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.

FAQ

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

Forums guidelines

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

Pinned discussions

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

eiddesqrd i feel like i don’t belong
  • replies: 6

this is kind of just a rant sorry im really scared to go back to school. there was a mishap last year and i moved from my group that, for the longest time, i thought would be the only group i’d be in. but then i realised i didn’t belong there so i mo... View more

this is kind of just a rant sorry im really scared to go back to school. there was a mishap last year and i moved from my group that, for the longest time, i thought would be the only group i’d be in. but then i realised i didn’t belong there so i moved to the group of my closest friend at school. i really enjoy being there but i feel like im late to the game. these people have had so much time to get closer and im a newcomer. there are smaller groups within this group and honestly, i feel like im not really apart of any of them. i see them in photos together and planning stuff together and i can’t help but just feel like im an afterthought. like im looking through a window at them. i even get jealous when i see my old group going out (which is incredulous to me- i left them! and yet here i am). im really embarrassed about it. i want to find a new group where i feel as though im valued but i don’t know, im nearing the end of high school and it just doesn’t feel worth it. nothing does anymore. maybe i’ll just sit by myself in the library? i don’t know at this point.

Lonelyness I recently found out I have an STI
  • replies: 6

About a week ago I found out my boyfriend gave me herpes. It was an accident of course we are still together going strong but... I'm scared. I've had issues with my self-esteem for years now and only in the last year have I gained any confidence in h... View more

About a week ago I found out my boyfriend gave me herpes. It was an accident of course we are still together going strong but... I'm scared. I've had issues with my self-esteem for years now and only in the last year have I gained any confidence in how I look and who I am, but after this all that work has gone out the window. I feel disgusting in myself and hate myself even more than before. I don't feel like I deserve to have any sort of sex life anymore and the idea of my boyfriend trying to touch me makes me want to cry. I feel like I don't deserve to be treated like a pretty human anymore, just some sort of ugly creature pretending to be human but in reality is still just a creature nobody should think is pretty or hot in any way. I've spent a lot of time crying about all this but I can't think of myself in any other way.

ellierose02 emetophobia (fear of vomiting)
  • replies: 10

My name is Ellie, I'm 16 years old and I've been suffering from severe emetophobia (which is a phobia of vomit, whether it be myself throwing up or watching others throw up) since I was about 9 years old. As long as I can remember I've never liked vo... View more

My name is Ellie, I'm 16 years old and I've been suffering from severe emetophobia (which is a phobia of vomit, whether it be myself throwing up or watching others throw up) since I was about 9 years old. As long as I can remember I've never liked vomit, pretty much the same as everyone else. It wasn't until I was 9 and in school, we had a Christmas party where each student brought in food and we all ate and chatted. I had eaten a little too much and felt uncomfortably full, but not nauseous. One child had eaten too much and threw up. As soon as I saw that I felt an instant panic and started feeling sick myself. Although I didn't throw up I felt nauseous the whole day and my teacher wouldn't let me go home, therefore, worsening the anxiety. Ever since that day I've never let anyone who was sick near me (which I feel horrible about but can't help) I wash my hands all the time and carry around hand sanitiser, and more often than not suffer panic attacks if I feel I've done something that could possibly result in me throwing up. The worst part is my body's reaction to stress is to feel nauseous, so the more I panic, the more I feel nauseous. It's an evil cycle. I get these attacks at any time of day but they occur more in closed spaces where I can't get out eg. cars, buses, trains, concerts etc. It's really ruined my life. I don't feel comfortable eating in restaurants, I sometimes skip meals to avoid food. If anyone has any tips or ideas to help me it would be much appreciated. Thankyou.

Gothamfan Why cant I be happy?
  • replies: 5

This is just a rant abt my feelings and whatever for like 2021 and now 2022 I just don’t feel happy or at least ok school has jsut started back up today and my classes are horrible, I really hope it gets better but I’ve just felt so bad for the past ... View more

This is just a rant abt my feelings and whatever for like 2021 and now 2022 I just don’t feel happy or at least ok school has jsut started back up today and my classes are horrible, I really hope it gets better but I’ve just felt so bad for the past few months, I don’t really have anyone I can talk to This was all over the place and I’m not sure if I said wanted to say but shnwwiqqms I want to hear others experiences and such

ElieAC Is it bad to accept a leg up from your parents??
  • replies: 13

I’ve always been a relatively independent person and at 19 am looking to move out of home but am not eligible for government help and rent isn’t financially accessible. My father has offered to guarantor my lease and I was offered the property but I ... View more

I’ve always been a relatively independent person and at 19 am looking to move out of home but am not eligible for government help and rent isn’t financially accessible. My father has offered to guarantor my lease and I was offered the property but I feel really awful about accepting the help. Likewise, his company offered me part time work which would fit around my studies and I’m struggling to find work at the moment; I don’t know whether to take it. Is it normal to have your parents help you find your feet if they’re able?

ElieAC I don’t think I will ever be independent.
  • replies: 3

I’m 19 and attempting (not well) to become financially independent and make something for myself. I study Nursing at uni and have been told I should be paying for myself and so am trying to work whilst at uni. I’m not exceedingly intelligent and acad... View more

I’m 19 and attempting (not well) to become financially independent and make something for myself. I study Nursing at uni and have been told I should be paying for myself and so am trying to work whilst at uni. I’m not exceedingly intelligent and academia is no strength of mine; as a result, I’m finding I can’t work the hours that are conducive to financial stability if I want the grades that are conducive to success post University. It’s very much a lose-lose situation. Hence, I’m seeking advice. What is the greatest advice you’ve been given on the road to being able to support yourself financially?

Deltius Can't forget about someone
  • replies: 4

Hello again!! There was a person that I recently elected to space myself from for the betterment of both our wellbeing as we are toxic to each other. Sadly though, it pained me a lot to do it and I can't get them out of my head, they always pop up an... View more

Hello again!! There was a person that I recently elected to space myself from for the betterment of both our wellbeing as we are toxic to each other. Sadly though, it pained me a lot to do it and I can't get them out of my head, they always pop up and I think I developed feelings for them. It's been over a week since I sent the apology letter on discord and she said she was busy over the next few days and will make a proper response when she can but she did "really appreciate" the letter. Sadly she just seems fully intertwined in my mind and I can not get rid of her, I suppose it does not help that I don't have others to make new memories with. I have started to try and start working on myself so I actually contribute to people in some way which is acting as a good distraction but the fact she keeps popping up makes things harder. Maybe it is also because I am waiting on a response that seems like it will never come IDK. Anyway, so any tips to move on from people that meant everything to you for the last 3 years even though it was a terrible toxic relationship?

Liam3148 Loneliness
  • replies: 4

Hey my name is Liam, I’ve been lonely for quite a while even though I still live with my parents. I basically lost all my mates since I left my old school which was at least 5 years and have never been able to reconnect with any of em or made any fri... View more

Hey my name is Liam, I’ve been lonely for quite a while even though I still live with my parents. I basically lost all my mates since I left my old school which was at least 5 years and have never been able to reconnect with any of em or made any friends since. I’m afraid if I never make any friends soon I’m going to lose all hope and be alone for my entire life. I’ve had some suicidal thoughts but can never go through with it cause I don’t want to hurt my family, I just don’t know what to do anymore..

MysteryManGuy There's 7 days till school begins for me, and I feel apprehensive
  • replies: 2

On 3/2, I begin 10th grade, but I've been completely pessimistic about it. For one thing, I'm 100% not looking forward to seeing the people there. Most of this hate directs toward my class which is the same for the past few years. To be blunt, I hate... View more

On 3/2, I begin 10th grade, but I've been completely pessimistic about it. For one thing, I'm 100% not looking forward to seeing the people there. Most of this hate directs toward my class which is the same for the past few years. To be blunt, I hate them. My friends belong to the class, and they're some of the worst people I know. I don't want to go through another year with them, PLUS the rest of my shitty class. They really messed me up last year, and seeing those same shitty groups of people fills me with dread. I did not finish year 9 happily and resolve anything. They simply are jerks and they will fuck me up this year just like before. I don't want 200 more days of constant loneliness even when I'm with them. I have no clue how to face them, and none of this will change. Simply put, they ignore me, shun me, never are genuine friends at all, and I don't fit in at all. The more important thing is that my academic performance has been shit for a while, and after last year's insanely long lockdown, my grades have tanked. I've been even more worried and I have absolutely no confidence on my abilities. I struggle to improve. VCE is worrying me. The past years, I've been declining. I don't know how to manage my time, or manage myself. My family isn't any help, since they just seem to pressure me more. I've been procastinating like crazy, and my motivation and work ethics are gone. The worst of it all is that it's 10th grade already. The past years felt like it went by too fast. I'm anxious about the future, and the structure of the later years of school. I'm nervous on how VCE will go, the increased independence, the constant work, and exams. It doesn't help that exams have been cancelled for me ever since Covid. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the fact that I'm growing up make me feel awful. Soon, I have to stress about more important things and take up new responsibilities, and I don't feel ready for it at all. I miss how simple things were for me, even though I hated things then anyway.