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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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Artastic55 Diagnosed with Psychosis - I don’t believe it’s true and think something else is wrong
  • replies: 1

Recently I was diagnosed with psychosis (2-3 months ago) and I’ve been reading a lot about psychosis and other people’s experiences and I believe something else is wrong, or this disgnosis was incorrect; Could I have a different mental illness? I’m j... View more

Recently I was diagnosed with psychosis (2-3 months ago) and I’ve been reading a lot about psychosis and other people’s experiences and I believe something else is wrong, or this disgnosis was incorrect; Could I have a different mental illness? I’m just not sure that’s it. Looking at the symptoms, I don’t hallucinate anymore, I used to hear voices in my head which were eradicated after a while. I’m a little delusional and often believe strange things related to my paranoia (e.g people laughing behind me must be laughing at me, or people hearing my thoughts). I do have strange mood swings which sometimes leave me emotionless and angry, often making it seem like I am a different person (which I’ve referred to as ‘it’ or ‘it mode’). I don’t believe there are other symptoms I have also a note that I’ve been on two medications seperatly for seperate time periods treating my illness. I’m unaware of other mental illnesses that may contribute to this but I do have instrusive thoughts related to my OCD which I also believe may be a misdiagnoses. Although I’m obsessed with harming other people and my own mental health, and often a compulsion I do is research mental illness to see what may be wrong. There are no compulsions for the harming thankfully other than a trick I use from my psychologist called ‘dropping anchor’ i also want to talk briefly about how I dissociate from myself. I often change into this weird state where I feel no emotion and often am hostile and defensive, when I have no reason usually to be like so. It’s often triggered of a night and when it happens I often end up posting here about sone thing like tonight. i know it’s brief and it’d be better if you’d know me, but i want your advice on what you may thing could be an issue or if you believe my diagnoses may still apply to me even though you may or may not be qualified. I won’t take it as a real diagnoses or whatever because I know it has to be done professionally and in person and all. thanks for reading and any replies or feedback is welcome. I also didn’t proofread this because I’m lazy. sorry...

nevergiveup245 Struggling with Uni, classmates in my cohort won't help..
  • replies: 6

Hello everyone, I am currently in Uni where I have to do a 10,000 words thesis as well as do coursework subjects. I found that my friends just like to talk about random things, and when I actually ask some of them for advice regarding assignments tha... View more

Hello everyone, I am currently in Uni where I have to do a 10,000 words thesis as well as do coursework subjects. I found that my friends just like to talk about random things, and when I actually ask some of them for advice regarding assignments that we all have to do, they often say they are not sure, when I know they are smart students. Is it common in Uni where friends won't help? I am also wondering did I ask them too much that I upset them... I am not sure what to do. Due to my depression which got worse these past few weeks, I lost confidence in my ability to study and do well. I find it hard to focus. In uni they encouraged independent learning, but are there any resources I could use to help me with my studies? I feel quite lost. Any support or advice would be appreciated.

AnonymousNobody My life is going well, but I feel more depressed and isolated than ever
  • replies: 6

So first, some background: I was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at the age of five. I’ve suffered from social anxiety and other related issues for as long as I can remember, but this was reasonably managed throughout my primary school years. Howe... View more

So first, some background: I was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at the age of five. I’ve suffered from social anxiety and other related issues for as long as I can remember, but this was reasonably managed throughout my primary school years. However, in my first year of high school, I developed severe depression and anxiety, and became shuttered off from society at large, eventually culminating in my dropping out of school when I was sixteen and doing practically nothing for the next year and a half. I’m eighteen now, and my life, in practical terms, is better than ever. I’m doing a TAFE course, and working several days a week at an unpaid internship/work experience program. And yet, I feel more depressed than ever before, and I’m not sure exactly why. I do know that I feel isolated, as I have no real “friends” to speak of, nor a girlfriend. I do have several people who I talk to on the internet and am close to in a way, but internet “friendship” is a far cry from the real thing. In real life, people generally seem to be put off by me, especially women, for reasons that elude me. Nobody even wants to give me the time of day. I do get along with a girl at TAFE, who is somewhat older than me, in her mid 20s, and we have made a habit of going out to cafes after school, and also going out on the weekend, but I get a very strong vibe that she is not only not interested in any sort romantic relationship, but isn’t even particularly interested in friendship, and is merely talking and going out with me to be nice, which makes me more depressed, as I am quite fond of her. In addition to this, I am constantly dwelling on all the pointless pain, suffering and injustice that occurs in the world, and after searching hard for spiritual meaning, have been forced to come to the conclusion that the world is nothing but a careless, evil hellhole, and that altruism and empathy do not truly exist in any meaningful sense. All this has left me feeling very depressed, and I am unsure of how to deal with or resolve it. Kind regards AnonymousNobody

Moby54280 My own personal story - Part 1
  • replies: 2

Everyone thinks that they have their own personal story. They believe that they are beyond statistics and that other people care about their own story. I wonder if that is actually true. It is said that at least 6 people die from suicide in Australia... View more

Everyone thinks that they have their own personal story. They believe that they are beyond statistics and that other people care about their own story. I wonder if that is actually true. It is said that at least 6 people die from suicide in Australia every day, 1 in 7 Australians will suffer from depression during their lifetime, depression has the third highest burden of all diseases in Australia (13%), and rates of depression are slightly higher in women with depression, affecting 1 in 6 compared to 1 in 10. Statistics have always been rather cold and at times very hard to place to a face. These aren’t very light-hearted statistics, nor are they statistics that people like to talk or face. When I have been in a room or even a classroom and the conversation of mental health comes up, people have either gone completely silent, as life, an invisible veil has gone over everyone in the room which makes everyone feel rather distant from each other. These conversations were only just starting to be introduced to me when I started high school. However, I had known what being around depression was like. When I was about 12 I had a friend, for the purposes of the story lets call her Amelia. I thought that we were the best friends that people could have. So much so that we used to call each other brother and sister because that's how we acted around each other. One day while I was over at her house I noticed she kept pulling down her sleeves on her jumper. I managed to see what she was hiding.When I asked her about them she said she got them when she was cooking. I knew that she was lying. I had been told about self-harm but I had never really seen it nor been probably told the different ways it can be done. I didn’t ask her about them for the rest of the night. I went home feeling confused. Not about what she had done but about my own emotions. Feelings of confusion and shock came over me. Those weren’t the ones which I was uncomfortable about. It was the feeling of hatred for myself and anger for the reasons why she had done it. I thought if I just kept asking her about it I would eventually make her feel better. That if someone simply talked about their problems that they would eventually feel better. It happens in the films like that. Therefore it must be like that in real life, is what my 12-year-old mind thought.

EllyFB Step 1.9
  • replies: 3

The last 14 months have been quite hard and painful, I know that I need to go see a pshycologist and a GP. The problem is I have moved interstate to get away from what was hurting me. Im blessed with my fiance and two staffys, however being in such a... View more

The last 14 months have been quite hard and painful, I know that I need to go see a pshycologist and a GP. The problem is I have moved interstate to get away from what was hurting me. Im blessed with my fiance and two staffys, however being in such a new place and knowing no one Im stupidly scared to go to a new gp or even trying to find the right Phsycologist... I am at a point where if I cant help myself, I’m worried it will destroy those I love the most. The fear cripples you kinda, like your frozen in your position and cant even speak. Has anyone else been through similar and can give some advice or share their experience?

iwantedapuppy Missing having a pet
  • replies: 3

I had to move far away from home and my family a few years ago due to study and family issues. I also had to leave my pets behind. I understood missing my pets (I had two dogs) when I first moved but now I just feel so broken that I can't be with the... View more

I had to move far away from home and my family a few years ago due to study and family issues. I also had to leave my pets behind. I understood missing my pets (I had two dogs) when I first moved but now I just feel so broken that I can't be with them anymore and that they aren't being treated as nicely anymore. I know it may sound horrible, stupid or selfish but I cry a lot not having them here or in fact any animal around. Now all I want is to buy another pet. I honestly don't care what one. I've previously had lots of different animals living with my family and I and it was awesome. I wouldn't mind even having a pet mouse or fish (which I previously have had and helped looked after). But I live with my boyfriend. Though currently we are allowed to have pets at where we are living, he thinks we won't be able to if we ever move. Which is a very fair and reasonable point. So I drop the idea of getting a pet, which feels really horrible. But I do. I distract myself. I try and stop looking on pet rescue for an animal companion. But then I just do it again. Once my boyfriend even said yes I can have a bunny. I found a bunny, met them, held them, talked to the owner about them (with my boyfriend), had done hours of research on pet rabbits and then he thought we should wait to we moved to a bigger place as was living at the time in a small unit. Now we live in a three bedroom house with a garden but I don't know if I can have a pet still. I don't need one but I feel like I do. There has never been a time in my life where I didn't have animals to look after, play with and keep me company at home. When we first moved into the house I am living in now I was told I could have a dog after two weeks. I spent ages searching dog breeds. I now know over 100 different types of dog breeds off by heart. I spent hours looking on pound websites and gumtree. I found one which was perfect as this person was having puppies that were all four of my favourite breeds together. I thought it was meant to be because I had also grown up with each of these breeds at home. I got so excited when the puppies were born. We had discussed meeting up and prices. I got to chose which puppy. But then was told no by my boyfriend. I couldn't anymore because University would be starting soon and maybe I'll be too busy. I cried alot and then accepted it. Now I can have a cat, but I know he will change his mind and convince me otherwise. I just don't want the heartache of not having a pet anymore

sushigirl Friendship Problems//Advice?
  • replies: 1

I have two really good friends, but I feel liek they are drifting away from me. My better friend out of the two, doesn't like me that much anymore, and the other friend is always acting as if she hates me. As well as that, they always seem so attache... View more

I have two really good friends, but I feel liek they are drifting away from me. My better friend out of the two, doesn't like me that much anymore, and the other friend is always acting as if she hates me. As well as that, they always seem so attached to each other, I feel like I'm third wheeling. What should I do?

Broncies_18 Getting too worked up
  • replies: 2

So does anyone here have the feeling that you have stuffed up somehow and get so worked up about it that you worry some much you can’t stop thinking about it. For me I work in food and was doing a lot of packaging and even though I did it the way eve... View more

So does anyone here have the feeling that you have stuffed up somehow and get so worked up about it that you worry some much you can’t stop thinking about it. For me I work in food and was doing a lot of packaging and even though I did it the way everyone else did it to an extent and I’m stressing that I did it wrong somehow and now I can’t really stop thinking about it. Cheers for any advice would be greatly appreciated

AshLo Where to start.
  • replies: 2

It's a never ending cycle really. I'm fairly young, and I love my parents. My mum was in a rather large accident a few years ago so I get separation anxiety when going to sleep at friends houses and leaving my mum home, not knowing if she is safe. Ho... View more

It's a never ending cycle really. I'm fairly young, and I love my parents. My mum was in a rather large accident a few years ago so I get separation anxiety when going to sleep at friends houses and leaving my mum home, not knowing if she is safe. However, my mum is constantly putting me down. "You didn't do this right" Why didn't you do this " Why did you say this " and she jumps ahead like I would say something nasty but I wouldn't. Things like "don't tell your friends yo purchased an expensive dress" like she knows I'd never do this? My "best friend" (no longer.. I think) is always rude to me. I'll make a joke and she will tell me to stop being annoying, but someone else will make it and she will laugh. I don't have many people to speak to, who will just tell me to "stop being so dramatic" almost every time i break down in tears I can plan exactly what my mum says. It's always the same. and I'm just in this loop. there is more, but idk.

Belle_Rey19 Help! Conflict with deferring Uni or continuing Uni...
  • replies: 2

Hi, I posted on here a while a back about how I was unsure about if I should go to University. I have been at Uni now for 4 weeks and that unsure feeling hasn't gone away. Every time I'm at the campus, I feel as though I'm making a wrong decision but... View more

Hi, I posted on here a while a back about how I was unsure about if I should go to University. I have been at Uni now for 4 weeks and that unsure feeling hasn't gone away. Every time I'm at the campus, I feel as though I'm making a wrong decision but I am unsure why. The subjects I am studying are creative writing and theater because being an actress and a novelist is something that I 100% want to do with my life even though I understand that it isn't guaranteed to be a full time employment. I just really want to try to achieve both of these whether it is part time or full time I don't mind, but choosing the right way to go about it is so stressful. I am also in a Spanish course so I can learn to speak to my grandma and Spanish family but maybe I can just teach myself? idk... The census date is coming up and I am now thinking that I should defer Uni for a year just to clear my head and work things out before committing. I feel like studying to be a writer and an actress isn't worth the money I would be in debt with at university as opposed to finding a part time job for the first time, going to tafe and taking private or cheaper acting courses on the side as well as writing my own material or attending writing work shops instead of going to uni. I am extremely shy, introverted and a sensitive 19 year old person with social anxiety and a little depression. I'm just so stuck because I am still unsure with what side I should pick. I don't want to fail or lose my chance of being an actress and novelist just because I didn't go to uni and I don't want to feel inferior or like I'v disappointed anybody. I know my dad is going to be upset and my grandma will be disappointed. Deciding on the future and all this, it's just so overwhelming and stressful and lonely and I feel like I'm being torn a part Am I making any sense? Sorry if I'm not, I can explain it better.