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.

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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

JORDANHOPE Need advice
  • replies: 2

Hi, My name's Jordan and I'm currently really struggling to get motivated to do work. I know that everyone struggles to get movtivated sometimes, but I feel like this is different. I have so many overdue assignments that I just can't start. I will st... View more

Hi, My name's Jordan and I'm currently really struggling to get motivated to do work. I know that everyone struggles to get movtivated sometimes, but I feel like this is different. I have so many overdue assignments that I just can't start. I will stare at a blank page for hours and not do anything. I'm not always unmotivated, there are times where I feel really motivated to do work, but it never lasts. I've mentioned this to my parents, but they just brush it off as me being a lazy person. They both work so hard and I can barely manage to do a couple of assignments, which is pathetic. I feel like a disappointment and a failure. I don't know what to do and I need some advice. How do I stay motivated to do work? Thanks in advance, Jordan

Guest_322 Year 12 Class of 2016- wish them good luck!
  • replies: 7

Hi Year 12, I heard from a BB friend, Ahw, that the HSC exams start tomorrow. So here's a message to wish you all the very best! It can be a very stressful but you can do it! Cliched but just do your best. Remember, there are always alternative pathw... View more

Hi Year 12, I heard from a BB friend, Ahw, that the HSC exams start tomorrow. So here's a message to wish you all the very best! It can be a very stressful but you can do it! Cliched but just do your best. Remember, there are always alternative pathways and options. This exam period doesn't define you or your life. I hope everyone else joins in and leaves a message for this awesome year. Dottie x (Class of 2014)

Panda01 Relationship issues revolving around depression
  • replies: 5

Hi, I'm a high school student and need some advice. To start with i experience anxiety regularly and occasionally get depressed. I am in a relationship with my boyfriend of 7 months and things have been great up until the past month. We are very clos... View more

Hi, I'm a high school student and need some advice. To start with i experience anxiety regularly and occasionally get depressed. I am in a relationship with my boyfriend of 7 months and things have been great up until the past month. We are very close and I feel like I rely on him for emotional support a lot. Lately he has seemed a bit distant and says he's confused about his feelings. He says he doesn't feel like being around me as he always feels down. He knows how much I care about him and I've told him that I am always there for him but he says I can't do anything. He insists that I have not done anything wrong and says he doesn't want to hurt me and that he needs space. I am willing to give him space but I feel worthless and like I've failed him and it's really emotionally taxing not knowing where our relationship is going. I'm scared of losing him as he is the only person I feel comfortable talking about my feelings with but I want him to be happy and realise that being with me may be preventing that. I'm just a bit confused and feeling so helpless. Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated. - Panda01

f0rces Please Help - Tackling Anxiety Overseas.
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone, I'm new here and honestly haven't been able to find much help anywhere so I hope someone here can help me.Basically I'm going overseas for two months next year as part of a study abroad program and while I'm immensely excited I'm also t... View more

Hey everyone, I'm new here and honestly haven't been able to find much help anywhere so I hope someone here can help me.Basically I'm going overseas for two months next year as part of a study abroad program and while I'm immensely excited I'm also terrified my anxiety is going to act up.See I haven't been consistent with treatment because my anxiety fluctuates and I kind of used to brush off seeing my psychiatrist when I felt good, but last July was possibly my worst even panic attack I have encountered in all my years of living. What started as my heart racing a little ended in me hyperventilating, coming in and out of consciousness with my leg spasming and me crying really hard as my mum tried to calm me. It also lasted for days; I wasn't able to eat because I was so nauseous which resulted in me being on drips at the hospital. The whole thing was a really long nightmare and I'm not even sure what caused it/how it went away.But basically now I'm terrified of that happening to me in a foreign country without my family/people who understand my anxiety. My psychiatrist mentioned travel and health insurance (i am required to get travel insurance for the study abroad program), but I don't know how to go about finding insurance that deals with anxiety. My psychiatrist thinks that if anything my trip will help ease my anxiety but of course anything can happen and he wants to ensure I have a good plan set up.Thanks

Peridot1567 Centrelink and mental illness
  • replies: 2

Hi, im 19 years old and I serverly struggle with major depression and anxiety and all that I've been looking in to Centrelink and I've not been eligible for youth allowance as I live with my parents I also don't have a job but would disability suppor... View more

Hi, im 19 years old and I serverly struggle with major depression and anxiety and all that I've been looking in to Centrelink and I've not been eligible for youth allowance as I live with my parents I also don't have a job but would disability support pension be worth looking into as they say they cover mental illness and I don't want to go there and feel like an idiot for bothering I'm just wondering if anyone else with major depression and anxiety has had Any luck with Centrelink in that regards thanks

gdog_96 Advice for sexual assault
  • replies: 4

Hi I have a friend who was sexually assaulted by her ex, back in February. I can see that it's really effected her negatively, all her validation she gets is from guys giving her compliments. What should I say to her or should say nothing at all? I w... View more

Hi I have a friend who was sexually assaulted by her ex, back in February. I can see that it's really effected her negatively, all her validation she gets is from guys giving her compliments. What should I say to her or should say nothing at all? I want her to report the crime, but she doesn't want to, which is understandable, due to the complications of the legal system and her conservative background.

Yak_Yak Feeling like a drain on the health system
  • replies: 5

Hi there. I've had OCD for a long time, diagnosed about 2 years ago and with a little bit of progress made since then. I've been going through a symptom flare-up lately and today I hit a huge trigger and the ol' anxiety and depression have been off t... View more

Hi there. I've had OCD for a long time, diagnosed about 2 years ago and with a little bit of progress made since then. I've been going through a symptom flare-up lately and today I hit a huge trigger and the ol' anxiety and depression have been off the charts since. It's at the point where I'm thinking I need to go back on meds and maybe do a psychiatric review, but I hate going in to see my GP because I feel like I'm wasting his time and taxpayer money. I understand this is profoundly ridiculous but I just hate being a drain on yet more people. Sometimes it seems like it would be easier to just skip away into the bush and live a hermitic lifestyle until I die of cholera aged 22. Anyway, I guess I'm wondering if anyone else feels like they aren't worth the investment of the healthcare system, and if so, how do you deal with it?

musicastellae Anxiety: don't know what to do
  • replies: 10

Hi everyone. I'm new here and a little nervous about posting. I have always been getting stressed about every little thing for as long as I can remember, however I have only recently discovered that I have anxiety and that the way I have been feeling... View more

Hi everyone. I'm new here and a little nervous about posting. I have always been getting stressed about every little thing for as long as I can remember, however I have only recently discovered that I have anxiety and that the way I have been feeling the past few years is no where near normal. Unfortunately moving into year 12 it only seems to be increasing. Now every day at some point I will feel panicked out of control. Despite the fact that I do pretty well at school I will be awake all night worrying about test results and expectations to the point I feel sick and my heart is beating so fast. When I was younger I had a habit of pushing my nails into my hand as a way of distraction, never bad or serious. But now with the increase of anxiety the pain needs to be increased to match and I am worried that it is getting worse and will continue. I don't know who to talk to about it and don't know what to do. Any thoughts would be much appreciated, thanks.

lostelle LOST ABOUT UNI AND SCARED FOR FUTURE
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, this is my first post so I guess I'll just get into it. So I'm currently in year 12 and I graduate in a week which is causing me some serious anxiety - I wake up every night at 3am with knots in my stomach, heart beating fast and just w... View more

Hey everyone, this is my first post so I guess I'll just get into it. So I'm currently in year 12 and I graduate in a week which is causing me some serious anxiety - I wake up every night at 3am with knots in my stomach, heart beating fast and just wanting to cry. I guess I'm scared about leaving somewhere I feel so comfortable into this unknown of Uni, which is causing me so much stress and anxiety. I'm scared of a few things 1. Not seeing my few friends ever again, 2. I have no idea what course I want to do so I'm scared I'll choose one that isn't right for me and then hate it and thus have to transfer, 3. Not making friends at Uni (because noone from my school is going to the Uni I'm thinking of going to, which is making me want to go somewhere else just so I have friends and wont be alone. I know these things sound silly but I'm not the best at making new friends - like I am a party person but walking into a room where I know noone and everyone else has at least one friend terrifies me. I really am tempted to just go to a Uni where I know I will have people because of the fear of not making friends and all that. On top of all that I have no idea what course I want to do - so I'm just doing something very general, but what if I hate it? I don't want to be there for 6 months then transfer courses and then transfer Uni's and have to be at Uni longer than I planned especially with no friends. I honestly have no idea what to do and I get so much more anxiety when my friends talk about what they are going to do - they seem to all know the exact course and exact job and the group of people they will be studying with and I have none of that which makes me cry often and I'm in a permanent state of anxiety. You would think that choosing the course is the most stressful thing but if I'm completely honest, the thought of going to university and not knowing anyone scares me the most and gives me the most anxiety. I honestly have no clue what to do, so I guess any help would be appreciated.

LiamG 21 year old male never had a girlfriend and never been kissed
  • replies: 7

Hi all, I'm a 21 year old male and I've never been kissed or had a girlfriend. Almost all of my friends have girlfriends. I'm not the best looking guy out there so I haven't had many girls call me attractive, but I'm terrible when it comes to girls, ... View more

Hi all, I'm a 21 year old male and I've never been kissed or had a girlfriend. Almost all of my friends have girlfriends. I'm not the best looking guy out there so I haven't had many girls call me attractive, but I'm terrible when it comes to girls, I just don't really know how to talk to them and I don't think I'm able to make them laugh either. I'm born with a condition called Russell silver syndrome and it brings me down. It's not such a common disease. Just look it up, if you wanna see what it means. But I think I look hideous because of it, I have really dark circles under my eyes because I suffer from insomnia, I have a overbite, I hate my voice and I'm a short guy because of my condition I'm 5'3. However I am a nice guy and I am not in it for sex and just want a relationship. I sometimes look at beautiful girls and they look at me like, whys he looking at me??? I have many crushes throughout my life and I ended up knowing they wouldn't love me back, one made me feel depressed for quite a while. I feel so ashamed because I see all these guys around me that have girlfriends and they seem to be charming somehow and good looking. I try to dress my best although I always wear the same sort of shirts like band shirts or pop culture shirts with shorts and a pair of vans, although girls never really comment on my shirts or anything. I shave almost everyday and wash my hair everyday and keep it tidy. I've never even hung out with a girl unless it's been with a friends girlfriend, by myself. It's not fair and I wasted my high school years not doing this instead isolating myself away playing video games, even though then I wish I had a girlfriend. I feel like I'm just going to grow into a lonely old man, being a virgin and never kissing a girl. I'm thinking going out to a bar with a friend of mine sometime soon to try and find girls although I don't know how they will work because I have tried apps and they have worked zero percent for me, no matter how many girls profiles I like, I get nothing back. Yet my friend met his girlfriend on one and I had a friend that was being liked girls on it all the time and they were messaging him. I've tried messaging girls before and they ask what I look like and I show them and then they're out, they don't wanna talk to me.