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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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LinkTheCosplayer 20, unemployed, feel worthless.
  • replies: 4

I honestly need some words of guidance/wisdom right now im 20 years old and for the past year and a half i have been applying for so many jobs and have only managed to hear back from 2 people which i failed at interviews with. Alot of places wont hir... View more

I honestly need some words of guidance/wisdom right now im 20 years old and for the past year and a half i have been applying for so many jobs and have only managed to hear back from 2 people which i failed at interviews with. Alot of places wont hire me because i have no retail experience and all i really need is a chance. This is starting to make me really stressed out, depressed and even ruins my self worth as a young adult whos supposed to be independent by now but still relays on mum and dad for pocket money which i hate so much because i feel like a leech or free loader off them hence why i don't ask for alot of money and as a result i cant really do things i enjoy or do on many dates with the person im seeing right now. any body else in similar position or have been? I just want advice..i almost feel like posting my resume up on a wall in the city for people to take lol agh but really this is getting to me.

Ellemay How do you cope
  • replies: 3

There is plenty of talk about anxiety and depression and the help that is available but what about after someone you loved and cared about took there own life what do we do then how do we come to terms with this tragic loss my best friend was only 24... View more

There is plenty of talk about anxiety and depression and the help that is available but what about after someone you loved and cared about took there own life what do we do then how do we come to terms with this tragic loss my best friend was only 24 years old she was smart, caring, funny and beautiful truely one of a kind she was healthy and athletic she was spiritual and loved doing and teaching yoga she wanted to be an interpersonal councillor she had her hole life ahead of her. What do we do,the ones left behind the ones who didn't know such a happy loving person could want to leave this earth are we not meant to understand why or is there another way to ease this pain in my heart.

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

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