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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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Bec_98 Worried about the future, war, climate change, health etc...
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone. I made a post a little while ago but thought I'd make another one in this section with some updates. Lately I've been experiencing anxiety, depression and general fear related to the future/my life. I'm almost constantly overthinking and... View more

Hi everyone. I made a post a little while ago but thought I'd make another one in this section with some updates. Lately I've been experiencing anxiety, depression and general fear related to the future/my life. I'm almost constantly overthinking and coming up with new 'what-ifs' and it leaves me anxious, depressed and exhausted. I'm on a new medication which has helped with the symptoms and I have been able to function more, but it hasn't helped with the thoughts. I do see a psychologist. I'd like to write a list of some of the things worrying me and, if I may, keep a bit of a diary here of my thoughts and feelings. Maybe some of you can offer some consolation on the subjects. Here goes... -War/Nuke war/WWIII/myself and/or my boyfriend being drafted. This all started with the North Korea tensions when I started reading more into the subjects and obsessing over news articles and the like. This used to be the main issue, but then it grew and grew and spread to more worries and fears, before that I've never really worried about big world events like these... -Apocalypse, of some description. End of the world. A deadly virus/plague. The Sun dying or burning us all. Zombies. Anything. -Climate change/global warming, rising seas, flooding, natural disasters, drought, suffocation from dust or co2, an ice age? Anything related to climate change is one of my biggest worries at the moment. I read that Stephan Hawking says humans only have 100 years left on earth. I won't be here by then, but does that mean the last years/decades of my life will be horrible? -My health, getting cancer etc. I'm scared that I'll get some disease, cancer etc and die young and/or die and leave my family behind. I've stopped eating red meat and have been thinking about going vegetarian/vegan because of the health risks that come from meat etc. to help my anxiety a bit.. -Running out of oil/coal etc... -Dying, in general. The afterlife, or lack thereof. What happens when we die? Will I be able to see my family again? Does heaven exist? All these questions really worry me. I don't have a religion or really believe in God as such, but I like to think there is some sort of afterlife where we all live peacefully in some other dimension. But I fear it will just be nothingness. I think that's all the main things that I've been dwelling on lately... I look forward to any and all replies. Even writing this post has made me feel that little bit better tonight. Thanks -Bec

Reannan09 Feeling disconnected, isolated, ?depressed
  • replies: 4

Hi all. I'm 24 years old, engaged to an amazing supportive partner of 7 years. We live together with room mates, and are moving out on our own and getting married next year. I work full time as a nurse, I graduated university and worked hard to get w... View more

Hi all. I'm 24 years old, engaged to an amazing supportive partner of 7 years. We live together with room mates, and are moving out on our own and getting married next year. I work full time as a nurse, I graduated university and worked hard to get where I am. Lately, I have been feeling very isolated and have been pushing people away, mainly my partner. I feel disconnected, like I don't care anymore. I have no other friendly relationships in my life other than family, my partner and work colleagues when at work. I recently joined a gym to see if I could get some more social activity. I've lost a significant amount of weight the past 4 years and have been working on my confidence. I feel when I'm at the gym I'm happy. I go to classes and try to socialise, but I find it hard as I'm a pretty quiet person. I like to be alone and am content with that, but sometimes I do like company. So lately, my moods have spiraled. I get very angry, resentful and sad. My partner is suffering because of this too, we have talked on two occasions about how I'm feeling. I just don't know what's wrong... I feel I need to reach out as its getting out of control. Thanks.

EmeraldEmphasis Social anxiety? Uni, work, life
  • replies: 3

Hey, I decided to create an account on here to share what I am going through. I am 19, studying at university and unemployed. I would like to start off by saying, I openly acknowledge I suffer pretty servere issues relating to socialising. I have alw... View more

Hey, I decided to create an account on here to share what I am going through. I am 19, studying at university and unemployed. I would like to start off by saying, I openly acknowledge I suffer pretty servere issues relating to socialising. I have always been a shy/quite person, but however since no longer being in highschool and having the obligations to leave the house and socialise I avoid it every chance I get (as uni is more laid back, and my parents to feel obligation to encourage me to attend). This has resulted in me decieding to change from on campus studying to online, however I am failing. This is due in part to feeling too anxious to attend the on campus exams and inform uni that I am suffering with this issue. I used to love standing out when I was younger through my individual clothing and style, however now the thought of people looking at me makes me sweat and increadibly anxious. Strangly, when I have been going into stores applying for jobs I have no anxiety, I am unsure as to why this is especially because I struggle talking to family members sometimes. I want to get a job to give me something to leave the house for, gain interactions and experiences. However, most of the jobs I apply for in store say they only take online applications...which never get a response. I want to get full time work so that I can have a break from uni, but nothing has come my way. I know people say getting a job can be easier due to asking people you know, no one I know is in a position or knows of someone seeking an employee which makes me ask the question, how else am I suppose to get work? I want to get a job as soon as possible as I am worried that the longer I do the longer I will have to over analyse and become anxious about the socialising aspects of working. There is more I could go into about my social anxiety but I feel like this is a good place to start. Thanks for listening ☺

roversfan Severe depression but too socially anxious to talk to anyone about it
  • replies: 6

I am a 13 year old boy going to an elective school. My grades have been dropping and my dad has told me that he hasn't never been any disappointed in anyone ever than how he's disappointed in me. I already tried to make a post like this but it wasn't... View more

I am a 13 year old boy going to an elective school. My grades have been dropping and my dad has told me that he hasn't never been any disappointed in anyone ever than how he's disappointed in me. I already tried to make a post like this but it wasn't showing up in my posts and I really had to push myself to make another. I try to talk to people about my depression but when Im about to bring it up I get very anxious. I try to leave little hints but my parents find it impossible to catch on. I seriously cannot urge myself to talk to anyone in person about this, and I seriously need help.

Chatterbox1 ROCD :(
  • replies: 7

Hi guys, Nearly 20 year old, in a relationship with an amazing man coming up 6 months. Diagnosed with Anxiety and OCD 3 months ago, had OCD since I was in primary school. Felt doubt for the first time Valentine’s day over money issues, the doubt went... View more

Hi guys, Nearly 20 year old, in a relationship with an amazing man coming up 6 months. Diagnosed with Anxiety and OCD 3 months ago, had OCD since I was in primary school. Felt doubt for the first time Valentine’s day over money issues, the doubt went away after I wrote down my feelings and spoke to my cousin. A bit later they came back, full force. This includes vomiting in the morning, loss of appetite, panic attacks and constant crying. He broke up with me, he couldn’t handle my doubts, I would’ve done the same, as he had no idea what I was going through. We patched it up after I went to my first psychologist session. I fell in love with him. Constant intrusive thoughts like “You don’t like or love him”, “What if you’re leading him on”, “You just don’t want to break up with him bc you work together”, “What if you’re not meant to be together”. These thoughts killed me inside. A psychic came into work and read me and jokingly I said “Are my partner and I going to be together forever?” and he replied with, “what is it you want?”, a coworker said “that must mean you’re not sure”, and I keep having thoughts about that now. I am currently PMSing, which makes it worse. Past few days I’ve been thinking “What if I don’t want to be with him anymore”, “You’re gonna break up with him” and every time I think that’s a stupid thought, I feel a bit of relief for like 30 seconds then I doubt again! I get good days, where I’m in love and feel it, and I have an amazing time with him, and I obviously get my bad days. This is just so frustrating. I ended up leaving my Psychologist as she made me feel bad about a decision I made, and told me it was irrational and that I shouldn't have done it (it was just getting a tablet with my partner under my name). I also have to touch certain things and do certain things, and if I don't my mind tells me my partner and I will break up. I know I want to be with him, I know this doubt and anxiety can be overcome. I just get so fearful, like what if I'm wrong. My OCD tells me, "what if I'm just convincing myself and lying to him, and to myself?" I don't want that to be the case. I just want to know that I’m not alone, that I’m not crazy. That there’s hope, I don’t want this relationship to go down the trash, we have so much potential together. I want, and during good days, can see a future with this man. Anyone else feel like this too? Sincerely, Chatterbox1

Sherrie_Day Lonely, but I don't feel alone?
  • replies: 2

Apologies if this thread has already occurred, I just wasn't able to find it... Recently the people that mean the most in my life have been saying that I see to see more people and hang out with my friends. I have worked on keeping relationships stro... View more

Apologies if this thread has already occurred, I just wasn't able to find it... Recently the people that mean the most in my life have been saying that I see to see more people and hang out with my friends. I have worked on keeping relationships strong for many years, and I feel like no one apprechaited it. When I try to hang out with my friends and I never think they enjoy my company and then I find out that they all see each other often, with out me. So I lost hope. I don't think anyone wants to see me apart from my boyfriend of 3 years or my parents. The thing that I have an issue with is that everyone tells me that my attitude is wrong but I am perfectly, couldn't be more happy or excited to just be by myself and never see friends again. I am happy to go to parties and social gatherings to see people temporarily and everyone at that time says how "we need to ctach up" but when I try to follow through I get no response. I have tried explaining this to my partner and parents - That I don't want to have friends anymore and I always want to just be by myself, partner or my horses. Is this totally wrong....? I woud like some help as to why is it good to have friends or why I need them. I have great confidence and self esteme so I can rule that out. Anyones opnions or thoughts would be graetly apprechaited. Thank you.

Megabelle I lost my path along the way...
  • replies: 4

Hi guys, Not really sure what's going on. I've never been someone to reach out to other people, but I've kinda fallen into a heap this year and I can't really talk to anyone at the moment for advice. So I have my last university exam for this semeste... View more

Hi guys, Not really sure what's going on. I've never been someone to reach out to other people, but I've kinda fallen into a heap this year and I can't really talk to anyone at the moment for advice. So I have my last university exam for this semester tomorrow. I've already had to withdraw from 2 units in week 7 because I couldn't meet attendance requirements. So out of the 2 units I'm sitting exams for, I found out yesterday that I failed the only other unit I'm taking this semester. I've never failed a subject in my life and I don't really know where to go from here. Because of that one failed unit, I can't continue my degree, as it's a pre-requisite, so I'm stuck in no-man's land for a semester, trying to work out how I messed up so bad and how to tell my family. I don't know if I can make it through tomorrow's exam, and I'm terrified and I feel like I have no direction anymore. All of my motivation has vanished and I'm not even sure why I'm still doing this course.

RainYSun What should I do with my future T^T
  • replies: 1

My life...is pretty annoying right now. I don't know what to do. I originally wanted to graduate Highschool, go to Uni, draw manga for a living. I've been avoiding this for a long time.....but I actually want to be a Kpop idol. I am an Asian who live... View more

My life...is pretty annoying right now. I don't know what to do. I originally wanted to graduate Highschool, go to Uni, draw manga for a living. I've been avoiding this for a long time.....but I actually want to be a Kpop idol. I am an Asian who lives in Australia. I really admire many Kpop idols especially BTS for all those people they've inspired, and how far they have maded through hard work and how much they've done to achieve their dreams. I want to be someone like them, not a pop star, but an idol. So what's annoying about this? There are a few factors that come in play and the first one is that everyone expects me to become a manga artist and I do love drawing manga and not meaning to brag, I am very talented in it. Singing, dancing, rapping, I am only a bit above average those but it's not something that people think I'll do. I'm not sure that if I ever become a Kpop idol would people be like "why though? It's such a shame, you were so great at drawing." I don't think my parents will support me at all because I'm "so good at drawing so why not make a living out of drawing?" another one is, I am not a Korean citizen and has to finish school. I'm in Highschool right now and once I graduate I'll be 17. In Korea, its best to become a trainee when you're below the age of twenty, and I don't think I'll be good enough at Korean (I am making progress on it though) and have enough money to move to Korea, support myself while living there and to be smart enough to study there. I just don't think I'll have enough time to do all of that stuff. and yet another one, even if I managed to live there and gain support from people. I'm not a particular gender and would not want to be a girl but even if I was a in a guy group I'm not physically a guy. In Korea you are assigned either to a female group or male group. I do not want to be solo artist...Will I have to do FtM transition? Yes gender is another topic, I wish I was a male, it's not about stereotype s or gender roles, it's just having female parts annoy me and I do not like having a higher pitched soft sound. I don't feel like a female either but I'm not male at the same time but will Korea accept that? I want to become a Kpop idol and not just some random idol from Australia who is Chinese. They are great but...they lack something that Kpop idols have. I just...don't know what to do.

JazM Everything at once...
  • replies: 2

I feel like i have had a realisation of how many things i am sick of living with. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the end of 2012 (having just graduated high school), and since then i have had a seizure every 6 months or so, so as a result i have no... View more

I feel like i have had a realisation of how many things i am sick of living with. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the end of 2012 (having just graduated high school), and since then i have had a seizure every 6 months or so, so as a result i have not been able to get my license to drive, meaning i have to rely on other people to drive me around, or catch public transport, or get ubers. My seizures have also severely affected my memory, both long and short term (i forget memories from years ago, and its hard to retain information and i will quickly forget things, which makes it hard to learn new things), after talking to my neurologist about it, he said that we just have to stop the seizures and it shouldnt get worse. It also makes my hands quite shaky. The fact that it is so hard to get to many places by buses/trains means usually i have to pay for an uber, or pitch in petrol money for friends (which is way more than it should be, they have become less sympathetic over the years), and now that i have no income it makes these things so much harder. Every job ive ever had has been through my mum, so the fact that i cant even get a job by myself makes me feel pretty down. My dream career is vet nursing, i did a course for it and (after eventually getting a job) loved it, i love animals and it was so rewarding. But my memory was greatly impacting my work and i had to quit before i forgot anything that could be crucial for a patient's survival. (I also am terribly allergic to animals which is another way my body lets me down) Im terrible at making friends and keeping them, the only "friends" i still have are from highschool (i thought i had made a few friends during my tafe course, but they disappeared pretty quick after the course ended). And even my current friends are catching up behind my back, noone ever wants to catch up with just me, im only there when the whole group is there). Makes me question whether im even worth hanging out with tbh. I used to be able to get by when i had a job, but my hours just got reduced to 0 and i have no driving force in life anymore. The things i used to love doing dont make me happy anymore (i loved sketching, but with my shaky hands im much worse at it, i love video games but i feel like its wasting time, i love learning but its almost impossible anymore). I just want to be independent for once in my life and not have to rely on everyone around me for everything. I feel useless and cant see my life going anywhere..

peachy101 Separation Anxiety within a relationship
  • replies: 5

Firstly I'll give an insight into my relationship to help base your advice around. My boyfriend and I have been together for 2 years. We are very close and have helped each other go through good and bad times. We do argue over silly things however mo... View more

Firstly I'll give an insight into my relationship to help base your advice around. My boyfriend and I have been together for 2 years. We are very close and have helped each other go through good and bad times. We do argue over silly things however most of the time we are completely happy in every aspect and we love to be in each other's company. However for the last 6 months, I become depressed or anxious whenever I am not with him. I'm currently in Year 12 (VCE) and I love having someone to be completely free with but on Sunday nights when we part (for work and school), I start to become overwhelmed by the thought of not being able to see him until the weekend (or sometimes I see him Wednesday nights). He is usually at work, gym, soccer etc and he doesn't seem to have the separation anxiety that I suffer from. He does miss me and he values the time we spend together however I seem to become very anxious whenever I'm not with him. I don't know how to deal with things if he's not with me. If I'm home alone (because mums at work) I can't do homework, I can't practise dancing... I go into shutdown and just lay in bed on my phone waiting until I can call him or text him etc. It's so unhealthy especially when I have so much on and I feel that my anxiety is getting in the way of me achieving my goals in school and dancing etc. I just want an explanation or ways that I could deal with this. I have so many things that 'should' keep me occupied but I get too upset and overwhelmed by not having him with me that I can't physically or mentally do any of the important things such as chores, dancing, homework, working out etc. Any suggestions or thoughts please??