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

idklol Driver Anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hey everyone, Although it hasn't been diagnosed by a doctor, I believe I have anxiety. My parents don't seem to "believe" in anxiety though and think that I am just someone who stresses to much but I know that it is something more. About 10 months ag... View more

Hey everyone, Although it hasn't been diagnosed by a doctor, I believe I have anxiety. My parents don't seem to "believe" in anxiety though and think that I am just someone who stresses to much but I know that it is something more. About 10 months ago I went and got my learners permits. It took me about 4 months to convince myself that I can capable of driving an automatic car and after some practice I feel quite confident. Recently we bought a manual car because my parents want me to get my manual licence. I have been out twice, once with mum and once with dad. Both ended in terrible anxiety attacks. My parents think that they are not the right people to teach me how to drive and want me to get a driving teacher. The thought of this terrifies me but my parents don't seem to understand this. I don't feel comfortable driving a car with a stranger in it because I feel like they will judge me and my driving or I could seriously hurt them if I crash. I really would like to get my automatic licence for now and try for my manual in a few years when I feel more confident but my parents tell me it's manual or nothing. They are always nagging me to get my Ps so that they don't have to drive me around and I feel really bad because at my age (17) I should be driving myself like my other friends. I feel like I've wasted my parents time and money in trying to teach me to drive and buying the manual car however I am just not ready. I'm not sure what to do in this situation as my parents dont seem to understand how terrible I feel about this whole situation. Any advice is greatly appreciated x P.S My parents are amazing and would do anything for me and I love them very much but they just do not understand me in this situation

JaneyP I want to get help !
  • replies: 6

Hello Everyone, I'm really wanting to better myself and I know a massive step in doing so is going to see a doctor. I am really considering doing this but I have problem. My problem is that I have absolutely no idea how I would start this off. What d... View more

Hello Everyone, I'm really wanting to better myself and I know a massive step in doing so is going to see a doctor. I am really considering doing this but I have problem. My problem is that I have absolutely no idea how I would start this off. What do I say to them? Do I just come out and diagnose myself to them..... How do I start of the conversation? Argh, I'm so confused and I have major anxiety about talking to people like this and I get super nervous. I really want to see a doctor to help but I'm also dreading it. I need help! Cheers, Janey x

NorthShoreCitizen Poor social skills
  • replies: 2

Hello again, I have written here before but I wanted to address something different or similar to my previous post. The title says it all, I find I have bad social skills and I think is comes down to these reasons: - Having any personality traits tha... View more

Hello again, I have written here before but I wanted to address something different or similar to my previous post. The title says it all, I find I have bad social skills and I think is comes down to these reasons: - Having any personality traits that don't mesh well with the norm - Not being interested in the same things as most members of your gender - My Interests - Anxiety I just can't seem to get along well with most people my age (19). I feel very lonely and isolated from everyone else. My whole life only revolves around UNI and I have nothing else going for me, which is getting really hard. Most days are like a broken record and I can't seem to break free from it. I feel like getting a Job won't even fix this problem. I do have some "friends" at uni, however the only time I ever communicate with them is when I'm at UNI. I need to branch out more than be with family (which I mentioned in my previous post), but I'm finding it hard to do this and have had very little success with friendships. I don't know what do do. I am proud of who I am and my way of thinking and interests, but its not doing very well in the social world Thank you to whoever responds and I hope it all made sense.

Blak3 Hi everyone
  • replies: 3

I'm new around here and am I'm really confused at the moment because I think I may have a kind of depression/anxiety but am not certain. I'm definitely feeling some pain at the moment and it is incredibly hard to admit. I haven't really talked about ... View more

I'm new around here and am I'm really confused at the moment because I think I may have a kind of depression/anxiety but am not certain. I'm definitely feeling some pain at the moment and it is incredibly hard to admit. I haven't really talked about it to anyone and I think this may be the best place for me to start talking and I'm aiming to eventually figure out what's happening.

Kips Job agencie woes.
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone First time poster here, My name is Jaiden and im 23 years old. 24 in a week and a bit! I have been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression as well as PTSD. I have been on HRT for a year and a bit, that and my cat are what keep me goi... View more

Hi everyone First time poster here, My name is Jaiden and im 23 years old. 24 in a week and a bit! I have been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression as well as PTSD. I have been on HRT for a year and a bit, that and my cat are what keep me going. 2 months ago I lost my job for a number of reasons; lack of hours, being bullied and it was just getting too much for me. I have trouble leaving the house. I'm currently on Newstart, which is causing me more headache than i thought it would and appearantly I'm not eligible for disability pension. My job agency is horrible, the people there are unproffessional and very rude. I was meant to go back on Tuesday but i had a full blown panic attack on the day and stayed home where my girlfriend took care of me. I called them in the afternoon, (my appointment was meant to be in the morning) apologizing for not coming in and stating why. I was met with an angry assistant giving me lip about not coming in and then she booked me another appointment for Thursday. I called up today just making sure my appointment was today, as i didnt recieve a confirmation text, and was met with the same receptionist telling me i didnt call and make an appointment and that my payment had been suspended. And then booked me in for tomorrow, i got the confirmation text this time. However, now im being told i need to bring a centrelink medical certificate for tuesday, which i didnt get one as i stayed home to cope? (What even is a centrelink medical certificate) And if i dont bring it tomorrow my payment will either be cancelled or i will be "punished" by not getting a full payment. This has been so long and I'm so sorry but I'm just not coping well and I'm scared im going to have another panic attack tomorrow before I go. I don't know really. Thanks for reading!

Hello9000 Hey
  • replies: 4

Hey guys. My parents just recently broke up, probably around 3 months ago. I don't speak to my dad now. He does not speak to me. he is quite rude to me, every time we talk. my mum has found a new partner. And lately my anxiety levels have been sky ro... View more

Hey guys. My parents just recently broke up, probably around 3 months ago. I don't speak to my dad now. He does not speak to me. he is quite rude to me, every time we talk. my mum has found a new partner. And lately my anxiety levels have been sky rocketing. I have also been quite moody. im glad my mum is happy now. but am unsure why my anxiety is sky rocketing. i also worry about things / situations that happened ages ago, and re evaluate them. One of such was about a year and a bit ago. I was out and had a bit too drink and tried to get with a girl, got rejected. Later found out that she was quite annoyed about it. do I have anything to worry about? thanks

Hello9000 Story
  • replies: 5

I tried to kiss a girl a while a go and got rejected when I was out. She evidently was not happy. I'm feeling anxious about all this. I realise it was a bad idea. Will everything okay. Should I be worrying.

I tried to kiss a girl a while a go and got rejected when I was out. She evidently was not happy. I'm feeling anxious about all this. I realise it was a bad idea. Will everything okay. Should I be worrying.

Darla23 Have never felt so lonely and isolated.
  • replies: 3

So where to begin. My best friend and I have been drifting away for about over a year now, ever since she went into a drug induced psychosis. Nearly two years on from the incident we still had the same friendship group but we kept getting annoyed by ... View more

So where to begin. My best friend and I have been drifting away for about over a year now, ever since she went into a drug induced psychosis. Nearly two years on from the incident we still had the same friendship group but we kept getting annoyed by each other and the old spark which made is best friends for over 8 years was gone, she was the same with everyone except always acted different around me. Straight after she got out of hospital she even stated she didn't want to see me bexause she had bad vibes (lets get this clear she didn't go into the drug induced psychosis because of me and she was always taking stuff with a guy). Recently we had a massive fight (friendship ending fight) and I thought okay it sucks we aren't speaking but this is a long time coming. However everyone in our group has shunned me because of our fight. She ended up hanging out with every single one of our friends straight after the argument and told them all about it and no one spoke to me for two weeks or even asked if I was okay, I even reached out to another really close mate and she just said she was busy. It was a mutual fight and no one else was mentioned or got involved so it shocked me that this happened. So two weeks on I finally meet up with one friend who was meant to be another really close mate said "you both need to sort it out or we will take sides". Just really shocking, I thought my friends would hang out with both of us not just stop talking to one completely. The real kick is the best mate was my maid of honour, the girl who said "we will take sides" was a bridesmaid and another girl in this group was another bridesmaid of mine. So now I don't want to even plan my wedding as my "closest" friends have bailed on me. I have crashed my car today (a month aftrr the fight) and I literally just broke down because I no longer have anyone I can talk to about it (apart from my partner of course). I have no one anymore. The group of friends are friends I've hung out with since I was 14. I am used to having events on every weekend and chatting to my friends every day and I have nothing. The only thing I am doing is working, blogging and obviously hanging out with my partner. I feel like I only have one person to talk to. I have never felt so lonley. I just feel really down and frustrated. I have always held loyalty to my friends and I feel no one had any loyalty to begin with. I'm 23 and I have never experienced anything like this before.

manchala Loneliness and fear of social situations
  • replies: 4

I know it may not sound like the biggest deal, but over time things keep piling up and the frustration has started to kick in. I never leave the house, I haven't gone out in months, and even if I get the opportunity to do so, the fearful thoughts hol... View more

I know it may not sound like the biggest deal, but over time things keep piling up and the frustration has started to kick in. I never leave the house, I haven't gone out in months, and even if I get the opportunity to do so, the fearful thoughts hold me back so I end up staying at home. Fear of humiliation, fear of being seen alone in public which makes me pretty insecure, fear that I'm going to mess up an interaction etc. The few times that I've been out, even if it's just going shopping by myself I come back feeling really emotionally drained. I love the idea of going out and being around people, it's just very mentally exhausting for me hence why I decide to stay at home. My friends try to make plans sometimes but they tend to hang around boys a lot which I'm not comfortable with, so I've stopped going out with them too. I try to make my own plans but people just end up backing out and they fail. If I do plan to actually go out, it's a big deal and takes weeks of mental preparation which is why it hurts when people cancel plans with me so easily. My parents are also more strict so going anywhere takes a lot of convincing which I really can't be bothered with anymore. So within my friend group I feel outcast in that sense. I can't help but feel a little jealous when I see my peers with social lives. Although I'm still in my teens- in my last year of high school- it pains me to see everyone around me 'blossom', I guess. I mean I've always had so many expectations for my high school years from what others have told me, but my life has been pretty static so far and I don't see it changing anytime soon. Partly because my fear of social situations and the parent situation. I feel like as much as I try to 'assimilate' into the outside world, it's never going to happen. I always feel like I'm confined to my bed, and I feel awful. (For the record, I've discussed having social anxiety symptoms with a therapist before but I haven't had been officially diagnosed with anything, so I don't want to jump the gun and link this to any mental health issues)

Lauren_Dawn Can't enjoy life
  • replies: 3

I am a student currently in year 11 and this year I have struggled to enjoy and focus on things that I have enjoyed in the past (e.g. reading, playing sports, hanging out with my friends). Its getting harder each day to continue to do all of my requi... View more

I am a student currently in year 11 and this year I have struggled to enjoy and focus on things that I have enjoyed in the past (e.g. reading, playing sports, hanging out with my friends). Its getting harder each day to continue to do all of my required school work and house work and to socialise with others because I don't have the energy or mental strength to do this. I know that this is supposed to pass as thats what everyone tells me but I feel like I'm drowning in stress and anxiety.