Support
Support

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.

Start a conversation

FAQ

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

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

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

View the guidelines
Categories
Start a conversation

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Start a conversation

deLaurenzo Dealing with Chronic Illness
  • replies: 3

I have been sick for 6 months now and have had to move back home so my parents can take care of me. I've lost all my independence, I'm slowly losing friends and I'm losing the will to keep fighting my sickness. The doctors don't even know what's wron... View more

I have been sick for 6 months now and have had to move back home so my parents can take care of me. I've lost all my independence, I'm slowly losing friends and I'm losing the will to keep fighting my sickness. The doctors don't even know what's wrong with me still, which makes it all the more frustrating. No one understands what I'm going through, everyone has a friend of a friend that's gone through something similar which automatically makes them an expert on what I'm going through, but they don't really understand. I need to know how to get through this, how to keep fighting, all I want is to be my old self again and not be stuck bedridden watching everyone else live their lives and having the best time. How do people get through this! (Please I beg of you do not suggest reading a good book, writing a book, painting or finding a good Netflix series, that's all I've done the past three months and I'm going crazy haha)

kyara listening to music like lil peeps and suicide boys helps me?
  • replies: 4

I hear my friends talk to me about how listening to music like this makes them feel more depressed but it really helps me feel like I'm not the only one and helps me have a phat cry which is quite nice for me, am I the only one who thinks this??? any... View more

I hear my friends talk to me about how listening to music like this makes them feel more depressed but it really helps me feel like I'm not the only one and helps me have a phat cry which is quite nice for me, am I the only one who thinks this??? any music suggestions? like peep, bones, X, suicide boys, joji, lil bo weep ect?

Anabelle1370 I just don't feel good about myself anymore
  • replies: 4

I'm 16 years old and have gained 10kg since last year. I've looked it all up with my BMI; I'm 5'3 weighing at 127 pounds and I'm a healthy weight in that context. But, I still feel really ugly and fat. I'm a pretty small girl, but my stomach and thig... View more

I'm 16 years old and have gained 10kg since last year. I've looked it all up with my BMI; I'm 5'3 weighing at 127 pounds and I'm a healthy weight in that context. But, I still feel really ugly and fat. I'm a pretty small girl, but my stomach and thighs make me feel ginormous. Everyday I obsess over little things about my body and end up crying most nights because of how bad I feel. I pinch the rolls of fat on me and think about how unhealthy all this excess body weight is. I know everyone is gonna reply with ''it's natural'' and ''you're beautiful the way you are, there is no perfect body'' but I don't feel that way. I know there is no perfect body because everyone has their flaws, but I'm just so sick of mine. I go to the beach for sport every Friday with about 60 people from my school year, and going to the beach and seeing everyone who are flat stomached with their still rather large boobs and nice butts makes me feel so insecure. All my friends have perfectly toned stomachs and nice butts and boobs and I'm just there with my odd proportioned body. Everything about me seems so fat except for my boobs and butt and I have gotten heaps of cellulite over the year. My body is so pudgy at this point and it makes me so insecure. I don;t know what to do anymore. I want to start going to the gym and doing physical exercise and eating healthy but whenever I bring it up with my family they just shame me, saying I'm already skinny enough and should be putting on weight, which is not the case. I have so much excess fat it's not funny anymore. I know the women on social media portray perfect lives and bodies that aren't actually real so although it bothers me to a degree, I am also not too fussed on social media influencers. But when I see REAL PEOPLE from my local area and their perfect bodies, I feel bad. I don't want to be anorexic or anything, I'm not focused on being able to see my rib cage. I just want to feel good about myself again, like when I was younger. And I don't know how.

Hahahahahaha I don’t know what to do
  • replies: 2

At school I always get called names like fat ugly, I’m known as the ‘nerd’ and I don’t like it. I used to like this guy and that guy dated my best friend and then my bff told him that I like him he felt bad for me... then the guy I liked broke up wit... View more

At school I always get called names like fat ugly, I’m known as the ‘nerd’ and I don’t like it. I used to like this guy and that guy dated my best friend and then my bff told him that I like him he felt bad for me... then the guy I liked broke up with my freind I thought it was because he felt bad for me but it turns out it was because he liked my bff. The friend that was dating the guy said that she only dated him to make me jealous. Then last week my friend asked the guy I liked if he liked me as a friend. He said no because I’m too boring and quiet and he said my friend was outgoing and fun. I didn’t like that at all. Then I started being mean to him and I feel bad because I said a lot of harsh things... I wanna be his friend but he doesn’t. He’s still hates me I think

Oxymyth Harm OCD - Intrusive Thoughts 
  • replies: 14

Hi everyone I'd like to firstly say I'm a 19 yr old male and im new to this site but not new to anxiety. I've suffered social anxiety most my life and altho it slows me down in some areas and creates panic for me in others it hasn't debilitated me th... View more

Hi everyone I'd like to firstly say I'm a 19 yr old male and im new to this site but not new to anxiety. I've suffered social anxiety most my life and altho it slows me down in some areas and creates panic for me in others it hasn't debilitated me that bad. But now something completely new has risen. On Boxing Day 2017 I started getting intrusive thoughts about hurting my family. This being new obviously scared me to death, and before this I was suffering severe panic attacks due to my anxiety becoming to over worked. I went to the Dr after explaining this to my mum and my Dr prescribed me antidepressants and additional medication to help relax me and suppress my withdrawal from marijuana as I was an everyday smoker until this started happening. I immediately quit. Now because its the holidays I haven't seen a psychiatrist or therapist yet but I am tomoz, hopefully they can give me a proper diagnosis to this but I'm sure this is Harm OCD I'm dealing with, and he/she could help me manage this illness and help me control it. Its been rough, but I have got a good hold on things atm, I know I'm not dangerous and I'm positive I won't hurt anyone... That's just not who I am and I know that I have control not the bad thoughts, but my real concern is the quality of life I'm now looking at. I can accept that these thoughts might poke around in my head for a long time and I understand there's no magic cure or anything but I just don't want to live everyday having to fight in an endless struggle with my own mind. I can be positive and happy knowing I'm not gonna do what these thoughts suggest but... My real question is does it get better? Can I be the same guy I was just 2 weeks ago or will I always be haunted by these debilitating thoughts. Can this if it is OCD get better? Any comments, advice, or shared experiences would be so appreciated, and thankyou for taking the time to read this. I know I sound insane but I'm not, I'm just afraid my life won't ever be the same again.

MrUmbreon Work is making me depressed but I need the job
  • replies: 2

So I started my first job in over a year just over a week ago, and it's not making me happy, it's making me depressed, normally I love work, but this job is just taking it out of me. On my day's off I'm not happy, I am worried about what the next wor... View more

So I started my first job in over a year just over a week ago, and it's not making me happy, it's making me depressed, normally I love work, but this job is just taking it out of me. On my day's off I'm not happy, I am worried about what the next work day will bring, the things that used to bring me joy don't anymore. I try to keep up the pace but I fall behind and I feel worse about myself than I already do, and I am only a Kitchen Hand, I can't find any other work as I don't know other job fields, here I am 24, working a job I hate and I live at home. I want to quit but I know Centerlink doesn't count mental health reasons as valid for leaving a job, besides I need the money to get my phone fixed anyway and to pay rent. I just feel so helpless and pathetic about this, and I don't know what to do, I quit I'm screwed, I stay and I risk a mental breakdown. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you

imagine1101 Insecurity in romantic relationships
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I feel really stupid because I've never done this before but this is easier than talking to someone in person. I'll try and type this calmly. I have been with my boyfriend for 3 years now and he is everything I could ever ask for. He is ... View more

Hi everyone, I feel really stupid because I've never done this before but this is easier than talking to someone in person. I'll try and type this calmly. I have been with my boyfriend for 3 years now and he is everything I could ever ask for. He is so ridiculously loving and supportive and had a crush on me for two years before I even started talking to him. He has never given me any reason whatsoever to doubt his loyalty or love. For some reason, none of this matters to my stupid brain. I feel completely worthless and fake, panicking because it feels like it's only a matter of time before he realises I'm not as amazing as he thinks I am. I'm terrified of being with him around other girls because he might see someone and realise I'm not attractive at all and this has led to periods where I've avoided going out in public with him completely. I obsessively stalk the social media of anyone I know he has previously had a crush on (I'm his first girlfriend) which I know makes everything worse because I feel like I can never measure up and that he wishes he was with them instead of me. I am even worried that he'll start liking my (much) younger sister, purely because she is female and we look vaguely similar, or even that he wants to date his friends' girlfriends. I get so so so scared that I'm not what he really wants and that he's just dating me because I was nice to him and therefore a safe option. I have breakdowns almost every time I see him because I feel like I'm not attractive or kind or talented enough or anything that anyone could ever want. He constantly compliments and reassures me but I can never believe anything he says because I don't think anything good about myself is true. I talk to him about most of this because I have a constant need for reassurance. I feel like such a burden and I often work myself up to the point of begging him to break up with me so that he doesn't have to suffer anymore and he can go find someone worthwhile, but he always refuses. I know this really hurts him but I honestly can't stop myself from doing it, I just want him to be happy and I feel like I'm too much of an emotional strain. I love him more than anything but I feel myself becoming more and more toxic and I don't want to drag him down with me. Do you think I should take a break from our relationship until I can sort my emotions out or should we work through it together? No pressure to reply, I just needed to vent. Thank you so much.

Lyf_is_hard Trouble with mental illness
  • replies: 2

So for the longest time i was interested heavily in computers and electronics. I have been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome and this was my obsessive interest that i had. Although as i grew up in recent years (currently 15) i have lost almost all int... View more

So for the longest time i was interested heavily in computers and electronics. I have been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome and this was my obsessive interest that i had. Although as i grew up in recent years (currently 15) i have lost almost all interest in this area. Along with my Asperger syndrome i have also been diagnosed with Anxiety, OCD and Depression. This combination has become completely overpowering in recent years to the point were i cant even close the door without going through a mental check list to make sure everything has been done right and nothing will ever spark a question from anyone. My OCD is rapidly becoming a massive issue. It's making its way into every aspect of my life. My OCD started out as a small minor thing like making sure all of the blinds in the house are closed fully or open all the way. But in recently it has come to the point were i cant even check my phone without it occurring. If i get a notification on my phone i will swipe down to check it, dismiss it, check again and repeat checking another two or three times. Then i will go into settings to make sure my ringer volume is all the way down. I will do this two or three times as well. Then i will lock and unlock the phone about three times to make sure nothing is running in the background. That was just one example but it extends to all matters of life in a similar matter. I have suffered HOCD which is a form of OCD that constantly makes you consider your sexuality. I know that i am straight and have no attraction to men in any form however my physiological OCD obsesses over this and i spend probably four or five hours thinking about this everyday. Most of my day is taken up by mental contemplation and mind traffic as i like to call it. I constantly think about everything and obsess over things exactly like this. I constantly think about the same thing or repeat words in my head thousands of times. I have repetitive images my myself getting injured in car crashes or other physically damaging scenarios. This came on about two and a half years ago and has been in my mind everyday for at least two plus hours. It never used to be this way but i consider mental obsessions like thinking about the same thing over and over again day after day to be my biggest issue right now. Please help me understand what is going on. Thanks.

Chelsea l HELP! My school is trying to force me into getting up on stage
  • replies: 10

I’m new to this, so hi I’m chelsea, I was diagnosed with Depression and anxiety 3 years ago, when I was 15 years old,I’m 18 now and my school is trying to force me into getting up on stage with all the other graduates and I’m not ready for it. I’ve s... View more

I’m new to this, so hi I’m chelsea, I was diagnosed with Depression and anxiety 3 years ago, when I was 15 years old,I’m 18 now and my school is trying to force me into getting up on stage with all the other graduates and I’m not ready for it. I’ve slowly been able to help myself so now I have no issues with getting up in front of 15-20 people, but their trying to make me get up infront of my entire school, which goes from ages 15-18, which calculated, is about 400 people, I’m literally struggling to write this because I’m crying and shaking, And I’m annoyed because I’ve had 2 anxiety attacks this year, when I haven’t had any issues with it since I was 16, even with moving to a completely new school at 17. I just would really appreciate if somebody could give me some advice on how to explain this to my principle, cause it’s nit just the anxiety, I hate having to get up on stage because I don’t like the way I look.

IsolatedStudent Mixed feelings about social interactions
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I'm a First Year University student and, as the title suggests, feel confused about my social interactions. I know there are people who describe themselves as either an extrovert or an introvert, but I have no idea. I feel completely fine bei... View more

Hi all, I'm a First Year University student and, as the title suggests, feel confused about my social interactions. I know there are people who describe themselves as either an extrovert or an introvert, but I have no idea. I feel completely fine being in a solitary environment, but when I see people I recognise hanging out with their own group of friends, I feel a small pang of jealousy for not being a part of that. Some days I feel like I can talk to anyone, while others I just feel like hiding in my room. I also find that my mood is heavily affected by my social interactions. Although I said earlier that I'm fine in solitude, sometimes I get a sudden sense of loneliness and just long for social interactions. However, depending on how that interaction goes, it can either make or break my day. If I think a social interaction went well, I'd be happy for the rest of the day. If not, then vice versa. I just feel so confused right now! What's wrong with me?? I feel so abnormal about this simple concept. Sorry if this seemed like a rant. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map