trying to explain where my mind is right now. The more I think about this, the more I’m starting to feel like the way I feel towards L is more than just friendship. Every time I see her or even think about her I feel like I get nervous butterflies. We are very touchy friends and always cuddling up whenever we’re together or sitting very close. Every time she tells me something about herself I feel myself fixating on it. For example, we recently went to the aquarium together and there was an animal she wanted to see that wasn’t there. I immediately wanted to look up the feeding schedule and figure out when would be the best next time to go. She is so pretty and I get giddy talking to her. Even just typing this out I am feeling all giddy and happy.Part of me feels like this all sounds very transparent and I do have a crush on her but the other part of me thinks I have this tendency to form very intense friendships and over attach to people, particularly female friendships. I also am fairly recently out of a serious relationship with a man so maybe I am filling a gap??? I have never questioned my sexuality before but now I find myself thinking about it all the time. I keep trying to pay attention to people around me and see if I feel attracted to the women I am walking past as well as the men but I generally don’t feel attraction that quickly regardless and it always takes me a while. I don’t really notice it in passing. So it’s hard for me to figure out if this is just about L or if it’s something more. The other really dumb angle of this is I consume a ton of queer media. I always find myself really drawn to the queer relationships (real or unreal) in media that I consume. I listen to a lot of queer musicians and influencers. So part of me is scared I might be projecting from the media that I consume to my own life. I’m so sorry this is so rambly but I am pleading for help! Sincerely a person who is thoroughly confused at the big age of 24 to be realising she might find her new friend really hot.

Aussie Platypus Dealing with school as a queer family.
  • replies: 1

Hi! I’m gender fluid and recently started a relationship with an amazing woman. From the outside looking in we are a lesbian couple, her son is gay and my daughter is cis. There has been situations at his school (high school) and I’m worried there mi... View more

Hi! I’m gender fluid and recently started a relationship with an amazing woman. From the outside looking in we are a lesbian couple, her son is gay and my daughter is cis. There has been situations at his school (high school) and I’m worried there might become situations at my daughter’s school (primary). How do you navigate homophobia and transphobia at school. I want our kids to be safe to learn.

Oakie Worried my husband might still want to be trans
  • replies: 1

I have been with my partner for 5 years now and now married for 6 months.About 3 yrs ago I was told about my husband’s decision to transition into a women many years ago.He lived his life like this and took hormones and was about to have gender reass... View more

I have been with my partner for 5 years now and now married for 6 months.About 3 yrs ago I was told about my husband’s decision to transition into a women many years ago.He lived his life like this and took hormones and was about to have gender reassignment surgery and then changed his mind and started to live male again.Within all of that he lost his marriage and family.This was about 15yrs ago. Then he met me and eventually told me.It was definitely a shock for me to discover.We worked through this and he told me he wasn’t interested in going down this path ever again and we have since built a life together and married.So this morning I was cleaning up and found 2 bras in his toiletries bag.I rang him and asked why he still had these.He said he didn’t know and i can just throw them outHe said the thoughts are something he is battling with alot but makes a choice to not go down that path because it hurt everyone and himself.Before we married I wanted certainty that this part of his life was done and he promised me and I trusted him.Now im feeling confused and lost.Is this his true self.I would prefer him to be his true self then fight these feeling and live a lie with me not knowing what is real and im left here not knowing really of any certainty.I love him and his masculinity is a big part of that and I did say that before we married.I have no idea what to think or feel right now.

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.

Robuu Depression on international student life
  • replies: 2

Life as an international student can be extremely tough, especially when you're in a foreign country, trying to navigate unfamiliar systems. In my case, I was unknowingly influenced into participating in fraudulent activities. I had no idea what I wa... View more

Life as an international student can be extremely tough, especially when you're in a foreign country, trying to navigate unfamiliar systems. In my case, I was unknowingly influenced into participating in fraudulent activities. I had no idea what I was doing, being new to the place and the culture. This mistake led to the suspension of my NDIS, cutting off essential support that I relied on.Without the NDIS, I lost my job, making it impossible to pay bills, fines, or even manage daily expenses. As the financial pressure mounted, it became harder to keep up with tuition fees, leading the school to cancel my Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) due to outstanding fees.I tried speaking with the school to get my COE reinstated, but they refused, demanding full payment upfront—something I simply couldn’t afford. Desperate, I reached out to friends for help, but they were more like acquaintances, "hi friends" who couldn’t offer the support I needed. To make matters worse, my family back home is depending on me, adding to the burden.All of this led to feelings of loneliness, helplessness, and a deepening sense of isolation, leaving me battling with bad thoughts and the weight of depression.

Guest_74671780 Mixed relationship
  • replies: 4

So I'm in a long distance relationship with a mixed male who is white-mexican and he grew up all Hispanic, I'm Australian white and when he told an aunt about me she said "I was going to taint the blood line" and so I've been trying to embrace his cu... View more

So I'm in a long distance relationship with a mixed male who is white-mexican and he grew up all Hispanic, I'm Australian white and when he told an aunt about me she said "I was going to taint the blood line" and so I've been trying to embrace his culture more so that they don't feel that way and I'm not really sure what do to and it stresses me out alot because if him and I get married and have kids I don't want his family to disapprove or make comments further as they should be happy he has someone who loves him, so I guess in a way I want to impress his family aswell as him.

Carlo Carlo
  • replies: 2

Hi, My name is Carl and I’ve been in business most of my life and helped and mentored quite a few young people get their life back on track and give them direction and am still doing the same thing. I grew up in my younger years on the streets left s... View more

Hi, My name is Carl and I’ve been in business most of my life and helped and mentored quite a few young people get their life back on track and give them direction and am still doing the same thing. I grew up in my younger years on the streets left school at 15 and started working. My mother and father separated when I was 8 years old and spent most of my teenage years with an alcoholic mother. I had a son with a very debilitating autoimmune disease, which caused extreme physical and mental health. He suffered from anxiety, ptsd and ocd. He passed 1 year ago. I saw him go through alot of physical and psychological pain which I was allways there to help him through calmly. So if any of you guys out there would like to reach out for a chat or just someone to listen to you please feel free to contact me.

Grief and loss

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

Star18 Heartbroken
  • replies: 1

Oh 2024 the year my heart was broken…. A few months ago now we lost my mother in law which was a shock and last month my beautiful amazing grandma past away whom I was extremely close to… Sometimes the grief of losing my grandma is so bad that it fee... View more

Oh 2024 the year my heart was broken…. A few months ago now we lost my mother in law which was a shock and last month my beautiful amazing grandma past away whom I was extremely close to… Sometimes the grief of losing my grandma is so bad that it feels like I’m drowning … When I lost my mother in law I spoke to a grief councillor which helped but this time it’s all too hard, I haven’t cried since grandma passed and also find it hard to get back into the things I love I feel like I’m just going through the motions to keep afloat

ABC01 Their 1st birthday since passing...
  • replies: 0

Dear All, Tomorrow will be the first birthday of theirs, since they passed.I am terrified. What do I do?They will never get to age up tomorrow. They won't be celebrated happily, with joy and jubilation. No presents. No birthday dinner. I just can't b... View more

Dear All, Tomorrow will be the first birthday of theirs, since they passed.I am terrified. What do I do?They will never get to age up tomorrow. They won't be celebrated happily, with joy and jubilation. No presents. No birthday dinner. I just can't believe that won't happen. I have organized lighting the four candles of grief for them. But that is all. Lighting a candle can represent remembrance, honor and respect. And I booked an appointment in with my psychologist because I don't know what to do with myself. Thank-you for listening. I sometimes feel the world has forgotten him and I want him to be remembered.ABC01

Clauds2203 I lost my soul dog, my furbaby girl 😪
  • replies: 4

I'm really struggling! It feels like I cannot breathe. I lost my furbaby to cancer. Kaycee was only 6 years old and the love of my life. Everything is so hard at the moment. I keep thinking of her. I just want to sleep all the time so that I can only... View more

I'm really struggling! It feels like I cannot breathe. I lost my furbaby to cancer. Kaycee was only 6 years old and the love of my life. Everything is so hard at the moment. I keep thinking of her. I just want to sleep all the time so that I can only dream of her. I am really struggling 😫