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romantic_thi3f Eeep! When study is overwhelming! - Tips, ideas and coping strategies
  • replies: 51

Hi! Just thought I’d make a post with some tips for study. I know this is something we can all struggle with. These are all suggestions so feel free to take them or leave them! Hope they help! If you only remember one thing, let it be this: You are i... View more

Hi! Just thought I’d make a post with some tips for study. I know this is something we can all struggle with. These are all suggestions so feel free to take them or leave them! Hope they help! If you only remember one thing, let it be this: You are important. Your grades don’t define you. (support) Studying can feel isolating but know you’re not alone! Reach out – and find or make friends that can support you along the way. If you’re having trouble finding some friends, join some local communities or clubs! They have lots at Uni’s and even stuff like open days are great ways to meet new people and find out what’s happening. Study groups can also be a great way to meet people and stay motivated. Also remind yourself why you’re doing this; inspirational wallpapers or quotes can be super inspiring. Remember the saying about the oxygen mask? If you can’t take care of yourself first studying will be harder. You are important. You know the drill - water, food, exercise, sleep. Try to stay calm. Stuff that might be able to help include mindfulness, breathing exercises, colouring in, going for walks, journaling, listening to music… If you’re struggling – reach out. See a therapist. Talk to your student counsellor. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Also lots of Universities and TAFE offer disability services – which includes conditions like Depression and Anxiety. (study) Find the right study space for you. Maybe that’s in your room, or a coffee shop, or the library. Some people find that noise helps; other people not so much. If you like particular kinds of noise, you can find ‘coffee shop’ noise or ‘rain sounds’ to help concentrate. Make a plan. It helps to do it often so it becomes a habit. Anytime you get a due date, write it down. Maybe you could use a diary, planner, bullet journal or an app. I find the 30/30 App helpful - study for a bit and then break for a bit. You can also get add-on’s for your computer to block sites like Facebook if you find them too distracting. Find out what study technique works for you. Do you like cue cards? Mind maps? Colour coding? Does highlighting stuff help you remember? Charts, maps, diagrams? Recorded lectures? Goals! These are so important – not just writing down deadlines but rewarding yourself for meeting them. Even making smaller goals like ‘read two pages from a textbook’ can help. Break it down into bite size pieces, and don’t forget to reward yourself after!

Sophie_M NEW TO THIS FORUM? Please read this first
  • replies: 0

The Young People space is a sub-forum within the wider Beyond Blue forum community. 1. Its purpose is to provide members aged 25 and under a space to discuss anxiety, depression and other related life issues. If you are aged over 25, please be mindfu... View more

The Young People space is a sub-forum within the wider Beyond Blue forum community. 1. Its purpose is to provide members aged 25 and under a space to discuss anxiety, depression and other related life issues. If you are aged over 25, please be mindful that this forum is a space for younger people to connect and provide peer support for each other. 2. Content from this sub-forum is displayed on both the beyondblue and youthbeyondblue websites. 3. Please bear in mind that some members find content relating to suicide and/or self-harm distressing or triggering. If you would like to post on these topics, please do so in our Suicidal Thoughts and Self Harm section. Please see also our guidelines for making posts on this topic. Posts made here in the Young People sub-forum containing content relating to suicide and/or self-harm will be moved. 4. These forums are moderated, so your posts may not appear straightaway. Information on how our system works can be found here. Being familiar with our community rules can help ensure that your posts appear online as quickly as possible. 5. This is a peer support community, and to get the best out of being here we recommend that you 'give support to receive support'. More on how that works here.

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Arose Do I have a mental disorder?
  • replies: 2

I feel all of this: sadness, anger, apathy, euphoria, lost & Lonley, loss of interest in everything, irritability, risk-taking behaviours (frequently using drugs and alcohol to numb pain), disorganised behaviour, aggression, agitation, crying, unwant... View more

I feel all of this: sadness, anger, apathy, euphoria, lost & Lonley, loss of interest in everything, irritability, risk-taking behaviours (frequently using drugs and alcohol to numb pain), disorganised behaviour, aggression, agitation, crying, unwanted thoughts, lack of concentration, racing thoughts, difficulty falling asleep, struggling to wake up no motivation to do anything except for partying im not sure if I’m just sad or if I have something wrong with me and I want to be tested and I want to see a physiologist but I cant talk to my mum about any of this someone please help can I go get tests done without having to get my mum involved straight away???

Guest312 Anxiety(?). Please, help
  • replies: 2

I don't really want to be a bother to anyone, but I really need to talk right now. So here goes nothing. It might not be as bad as what others have to go through, but I just can't fall asleep until it's about 3 or 4 in the morning. I sometimes don't ... View more

I don't really want to be a bother to anyone, but I really need to talk right now. So here goes nothing. It might not be as bad as what others have to go through, but I just can't fall asleep until it's about 3 or 4 in the morning. I sometimes don't sleep at all. Whenever I do try, I always panic, and/or think of trivial things, that have no relation whatsoever, but there's always a pit in my stomach, telling me something's going to go wrong. There are times at school where I get to class a little late, and I get so nervous about interrupting something important, or putting myself in a position where others might judge me, that I freeze, and just awkwardly stand outside the door. A lot of the times, I actually go to sick-bay, because I end up crying outside. I panic a lot when people ask me where I've been if I've been to the toilet, or been called out by the teacher to do something, and I don't work well with pressure on me. My mum booked an appointment with the GP the other day, because she said that I was being "simply ridiculous", but whenever the GP tried to ask me a question, my mother would just answer for me. I found it really difficult to deal with, and when I told my mum I was trying to tell the doctor how I really felt, she told me to be quiet, and that I didn't understand what was going on. In the end, the doctor just brushed it off, and whenever I did answer a question myself, my mother would say something like "That's not right! You feel/act like ____". I feel like my mum doesn't really understand how I feel in general. I found out a teacher had told my mum that I needed a little bit of emotional support, and my mother scolded me when I got home, telling me that I just being a pushover, and that I should spend more time on my studies. I would talk to my dad, but I don't think he'd be much better. After my mum had told him what had happened, he seemed to be in a sour mood. He was really angry at me, for no apparent reason, and while he was shouting at me to work faster, he suddenly burst into tears. He told me that there was no way that I was having a worse time then him, as "(he has) to work at a sh*tty job, with sh*tty people, anyway, (I) shouldn't be sad, because there's no reason for (me) to be!" Afterward, he just continued crying, before I tried to comfort him and calm him down. If anyone could give me any advice, it would be amazing. I wish I knew what to do. I'm sorry for wasting everyone's time anyway...

RoseyAlexa New Here - Would love some advice
  • replies: 2

Hi All... I'm Alex. So, I'm 14 and have a very privileged life. I go to a good school, have some friends, etc... But I often am really sad for a lot of reasons. My friends say they're going to be there for me but then when I go to my best friend for ... View more

Hi All... I'm Alex. So, I'm 14 and have a very privileged life. I go to a good school, have some friends, etc... But I often am really sad for a lot of reasons. My friends say they're going to be there for me but then when I go to my best friend for help and tell her my issues and why I'm upset she completely ignores me and doesn't respond - I felt really hurt because I'd been there for her for so long. She's also been spending a lot more time with new friends (people who used to bully her) than me and i guess it just kinda hurts. My community is very respectful of the LGBTQIA+ community but I think I like my friend *a lot* and i honestly don't know what to do about it because she has a crush on another girl at my school. Also my mum doesn't have a job and helps me a lot and I'm extremely grateful for her but she tries to control everything I do in regards to my schoolwork and it almost seems like she's trying to live through me. She's also verbally and sometimes a bit physically abusive (in my opinion) when we fight, and I know she loves me but I think shes menopausal and almost seems bipolar (athough I wouldn't know). She makes me not want to come home sometimes and I feel like a traitor writing this because she's been there for me etc but idk. I'm really sorry if this just comes off as the bratty whinings of a middle class highschooler - I realise people have A LOT more serious problems than mine but I thought I'd give sharing a go. I'd love any kind of advice/response! - Alex x

Childatheart Feeling lost about my career/life path
  • replies: 2

I'm feeling a little lost. My backstory is I have my Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (which I'll shorten now on to Childcare). I completed these recently. Currently I am working part time in After School Care but I d... View more

I'm feeling a little lost. My backstory is I have my Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (which I'll shorten now on to Childcare). I completed these recently. Currently I am working part time in After School Care but I don't like it so this week is my last week. I've already put in my resignation. I also resigned from an administrative job last month that I had for close to three years. I have applied for many jobs in Childcare such as Long Day Care. I've done interviews and trial shifts but I haven't heard back. I like Childcare, I like working with the children but there are so many reasons why I don't like it, the obvious ones being the pay and the staff are often bitchy and inflexible. I wouldn't mind being a Nanny but Nanny jobs are often hard to come by. The Nanny industry isn't as regulated and there isn't as much protection in terms of contracts, pay, leave and so on. Any advice? What should I do? Should I volunteer or study in the new term? If I were to study I wouldn't study Childcare again. Thanks.

Tee14 Health Anxiety. Scared I have MS
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting and I’m really just hoping to lay out my story and hope that someone else out there can relate as I feel very alone. I was diagnosed with anxiety and migraines when I was about 20 years old (I’m now 25) and ... View more

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting and I’m really just hoping to lay out my story and hope that someone else out there can relate as I feel very alone. I was diagnosed with anxiety and migraines when I was about 20 years old (I’m now 25) and ever since then I’ve had severe health anxiety. Every little thing that goes on with my body I notice straight away. For about a year I was in and out of the doctors constantly but I got a handle on that over the past 4 years however I have been experiencing some concerning symptoms in the past 6 months which have me scared that I’ve got MS. The symptoms started with a numbness in the left side of my face and head. It’s not totally numb, I can still move everything it just feels like I can’t feel that side the same as the right side. Of course I went to my doctor who diagnosed it as migraine straight away however it has been on and off for the past 6 months and has since escalated to the whole left side of my body occasionally feeling weak. I would say I feel weak more so than not. I also have difficulty swallowing food. It’s like right before I go to swallow I have to really think about it otherwise it “jams” and I feel like I’m choking. I also get very bad vertigo, after images, sometimes double vision when reading and fatigue. My doctor also thinks it could be stress as I have a 1 year old and returned to work when she was only 5 months old so juggling both roles was very exhausting. I quit my job 2 weeks ago so I’m hoping that makes a difference to this whole situation. I really want to believe that this numbness and all the other symptoms are either migraine or anxiety but it’s just so scary and I can’t seem to stop thinking about it. I really hope someone else out there can relate or even just give me some good advice as I would appreciate it so much

alma_63685 I feel hopeless and I really want help.
  • replies: 3

I feel so sad lately. I have only 4 friends at school who I feel like I can trust, a boy in my class found out about who I like and he told him. Now I feel so stupid and hopeless. My parents are always fighting and I feel as if it's my fault. I've lo... View more

I feel so sad lately. I have only 4 friends at school who I feel like I can trust, a boy in my class found out about who I like and he told him. Now I feel so stupid and hopeless. My parents are always fighting and I feel as if it's my fault. I've lost my appetite lately and my mum just makes everything worse because she tries to force me to eat since she feels someone at school has called me fat. I haven't eaten much today except for chocolate for lunch and a piece of toaster dinner. It's not as if we cant afford the food, I just don't know what wrong with me. I can't concentrate at school andI feel so fat, but when say that to my friends they think i'm so slim. I feel as if my parents love my sister more than they love me. For the past few months I've been noticing all the negative things about and don't feel as if it's normal. my mum is angry at me for not eating my lunch and getting my jacket dirty by falling over in the dirt at school. I just feel so alone and sad everyday. I can't concentrate on anything. I feel as if I want help and if you can, please reply I need support and advice...

QuantumSpecter Should I quit my apprenticeship and and chase my dreams?
  • replies: 2

I'm finding it very hard to choose whether I should leave my apprenticeship and go back to school or stay and keep working more than 8 hours a day for a car dealership as a motor mechanic apprentice. My family wants the best for me and says give it a... View more

I'm finding it very hard to choose whether I should leave my apprenticeship and go back to school or stay and keep working more than 8 hours a day for a car dealership as a motor mechanic apprentice. My family wants the best for me and says give it a good try and stay for at least 12 months and see how I'll like it. I liked it when I did it for work experience but now it's my job I'm not so sure.

zoeoe I don't feel emotions
  • replies: 4

now, when I say this I don't mean that I don't cry, that I don't laugh - what I'm saying is, when I cry I don't feel sad, when I laugh I don't feel happy. I don't know when this started, or if I've been living like this all my life and only realised ... View more

now, when I say this I don't mean that I don't cry, that I don't laugh - what I'm saying is, when I cry I don't feel sad, when I laugh I don't feel happy. I don't know when this started, or if I've been living like this all my life and only realised it's not normal now. The only emotions I feel are guilt, anger and fear (at appropriate times, of course. except for guilt, the guilt can come out of nowhere and is almost 100% of the time completely out of the blue and for no reason). It's not like I don't feel ANYTHING at all, though - I can feel something, I just cannot recognise what I'm feeling (if that makes sense). Normally, when a person feels happy they recognise what they feel as happiness, but I can't do that, which, in turn, causes me to feel no emotion at all. I just feel numb, all of the time. What is wrong with me? some info about me: im a 13 (turning 14) year old female.

Mikot Failed tests
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm a year 12 student and I am pretty ambitious. I want to study medicine but with my current grades I know it'd be unimaginable reaching that ATAR. It really affects me when I fail my tests and I know I can improve this but it's difficult when y... View more

Hi, I'm a year 12 student and I am pretty ambitious. I want to study medicine but with my current grades I know it'd be unimaginable reaching that ATAR. It really affects me when I fail my tests and I know I can improve this but it's difficult when your mind is clouded with your failures

Guest_681 Anxiety and University
  • replies: 2

I've just started my first year of nursing after transferring from science, and have had a history of anxiety and depression through school. Around two months ago I slowly came off antidepressants to try and use other coping mechanisms to deal with t... View more

I've just started my first year of nursing after transferring from science, and have had a history of anxiety and depression through school. Around two months ago I slowly came off antidepressants to try and use other coping mechanisms to deal with this, however it didn't really work and left me feeling more anxious than ever. Going back on my medication, I've had a rough start with side effects of increased anxiety and panic attacks (common apparently when re-starting medication, with the belief that anxiety gets worse before improving), but this is making University incredibly difficult. I live almost an hour away by tram and it's gotten to the point where I get so anxious on the tram I either have to get off, just wanting to go back home, or arrive at Uni/to my classes with waves of panic and fear. Has anyone else experienced something similar? I love my course a lot but am in a real pickle as to how I'm supposed to try and balance all this!