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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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_Colleen_ How does someone dig themselves out?
  • replies: 1

Howdy, I’m just wanting to seek advice for someone stuck both mentally and emotionally. How does one dig themselves out of a turmoil tunnel? I thought I had good coping mechanisms but since four months ago my life has changed physically that I don’t ... View more

Howdy, I’m just wanting to seek advice for someone stuck both mentally and emotionally. How does one dig themselves out of a turmoil tunnel? I thought I had good coping mechanisms but since four months ago my life has changed physically that I don’t think I’ve been able to handle/cope with it. So I’m seeking advice for techniques or coping mechanisms that’s helped someone dig themselves out of their tunnel

jemily i dont know what to do with my life anymore.
  • replies: 1

im currently in high school and i recently got a boyfriend after escaping an emotionally abusive relationship. there was a lot of problems (often that were blamed on me) that caused my feelings of guilt, anxiety, paranoia and just a lot of other thin... View more

im currently in high school and i recently got a boyfriend after escaping an emotionally abusive relationship. there was a lot of problems (often that were blamed on me) that caused my feelings of guilt, anxiety, paranoia and just a lot of other things. i developed something thats related to not being able to eat anymore. i feel sick every time i do, i can go days without eating or even noticing that my stomach is trying to eat itself. though, back to my main point, i need to get help with this and

Richardb3 How do I get a girlfriend
  • replies: 15

How can I get a girlfriend ? You would think you could just cruise through life and it would happen naturally, but I have realised that this is not the case. I am so depressed all the time now. How can I overcome this?

How can I get a girlfriend ? You would think you could just cruise through life and it would happen naturally, but I have realised that this is not the case. I am so depressed all the time now. How can I overcome this?

idkrn i thought it would be better
  • replies: 5

I always thought if I got through highschool things would get better, but I feel worse than ever before. I'm so tired all the time. I'm trying so hard to stay positive for everyone else. Does it ever get better?

I always thought if I got through highschool things would get better, but I feel worse than ever before. I'm so tired all the time. I'm trying so hard to stay positive for everyone else. Does it ever get better?

Laura74 Hello !
  • replies: 4

hey there! I am a young person who has always only had myself to rely on. I have always dealt with issues on my own and I have recently, in the past year wanted to reach out to someone, I just never knew where to start. Most recently though, I have r... View more

hey there! I am a young person who has always only had myself to rely on. I have always dealt with issues on my own and I have recently, in the past year wanted to reach out to someone, I just never knew where to start. Most recently though, I have realised that I don't want to continue feeling like this forever. For a long while now, I have felt very detached from reality and I started researching and found a lot on depersonalisation and derealisation disorders. What I experience may not be exactly that, but something along those lines. It can make me incredibly upset to feel this way constantly and it always feels like I'm dreaming and I'm never in reality. It affects my memory and concentration too since I always feel zoned out. I would love to make good memories and truly live in the beautiful moments in my life. I have done quite a bit of research on psychologists and psychiatrists in my city. I just don't really know where to start or who to see first.I am happy with my family, but I am still scared to bring up the idea of me wanting to see someone. I feel awkward talking about it, that's all. It's hard for me to open up and I don't really want to talk about it with my parents. I'm quite certain they would come up with a solution, but I cant help feeling incredibly awkward. All I want to do is talk to someone who would understand more about my problem and I would love to get help. I am always in a constant state of detachment from reality where my life doesn't feel like my own, nothing feels real, I can't remember a lot of things and I have a strong feeling of un-familiarity with everything including people.Anyway, I hope to get back on track and will be able to talk to someone and get help in the new year! I hope everyone here had a happy Christmas and I wish you all the best for the new year!

Spl spl Ghosting all of my friends... help?
  • replies: 16

Hey everyone, hope someone can give me an outside perspective to what is pretty much the root of my anxiety at the moment. I have a horrible habit of not staying in contact with people. In real life (and with family) I'm fine, but online it's become ... View more

Hey everyone, hope someone can give me an outside perspective to what is pretty much the root of my anxiety at the moment. I have a horrible habit of not staying in contact with people. In real life (and with family) I'm fine, but online it's become a huge issue. I just finished year 12 and obviously I should want to keep in contact with my friends, however I haven't even tried talking to any of them online since November. I haven't been able to snap out of this feeling of anxiety, bite the bullet, and send them a message. I avoid social media, my phone has been dead for 2 months now, and I've pretty much gone off the radar where neither one of us can reach the other. Even recently a close online friend messaged me on a certain website, but I freaked out and have avoided going on that website for almost 2 weeks now. In the past I have just ignored phones ringing or deleted apps because I just couldn't bear talking to anyone. I could message my friends on a whim, but the thing is after they reply back, there is no guarantee I wouldn't avoid them afterwards. It just ends up being this big cycle where I avoid people for months then be in contact for about a week or so. I have very big feelings of guilt from doing this, since I know most people aren't cool with not being in contact with someone for months unlike me. My relationships have certainly suffered and my reputation has taken a hit as well. Any advice to stop ghosting people?

Just_a_guy No job, no money and soon nowhere to live
  • replies: 15

A couple of months ago I was told I was no longer needed at my job, I am 25 and rent a house. I only moved out of my parents because they didn't have the room for me ( 3 other kids and only a 2 bedroom house ). I don't have much family around and the... View more

A couple of months ago I was told I was no longer needed at my job, I am 25 and rent a house. I only moved out of my parents because they didn't have the room for me ( 3 other kids and only a 2 bedroom house ). I don't have much family around and the ones I do have don't have enough money for themselves. I am a month behind on rent, I have no food left in the house, no petrol for my car (so getting to interviews or jobs is suddenly a lot harder), my phone will get cut off soon so I won't be able to apply for jobs (or even come back on here) and I have a dog who is the only thing that has kept me going this year ( it has been a tough year, already been homeless once) but I will have to give her up because I can't feed her. I have been to so many interviews and applied for government assistance, but keep getting rejected. Not sure what I am meant to do, my family has done all they can and I don't have a lot of friends (I seriously have 2, one still lives with his mum and works 10 hours a week and the other also lives with her mum but suffers from multiple disabilities and can barely afford to keep herself alive), so I really not sure what I am meant to do other then let everything fall apart around me and go back to living in my car on the side of the road. Usually I am able to keep pretty positive, but it's just been so hard this year and especially the last few months I just don't have it in me anymore. I'm not sure what I expect from coming on here and complaining, but I have tried everything I can think of and just need some advice.

TheBox How to get a PSD?
  • replies: 1

Hello! I’m Odie, and i’m a 14, nearly 15, year old who struggles with a variety of mental health conditions, such as autism, ADHD, tic disorder, dissociation disorder, OCD, eating disorders, and chronic anxiety and depression (quite an impressive lis... View more

Hello! I’m Odie, and i’m a 14, nearly 15, year old who struggles with a variety of mental health conditions, such as autism, ADHD, tic disorder, dissociation disorder, OCD, eating disorders, and chronic anxiety and depression (quite an impressive list unfortunately.)Recently i’ve been looking into getting a service animal for my psychiatric conditions, but i’m not sure how to go about this as i am so young. i have a psychologist who i see every 2 week—to-couple of days depending on my mental state and take 2 types of medication regularly (one for ADHD and the other for anxiety), but i feel a service animal would benefit me a lot, specifically regarding my dissociation issues, OCD and depression.I think one of the main reasons i’m scared of talking to people about this is because i’m afraid of other peoples opinions and people seeing me as lesser than them or ‘dumb’ because my ideas are either not well thought out or i don’t present and portray them well, thus making it hard to even bring this up with people in the first place.i love my mum, but i don’t think with her would be a good place to start in this, as she’s not well educated and i’m afraid she’ll think i just want it for the attention or because i think it’s ‘cool’ to have a service animal (which is absolutely not the case.)i already have a dog and a cat, but my dog is 12 going on 13 and is nowhere near fit for the job. i do have NDIS funding for myself however so from what i know that could possibly help with funding?if anyone has any information or tips on this subject anything would be useful at the moment.

SilverSays need... something?
  • replies: 2

i recently found out my father has been underpaying child support by about 100-200 dollars (AUS) i do not know how to feel about this fact, and with my father not being around/being a douchebag and that he told me he sent that money "because he felt ... View more

i recently found out my father has been underpaying child support by about 100-200 dollars (AUS) i do not know how to feel about this fact, and with my father not being around/being a douchebag and that he told me he sent that money "because he felt like it" and that "if i ever do blah blah blah again he would stop sending my mum money and we would be in shambles" then my mum (bless her soul) explained in a more enlightening way by explain that he HAD to send it and that he is underpaying. she told me not to worry but (spoilers) IM WORRIED. idk if i should convince my mum to go to small claims but she says that my dad is a slippery lil bugger and will find a way to avoid the case. just want some help signing off, SilverSaysGoodBye

cabbagebus I am worried about the future and I don't know what to do
  • replies: 5

Hi everyoneI am writing this because I really really don’t know who to talk to or what to do. And I am sorry, as well, if some of what I write doesn’t make much sense or is ordered weirdly.I don’t know how to say this. Since I was young, I’ve had pro... View more

Hi everyoneI am writing this because I really really don’t know who to talk to or what to do. And I am sorry, as well, if some of what I write doesn’t make much sense or is ordered weirdly.I don’t know how to say this. Since I was young, I’ve had problems with shyness and social anxiety. I could hardly talk to people.I have just one friend (who lives on the other side of the world) and my sister says I’m “very socially isolated” (which makes me feel bad though this isn’t her intention).I'm 20 (finishing my second year of university). I got help for my anxiety when I was 17 and it did make a difference. I believe things would be a lot worse now if I hadn’t.But this year I barely speak to anyone. In the beginning, I felt so anxious, the way I was when I was much younger. Sometimes I would struggle just to say my name. Later, I felt less anxious, but I often feel indescribably sad, the worst I have felt in my life. I just feel crushed. I don’t know how to write this. Often I feel this deep emptiness or pain in my chest.I am so worried about the future. I’m studying engineering of all things. The study is difficult, but I feel like I can manage, and I actually love the things we learn. (There are not many other girls in my classes which makes things more difficult though.)Mainly I’m worried because in order to finish my degree I have to do things like volunteer, do internships/vacation work, join relevant clubs, things like that.I have been avoiding these things for a while because I was scared, but it’s come to a point where I can’t anymore. I am so scared and worried about how I will be able to do them. I even think these things could be fun, but I find it so difficult to talk to people or be confident. I just feel useless. I'm worried I will never reach my dreams.I can’t bring myself to talk to anyone besides my mum about this. I’m worried it all just sounds like a big excuse and I should be able to handle it on my own.Anyway, thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this. I'm sorry this is so long and I have left out things. Thank you again.

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