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
Jump to
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

romantic_thi3f Eeep! When study is overwhelming! - Tips, ideas and coping strategies
  • replies: 51

Hi! Just thought I’d make a post with some tips for study. I know this is something we can all struggle with. These are all suggestions so feel free to take them or leave them! Hope they help! If you only remember one thing, let it be this: You are i... View more

Hi! Just thought I’d make a post with some tips for study. I know this is something we can all struggle with. These are all suggestions so feel free to take them or leave them! Hope they help! If you only remember one thing, let it be this: You are important. Your grades don’t define you. (support) Studying can feel isolating but know you’re not alone! Reach out – and find or make friends that can support you along the way. If you’re having trouble finding some friends, join some local communities or clubs! They have lots at Uni’s and even stuff like open days are great ways to meet new people and find out what’s happening. Study groups can also be a great way to meet people and stay motivated. Also remind yourself why you’re doing this; inspirational wallpapers or quotes can be super inspiring. Remember the saying about the oxygen mask? If you can’t take care of yourself first studying will be harder. You are important. You know the drill - water, food, exercise, sleep. Try to stay calm. Stuff that might be able to help include mindfulness, breathing exercises, colouring in, going for walks, journaling, listening to music… If you’re struggling – reach out. See a therapist. Talk to your student counsellor. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Also lots of Universities and TAFE offer disability services – which includes conditions like Depression and Anxiety. (study) Find the right study space for you. Maybe that’s in your room, or a coffee shop, or the library. Some people find that noise helps; other people not so much. If you like particular kinds of noise, you can find ‘coffee shop’ noise or ‘rain sounds’ to help concentrate. Make a plan. It helps to do it often so it becomes a habit. Anytime you get a due date, write it down. Maybe you could use a diary, planner, bullet journal or an app. I find the 30/30 App helpful - study for a bit and then break for a bit. You can also get add-on’s for your computer to block sites like Facebook if you find them too distracting. Find out what study technique works for you. Do you like cue cards? Mind maps? Colour coding? Does highlighting stuff help you remember? Charts, maps, diagrams? Recorded lectures? Goals! These are so important – not just writing down deadlines but rewarding yourself for meeting them. Even making smaller goals like ‘read two pages from a textbook’ can help. Break it down into bite size pieces, and don’t forget to reward yourself after!

Sophie_M NEW TO THIS FORUM? Please read this first
  • replies: 0

The Young People space is a sub-forum within the wider Beyond Blue forum community. 1. Its purpose is to provide members aged 25 and under a space to discuss anxiety, depression and other related life issues. If you are aged over 25, please be mindfu... View more

The Young People space is a sub-forum within the wider Beyond Blue forum community. 1. Its purpose is to provide members aged 25 and under a space to discuss anxiety, depression and other related life issues. If you are aged over 25, please be mindful that this forum is a space for younger people to connect and provide peer support for each other. 2. Content from this sub-forum is displayed on both the beyondblue and youthbeyondblue websites. 3. Please bear in mind that some members find content relating to suicide and/or self-harm distressing or triggering. If you would like to post on these topics, please do so in our Suicidal Thoughts and Self Harm section. Please see also our guidelines for making posts on this topic. Posts made here in the Young People sub-forum containing content relating to suicide and/or self-harm will be moved. 4. These forums are moderated, so your posts may not appear straightaway. Information on how our system works can be found here. Being familiar with our community rules can help ensure that your posts appear online as quickly as possible. 5. This is a peer support community, and to get the best out of being here we recommend that you 'give support to receive support'. More on how that works here.

All discussions

Start a discussion

Youth_12 Feeling hopeless
  • replies: 2

Hi, Thank you for taking the time on reading my post. I just turned 20 recently and feel like I haven't accomplished anything. I am currently at uni doing a degree in Film/Video, but I feel as If I am investing so much time into something I might not... View more

Hi, Thank you for taking the time on reading my post. I just turned 20 recently and feel like I haven't accomplished anything. I am currently at uni doing a degree in Film/Video, but I feel as If I am investing so much time into something I might not use, due to the fact I have two interests; graphic design & interior design. I just don't know what to do and how to move forward. I have goals and want to achieve them, I just don't know how and where to start. I also have been looking for work, but have been unsuccessful My thoughts tell me, my parents think I'm getting know where, because I feel as though I haven't been able to move forward or I'm not good enough I feel confused, lost and don't know what to do. I just feel like life is catching up and I'm running out of time. I hope this made sense and sorry If this doesn't even sound like an issue, but it is to me. Any suggestions on how I can cope would be much appreciated.

SN6530 Constantly Worrying
  • replies: 3

Hi. 3 months ago I was mis-diagnosed by by doctor with Hiv which was only recently cleared. During that three months I thought my life was over and could barely eat or sleep, I dropped out of my uni course and lost 20 kilos because of it. I thought I... View more

Hi. 3 months ago I was mis-diagnosed by by doctor with Hiv which was only recently cleared. During that three months I thought my life was over and could barely eat or sleep, I dropped out of my uni course and lost 20 kilos because of it. I thought I was finally over my ordeal and able to enjoy life again until I woke one day with a stomach pain. I started googling stomach pains and now I cant stop freaking out about cancer. I've seen 3 doctors and they all say the same, that they cant see anything wrong with me. Its obvious that I don't have cancer but I worry so much that I constantly have IBS which then makes me think I have stomach cancer which in turn makes me worry. I try to think about things logically but the logic doesn't seem to ease my mind. I cant do anything anymore. I think about cancer when i wake up, when i'm driving, when I go to sleep, I've even had times when I've zoned out of conversations i'm having with people because I'm constantly worrying about it in the back of my mind. I am never happy anymore. I really need to know If anyone else has had thoughts like this and how to overcome them.

Anxious_Bear I need help with anxiety diagnosis
  • replies: 3

hi, so, I recently took lots of tests and all of them told me I had severe or high anxiety levels and should seek professional help. I do get anxious quite often, but its not horrible, like, most of the time I and just nervous over nothing, and then ... View more

hi, so, I recently took lots of tests and all of them told me I had severe or high anxiety levels and should seek professional help. I do get anxious quite often, but its not horrible, like, most of the time I and just nervous over nothing, and then sometimes I will be very anxious over nothing, even If I think about it for ages, I can never fins the source of my anxiety. I have had Two panic attacks throughout my life, one being (don't judge) after playing five nights at fredies. The entire week after playing that game I did not sleep and was in a constant jumpy, frantic, extreme paranoia and terrified mood. The next one was when I was away from home at a school camp and for about an hour I was frantic, couldn't breath, shaking and all of that fun stuff. please help, I honestly, if you couldn't tell, really don't want to be diagnosed with anxiety, but, idk, maybe i can't avoid it...

Livlucy Ex depressed
  • replies: 14

So little over a week ago now my boyfriend told me that he couldn't do it anymore, and that he wanted to break up. He had told me about a month prior that he had been feeling depressed for over a year now, but I was the first and only person to know.... View more

So little over a week ago now my boyfriend told me that he couldn't do it anymore, and that he wanted to break up. He had told me about a month prior that he had been feeling depressed for over a year now, but I was the first and only person to know. He told me that I had inadvertently pushed him to want to get help, but that he didn't want to hurt me in the process or drag me down with him. I am trying my best to not take it personally, and I really don't want to give up on him. I told him I would be there in whatever way he wanted, and he has so far decided to remain in my life and has come to me when he has had days worse than others. We are still talking most days, and we have seen each other in person and talked over the phone too. he is my best friend and I want him to be happy again, but I must admit it hurts me to think I couldn't help him enough. I am very confused as to how to deal with not abandoning him when he is at his most vulnerable, but also with dealing with my own sadness with the breakup.

Alyssa_M DEPRESSIIom
  • replies: 7

My name is Alyssa and I am currently in term 4 of year 7(about to finish) ,I have tried almost everything to try and deal with my constant depression but can't seem to shake it.I have been bullied and teased most of my life and have had to deal with ... View more

My name is Alyssa and I am currently in term 4 of year 7(about to finish) ,I have tried almost everything to try and deal with my constant depression but can't seem to shake it.I have been bullied and teased most of my life and have had to deal with people crushing my confidence and lowering my self esteem down.I went into year 7 hoping that everything would change because I'm in a new school(and I had new bright attitude towards it )but I fell into the wrong group of girls who were nice at first but then turned on me very quickly,they called me names and didn't want to be friends, leaving me alone.My mum is one of my biggest supporters but I got teased that I was so close to her.my mum always helped me through it but I don't feel she completely understands so I turned to this website for help(I found it when I was searching "how to deal with depression".I feel like I don't won't to go to school or do anything and I don't want to eat, I just want to lie there.It kinda feels good getting it out on this website but I would be really great full if anyone could help me or to see if anyone is in my same situation.sometimes I think that I'm the problem that's why no one wants to be friends and that I should just go away. Thanks

arania The recovery process
  • replies: 11

Hello, i have never really done anything like this before but i dont know where else to turn so here goes.I am a 21 year old girl and for a long time i suffered from agoraphobia, i wouldn't leave my house ever! this lasted at least 3 years, i felt li... View more

Hello, i have never really done anything like this before but i dont know where else to turn so here goes.I am a 21 year old girl and for a long time i suffered from agoraphobia, i wouldn't leave my house ever! this lasted at least 3 years, i felt like i was stuck, like i would never be normal but then one day after a conversation with my little sister i decided to go for a walk, i went to the local shops and bought some milk, i know, its not a big deal to many people but to me it was huge! it was the beginning of my recovery. i will never forget the first glass of milk i poured from that bottle, or the look on my dads face when i finally convinced him that it was me that went and got it! after that things started to get better, i cleaned up my life, i searched for a job and one place said i could do work experience, i kept going back there for three months and they finally gave me a job, that was three years ago, i kept that job up until a few months ago when i moved closer to home,i am in a much better place than i was when i was 18, but i'm still not okay, people say time heals things but i just don't feel like i'm doing much healing. sometimes i call in sick to work because i'm too scared to face the world. my body and mind are still recovering from the past but after three years shouldn't i feel better? i just want to know how long this will take, will i ever feel independent? i'm 21 i'm an adult, but i feel like such a child. does anyone else feel this way? I was so scared of growing up that i didn't even realize it happened, and now im scared of everyone noticing how broken i really am.

Countrymusicgirl i have no idea about this title
  • replies: 4

So, I've been struggling depression and anxiety for 2.5 years now. I have recntly seen a psychiatrist in regards to picking the right medication. After telling them the side effects on each different one and the one they normally prescribe to people ... View more

So, I've been struggling depression and anxiety for 2.5 years now. I have recntly seen a psychiatrist in regards to picking the right medication. After telling them the side effects on each different one and the one they normally prescribe to people and getting them worried, they have come up with solution that I be psychotic. Not only that I have PTSD social anxiety and major depression. I don't have to go back to see the psychiatrist again, I just need to get scans done to rule out any underlying problems, so I go to my doctor he wants me to try getting my dose increased- day one and I'm feeling the effects already. I find everything just really overwhelming right now ​

Thinkingofaname How I feel or some of the story (I'll try to keep it brief)
  • replies: 2

well, first of I'll tell a bit about what's happened. my past is kind of messed up but compared to some others it isn't to bad. I've had experience with abuse, physical and emotional, seen some things that shouldn't be seen at a young age, experience... View more

well, first of I'll tell a bit about what's happened. my past is kind of messed up but compared to some others it isn't to bad. I've had experience with abuse, physical and emotional, seen some things that shouldn't be seen at a young age, experienced traumatic events and have been to the point where I almost lost my sanity. I know now I'm not completely sane anymore but there was a time where I had almost gone insane from it all. I was so close to giving in that I almost lost who I was but I had remembered something in the midst of it and stopped myself from doing something awful that may have haunted me for the rest of my life. I've dealt with depression and anxiety.A lot has happened in the last 2 years. I changed drastically, I looked through photos and saw my smile slowly fading away. I don't laugh much now. I want to remember what it was like to be happy, nothing on my mind but at the same time I never want to forget everything thats happened because the pain I feel from it only reminds me that I can't let it happen ever again. I never really had someone to look up to as a child. As much as I hate to admit it I'm glad my parents taught me by bad example. It only made my resolve stronger that I never wanted to be like that. Over the last year in particular I changed a lot.I became shut in, I interacted less with people. People kept asking what's wrong? Stop acting we want the real you back, except this was the real me. the person who is here today. I became stronger but I also became colder. I kept it all in when everyone else was falling apart. It really angers me how adults expect respect when they only act like children. I spent a lot of time alone. I'm a quiet person but can be extremely extroverted when I want/need to be. One of the few things that will always make me smile is anime. In truth anime may be the reason I am still sane, why I chose not to break, not to give up. Things will never be the same, and I know that. Phycologists aren't really helping that much, I seem to get looks of pity which really annoys me.I feel like imagination and reality are blurring together. Everything feels like a dream. I guess I changed a lot inside and out.

RuneCat17464 Self-Esteem aka I'M A FAILURE ;(
  • replies: 2

This year has been a complete fail on my behalf I suppose- I'm usually get good grades and I'm always happy and don't care what others think (usually). Well this year I've been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (an auto-immune disease which attacks your... View more

This year has been a complete fail on my behalf I suppose- I'm usually get good grades and I'm always happy and don't care what others think (usually). Well this year I've been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (an auto-immune disease which attacks your thyroid and you get more hormones- I'm going through puberty so that basically equates to 2x the amount of stereotypical teenagerness hormones in me which is not so good for me or the people around me) and for a while I've been really restricted to sports and whatnot and I don't know but my self-esteem has gone down the drain and it doesn't help that anyways I'm getting really bad grades and other things have really taken a toll on my self esteem such as not getting chosen for this subject or that student council group or whatever and I don't know what to do and confusion about sexuality uuhhh heavy heavy expectations and I do not know what to do with myself or my life... someone give me some help plz I've asked all my friends and they have no idea what to do and the schools forced me to a counselor and she thinks I'm fine because I pretend to be just fine and a okay. someone help id really appreciate it

ThenephewSarK My mum is in hospital and I'm worried
  • replies: 4

I have recently turned thirteen and a few weeks ago my mother was discharged after eight weeks in hospital. She still didn't feel well and she had to go back into hospital again today. I know she is getting the help she needs but I am still worried. ... View more

I have recently turned thirteen and a few weeks ago my mother was discharged after eight weeks in hospital. She still didn't feel well and she had to go back into hospital again today. I know she is getting the help she needs but I am still worried. My mum has had depression all her life but has seen a psychiatrist and is taking antidepressants. I'm worried because up until september this year I had never seen my mum cry. There is a lot of things going on at school and it is giving me a lot of stress. It just makes me want to cry out because my father works long hours and I don't get to see him for long each day. I really don't know what to do because my mother and I are so close. What can I do to help her?