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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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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.

mehhh Struggling with Anger and Sadness
  • replies: 1

I've been struggling with trying to control my anger for a long, long time now and it's effecting my relationship as I lash out at random times for no apparent reason. I become filled with anger and cannot control what I say or do, I have no idea why... View more

I've been struggling with trying to control my anger for a long, long time now and it's effecting my relationship as I lash out at random times for no apparent reason. I become filled with anger and cannot control what I say or do, I have no idea why I get so angry and I always regret what I say or do. Sometimes, I get so mad and just punch things or hurt myself in another way. I constantly say horrible things to my partner when I do get into this mood and it's really not okay. After I have my massive rush of anger, I feel really really sad and I have no idea why. This combination happens constantly and I don't know what to do because I don't have the courage to speak to my GP and definitely not my mum. I talk to my girlfriend about it sometimes but that's the only time I ever actually talk about it.