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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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Harley_Arabella How can I help my girlfriend when I can't even help myself?
  • replies: 1

Hi, My girlfriend has depression and is seeing a therapist, but she claims it's not helping. I've started asking her how her day was to make sure she's doing okay, and she says she's always sad, except when she sees me. Her biggest problem is opening... View more

Hi, My girlfriend has depression and is seeing a therapist, but she claims it's not helping. I've started asking her how her day was to make sure she's doing okay, and she says she's always sad, except when she sees me. Her biggest problem is opening up to people she doesn't know, and the person she opens up to most(her best friend) isn't qualified. I really want to help her, and that's one of the reasons I eventually stopped putting it off and joined BeyondBlue. The problem is that I myself am not happy. I don't know what it is, but sad has become my default emotion, and I've realised I just really hate myself. My family has a history of mental illnesses but I'm still scared to talk to my parents, I haven't even told them I have a girlfriend yet. I just don't know how to help her when I can't even seem to be able to help myself. Advice would be greatly appreciated.

PurpleRose95 Having a real hard time lately
  • replies: 11

So lately everything has been alright. It felt like everything was falling into place but the past 2 weeks have been tough. I've had issues with my depression back. It comes and it goes but sometimes I just don't know how much more I can hold on to t... View more

So lately everything has been alright. It felt like everything was falling into place but the past 2 weeks have been tough. I've had issues with my depression back. It comes and it goes but sometimes I just don't know how much more I can hold on to the positive things when I'm finding more negatives. the worst thing about it is I can't talk to anyone about it because the people I have in my life won't understand as they are too involved in everything..

Jay_P Clarity would be nice
  • replies: 2

Before I explain what’s going on I should mention I’m 20 years old, ive got friends a job, a girlfriend, things are good. I don’t really know where to take it from there before things become clustered and convoluted. I guess my year 12 relationship c... View more

Before I explain what’s going on I should mention I’m 20 years old, ive got friends a job, a girlfriend, things are good. I don’t really know where to take it from there before things become clustered and convoluted. I guess my year 12 relationship could be a good place to start. the feelings I felt for the girl I was dating were all new to me to begin with, you could say I was pretty whipped. The negative was she had never been in a good mindset to begin with (ie. self harm and depression, which had been concealed quite damn well) but we made really good progress for a couple months until the inevitable we crashed and burned. After not much time my new girlfriend who I’ve been with for 2 years was really trying to make waves for a relationship between me and her. I wasn’t into it at the time but I grew into it. She’s an amazing girl and I want nothing but the greatest things out of life for her. However I know the feeling I felt with that year 12 relationship, the intensity I felt. It just isnt there at times. Amongst that it’s become apparent over our 2 year relationship that her mood stability isn’t the strongest. She gets really upset when I leave her house to go home, or essentially anything negative that could compromise our relationship. She will cry and become mute for 30 minutes - 2 hours all the while I’m trying to cheer her up. I guess the problem I’m trying to convey is I’m beginning to feel more and more pressured into looking after her emotions than exploring my own opportunities. We have great times when the good times happen, and we kind’ve text eachother like it’s a habit you know. I couldn’t imagine what kind of void that constant conversation disappearing would feel like. She has friends but none that she sees regularly, which worries me. She studies for her uni which I’m completely supportive of, it just becomes a problem when I want to make plans with friends an I’m the only friend she considers to hang out with. I’ve never cheated on my girlfriend, however many occasions have arose. I couldn’t help but feeling like I was missing out on those opportunities. I just really feel like I could handle being single, but if it was to become her reality it would really mess with her. Also we live on different ends of the city so it’s 40 minutes regardless if one of us wants to see eachother, when we started dating I lived around the corner from her. My family moved shortly after. What would you do if you were in my position?

peachy101 Missing my ex
  • replies: 8

My ex-boyfriend and I were together for over 2 years. I broke up with him because all of the little issues in our relationship had gotten too much for me and I had come to a point of realisation that I deserved to be better treated and I believed tha... View more

My ex-boyfriend and I were together for over 2 years. I broke up with him because all of the little issues in our relationship had gotten too much for me and I had come to a point of realisation that I deserved to be better treated and I believed that I should just focus on myself and school/dancing commitments. I broke up with him 9 weeks ago and we have both been seeing other people (obvious on snapchat stories etc), and we haven't spoken. Before we were a couple we were really close friends and there literally hasn't been a day since the breakup where I haven't thought about him. So tonight I messaged him for the first time just to say 'Hi, how have you been, hows your family? etc etc.' and it was a small, civil chat however now it's just made me feel even worst. I really miss him. I know that I'm better off without him, but I 100% still have feelings for him and I miss seeing and talking to him. I really just want some sort of explanation as to why I feel this way and I'm also curious as to whether this means that I should continue to speak to him, or whether I should keep my distance. I don't think I would get back with him if I had the chance, but I merely miss having him in my life and I know for sure that I still love him which makes it harder for me to be happy about my decision to break up with him! How do I get over him and how can I stop missing him? Any advice is appreciated!!

Blackdogshelter Centrelink - Youth Allowance and Allowable Time
  • replies: 2

Hi, wondering if anyone can give me any advice. ive been at Uni for 5 years and due to my depression have failed at least one course in the second semester. However I thought I would be able to handle this myself and haven't seen anyone about my depr... View more

Hi, wondering if anyone can give me any advice. ive been at Uni for 5 years and due to my depression have failed at least one course in the second semester. However I thought I would be able to handle this myself and haven't seen anyone about my depression until just last week, as I just broke down. I have now seen 2 GPs, the counsellor since then. Next week I'll be seeing the psychologist, counsellor and GP again. i was on youth allowance but because I have been at uni for far too long, I don't have any allowable time left, and have been taken off youth allowance a couple months ago. Is there any way I can get back on youth allowance? Now I am studying a double degree and am going to transfer 1 degree to another (fingers cross my GPA is high enough to do that) Seeing a psychologist, physio and GPs are expensive even with rebate. They have also suggested I go see a psychiatrist but I just don't have the funds. I know that I haven't been seeking professional help for long, as it l my been a week. I feel like my case is not strong enough or won't be taken seriously by those at Human Services. now I do have a casual short term job but that doesn't cover half the expenses. Any advice or suggestion or words of encouragement would be great!

Jaybo Turning 21 on the 19/10 - no real friends or any idea what I'm doing
  • replies: 6

Hey Guys, Fairly (Very) new to this online thread thing.. a bit about my self - as you know from the title I'm turning 21 on Thursday, I'm from WA but have recently moved away from my home/family and friends (from Perth to the top end of WA) for a ch... View more

Hey Guys, Fairly (Very) new to this online thread thing.. a bit about my self - as you know from the title I'm turning 21 on Thursday, I'm from WA but have recently moved away from my home/family and friends (from Perth to the top end of WA) for a change. At first I really started loving it here, its a little country town and its just so peaceful and everyones so laid back and I've met a few pretty cool people - however there friends that I wouldn't be able to call right now and tell them my problems - because i don't really know them that well and am scared of what they'd think. I also - obviously - got a new job, at the start it was good, i love the people i work with but the previous manager has recently left and i was pretty much forced and pushed into the management position without really wanting to do it - I was a manager back home for 2 years and it just got too stressful after a while and thats partially the reason why i got a new job. Very recently the owner has given me such a big work load with little time to complete it and having to stay back in the own time to complete it all - but i haven't got the guts to tell him that i don't enjoy it anymore and just want to leave but its hard being such a small town with not many job opportunities etc. Going back to my birthday - I'm pretty down that I'm away from my real family and friends. I'm financially not okay with my bank always being in the "negatives" because all my payments come out and I'm left with no money each week - so on my birthday I'm pretty much stuck with a car with no fuel and a bank account thats in the negatives, like i said I've met some pretty cool people up here but its still early stages and just feel weird about hanging out with them still as most of them are just colleagues so i feel like i can't hang out with them out of work just yet. Im not sure where Im going with this i really just wanted to reach out to people going through similar stuff at the moment and share my thoughts and hopefully help others too! -Jaydos

InfinityDistribution Advice on how to develop friendships at uni
  • replies: 5

I'm currently in first year second semester and came into uni with hopes for a fresh start after the ordeal of high school. In first semester I had acquainted with a few different people during group tasks and tutorials, and got along pretty well wit... View more

I'm currently in first year second semester and came into uni with hopes for a fresh start after the ordeal of high school. In first semester I had acquainted with a few different people during group tasks and tutorials, and got along pretty well with some of them, except since the semester ended I've never heard from anyone there again, even though I'd exchanged contact details with a few of them and had some pretty good laughs. This semester I'm still trying to become friends with people, and there are people across a few of my tutorials who I could consider myself to be acquainted with, except I don't know how to take things further. It seems like everyone else everywhere can become friends with others effortlessly and are all sitting in groups in lectures and chatting to each other while I'm just sitting off on my own near the front, so if there is a strategy for developing friendships I would like to hear it. Before anyone says I should join a club, I have - about four or five of them in fact. Except I haven't made any friends there, either. I think the problem is mostly that clubs seem to be dominated by tons of second and third-years who all already know each other and it's a bit hard for new guys like me to get in on the action. Essentially the same problem as the lectures with all the pre-existing groups. I have recently joined a science fiction club at my uni, which very recently started, so there isn't a whole lot of people in it. I would like some advice or some pointers (hyperlinks) to some advice.

Guest221 Is it too late to save my relationship?
  • replies: 1

Hi. I’m new to these forums and don’t really have many people to talk to, so if anyone is going through similar problems or has tips on how I can help myself and my relationship I would appreciate it I have been in a relationship for 4 years and the ... View more

Hi. I’m new to these forums and don’t really have many people to talk to, so if anyone is going through similar problems or has tips on how I can help myself and my relationship I would appreciate it I have been in a relationship for 4 years and the last year been in a long distance. It’s very hard at times, especially with the feelings of jealousy and loneliness. Some days I can deal with it but others I feel like a total wreck. I don’t really have many friends so I feel like I’m constantly alone. Whenever me and my partner argue it’s always over the same issues, like miscommunication, commitments and jealousy and both agree that we don’t handle an argument well. Recently my partner has been saying that he thinks I have anxiety especially because I dwell on the problems and constantly feel uneasy. I’m always overthinking small things and overreacting to small situations and it’s starting to affect my everyday life. I’m not in a fulltime work place so I have a lot of time to myself which I find, at times overwealming because I just can’t stop overthinking and make problems between us worse. He knows I have always been this way, but very up and down and I can get upset quiet easily I have not been told by a doctor or professional that I have anxiety. But the more time that goes by I’m beginning to believe that I do and that I need to go and talk to someone. I really love my boyfriend and I don’t want to drag him down with me so can anyone give me any tips on how to handle situations better?

Sharnnnn Admitting yourself
  • replies: 2

I'm struggling to deal with everything and don't have anyone around to talk too. Does anyone know what actually happens when you admit yourself and how long your there for.

I'm struggling to deal with everything and don't have anyone around to talk too. Does anyone know what actually happens when you admit yourself and how long your there for.

katie3651 Overwhelmed
  • replies: 2

Hey, Im 18 and have been diagnosed with anxiety for a while. Ive recently just started uni and Ive been at my job for about a month. Ive been doing really well with my anxiety lately, with how to manage it and everything. However today or in a bout 1... View more

Hey, Im 18 and have been diagnosed with anxiety for a while. Ive recently just started uni and Ive been at my job for about a month. Ive been doing really well with my anxiety lately, with how to manage it and everything. However today or in a bout 15 minutes Im suppose to be at work, but I just cant go. Every time I think about going I just cant stop crying, Ive tried putting my work uniform on, having a shower and even had a sneaky cigarette. Its too late to call in sick and Ive just turned my phone off all together so no one can contact me, Im scared that Im going to lose my job. I hate that Im like this and Im really not sure what to do about it. Thanks