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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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Rt22 why is all of this repeating itself, does it end?
  • replies: 2

I dont know what to do..im so sick and tired of questioning all the good Things in my life, being overly stressed and worried and having zero confidence- not to mention completely and unnessacarily overthinking every tiny thing.. From the outside, to... View more

I dont know what to do..im so sick and tired of questioning all the good Things in my life, being overly stressed and worried and having zero confidence- not to mention completely and unnessacarily overthinking every tiny thing.. From the outside, to other people it looks like we've got everything going for us. Successful business, beautiful healthy 1yr old son, and a strong, unbreakable relationship- happily engaged.. i cant help it, but Ive always been a perfectionist. That being said, i am aware I push myself way too hard and expect too much of myself- i cant change who i am, but im sick of 'me'..... Im nearly 23, was on medication at 18, then was put on it again immediatley after my son was born- but both times decided i was too scared to take the medication..after having my son, i feel like i dont have an identity of my own anymore- even though my son is my life and i dont kbow what id do without him. I just wish these feelings of being not adequate Would Dissapear before i screw something up i dont undetstand it, my head thoughts just never stop..anyone been through this....?

Blake95 Severe depression, please help
  • replies: 1

My name is Blake and I’m 18 years old. for the past two monthsI have been suffering from depression and it is getting the better of me. Please bare with me as I don’t even understand it yet, but I will do my best to open up. I am a lot more fortunate... View more

My name is Blake and I’m 18 years old. for the past two monthsI have been suffering from depression and it is getting the better of me. Please bare with me as I don’t even understand it yet, but I will do my best to open up. I am a lot more fortunate than others around me so I do not think I have been robbed of anything or that my life is unfair. I think the root of my depression stems from the hatred of myself. A lot of people do not understand and think I am just unhappy with my life or it is as easy as “biting the bullet and moving on.” But how do you escape it when the problem is yourself? It’s not as simple as taking the day off work, when the problem takes the day off as well and comes with you. I honestly despise my self so much that I do not feel worthy, loved, or deserve anything. I can’t even enjoy or do simple things such as shopping for clothes because I don’t feel deserving of them. If I’m not helping anyone on this planet, then I feel as though I’m wasting time, space and resources. I am indecisive because I do not trust myself. I am constantly looking for approval of others because I can not approve of myself. I sleep all the time because I am not aware while sleeping; I am at peace.No matter how hard I try, I cannot convince myself that my life is worth living (not by others, but by me) and I would give it to someone if I could. The only thing keeping me here is the fact that I know survival is a natural instinct, and if I don’t have that natural instinct, something is wrong. I am aware of it and depression is overriding that instinct. I feel guilty living and I would feel guilty dying because that would hurt my family. I am in constant agony and I just want to accept myself. Thank you for your time, have a lovely day.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.

Behappyloveyou Being excluded at school
  • replies: 1

Hi um well I get excluded and discreetly bullied at school and sometimes I just get really sad and cry please help is this normal

Hi um well I get excluded and discreetly bullied at school and sometimes I just get really sad and cry please help is this normal

Sam411 Feeling lost and alone
  • replies: 1

I recently returned from spending 18 months abroad living in the States. During this period I became quite involved with girl who lives over there as well as developed some very close friendships with others over there. Being back home now for 3 mont... View more

I recently returned from spending 18 months abroad living in the States. During this period I became quite involved with girl who lives over there as well as developed some very close friendships with others over there. Being back home now for 3 months I feel lost, many of my old friends seemed to have moved on with there lives whilst I was gone and no one seems to be able to understand the heartache I go through everyday. I feel like I am spending more and more time alone and have taken to drinking more for no reason. I still speak to the girl I was dating in America and we both want to be together but with us both studying it is just impossible to do at the current time. I feel lost and alone and everyday feels like a huge effort to just get myself out of bed in the morning.

nickJ Mood swing triggered by Music
  • replies: 5

Hey guys, I am 19 years old and I have been diagnosed with multiple conditions such as bi-polar, depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress and a few others things. I no longer drink (and never really have) but when I go out with friends to clubs etc... View more

Hey guys, I am 19 years old and I have been diagnosed with multiple conditions such as bi-polar, depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress and a few others things. I no longer drink (and never really have) but when I go out with friends to clubs etc. and even though I am sober, when i hear electronic music I lose control many of may friends get concerned that I have had my water spiked but this happens almost every time i listen to techno. I am wondering if anyone has experience anything similar? I used to just sit their and listen to techno when i was a kid and things weren't going well and i was wondering if this could be the link? I look forward to hearing from you, nick

smile01 A never ending battle
  • replies: 2

I am 18 years old and have experienced anxiety my whole life - I was diagnosed with GAD just last year after it got really bad following a few not so great things happened. I finally went to my GP after the reaction of someone after I described what ... View more

I am 18 years old and have experienced anxiety my whole life - I was diagnosed with GAD just last year after it got really bad following a few not so great things happened. I finally went to my GP after the reaction of someone after I described what I felt everyday, I just assumed it was normal to worry all the time, but now after being on Anti - depressants for a year I realise how bad it was. One of my most upsetting memories still was having a panic attack and feeling it for days, having mini breakdowns for two weeks afterward, I stayed in my room for a week straight. That makes me sad, it makes me feel like I was so abnormal - even now because the only thing stopping me from reverting back is my medication. I recently had a bit of a scare when I decided to stop taking my medication and that just made me really really sick so I started taking it again. And sometimes I do things like that, that kind of dont make sense and I never used to do that before taking the medication which concerns me. I can feel the medications effect on my brain, like a force field or barrier of some sort limiting my emotions and feelings. And I hate that - in some ways I feel almost claustrophobic I just want to break out of this restricting bubble. but I know I cant. Also- the main problem I had was anxiety but I was also grieving as well but since being on the medication my anxiety had cleared up but for some reason I feel depressed sometimes, that part hasnt gone away and I dont understand why. I thought once I got help - which was relly hard for me, taking me years and years to do , that was it, I get treated and I get better - but it just seems like a never ending battle. I will be at risk of going back to that place in my mind all the time for the rest of my life- I can never be totally cured. It feels like a shadow cast over me, something that I cant evade or get away from, it is always over my shoulder, a secret I have to keep from all the other people who dont understand - and dont care to understand what it is actually like to feel this way. If anyone has similar feelings or advise it would be appreciated.

Kneetar04 Will/can a psychologist or counsellor help me with this?
  • replies: 2

I'm between the ages of 18 and 25. I casually SI (self-injure) when I feel overwhelmed with emotion, particularly negative ones. I haven't SI for 3 years (after SI for 3.5 years straight), and now it's back again.I'm not sure if I have any mental or ... View more

I'm between the ages of 18 and 25. I casually SI (self-injure) when I feel overwhelmed with emotion, particularly negative ones. I haven't SI for 3 years (after SI for 3.5 years straight), and now it's back again.I'm not sure if I have any mental or personality disorders. SI doesn't interfere with my work, TAFE or social life.Can they still help me if I don't have a disorder? I have never sought professional help before - but I'm getting some organised soon.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.

issy93 Fear of failure at uni
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I hope you can give me some insight. I am studying nutrition at university and I sometimes have a kind of fear of failure, a fear that I am not going to remember what I learn and am not going to be a good nutritionist. It's not necessarily a ... View more

Hi all, I hope you can give me some insight. I am studying nutrition at university and I sometimes have a kind of fear of failure, a fear that I am not going to remember what I learn and am not going to be a good nutritionist. It's not necessarily a fear of failing my units, I am passing my units, but a fear that I am going to forget what I learn, that things aren't going to sink in. I don't know if this is normal? Are other people feeling the same way? And it's not that I don't study and therefore don't learn, I study hard, maybe I am studying too hard and putting too much thought into the situation? I try to tell myself that it's ok because if I struggle with a unit I can always repeat it, and I remember things others have told me, such as "if they pass you then you know the minimum of what they expect you to know" and "most of what you learn is learnt after uni when you actually work, uni is just for learning concepts". And I think of some other students I know who are always struggling in chemistry class and I take from this that it is normal to find it difficult, hehe. But I still feel worried after that. Thank you for your help!

dewdev49 How do I handle this?
  • replies: 7

When I hurt my armmy Dad told me to stay in bed for three days. He gave me all my meals in bed and did regular checks to see if I was ok. If I tried to so much as pick up my plate for dinner he would tell me I was straining my arm and I needed to res... View more

When I hurt my armmy Dad told me to stay in bed for three days. He gave me all my meals in bed and did regular checks to see if I was ok. If I tried to so much as pick up my plate for dinner he would tell me I was straining my arm and I needed to rest. He was so concerned for my injury that he went out of his way until it got better to help me. When I got depression he told me that I need to grow a thicker skin. He watched me curl up in bed and not want to move and told me that I was making everyone else miserable and I needed to be happy. When I showed the smallest notion of being upset he would pull me aside and tell me to smile. It was the most painful thing I've ever had to endure. Depression isn't like a hurt arm though, three days of bed rest and nurture won't cure it, it tools ages of hard work and support to fix. The key to being able to get through it is depending on yourself to get better and leaning on those around you, knowing that they understand and they care. I have not doubted my Dad's concern for me and my mental illness, but I know that of all people he, the undiagnosed, mentally ill, unstable, upset Dad of mine should be the shoulder to lean on that I need to get me to the other side of this dark journey. But where is he when I need him? He is sitting right opposite me starring angrily at me telling me I need to grow up and smile. I wonder if he would even care if I told him that one of the reasons I was so sad was because of him....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.

Claremary My Life is a Mess..
  • replies: 4

My life is a mess right now.. I was born a generally anxious person, and then when I moved to a small town who didn't approve of pale skin, I began getting bullied physically, emotionally, verbally, and sometimes sexually every day. I've moved past i... View more

My life is a mess right now.. I was born a generally anxious person, and then when I moved to a small town who didn't approve of pale skin, I began getting bullied physically, emotionally, verbally, and sometimes sexually every day. I've moved past it because everyone tells me too so I don't think about it much anymore. But from the years of isolation, of no friends, I think it really scarred me. I've suffered from anxiety my whole life but it just got so much worse and was then paired with depression when I reached 13. I moved to a new town when I was 15 and found the love of my life the day I moved there. But I still didn't have the whole making friends and socialising thing down so it took me years to make good friends.. Anyway without telling my entire life story,I' ve basically been suffering from depression and anxiety since I was very young, and now that I'm 18, 19 on Wednesday, I just recently dropped out of uni, I can't stand on my own two feet. I came to live back with my father and that helped. But I can't find work, mainly because I get too anxious to leave the house, and I can't do normal day to day things like wake up, feed myself properly, exercise etc. My life is a mess, I'm always over emotional, I have no money, I keep disappointing the people I love, and i just don' t know what to do anymore. I don't like hanging with friends, except my partner, and I am so lost now.. I try so hard to pick myself up but I just don't know where to go from here.. This isn't all of it, just bits a pieces.. But if I were to explain everything I'd be here for days.. beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to safety. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around safety, suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.