Immediate support
Immediate support

Young people

A space for people aged 12-25 to discuss life. If you’re over 25, please be mindful that this is a space for younger people to connect.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Categories
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Start a discussion

darce What is this feeling
  • replies: 2

I have a weight in my chest that makes is hard to breathe or sleep or eat or move and it's getting bigger and I don't know what to do

I have a weight in my chest that makes is hard to breathe or sleep or eat or move and it's getting bigger and I don't know what to do

unicornsaregood Social Anxiety + Bulimia recovery tips?
  • replies: 2

So with first year uni starting in a few weeks, I'm feeling soso nervous about not being able to make friends/ that people won't like me because of my awkwardness and my weight. I keep trying to remind myself that my worth isn't in my weight, but my ... View more

So with first year uni starting in a few weeks, I'm feeling soso nervous about not being able to make friends/ that people won't like me because of my awkwardness and my weight. I keep trying to remind myself that my worth isn't in my weight, but my ed has been getting even worse as uni approaches. I've gained around 8kg in around two weeks and have been too scared to meet up with old high school friends out of fear of judgement. Tonight I'm meant to be having a prefect dinner but everyone is so extroverted and gorgeous and I'm completely panicking, and low key want to just flake, but I know I'll feel completely horrible for doing that because I'll be scared of the others for judging me harshly. For those who have struggled with all this, any tips and coping strategies?

zonk Lost and confused
  • replies: 4

I have been feeling rather upset and lonely lately. I've tried talking to mates but I hate opening up I like this guy and he is super sweet but I feel like running in the opposite direction. Because everyone that is nice to me leaves, so maybe if I p... View more

I have been feeling rather upset and lonely lately. I've tried talking to mates but I hate opening up I like this guy and he is super sweet but I feel like running in the opposite direction. Because everyone that is nice to me leaves, so maybe if I push him away he can't hurt me. I don't know what to do anymore.

SweetAmara I just went to run away from my life.
  • replies: 8

I'm twenty-one years-old and struggling with severe anxiety, both Social and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I am studying at TAFE full time and University (online) full time, I help out at home where I live with my parents. I volunteer and I do catalo... View more

I'm twenty-one years-old and struggling with severe anxiety, both Social and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I am studying at TAFE full time and University (online) full time, I help out at home where I live with my parents. I volunteer and I do catalogue deliveries because I can't find more substantial work at the moment. I was supposed to have graduated from university the other day; but due to getting behind last year because of my anxiety Of late, both my grandparents have been hospitalized, my mother underwent surgery and I underwent some medical testing. I was helping at home a lot and also helping my grandparents too. I also act as carer to my aunt. On top of all this, my boyfriend (who lives overseas) has been through a lot recently, and I have been trying to provide him with emotional support. I truly feel like I don't dream or look forward to the future at all. I feel so trapped in my life and due to all these demands (mainly from my family) my studies and future have truly taken a backseat. I feel like I am never going to advance and due to that I have no motivation towards my life right now. That and being just plain exhausted from trying to help as best I can. It causes me a lot of anxiety and due to my fear of intimacy, I unknowingly distance from myself from my boyfriend when I know that he just wants to help me. I want to find a better way to approach his help, rather than responding in my anxiety-ridden attitude. I can't take time off from my studies or explain to my family that I am struggling because I am constantly told that I am lazy, uncommitted and a liar. I have thought endlessly about running away from my life; but with no money, I feel trapped in this life that is not at all what I want. I want to do things with my life, travel, own my FIRST car; but right now I am static and I am stunted, I can't see a way out, just that I'll continue to disappoint everyone and myself. Thank you for reading all this and please, any advice is greatly appreciated.

SweetAmara Lost. I have no idea how to move forward.
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I have been diagnosed with general anxiety, social anxiety and depression, I am beginning counselling which I find really difficult; but I have a feeling I am actually bipolar. I raised these issues with my doctor and was told categorically t... View more

Hi all, I have been diagnosed with general anxiety, social anxiety and depression, I am beginning counselling which I find really difficult; but I have a feeling I am actually bipolar. I raised these issues with my doctor and was told categorically that "what I meant to say" was that my parents are very critical not emotionally abusive/controlling. That kind of attitude makes attending counselling scary for me. As well as during my first session when she told me to "Calm down!" which truly embarrassed me. I have struggled a lot over the past year or so and have been admitted to hospital. I have had another health issues as well. I spent nearly all of last year sick in fear and anxiety. My parents pushed me to begin uni straight after finishing school, I didn't want to, I wanted to find a job; but they told me I had to so I did. I have made very little progress over the past 4-5 years and now I am trying to finish this year so I can go on to a Masters in Teaching. There are many other things I want to do that I don't feel I can. I finished a TAFE course last year, so now I am looking for work. My boyfriend lives in the US and I desperately want to go see him; but I have already been told "it's not time yet." I have to buy a car, save up, then I can go if they approve. We've been together two years this year and I already know that when we chose to get married will be heavily scrutinised. My mother has already said I can't move in with him when he moves here, because she'll be angry with me. I feel like everything in my life is determined by my parents, I have no control and I constantly feel unbearably anxious. When I approach these issues, I am called a "liar," "lazy" etc. for not achieving my goals and not feeling good about myself, even though I do try. Like I have said before, I feel suffocated, my anxiety is completely unbearable to live and I find it hard to function at all. I don't feel supported outside of a few friends and my boyfriend. But I am generally terrified. Terrified of disappointing everyone. I already have no self confidence and no independence, even ringing about a job is terrifying. But I just don't how to blossom in an environment where I am under so much scrutiny and I can't leave without possibly severing ties.

Genericdep how do i get help / centrelink
  • replies: 1

hi everyone, i am almost homeless right now, i used to live with my parents but left early january for private reasons and im now in another state... right now i am staying in a tent in someones back yard, i have no income, and i have previously been... View more

hi everyone, i am almost homeless right now, i used to live with my parents but left early january for private reasons and im now in another state... right now i am staying in a tent in someones back yard, i have no income, and i have previously been diagnosed with aspergers & schizophrenia (seperately) and suffer from severe anxiety/panic especially in public.. i used to take medication for it, but i need to get a new diagnosis before i can have access to it again, and i was basically a shut in at home, so i didnt pursue it for the past year... i have seen GP's a few times, trying to get referred to get a diagnosis that i can show to centrelink or something, and to get medication again, but so far it has been a run around, and the GP has told me that if they sent me to a psychiatrist, it would take months for an appointment, and i think by the time that happens i will be totally out of money and completely homeless does anyone have some advice for me? can i claim with centrelink while im waiting to see a psychologist? or is there another pathway?

motion_picture_soundtrack trying my best but nothing is working
  • replies: 4

i feel horribly trapped just being alive. i've had depression for nearly four years now and things are still getting worse no matter what i do. my parents split in 2015. i moved out with my dad and not too long later i switched schools - both of whic... View more

i feel horribly trapped just being alive. i've had depression for nearly four years now and things are still getting worse no matter what i do. my parents split in 2015. i moved out with my dad and not too long later i switched schools - both of which were really good things, my mum and i would fight every time we talked and i had bad problems with anxiety around schooling (which has improved a bit now i'm doing distance school) and that solved two of the major problems in my life, which i felt should've made me feel better but it didn't do anything for my depression, only anxiety. i've made new friends, got a job, counselling, cbt, medication, art therapy, doing new things and trying to switch my life up, in general trying my damnedest to keep my head up but it doesn't work. i still feel horrible every day and everything i do gets harder and harder to pretend to be motivated for the more i dig myself into this hole of 'it's never getting better' but i don't feel like it is. if i dwell on it i start getting incredibly anxious and have had panic attacks over thinking about the fact that when i finally manage to get to sleep i'm going to be waking up to the exact same thing and feeling the exact same way as always and there's nothing i can do about it. i can't stand it and it takes away all my energy and just makes me feel like theres no point doing anything but staying in bed all day. every time anything remotely good happens that lightens me up it seems something bad immediately follows, it's like life is just out to get me and keep me from enjoying myself for even a day i feel like maybe i'm not trying hard enough to be happy or it's teen angst or something that i'm making a bigger deal than necessary about but i can't deal with it anymore, i'm not one for crying but thinking about being alive in the state i'm in sends me into hysterics because i don't want to stay the way i am and i don't know what to do. not sure what i'm hoping to gain from this but any advice would be great because everything i try fails

LuveniA Considering the thought of taking anti-depressants to manage Depression and Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi there! I'm 17 and I was recently diagnosed with having Depression and Anxiety. I'm currently seeing a psychologist and we're trying something called the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). So it's basically a way to change the way we think during ... View more

Hi there! I'm 17 and I was recently diagnosed with having Depression and Anxiety. I'm currently seeing a psychologist and we're trying something called the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). So it's basically a way to change the way we think during a low mood and trying to find positive things to focus on within our low and creating alternate situations with a positive outcome than ones with a negative outcome which is what I usually think of first. I've been trying to use CBT when I am in a low mood but I find that it seems to get pushed out my mind very quickly and I end up delving deeper into darker thoughts. I've been thinking about using anti-depressants to reduce my moods going drastically low and stabilising my emotions and the way I feel. I think that if I use the anti-depressants in conjunction with CBT, I'll be able to use CBT more effectively. I plan on using the anti-depressants for approximately a year (my final year of high school). Do you guys think that is a bad idea? Are there other alternatives that I can do instead of going on anti-depressants? I just get so fatigued from coming back from my low moods, I often feel numb and tired afterwards. And then I go back into a low mood. I rarely feel 'normal' or have a day where I don't just burst out crying because I feel so sad and tired. What are your thoughts? Thanks, Ro

Izzi I'm struggling with depression, anxiety and finishing high school, I'm scared about the road ahead
  • replies: 2

Hello, my name is Isabelle. I am at the start of the last year of high school and it is becoming quite stressful. I have been struggling with depression and anxiety ever since primary school but it's never been this bad and I'm scared about when scho... View more

Hello, my name is Isabelle. I am at the start of the last year of high school and it is becoming quite stressful. I have been struggling with depression and anxiety ever since primary school but it's never been this bad and I'm scared about when school finishes. I'm struggling with the fact that I might not be able to live by myself or that I'll have enough money to survive. Also, I've been feeling really lonely as most of my friends either have a girlfriend or a boyfriend and even at school they'll walk away to go into the library while I'm still having my lunch. I never had any friends in primary school, I'm still not sure why but the feeling of being alone leaves me broken inside. At home, my parents work hard at they're jobs but never show any affection towards me, I'm usually being told what to do or being lectured about daily life and how growing up is a struggle to accomplish. If there is anyone out there that can help and give some advice, believe me I'll take all of it. Much love, Isabelle.

loouuiiee Keeping busy over the holiday period
  • replies: 2

Soooooo I'm on 'school holidays' technically & I will be SO GLAD when it's over!!! im unwillingly becoming like a hermit and meeting and talking to new people feels weird. I live on my own, my family live far away, most of the people in my course I t... View more

Soooooo I'm on 'school holidays' technically & I will be SO GLAD when it's over!!! im unwillingly becoming like a hermit and meeting and talking to new people feels weird. I live on my own, my family live far away, most of the people in my course I talk to have dropped out, and I'm struggling financially to the extreme. Like living on rations of rice, frozen veg and 2minute noodles extreme Ive just moved to a new house (which was draining af) I rarely go out besides going for a nature walk coz I don't have money for a bus ticket most of the time, and when I do, surely the people I talk to/meet don't sit alone in their house worrying about money & talking to no one face to face because there is no one. I've got people to talk to on social media & my fault via phone call or text, but verbally speaking to people after days sometimes WEEKS of being home alone feels WEIRD! and meeting new people feels foreign like I'm some kind of socially zombie-fied ALIEN It's so not normal I swear!! Next holidays I will have made closer connections with whoever is left in my course! And I will hopefully have a part time job to keep me busy over the holiday period coz seriously I am going INSANE! im curious does anyone else actually even have these issues??? I have generalized anxiety disorder (however with medication it's pretty under control) and Ive been suffering bouts of depression for 10 years now (like i feel better and then I feel worse again depending on my circumstances) ... I'm also not really a fan of my psychologist I see her once a month & have been seeing her for over a year & literally think she just likes to chat and waste my time. ive seen other psychologists before who were much more helpful and seem to know what they are talking about (a lot more than this one does) .. but they are in my hometown (where my family is from) and my school is here so I can't move again 🤦🏻‍