Young people

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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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Little_Rascal email to a family member
  • replies: 9

m looking for advice I suppose ... My counselor is a passive woth this topic and my bf and mother are too opinionated. A family wedding is coming up and after rsvping i realized an uncle who was inappropriate will be there, my aunt knows what happene... View more

m looking for advice I suppose ... My counselor is a passive woth this topic and my bf and mother are too opinionated. A family wedding is coming up and after rsvping i realized an uncle who was inappropriate will be there, my aunt knows what happened he admitted it, she didn't believe me and asked me not to tell anyone so it didn't tear the family apart. I feel it's necessary for my healing to make it clear to her that I would not have been ok with him being there. But after a fight with my dad (sperm donor, also knows what happened and my aunt is his sister) he told my cousin who is organizing the wedding that i wont be there before I got a chance to finish the email or come up with a decent excuse. The sperm donor will be very vocal about my issues with him and our fight so the family will think im not going because I have daddy issues. .. I have finished the email and was wondering of I could get spme advice on it? I don't want to cause problems in the family but I need to make my point heard. Please let me know of someone is willing to read it and give me advice

sar89 Am I depressed?
  • replies: 4

I don't even know if I have the right to be posting. Am I depressed? Do I just need to toughen up and be grateful for what I do have? Basically I had an excellent childhood (probably too good, maybe I expect too much), followed by getting on the wron... View more

I don't even know if I have the right to be posting. Am I depressed? Do I just need to toughen up and be grateful for what I do have? Basically I had an excellent childhood (probably too good, maybe I expect too much), followed by getting on the wrong side of a 'popular' girl at school which lead to me being depressed. It changed my personality and destroyed my confidence. But I bounced back and over the next 6 years I was generally happy, although the smallest thing would make me feel down, self conscious, etc. I expected life to continue to get better and it did for a while, I went overseas and had a long term relationship. The relationship failed (which is fine) but once it was over, I realised all my friends from before the relationship had left town, I had no one. To make matters worse I had recently got a chronic illness, which was part of the reason my ex bf left me too, which has made me incredibly self conscious about it to this day. I aimed to start fresh this year. I had a new job and 'knew' I would meet many single, like minded people. Wrong, 6 months in and I've realised the workplace is too busy for social relationships and 99% of the people are in serious relationships, having kids, etc. They aren't interested in single people activities. The realisation has set in that this could be my life forever, boring, alone and wishing for more and that's depressing. I do just feel weak though, I mean I don't really have anything, other than a lack of friends, to get upset about. But I guess I want to be enjoying my 20's, having fun with friends, travelling, finding a husband and having kids, but I cant do any of this as I don't want to/can't alone and I have lost the confidence to initiate anything due to rejection. Eg, invite 20 people to b'day, only 3 show up. I'm starting to lose interest and motivation to even try and have a social life, which just makes me even more miserable. So I guess my issues are a lack of social group and an ever growing reduction in confidence. With confidence I have got to the point where I am too self conscious to go on a date or mingle with new people, so it doesn't exactly help the social group issue. I should also mention I live in a small town, no matter where I go or what I do there is always someone from my past with some gossip, which is hard to deal with when confidence is already low. So am I depressed or on the verge of? Or just miserable? And any advice?

Nicolitared Gone all red
  • replies: 2

Hi, I have never experienced anxiety before so this is overwhelming for me. for the past year i have experienced feelings of nervousness, agitation and becoming easily embarrassed! When i get nervous or stressed by chest becomes red and blotchy, my f... View more

Hi, I have never experienced anxiety before so this is overwhelming for me. for the past year i have experienced feelings of nervousness, agitation and becoming easily embarrassed! When i get nervous or stressed by chest becomes red and blotchy, my face becomes red like im massively blushing, i feel really hot and uncomfortable! Socially its very awkward and i hate it! i used to never have a problem with public speaking and being in a large group, now i just cant handle it. Im always consciously thinking "is my face red?" " dont say anything or walk away otherwise you will go red" i have good and bad days sometimes im confident and dont care sometimes im so self conscience. I know its a conscious thing i have to control my thoughts but how do i do this? Its all i think about everyday! What do i do???

dazedandconfused15 finding it hard to cope
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I am currently finding it very hard to cope with my everyday life. It seems as though everything i do is pointless or a waste of time. I have no motivation for my studies or my work. Getting out of bed everyday is a struggle. I find to be sec... View more

Hi all, I am currently finding it very hard to cope with my everyday life. It seems as though everything i do is pointless or a waste of time. I have no motivation for my studies or my work. Getting out of bed everyday is a struggle. I find to be second guessing myself with everything i think or say, i even find my self thinking that people i should be the closest to are against and would like nothing better than to see me fail at everything i try. i have no one to talk to this stuff about, my parents live over 300 kilometers away from and being a 20 year old male it feels like it is something none of friends would understand or want to talk about. i just want to start feeling better about myself as a person, as i'm not sure how much longer i can go on feeling worthless everyday. regards, A broken and lost man.

Jolene Need a friend who understands
  • replies: 1

Hi, my name is Chelsea. I am 23. Canadian. And don't have a lot of friends. I feel like it's so hard to make relationships and that's why my recovery has been taking so long and has been so hard. I have had depression for ten years. I am in therapy a... View more

Hi, my name is Chelsea. I am 23. Canadian. And don't have a lot of friends. I feel like it's so hard to make relationships and that's why my recovery has been taking so long and has been so hard. I have had depression for ten years. I am in therapy and have been working hard to get a normal life. I don't have much for close family and it's hard to make friends here for some reason. If anyone wants to chat about their experiences I would love just a person I can talk to. Other than my therapist. Would be so lovley. Thanks, these forums are so helpful. I feel much less alone when I read them.

Suffering_Anxiety_Samanth Trying but failing.
  • replies: 2

I've had depression for as long as I remember. I don't remember a time when I haven't had this aching hole of emptiness inside of me. I try to take it one day at a time and consider even the littlest steps forward a big achievement. But then there's ... View more

I've had depression for as long as I remember. I don't remember a time when I haven't had this aching hole of emptiness inside of me. I try to take it one day at a time and consider even the littlest steps forward a big achievement. But then there's the steps backwards (although I wouldn't call them that, I'd call them being shoved backwards). People say not to dwell on them, but how can you not? I have moments when I... Struggle more than I'd care to admit. I feel defeated. I don't really know where to go from here. I'm at a crossroads in my life and I need to decide where to from here. Because the way I'm thinking lately, the niggling thoughts... They're pretty hard to deal with. "you're fat", "you're not pretty enough", "why would anyone like you?" and, my personal favourite, "well no one would care if you were gone anyway". I know in my head that it's not the truth, but you just feel so alone that it becomes the reality. Maybe it would be easier. I know it would be easier on me if I didn't have to feel this way... If I didn't have to feel. I wish the thoughts would disappear, and sometimes it appears that they have... And then they return. What to do?

_Huski_ Help with reality
  • replies: 2

Hey, I was just wondering if anyone could relate or give me advice with what I'm going through I'm a 16 year old girl, I never really had any problems, I was a happy child and was extremely care free up until about half way through last year. I went ... View more

Hey, I was just wondering if anyone could relate or give me advice with what I'm going through I'm a 16 year old girl, I never really had any problems, I was a happy child and was extremely care free up until about half way through last year. I went through a stage where I wanted to know more about my surroundings and the world itself, I've always been into science and everything that was weird and wacky. During this time, I started to wonder and think more, to the point where I was lost in my own world of thoughts and couldn't stop thinking and thinking, and not about normal things like boys and friends, it was all about reality and how things work, why the universe doesnt fall apart, what are black holes, how exactly does the human body word and the speed of light when it hits water and just random stuff. I was so caught up in my own thoughts, that everything and everyone around me, I just lost sudden interest in. I felt numb and that I had no compassion or care for anything. I felt horrible, I would try and talk to one of my friends about it, but she would basically brush it off and then talk about her problems, like why her boyfriend wouldn't go out for dinner with her and crap. Given that I wasn't a very open person, I assumed that my problem was dumb. Eventually, I couldnt relate to anyone. The girls I was once close to, wouldnt even try to talk to me because I couldnt understand why they were feeling that way or complaining. I ended up getting called emotionless and heartless as a joke, It did hurt me, but of course I wouldn't say anything. The last 8 months or so, I've been feeling as if I'm in a dream. My surroundings and myself, just dont seem real enough. I have melt downs from being so overwhelmed by my own reflection because I dont feel that Im here. I doubt and over think everything. I've convinced myself that I'm in a dream, and that nothing is real. Everything is just so mind blowing to me and I dont understand why. I've talked to my mother about some of this but she doesnt know much. I try and talk to her but her response is "You're just different. I think you're a very intelligent girl but you need help to understand" I hear things, see people, but I try not to think about it because I dont want to know Im crazy. I'm seeing a counselor, but its hard to explain what the hell is going on and how im feeling, but I dont even know what Im feeling. I'm just emotionless and dont feel anything but neutral Everything is a dream to me

just_let_go Anxiety suddenly worse than ever
  • replies: 20

Me again! Starting around Sunday, my symptoms have worsened.. Right now it feels like someone is pressing down on my temples and I feel extremely uneasy. Last week for about 2 - 3 days I felt like my old self again, and I thought It may have been ove... View more

Me again! Starting around Sunday, my symptoms have worsened.. Right now it feels like someone is pressing down on my temples and I feel extremely uneasy. Last week for about 2 - 3 days I felt like my old self again, and I thought It may have been over! It's like this week my anxiety has just said, "Don't kid yourself, I'm still here, and watch this, I can make you feel worse than ever!" I am having huge troubles sleeping. I have this uneasy anxious feeling that goes on all night. Then I wake up ever more anxious than before which perfectly describes today. It's at the point where I dread going to bed. Whenever I start to feel like I'm starting to get on top of this I just get thrown back another 2 steps. And when I'm not anxious I'm depressed. Yesterday I got a referral to a psychiatrist to talk about medication. I've tried beating this without it but it's clearly not working. The more I read about medication the more I'm unsure about it. People talk about things like becoming chemically dependent, or missing one pill makes your depression and anxiety twice as bad. I can't even imaging how bad that is. I suppose I'm just tired of trying so hard to overcome all this and just getting defeated every time. The fact that I'm feeling worse than ever right now just proves I've gone no where. I'm really hoping medication helps. If I don't get a good night sleep soon I might lose my mind!

Arsenal New to depression
  • replies: 1

During the week I went to the doctor and he confirmed what I already thought. I am suffering from depression. I recently moved out of home, and far away from any friends and loved ones for work. For the first month and so I thought I was just homesic... View more

During the week I went to the doctor and he confirmed what I already thought. I am suffering from depression. I recently moved out of home, and far away from any friends and loved ones for work. For the first month and so I thought I was just homesick. But it nose dived. I now cant eat, cant have a good sleep and I wake up feeling nervous and scared. Its gotten harder since the doctor told me I have it. I don't really understand it. Its something I never thought id have to deal with it personally. I'm struggling. I don't know how to get myself out of this hole. I'm so alone. I feel as though this feeling will last forever. I have nothing to look forward to yet my whole life is ahead of him. How do I change these feelings? How do I move on?

Sophjay why me?
  • replies: 7

My name is Sophie I'm 22 and unfortunately I have no life. Almost every morning I wake up wishing the day was over before it has even begun. If I get invited out I make up some excuse so I don't have to go, the thought of being around people I don't ... View more

My name is Sophie I'm 22 and unfortunately I have no life. Almost every morning I wake up wishing the day was over before it has even begun. If I get invited out I make up some excuse so I don't have to go, the thought of being around people I don't know and crowds makes me feel very nervous so I avoid having to be put in awkward situations. I don't have any friends, my bestfriend since childhood lives in a different state and again the thought of getting on a plane scares me so much I avoid it even though my very best friend is at the other end. Everything to do with being in public scares me it worries me I get nervous I start to feel sick and sometimes dizzy. Who wants to live like this. No one. Its horrible not being able to do anything because you have anxiety controlling you. The sad part is people around me, my loved ones, think I want to be like this I don't have support i have people calling me lazy and telling me to grow up. Which only makes me feel worse. Its been this way for some years now I'm not 100% sure when this started but recently (June 2014) I decided to talk to my doctor about how I've been feeling, I started to cry and she handed me a tissue and said I'm not a mind reader you should have told me sooner. Isnt it weird how you can look completely fine on the outside but your a total mess on the inside and no one would ever know if you didn't tell them? But even then, I have tried talking to others and some think its just "attention seeking" when all you want is someone to talk to, a friend. I was meant to start taking anti depressants and see a counsellor as I was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. I haven't taken my pills or seen the counsellor yet. I've been trying to do it on my own after speaking with my doctor I have became a little better being in public but still have my problems. Its hard going through almost everyday worrying about things I shouldn't worry about or getting nervous over being in public when people do it everyday with no worries at all. I just want to be a normal 22 year old girl who is happy and loves life.