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.

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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.

All discussions

Kenzi Friends?
  • replies: 2

I have just come out of secondary college (where I hadn't made any friends) and am now in a Gap Year, and constantly feeling like alone because I've hardly talk to anyone outside my family for over two years now. So please help me.

I have just come out of secondary college (where I hadn't made any friends) and am now in a Gap Year, and constantly feeling like alone because I've hardly talk to anyone outside my family for over two years now. So please help me.

Chloemoana HELP! Depression & Anxiety becoming too much!
  • replies: 5

Hi guys, I'm feeling very lost at the moment. I am 21 years old and in the past year have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Trying to deal with this and also work full time in a very fast paced environment is HARD! I have just had the past ... View more

Hi guys, I'm feeling very lost at the moment. I am 21 years old and in the past year have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Trying to deal with this and also work full time in a very fast paced environment is HARD! I have just had the past 3 weeks on holiday and it seems that even on day 1 I was still thinking about work and how stressful it is and how much I hate it and dont want to go back. I couldn' even enjoy my time off work. i guess I'm just asking for input into different career pathways for someone like me? I am looking at studying social work via online study, therefore I will need a job to work during the day. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. I've found myself having panic attacks almost everyday. (Already on antidepressants). Thanks so much Chloe

notkeepingup First post here, hello
  • replies: 7

Hi, my problem is a mix of social anxiety and feeling disconnected from others. Right now, I have only 1 close friend and a few other more distant friends that I can't really connect to, since we don't really hang out together. They are really outgoi... View more

Hi, my problem is a mix of social anxiety and feeling disconnected from others. Right now, I have only 1 close friend and a few other more distant friends that I can't really connect to, since we don't really hang out together. They are really outgoing, and I have a hard time keeping up with them with my personality. We don't really have much in common either, girls my age are talking about boys and clubbing, and I can't really connect to this. I try to make friends in my classes, however, I have a hard time keeping the conversation going after the initial - what are you studying, what's your name, stuff like this. Because of this, people lose interest in me after a short while and I don't make any meaningful relationships. This leads me to feel alone and depressed more often than not. I'm a student so I find that when I feel down, I start to procrastinate and this affects my studies in a very negative way. I'm getting to the point where I feel like I'm going to have to fake being outgoing, however, this is harder than it sounds. I don't really know any topics to talk about with people, and I don't know how to further expand on conversation topics. Everyone is making new friends, while I feel very isolated socially. I also would like to connect more with my outgoing friends, but I have no idea how to do so, since we are so different and I'm afraid it'll just end up extremely awkward. I'd love to overcome my social anxiety, and if anyone can relate to this, please let me know! I feel very stuck right now, at a stage in my life where I should be enjoying myself and having fun with friends, but due to my anxiety and personality, I'm finding it very hard to do so.

Taylajae Over thinking and anxiety. I need advice on coping
  • replies: 4

I have anxiety and i over think alot. About two months ago i thought the penny had dropped and i finally thought i had learnt to cope and deal with it. Recently my nan had passed away and ive become very unhappy with my job. Im in a relationship and ... View more

I have anxiety and i over think alot. About two months ago i thought the penny had dropped and i finally thought i had learnt to cope and deal with it. Recently my nan had passed away and ive become very unhappy with my job. Im in a relationship and i feel that my anxiety and over thinking is starting to effect my relationship. My partner is a very happy go lucky kind of guy so when i get upset i feel like i bring him down. I can catch my self over thinking but the emotions still flood. I get worried that he will leave me. Ive had some pretty crappy relationships but with him i feel as though i have found the one and the thought of ruining that scares me. I just want to be the best partner i can be and manage my anxiety and over thinking so i can go back to the happy fun loving woman i was. I do talk to him about things at times but i often feel as though i am a bother so i try to deal with the small things on my own so i dont worry him. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Tenishaaaa Advice on Feeling Super Low in Relationship
  • replies: 1

Hi Reader, ( I appreciate this so much) The Beginning My boyfriend and I have been together for almost 3 years now. In the real beginning getting together was amazing, feeling love that neither of us have had before. After we got more comfortable we ... View more

Hi Reader, ( I appreciate this so much) The Beginning My boyfriend and I have been together for almost 3 years now. In the real beginning getting together was amazing, feeling love that neither of us have had before. After we got more comfortable we found that we would argue over absolutely everything and we figured out neither of us cared about the argument it was just something to do. Two years on now and we hardly ever argue and have fixed about of issue when we do e.g communicating, giving space ect. Fair enough to say we have had a lot of high and low points in our time together. Recently Recently we have been in a massive high. I was feeling so in love and like the happiest person alive (literally). And he’s been happy too. Now/Me Now often I get myself into a stage of a really low point. But it’s all me and is completely one sided. I am currently going through this now. I get so low that I feel so worthless. I have terrible dreams about us and get feelings where I try to distance myself from my partner so it won’t hurt as much if we break up. I start to think maybe I should break up with him to “beat him to it” or the other side of it being that I should break up so he can find someone he deserves. i just get so down thinking that I’m not good enough. I get so upset that all my emotions and feeling turn into numbness where I don’t feel anything for anyone. I know that I have some anxieties and I tend to stress like crazy over things that are far away in the future or may never happen at all. The Boyfriend 99% of the time my boyfriend is beyond helpful but it’s a long process to get out of this dark rutt and sometimes I think he gets over it and resorts to being his happy self... (going back to jokes, laughing at videos on fb that he plays extremely loud, ranting on about his great/bad day) im Interested in his day but not his jokes or anything that makes him laugh because I myself don’t/can’t laugh or be happy. I think it’s because when I see that he’s had enough for today I start to think that I’m right. I need some advice on how to fix these low points. They are straining our relationship and has me worried that he will leave because I can’t focus on his happiness or we can’t be happy together. It’s either one person or the other. I love him so much. He’s my world and the only person I can be my real self around. I can’t and don’t want to loose the best thing I’ve ever had in my life. Please help.

hamish_c7 Struggling to find friends at uni
  • replies: 4

Hi all, this is my first post ever on this website. I guess I'll jump right into it. I'm a male first year student who's finding it really difficult to make friends with people at uni. It's been pretty rough going from highschool where I was fairly p... View more

Hi all, this is my first post ever on this website. I guess I'll jump right into it. I'm a male first year student who's finding it really difficult to make friends with people at uni. It's been pretty rough going from highschool where I was fairly popular with a good circle of mates to uni where I know virtually no one. I have friends from highschool at uni with me but I want to meet new people as well. I've made friendly acquaintances with people in my lectures/tutorials but nothing really past that. I know its only the end of week 2 but I'm really missing having a social life. Any advice?

ash_al I'm confused on what I'll be doing
  • replies: 18

I always wanted to do something that involves with art. I want to be an artist someday but none of my parents support me, I love drawing, I love designing clothes, I just love art. I even wanted to join an art competition but mum says no. I am a bit ... View more

I always wanted to do something that involves with art. I want to be an artist someday but none of my parents support me, I love drawing, I love designing clothes, I just love art. I even wanted to join an art competition but mum says no. I am a bit disappointed, hurt, and confused. I am actually studying a Diploma of Higher Education in health because my parents wanted me to have a medical course. I have never thought in a million years that I would actually be aiming for dentistry. Dentistry is such a competitive course and I don't really have the brains to study or will get accepted someday (my predictions), I have failed my maths but besides that I am doing well with my other subjects. Maths is really important to have a higher grade, I just did not understand why I have failed it because last semester I was doing well. I just do not know where I went wrong, and now I am worried because my parents expect a lot from me. I mean, they don't really expect me to study dentistry but any courses in health is fine. It's just that health is not really my thing and I am so pressured and stressed out because if I don't get in to dentistry, I have no idea what I am going to do after. Because none of the health courses are interesting( at least for me). I always think about this every single day, I just lay in my bed at night and cry because I do not think I have the chance in studying dentistry, which is sad and it really breaks my heart because that's what my parents what me to do, they want me to study a medical course. If you ask me why dentistry? The answer to that is I don't know, it sort of like just happened. When I enquired the application for the diploma, I just said I wanted to study dentistry, like I did not even think about it. I don't know why or how. Although, I want to help people with their oral health problems and inspire every one in what I love to do. Anyway, I'm just a confused person, if I pursue my art I am afraid that I am going to fail. All I want is support and inspiration from my parents, they do support me and admire my drawings but they just don't agree that art is what I really want. I wanted to join art competitions but I do not have enough money to do that. It's hard to do something when no one is there to guide you, help you, and support you in every way especially when it is something that you love. Please help me, I just need advice and motivation. I don't know what to do.

SomeBritishGuy High School
  • replies: 4

My name is Michael and i'm starting at high school. I had a lot of friends going into high school (a small little group) but now a lot of them just left. No warning, just gone... My social life with boys is so-so as i'm small and skinny. my social li... View more

My name is Michael and i'm starting at high school. I had a lot of friends going into high school (a small little group) but now a lot of them just left. No warning, just gone... My social life with boys is so-so as i'm small and skinny. my social life with girls is horrible as i'm no the best looking and also like i said before, small, skinny, nerdy and not very popular. One guy in particular, was my best friend, we did everything together. We were inseparable. But sadly now because hes in normal classes and i'm in AEP for everything, (Academic Extension Program) hes started to ignore me and just taunt me. Does anyone have any clue on what to do? - Michael

Moo68 Feeling alone and lost
  • replies: 3

I have never done this before. But I figured there is not much to lose. I am originally from the U.K, I moved to Australia at 18 which was nearly four years ago. I arrived with my partner and family. Since then, I have had numerous jobs and graduated... View more

I have never done this before. But I figured there is not much to lose. I am originally from the U.K, I moved to Australia at 18 which was nearly four years ago. I arrived with my partner and family. Since then, I have had numerous jobs and graduated university. However, I recently got fired from my last job with no warning or explanation. The last eight weeks have been extremely difficult to find a job and maintain my mental health. With years of experience and a degree I still cannot get a minimum paid job and I genuinely feel vulnerable, and a burden. I have no friends in Australia and only my partner which makes myself literally alone for 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. I have always been a nervous person, but in times like this I really lack the motivation to even get out of the house. I absolutely love Australia, and the opportunities it has given me, and my partner for his support. Right now though, I honestly feel invisible. Thank you

selectivelysocial Continue with uni or gap year?
  • replies: 1

I have started my nursing degree this year as a full time student and have been at uni for 3 weeks. I enjoy the course and I have actually made friends, but I am still so unsure about whether now is the right time in my life to be starting the degree... View more

I have started my nursing degree this year as a full time student and have been at uni for 3 weeks. I enjoy the course and I have actually made friends, but I am still so unsure about whether now is the right time in my life to be starting the degree. I did my HSC last year and for most of the year, had planned on taking a gap year this year, but when I received my HSC results and realised that I had got into my course, I decided that I was going to start straight away. The main reason why I am unsure is because I have already struggled these past few weeks balancing uni with work, and having to do the housework for a household of 4, as I am a carer for 2 dependant people, and my mum needs the help. Along with the housework, I need to clean out my house as there has been a build up of my late grandmothers personal items that have been "collecting dust" for years, and it annoys me that I can not find the time to clean it all. I looks like it would take a solid few weeks for me to do it on my own, along with work and caring duties, but with uni it would probably take me a whole year. My parents want me to stop worrying about that and just focus on my career, but I feel like I can't focus on it until I get these things done. Census date is in 9 days, so I'm not sure whether I should withdraw from my course and re apply next year which would mean taking a gap year to get my life and house sorted or continue with my studies and possibly never get the chance to clean up my parent's house. I just don't know what to do and I'm stressing