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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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Anri I want to do something but it takes too much effort
  • replies: 3

I go through phases where i'm feeling both bored and restless yet can't find anything interesting to do and feeling really down and depressed but it feels like to much effort to do anything to change it, I end up just sitting around doing nothing for... View more

I go through phases where i'm feeling both bored and restless yet can't find anything interesting to do and feeling really down and depressed but it feels like to much effort to do anything to change it, I end up just sitting around doing nothing for hours cause nothing seems worthwhile. Any suggestions please?

Burger45 What is it ?
  • replies: 1

Hi, I have been feeling fear and anxious since the beginning of this year. They happened randomly I could be walking, sleeping or talking with my friends and I get that feeling. Feels like I'm partially suffocating. Is it anxiety or just me over thin... View more

Hi, I have been feeling fear and anxious since the beginning of this year. They happened randomly I could be walking, sleeping or talking with my friends and I get that feeling. Feels like I'm partially suffocating. Is it anxiety or just me over thinking? I really want to get rid of it.

mej210390 Help, I am a 26 years old female and still don't have one and feel like its too late?
  • replies: 4

Well I Have high functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and still live at Home and haven't found a boyfriend yet but the thing is I think its too late to because when I was younger like around the age of 18-22 I thought I would get a one, espec... View more

Well I Have high functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and still live at Home and haven't found a boyfriend yet but the thing is I think its too late to because when I was younger like around the age of 18-22 I thought I would get a one, especially one alot older than me so he could treat me like a princess but feel like if I have be come too old for that, I am 26, turning 27 next march (2017) and feel like I have missed the window gap of opportunity and this is making me feel really sad, please help?

ahw309 Overwhelmed By Reality
  • replies: 4

I'm overwhelmed. It seems like everyone around me is crumbling and falling apart, all while life keeps blessing me with more good things. Every day I discover another person's struggles. I discover that the girl, whose brightness and ever-present joy... View more

I'm overwhelmed. It seems like everyone around me is crumbling and falling apart, all while life keeps blessing me with more good things. Every day I discover another person's struggles. I discover that the girl, whose brightness and ever-present joy I had always admired, is depressed. I discover one of my best friends struggles with paralysing anxiety, despite how together her life always seems. I discover my friend's parents are planning to get divorced. I discover a boy I know was recently diagnosed with cancer. I discover there are people of the same ethnicity as me, that have experienced so much racism, even though I've never experienced any. I discover just how many people live every day without enough food to survive, without a place to call home. People who live each day fearing for their lives in a war-torn place, or risking their lives to get away from these places, searching desperately for safety. It feels like I'm in the middle of an ocean, standing, warm and dry, on a firm rock, while everyone around me is drowning in the water. I see my friends, my family, people from halfway across the world that I don't even know exist, all drowning around me and I am doing nothing at all to help them. All I so selfishly ever think about is the least painful way to jump off my rock. Yes, there is so, so much good and beauty in the world, but there is also so much suffering. And that is just the suffering I know about. What about all the people across the world who I don't know? The innocent people who are being hurt, abused, let down, betrayed every day? What about all the hidden suffering? The struggles people are going through all by themselves? What about the people who are too afraid to ask for help? The people who put on a brave face and always act like there's nothing wrong? I live what seems like a perfect life and I have so, so much. But I feel so undeserving of all this. I think of a girl my age, struggling to get by because she doesn't have clean water to drink, dreaming every day of going to school. I think of another girl my age, who is trying her hardest to spread happiness, love, and hope to those around her, who uses her privileged position to truly help those in need. And then there's me. All I do is sit around and do nothing. I feel absolutely helpless, useless and weak. And for that, I really hate myself. Whatever I do to try and help will never be enough. I will never be enough. My hands are shaking. It's just too much.

Rose55 Feeling off and acting weird: if it anxiety?
  • replies: 2

Everything about just feels off and abnormal. I feel like I don't belong in my life, or anywhere, like some sort of pod person. I always act strangely in public (weird facial expressions, acting odd). I find it hard to get things done: it's like my h... View more

Everything about just feels off and abnormal. I feel like I don't belong in my life, or anywhere, like some sort of pod person. I always act strangely in public (weird facial expressions, acting odd). I find it hard to get things done: it's like my head if full of racing thoughts, and yet thinking about nothing. I sometime just feel like crying because I'm so embarrassed by myself. I feel out of place and like people are judging me as being weird, rude and strange. I get so scared that people will think the wrong things about me, that I start fidgeting and trying to change the way I come across. It's like I forget how to think, feel and walk. I feel like I stand out everywhere I go. It's like my subconscious is pulling me with puppet strings, and I have really odd reactions to things.

Adric Hello BB :)
  • replies: 8

Hello, I'm so happy I found this place. I've been lurking here these days and finally decided I will get the help I need and fix myself. I'd like to share my story with you all and seek your advice. Almost a year ago, I left my Diploma studies in a c... View more

Hello, I'm so happy I found this place. I've been lurking here these days and finally decided I will get the help I need and fix myself. I'd like to share my story with you all and seek your advice. Almost a year ago, I left my Diploma studies in a country to Australia to start a new life with a girl I was dating long-distance. We met before the long distance started (She had to leave for Aus first). Ever since I got here, I have always felt the need to be with her. And I would do anything for her like anything. I would miss classes just to take care of her. I understand that was stupid. But I just couldn't help but please her. Well after 1 year and 6 months she left me. It was more like giving up. We have had problems but there was this time when she slept with someone I know. And yet I still accepted her after a break which was like 2 days. I just thought no matter what I"ll be fine if she loves me. It's been 2 months after the breakup. I'm disgusted of myself. I want to go see her and talk to her. I literally begged her to be with me as well. She said no. Normally it would be easy to just move on right? But this girl. She keeps saying she loves and takes care of me. I mean why can't she just let me go? She's also flirting with a new guy..... She only comes when I'm away. And this time I don't think she'll ever come back again if I'm away. Sorry for the wall of text my question is How do I face these facts? I know she doesn't want me. But why am i going after again and again? Its like banging my head again and again and not knowing if it hurts. I just want to be happy. I don't want to be depend on her. I don't need her. I know it but why am I so weak.

izzywest13 I'm in a bad situation and need help
  • replies: 2

Ok my names Isobelle and I have a girlfriend last night we were together at a sleepover (with about 10 other people) and we took a selfie together cuddling and I meant to send it to my friend Georgie but I clicked on a girl called Eliza who after ope... View more

Ok my names Isobelle and I have a girlfriend last night we were together at a sleepover (with about 10 other people) and we took a selfie together cuddling and I meant to send it to my friend Georgie but I clicked on a girl called Eliza who after opening the photo blocked me. Later that night Eliza posted a selfie and my friend (who was also at the sleepover) Jaylah commented saying she looked cute (Jaylah is bisexual) Eliza deleted the comment and told Jaylah not to comment on her photos. Jaylah asked why and they ended up having an argument and I got involved too because of her blocking me. The next morning I felt bad about the fight so I messaged her saying I'm sorry and then I got a reply... from her mum and her mum wanted to take this as bullying to higher authority. I told her I had apologised and we all felt it was a stupid fight and we were sorry. The mum messaged Jaylah in the arvo saying she'd talked to a police officer and that we were sick people and cyber bullies (we go to school with this girl btw) so Jaylah and I are obviously both extremely confused and scared because shes talked to the police and any advice right now would be very helpful.

Ray216 Half a year into uni, no friends. (I'm slightly autistic)
  • replies: 5

I started my engineering degree straight out of school this year at the Uni of Queensland. Right now I can say I have zero friends despite trying to make many. It's beginning to affect my thinking and study, especially after seeing others make friend... View more

I started my engineering degree straight out of school this year at the Uni of Queensland. Right now I can say I have zero friends despite trying to make many. It's beginning to affect my thinking and study, especially after seeing others make friends or even romantic interests easily. I'm currently an 18 year old male with mild autism, formerly known as asperger's syndrome. I'm on the side of the spectrum that I'm not abnormal enough so people can immediately tell I'm autistic, but not normal enough to be socially successful or sustain friends. Given time people will notice something off about me. People with stronger autism can get sympathy and support, people without autism can get along naturally. I'm stuck in a place with neither. Please help.

LlamaRama I need advice, I have no one to turn to
  • replies: 2

I feel weird writing on here but I really don't know what else to do so uh, I've had really bad depression for a few years now along with several other mental health issues (I'm currently 16). And well I don't really have anyone to talk to about it a... View more

I feel weird writing on here but I really don't know what else to do so uh, I've had really bad depression for a few years now along with several other mental health issues (I'm currently 16). And well I don't really have anyone to talk to about it and I can feel it getting worse and worse and i just want to feel okay again. I do have a few friends who I know would be accepting if I tried talking to them but I really don't know how and I feel guilty even thinking about putting my problems on them. Ive tried telling my parents and at first they told me I was fine and making it all up. Eventually they decided to take me to talk to a professional because I "wasn't being myself" but that didn't really do much because I didn't feel comfortable talking to him. So then they tried a different one and I actually found myself comfortable talking to her. She suggested to my parents that I try out some medication but then they got mad and insisted I didn't need it because it was all in my head. After that they stopped taking me. That was around 6 months ago now. After that I started refusing to go to school because it was only ever making me feel worse so my parents just gave up on me and pulled me out of school. so I can't even talk to a school counselor if I wanted too. I'm scared to try talking to my parents again because I know they'll get mad at me and turn it around on me. I just don't know what to do anymore

Emily_Anne Feeling depressed, anxious and a little "crazy?"
  • replies: 2

Hello So for the last few months I have started feeling a little more down than usual. I had become more tired and I started completely isolating myself from people. In the last 4-6 months, I've started feeling really anxious about things. Especially... View more

Hello So for the last few months I have started feeling a little more down than usual. I had become more tired and I started completely isolating myself from people. In the last 4-6 months, I've started feeling really anxious about things. Especially school. I used to be fine with standing in front of the class and speaking but now I absolutely loathe it. I'm starting to get a lot more panic attacks lately. They usually consist of me crying, feeling a little ill, shaking and rapid breathing. Most days I can't even get out of bed and my friends don't really understand my situation. Therefore resulting in me losing my friends. I absolutely hate the thought of being alone in public or even starting a conversation myself. I've found myself to be a little more anti-social lately and I would choose to be alone in my room doing whatever than going out with a friend and being social. I've also been notified that I am changing schools and I really don't want to go due to the fact that that means I have to make friends on my own. Lately I've found that I lose all interest or motivation to do absolutely anything and it's now gotten to the point where I am failing my classes at school because I don't do my work or hand in my assignments on time. I've talked to my school counsellor about it and she suggested maybe it was because I was stressed or overwhelmed. But this wasn't just at exam/assignment time, it was happening a lot and not only over school. The bare thought of seeing my Grandma or going to the beach to see family stresses me out and I don't know what to do. My family thinks I'm a crybaby or "fragile" because I'm always on the brink of tears. But only because I always have my guard up, scared something is going to happen. And I always overthink things and think of the worst outcome from the smallest thing. I feel very tired if I am at school all day or being social all day to the point where I will sleep from the moment I get home to the morning. My family don't believe me or take me seriously and I don't know what to do. They think I'm being the typical teenager who is always on their phone 24/7. I don't really know what to do and I feel a little crazy (I don't know if that's the correct usage or word). I feel like I just want to stay at home all day, blast music and just sit there and just try not to think. I have very few days when I feel really confident or happy with myself but I can't remember the last time that happened. Thank you in advance.