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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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PartyAnimal Everything fell apart at once. Depression and self harm.
  • replies: 3

Alright, where do i even begin? This is my first post, but long story short I am going through a seriously depressing stage at the moment. Like everyone I have made my mistakes, some of which seemed like a good idea at the time but have only now come... View more

Alright, where do i even begin? This is my first post, but long story short I am going through a seriously depressing stage at the moment. Like everyone I have made my mistakes, some of which seemed like a good idea at the time but have only now come back to haunt me. After a failed and self-destructive relationship in march I went into a dating/ sleeping around phase. I did some things I'm not proud of and I know I hurt a lot of people. In mid May I met a girl from uni, and after only a week she thought I was her boyfriend. I made the severe mistake of not correcting her on this for 1) i didnt want to hurt her like I had with others. and 2) I just wanted someone, ANYONE to be intimate with. Somewhat simultaneously I met a second girl at uni, far better looking than the first, and a fair bit more touchy feely even when we had only just met. Skip ahead a few weeks, and I am really close with girl 2, we kissed at uni before we left to go home. However, as soon as I got home I called girl 1 and she came over, we confirmed that it wasn't a relationship and just fun. I was the first guy she had ever been with. Now, a week later girl 2 wont speak to me for reasons still unknown and I turned girl 1 away because she suddenly wanted a relationship at the exact same time I was EXTREMELY annoyed and depressed and just wanted some time alone to recover.On friday the 20th I intentionally self harmed. The very next day, I was told that my dad would be sentenced in a weeks time and serve a jail term of 1-2 years. He is/was the sole provider for our family and now its my job to step up and take control. Despite the traumatic news, I still felt in control, as if my one off bout of self harm was the end of my depression. After a difficult nights sleep, I woke up today feeling as if i was on the verge of tears and have felt this way for the last 12 hours. My mind has been a mess, I cant focus and my thoughts are running through the thousands of mistakes i've made, failed relationships and losing friends from just the past few weeks. I wish I had someone other than family, who is already suffering enough to just talk to. Not for support or solutions, but just some company. 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. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Chris_B New beyondblue app for young people to reach out to friends who are struggling
  • replies: 4

A new mobile app launched today by beyondblue will make it easier for young people to have important conversations with friends who they are concerned may be experiencing depression or anxiety.The free Check-in App, which can be downloaded from the A... View more

A new mobile app launched today by beyondblue will make it easier for young people to have important conversations with friends who they are concerned may be experiencing depression or anxiety.The free Check-in App, which can be downloaded from the App Store on iTunes or the Google Play store, lets young people choose options to construct a unique, step-by-step plan for approaching a friend they are worried about.The app provides a range of things young people can say to their friend, and where and when they can say it, along with tips from other young people who’ve reached out to a friend.Users are also able to review how their planned conversation went, set reminders to follow up with their friend, and access ideas about what to do next, particularly if things didn’t go well.Read more here.

keyelement Depression
  • replies: 2

Hello, Id like to say iv had depression before but never this deep. Its gotten to the point where i dont care to do absolutely anything and/or everything!!!. im only 24 years old, and iv told everyone iv spoken to for the last six months that im goin... View more

Hello, Id like to say iv had depression before but never this deep. Its gotten to the point where i dont care to do absolutely anything and/or everything!!!. im only 24 years old, and iv told everyone iv spoken to for the last six months that im going back to Uni mid-year (now) but i cant bring myself to face it. I know it will help me to receive mental stimulation. But i dont want to be the depressed one at school. Sometimes i get annoyed as soon as someone speaks to me, sometimes anything someone says to me does not phase me. Life is one big blob for me right now im scared im going to flip out. Tomorrow i will go back on anti-depressants. fingers crossed things will start looking up. thanks for reading

LouiseAz What would you guys do?
  • replies: 2

Hello, so I was battling major depression with some eating problems for about 2 years, an amazing counsellor, medication and breaking up with my constantly verbally abusive boyfriend really helped eventually. I stopped taking my medication when I was... View more

Hello, so I was battling major depression with some eating problems for about 2 years, an amazing counsellor, medication and breaking up with my constantly verbally abusive boyfriend really helped eventually. I stopped taking my medication when I was on holiday in January this year (I know you aren't meant to stop of yourself but I was just so free and happy every single damn day that I thought I don't need this anymore) and I think I was doing pretty good. But lately the down feelings have been coming back and I've been sort of on the verge of going to get help again but then I think hmm no maybe one more day I'll see how I feel. But I do feel like things are starting to come down on top of me again. In all of your experiences if anyone has felt like they might slip again what have you done, have you tried alternative things like going for walks/distracting yourself etx or have you gone to the counsellor for advice or maybe you've gone and got yourself straight back on medication? i just want to know what has helped with other people, and yes there is embarrassment of being not okay when you and wveryone else thought you were past it..

EllsBells Lost in thought
  • replies: 2

Hey guys, i am new to beyond blue. I have just recently been diagnosed with depression and anxiety although i had a case 2 years ago but wasn't very serious. Now i can barely touch my school work let alone complete it. I feel like my friends wouldnt ... View more

Hey guys, i am new to beyond blue. I have just recently been diagnosed with depression and anxiety although i had a case 2 years ago but wasn't very serious. Now i can barely touch my school work let alone complete it. I feel like my friends wouldnt even notice if i left completely. At netball i feel like a fly on the walll and again that if i left no one would notice. I am stressed even though i rarely do anything anymore. And my depression has taken a toll on my mum to. She is tired stressed and i hate seeing her this way. She feels hopeless because she doesnt know how to fix it for me. Nothing seems to be helping me. I rarely eat now but i have to go on a netball trip for a week with this team that i have no friends in and i am scared that i wont be able to handle it. I havent told anyone apart from mum and dad, my little brother and sister dont even know. I feel dis-included from my friends not only cause of my illness but also netball takes up alot of my time and weekends. I am not even close friends with my netball team and i spend more time with them than i do with my own friends. I came to beyond blue because mum is stressed and i dont want my friends to treat me any differently or try to fix my situation and i didnt know whoelse to talk to. I act fine in front of councillors and doctors because i know i am just over reacting but the thoughts just arent going away. I am fine for one minute and then BAM it suddenly comes back again. needing some advice on what to do.

peppa-p Alone
  • replies: 5

Hi. I need someone's help who understands. I'm a 20 year old girl and I have never felt more alone. All of my friends are in serious relationships and I have been left alone. My sister who used to be my best friend is now in a relationship and had no... View more

Hi. I need someone's help who understands. I'm a 20 year old girl and I have never felt more alone. All of my friends are in serious relationships and I have been left alone. My sister who used to be my best friend is now in a relationship and had no time for me. My two other close friends are in relationships and have no time for me at all either. My dad is always at work and my mum is off doing her own thing. I try to talk to my mum about how to be positive and what not and she says I'm either being dramatic or she's sick of hearing me complain. I hate myself so much. I hate my body, how I look, the fact that I don't have many friends that have time for me and just every single thing about myself. I am so grateful for having a loving family that provide me with love and support but it just seems like no one understands or cares. My friends are always talking about how lucky they are and how they woulds not know what to do without their boyfriends. I hate where I work, it's a dead end bar job, I hate going to work, I hate the sleezy old customers that talk down on me and I just hate waking up every single morning. I have started with a personal trainer to try and feel better about myself but all it does is makes me feel worse because I'm so unfit. I try to do things by myself but it makes me realise how alone I am. I can not go on like this anymore. I honestly feel like I have no purpose in life and everyone else is just leaving me behind to do their own thing. I've had one boyfriend two years ago now who was horrible to me hence why I broke it off and ever since then I haven't been able to find anyone that enjoys my company. I just don't know what to do. How do you be positive in order to make changes? How to you accept the way things are and get on with it without thinking so much about negative things? I honestly feel like I would end my life if it wasn't for what I would out my family through. I feel like I'm not meant to be here. I have no purpose. 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.

z11 Self Diagnosis but still not sure
  • replies: 5

I am not sure whether I do or do not have depression but I definitely have some signs of depression (but I am not sure whether that is just my usual personality or not) and have been feeling incredibly down/emotional lately.. First off my behaviour: ... View more

I am not sure whether I do or do not have depression but I definitely have some signs of depression (but I am not sure whether that is just my usual personality or not) and have been feeling incredibly down/emotional lately.. First off my behaviour: I find myself unable to concentrate at work which is resulting in me struggling to get my work done. I can see that as a lack of interest for what I am doing at work but to see that it is a symptom, I certainly have it.Feelings: I feel guilt all the time when I let people down. I am the type of person that can't say no to people even if it puts me out a great deal. I would also say I am very indecisive at times and have been getting miserable and sad as of late at relatively small things.Thoughts: I never really have had any thoughts of being worthless or feeling like everyone would be better off without me here as I know that is not the truth, however, I am scared that IF this does lead to something worse those thoughts would pop into my head. Physical: I do get very tired very often and have headaches quite regularly.As I said, I am not a doctor but just from reading through these points I seem to have picked out a could of the symptoms of depression that relate to me. My question to you is: where do I go from here? do I monitor this myself andkeep it to myself or do I speak out and go to my GP?thank you in advance

tbhalii How can I make friends?
  • replies: 4

Well I have been bullied for about 8 years, At first it was abusive but now it's just verbally. I have a very sick mother and my father is always working, I have only one friend but she lives about an hour away so I don't see her at all. I do online ... View more

Well I have been bullied for about 8 years, At first it was abusive but now it's just verbally. I have a very sick mother and my father is always working, I have only one friend but she lives about an hour away so I don't see her at all. I do online school so i have social anxiety and depression. No one likes me, ALL guys think I'm ugly or disgusting. My family lives no where near me. I feel so alone and upset 24/7. So can someone please give me some advice on how to make friends

NeverID Hate myself but take it out on others?
  • replies: 3

Been looking around Beyond Blue for about a week, I've never really been a talker so I've mostly just been reading. Been hoping someone will post similar to what to a specific problem i find i have. To begin with i guess ill give some background. I'm... View more

Been looking around Beyond Blue for about a week, I've never really been a talker so I've mostly just been reading. Been hoping someone will post similar to what to a specific problem i find i have. To begin with i guess ill give some background. I'm 19, male and I've just moved countries (again). Aus -> NZ -> Aus. This time though i've had real trouble adapting to my new life. I've just started uni and am struggled to get motivated, dont have any real drive to make any friends, and to be honest have no drive to do anything. Ihate myself for wasting my potential (have always gotten very good grades) and pretty much every aspect of myself. Spend most of my time wasting time on the internet, playing video games, talking with friends back in New Zealand. I think that moving again was the wrong choice for me but it feels now that i cant go back, that the choice to move to Sydney was one of those one chance things and i chose wrong. The real problem and i think its pretty serious is that i find myself really angry, and im not sure who its directed at, but sometimes i feel like i could just snap and really hurt someone even though ive always found myself to be really passive. Ive never been in a fight since primary school and that was just some lunch time push n shove in about grade 5. Lately its been getting worse, like really worse which is kinda what led me to beyond blue. Its gotten to a point where i just put on a fake face everywhere i go, around everyone i know because i dont want peoples pity, or for them to think that im just spoiled. Even though myself doing this makes me resent them even though theyve done nothing to me. I just want to throttle people sometimes over tiny things, yet i force it down and i know thats making it worse but i cant exactly vent it at anyone else when theyve done nothing to deserve it. My fear is when i do have an excuse to vent at someone im just gonna flip, and do something ill regret. I really need some advice i cant seem to fix myself, i know whats wrong with me but i dont know why, i dont know how.

Sean123 Not sure what to do...
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, I'm new here so I guess this is my introduction. I also need a step in the right direction so any words are appreciated. I'm 19 and it's only since the start of the year where things have fallen apart a little bit. Over the last 6 or 7 m... View more

Hi everyone, I'm new here so I guess this is my introduction. I also need a step in the right direction so any words are appreciated. I'm 19 and it's only since the start of the year where things have fallen apart a little bit. Over the last 6 or 7 months I feel myself slowly getting worse. It's only in the last 2 months though, that things have gotten on top of me. Almost everyday I feel down, depressed or like the world is against me. The pressures of uni are overwhelming and everyday I survive feels like it's been a struggle. I've been getting nervous and anxious more often over heaps of different things as well. With all of this going on, I am not sure what to do. My uni offers free counselling and am not sure how to go about that. I don't know if counselling is the right step for me, does anyone have any experiences to share? Also, in terms of my friends, well my social life isn't terrible. I have a decent amount of 'friends' but only really 2 or 3 close friends. One of my close female friends noticed I have been more down and asked if I was ok. I just opened up a little bit (because I feel I can trust her) and told her that I wasn't doing so well. She seemed quite supportive, and I kind of want to let her know exactly what is going on, but can't really bring myself to say any more. Is telling her a good idea? I feel that having a friend to rely on could help if things ever got really rough but don't know how to ask her to chat, let alone if I should or not. If anyone is willing to share some advice or let me know their opinions, it really would make a difference. Thank you!