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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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demuredawnigan The Gradience of Blue
  • replies: 2

The title goes out to just about a majority of Beyond Blue members - and, here I am, another young female individual diagnosed with high-depression and anxiety. In a matter of days, I'll be able to mark 5 years of endurance for my suffering, under on... View more

The title goes out to just about a majority of Beyond Blue members - and, here I am, another young female individual diagnosed with high-depression and anxiety. In a matter of days, I'll be able to mark 5 years of endurance for my suffering, under one of the two most common mental illnesses of this generation. It's no surprise though, I mean the world is beyond fix. As the newly registered girl, like most of you, I'm searching for people (around about my age - 18) whom are able to understand and accept my shitty mentality. Because really, isn't that one of the things the youth of today absolutely crave - to be understood? That, and to be OKAY again. In saying that, I mean to no longer be dragged down by unexplainable sadness and moderate confusion, everyday. It's difficult. It's very difficult. Dawn - that's what I prefer to be called. I want to help the world, but I've yet to be helped myself. I seek a tight bond with people - whether it be domestically (family), friendship or romance. Long-lasting relationships is what I crave in humans. And that's it - that's what I'm here for.

K94 Why am I not okay?
  • replies: 3

ive lost all sense of who I am, I feel extremely alone even though I live with 20 other people I cry all the time and I'm always tired and rarely get up before 10. I don't know what to do!! I just want to feel happy again!

ive lost all sense of who I am, I feel extremely alone even though I live with 20 other people I cry all the time and I'm always tired and rarely get up before 10. I don't know what to do!! I just want to feel happy again!

digit_ Scared to take pills, anxiety?
  • replies: 6

Hey all, I've posted a couple of threads on here but I've forgetten to mention this in my others but it's slightly different so a new thread is probably fine anyway. I have panic disorder, health anxiety and social anxiety, I have panic attacks all t... View more

Hey all, I've posted a couple of threads on here but I've forgetten to mention this in my others but it's slightly different so a new thread is probably fine anyway. I have panic disorder, health anxiety and social anxiety, I have panic attacks all the time and due to the health anxiety I was scared to take any sort of medication, anything like panadol, antibiotics, viatims, maybe because I was scared it would make me sick or die?? Anyway my anxiety got sooo bad I got prescribed my first ever prescription anti depressant and I was very reluctant to start them as I was TERRIFIED they wouldn't do what they were suppose to do and just make me sick or die.. I took them anyway because I somehow convinced myself in my state that it would help, that's what they're meant for; and first week I was panicky and scared and nauseas and even into 3 weeks after that, and it seems to be fine now when taking my one anti depressant a day now that I've realised they've started working but I still get a little anxious on bad days and even panic when I do take it( not a reaction to drug as it's literally as soon as I swallow it and beforehand aswell) but they're good and have helps ALOT with panic attacks, so changing isn't necessary but I'm still scared of other medication, even if it's really important I take it like anti biotics, anyone else like this?

MsCroft Explaining my depression to my mum... (Spoken Word poem that helped me)
  • replies: 1

Mum, my depression is a shapeshifter. One day it's as small as a firefly in the palm of a bear, the next it's the bear. On those days I play dead until the bear leaves me alone, I call the bad days "the Dark Days". Mum says try lighting candles but w... View more

Mum, my depression is a shapeshifter. One day it's as small as a firefly in the palm of a bear, the next it's the bear. On those days I play dead until the bear leaves me alone, I call the bad days "the Dark Days". Mum says try lighting candles but when I see a candle I see the flicker of a flame sparks of a memory younger than noon I am standing beside her open casket ,it is the moment that I learn everyone I will ever come to know will someday die. Besides Mum, I'm not afraid of the dark, perhaps that's part of the problem. Mum says I thought the problem was that you can't get out of bed. I can't, anxiety holds me a hostage inside of my house inside of my head. Mum says where did anxiety come from Anxiety is the cousin visiting from out of town that depression felt obligated to invite to the party. Mum, I am the party, only I'm a party I don't want to be at. She says why don't you try going to actual parties, see your friends. Sure I make plans, I make plans I don't want to go to I make plans because I know I should want to go I know sometimes I would have wanted to go it's just not that fun having fun when you don't want to have fun Mum. You see Mum each night Insomnia sweeps me up in his arms dips me in the kitchen in the small glow of the stove-light Insomnia has this romantic way of making the moon feel like perfect company. Mum says try counting sheep, but my mind can only count reasons to stay awake. So I go for walks, but my stuttering kneecaps clank like silver spoons held in strong arms with loose wrists. They ring in my ears like clumsy church bells reminding me that I am sleepwalking on an ocean of happiness that I cannot baptize myself in. Mum says happy is a decision, But my happy is as hollow as a pin pricked egg. My happy is a high fever that will break. Mum says I am so good at making something out of nothing and then flat out asks me if I am afraid of dying......No Mom I am afraid of living....Mum I am lonely. I think I learned that when Dad left how to turn the anger into lonely the lonely into busy so when I say I've been super busy lately I mean I've been falling asleep on the couch watching Sports Centre to avoid confronting the empty side of my bed but my depression always drags me back to my bed until my bones are forgotten fossils of a skeleton sunken city. My mouth a bone yard of teeth broken from biting down on themselves. The hollow auditorium of my chest swoons with the echoes of a heartbeat.

Shannanabanana Lies. Lies. Lies.
  • replies: 5

hello i'm so sorry to post again in such a short space of time but I really want to know if there is anyone else having something like this happen. When I talk to someone I tend to lie. A lot. About stupid things things that don't even matter. I don'... View more

hello i'm so sorry to post again in such a short space of time but I really want to know if there is anyone else having something like this happen. When I talk to someone I tend to lie. A lot. About stupid things things that don't even matter. I don't even consciously do this the lies just slip out of my mouth. If someone questions it I just cover it up. Even when my mum asks me if I did something my first response is to lie and then I correct it and tell her the truth. I don't know why this happens does this happen to other people? Thanks for reading Shannon

su_im Anxiety due to family and starting to have panic attacks
  • replies: 6

I'm in year 11 this year and all of a sudden, I have a lot of pressure weighing down on me. Such as exams and tests. My mum isn't helping much either. Before the exams/tests I feels panic attacks coming. I've never had panic attacks until this year. ... View more

I'm in year 11 this year and all of a sudden, I have a lot of pressure weighing down on me. Such as exams and tests. My mum isn't helping much either. Before the exams/tests I feels panic attacks coming. I've never had panic attacks until this year. It started when I had a dream where I failed a math test and I had trouble calming down and couldn't sleep after that. Recently I got my score back for a Biology test and the teacher rated my score as good. I was happy with it but when I told my mum, well, she wasn't too happy. We had a huge fight. She told me I should have studied harder but the night before that test, I had stayed up until 12:30 studying. I told her this but she said I should have studied harder. Now, before a test, I get really scared to the point where I puke. Also, after I get my mark back and its not a good score, I get panic attacks. Any advice on anything that could help me with my anxiety please? Thank you. Su Im

BrigidElizabeth Not sure how to deal with my mood disorder
  • replies: 15

Hi, I have never done this before, i am struggling with the fact that I have a noticble mood disorder. I have a partner and two friends who can only deal with me for so long at a time. I get aggressive outbursts and crazy high outbursts. I don't know... View more

Hi, I have never done this before, i am struggling with the fact that I have a noticble mood disorder. I have a partner and two friends who can only deal with me for so long at a time. I get aggressive outbursts and crazy high outbursts. I don't know what to do. I have been on medication since I was 15 and I'm now 20 and not sure where to go from here.

MsCroft They hurt you and then they make you think you hurt them... Why?
  • replies: 5

It's me, Oliviah, With more problems as per usual.... I was told by a lot of people that depression and anxiety can have horrible effects on relationships and such, I had also done a lot of research on it. It affects many aspects of the relationship,... View more

It's me, Oliviah, With more problems as per usual.... I was told by a lot of people that depression and anxiety can have horrible effects on relationships and such, I had also done a lot of research on it. It affects many aspects of the relationship, simply because you can't stay focused and are often low in spirits which can lead to your partner feeling unloved and unwanted, when really you can't stop it. After I read into this, I was convinced that until I get over myself and my sooky ways, I was going to block out boys/girls and anything to do with romance and such... But stupid me, stupid young me, had to fall in love. When I first knew I had fallen, I thought it was a good thing, a distraction from my depression and anxiety, like it wasn't even there. I was so freaking convinced I almost went off my medication. But then it had to happen, the inevitable. I couldn't stop it from happening, no matter what I did or do. He was no losing interest and was being distant, and I gave him distance and space. Over the weekend we barely spoke, because on Friday he had commented on another girls photo, clearly for me to see, He commented "Wow :o". I was a tad jealous and liked the comment, He later messaged me assuring me he wasn't talking to her, so I shrugged it off and gave him distance again. Later that night, one of my primary school friend spammed me, as a joke, so I repaid the favour. And it had shown up in Diuran's (The "Guy") newsfeed, he inboxed me and told me it was funny how I got offended by him liking other girls photo's but wasn't reluctant to like other guys photo's, and we had a whole argument based upon this fact, He played it out like I had done wrong, He wanted to make me feel worse then I already did, and trust me it did work. We have now stopped talking, and he continues on with his life, moving on quicker than I've ever seen someone move on. Like I was so insignificant to him, a little bump in the road, I was nothing, I am nothing. I don't even mind, I didn't even want a boyfriend, I just wanted someone to tell me I had done good. But as Bonnie Raitt sang, I can't make you love me if you don't, and it's true. Don't ever think you need someone to depend on, You have to be your own saviour, Love yourself, be proud of yourself. I am not saying its because of this, but I gave out love, that I didn't even have, to someone who threw it back in my face. I'm currently back at the starting line, watching everyone run passed me. Rant Over.

Tina93 The circle of life
  • replies: 11

When I was younger I used to be very academic. Not to say that everything came easily but I used to put in alot of effort. Always trying even if I failed. I was always hardworking and tried my best. Im studying something that I really enjoy and am go... View more

When I was younger I used to be very academic. Not to say that everything came easily but I used to put in alot of effort. Always trying even if I failed. I was always hardworking and tried my best. Im studying something that I really enjoy and am good at. But over the last few years this drive has all but disappeared. I start the new semester with well intentions but I always end up putting off everything and just giving up. Ive come to the point where I know something is wrong but I dont know what to do. I have a really supportive family but I just cant seem to talk to them about this. We've also been going through some family issues with alot of my immediate family being diagnosed or died of cancer, one of which is terminally ill. It just seems like everything is happening all at once. Something terrible happens, ends and then the cycle begins.

digit_ Anxiety/panic/depression/hypochondria
  • replies: 4

I suffer from major depressive & panic disorder, hypochondria, social anxiety, OCD & agoraphobia, possible bipolar, last 7 months things have been difficult to deal with, especially with the anxiety/hypochondria side of things. having panic attacks f... View more

I suffer from major depressive & panic disorder, hypochondria, social anxiety, OCD & agoraphobia, possible bipolar, last 7 months things have been difficult to deal with, especially with the anxiety/hypochondria side of things. having panic attacks for the last 7 months, at first I was having panic attacks everyday, I cried once it started to get worse, I'd cry everytime I had one. It made my depression worse- that affected my everyday life, I didn't get enjoyment out of anything I did anymore. Unfortunately, I smoke cigarettes and they are usually something that can make me happy (it shouldn't I know) but those weren't doing anything anymore. It got to a point where leaving the house was a issue (and still is) in last 3 months the panic attacks have been less consistent being prescribed with an anti-depressant that helps with anxiety aswell. Yet they're still there and I feel like im going backwards. Although I do have my good days where I feel as though nothing could get me down and I don't have the physical symptoms that send me into panic, but the next day could be different, I can never prepare myself enough for the next day as I never know how I'm going to be feeling.I'm wanting to know if anyone else gets these horrible physical symptoms.. Some of them I get are: heart palpitations for long periods of time, when laying down also, tingling or stabbing pains in face and back of neck, horrible muscle aches in the shoulder/neck area, sharp pains in the ribs, the feeling of something heavy sitting on your chest and/or like somethings trying to escape, pin feeling in chest, numbness in the feet, sometimes I get a whole dead arm, or leg, numbness in face, digestive issues constipation, weird feeling in ears or ringing or weird sounds, eye twitching, muscle twitching- almost like a muscle spasm, pain in eye balls, random pain in fingers- feels like it's in a bone almost, back pain, (I have been to the doctor for a lot of these symptoms and have had a lot of tests done and I'm basically completely healthy, so i know it's health anxiety) all these symptoms don't happen at once they're just ones I can remember now and when I get any of these pains I'll have a panic attack straight away.. I also tremble and shake sometimes for quite some time of the day, that also makes me panicky and I'm absolutely obsessed with checking my pulse and it drives me insane. I just feel so alone as everyone around me doesn't understand the toll this takes on me, I'm also wanting to talk about how I don't feel much emotion, like when I'm talking to my sister and she's telling me her problems it's like I don't wanna hear it, I don't show any emotion or empathy, I can't help it as horrible as it sounds. I sometimes even get agitated listening to it. It's very hard for me to feel emotion and empathy and form friendships and relationships- I don't date because of this, I can't really get close to people because I can't connect or converse with them, I just wanted to see if anyone else has these feelings of basically nothingness, sometimes I feel sad or depressed or happy but a lot of the time I just feel nothing and such Cold emotions.