Young people

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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 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!

NEW TO THIS FORUM? Please read this first

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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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Need advice for seeking help

replies: 3

I need some advice to help me find some affordable help. I'm sure there are others who have shared the same experience as me and have no idea where to seek help or what to do. I've been suffering from depression for 10 years. After my parents tried to get me help at the start (sending me to psychologists, doctors, and getting me medication). I saw the distress it put on them and the rest of my family. After a short time I pretended I was fine to stop them from worrying because they had too many other issues to deal with. I wasn't fine, I've kept it a secret ever since and I'm still struggling. If anyone had any advice of who to see, what to do, what to say, that would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance

Is it okay that I actually prefer not to talk about my problems?

replies: 3

You're probably thinking right now that what I'm asking is whether it's okay to bury your feelings down and ignore them, but that's not actually what I mean. What I mean is, if I have something that's bothering me deeply and someone, on the odd chance, actually happens to notice that I'm not myself they almost always say, "You'll feel better if you talk to someone about it.". But the problem is, I never actually feel better if I open up to someone. Whenever, I do try to tell people what the problem is I either have this psychological tendency to be never be satisfied with the answer, or I simply just feel like I could never explain it well enough for them to actually understand the point I'm trying to get across. Most of the time I can't understand what I'm feeling, so how could they possibly understand what I mean? I know that sounds patronising and condescending, but it's true. I just feel like regardless of whether I try to talk about it or not I'm stuck with the same mental state as I had before hand - It doesn't really seem to change anything, so I avoid it. Is it alright that I do this or is it just making the problem worse?

Hi, I'm new here

replies: 2

Hi, I'm new here! I've never done this kind of thing before but I wanted to talk to someone about how I feel, and I don't want to worry my parents or friends. I normally would see myself as quite a happy person but lately I just feel so down most of the time. I've recently moved out of home to college, I'm having a few issues with friends at the moment, and I'm worried that I'm not achieving enough with my life. Last year I felt excited and full of potential but now I feel like a bit of a failure and not even a good person anymore. I also feel pretty bad about the state of things in the world, and find myself questioning a lot of my beliefs and values that I once held with certainty. I cry most days, which is unusual for me. I thought it would just a brief phase of feeling sad that would quickly pass but it hasn't, and I'm not sure what to do. It's nothing too major, I still have good moods sometimes, so I even feel a bit silly posting about it when a lot of people have it worse than I, but I just really want to feel better. It's been about four or five weeks. Does anyone have any advice for this kind of thing?

Bored and lonely due to unemployment

replies: 2

Hello, I am not too sure how to start this but I hope that somebody may be able to help me feel a little bit better. I was diagnosed with depression about five years ago now, I used to see a psychiatrist from time to time when my depression would worsen but for now I am only taking medicine. I have been unemployed for a little over a year now, jobs which I am interested in typically are difficult to get to even if they are not necessarily far away. I know that for some I could catch public transport but I get very anxious about doing this, I decided it was not feasible for me and started working hard to try to get my P's so that I would be able to drive myself to and from work. I have about 18 hours to go before I can go for my driving test which I am not too worried about but I do not get much time to practice my driving only about two to three hours a week, there is still a long time to go before I can go for my test with this in perspective. My biggest problem right now is that I feel bored and lonely, in the day time it is not so bad, I can think of things to do, I have been learning how to cook and clean, I exercise each day for about an hour and I do other things that I like. I live at home with my parents who are home at night time but when they go to bed I feel very depressed, I do not understand why, they are not here in the day time and I am okay then. I see my boyfriend twice a week and sometimes see friends too but I still feel that I cannot shake this feeling of loneliness, I think it is because the majority of my time is spent alone and I am not doing much. Does anybody know what I could do to fill in my time or maybe what I could do to help myself feel better?

reaching out

replies: 4

Hey there, I've been struggling with depression on and off for the past two years and I've never really been able to open up to people about it. I've been wanting to tell my close friends for a while now but I'm just not sure how to bring it up. I really need to talk to someone and not being able to has been causing me some anxiety, so thought I'd reach out on here instead.

So tired and fed up of it

replies: 3

Hi there, I am 23 years old and I have been officially diagnosed with depression for almost 6 years now but unofficially I know I've experienced it most of my life. I truly cannot remember a time where I was happy or where I didn't experience this horrible thing. That's what I have to call it, this "thing". I have tried medications, psychologists, psychiatrists, everything that's been offered to me and I am so tired of this. Over the past 18 months or so my parents have separated and currently going through an ugly divorce process. And as of Monday, my Father relocated to NZ. I feel even more alone than I did previously and am falling back in the dark place once again. I am so tired of fighting this battle and I know I'm not alone in this but I feel it. I do not feel I can openly talk to any of my family about my actual thoughts because they've got their lives to be getting on with. I have hardly any friends and if anything I self sabotage myself in that regard and push people away because it's easier that way because I don't feel they'd fully understand. I am just wanting people to talk to, not professionals as that's never helped me, but other people who suffer from this "thing". I know I'm probably just another story but I am hoping there are some people out there who have tried it all like me, yet still feel like they will never win the battle. I really appreciate the time taken to read this. Thank you

Guilt

replies: 4

Does guilt ever go away, what are some tips that can help me in forgiving myself?

Completely struggling

replies: 1

This year has been the hardest year Ive ever gone through. I broke up with my boyfriend of 2 yrs whom I lived with then moved in with my bestfriend. That relationship is now dead for a whole host of reasons. I had the worst time there & she attacked me about everything. I moved into my own place & felt better. But then an old ex proposed to his girl. Then I met someone. He was everything Ive ever wanted. He really liked me, was saying how perfect I was for him, how what we had was what he always wanted, we had plans for me to meet his family & he even mentioned us going travelling together. Then we had some tiffs 'cause I was terrified of him leaving. out of the blue at a party he ended it. he has now cut me out of his life straight away & doesnt speak to me at all. I work 3 hrs p/w at my paid job then for 3 ½ days Im doing work for the dole. I did get 'promoted' by the CEO & have HEAPS more responsibility. But it's stressful working 2 jobs. I'm not earning enough & I need money. Vodafone is going to cut me off because of unpaid bills & I skipped a day at work & got penalised by centrelink. A friendship of 10 years is deteriorating yet again. I talk to her about whats happening but she responds with weird things like 'wow sounds stressful!' Or just sends concerned emojis. I have been talking to every person I know TRYING to find someone who can help or understand or kill the loneliness but its really hard because in the end you have to look after yourself. My dad is busy majority of the time. He finds it hard to empathise of know what to say. He takes a spiritual approach to problems & doesnt understand my intensity. My mum is away overseas & can only do so much. I wake up feeling heavy in the chest & my heart is hurt & sore. I feel strange & messed up & things sometimes feel surreal. I have 2 close friends left. But it's like I meet these fantastic people/guys & their energy is so inspiring & invigorating & falling in love is the greatest feeling. Then they drop me like I'm nothing & I'm back to the world inside my head & I'm not out 'in life.' I'm back to everything draped in blue. I feel like noone gets it. I get flashes of motivation & then they slip away just as quick. I know I need to get better for ME but what is that when there's no one to share it with or anyone who cares? You cant just live for your parents?? Half the time being at other peoples houses makes me feel worse. Like I cant really relax & feel at home. I dont know what to do.

Hey Everyone

replies: 2

Hi guys, another newbie here! just trying this out to see what it is like my name is ash btw, im excited to talk to the rest of you

Coming Out

replies: 3

Hello everyone, I'm an 18 year old guy. I'm bisexual (like both guys and girls) and atheist (don't believe in god), but live with pretty religious parents, who don't support LGBT people. I'm planning on coming out later this year, maybe in November. The last year and half has been mentally tough, because it's pretty difficult to live with people who believe completely different things than you do. I'm nervous and a little scared about telling my parents everything, because I don't really know what their reaction will be. They might kick me out, or let me stay but not support me. I've talked to a school counselor, and am going to go to Headspace and Centrelink too. I was wondering if anyone here has any advice, that would be welcome Thanks.

Eeep! When study is overwhelming! - Tips, ideas and coping strategies replies: 51

NEW TO THIS FORUM? Please read this first replies: 0

Need advice for seeking help replies: 3

Is it okay that I actually prefer not to talk about my problems? replies: 3

Hi, I'm new here replies: 2

Bored and lonely due to unemployment replies: 2

reaching out replies: 4

So tired and fed up of it replies: 3

Guilt replies: 4

Completely struggling replies: 1

Hey Everyone replies: 2

Coming Out replies: 3