Young people

Hi and Help

replies: 2

Hi Everyone, First time posting in one of these forums. And I'd like to thank you in advance for your time. To give you a general overview about me. I'm male and 24 years of age. I've always had social anxiety issues as well as a few years of bad obs... View more

Hi Everyone, First time posting in one of these forums. And I'd like to thank you in advance for your time. To give you a general overview about me. I'm male and 24 years of age. I've always had social anxiety issues as well as a few years of bad obsessive thoughts in my teens which required the intervention of medication. Through these early years of obsessive thinking I did develop derealization - which I learnt to live with quite comfortably. I have dabbled in recreational drug use with both some bad and good experiences. Namely one of my worst experience was terrible reaction to speed which forced me to be held up in bed for a few days. Other than that I'm your average guy who really enjoyed my sport and working out. Now whilst things had not been perfect (namely my social retardation) - I had been living a rather normal life. Last year I started working at a company that very much undervalued its employees - in turn I developed a great distaste for one person in management. I ended up leaving the company after 8 months. I moved in with my parents for a few weeks and this is where my pain began (this has nothing to do with my parents btw). About three weeks into my stay my parents had some friends over - I had a really awkward encounter with them (honestly it was really just me acting like my normal awkward self), anyway that night I woke up and really felt disconnected from myself. I straight away thought it must have been depersonalization - I really could not recognize myself in the mirror. 10 months on and I'm still not back to a 'normal' comfortable version of myself. Everyday feels like the reset button has been pushed and I don't really know who I am. I really struggle to remember things and even find it hard to know what day it is. The not knowing the day is really concerning to me, it's as if the date doesn't really mean anything to me anymore. I started taking medication which made me super anxious - I stopped this after 6 months and am now on Za different antidepressant which has probably slightly helped. I see both a psychologist and psychiatrist however I feel as though I'm getting nothing out of seeing the psychologist as my mind and how I'm going to feel day to day changes so drastically. Like what's the point in trying to tackle my socially issues and what not if I've got no consistency in how I feel on any particular day.

Girlfriend broke up after shift in personality - Depression or/and Aromantic?

replies: 25

Hi everyone, this situation is stressful and confusing for me. I am worried about her. My girlfriend and I dated for 10 months. I loved her for her enthusiasm, sense of humour, amazing conversations, her beauty, we got on so well. She came out to me ... View more

Hi everyone, this situation is stressful and confusing for me. I am worried about her. My girlfriend and I dated for 10 months. I loved her for her enthusiasm, sense of humour, amazing conversations, her beauty, we got on so well. She came out to me as asexual and after some research didn't worry me, keeping communication open. As uni started this year, after a wonderful 8 months together, she suddenly began to act distant. In the first week we had a few arguments but sorted it out. After this though, she just shut down, refusing to talk to me, snapping at me and avoiding affection, but was fine to everyone else. This continued for a week before I asked her what was wrong and she said she had lost feelings for me. I agreed to give her some time to think but the next day we resolved that I may have been too clingy the last few weeks and I promised to back off. We returned to semi normal but she would often snap at me, she was getting barely any sleep, falling asleep in class and was stressing over the workload. A month later, she shut down again, almost refusing to have anything to do with me. We went to a friends party where she sulked and sat on her phone the whole night. From here, everytime I saw her, she treated me like I was a creep, snapping at me, ignoring me and I felt terrible, this was very draining for me. Thinking stress was the cause, I took her to the park to unwind and talk but she closed up with her head in her knees saying she wasn't enjoying anything. We had graduation, where she looked burnt out and unhealthy, she was nice to everyone but me. Another week passed of her avoiding me, refusing to talk, snapping. I thought a reason could have been the arguments we had and asked if we could move on, but she said that wasn't it and had lost all feeling for me and now identifued as aromantic. A few days later she broke up with a lengthy letter wishing to be friends but now she doesn't want to be friends either, treating me like a stranger and acting very cold. She has continued to look very burnt out and almost failed her last assignment which is very unlike her. Others have started to mention her, noticing her change in personality too. She definitely is not herself and I really miss her. What this could mean? After researching, a lot of her symptoms align with depression. She has always shown some unusual social traits too. I am leaving her alone as I feel any push by me will drive her further away. Is there anything I can do? Thank you

Anxiety about going to war?

replies: 1

Hey all, I'm glad to see that there are fellow members who are also majorly anxious and scared about possibly wars/big scale disaster events etc. With North Korea claiming to have this massive bomb now, and the possibility of WW3 happening, it's got ... View more

Hey all, I'm glad to see that there are fellow members who are also majorly anxious and scared about possibly wars/big scale disaster events etc. With North Korea claiming to have this massive bomb now, and the possibility of WW3 happening, it's got me thinking... Has conscription/being drafted stopped in Australia? Will it be picked up again? I'm quite dumb about these things and quite honestly, the thought of me having to go to war makes me so anxious I can't think of anything else. I also read that if you have anxiety or depression, it means you can't go to war, though. Forgive me if this post seems a bit all over the place. This kind of stuff just majorly freaks me out. Cheers.

I feel like I'm failing not only Uni but everyone around me

replies: 4

Hi there!! Im an 18yr old kiwi girl who moved to Aussie this year for Uni. I am a naturally shy and introverted person so I find it really hard to meet new people. I'm also socially awkward and not much of a party type. Whenever around friends now, I... View more

Hi there!! Im an 18yr old kiwi girl who moved to Aussie this year for Uni. I am a naturally shy and introverted person so I find it really hard to meet new people. I'm also socially awkward and not much of a party type. Whenever around friends now, I feel so out of place, especially when in a group. I feel like I always say weird stuff and will ruminate on what I said in the conversation for days. Another thing which brings down my confidence is my acne. I can't remember a day where my skin has been clear for the past 5 Years. Whenever I go outside or talk to anyone, I feel like they are staring at my skin(even though I know no one gives a damn). Everyone around me in uni is always at events or socialising but about 95% of my free time, I'm alone - which is a lot of the time considering I only have 12hrs of uni a week(which I have been skipping a lot of). I feel totally isolated from the world most of the time. So, I just sleep and surf the internet. On quite a few occasions I'll sleep at 8am in the morning and wake up at 5 pm in the evening. I am currently so unmotivated to to anything. My procrastination has gotten worse and I haven't handed in my assignments for over a week. I'll have sudden flashes of inspiration and feel motivated. But sometimes I'll feel like I'm letting my parents, friends and teachers down. I've tried to fix my habits by trying to get a job. I even got a trial run but I slept through it but I didnt even feel anything about it. I also feel like I haven't chosen the right course at university but I don't want to change because I'll have to pay international fees due to the new regulations for NZ students studying in Aussie. It's funny because in the past, although I was always apart of the more awkward group, I've never felt this way. I was a scholarship student who joined all the clubs, had hobbies and felt motivated. I feel like such a dissapointment especially to my parents which is why I keep lying to them whenever they call asking whether or not I'm sleeping well, or I'm eating well. I also know that they aren't doing the best financially so I don't know what will happen if I happen to fail this course in uni in FIRST year. I haven't really told anyone about how I really am but I hate feeling weak and self-pitying. I don't know why I'm so unmotivated to do anything and always procrastinating. Is there anything I can do?? Thanks for getting through all that. ;)) First time user harmomarmo

Needing a place to let it all out

replies: 2

I am 24 and am still at home with my family. I work full time and love my job, and am always known as the happy/smiley one. At home, I feel so different. I am very different to my mum and my sisters, which mean we clash a lot. As a teenager, my mum u... View more

I am 24 and am still at home with my family. I work full time and love my job, and am always known as the happy/smiley one. At home, I feel so different. I am very different to my mum and my sisters, which mean we clash a lot. As a teenager, my mum used to make remarks to me about my weight and this has gotten worse as a i have gotten older (I have a bit of winter weight - but still a size 8). There is also remarks that she makes about me, That i stink, that i am disgusting, I'm a pig, that I never help, that I will never get a boyfriend and compares me to my sisters, etc. I get so upset but i'm never one to express how i'm feeling, i just get angry and upset. This last 6 months has been a nightmare and i dread the idea of having to come home every night. I am serious about moving out and am looking at places with a friend, but I just don't know if I can handle the next month or two until we find a place. Every time I try to talk to her about it, she sees nothing wrong in what she has done and tells me to move on. A few weeks ago I told her I was struggling and she turned it around and just said that everyone struggles and to move on. I just feel like I have had to be the one to move on and get over it way too often. I just don't know how I can make her see how it has effected me. I am upset almost every night and I hate it. I hate feeling like this! It's always my problem, it's never her that has done the wrong thing and I'm the one who apparently over reacts to everything. Please help! I know it seems petty and silly - I just don't know how I can make her see how I am feeling.

Am I normal? (Please help)

replies: 3

I suffer from a number of mental illnesses, and have no motivation to do anything whatsoever. My boyfriend and I have been together for 9 months and he takes care of me day in and day out. The rare occasion where he goes out or has a drink at home wi... View more

I suffer from a number of mental illnesses, and have no motivation to do anything whatsoever. My boyfriend and I have been together for 9 months and he takes care of me day in and day out. The rare occasion where he goes out or has a drink at home with his friend, I get really upset and start resenting him. Is this normal? I feel so guilty for it but I honestly can't help it. Please tell me if this is normal!

Fear of Travelling Alone (Seeking Advice)

replies: 1

Hi all, About a year ago, I took it upon myself to book a solo trip to Europe which is coming up very, very soon. I've been diagnosed with anxiety not so long ago (at 19 years of age), however after seeking professional help I tend feel a lot better ... View more

Hi all, About a year ago, I took it upon myself to book a solo trip to Europe which is coming up very, very soon. I've been diagnosed with anxiety not so long ago (at 19 years of age), however after seeking professional help I tend feel a lot better when I'm not having off-days. With this trip being so close, I can't help but find myself getting really, really anxious. As much as I love talking about it and how exciting it is, and how much it'll help me grow as a person and take my mind of the stresses of university, work and other commitments.I can't help but notice I have so much fear creeping to my mind. It's gotten to the point where I've had a panic attack which included crying and shaking, which I haven't experienced in a while. I also can't bring myself to think about the positives on this trip. All I can think about is how scary it is, leaving my family and potentially freaking out whilst on the trip... I don't want this fear to ruin my experience of this trip, would anyone be able to provide any tips or advice for me to help me get through?

New and really just wanting to vent/look for some advice

replies: 3

I'm a 24 years old and feel like I'm starting to get depressed. I spent a lot of my teenage years/early adulthood alone and playing video games. I'm lucky that I had a very loving and supportive family, but always wished I had more of an active socia... View more

I'm a 24 years old and feel like I'm starting to get depressed. I spent a lot of my teenage years/early adulthood alone and playing video games. I'm lucky that I had a very loving and supportive family, but always wished I had more of an active social life. I started to put myself out there more a few years ago and made some friends through playing sport and exercise whom I regularly hang out with. I've recently come to the realisation that I have very low self esteem and worry A LOT about what people think about me. I'm constantly worrying about if my friends are doing things without me, I worry about "saying the right things", constantly replaying conversations I have with people in my head while thinking of things I should have said and beating myself up for not saying them. My friends always ask me how I'm always so happy, how i'm always smiling and laughing and so on. They think I'm the happiest person in our social circle. What they don't realise is when I'm not hanging out with them I'm by myself at home miserable and lonely. I have always loved exercise and started going to the gym a few years ago because I was teased a lot in high school for being too skinny. I managed to bulk up to the point where I get a lot of compliments on my physique and it makes me feel good about myself. Recently though I dislocated my shoulder and require surgery which will mean I can't go to the gym for 6 months and this really worries me. Not only is the gym "therapeutic" for me in that when I'm there my mind goes blank and any problem I'm currently having seems to fade away. I'm also really concerned about how I will react when I start losing all the muscle I've worked so hard due to the inactivity following surgery. I'm known amongst my friends and people I meet as the "fit athletic guy" and it feels like after I have this surgery I'll lose my "identity" and people won't be interested in me anymore. I just don't know what to do. Every negative emotion I'm faced with, the gym has always been my release and I won't have that for 6 months. I'm worried about how my mental health with fare during this time. What should I do?

SO MUCH MORE THAN DEPRESSION! BUT IDK WHATS WRONG WITH ME!

replies: 2

I'm currently diagnosed with dep and anx,but for the longest time I can't help but search for more than that because of how insane I feel sometimes it's scares me so much! But I don't tell any medical help this because I'm going to sound completely i... View more

I'm currently diagnosed with dep and anx,but for the longest time I can't help but search for more than that because of how insane I feel sometimes it's scares me so much! But I don't tell any medical help this because I'm going to sound completely insane!

First Hello from a high schooler

replies: 17

Hello there, hope you are well I am TourmalineSpectacles (or just Specs for short). Gender is male/ queer and pronouns are he/him. Had not seen professional help as of yet. Atrocious sleep patterns. To be honest, I have been considering joining these... View more

Hello there, hope you are well I am TourmalineSpectacles (or just Specs for short). Gender is male/ queer and pronouns are he/him. Had not seen professional help as of yet. Atrocious sleep patterns. To be honest, I have been considering joining these forums and/or seeking help for quite a while... maybe since 7th grade. I suppose I am here to find some support as I cannot rely on family due to having a bad relationship with them and i am not completely comfortable with sharing some of my problems with friends, knowing that they too are going through the high school and have their own hardships to face. This seems like a very safe, supportive and lovely community so it is important for me to try. So... problems-I have many. My home, school and social life all prove to be stressful. Being a person that wishes to have a masculine or androgynous representation, I struggle to fit in with my environment. I go to a 'girl school' and have a very feminine first name in the official records. There I am forced into an image of femininity due to the uniform and peers that do not know of my preferred name and pronouns. I feel extremely stressed whenever I am referred to by unfamiliar peers, not knowing when and how to explain who I am or if I should at all (which I know is irrational as the school is supportive of the LGBT+ community). Also, at the domestic scene, I feel rejected as I have very close-minded guardians that only believe in the cis gender binary identity. Among friends, the gender identity is much more accepted (which I am very thankful for), however, I still often get plagued by thoughts like 'no one truly believes I'm a guy'. It is one of the many reasons why I often experience hopelessness and the thinking I am worthless. Another main concern are friends. I am unable to say what I think a lot of the time because I am always thinking of consequences and the negative usually overrule the positives. Furthermore, my closest friends may be suffering from mental health issues and have suicidal thoughts and I worry for them. I know for sure that one of my best friends has depression and have seen professional help, and is prone to feeling really bad about themselves. A significant reason for coming here is to find out how to help them. Despite my shy nature, I would love for anyone to talk to me, share experiences or offer advice, so please do : ) Thanks for anyone who reads this

Pinned discussions

New to this Forum? Please read this first!

replies: 0

All discussions

Hi and Help

replies: 2

Girlfriend broke up after shift in personality - Depression or/and Aromantic?

replies: 25

Anxiety about going to war?

replies: 1

I feel like I'm failing not only Uni but everyone around me

replies: 4

Needing a place to let it all out

replies: 2

Am I normal? (Please help)

replies: 3

Fear of Travelling Alone (Seeking Advice)

replies: 1

New and really just wanting to vent/look for some advice

replies: 3

SO MUCH MORE THAN DEPRESSION! BUT IDK WHATS WRONG WITH ME!

replies: 2

First Hello from a high schooler

replies: 17

Young people

New to this Forum? Please read this first! replies: 0

Hi and Help replies: 2

Girlfriend broke up after shift in personality - Depression or/and Aromantic? replies: 25

Anxiety about going to war? replies: 1

I feel like I'm failing not only Uni but everyone around me replies: 4

Needing a place to let it all out replies: 2

Am I normal? (Please help) replies: 3

Fear of Travelling Alone (Seeking Advice) replies: 1

New and really just wanting to vent/look for some advice replies: 3

SO MUCH MORE THAN DEPRESSION! BUT IDK WHATS WRONG WITH ME! replies: 2

First Hello from a high schooler replies: 17

New to this Forum? Please read this first!

replies: 0

Hi and Help

replies: 2

Girlfriend broke up after shift in personality - Depression or/and Aromantic?

replies: 25

Anxiety about going to war?

replies: 1

I feel like I'm failing not only Uni but everyone around me

replies: 4

Needing a place to let it all out

replies: 2

Am I normal? (Please help)

replies: 3

Fear of Travelling Alone (Seeking Advice)

replies: 1

New and really just wanting to vent/look for some advice

replies: 3

SO MUCH MORE THAN DEPRESSION! BUT IDK WHATS WRONG WITH ME!

replies: 2

First Hello from a high schooler

replies: 17