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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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weezie09 A bit about Lou
  • replies: 3

Hey hey hey, thanks for having me BeyondBlue. My name is Louise, I'm 21 and living in beautiful Melbourne. I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and mild PTSD in 2012 (year 12). That was definitely my lowest point so far: crying myself to sleep as... View more

Hey hey hey, thanks for having me BeyondBlue. My name is Louise, I'm 21 and living in beautiful Melbourne. I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and mild PTSD in 2012 (year 12). That was definitely my lowest point so far: crying myself to sleep as well as random outbursts during even the most inappropriate times, numerous panic attacks at school, fighting with my friends and family, not eating for days followed by binge eating episodes, withdrawing from social, sporting and schooling commitments (when it's all happening) and worst of all - suicidal thoughts that lingered for weeks. I was taking meds for around 2 years however due to them taking away all my feelings until I felt literally empty, I decided to ween myself off of them. Of late, I've been feeling my anxiety is progressively getting worse. I've often found myself with a rapid heartbeat, short of breath and feeling extremely worried for no reason. I've stressed over normal things like meeting with friends, work or studying. I have no motivation to do anything other than the bare minimum to function and I've noticed the gaps between my 'sad times' has been getting shorter. I know I need to go back to the doctor but I'm worried I'll need to go back on medication - I don't like the thought of needing medication to function daily, possibly becoming dependent or the thought of feeling empty again, at this stage I'd rather these feelings than none at all. If it weren't for my boyfriend I wouldn't bother going but I don't want this to affect him/us and I know that it is all for my own good. I am looking to read other similar stories on here from others in my age group, with depression/anxiety, with supportive partners who don't want depression to be a main consideration in life. I would also love to think I can help someone who is of a similar age who might have some concerns of their own! I'm super friendly and ready to talk and listen, please feel free to reach out - that's why we're all here I guess! Thanks for reading my dribble, keep doing your thing guys!! Love Lou xx

Blueblubber35 My mum is not understanding and school is terrifying
  • replies: 9

My mum knows that I experience depression and anxiety, yet she is not understanding. When I told her I broke down, she said to not let it affect your grades,and think positively. It's actually quite demeaning and the opposite of being helpful. I don'... View more

My mum knows that I experience depression and anxiety, yet she is not understanding. When I told her I broke down, she said to not let it affect your grades,and think positively. It's actually quite demeaning and the opposite of being helpful. I don't feel comfortable talking to my mum when I am at my worst. School does have its positives, but when i get lots of questions wrong, I feel a lump in my throat, like I'm about to cry, but what usually happens is that it stays there for a while, and makes feel short of breath. Does anyone else experience this?

YellowBanana7 Hi, new here
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone! I joined Beyond Blue today hopefully to seek some support in my recovery and maybe just some guidance/advice in my everyday life aswell. I am 17 and suffering from depression and social anxiety for 3 years now. I have been in and out ... View more

Hello everyone! I joined Beyond Blue today hopefully to seek some support in my recovery and maybe just some guidance/advice in my everyday life aswell. I am 17 and suffering from depression and social anxiety for 3 years now. I have been in and out of school ever since due to the mental illness and social problems aswell. However it wasn't until recently I got into a nice school where I felt comfortable enough to be in and to continue my study. I'm trying to focus on my recovery by going through a treatment plan and also with the support of my school counsellor. I'm also trying to focus and improve on my studying, social life and my wellbeing in general. The school is great, the students are decent, mature and accepting and things were okay until recently. The last month has been unstable, frustrating and confusing. The recovery is tough and mentally draining. I've been going through some social problems and I'm so confused about what I'm feeling and why I'm feeling it. I'm struggling with school work because I have been procrastinating a lot and it is just so tiring when I do it. I also have been questioning a lot about myself such as who am I and what do I want out of life. I understand that these things are normal for my age but I just don't know what to do. I feel like I can't talk about this with anyone because they will either not understand or the fact that I don't trust them in general.

Natalia124 Scared to go to class :(
  • replies: 3

Yesterday my teacher embarrassed me in front of everyone only because I put rubbish in the bin and he yelled at me and the student laughed and my social anxiety levels were high and almost cried and I was so shaky and now I don't think I could go to ... View more

Yesterday my teacher embarrassed me in front of everyone only because I put rubbish in the bin and he yelled at me and the student laughed and my social anxiety levels were high and almost cried and I was so shaky and now I don't think I could go to his again because he might embarrass me again I don't know what to do help?!

Amelie1234 New here, feel like I'm trapped in my head
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone I'm new here, I am 13 years old and I suffer from Anxiety, and more recently feelings of depression. I have had anxiety ever since I can remember. I struggled to go to school, socialise with other kids, and I had a huge fear of technology... View more

Hi everyone I'm new here, I am 13 years old and I suffer from Anxiety, and more recently feelings of depression. I have had anxiety ever since I can remember. I struggled to go to school, socialise with other kids, and I had a huge fear of technology.(makeing this pretty hard) I have always felt stuck and imprisoned in my head and like there's no escape. I have been to see a number of different people to get help for my anxiety with limited success. I don't understand why I get anxious. I live in a stable and loving home, have an amazing family and go to a great school. i have always felt different and separated from everyone around me. I feel older then all my school friends and feel that I belong in another time period because I am different from people my age. For example I really don't like social media. Resently my anxiety has been worse. I feel anxious almost all the time, sometimes I don't even have a thought or know why I'm anxious I just have this anxious feeling. Does anyone else get this? Since discovering beyond blue, I have realised that there are so many others out there that feel like me. I hope thought this forum I learn some new ways to manage my anxiety and that there is a solution for anxiety. Thank you. Any advise or tips would be appreciated

victoria97 Overwhelming feeling
  • replies: 2

I've struggled with depression and anxiety since I was 14 (I'm 18 now) and for the most part I've coped on my own however lately my mild depression and mild anxiety has turned into a crippling suicidal depression and severe social anxiety which has l... View more

I've struggled with depression and anxiety since I was 14 (I'm 18 now) and for the most part I've coped on my own however lately my mild depression and mild anxiety has turned into a crippling suicidal depression and severe social anxiety which has led me to social isolation, severe panic attacks daily and stress which is making me physically ill and i don't know how to deal with it. I want to go to the doctor and have the pain go away, I don't want to feel like dying every second of every day or fighting off the panic attacks so noone in my family figures out something is wrong and ridicules me like they used to about my depression, but I can't seem to find the strength to go and talk to the doctor. I feel deep down within myself that noone understands me and noone could ever understand how I'm feeling and maybe that stems from the fact that I've never really had friends and people I can talk too. I just want to know if this is going to happen forever, will I just be in a cycle like this, how can i make myself go get help, how can I overcome the suicidal thoughts... I know deep down I don't wan't to die and I want to be okay and healthy and happy but I don't see it happening and I just get overwhelemed and can't handle it. Has anyone else experienced this or am I alone as I'm feeling ?

Orla why can't i be happy?
  • replies: 3

i want to be happy I'm so sick of feeling sad all the time

i want to be happy I'm so sick of feeling sad all the time

Marilyn-Monroe Ocd thoughts and obsessions as a child
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm new here, I'm 17, female, and have general anxiety, OCD and Depression. My OCD has been really bad lately. I mostly suffer from obsessions and intrusive thoughts. The thoughts have caused a LOT of anxiety as they are violent or sexual and abo... View more

Hi, I'm new here, I'm 17, female, and have general anxiety, OCD and Depression. My OCD has been really bad lately. I mostly suffer from obsessions and intrusive thoughts. The thoughts have caused a LOT of anxiety as they are violent or sexual and about my pets and young family members. It really hurts me because i absolutely adore animals and children, especially those in my family. My main concern though is some things in my childhood that i don't know how to figure out. From when i was about 9 to about 14 was a highly disturbed time for me, i don't like to think about it let alone tali about it. From the age of 9 to about 12 i used to have disturbing thoughts in my head and i don't think they were necessarily intrusive. I made up certain violent scenarios and played them in my head and drew them. I knew they were wrong and certainly didn't want them to happen in real life but i don't know what else i was thinking? My parents let me watch horror movies when i was young, and I'd had a pretty unsettled time but i don't know? Also I've been very paranoid since my counselor mentioned psychosis to me after i told him about my intrusive thoughts, which are really textbook ocd, but i still can't stop thinking about it. My speech patterns have changed over this year (which is a symptom) and i do get paranoid about people talking about me, i have developed bad memory and attention span. Sometimes i even get distracted in the middle of a sentence like i was talking to my friend and then i saw a book about James Dean, i was like "oh yeah and the homework was - oh my god its James Dean i love James Dean" i know that's not a good example but I've done it other times and it's making me paranoid. Can anyone help or relate?

loouuiiee new member ?
  • replies: 25

Hi there im unsure if I'd class myself as a 'new' member but I'm defiantly inexperienced.. I've visited the site a few times, I read quite a few threads, but I'm a little shy so quite often I don't post. I'm a 23year old female with anxiety & depress... View more

Hi there im unsure if I'd class myself as a 'new' member but I'm defiantly inexperienced.. I've visited the site a few times, I read quite a few threads, but I'm a little shy so quite often I don't post. I'm a 23year old female with anxiety & depression. my psychologist believes I also have borderline personality disorder & is planning on testing me for this. Despite being only young I have had my fair share of tough experiences & been in many harmful situations and relationships. I live alone & have been feeling really down because I get so lonely & just want kind, honest people to talk to & to offer me their advice. i have never had a problem with making friends but because I've had such an unstable past I have so much trouble keeping friends. im a very generous, sweet natured person. i work with kids and I love my job. I also love animals & being outdoors. Anyone who has similar interests or experiences to myself I would love to hear from you please Thankyou xx

Emshygurl Out of ideas
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, im 25, married and live in my mother in laws house, with my sister in law, her boyfriend and their grandmother. I dont really get along with my sister in law that much so i tend to just keep to myself with my husband in our room. At the ... View more

Hi everyone, im 25, married and live in my mother in laws house, with my sister in law, her boyfriend and their grandmother. I dont really get along with my sister in law that much so i tend to just keep to myself with my husband in our room. At the moment i work 7 days a week. Mon-fri at childcare centre and sat/sun at a supermarket. I want a better job but my depression and anxiety get the better of me and i have no idea what i want to do. I work two jobs as i need to pay off my 20k debt that i borrowed for my wedding and my husband is an apprentice plumber who works for his dad who pays him under minimum wage. Ive told my husband to find another company to work for but he wont. So ive got to pay for this debt alone as he has other bills that he needs to pay. I dont think i want to pursue either of these jobs I only do them to earn money. Id love to quit one to go and study but ive tried studying twice before and both times ive suffered from my anxiety and Depression telling me i can't do this and then running away. I dont know what to do. Earn less money working one job and try study again or keep working both jobs to earn money. But working 2 jobs is really taking its toll on me as i never have much time to myself to just relax.