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Sophie_M How are you feeling about the social media restrictions in Australia for under 16s?
  • replies: 14

Hey everyone With the upcoming Australian social media restriction for under 16-year-olds coming up we want to know what this means for you and maybe even the young people in your life. This conversation is a place for all of us to share how we are f... View more

Hey everyone With the upcoming Australian social media restriction for under 16-year-olds coming up we want to know what this means for you and maybe even the young people in your life. This conversation is a place for all of us to share how we are feeling and what we think the challenges and benefits might be for you or the wonderful young people in our community. Have you thought about how to stay connected with friends you’ve met online? Are you focused mostly on the positives, or the negatives? What do your parents think, and what could they do to support you? Importantly the Beyond Blue Forums are not impacted by these restrictions, we're here for anyone under 16. In short, from December 10 Social Media companies will need to ensure that only people over 16 actively engage with their platforms. There is a lot of information out there which can make it tricky to know what to expect on when it comes into effect. To learn more we think these are a helpful place to start eSafety commissioner + Headspace FAQs. We know this change will impact some more than others, QLife provide anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ support and 13YARN are here for all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people. We want to hear your thoughts on how this might impact the mental health of under 16s in both a positive and negative way. The Beyond Blue Forums are a place for constructive and helpful conversation and the regular moderation rules apply which means we look forward to a kind and understanding discussion. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings Sophie M

BeyondBlue New to this Forum? Please read this first!
  • replies: 0

Hey there! Welcome to the Young People section of the Beyond Blue Forums. The purpose of this section is to provide members aged 25 and under a space to discuss life issues, tricky situations and the difficult emotions and feelings that come with tho... View more

Hey there! Welcome to the Young People section of the Beyond Blue Forums. The purpose of this section is to provide members aged 25 and under a space to discuss life issues, tricky situations and the difficult emotions and feelings that come with those. If you are aged over 25, please be mindful that this is a space for younger people to connect and provide support for each other. These forums are moderated, so your posts may not appear straight away. Information on moderation on the Forums can be found here. Being familiar with our Community Guidelines can help ensure that your posts appear online as quickly as possible. If we have concerns about your wellbeing, one of our friendly moderators will check in with you privately to make sure you get the support you need. If you need more immediate support, we recommend reaching out to the following: Beyond Blue Support Service – any time, chat online to a counsellor or call 1300 22 4636 Headspace – between 9am and 1am (AEST), chat online to a mental health clinician or call 1800 650 890 Kids Helpline – any time, chat online to a counsellor or call 1800 55 1800 Thank you for being here. We’re glad you’ve found us here and hope this can be a supportive space for you Beyond Blue

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rosentity i don't know what's wrong with me
  • replies: 4

i'm currently in high school, so of course there is going to be days when i'm feeling down, but there's been an ongoing feeling of dread for nearly 3 years now. i've been to school counselors - but all i do with them is write in a journal and talk ab... View more

i'm currently in high school, so of course there is going to be days when i'm feeling down, but there's been an ongoing feeling of dread for nearly 3 years now. i've been to school counselors - but all i do with them is write in a journal and talk about how i've been feeling. i always hold myself back from telling the truth. not to be a stereotype, but when asked how i am, i always reply with 'good'. i know i should tell them about the mental pain i'm in but i just can't seem to get it out. i've told a few select friends about how i feel and they have all been supportive, but again i have never told them the full extent. i don't know how to describe how i am feeling. i'm dreading each day more and more but then there's moments where i think not a single thing is wrong with me. i can't remember the last time i was genuinely happy. i've had a lot of shitty things happen to me, and have done some shitty things myself. i have a big issue with food at the moment. this has been going on for 2 years now. the more i eat the more i hate myself. it's stupid. why am i so disgusted with myself for doing the thing that helps me live. part of myself believes it's because i don't care if i live or die anymore. i don't feel like i'm living. i feel as if i'm watching myself from higher above, or as if i'm simply acting in a t.v show or movie. my emotions and actions only feel real at the moment they are happening, and as soon as they are over i feel as if nothing ever happened. i am definitely way to sensitive and i cry over the smallest of things. people tell me i take things too personally, and i know i do, but when i get told that it always make me feel worse. i just want to stop feeling like i don't matter and start feeling like a real person. i want to experience happy emotions and not this ongoing dread and sadness, that people don't take seriously enough. counselors and family don't want to admit it's depression but i genuinely think it is. the main thing that makes me feel worse is that i can't tell people how i actually feel. i'll cry in front of them and tell them that i've been feeling terrible lately, but that will be it. i won't tell them that it's been happening for 3 years and that it just gets worse sometimes. i always feel like i'm not me and this is not my life. i'm only fourteen and i want to stop feeling as terrible and disgusting as i do. i don't want to be an 'attention seeking' stereotype for the rest of my life. i'm so young and i hate this.

alsatianwolf Anxiety affecting my first job :(
  • replies: 4

Hi all, This is my first post but I really wanted to ask for some help. I just turned 17 and everyone had been telling me to get a job. I really needed money, but I have social anxiety and I didn't want to have to interact with new people and the pub... View more

Hi all, This is my first post but I really wanted to ask for some help. I just turned 17 and everyone had been telling me to get a job. I really needed money, but I have social anxiety and I didn't want to have to interact with new people and the public. Fast forward to last Friday, and I applied and had an interview for a gelato place in the city. I put up my fake confident personality and the interview went well, and after 3 days my boss phoned me to say that I got the job. Yesterday I had my first shift, and I tried to absorb as much as I could. I smiled and made sure to be polite and friendly at all times. Everything went really well... except the ice cream part! There's a specific way to scoop the gelato, then a specific way to put it in the cup, but I just couldn't do it. I spent the second half of my four hour shift standing at the back of the counter, unable to serve anyone. I felt completely useless and guilty while my co-workers handled hundreds of customers while I could only stand at the back and use the till. I was thankfully able to make the milkshakes but that was it. Customers would gesture for me to serve them but I had to just shake my head, and it probably looked super rude. I know I'm putting way too much pressure on myself to be perfect on my first day at my first job, but I can't help it. All the employees are really nice and assure me that they had difficult experiences too, but I still feel awful. Tonight I have my second 4 hour shift, but it's a closing one (6pm -10pm) and apparently that's the busiest time. And all of the people I worked with yesterday won't be there, so it's all new people. All day I've had anxiety over it. How can I deal with such a busy shift if I can't even serve anyone? I feel sick and I have a migraine just from worrying. Also, my close friend also got her first job there yesterday, but she's great at scooping the gelato and talks about how many people she's served and it makes me feel more useless. I'm just dreading going to work tonight... though, I remind myself that driving a car was really scary at first, but now I can drive with my knees doing 80km/h while I eat maccas...

Inkyinsect Self hate getting baaaaad man
  • replies: 2

Hey, this is my first thread but like, I wanted to reach out. I'm 19, female and my self hate is ruining my life. It nearly ended my relationship because I said yes to something I'm not comfortable about because of fear of losing him. That issue is s... View more

Hey, this is my first thread but like, I wanted to reach out. I'm 19, female and my self hate is ruining my life. It nearly ended my relationship because I said yes to something I'm not comfortable about because of fear of losing him. That issue is sorted but this has to stop. I spend all my money on gifts for friends in the hopes of making them like me more. I don't believe i have any worth despite all the reassurance in the world. I really want to be able to see myself as good enough to deserve the people in my life. idk, feelsbadman

IndigoMultiversity I'm really struggling right now.
  • replies: 2

Hi, this is my first time posting here. I'll stress that I'm not feeling really bad. I'm really just not coping as well as I'd like with everything right now. I have a counsellor and that is going alright, we have a focus direction. I've just been fe... View more

Hi, this is my first time posting here. I'll stress that I'm not feeling really bad. I'm really just not coping as well as I'd like with everything right now. I have a counsellor and that is going alright, we have a focus direction. I've just been feeling like I'm overwhelmed, I guess. I've been studying for most of my life and I still have a little bit to go but due to my life circumstances, I have to go find a part time job shortly. I've not had one before and I feel so scared about it. Especially as I feel that I'll fail. I feel that I lack good friends. You know how most people have those friends who'll talk to them all time and you can confide in each other? I don't have that at all. I kinda crave that connection with people. Whether it's a friendship or a relationship. I feel pressured in areas that I feel really anxious in to fix it immediately. I'm scared that I'll need to be reliant on medication but I'm scared to try it and I'm scared to admit that I may need it. I feel just sad and sorry for myself a lot. I feel like I wreck a lot of stuff and it's not always replacable. I feel like I suck. I feel like I'm not worth it. Then I just feel so ashamed of myself. I feel tired. So tired. I feel so scared of rejection. I feel so scared that I'll fail. I do tell my counsellor this and they encourage me and assure me that I'm a normal and competent person and that there is nothing wrong with me. It's just so hard to believe that too. I'm just having a bad night really and I need to get my feelings out. Thanks for reading I guess.

Dani2696 Screaming on the inside
  • replies: 2

Hi, this js my first post I just really want to vent. Everyone thinks I’m happy and in love but inside I am so angry, hurt and resentful all the time! I have been with my bf for almost 3 years now and there was a time where he go so drunk and sent me... View more

Hi, this js my first post I just really want to vent. Everyone thinks I’m happy and in love but inside I am so angry, hurt and resentful all the time! I have been with my bf for almost 3 years now and there was a time where he go so drunk and sent messages to another woman. He told me those messages were for me and I forgave him and stayed with him even though I don’t fully believe him. Since then I have major trust issues with both cheating and alcohol. He doesn’t seem to see the issue he has with alcohol but he can’t control his drinking and I am pertrified that he will hurt me again. I Feel he is still cheating on me because I have found messages and phone calls. I know I should leave him but I stay because I am still so in love with him and he is great at acting like we are a great strong couple so in love. At times I just want to shout for everyone to hear me. Obviously I can’t do that so I speak to myself almost all the time. I scream and tell myself things that I know I shouldn’t say to myself but the pain inside of me is too strong and overpowers the logical part of me. I sometimes think about floating away and have created an image of myself in my head which I take out my frustrations on by imagining it. I feel so alone and I want to shake him for hurting me this way. I was so happy before he came into my life. Now I am just full of anger and resentment especially because he lives his life showing everyone how great he is and how happy he is. We have a big age gap and I don’t know if it has anything to do with the resentment I feel. Sometimes I think it does because I am angry that he could experience so many things in life that I won’t ever get to do. I cry a lot and get headaches. I wish I could just forget about things but I see and remember things so clearly. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

Miag17 Dealing with stress, anxiety and trouble moving forward
  • replies: 1

Hi all, i am new here and just need some advice on how I am feeling. This year has probably been one of the best years of my life. I accomplished so much, put myself out of my comfort zone and made new friends in/out of school. I grew in confidence a... View more

Hi all, i am new here and just need some advice on how I am feeling. This year has probably been one of the best years of my life. I accomplished so much, put myself out of my comfort zone and made new friends in/out of school. I grew in confidence and learnt so many new things. My life was amazing until my first year 12 exam hit on November, I didn’t do it to the best of my ability because for the past 3 weeks before the exam I burnt myself out so bad. I messed up the exam, but right now I am looking at it as a learning lesson for year 12 next year. anyway, since that day, I have been struggling on and off with feeling anxious 75% of the time, mostly when I am at home and have nothing to do. I had some trouble concentrating on my work after the exam and just felt more down than I have felt before. Sometimes it goes away for a couple of days than comes back for a day or two. nowadays, I am on holidays and I have never felt this low in my life. I don’t even know if I have anxiety or depression, but I have had trouble sleeping this past week, I have trouble being independent, and just sitting on my own because I am so prone to catastrophizing how I feel. I worry a lot and don’t know what to do when I am in that state, constantly feeding onto those negative thoughts. i know that this is only temporary, and I know that there are a few reasons why I have been feeling this way: - loads of stress, especially throughout my exam period, don’t know how to deal with it - lack of self care. I literally did so much this year, was so busy every single weekend, went on camps during holidays where I was meant to relax. I forgot to take care of myself - my favourite teacher at school leaving for another school. She helped me more than anyone could this year, she’s my role model and she knows that her leaving has made me feel scared of next year. Anyway, I have got a mental health plan and went to headspace to get my sh*t together, because I want to stop feeling so low. I have the support of my family and my friends. my question is, how do I get motivation to keep going, what strategies can I use to get better sleep, and have you felt something similar to this? Thank you all so much, I’m so glad I found this space to share how I am feeling.

SarahSarah44 Can telling your partner that you have depression mend your relationship?
  • replies: 8

I few days before I got told I had depression and anxiety I had a massive fight with my boyfriend of almost 5 years, that has made him question if we can get out of this cycle of having a massive fight that is so messy that we break up. We have broke... View more

I few days before I got told I had depression and anxiety I had a massive fight with my boyfriend of almost 5 years, that has made him question if we can get out of this cycle of having a massive fight that is so messy that we break up. We have broken up before because of this... I never realised there was something wrong until my doctor asked me if I had feelings of depression and aniexty and it all came flooding out as she asked me more questions (I was at the doctors because my period as been going for weeks and I’ve gained a lot of weight even though I excerise) the best way I could discribe it is that I lost a part of myself, my light is gone, I just feel darkness all the time. I think my relationship is always on the verge of ending because I feel so crap. I always thought this feeling was me holding on to the pain of the last break up. I was picking fights with boyfriend all the time and it was causing a lot of problems But there was a happy 8 months before all this happened. I’ve spoken to him since visiting the doctor and told him everything that is happening. He said he needs time to work out what he wants So my question is? Could we get past this? Is me finding out what contributed to me loosing the best parts of me going to help rebuild our relationship? Or do you think I should expect the worse? I’m so detremend to get better, not for my relationship, but for me, because I don’t want to be my mother (my mother suffers from depression, but refuses to excerise or any self help excerises)

Gingerbread88 Being a Strong Partner for my depressed boyfriend
  • replies: 2

Hi Everyone, I am on here because I am really struggling with being the rock for my bf during this tough time. my bf has had a seriously tough upbringing, his dad left him as a young boy, had a terrible ex gf who cheated on him after a long period of... View more

Hi Everyone, I am on here because I am really struggling with being the rock for my bf during this tough time. my bf has had a seriously tough upbringing, his dad left him as a young boy, had a terrible ex gf who cheated on him after a long period of time leaving him broke at the end of it all as he had to sell up all the assets. he has such obstacles in life, and had been through alot of abandonment through his life. 1 year into our 2 year relationship he told me about the face that he may be suffering from depression. i have tried to be there for him, i love him so much and I want and will be there for him but his condition has worsened lately He has started taking medication which has had some side effects. he tells me he likes “silent time” so he told me not be around all the time. iunderstand how you would like to be alone sometimes but It makes me feel so helpless, unwanted and uneeded. When I come home now we barely even speak. i just feel like im not required, unneeded and unloved. I feel like he only kisses me out of routine and not because he wants to. He stopped showing me affection about 1 year ago i am trying to be so strong for him, reminding myself that it is because of his condition, that I need to be strong ans supportive for him and he needs to see me happy and supportive, but now I am left in a position of feeling stuck, unloved, helpless and alone. i dont want to stress him out anymore, but I just dont know if I could carry on like this. Its always a constant battle in my own head between whether it really is the condition or he just no longer loves me anyone else experienced this and can give some advice?

xhomeostasisx CBF looking for work. Anyone else?
  • replies: 1

It all seems so meaningless. I’m on a pension but wish I found something that I want to work towards enough to get off it. Then again I have dreams, but need to sort out this friggen debilitating anxiety. I’m too afraid to go to therapy. I’ve got lik... View more

It all seems so meaningless. I’m on a pension but wish I found something that I want to work towards enough to get off it. Then again I have dreams, but need to sort out this friggen debilitating anxiety. I’m too afraid to go to therapy. I’ve got like no real job references at 21 even though I’ve done volunteering and a little bit of work before I was 18 lol. You?

SANsan Can’t hold a job
  • replies: 2

Recently, I have been struggling to hold a job. I get really anxious and second guess myself every time I have to achieve a task. I have been fired before and have quit because I realised I was being fired from another job. I haven’t told anyone what... View more

Recently, I have been struggling to hold a job. I get really anxious and second guess myself every time I have to achieve a task. I have been fired before and have quit because I realised I was being fired from another job. I haven’t told anyone what has really happened and made an excuse when someone asks why I don’t work at places anymore. Recently, I have gotten a Christmas casual job and I feel like I am going down the same road. I am graduating this year and don’t think I will have to confidence to even consider doing the job that I studied so hard for. I feel like I’m the only one out of all my friends and family that struggle to learn new things and never can flourish in a job. Just wondering if there was anyone else like this.