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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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Sammybell97 I'm in need of suport
  • replies: 2

Hi there I'm currently 20years old and 5 years ago I was diagnosed with server depression and i have been battling on and off with it since then. My depression started when my nana past away, I am also now a new mum my baby is 6 weeks old and I love ... View more

Hi there I'm currently 20years old and 5 years ago I was diagnosed with server depression and i have been battling on and off with it since then. My depression started when my nana past away, I am also now a new mum my baby is 6 weeks old and I love him to pieces but I'm not sure what I can do anymore apart from seeking the help from others and beyond blue, I have been on a four wheel driving trip with beyond blue a few years ago now and it made me feel amazing inside, I'm in need of some assistance to help me feel amazing again thank you I already feel a little better for taking this step

big45 I don't feel anything anymore
  • replies: 4

Hi, i'm 18 years old and I am the first to admit that I have a good life. Up until now i've felt the normal teenage emotions of heartbreak and all the rest of it but now i don't feel anything. No matter what happens i feel like i'm numb. I'm never ov... View more

Hi, i'm 18 years old and I am the first to admit that I have a good life. Up until now i've felt the normal teenage emotions of heartbreak and all the rest of it but now i don't feel anything. No matter what happens i feel like i'm numb. I'm never overly happy but i'm never overly sad either. I'm not the type of person who worries about things, i am very laid back. But a lot of the time at uni, the gym or at home, i'm there physically but mentally i am not. It's almost like my body is there but my mind isn't. Sometimes i feel like my body is moving without me even controlling it. I just go through the motions every day and my body has become so used to it that i'm in auto pilot mode. I struggle to find motivation to go anywhere other than the gym. I used to go out with my friends regularly however they stopped talking to me because i "brought the mood down". In my opinion this is a load of rubbish because out of all my friends i have always been the most laid back. But even when they stopped talking to me i didn't even get sad about it. As i said i don't feel any sort of emotion in any situation, not happy, not sad, not anything. I do not dislike my life, i have never thought about harming myself, i just miss the feeling of being excited and happy, and to be honest i miss feeling sad because it made me feel alive. Does anyone else feel the same way or is it just me?

snowy13 anxiety? depression?
  • replies: 2

For the past year and a half Ive been having trouble breathing. At first it was only occasionally, and felt like a jump in my throat or chest. But last 8-6 months its been so much worse, to the point where i'm struggling to breathe for long periods (... View more

For the past year and a half Ive been having trouble breathing. At first it was only occasionally, and felt like a jump in my throat or chest. But last 8-6 months its been so much worse, to the point where i'm struggling to breathe for long periods (one lasted around 5 hours) of time, and feeling dizzy, faint. periodically, during this time food has either been my savior or my worst enemy, where it makes me feel sick even if its dinner and i haven't eaten all day. Recently I have confided in one of my teachers at school about everything, and she suggested i see the school psych, i went but it made me feel worse. i didnt mention the above, she asked about my family and i related how my Uncle had past away (i didnt know him that well but it effected my Grandparents and my dad badly), how my grandmothers best friend (very close to when i was little) past away and how my gran has cancer, but due to complications can't have full rounds of chemo. my brother is away, working overseas and my mums side of the family is a bit dysfunctional. i told the psych, i didnt like how she kept repeating what i was saying which made me feel stupid, frustrated and annoyed. i cant bring myself to do things i enjoy, i avoid social situations, especially loud groups of people, its been a struggle for me to get up to see my boyfriend (who i love dearly and would generally do anything for at any time), i find myself lying on the floor for hours doing nothing, and getting homework done is an increasing struggle. ive always been good at hiding my emotions from anyone, but yesterday in class after i saw the psych, my teacher came over and asked where i had been and i froze and couldnt think about anything but 1.i couldnt lie to my teacher 2.people were watching and listening to my answer. so i ended up standing up running to the corner of the room sort of crying and not able breathe. ive been doing the brain quiz every so often on this site since at least year 8 or 9 (now about to start yr 12), to monitor my mood, i used to get 25-36, but since the start of this year i havent gotten below a 45. im scared to go to a doctor, and i havent told my parents, as i believe the same thing will happen as when i told the psych that ill end up annoyed and angry. and my parents not knowing is usually the only reason i get up, as i have to pretend everything is okay for their sake, which is usually useful i feel. any suggestions on what to do now? ive been waiting for it to go away but its not.

Zoe_Apricot Scared to go to school?
  • replies: 1

Hey my name is Zoe and I'm really terrified to go to school when I know for certain a minor inconvenience will be in the way. For example if it's raining I'll begin to think "Oh god, I'll have to ask where my wet weather class room is and then I'll h... View more

Hey my name is Zoe and I'm really terrified to go to school when I know for certain a minor inconvenience will be in the way. For example if it's raining I'll begin to think "Oh god, I'll have to ask where my wet weather class room is and then I'll have to sit inside the hall, what if I can't find my friends?" Etc. It's getting to the point where I'll cry for an hour and I'll have to turn my alarm off so I don't wake up in the morning. Mum thinks I'm just another moody teenager who just doesn't want to go to school because it's lame or something. But she doesn't realize that the thought of surrounding myself with people I don't know makes me panic and cry. I honestly don't know what to do. Should I ask my mum to see a doctor? And what should I do if I'm too terrified to go to school again?

constantthinker I hate myself
  • replies: 25

I'm semi-new to beyondblue. I visited a few months back but found it difficult to read other people's stories because it made me feel pathetic about myself, which I 100% know is the wrong way to think... but it isn't as simple as knowing that it's th... View more

I'm semi-new to beyondblue. I visited a few months back but found it difficult to read other people's stories because it made me feel pathetic about myself, which I 100% know is the wrong way to think... but it isn't as simple as knowing that it's the wrong way to think because I don't feel like I can control how I think. I finish year 12 in two days. I genuinely would rather gauge my eyes out with spoons than finish. It scares me. I've never dreaded anything so much in my entire life. School is my social life and the only place other than home I can feel relatively comfortable. I get nervous crossing main roads. I get nervous going out, and while I really want to go to parties I get so nervous and awkward while I'm there that I just really want to go home. How am I supposed to live life outside of school? I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I feel that way about so many little things that it's just overwhelming. I don't even know anymore what's wrong and it's ruining my relationships with people. I keep saying I'll see someone but I finish school and there's no longer anyone to see, and I'm too socially inept to take myself somewhere like a doctor or whoever I see about this kind of thing. I let my nerves get the best of me and even though I know how to 'fix' it I just don't think I can. I've lost so many friendships because of it that it hurts me to see these people and think anything but "that's your fault, you could still be their friend." I can't talk to anyone or see anyone about this. If feeling this way was a physical body part I would cut it off. I don't even know what to say here. I just hate myself. I don't want to be like me because people like me don't get to live a life they want to. I feel like smashing my head against a wall sometimes I just can't stop thinking. I make scenarios in my head and dread everything and cry at night when I can't sleep and I wake up every day and cry sometimes still and question which one of my friends will be next to leave because I don't make an effort with them, all because I'm too afraid. Not sure what I can really do about feeling this way anymore. These fears have been there since year 7 but in light of certain events in the past few months, and especially leading up to end of school, I just don't think I can continue to hate myself like I do but I just wholeheartedly do. I know it isn't okay if I want to maintain friendships after school's out. - constantthinker

Zyn Failing University, Anxiety holding me back, Feel like it's too late
  • replies: 3

Hey, I'm a student. Earlier this year, due to me mishandling a situation at home, my single parent mum had to leave the home due to an AVO. I currently live with my younger sibling. I'm on good terms with my mother, but these past several months with... View more

Hey, I'm a student. Earlier this year, due to me mishandling a situation at home, my single parent mum had to leave the home due to an AVO. I currently live with my younger sibling. I'm on good terms with my mother, but these past several months with me suddenly losing a parent in the household and being alone with my sibling, I lost focus of my life and delved into online games which took a significant toll on my University studies. Internally, I know I'm just blaming my situation on the AVO, but I know if I was more focused and had more mental fortitude, I would have been able to succeed in University as well. Last semester of University, I had two final exams which I did poorly on because when I read the date, I thought it was 13th, but when I double checked later on, it was on the 3rd, and I only had a single day to prepare for 2 exams. I failed both courses. I'm a year behind in Uni and on probation. After I realised what had happened, I identified the issue : games. I spent so much time playing games, because it was an escape from real life. When I'm playing, all the failing marks, being behind in studies, my situation; none of it exists. Thankfully, I've managed to go cold turkey on games and haven't played in a month. For reference on how much I was playing, in 2 months, I played 700 Hours (average 12 hours a day). I've also started going to the gym and that also makes me feel like I'm doing something positive with my life. I'm also focusing more on uni now. The issue is whenever I let my thoughts roam, I feel like its too late, and I've already messed up. I've been lying to my father (has his own family, lives separately) whenever he calls about my marks because I can't handle to tell him the truth. Right now my goals in life: >get fit >get a job that isn't fast food >get my P licence >Do better in Uni All my friends from highschool have already attained these goals, but my anxiety is holding me back. When I think about getting a job, I tell myself I will do it after I can drive to work. I used to work at McDonalds but I hated it to the stage where I dreaded every morning I had to wake up for work so I quit right after the AVO incident. I can get my P's as I visit my mother and drive in her car with her but when I do I feel so much anxiety about such little things, like 'what if there's no parking', 'what if something goes wrong', 'what if she asks me about university'. Anyways, just needed to share, thanks for reading.

Lilac1 How to stop myself from feeling worthless?
  • replies: 7

I honestly feel worthless, I have never posted before but I feel so alone I had to share. How can I stop feeling worthless? It just doesn't magically go away, I've been through a lot of lies, loss and heartbreak. I keep it in because if I don't every... View more

I honestly feel worthless, I have never posted before but I feel so alone I had to share. How can I stop feeling worthless? It just doesn't magically go away, I've been through a lot of lies, loss and heartbreak. I keep it in because if I don't everyone around me worries, gets upset and doesn't understand. Nobody understands and it would be selfish of me to bring them down as well. Why do I feel worthless? I've lost, been very badly lied too, left like I'm nothing and hurt so badly. I give my all, my happiness is making others happy and all I seem to do is fail. I can't make anyone happy, I'm the second choice, I get taken advantage of because of my kindness and it hurts, it hurts so much. I'm trying my best, I get up in the morning, I put on that fake smile, I try to workout, go to my basketball games but I end up laying in bed crying at night, feeling worthless and useless. I've tried telling people, I told someone close I felt worthless and that I'm down. They replied with I'm making them feel worthless by feeling this way. I'm lost, alone and feeling worthless. Any advice would be welcome I hope people experiencing the same feelings know that I'm here and happy to listen because everyone needs someone to just listen and understand.

MrMicawber Haven't been in a relationship for 7 years
  • replies: 10

Hey, 24 yrs male with depression. - Semi-popular, introverted in high school with close friends and many acquaintances. - First girlfriend age 16. Broke up after 6 months together. - Rejected by twice, one when I was 15, the other at 17. - After the ... View more

Hey, 24 yrs male with depression. - Semi-popular, introverted in high school with close friends and many acquaintances. - First girlfriend age 16. Broke up after 6 months together. - Rejected by twice, one when I was 15, the other at 17. - After the second one, I stopped pursuing romantic relationships and focussed on studies. - Lost my virginity in a one night stand at schoolies - Went to university, studying two different degrees at two different universities (dropped out of the first one after two years). - I had a couple of close male friends in my first year of university who I met at college (we still keep in touch online). After transferring to my new university, I had no success in meeting new people or establishing friendships. - I haven't been intimate with anyone since that one night stand when I was 18. I'm at a point in my life where I can't see any way out of my current situation. I feel like I made an effort to meet people at university: going to gym/yoga classes, working as a tutor, trying to make friends at uni, volunteering. But I just didn't have much success at all. The fact that I haven't experienced intimacy with anyone for the past 7 years is the primary source of my suffering. Sometimes I can go for months without thinking about it, if I'm distracted enough by work or study. But whenever I'm reminded of it, I just fall into this depressed state that becomes more difficult to overcome each time. One of the biggest triggers for this is whenever I meet a girl that I'm attracted to (which happens every now and then). I'm so ashamed of my inexperience with women. It makes me feel so shit whenever I think about it, just knowing that so many people my age have had the opportunity to enjoy this aspect of their lives. It's something that makes me so insecure around women, which makes it difficult for me to be intimate and open myself up. Despite my lack of a sex life, I do obtain fulfilment from a lot of other areas in life: music, writing, reading, nature. But as of late, it's been really difficult to enjoy these as I'm so preoccupied with the idea of finding a partner. It would be interesting to get some thoughts on how I might be able to improve my situation. Or even if there was anyone out there who can relate to it, just so I don't feel so alone. If anyone's been through this and overcome it, how did you do it? Thanks.

slayinsummer Why Judge Me?
  • replies: 2

I'm part of a group of friends that I think don't like me and judge me, they sometimes avoid me and I think they are talking behind my back. With recently starting high school, I'm struggling to find my place in the school where I belong. I'm startin... View more

I'm part of a group of friends that I think don't like me and judge me, they sometimes avoid me and I think they are talking behind my back. With recently starting high school, I'm struggling to find my place in the school where I belong. I'm starting to get real tired of it because I thought I had a really good friend before she went behind my back, it's hard to know when the right people come along. I also think the friends I have recently made, talk behind my back and when I try to do stuff with them, they either walk away sometimes or pretend I'm not there. I'm slowly starting to realise that I have to put in effort to make new friends and build a stronger relationship but I want them to do that to. I feel like they just put up with me and I'm not forcing them to do anything. I'm going to start some out of school activities to try and make new friends because then I will feel and see the effort I'm going to put in and I think more people will start to like me when I do it and hopefully I will see results. I don't want to put to much effort in because I know life isn't about being popular but being who you truly are and don't let peoples judgement change that. Many times I have found out that I wasn't included in activities with my friend group and just makes me feel down and question whether I'm good enough or not. But I think that if I find the right people to connect with life will be better and I will form stronger relationships with my family and newly made friends. I just think that if I put in the effort and people out there put in the effort then we could connect more easily and things will slowly start to get better if I just put the effort in and try.

Kel321 Anxiety an stress about being cheated on
  • replies: 3

Iv been in a relationship now for about 6 months an over the six months iv found my self every minute of every day thinking that she’s doing something that’s gonna hurt me, it cripples me every day anxiety, I sometimes am convinced she has cheated on... View more

Iv been in a relationship now for about 6 months an over the six months iv found my self every minute of every day thinking that she’s doing something that’s gonna hurt me, it cripples me every day anxiety, I sometimes am convinced she has cheated on me an certain but have no prof or anything I can’t live like this I don’t think I can take another heart break because I no it’ll be fatal for me literally help me