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.

FAQ

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

Forums guidelines

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

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

Bodie_Amy Anxious about being murdered
  • replies: 1

I'm 13, attending High School. I I'm the eldest of 3 and I have very high standards for grades (straight A's) so I'm under a lot of stress all the time. I have general anxiety disorder, mild social anxiety as well. Ever since I was young I have alway... View more

I'm 13, attending High School. I I'm the eldest of 3 and I have very high standards for grades (straight A's) so I'm under a lot of stress all the time. I have general anxiety disorder, mild social anxiety as well. Ever since I was young I have always been terrified of people coming to kill me at night. I tried to scream but I couldn't because I was so scared. It went away for a while, until I moved countries for the third time and I was completely alone, in a new country (this was about two years ago). Since then I've been anxious that people are coming to kill me while I sleep. I also constantly feel like people are judging me and trying to hurt me... To the point it affects my social life. A few weeks ago I had a nightmare in which I was stabbed to death, and I woke up screaming. I stayed at the foot of my parents bed, but didn't sleep all night because I kept on thinking I could hear him walking around and calling for me. I thought he was going to cut my head off. I'm seeing a school psychologist, but it isn't helping much... I don't know what it is and I don't know what to do. I'm always irritable and feel targeted a lot by my friends, even if it's a gentle tease. My mind is telling me that I'm being ridiculous, but I still worry and feel upset anyway. Please help! Thank you!!

Febry Hello
  • replies: 7

Hi, I've only decided to greet everyone properly now but I've joined this forum for around 2 weeks maybe. Well, a little bit about myself, I'm a high school student and I've had anxiety, phobia and depression for a couple of years now. I've had psych... View more

Hi, I've only decided to greet everyone properly now but I've joined this forum for around 2 weeks maybe. Well, a little bit about myself, I'm a high school student and I've had anxiety, phobia and depression for a couple of years now. I've had psychiatric visits a while back but it didn't go so well after a while and there were a major financial problem in my family, so I stopped it all together. I decided to join this forum (and beyondblue) because I've been hearing good reviews about it at school. Tbh, at first I was a bit skeptical and anxious whether this forum would give any support or advice, given that everyone is suffering and they're not feeling well themselves to be, you know, supporting other people (sorry if this sounds offensive). But how wrong I was. From only one thread, I can already tell that this forum is a very understanding and helpful community, and I'm hoping to get along with everyone soon. Anyway, I'd like to chat and get involve more with this forum and hear different journeys and advice from/of fellow survivors in here. Well, that's as far as introduction goes. Hope you everyone will have a joyous (or at least more happier) weekend. Best Wishes, Febry xxx

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.