Immediate support
Immediate support

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.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Categories
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Start a discussion

ALL My Story
  • replies: 23

i really need to share this. no one knows everything yet. So the first memories I have of anxiety are from about 8 years ago. The very first thought I had was on a windy night close to the beach I thought there would be a tsunami that would kill me w... View more

i really need to share this. no one knows everything yet. So the first memories I have of anxiety are from about 8 years ago. The very first thought I had was on a windy night close to the beach I thought there would be a tsunami that would kill me while I was asleep. Safe to say I didn’t sleep that night. From there things only got worse and I started to be worried about everything, all the time. I would feel the worries crammed in my head and they were things I should be worried about. I got a fear of eating in public, started to do ‘rituals’ that were OCD like where I believed if I didn’t do them something bad would happen. I would stay up all night until I got it right ( this is still going on). It was horrible. I eventually went to see the school counsellor and things started to look up. I was using occasions like lent to force myself to give up OCD habits. But as one went another came. I got to a stage where I was feeling anxious, but like I could cope. But that went downhill really quick I got headaches, I couldn’t eat, felt sick all the time. The anxiety had manifested into physical symptoms and depression had come as well. Everything was an effort. I think this was the first time my mum really took notice and after a year of putting of seeing a psychologist she let me go. But now, while the worries aren’t crammed in my head anxiety has me wired all the time. I can’t relax and I am being pushed aside. My concerns are always ‘just anxiety’ and everything I have an opinion on is wrong. Apparently it’s all my fault. My depression ( and i know its a different forum) was openly denied to my doctor by my mum and she told me ‘its not like you are sick and you need treatment’. She doesn’t get it, despite what I have given her and told her. She won’t research on her own either. Im starting to feel alone and the one place I should feel comfortable, home, is the place where I feel the least comfortable.i dont want to try anymore and im starting to talk and yell at myself. at the same time i feel better because its not just in my head,l i dont think i have ever been worse? My relationship with my family is starting to go rigid.everything is just driving me nuts! HELP! Has anyone had a similar experience? I just really needed to tell someone the whole story. Thankyou for reading

megsii "Its finally time to talk"
  • replies: 12

Hi, I'm still only a teenager, currently receiving help for my anxiety & depression. I absolutely hate talking about personal things, or talking in general, I feel violated when I do. My Psychiatrist and Mother have suggested going on this site, beyo... View more

Hi, I'm still only a teenager, currently receiving help for my anxiety & depression. I absolutely hate talking about personal things, or talking in general, I feel violated when I do. My Psychiatrist and Mother have suggested going on this site, beyondblue and signing up. Except i'm not use to talking to others with similar problems, I really do want to get help, I feel like an alien and abnormal with these mental "issues", I feel like I belongs in a mental institution. I honestly don't know how to start, except for asking if anyone else is in the same boat as me? I'm struggling to just press the "post" button because I hate sympathy and attention, I prefer being in the shadows if that makes any sense haha? I guess deep down there is a quite lingering voice telling me to talk to someone? Sincerely, megsii.

Ldog Anyone wanna chat? Forget about our problems for a little
  • replies: 19

Hiya! I'm new to BB and this is my first post! My name is Lauren I've been going through pretty bad anxiety at the monent, but I want to put that aside for now and meet some new people. A little about myself: I live in SE QLD I'm shy, but like meetin... View more

Hiya! I'm new to BB and this is my first post! My name is Lauren I've been going through pretty bad anxiety at the monent, but I want to put that aside for now and meet some new people. A little about myself: I live in SE QLD I'm shy, but like meeting new people! I love listening to music, stuff on Triple J I'm a gamer I'm interested in psychology/philosophy I'm eager to meet some new people Thanks for reading (I don't know how to turn off double spacing, sorry haha)

Jade12 Struggling
  • replies: 7

I am finding it really hard to cope right now I feel like I don't even exist to anyone.

I am finding it really hard to cope right now I feel like I don't even exist to anyone.

dreh I don't know if I have depression
  • replies: 6

Hi there, I came on here for some guidance, as I don't know if I have depression or not. I took the checklist on this website and it told me I do, but I'm not sure if I do or just was making more exaggerated answer so it would tell me I do and I woul... View more

Hi there, I came on here for some guidance, as I don't know if I have depression or not. I took the checklist on this website and it told me I do, but I'm not sure if I do or just was making more exaggerated answer so it would tell me I do and I would know what it going on. I'm in year 12 at the moment, and the last term I have just been really down and out and not motivated to do anything, but I didn't think of depression at first as I thought maybe it was just because I knew I was so close to finishing that I was turning my attentions to other things and it was harder to focus on my school work. I first noticed something was up last holidays, when I just began getting upset for no reason. Nearly every night for the past term I have gotten upset to the point of tears, and it has worsened the past few weeks that I want to cut just to release some of the pain. I used to play music in order to distract myself from this but lately I don't even feel like practicing any more. My boyfriend is the only thing or person that is making me happy at the moment, and I am a Christian but I am even struggling to talk to God, because my thoughts and my actions have become so unChristianlike I feel guilty in talking to him. I have always been a good student at school, but lately I have been getting so distracted, and unable to focus on anything that I have found myself pulling all nighters just to complete an assignment, and I wake up on a weekend knowing that there are things I should be doing, but just rolling over and going back to sleep, even if I am awake and don't feel like sleeping anymore. I have been getting into lots of arguments with my mum over this, which hurts because we have always had a really close relationship, and whenever she asks I just tell her that I am okay and I am just stressed. But it's gotten to the point where I don't feel like I can talk to her anymore, and lately I have also started pushing my boyfriend away. My thoughts generally consist of me never being good enough, that everything I do is wrong. Because I am year 12 they have also consisted of it not being worth going to uni, because everyone else is brighter and smarter than I am, and since it's a competitive world I just shouldn't bother. Even as I am writing this I don't know why I am because there are other people who need taking care of who actually have depression. But I'll keep it here because that seems like a depressing thought to me. Please help, I'm really lost.

ALL Anxiety Attack?
  • replies: 4

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone had the same sort of experience with anxiety. sometimes I get issues that last for hours like breathing issues, tight chest, constant worry and lack of concentration. sometimes all I can think about is this breathin... View more

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone had the same sort of experience with anxiety. sometimes I get issues that last for hours like breathing issues, tight chest, constant worry and lack of concentration. sometimes all I can think about is this breathing issue and it gets me really worked up. for a little while is super overwhelming then its overwhelming but I can get on. is this a form of anxiety attack? it is similar to this most days but sometimes it is wayyyy worse than others and I get so overwhelmed and I don't know what to call it? I have mild forms of this most days, does that mean I have little attacks each day?

GloomyGirl I have depression... for no reason???
  • replies: 5

So I have had depression for 3-4 months now. It's really weird because nothing really happened. It came out of no where. I have been seeing a psychologist and she said that it is a chemical imbalance. I feel like I shouldn't be sad in the first place... View more

So I have had depression for 3-4 months now. It's really weird because nothing really happened. It came out of no where. I have been seeing a psychologist and she said that it is a chemical imbalance. I feel like I shouldn't be sad in the first place and that my life is fine. There's people out there with real problems. I have good grades. I have a lot of friends, I have both my parents. I don't understand. Why am I sad? I don't understand how a chemical imbalance can make me so depressed. I sort of feel like I am overreacting, and that what I'm feeling isn't important enough. Everyday I feel hopeless, worthless, useless and worst of all empty. My heart feels empty and I literally can't cry. And I guess crying is the only way to get all my emotions out. I feel like I'm drowning in my own thoughts. Please help. Why am I depressed??

ALL How to get others to support you?
  • replies: 12

Hey people, I have anxiety disorder and I really need some help. my mum just found out and while I have given her resources and talked to her she pushes me away and wont meet me half way it research to overcome it. she doesn't understand how serious ... View more

Hey people, I have anxiety disorder and I really need some help. my mum just found out and while I have given her resources and talked to her she pushes me away and wont meet me half way it research to overcome it. she doesn't understand how serious it is even if I tell her. my dad is the same .its starting to make it worse. how do I get them to help me?

Sezza1 Anxiety and Depression
  • replies: 2

Hi I'm really new to this but I've been reading all these stories and feel the need to share mine. Okay so I'm 15 years old and just over two years ago I had my first panic attack. For the longest time I didn't know what triggered it it was at a bus ... View more

Hi I'm really new to this but I've been reading all these stories and feel the need to share mine. Okay so I'm 15 years old and just over two years ago I had my first panic attack. For the longest time I didn't know what triggered it it was at a bus party and then before I knew it I got some weird feeling and then had a panic attack. I now know that it was depersonalisation/derealisation that triggered it. Anyway after my first panic attack I would get them almost all the time and my anxiety grew bigger. I became paranoid about everything. I went into hospital at one point. I got EEG scans to see if It had anything to do with the brain. I was always trying to figure it out and deal with it on my own. And I did for about 7-8 months even though the anxiety wasn't entirely gone I was still managing, I got my first job I was finding happiness until my 5th day on my new job I almost had a panic attack I was able to calm my self down for the moment but I ended up quitting and avoiding it. I felt some relief that I didn't have to deal with being scared to go work. It's been a few weeks since then. A couple nights ago I went out with my sister we then got home and watched a show. During that moment I got a thought that I was going crazy and I wasn't going to be able to control myself when it came to harming myself and others I remember getting so anxious and panicking and going to my room, all I wanted to do was die and kill myself and the thought was so scary because I've never thought of suicide. I called my sister and told her to just hold me. As I write this I am feeling anxious, anyway ever since that day I've been so depressed. Not eating, having weird thoughts like "is life real" or "I feel trapped in life and this world" I've been so scared I'm going to harm my self, at one point I even felt like really giving up because I see no future for myself, Im not excited for anything anymore I don't even remember happiness. Almost like I don't even want the help because I just give up but my family is keeping me is so important. I'm trying to stay so strong for them. I'm trying so hard and it's over whelming. I'm seeing the school psychologist and starting to seek help outside of school. But everyday I've been having weird changes in my mood for example once second I'll have hope in myself and then one second later I just feel so low and like I want to die and I don't want to deal with it. I need a way out of this anxiety, I need to be happy again. 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.

Liam007 At the bottom again.....
  • replies: 3

So I saw a doctor about these negative emotions, thankfully I was not diagnosed with anything, but I still feel like rubbish. For those whose read my previous posts, you would have heard that I love acting and was part of a community play, I want to ... View more

So I saw a doctor about these negative emotions, thankfully I was not diagnosed with anything, but I still feel like rubbish. For those whose read my previous posts, you would have heard that I love acting and was part of a community play, I want to quit it. I'm constantly making mistakes and getting either yelled at or getting blame put on me that makes feel bad. The play is a lot of work and I find that I'm stressed the entire time I'm there. I can't take it. The situation at school is even worse, I refuse to be me. The old me would love contributing to class discussions and trying to make the best impression. The new me just sits in the corner, writes or types the work on his laptop and says nothing. I just want to hide myself from everyone, I just don't feel accepted. I just have no idea where I belong, what I was meant to do or anything. I find myself shaking waiting for the day to be over. I feel like I could stop going to school and no one would even noticed I went away. I really don't like myself at the moment, no self-respect and no love for myself. I feel like I'm doing something wrong all the time. My mistakes anger people to where I feel like they hate me for them. I'm just lost all over again, I felt like I was finally gathering the pieces of the puzzle only to scatter them all over the floor....again. I just don't know when I'll accept myself. I'm just sad and confused.