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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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wilsonnicolet Social anxiety?
  • replies: 2

I might have social anxiety or I might just be confused. At school or places that I'm unfamiliar with, I'm quiet and get extremely nervous when people talk to me. I'm part of a sports team, and there I'm a social butterfly. My face gets red when peop... View more

I might have social anxiety or I might just be confused. At school or places that I'm unfamiliar with, I'm quiet and get extremely nervous when people talk to me. I'm part of a sports team, and there I'm a social butterfly. My face gets red when people try to talk to me or I get called out in class... I might just be shy, but it really stresses me out. I'm scared to get called on I might be depressed or I might just be confused. I don't feel emotions the way I used to feel them. I can cry, I can smile, and I can laugh, but it's not deep. I don't feel pain the way I used to. Nothing effects me or upsets me. I keep asking myself if I'd rather feel something or nothing? Because this way I don't hurt, but this way... I feel empty. I always feel empty, and I don't know how to feel whole. I try so hard to do things I love and be with people I love, but I'm constantly tired. I don't know who to talk to because my problems aren't as big... I don't want to bother anyone because I complain a lot. I want to go through a life changing experience and feel something real because I don't feel human anymore, and I'm confused.

banana_split Competitiveness, trying to do it all, uncontrollable guilt
  • replies: 3

Hi, new to the community and I really appreciate if you bothered to read as I know you all have troubles of your own. Just like to start by saying I've been well provided for all my life and I think I'm in a good place (life-circumstance wise). But w... View more

Hi, new to the community and I really appreciate if you bothered to read as I know you all have troubles of your own. Just like to start by saying I've been well provided for all my life and I think I'm in a good place (life-circumstance wise). But while I am grateful for much I also have crippling anxiety/depression up to several times a week. I am in final year of uni and am really starting to worry about maintaining my GPA. I am what many would describe as a high flier and am on track for first class honours, however I have had 1-2 bad semesters and cannot let go of them. I constantly berate myself for possibly losing this first-class because of a lazy sem in Year 1. I know of people who have done better than I and am sometimes consumed with jealousy. I have a job lined up after graduation where I am fairly certain the pay is determined by grades, and it drives me crazy to think that others entering the job might be earning hundreds more than me every month. As a child, my father screamed at me for every mark I lost on every test, no excuses. It was a tough lonely 12 years which ruined our relationship and, I believe, led me to become incredibly insecure, competitive and unforgiving of myself. I feel guilty for every minute I am not productive and I want to excel at everything from uni to dancing to socialising. I even feel guilty for having anxiety as I know I have had a good life in general. At times I'm so mentally exhausted I do nothing for hours, which then makes me feel worse about myself. To top it off I have a younger sister (visiting me at uni at the moment) who has never excelled at school. My father's expectations, though they were lowered by her time, drove her the opposite way. She seems to have given up her drive to pursue anything, squandering days away online and refusing to take action on anything or even leave the house. Even this is something I feel guilty about: I feel that as the older sister I should have done something to prevent this. There is little I say that she will listen to as she resents me for doing better in school, and while I am desperate to help her, her constant complaints, attitude and self-entitlement are superbly annoying to me.

Awesomo94 Seperation Depression
  • replies: 2

Im 21 and still live at home. i have a good relationship with my parents. when they go away or im by myself i start to get really depressed and anxious that can last for days and goes back to a more manageable form of depression. does anyone else hav... View more

Im 21 and still live at home. i have a good relationship with my parents. when they go away or im by myself i start to get really depressed and anxious that can last for days and goes back to a more manageable form of depression. does anyone else have times like this? any advice on how to manage it?

BenD Giving up drinking for a month or two
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I'm considering going alcohol free for a month or two to just see what it would be like. I've heard the benefits are pretty rosy for mental and physical health. My only concern is that being a 22yr old uni student that's grown up around ... View more

Hi everyone, I'm considering going alcohol free for a month or two to just see what it would be like. I've heard the benefits are pretty rosy for mental and physical health. My only concern is that being a 22yr old uni student that's grown up around a pretty consistent culture of drinking since I was 16 it might be difficult socialise, especially given that am prone to bouts of social anxiety. Has anyone tried this before and if so how did it go? Thanks, Ben

lost_helpless Lost. Haunted. Afraid
  • replies: 3

I'm a 24 year old, qualified tradesman, full time single parent and i run my own business! sounds good doesn't it the dream. the reality im 24 and my life is going down hill fast. i loved my job i was great at my job, now i avoid going back. (workpla... View more

I'm a 24 year old, qualified tradesman, full time single parent and i run my own business! sounds good doesn't it the dream. the reality im 24 and my life is going down hill fast. i loved my job i was great at my job, now i avoid going back. (workplace accident) i have a little 4yo boy he is my world, it hurts me deep inside to look at him and can not give him the things he wants (materialistic items). i had a crew of employees at one stage money was great, started a family. family split, business closed. during that time i had an addiction the drug ice which now I'm still recovering from. I've always been afraid to ask for help and always fought my own battles. this thread is the furthest I've ever gone to get some serious help. not sure if I'm looking for an excuse or just man up and fight on..

Ajay97 My anxiety story
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone. i am new here so I really don't know what to say. But I will tell you my story... For many years now I have suffered from constant nervousness and shyness, something I not long ago found out was a social phobia a form of anxiety. It has ... View more

Hi everyone. i am new here so I really don't know what to say. But I will tell you my story... For many years now I have suffered from constant nervousness and shyness, something I not long ago found out was a social phobia a form of anxiety. It has stopped me from going out with friends and even family, I don't talk much and this makes me anxious because I feel that people judge me. When people ask me to go and hang out with them at the time I always feel excitement and say yes, but as times gets closer I start feeling really nervous my stomach goes tight, I get really bad headaches, I feel as though I am going to throw up and I just get really exhausted. Because I feel like this I don't go out, which I know is bad I should push myself but I feel at the time if I do I will just puke everywhere! I have told one of my close friends about this and she has been very understanding but there are so many times that you can tell your friends no you can't go, that they will get annoyed and stop asking you to things which is what happens and then I feel left out. I don't want to be that person who says no! I want to be the person who is confident, talkative, creative and bubbly, I want to put smiles on people faces! But I can't because I let anxiety take over me. A question I have is: does anyone else have this problem or am I the only one? Because I sure feel like I'm the only one because everyone around me are so confident and bubbly. And another question for those who have the same problem with anxiety as me is have you overcome you anxiety and if so how? I have sure learnt one thing from the anxiety I have which is I rely too much on technology to talk for me rather than myself! I want to change that but writing it down is easier than doing it that's why I've joined beyond blue to see how other people are coping. thanx for reading

S1990 Feeling unaccomplished & like a failure
  • replies: 6

Im 24 years old, and my life has not at all turned out as I planned. By this age Id have hoped to have a successful career, money and an easy happy life. Instead I have 18k in debt, due to living off my credit card because I earn such awful money at ... View more

Im 24 years old, and my life has not at all turned out as I planned. By this age Id have hoped to have a successful career, money and an easy happy life. Instead I have 18k in debt, due to living off my credit card because I earn such awful money at my crappy job, the job which adds to my depression and turns me into a horrible person that not even I can stand, let alone those around me. I have to stick it out becuase despite my efforts I can't seem to gain other employment. Its caused me to lose hope, my dreams and goals have faded away, and that teenager I once was who everyone thought would go so far and make something special of herself is long gone. I'm in this hole I can't get myself out of, I can barely even get out of bed. I can't honestly remember the last time anyone ever said they were proud of me. I've become a horrible person who pushes everyone away and lashes out at those who love me. Because I'm just so embarrassed and ashamed of my life. All my friends are getting married and having babies and in great careers, and I have none of that. I'm no further along in life than I was in highschool. I feel so alone, and like I'm the only one.

Jay95 struggling at tafe
  • replies: 4

I'm an apprentice landscaper and I have trade school (tafe) once a week. I'm really struggling to get good results. I don't understand how I can work so hard, sometimes even going the extra mile to study (not just do the work) and I still get an unsa... View more

I'm an apprentice landscaper and I have trade school (tafe) once a week. I'm really struggling to get good results. I don't understand how I can work so hard, sometimes even going the extra mile to study (not just do the work) and I still get an unsatisfactory? It's ruining my self confidence, how hard can landscaping be?? I've been seeing a tutor a little bit, they sort of help me with the current assignment but then I get a new one and stress out about it, I think I know what I'm doing and then I get the work back and its non satisfactory every time. What am I doing wrong?? Anybody got any tips for study?

BigScary cant stop crying?
  • replies: 2

I'm always crying over nothing and I don't know why.. I'm always over eating (don't know if that's relevant) both have been getting worse and worse especially lately over school related things. I don't think I'm depressed but I don't know how I would... View more

I'm always crying over nothing and I don't know why.. I'm always over eating (don't know if that's relevant) both have been getting worse and worse especially lately over school related things. I don't think I'm depressed but I don't know how I would know if I was. Today I cried 3 separate times over tiny things (like not understanding how to a question for homework) my family get angry sometimes because they don't know how to calm me down which only makes me cry harder. I used to cry over what people thought of me but now it's just over nothing and I get so confused and mad at myself because I can't calm myself down. What's wrong with me?!

Isabel552 Does this sound like anxiety or is it normal?
  • replies: 2

Every time I'm out I get really uncomfortable feelings around other people, and feel pretty self-conscious. I get paranoid that they are thinking negative things about me, are thinking that I look vulnerable, and especially that they can notice my un... View more

Every time I'm out I get really uncomfortable feelings around other people, and feel pretty self-conscious. I get paranoid that they are thinking negative things about me, are thinking that I look vulnerable, and especially that they can notice my uncomfortable feelings. The following is a list of physical sensations that I get: Shortness of breath, breathing is limited. Get really nervous that others can tell.Feel upset, like I'm going to cry for no reason. Saliva in my throat, my voice gets really constricted. It makes me feel pathetic and weird, and I feel like I look really childish, which makes me feel even more upset and self-conscious. I'm also scared of eating and drinking in public because the tightness in my throat might be visible. Feeling airy/like a space cadet/jittery. Feeling anxious during conversations, can't continue theme. Difficulty concentrating on tasks because i'm so self-conscious and aware of what other people are doing. Most of my energy is spent on looking normal, friendly and nice, and trying to hide my symptoms and avoid looking weird. - Smile a lot for no reason, feel very embarrrassed - Jolty, random head movements. - Fidgeting with my hands and moving my arms in bizarre ways when I'm uncomfortable in public, playing with my hair. - I get extremely anxious/guilty over having said the wrong thing in social interactions (either something stupid, or unintentionally nasty). I think about these for most of the day sometimes, and feel very mortified. - I try to hide/keep a low profile as much as possible because I'm scared that others will notice me and think that I look weird. - Go to the bathroom regularly to make sure that I look normal, or to get away from other peoples' gaze. - Get a feeling that feels like my heart is sliding down my chest coupled with hot flushes - like a feeling of dread, for most of the day on most days. - Freeze up in public spaces, try to keep to self, worried that I look weird, worried that others will approach me/notice me, very aware of other peoples' presence. - Stiff legs when walking on pavements or crossing the road - very self-conscious that people in cars are staring at me/can notice me. Does this sound like anxiety or am I over-reacting?

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