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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

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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?

Anonymouspotato Sudden but short bursts of sadness and anger
  • replies: 3

Hi, I feel like I need to get things off my chest and don't know whether I have mild depression or not. I'm currently finishing university after a long struggle, having failed subjects before and on the brink of getting kicked out. However I had mana... View more

Hi, I feel like I need to get things off my chest and don't know whether I have mild depression or not. I'm currently finishing university after a long struggle, having failed subjects before and on the brink of getting kicked out. However I had managed to barely pull myself together. While this was going on, my parents had split up and then a few months later got back together. During these periods I had been feeling extremely lethargic and fatigued every other day, no energy and helpless that everything was out of control. However when I passed subjects they would go away for a time and I was feeling ok. However the feelings have come back due to a sinister turn of events. In an exam yesterday I was charged with academic misconduct due to a supervisor finding notes on my body. Beforehand I had thoroughly ensured I had no notes on me whatsoever. I have been offered a job starting next year which depends on me graduating...so why on earth would I jeopardize myself like this? I had already passed 50% of the subject beforehand as well. The only thing I conclude is that someone blackmailed me. I had a lot of disagreements and conflicts working with other people in this subject during the semester in assignments, but don't want to jump to conclusions as to who would want to blackmail me like this. Now my job is on the line and I may not be able to graduate this year, I am feeling so upset and frustrated with myself, and also extremely hopeless I can't do anything. I haven't been able to think straight and can't bring myself to think of anything else but this, which brings more misery and sadness. I'm sorry for ranting but had to get it off my chest. Is there anything I can do to fix my screwed up, depressed head? Thank you.

Countrymusicgirl feeling numb when sick.
  • replies: 3

It wasn't until recently I got sick with the chickenpox. After being sick with the pox I started to feel numb all my emotions were gone and I felt alive again. I liked it. Now im back to feeling overwhelmed, depressed and anxious worthless etc. Am I ... View more

It wasn't until recently I got sick with the chickenpox. After being sick with the pox I started to feel numb all my emotions were gone and I felt alive again. I liked it. Now im back to feeling overwhelmed, depressed and anxious worthless etc. Am I the only one who feels alot better when I'm sick? Or is this normal ​

Playahata123 Introducing Myself :)))
  • replies: 4

Gday, Ill try to make this short. Im a 21 year old male. I like my looks, my family, my lifestyle.. i hate my introverted personality and anxiety. I have few problems in my life aside from anxiety which causes alot of other problems. I am always anxi... View more

Gday, Ill try to make this short. Im a 21 year old male. I like my looks, my family, my lifestyle.. i hate my introverted personality and anxiety. I have few problems in my life aside from anxiety which causes alot of other problems. I am always anxious. As if there is danger all around me. My life feels like treading through an active minefield. Tracing back in primary school I was fairly timid kid. My father is an intellectual, kind man who has never really wronged anyone ever and is successful too. My mother is the complete opposite, as children she would fly off the handle whenever it got too much. If she came home from work and my brother spilled some milk it would be the straw which broke the camels back and nobody would get any peace for 2 hours. She would yell at me in a language i didnt understand (greek) and give me really guilty looks. My mother is intense. I am in no doubt that there is nobody on this planet she couldnt take on. However the next day she would always apologise profusely and tell you how lucky she was to have us. Also when she was not going crazy she is actually a very nice person, quiet intelligent and hard working. Neither of my parent have any problems other than my mother and her ability to go ballistic. Once in highschool I remember being bullied a bit. I had an specially hard time in year 9 when people would bully me and laugh. I never felt any anger towards these people. The worst part of it was that I saw disrespect towards me as a contagion. Like a disease if someone witnessed me being bullied, they would think that it was okay for them to then give me slack. So this was why I hated it and stayed away from the loud kids who would joke and call people names. In year 10 -12 I hid behind the cool kids who I hung out with. They organised the social events, I felt safe in the group as I felt people would respect me and couldnt bully me so id look weak. Once i left school i developed a panic attack disorder where trying not to look nervous my fight or flight would constantly trigger leaving me exausted and confused. This high level of anxiety i experiences led to me dropping out of university and since all that it has spirralled badly. Only now since starting to understand what im going through have i seen any improvement at all :(. Damn that was longer than i wanted it to be. Anyway if anyone gets to read this your honest opinions are appreciated.

Alec29 I Hate myself, im lonely & Positivity makes me uncomfortable
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone I have always had low self esteem since i was a young child and I always feel like im not good enough or that im stupid and worthless and I feel like a burden to others that i deserve nothing and am more trouble than im worth, I always ha... View more

Hi everyone I have always had low self esteem since i was a young child and I always feel like im not good enough or that im stupid and worthless and I feel like a burden to others that i deserve nothing and am more trouble than im worth, I always have had a bad relationship with my dad and he was emotionally abusive (sometimes physically) and has a hard time controlling anger. I see a psychologist and we are working on my self esteem but i hate it she tries to prove to me that im not stupid and it makes me feel horrid I hate it trying to be happy and positive and to like myself make me feel very uncomfortable and when other such as my friends and psychologist say im not stupid or that i did a good job i resent them and think they are full of Bull***t and I think I like being negative it feels normal and I feel silly trying to be positive and doing all that positive self talk Erhgh it makes me feel real bad and I just find happiness and optimism in general to be irritating i know i should be positive but i cant do it and i dont deserve it, i have spent so long hating myself that i cant do anything about it and its not going to work. For years everyones been telling me to be positive but i cant do it it just isnt me. I really dont enjoy going to my psychologist appointment i just cringe the whole way through and feel bad and awkward and I dont want to feel like I do but I feel if i felt any other way it would be wrong. i also have a difficult time talking about my strengths and feel stupid if i say or think something is a strength of mine. My self esteem and general unhappiness is causing me so much trouble its stoping me doing my assignments i will sit down and try yo do them but i physically cant think of what to write and i have a mental block and spend the rest of the night crying about how dumb i am i also get angry very easily and I take it out on others and if i feel bad im mean to others and It makes me feel better and I know thats bad. sorry for the rant I dont want to feel like this but am struggling