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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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LemonJnr Intrusive thoughts
  • replies: 3

I am finding it hard to concentrate and cope with life. It's affecting me to the point that I just want to run away from all my problems. I have an older brother who I talk with, with just about anything but once he's gone, I start to think about the... View more

I am finding it hard to concentrate and cope with life. It's affecting me to the point that I just want to run away from all my problems. I have an older brother who I talk with, with just about anything but once he's gone, I start to think about the problems that are really stressing me out. I have no friends to talk with or hang out with so I don't have anyone else to confide in. I go to university and study, and I also work several jobs, but I feel I am going to be fired soon. I am struggling to learn fast on the job and because I work in fast food, it's really made me feel worthless. I get told not to think that way, so I learn to keep my problems to myself. I feel I am not going to succeed elsewhere if I fail in a fast food job that's supposed to be the 'stepping stone' job for all other jobs. After all, where am I going to succeed elsewhere if I can't do a simple job? It won't look nice on a resume. I really think it's the end for me because there is just so much expectation to succeed. The job market's tough so I feel like I won't be able to prove myself to the employers that really matter. I can't get these thoughts out of my head. I feel so slow and have lost all energy. What can I do or even hope for?

AmyClaire My Boyfriend Won't Leave The House!!
  • replies: 1

Hi, so I've been in this relationship for just over a month now and we've moved in together and everything. (It's much easier for me as I'm a student and cash is hard to come by). Anyway, he was diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression when he was only ... View more

Hi, so I've been in this relationship for just over a month now and we've moved in together and everything. (It's much easier for me as I'm a student and cash is hard to come by). Anyway, he was diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression when he was only a small child, but he anxiety is that bad that he literally has to smoke like 10 durries and go to the toilet 2 times before we leave. Basically he has a hard time going anywhere, even just to the shops to buy food or a walk down the road. I'm finding it very hard to deal with as I'd like to experience things with him but he just has so many barriers up I can't. I have depression and anxiety as well, im on medication and such as he is not. He chooses not to take medication but I don't see his situation getting any better. Please help!!!

C_Smith612 I want to go back to schools but I don't know how.
  • replies: 2

Hi Half way though year 9 I dropped out of school due to bullying from both teachers and students. Sadly the only people who believed me were my family. I did try and go back to school in year 10 to a different but my dad and younger sister died in a... View more

Hi Half way though year 9 I dropped out of school due to bullying from both teachers and students. Sadly the only people who believed me were my family. I did try and go back to school in year 10 to a different but my dad and younger sister died in an accident. So I only lasted 4 weeks. Last year I was accepted into a year 11 class in the school that my younger sister who passed away attended. But with her death and being around all the people who were her friends. I couldn't cope and left after 2 weeks of attendance. I tried to enter another school this year but they said with my prior non attendance they didn't want to set me up for failure. I want to know what other options do I have because I do want to complete my schooling. I have looked at tafe but I don't have the money. And I need it to be flexible because after my dad's death my mum hasn't been around much. And my two remaining little sisters are in school. Thank you to anyone who has any suggestions.

RealBobby I'm new (Rant)
  • replies: 5

Hi I'm new, my name is Bobby I'm 16 was born in Melbourne and moved to Sunshine Coast a few years ago. My first panic attack was in 2015 at school when we were discussing different illnesses I didn't know what going on but I saw a physiologist and fo... View more

Hi I'm new, my name is Bobby I'm 16 was born in Melbourne and moved to Sunshine Coast a few years ago. My first panic attack was in 2015 at school when we were discussing different illnesses I didn't know what going on but I saw a physiologist and found out it was a panic attack, I only had a few in 2015. Then since July 2016 I started having regular panic attacks every time I would go to play sport, I had no idea what to do but my body wouldn't let me go in any open spaces. This went on for a few months till I was diagnosed with agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, GAD & OCD. On the 25th of November I was put in hospital for nearly seven weeks to gain weights which was supposed to make the anxiety go away but the when I left the hospital I had a really bad panic attack. And for the last 8 months or so my anxiety hasn't improved at all in fact I suspect it got worse being in a closed space for 7 weeks. I'm sick of making excuses at school as to why I can't play sport. I used to play a few sports but now because of my anxiety and because of all the weight I gained I can't be bothered playing again and have lost motivation to enjoy sport. I've seen so many physiologicals, they all the same thing: try deep breathing and ground yourself I do that every time and it NEVERS improves the anxiety. I'm on lots of medication which is supposed to help with my OCD but it's so bad, every time I hear lyrics of a song I count the syallbes it's so annoying. I'm also very anti social, always have been I guess I started at a new school this year and I have zero friends. I'm not sure whether this is depression related but I have no motivation to get up in the mornings, do any work at school or at home and sometimes I cry for hours non stop. To make matters worse I'm an only child so I spend almost all of my free time on the internet. Can anyone help?

324b21 Was wondering if anyone could give me some tips on what to do with my situation
  • replies: 5

for a long time now I have been struggling with life, I have been having a hard time in school with work and people , I have a lot of family issues to deal with, feeling down ( most of the time for no reason) and I miss my best friend who moved house... View more

for a long time now I have been struggling with life, I have been having a hard time in school with work and people , I have a lot of family issues to deal with, feeling down ( most of the time for no reason) and I miss my best friend who moved houses and schools. I really don't know what to do because I have problems talking to literally anyone face to face, I feel that I may say something wrong or they may not care or understand

mycatrigby I wasn't snooping but I wasnt happy with what I saw
  • replies: 5

Hey, I'm a 19 year old female in a relationship of 4 months, My boyfriend and I are very close and have no trust issues whatsoever but we always discuss if something is making us jealous or unhappy, so its pretty good communication so far, they only ... View more

Hey, I'm a 19 year old female in a relationship of 4 months, My boyfriend and I are very close and have no trust issues whatsoever but we always discuss if something is making us jealous or unhappy, so its pretty good communication so far, they only thing I'm slightly confused about is when we were scrolling through Facebook together, we went to search for something on there and I seen in his history he had been searching other females profiles, that he hasn't really got anything to do with as well as searching for "Girls Advice 18+" pages, I dont want to be weary of them just because I have no reason to but it was just really weird, and I dont know how to bring it up to him.. has anyone else been in this situation and what happened?

ND27 I want answers to my life questions i cant find them!! Will i ever find the answers?
  • replies: 2

I am fustrated at the moment because i want answers. I want to know if im on the right path. If i am going the right pace. Why is my life so boring. I just have so many answers and it doesnt matter how quiet i am or how much i ask myself i come up bl... View more

I am fustrated at the moment because i want answers. I want to know if im on the right path. If i am going the right pace. Why is my life so boring. I just have so many answers and it doesnt matter how quiet i am or how much i ask myself i come up blank. i have no idea what the answers are and it is fustrating because no one can tell me and i cant tell myself. I am 20 and i seriously get things take time but i am so sick of people telling me that and for myself to say - Give time, time. I HATE IT. Im sick of waiting for life to get better. I WANT ANSWERS. What do i do when i just want to get clarity and i cant get it from myself

capap School vs chores
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I'm currently in year 11. I'm a good student and I work really hard to achieve my best. I'm also aiming to get a university scholarship at the end of year 12, so I'm also involved in a few competitions and extra-curriculars that I enjoy,... View more

Hi everyone, I'm currently in year 11. I'm a good student and I work really hard to achieve my best. I'm also aiming to get a university scholarship at the end of year 12, so I'm also involved in a few competitions and extra-curriculars that I enjoy, but also to increase my scholarship chances. There's also a casual job on top of this. So I have a lot on my plate and can barely manage with all the homework I have as well. My parents are divorced, and I spend most of my time with my mum. I have no siblings, and she's currently not seeing anyone, so it's just the two of us. I'm expected to do many chores around the house, which I try to do, but I find it really hard to help in the weeks when I'm really busy. Sometimes my mum understands, but the other day we had a huge argument where she said I needed to pull my weight in this house, and that she can't do everything alone. I feel really guilty for not helping more, but I find it hard to fit into my busy schedule. She believes chores should come before school, which I strongly disagree with. But the fact there's no one else to help her means a lot of it falls on me. We've had this same argument many times, and I feel we've reached a breaking point. I've tried making to-do lists to organise my time better but I end up curled up on the couch not wanting to do anything because I can't cope. I really value my schooling but I also want to help my mum. Does anyone have any advice on what I should do?

Homebound Living with a parent with Mental Illness affects and coping strategies
  • replies: 5

I am a mother of a 19 year old, my mental illness has affected his life detrimentally. I'm posting here, sorry if I shouldn't, but I would like to know how other young people cope with their parents condition and the craziness it causes in your young... View more

I am a mother of a 19 year old, my mental illness has affected his life detrimentally. I'm posting here, sorry if I shouldn't, but I would like to know how other young people cope with their parents condition and the craziness it causes in your young, precious lives. I'm guilt ridden because of it, my son is my world and I love him more than anything. Knowing I have caused him emotional turmoil due to my condition breaks my heart. Incidentally, both my parents had MI although undiagnosed, as do my siblings. That's how I know the damage it does, I'm an adult product of it. I'm working my way through it all now and hope to be free from my childhood traumas and at the same time, I'd like to help my son so he doesn't end up scarred too. Any advice would be so appreciated and I can also offer support and advice having now been on both sides, as a parental figure to young people here suffering. Thank you

Username_Blank Feeling very discouraged and intimidated
  • replies: 1

For once this isnt about my mental issues, but more of something that is causing me to feel discouraged and intimidated. So I want to get out into the Country Music scene by releasing a single and a music video to go with, but when i look at the cost... View more

For once this isnt about my mental issues, but more of something that is causing me to feel discouraged and intimidated. So I want to get out into the Country Music scene by releasing a single and a music video to go with, but when i look at the costs for doing one i feel like yelling the word Greedy even though the costs are civil, then i think about all the work put in, from the idea, to the song being made, to getting it distributed digitally and physicly, etc and i feel very discouraged, and when I see other relatively new artists on the Country scene they get a pretty decent fanbase and i feel intimidated because i feel like i wont be able to make it as sucessfully in Country Music, and i end up questioning whether if i should just not go chasing my passion or chase it for all the wear and tear it's worth. I will note i cant play any instruments, so the sad reality is i have to spend money to make music. I swear it doesnt take much to make me feel discouraged or intimidated, and i just don't feel all that confident in my own limited abilities(fyi i am a good Country singer), like whether is ankiety or stress i'm honestly not too sure, or if its just the gravity of the reality of it all thats getting me.