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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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foxandbear Completely lost myself
  • replies: 2

Hi, I am 22 and have been suffering from depression for 4 years on and off. I have seen a psychologist for a couple of months and then I lost my job and haven't been in a state to work again yet and its been 6 months. Night times are particularly bad... View more

Hi, I am 22 and have been suffering from depression for 4 years on and off. I have seen a psychologist for a couple of months and then I lost my job and haven't been in a state to work again yet and its been 6 months. Night times are particularly bad. Every few days i break down and am in a severe state of depression until i finally cry myself to sleep. It's like someone has died. My partner tries to console me but I feel so alone in this. I just want someone to talk to so I feel like someone is there for me.

Jimmy19 Lack self confidence
  • replies: 3

Hi, been a while since I've posted, but I will start by giving some basic info of where I am at in my life, I'm 19 years old, 6"4 and I work part-time in a supermarket. I currently have no hobbies and have no commitments outside of work. I have a sma... View more

Hi, been a while since I've posted, but I will start by giving some basic info of where I am at in my life, I'm 19 years old, 6"4 and I work part-time in a supermarket. I currently have no hobbies and have no commitments outside of work. I have a small group of close friends and live at home with my mother and my older brother. I have absolutely no idea what I want to do in life, I dropped out of Uni last year as I decided the career path was not for me. The problem I am having is that I lack confidence in almost any aspect of my life besides maybe arguing. I am terrible at basically any type of physical sport and although I am not violent at all nor do I condone violence, have absolutely no ability to stand up for myself in a physical encounter. This may seem like the reasonable thing to do to for most of you, but when you are 6"4 getting pushed around by skinny people well under 6" it really kills my self image. I was always last picked in high school for physical activities and I don't really feel like I make up for it with intellectual abilities. I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses, but I have just no idea how to get my confidence as a man. My father died when I was 6 along with 3 other father figures in the next 3 years. My Mother sheltered me throughout my entire primary school well into my teens, this includes not letting me play any sports, and telling me almost everything I wanted to do was too hard for me. I finished high school as an A-B level student and now I feel like I've been thrown into the world and expected to know what to do. I know a lot of people say that you need to make your own life and work hard for it and I plan to. But I have no idea where to even start. Lately I have been trying to improve my social skills, as you can probably imagine I am not much of a people person, I like people, people just don't like me. I would like to say I mean well by everybody but I think maybe people don't see it that way. Right now my goals are to learn a self defence class, (btw I should mention that I am not looking to boost my confidence by beating other people to the ground) To attend my gym more regularly and get in better shape, and to stay off social media. I don't expect to be given everything, but I really wish I could just get a nudge in the right direction, the last couple months it has really played with my self worth. I just look forward to hearing some opinions on the matter, thanks for reading.

Countrymusicgirl Why do I think like this ?
  • replies: 3

So when people ask me why I'm depressed why I look sad why I'm tired etc . Sometimes I tell them and other times I don't. What I'm hiding is something not many people can answer , I'm 24 and me and my partner are taking care of my mother. My partner ... View more

So when people ask me why I'm depressed why I look sad why I'm tired etc . Sometimes I tell them and other times I don't. What I'm hiding is something not many people can answer , I'm 24 and me and my partner are taking care of my mother. My partner does the heavy stuff and her full time career and I work full time to provide the money. But a question always go through mind 'why do I have to look after someone who wasn't there for me when I needed them the most? And a lot of things go through my head. When can I study, when can me and my partner have a proper relationship. Why am I like this and why am I thinking this ? is it because I'm still young ? bobbie

Loll0405 I feel like I am all alone
  • replies: 4

I am a first year student at uni and I feel all alone. In my first term I started to see academic staff from my uni and I had to keep everything secret. I spent all my free time with him and didn't spend time with my friends. Now we are no longer tog... View more

I am a first year student at uni and I feel all alone. In my first term I started to see academic staff from my uni and I had to keep everything secret. I spent all my free time with him and didn't spend time with my friends. Now we are no longer together and I have no friends left. Making new friends is so hard even if I try and I miss him more because I ma lonely. I don't know what to do. Can anyone give me an advise

Jacky1 Would just love to talk to someone
  • replies: 4

I've just moved to a new town, all my old friends from school have moved on.. I'm a first year apprentice and basically treated like the bitch of the site.. Come home only to go back the next day.. Suicide crosses my mind, maybe it's just easier than... View more

I've just moved to a new town, all my old friends from school have moved on.. I'm a first year apprentice and basically treated like the bitch of the site.. Come home only to go back the next day.. Suicide crosses my mind, maybe it's just easier than living with nothing and stuck in the cycle of life.. Can anyone relate? Or can anyone just offer advice.. God I need it

lt-miles I feel like I'm drowning
  • replies: 1

I used to have problems when I was 12 till 14-ish. I moved schools for year 7, and I didn't know how to make friends with people and open up because I went from a small school to this massive school, and there where 3 classes of my year group. In yea... View more

I used to have problems when I was 12 till 14-ish. I moved schools for year 7, and I didn't know how to make friends with people and open up because I went from a small school to this massive school, and there where 3 classes of my year group. In year 7 I began to crumble, not being used to bullying and put downs and the pressure of other students. In year 8 everything got worse, I had two friends but I felt completely alone, unloved, neglected bot hat home and at school. I used to sit in a tree and cry, and I would literally speak to the moon. It got better at the end of year 9, and I didn't feel as bad about everything. But now, it's come back, it's worse and I don't know what to do anymore. My parents have just split, I eft my mum and two younger brothers to move into my dad's, and he has a girlfriend. They go out a lot and I spend a lot of time at the house by myself, sometimes they both work night shift and I'm home all night by myself and go to school by bike. I go to my mums twice a week too see her and my brothers, but mainly my dogs because I miss them so frickin much. I'm 16 now, have only a few friends. None of them ever message me, I go out to the cinemas alone with my teddy, spend time at the shops with my headphones in and going nothing much but drinking boost juice or something. I spend just about no time with any of my small amount of friends outside of school, inside school my last close friend doesn't even sit with me anymore, ever, she hardly even talks to me now. My closest friend moved school, and my other close friend hardly talks to me either. I can't stand my other peers, and I feel so empty, so damned alone all the time, I watch anime and listen to music heaps and draw to de stress but I have all this work, a broken family, no friends, I don't have my dogs and basically all of my time is spent alone. I don't want to leave the house, I only enjoy basketball, I get into fights with other students and have just about no motivation to do anything. I feel completely alone, isolated from everything. I am emotionally craving but I cannot seek out my own desires, I cannot stand my fellow classmates because they're all so immature and I intimidate them apparently. I'm not sleeping properly and have a lot of trouble finishing my work, or getting good marks, I don't even have my dogs with me. I feel like I am truly drowning now. I have no one to speak too, and I can hardly stand this anymore but I don't know what to do.

Mdk Self pressure, life is suffocating me
  • replies: 1

Basically I feel like I'm alive, but am completely dead inside... I have all these things I know that I want but I just can't handle it. My head is all over the place and I feel like I just need a time-out from life. I've never been suicidal because ... View more

Basically I feel like I'm alive, but am completely dead inside... I have all these things I know that I want but I just can't handle it. My head is all over the place and I feel like I just need a time-out from life. I've never been suicidal because of the fact that have always been the type of person who wants to go explore the world and experience things, but I just don't wanna be here like this.. It's like my mind is trying to kill me off, and the part that is fighting for the adventures just doesn't have the energy to actually get out there... I'm actually from Europe but moved to Australia to live and work for year - which so far has involved me putting myself out there and getting let down time after time... I just have no fight left in me and yet I feel a pressure from within to get out there and the conflicting feelings just kills me.. I've been in Sydney for about a month now and I have achieved literally nothing. I hate my life and myself at this point.. I almost wish I was suicidal - at least that would be choosing a direction, but instead I'm in limbo and I don't know how to get out. My parents back home are insanely worried about me and are trying to tell me how helpless they feel that they can't do anything for me, but I don't even have room in my head to deal with their feelings about it. I don't even know my own thoughts, let alone have room for them and having to worry about my parents - which then makes me feel even worse for being "selfish"... I honestly don't know what to do..

Crazer21 Am I depressed? Please help.
  • replies: 6

I'm not sure whether or not I'm depressed or not, I'm verbally bullied most days and my friend left the country indefinitely recently so maybe that contributes to it but I feel horrible most days and spend most of the day feeling like I'm about to cr... View more

I'm not sure whether or not I'm depressed or not, I'm verbally bullied most days and my friend left the country indefinitely recently so maybe that contributes to it but I feel horrible most days and spend most of the day feeling like I'm about to cry. I also make videos on YouTube and listen to music like Emma Blackery and Doddleoddle despite the fact that I go to an all boys school and it's going to get worse if anyone finds out. I've taken a few depression self-tests that all said moderate or high but when I talked to my parents about it they said that they thought I wasn't and let the matter slide. Despite this I think that at least something is wrong and don't want to bring it up with my parents again. If you have any advice, pleas tell me, because I don't know what to do.

Sashabratzlol Crushing guilt, and awful nostalgia over breakup
  • replies: 3

Hi, I came here today because I felt I needed someone to talk to about how I'm feeling. I think it's unfair to dump these problems on my ex, and it's starting to annoy him, as he is distancing himself from me now. What happened was, he was my first e... View more

Hi, I came here today because I felt I needed someone to talk to about how I'm feeling. I think it's unfair to dump these problems on my ex, and it's starting to annoy him, as he is distancing himself from me now. What happened was, he was my first everything, and long story short, he broke up with me because I would never give him enough space. He loved me more than I liked him, and he asked for breaks sometimes. I don't think I realised at the time the importance of breaks. In my mind it was me+him=happy, and I would always end the breaks early. It hurts a lot, thinking about how he promised one day to 'never take a break again'. Just for my sake, not his. He broke up with me because he just needed the space. He told me on our last day together, that he was so sorry, and loved me, and didn't want me to cry. It hurts a lot thinking he tried to save me from the pain on our last day. I only realised, and he only communicated properly to me, after the breakup, that he actually did need the breaks, and he was stressed out about always being with me, even though he told me he really enjoyed being with me. I can't believe that my selfishness led the first boy who ever truly loved me, to break up with me, and he says he'll never take me back again, and that he is alright now, but is sick of it and doesn't want it anymore. It hurts so much, because I know I didn't fix some problems we had with each other until too late. The last day we had, I did fix an issue he had with me, but he said it was too late by then. I can't deal with the crushing guilt, and the crushing nostalgia. Thinking about things we did, and the things he selflessly bought me, just makes me feel awful. He never pressured me to do anything bad sexually, and I am so happy we felt loved doing that, even though we had issues concerning me to do with that. I'm just in a mess right now, and wake up crying, and really can't see the future. I do have a good life apart from this issue. I feel like I was two people during the relationship. I had to hide it from my parents, and I think this led to a splitting of my personality somehow. The side which was, 'his', and the side I showed to my parents. I know that the relationship wasn't heaven every stage of the way, but the nostalgia is driving me to think that it was. I feel the side that was 'his' has taken over now somehow when before, I would feel the side that didn't think of him often, a lot of the time. Thanks for any reply, I feel absolutely awful.

Alien_Slime My struggle with depression
  • replies: 2

Many people think that depression is a sad girl, crying in her room because her boyfriend dumped her. To me, depression is hospital stays, isolation periods, not leaving your room, constant darkness pulling you under even when you're just about to br... View more

Many people think that depression is a sad girl, crying in her room because her boyfriend dumped her. To me, depression is hospital stays, isolation periods, not leaving your room, constant darkness pulling you under even when you're just about to break free of it's evil grips. Depression has screwed me up since I was 13. I am now 19. Accompanying my depression is anxiety. Both at the same time is truly the worst feeling in the world, no one can understand unless they have experienced it. Anyway, I was on a happy streak for about 5 months. Then all of a sudden I'm depressed again. I hate waking up of a morning, everything feels dull but I have to pretend that everything is fine. My partner is studying at university and we barely have time for each other. It bothers me, and certainly doesn't help during my dark periods. Not saying we have a dependent relationship, but I like to be cuddled and told it's going to be okay. And I don't have that, and his commitment to university makes the relationship hard. My Dad is abusive and my Mother suffers with mental illness herself, so it makes it hard for me to have anyone to talk to. Tomorrow I am going to see a doctor to discuss these feelings and I'm scared. I have tried medication and therapy many times. medication just makes me sick and therapy can only help for a limited time. I am really struggling right now and need some guidance. I don't want to be stuck on my bedroom floor listening to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" on repeat for the rest of my life (even though it's a brilliant album) I want someone to talk to and empathize with these feelings. I thought an online forum may help. I'd like to hear about your experiences with depression/ anxiety. I would like to know that I am not alone, and that my feelings are valid. A lot of people say it's selfish of me to be upset over my boyfriend being at uni almost always. Or that it's silly of me to feel this way period. Is it?