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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.

Guest_53949320 ADHD and Losing Things
  • replies: 3

I'm mid 40s and have been diagnosed ADHD, though still sceptical. However one symptom is I constantly lose things. The other day my expensive earbuds, and today realising that I can't find my laptop, which has a lot of info on the hard drive that I h... View more

I'm mid 40s and have been diagnosed ADHD, though still sceptical. However one symptom is I constantly lose things. The other day my expensive earbuds, and today realising that I can't find my laptop, which has a lot of info on the hard drive that I haven't backed up. I forget things on a daily basis but I'm really starting to get concerned that something else is going on. Medication just isn't helping. My life is very disorganised and I take ages to complete tasks if at all.

Tiah_ A fear I've Never Told Anyone
  • replies: 2

I'm not really the kind to aerate my problems for the whole world to see, but I know people on here are usually quite honest. I know what I'm going to say may come across as trivial compared to so many of the stories on here (my heart goes out to you... View more

I'm not really the kind to aerate my problems for the whole world to see, but I know people on here are usually quite honest. I know what I'm going to say may come across as trivial compared to so many of the stories on here (my heart goes out to you all), but it matters a great deal to me. I think first and foremost i should make it known that I'm quite a big girl. I'm not morbidly obese to the point where I can't walk or my health is putting me at risk, but enough to have been bullied almost my whole life for it. I've done so many things to try and lose weight and it just never works, but I digress. Growing up, I saw all my thin friends get crushed on by guys, and then going into high school, boys always wanted them, but little to none ever looked my way. I've had my fair share of relationships, yes, but almost all of those were just because we were 12-13 years old and felt pressured to be in relationships. I dated a guy when I was 17-18, and as much of a shit show that was, he was my first real love. I want to be loved in the same way everyone else wants to be loved, but I fear it may not be in the stars for me. Anytime I've ever really expressed it to anyone, I'm always met with the same response: "You're young, you have your whole life to find someone", or "There's someone out there for everyone", or the infamous "Love will come when you least expect it." It's so draining. Yes, I'm 19, and I do have my whole life ahead of me, but it only makes the feeling worse. There are so many people (especially in my generation) who hate fat people just for existing.Because of my weight, I'll never get the genuine love I crave so badly. I've always been the girl who's good enough to have sex with but never appealing enough to be loved out loud. I sometimes feel like I'm just the dirty magazine a boy stuffs under his mattress so his parents don't see. Every time I see couples in real life or online, I get this feeling in my stomach. I'm happy for them, but I hate them for it. It even happens with people I know. Almost everyone I know is in love or has kids, which are the two things I want most in this world and the idea that I may never get either of them haunts every corner of my brain. I could go on for hours and hours about this, but I think it's safe to say my point has been made. Again, I'm sorry if this all sounds like one big first-world problem, but I'm so tired of being plagued with the same thoughts every single day of my life for years on end.

Z_BB Failing Uni
  • replies: 2

I started my dream uni course in 2023. After completing a bridging course in 2022 to gain entry into my dream course. I unfortunately failed a subject in my 1st year and had to repeat it in my 2nd year. I once again failed it in my 2nd attempt and wa... View more

I started my dream uni course in 2023. After completing a bridging course in 2022 to gain entry into my dream course. I unfortunately failed a subject in my 1st year and had to repeat it in my 2nd year. I once again failed it in my 2nd attempt and was academically excluded from the university. Ever since my mental health has been awful. I feel like such a failure and I have been lying to everyone around me because I’m too embarrassed to say I failed twice. It was my dream course and I did really enjoy the content but I just honestly couldn’t keep up with the workload and had a lot of personal issues going on that affected me mentally. I’m feeling overwhelmed with the fear of what to do next with my life. I’m not sure if I should find another course at another university and try again or if I should look at different options, but I feel like i have wasted the last 3 years of my life working towards my uni goal, just to chuck it away. All of my friends/partner have already graduated and have their life figured out. I’m getting to the point in my life where I’m 23 and I’m worried that starting a new 4-year course will set my whole life plans back and I still won’t have anything figured out by the time I’m 30. I don’t know what to do. I’d love to hear some other people’s stories about finding success and their right path! At the moment I’m feeling like such a failure and cannot see a further for myself..

Sexuality and gender identity

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

lew Sexuality - Unsure what to do
  • replies: 1

Abit about my situation - I've been sexually attracted to men in the past, however I'm also sexually attracted to women's bodies. There has been time when I've had alot of sexual tension to men who ignite my intellectual and physical desire, however ... View more

Abit about my situation - I've been sexually attracted to men in the past, however I'm also sexually attracted to women's bodies. There has been time when I've had alot of sexual tension to men who ignite my intellectual and physical desire, however I like women too but haven't fully accepted that part of me yet and haven't come to terms with it fully. The problem is that I met a man who is very sweet and kind hearted, he has done so much for me and eventually fell in love with me, however I didn't have the same feelings for him and the attraction just wasn't there (no intellectual or physical attraction). I told him that I was bi-sexual and he knows that I like women, however he wanted to take things further and I freaked out, so we decided to end things. I feel so bad in letting him down and upsetting him though as he really cared about me - what do I do?

Guest_15316039 Sort of in the closet?
  • replies: 3

I'm bisexual, and a couple of my friends know. But the issue is they act homophobic and it makes me really uncomfortable. It's not like a daily thing, more like small comments, but it still makes me conflicted on whether I should really be friends wi... View more

I'm bisexual, and a couple of my friends know. But the issue is they act homophobic and it makes me really uncomfortable. It's not like a daily thing, more like small comments, but it still makes me conflicted on whether I should really be friends with them. Also on two occasions one friend asked me (more like whispered) " are you still... you know? bi? " and I felt really upset because they think of my sexuality as a phase and not a part of me. Like out of all the things on this earth, people chose to hate on love????

JLSK Same sex husband...initially
  • replies: 1

My husband and i have been married for a little over a year. I identify as a gay male but have been labelled by others as a pansexual because I have been able to have relationships and intercourse with women. Recently my husband has come out as non-b... View more

My husband and i have been married for a little over a year. I identify as a gay male but have been labelled by others as a pansexual because I have been able to have relationships and intercourse with women. Recently my husband has come out as non-binary. Not going into unnecessary detail it feels as if my husband has made this grand statement publicly and i am to just deal with it and field questions from our families and friends as they are too scared to ask my husband in fear of insulting or i am bigoted or just see things in black and white (his words) I try my best to understand however when i try to discuss with my husband how they have come to this conclusion i am met with mild hostility, made to feel i am ignorant and my feelings are unfounded and told i see everything in black and white. I am several years older than my husband and understand there are things about the modern world i need to learn, which i am try. All research on this matter though i find geared to the non-binary individual and how i can be more understanding and accepting/supportive. I fought hard with other gay and lesbian people through the last decade to have the right to marry another man (or woman) in this country and for that i am very proud. Now i feel i am no longer married to a man as i am not able to use that term, or other masculine terms beyond husband (which is confusing in itself). The only reason i can ascertain from speaking with my husband is that his single mother who raised him instilled a negative perception of men and what it is to be male. More to this i was born intersex and underwent over 36 reconstructive surgeries to endure that i was male and be accepted by society at that time. Please, anyone help. I dont want my marriage to crumble or create a toxic and volatile home life.

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.

user complex grief with loss of mum
  • replies: 1

i havent heard anyone talk about this and maybe its because i shouldnt feel this way. my mum died a few years ago when i was 14 and ive had a really difficult time with my mental health since. Before she died, i had supressed all my trauma that both ... View more

i havent heard anyone talk about this and maybe its because i shouldnt feel this way. my mum died a few years ago when i was 14 and ive had a really difficult time with my mental health since. Before she died, i had supressed all my trauma that both she and my dad (who is still alive) had caused me. its worth noting that me and my father have a very poor replationship, he is married to my mums ex-bestfriend. anwayway, when my mum died i obviously felt really sad, but then my memories of the trauma that she caused me came and now all i feel is conflicted. i miss her but also when she was alive,she broke me beyond repair, so i feel shameful that i dont miss her at the same time. its really difficult because its like being in conflcit with someone whos dead, like she is not here but i am still truamatised yet when she was alive we had an incredible replationship, but was it because i was supressing all the trauma????? anyway, hopefully someone related to this, or maybe i am just a bad person for feeling like this. idk anymore.

white knight Understanding death
  • replies: 9

We have many barriers in the grief process to leap over and that process is an individual journey. Religious beliefs, acceptance, personality, mental health, and so on all play their part in how long it takes us to recover... if we ever do. I've been... View more

We have many barriers in the grief process to leap over and that process is an individual journey. Religious beliefs, acceptance, personality, mental health, and so on all play their part in how long it takes us to recover... if we ever do. I've been following the videos (cassettes in the early days) of Prem Rawat "Maharaji" for over 30 years. This very insightful man I've included in my posts here like Maharaji sunset, maharaji the perfect instrument google then for relaxation periods. But this one deals with death and I found it beneficial. I hope it helps members in the grief process or the fear of your own passing. https://youtu.be/X31OXMDUZVw?si=tDbbufcYcLxwaz1y

Scared Better off without
  • replies: 1

I know this will be met with opposition. Im suffering and angry at myself for not staying single. If you get involved with someone special it always ends in pain and suffering. You break up or they die or for what ever reason you cant be together. Th... View more

I know this will be met with opposition. Im suffering and angry at myself for not staying single. If you get involved with someone special it always ends in pain and suffering. You break up or they die or for what ever reason you cant be together. This forum is filled with people suffering over grief. Why do we do this to ourselves. Do people feel grief less than I do or have they got some secret I dont know about. For me grief terrifies me and I do question why I got involved at all. I know this can never happen again no matter how wonderful it can be. I will never give my heart again because thats how I need to take care myself. Its not like im sad for a week or two but months if not years.I really dont understand why we love only to get sick as a result. Its some paradox