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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.

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BlueNinjaX2912 Can't afford to lose more family members
  • replies: 1

Right now, it has been over a year since this tragic event has happened. For two/three years, my Nana was diagnose with cancer. Early March in 2014, she lost her battle and passed away. She was the closest grandmother I had. The one who cared for me,... View more

Right now, it has been over a year since this tragic event has happened. For two/three years, my Nana was diagnose with cancer. Early March in 2014, she lost her battle and passed away. She was the closest grandmother I had. The one who cared for me, who loved me, who was always there when things got tough. So hard to lose her. A few months later, my mum's uncle passed away from a heart attack. The weight of struggle have added more to my shoulders. I was becoming more stressed. A while later, my idol and favourite actor, Robin Williams committed suicide which took me off guard. I was not expecting this to happened. He was the reason why I wanted to become an actor. And now, I don't know why... The weights was again added. And before Christmas, one of my aunt passed away from liver failure. More weight was added. It proves that 2014 was not my best year for me. I thought 2015 would be a year ignore the pain and more on. I was wrong. As the year was coming to an end, my mum's cousin (the son of my mum's late uncle) passed away from heart problems. Right now, after what has happened to my family, I was worried of who going to be next. Will it be my dad? My mum? My siblings? My cousins? Aunts? Uncles? Anyone I know? I'm bottling all this anxiety inside of me and I haven't been myself lately - even though I have always put on a brave face for most of the time. I could really use a talk... anything to get this off my mind...

Maui757 It's debilitating
  • replies: 5

I have had depression and anxiety for the past 4 or so years, and have been treating it for the past 2 and a half years. Long story short, I've tried most the options out there, and they generally work. But I've found that no matter how much help you... View more

I have had depression and anxiety for the past 4 or so years, and have been treating it for the past 2 and a half years. Long story short, I've tried most the options out there, and they generally work. But I've found that no matter how much help you have, no matter how much effort and work you put in to getting better, no matter how many fail safes you have in place, I always end up at some point or another being super down, and not having anything or anyone to help. I see a psych, i try to exercise as much as I can, I try to eat often and healthy, I try to get out and enjoy life, I try to keep my stress as low as possible, i TRY to be better but it just gets the better of me in the end. I have a super caring family and a super caring boyfriend and super caring friends, but I feel like I can't talk to them anymore. I've been through the worst part of depression, the suicidal stuff, the self harm stuff, and now they all think I'm getting better. I mean, even I thought I was getting better. I AM better, way better than I was a year ago. But lately it's been coming back, hard and fast, just like it used to. I don't really understand, I know I'm stressed about uni and work and money like always, I've taken out most the things that used to trigger me in my life. But I'm starting to get those irrational thoughts and feelings again, and I feel like I can't talk to anyone about it. They all think I'm getting better, and I feel so ashamed to let on that I'm getting worse again. I'm a perfectionist so me going backwards is not easy to deal with on its own, but seeing the hurt I'm starting to cause my boyfriend again because I can't cope with simple day to day stuff that has to be done.. My friends and family are busy and I don't want to interrupt their day complaining about how sad I am. They've all been there and done that, I feel like I can't go there again otherwise it's just like I'm trying to get attention, which I guess I kind of am. My boyfriend has his own stuff to do and can't drop everything every time I feel like this because I feel like this a lot. I thought I was getting better but now it seems I'm going back to where I started, and I can't cope with that

Alexisrenee01 Feeling alone
  • replies: 1

Hey, I've suffered with anxiety for about 5 years and suffering with depression for the same amount of time i feel unwanted and alone at school. i don't really know what to do. It hurts a lot to feel like this because I'm the one that has to call the... View more

Hey, I've suffered with anxiety for about 5 years and suffering with depression for the same amount of time i feel unwanted and alone at school. i don't really know what to do. It hurts a lot to feel like this because I'm the one that has to call them to hang out and so on. i don't know what to do please help me.

Zoe1 i have a boyfriend but i also like another guy
  • replies: 2

Hey, I’m 17 years old and I am a girl. I’ve been dating my boyfriend for 3 months. I really love him and see us going in for the long run. However a few weeks ago I was at a party were I met a guy the same age. We really got along and we good chemist... View more

Hey, I’m 17 years old and I am a girl. I’ve been dating my boyfriend for 3 months. I really love him and see us going in for the long run. However a few weeks ago I was at a party were I met a guy the same age. We really got along and we good chemistry. I’ve started to developed a crush on the guy that I met at the party, Ive been thinking about him a lot and I really want to kiss him. I think he might like me back but i'm not sure. I don't know what to do because I like both of them. Can You help?

Grey_Man Mum and Dad don't understand sometimes.
  • replies: 2

Hey guys, So, I just started my HSC year, time flies hey. Anyway, I'v been affected by a number of stress, anxiety and depression related instances for probably the better part of two years now, but have only really started to surface in the current ... View more

Hey guys, So, I just started my HSC year, time flies hey. Anyway, I'v been affected by a number of stress, anxiety and depression related instances for probably the better part of two years now, but have only really started to surface in the current year due to the rigor of these last few years of my schooling. The pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together gradually, as I see a psychologist as well am on medication for my depression related feelings (I like to call them 'motivation issues', I hate the word 'depression'). And while that's all fine and dandy and certain aspects of my life seem a bit brighter, the major hurdle is getting mum and dad to fully grasp how I feel. They are both really understanding most of the time and I really appreciate the effort they put into doing their best for me and listening too me, but sometimes it is incredibly frustrating. My feelings generally lie in the region of that I have little to nothing to look forward too a majority of the time. I get little pleasure in lots of the things I used to enjoy and life as I see it, it just a constant grinding machine that doesn't stop. I hate the fact that I have to act joyful and happy around everyone, when in reality, I'm not. Perhaps its the way I describe it that doesn't help mum and dad understand. Most of the time I get comments like 'everyone has those days' etc. I occasionally have days of school when I'm just not feeling up to anything, today for example, but I hate taking them because sometimes I either loose the privilege of going to a party or an outing, or something else that is not in the weekly timetable, is used as leverage against me. "If I cant handle one day of school, then you won't be able to handle a party". I understand their frustration, but these few outings are my only glimmers of hope and enjoyment in what is often just a dull and repetitive life for me. The only people that really understand how I feel, are medical professionals and friends who have gone through the same things as myself. The more I talk to my parents about it all, the less I want to do it in the future, as while it is ok to talk, just every few weeks I get that blasting on how "life isnt fair" and "just have to put up with it". I truly love my parents and appreciate everything they have ever done for me, thinking about them is the only thing that stops me from doing something drastic to put my mind off this hell for just a little bit. Any advice would be fantastic.

Bec990 I'm lost and I don't know what to do
  • replies: 3

First of all I am not diagnosed with depression or anxiety but I fear I am heading in that direction. My family life is falling to pieces and I feel as if I no longer belong in my friend group. First of all my parents are not happily married. I'm not... View more

First of all I am not diagnosed with depression or anxiety but I fear I am heading in that direction. My family life is falling to pieces and I feel as if I no longer belong in my friend group. First of all my parents are not happily married. I'm not sure if they were ever in love. I've heard them argue and shout, constantly undermining each others actions. I know this isn't just them hitting a rough patch as my mother has told me about their issues over the last 10 years. They went to couple therapy for a few months about five years ago and kept it a secret, surely that means something. I have heard them argue about the most horrid things while I was in the other room. I walk out crying and hide in my cupboard. I am child number three of four. We have quite a large family and I think that is all that has kept my parents together over the last decade. Both my sisters have been to see the school councillor about anxiety and that is one of the main reasons I don't want to speak to the councillor because then they will think my family is broken. Which it is. Today my mother looked at her wedding photos which are hung up above the television and said "I need to take those down, they are really annoying". Your wedding day should not be a day you want to forget! I fear that after my sisters and I leave home my parents will either split up and be forever lonely or simply bicker every waking minute. They don't even sleep in the same room for heavens sake! Now I can't explain all this to one of my friends simply because I feel as if I don't have any. My 'true' friends have moved schools so my friendship group no longer feels right. It feels as if I don't belong there anymore. I've tried to branch out to other friendship groups but wherever I go I feel as if I don't fit in. The one time I did try to talk to a 'friend' about my family issues they avoided me for weeks and I'm pretty sure they still think I'm crazy.I no longer know what to do. Sometimes I find my self going for a walk and simply bursting out into tears because it all gets too much. I want to call someone or talk to someone about it but I'm worried I'll push away another friend. And friends are kind of a rare thing in my life at the moment. Does anyone have any advice? I feel lost, all I want to be is happy.

salem19 Anxiety making me very emotional & insecure
  • replies: 2

As a 17 year old, I have had symptoms of anxiety since my pre-teens, but was only diagnosed by a psychologist at 15 after months of anxiety ending with my first panic attack. For the past two years, I have come to terms with what are "everyday" emoti... View more

As a 17 year old, I have had symptoms of anxiety since my pre-teens, but was only diagnosed by a psychologist at 15 after months of anxiety ending with my first panic attack. For the past two years, I have come to terms with what are "everyday" emotional/physical ups and downs and what are anxious symptoms, with panic attacks happening once every couple months. In the past 6 months, however, I have recognized that my anxiety is worsening both in frequency and intensity. Firstly, my panic attacks began to occur more often what with the demand of school and and unstable relationship with my mother. I now have a panic attack every 1-2 weeks, ranging from a crescendo of sickness and/or hyperventilation, to uncontrollable emotions and shakiness/inability to sit still. In the past month, I have also recognized my emotional state becoming almost unbearable. I am constantly clingy to my boyfriend and have the inability to be alone - one night alone often results in the constant need to cry, the fear of being left out and ultimately ending in a fair few tears shed. My need to cry and the resulting exhaustion from focusing on not crying goes hand in hand with feeling sick and the fear that I am simply being annoying. I have such a strong negative response whenever my boyfriend does things without me - I try my very best not to let him know, however I get angry, irritable and very, very sad due to the fear of missing out. I recently went to a music festival where I had volunteering shifts each day. My friends (and boyfriend) had paid for their tickets, which meant I had unbearable feelings of being left out, to the point where I had a panic attack after being released for the day from my volunteering shift. It's been a couple of days since this festival, and yet my feelings still have not gone - I shouldn't be stirring over such negative emotion and yet I find myself thinking that there was no point in being there; no reason as to why anyone would want me there. I was just looking for ways to lift such negative responses to being alone, or having friends/partner doing things without me. An insight into why I may be feeling such things would also be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Bodey294 does anxiety need to be rationalised?
  • replies: 1

Hi there, my feelings of anxiety are becoming more visible to me. there are circumstances where i feel anxious for no reason at all (or maybe i haven't delved into enough). eg before i go to the bathroom i have to cautiously listen up against my door... View more

Hi there, my feelings of anxiety are becoming more visible to me. there are circumstances where i feel anxious for no reason at all (or maybe i haven't delved into enough). eg before i go to the bathroom i have to cautiously listen up against my door for a few minutes to know if anyone is outside in the corridor, if someone is out there i hold it even if I'm busting, until i hear complete silence and feel confident enough to go. eg I sometimes skip meals because (i cant cook) Im too afraid i might be intercepted on the way by people at my university (i live on campus). i don't know how to control my anxiety and don't know why I'm feeling this way. so i wonder, does there need to be an external (social, environmental, family, peers, work life) reason for someone to have anxiety or can it be something else? thank you

silentmind I don't really know what to do....
  • replies: 2

Hi I've really only felt down and sad and I don't really know for about 3 months. I just sit in my room at night and balls my eyes out.... I almost finished my I.T degree but i don't even know if I'm even doing the right thing. My girlfriend has been... View more

Hi I've really only felt down and sad and I don't really know for about 3 months. I just sit in my room at night and balls my eyes out.... I almost finished my I.T degree but i don't even know if I'm even doing the right thing. My girlfriend has been away for 8 months doing exchange so that hasn't really help. She comes back next week though. I feel like my life is a complete waste... Like i failed everything i've done up to this point... I'm 23 male living at home but i haven't told my parents about my feels.. I don't want anyone to know, but i want my parents to know i just can't bring myself to telling them... I don't want to disappoint them. I don't want to talk to a doctor either... I just don't know what to do? I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense, I'm currently balling my eyes out...

Kiseki I think I just had a panic/anxiety attack...<object type="cosymantecnisbfw" cotype="cs" id="SILOBFWOBJECTID" style="width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block;"></object>
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I've been sobbing for the past ten minutes, but it quickly became me just hyperventilating and breathing rapidly. That lasted for at least five minutes, and afterwards, I just kind of lied on my bed, feeling absolutely worthless and depressed from it... View more

I've been sobbing for the past ten minutes, but it quickly became me just hyperventilating and breathing rapidly. That lasted for at least five minutes, and afterwards, I just kind of lied on my bed, feeling absolutely worthless and depressed from it. I've cried before, but never that intensely over such a short time. The thing is, I feel fine now, apart from the emotional aftermath.This happened because my mother disagreed with me over what bins to put on the street for collection tomorrow morning. I knew that the yellow bin didn't need to be taken out for another week, and that only the red bin needed to be emptied. Did she trust me? No. She just had to check for herself, to ensure that I was telling the truth. I have no reason to lie to her, especially about something so petty. When I returned inside, I decided to talk to my mum about this, since she'd encouraged both of us to be open about issues, so I was. I told her that it seemed that she had difficulty trusting other people, to which she agreed.Then, I tried to ask her why she didn't trust me, and she told me that she had to see for herself. I told her that it really hurt me to know that I wasn't trusted by her, and she said that she 'understood'. However, I tried to talk to her about it some more, and she brought up the fact that she's nearly 50, she is an adult, and, therefore, she knows more than I ever will. When I tried to explain that, yes, she might be an adult, no, that didn't mean that she held all the answers. I then tried to say that I'll be a legal adult in 8 months, but she said that it didn't count. I was going to ask her when she became an adult, but she cut me off, saying that I would never know anything. Then, she began crying, saying that she does so much for this family, and that she's never appreciated. At that point, I just gave up and headed to my room, where I pretty much broke down for a total of 15 minutes. Even now, I feel bad, and I have school tomorrow. My mum's more than likely going to twist the story so that it fits her narrative better and portrays me as the villain.I can talk to my dad, but, ever since he and mum fought 4 months ago, things haven't been the same between them, and he prefers to stay out of these situations.I guess I'm asking for help with identifying the emotional mess I went through, and also what I should do about this entire situation. I don't know right now. I feel so pathetic.