Young people

A space for people aged 12-25 to discuss life. If you’re over 25, please be mindful that this is a space for younger people to connect.

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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.

All discussions

kjs Seeking much needed advice!
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I am starting my 1 afternoon a week shift back at the vet clinic this Wednesday! I am feeling okay about it but as it gets closer I can feel some of those anxiety habits coming back. A friend of mine who also works there 1 afternoon a week an... View more

Hi all, I am starting my 1 afternoon a week shift back at the vet clinic this Wednesday! I am feeling okay about it but as it gets closer I can feel some of those anxiety habits coming back. A friend of mine who also works there 1 afternoon a week and with me at a fruit and vegetable market has helped me to write a list of jobs to do, so if I get stuck I can just pull out the list for some guidance. If anyone has any other tips to help get me through I would really appreciate hearing them! Thanks heaps, Kelly

Winchester Can't move anymore, can't breathe.
  • replies: 3

I've lived with depression all my life. I've managed to keep it under control all my life, but everything is falling apart, & has been for a while. I'm 23, have no job, spend all day, everyday by myself, in bed, watching TV. My friends don't have tim... View more

I've lived with depression all my life. I've managed to keep it under control all my life, but everything is falling apart, & has been for a while. I'm 23, have no job, spend all day, everyday by myself, in bed, watching TV. My friends don't have time for me in their lives & I haven't got anyone who cares enough to notice or listen. The past week I've been drowning & I can't do it for much longer. I can't seem to get myself out of the house. I've always thought I could keep this under control, but I can't. My mind is going crazy, & I feel like I can't move, but my blood is rushing. I know I need to get help, but my brain isn't letting me make myself better. I feel like I don't deserve to be a valid member of society, that I'm too useless & pathetic, someone regular people look down on. No one wants to be around me because my personality can be very over bearing, so I'm devoid of human contact all day. My mother doesn't pay much attention to me being there, so I'm on my phone a lot. But the past week I'm not even able to pick up a book & read it. I'm just sitting or laying there, freaking out at my problems & life, not wanting to be here, feeling anxiety. beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

isy_73 Its a cycle...
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone! Lately I haven't been too well. My best friend has anxiety and depression, but it runs in my family too. This year is stressful for me so I've been experiencing panic attacks and with a lot going on, I've also been feeling very depressed... View more

Hi everyone! Lately I haven't been too well. My best friend has anxiety and depression, but it runs in my family too. This year is stressful for me so I've been experiencing panic attacks and with a lot going on, I've also been feeling very depressed. It's on and off though but sometimes it lasts long periods (if that makes sense...) and there are many factors that trigger it back. I feel like I'm very emotionally unstable because of this so one bad thing happens and my world crashes down and I remember all the other stuff and I feel awful. I isolate myself from my friends. I don't tell anyone anything because I feel like my other friends won't understand and will just brush it off, but some times I just really need some support. Some nights I just cry!!! My best friend suffering from mental illness also, I tried to talk to her about the panic attacks I've been having, and she kind of just hovered and didn't say anything and acted awkward. I'd like to be able to open up to someone because I just really need some support but I feel I don't trust my friends well enough and my mum wants me to focus on other things but I haven't told her the half of it so she doesn't understand that my mental wellbeing is a flow-on effect to these other things like school.... My best friend because she has anxiety too, but worse than me, lacks in confidence and its quite triggering for me. All our outings have to involved getting all dressed up with heaps of makeup and always getting new outfits. This isn't really teaching me to be confident in myself and it actually makes me feel very self conscious and down in the dumps :(. I know it might sound silly but it's actually something I've been struggling with for a long time because I have 0 confidence and low self esteem. This is a really negative influence in my life but I don't know what to do. Should I tell her i'd like to take some time to think because I have some things going on, and maybe keep my distance? It doesn't make me feel good about myself at all and makes me feel worthless. I wish I had some friends I could talk to about this. I hope you guys understand! some days I just want to take a week off school and just refresh because mental health has a flow on effect to other things so never postpone renewing your mental health (as some people are trying to tell me to do). I just need to escape! I hope you have a lovely day everyone. Sending hugs xoxoxo

Bluebird2492 No Motivation and Feeling Emotionally Numb
  • replies: 1

I have never sought help before - I'm a 23 year old who has always pushed through my limitations. I know I have anxiety/stress - I do have anxiety attacks where I can't breath. I always push through, because in my family there is no room for this kin... View more

I have never sought help before - I'm a 23 year old who has always pushed through my limitations. I know I have anxiety/stress - I do have anxiety attacks where I can't breath. I always push through, because in my family there is no room for this kind of feeling. But my normal high stress overdrive I have been living in constantly for at least four years has transformed into something I can't cope with. Feeling absolutely and utterly numb. Nothing charges my emotions - I am a void of dark bitterness, and its affect me terribly (my friends or lack of friends, my relationship, my humour, my drive/will power, my dedication to succeed & my uni).I think the transformation was triggered recently - I'm doing a masters in environmental management but I see no point to it anymore, a lot of this has to do with my on-off job lifestyle for the last four years. It has contained me from even considering my money as something to promote fun - I haven't had a 'holiday' in 7 years, I don't buy anything unless absolutely necessary because the money is expenses and safety net. I'm starting a new job and I feel nothing towards it - no excitement, not even anxiety just a 'meh' feeling. I have no charge for my field (environmental) because it is impossible to find a job that just feels like it fits me. My last job burnt me out, put stress on my relationship and left me a deflated husk on a chair for a week. I have no motivation to care about this new job or my life - I'm not even sure where I want to be in my life anymore. I just feel empty.I used to love painting, acting (drama), and absolutely adore writing. My partner is making me write a novel to keep me up beat because its the only thing that I feel any emotion towards. But because of my masters I lack time to pursue these activities. I know I am a motivated, in charge type of person - but my life seems so very dull, empty and not worthwhile I do wonder if simply locking the door and never going out again is a possibility. I'm trying to ignore it and convince myself this is how life is...but I don't want it to feel this way anymore. Is my career/job life always going to feel so limited, am I always going to feel numb like my emotional insides are repressed in a jar? How do I kick some motivation back in?beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.

Oliver22 Feeling very alone
  • replies: 7

Hi, I'm 21 and have been with my partner for nearly 2 years. He has depression and lately I am unsure how to help him and myself deal with it. When we first got to together it was all fine, we seemed to both be able to communicate and sort out any pr... View more

Hi, I'm 21 and have been with my partner for nearly 2 years. He has depression and lately I am unsure how to help him and myself deal with it. When we first got to together it was all fine, we seemed to both be able to communicate and sort out any problems. But in the last 6 months, he blames me for everything and nothing say or do I right. When we fight he can be very nasty and completely unreasonable. I try getting him to talk to me but he doesn't want to open up to me and discuss how he really feels. I don't want to break up, but it is getting really hard on both of us. He doesn't seem to care anymore, and sometimes it feels (in my opinion) that he wants to be miserable and would prefer to push me away than find a solution or way to sort things out. Lately I have been feeling down and withdrawn, and I am worried for myself. I have no motivation and it scares me! I don't feel i can talk about it with him, and I don't want to put any added pressure on him. I really love him, but don't know what is best for him, especially as I am not coping myself. Any advice on what to do about him and how to look after myself would be helpful, I don't know what else to do! Thanks

Hope1dream2 Teen pregnancy
  • replies: 4

During pregnancy I was perfectly fine with studies I studied well kept my head in the game but after having a baby it feels like everything is falling apart. I can't focus on anything, I don't even see the future I wanted in reach anymore and have so... View more

During pregnancy I was perfectly fine with studies I studied well kept my head in the game but after having a baby it feels like everything is falling apart. I can't focus on anything, I don't even see the future I wanted in reach anymore and have so much stress. I feel like just giving up. I don't feel like I can confide in my parents or anyone, there's so much bottled up inside, I just can't deal with taking care for a 4 month old and at the same time having to study is just troubling me. I am so close to graduating but I fear that I won't reach there, the motivation I had to study is no longer there.. even my grades have dropped. I just don't know what to do, everything is falling apart, I just feel like I cannot cope with all of this. The only pathway left seems like the one of giving up, is there anything I can do to bring my motivation and hopes up again? To come back into my aim? Normal 0 false false false EN-AU JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.

Pontius Who am I?
  • replies: 4

OK. What I am about to say might sound strange, but I will try to explain it well... I have a house in my head that looks like a castle. There are lots of people living inside and some of them are versions of me, and some are not. Probably a good ide... View more

OK. What I am about to say might sound strange, but I will try to explain it well... I have a house in my head that looks like a castle. There are lots of people living inside and some of them are versions of me, and some are not. Probably a good idea to say now that all the people know about all the other people (or so I believe) and have shared memory etc. Also, I think I created them all. Anyway, they all speak and have different personalities (there are at least 25 and they all have names). There are all sorts of people -- young, old, modern, medieval, female, male etc. I do not mind having them most of the time -- they are good company. One of them is 'me' (the one who is writing this). In the house she is called 'DR,' and she keeps everything running and has to deal with the outside world (i.e. you, school, tests etc.). However, there is a little issue because, for example, one of us wants to be really religious, and the ​rest of us don't really go in for that sort of thing. What should I do? Who should I listen to? I am a little confused. And who am I? Thank you. Pontius​

mrkd1991 My story
  • replies: 9

I figured I'd post about myself, excluding some details as to not distress or offend others. I am 24 years old, happily engaged, I am diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, bipolar type 2, depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder,... View more

I figured I'd post about myself, excluding some details as to not distress or offend others. I am 24 years old, happily engaged, I am diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, bipolar type 2, depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, dissociative disorder. I struggled with severe verbal and physical abuse growing up, bullying in school, countless suicide attempts, severe panic attacks, alcohol and drug abuse/addiction. I have seen countless specialists, taken numerous different medications but nothing helps. At present I am un managed and un medicated. Keeping up with the different aspects and changes of all my problems is very consuming, life often seems pointless.

stargirl Anxiety
  • replies: 2

I just started highschool and I have anxiety disorder. I struggle to fit in and am considered a freak. how can people be so mean? Normally I just sit in the corner and cry during recess.

I just started highschool and I have anxiety disorder. I struggle to fit in and am considered a freak. how can people be so mean? Normally I just sit in the corner and cry during recess.

Pontius My Story - It Gets Better
  • replies: 5

I have had depression on an off for the last three years. I know that in the middle of it all it is so hard to think that anything could get better, and I know people stuff this sort of thing down our throats all the time, but it does get better. At ... View more

I have had depression on an off for the last three years. I know that in the middle of it all it is so hard to think that anything could get better, and I know people stuff this sort of thing down our throats all the time, but it does get better. At the moment I am pretty OK. I am quite sure that sometime in the future, maybe even soon, I will spiral down again, but at the moment I feel so lucky to be alive. If you had told me I would feel like this one year ago I don't think I would have believed you. But please hang in there everyone. There are so many choices I could have made that would mean that I would not be here today, but right now I am so glad I made the choices I did. I can't help thinking that, though we have to die, it's better dying in the light, isn't it? I feel so lucky today. I have been in some pretty dark places so I understand this may not help, but I hope it will.