Young people

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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.

All discussions

Tracy_24 Eating problems as a result of depression
  • replies: 2

Hi Lately in my life things have been going downhill, and for some reason it's affecting my eating patterns. Eating is sometimes a struggle, and I am wondering if there is anything I can do to make it better?

Hi Lately in my life things have been going downhill, and for some reason it's affecting my eating patterns. Eating is sometimes a struggle, and I am wondering if there is anything I can do to make it better?

Cassete New lad here.
  • replies: 1

Hello my name is Nicholas, I am 18 years old and I'm a senior in High school. (: I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression and Obsessive thoughts about losing control and killing myself. ALthough I have no plans to do so and I am afraid to do t... View more

Hello my name is Nicholas, I am 18 years old and I'm a senior in High school. (: I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression and Obsessive thoughts about losing control and killing myself. ALthough I have no plans to do so and I am afraid to do that too. I literally love my life and suicide is the last thing I was to do but I somehow always think of it. It scares me. It makes me feel mental.. Well, I would like to have someone to talk to on here or friends on here also.

Brooklyn I hate myself
  • replies: 4

Hi, I am an almost 15 year old girl living in Australia. I go to school, I'm active... I'm just what seems to be a normal 15year old girl, but, I'm not. At my school I am classified as one of those always happy, smiling, funny girls, but I'm really n... View more

Hi, I am an almost 15 year old girl living in Australia. I go to school, I'm active... I'm just what seems to be a normal 15year old girl, but, I'm not. At my school I am classified as one of those always happy, smiling, funny girls, but I'm really not. People don't know the real me. I'm always feeling worthless like I don't belong, I don't fit in.. I feel like I am different from everyone in every way.. I am an outcast. I can't look at anyone in the eyes for more than a few seconds, including teachers and friends. Even the slightest insult can make me want to lock myself in the room and tell myself I should of not gone out that day being as... I look like.. Me. When someone looks at me I want to cover my face, I'm scared of what they're thinking. I lay in the shower thinking about what it would be like to cut, how much release I could gain, I could start, but I'm scared my parents and friends would see it.. I've thought about "leaving" but scared on the effect on my peers and etc. I'm scared to ask for a councillor. I just like to ignore my feelings and pretend I'm happy. People think I'm happy. At school sometimes I convince myself I'm happy but then wake up to reality. Im also cared to tell anyone because I don't like attention. I'll do anything to stop having attention on me. Is this depression or sadness or anxiety? What do you think in dealing with? :(( What can I do? -brooklyn

TennisShoes Very lost
  • replies: 1

It's very unlike me to post something like this anonymously, but I feel like I need to say something to someone.I have no idea how to explain my feelings, so I'll start with right now. How I feel. It's tough for me to describe, because I've kind of b... View more

It's very unlike me to post something like this anonymously, but I feel like I need to say something to someone.I have no idea how to explain my feelings, so I'll start with right now. How I feel. It's tough for me to describe, because I've kind of been subject to ridicule about my strong feelings by my immediate family. I've tried to tell my mum that I think something is wrong with me, but she just thinks its something I'll grow out of in time. My sister says I'm a selfish idiot (which sometimes I completely believe), and my dad just doesn't understand what I'm going through.I had my first major panic attack a year and a half ago, just before my second semester at Uni had started. I started to cry uncontrollably in front of my mum in the car when I was about to leave for my first lecture. It felt like I was having a heart attack and all I wanted to do was run back home and under the sheets. That was the day I stopped my uni course halfway through. I stopped taking the birth control pill (because my doctor and my mum thought that might have caused the imbalance), and I was looking for a job. Through out that year and a half I haven't had a panic attack, but I had been incredibly down. All I would do is sleep, not eat throughout the whole day then binge at night, play video games (which I think was the sole source of my confidence) and then sleep more. I think I spent most of my day sleeping, or hiding in the toilet and reading.It only happened recently, when I had applied for a new course (since my job searching turned out to be a bust), I've started having panic attacks every day. Whenever I'd think about Uni, about leaving to go to lectures, seeing people, filling forms, I feel like I'm dying. And afterwards I feel so useless and hopeless and lazy. I sometimes hate myself because I know just how good I have it in life, but it feels as if I have absolutely nothing. Like I have absolutely no reason to live anymore. I can't find work, I don't think I can get through uni at this rate, and I feel like everyone in my family looks at me like I'm the problem child. Should I see someone professionally about this? Does it cost a lot of money to see someone?

MusicMonkey 16 years old worried about alot of things
  • replies: 5

Okay so lets cut to the chase. I'll start of with some background information. I am 16 years of age and I have a huge passion for music. I have been playing lead guitar/vocals for 4 years and have just recently signed up for a tafe course which I am ... View more

Okay so lets cut to the chase. I'll start of with some background information. I am 16 years of age and I have a huge passion for music. I have been playing lead guitar/vocals for 4 years and have just recently signed up for a tafe course which I am really loving. So things for me lately haven't been so great (either that or its all in my head). First I moved from a school in which i settled well in to a completely new school that I was told that would have the right music program I would need. Turns out they dont, but I didnt move back simply because I don't want to keep losing mates of mine. I also have a girlfriend who which I have been dating for 4 months now and things have been really good between me and her, although even though things may seem great and all, I just keep getting these worries. And that's why I decided to sign up and create this thread. For the last 2 or 3 months I have been worried about losing friends, my girlfriend, and other people. I just keep thinking "what if this happens to them? What if she feels bored with me?" and so on. Even thoughts with my music career in which I wish to pursue. Heck, I haven't played a video game in months because I would either just sit there in my chair trying to figure out what I can do to please people, calm myself, become better. Thats all I do on a weekend. I mean of course I have to do tafe studies and other work. But that's all I do, and I try to treat work as a place where I can just unwind and try to keep my mind off things. And I stress out a lot. Like especially about my relationship with my girlfriend. I constantly worry that I am being to clingy or not giving enough attention. As for socializing, I haven't been doing much of that. If a few mates ask me to come out for a party I usually just tell them I am not feeling good or I have to do work. And if I were to hang out with some mates its only one other person in which I have been best friend's with since pre school. I know this post may seem to lack little in detail but just trying to get some help from others. Maybe some tips on how to cure depression, anxiety? Anything really. Kindest Regards,

Meg_676 Everyone thinks I have *** i just want to be beautiful
  • replies: 2

My friend told the school councilor that I wasn't eating.I was eating but not much, now everything is worse and I am eating a lot less.I know there is something wrong and i shouldn't be losing weight this way but it makes me feel good. I don't think ... View more

My friend told the school councilor that I wasn't eating.I was eating but not much, now everything is worse and I am eating a lot less.I know there is something wrong and i shouldn't be losing weight this way but it makes me feel good. I don't think I am anorexic yet but i could be soon. my mum has to go to these meetings with the school to decide what has to happen and she doesn't want to make me do anything yet because she thinks that because i am still over weight that when i get to a healthy weight i will be OK and that i have had to much stress in my life and its good that now i have something to control. Everything is so stressful now but everything is the best it has been in years my abusive father is out of my life and my abusive brother has had to move to my grandparents place. Should i make my mum go to the docter for me and make me go to the eating disorder clinic and lose my chances of losing weight or should i trust my mum and ride things through and see how it turns out????

Ryleigh They told me i was crazy, and i had no choice but to believe them.
  • replies: 1

Two and a half years, that's how long i have been suffering severe depression for. It may not seem like a long time, but I'm only 15. Everyday i suffer severe anxiety/panic attacks which effect my schooling and friendships. About a year ago my parent... View more

Two and a half years, that's how long i have been suffering severe depression for. It may not seem like a long time, but I'm only 15. Everyday i suffer severe anxiety/panic attacks which effect my schooling and friendships. About a year ago my parents split up and i was left behind with my suicidal mother and my younger brothers. I have attempted suicide several times in the last few years and been in hospital. Recently i was diagnosed with Boarderline personality disorder which actually tore me apart because it made me feel like I was a mental freak who everyone wanted to do research on because i had research doctors following me around to see my different mood changes. Its harder now, with school, my friendship groups and home because it feels like i don't belong anywhere, because I'm different. Everyday i don't want to be here, its a struggle and everyone always tells me that it will get better but it never seems like anyone wants to stay around to try help. 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;}

Eddie6 Lost in life
  • replies: 4

I recently moved from Perth, WA to Sydney in order to do an honours year here. The uni that I did my undergrad at was second tier and now I'm at Usyd for honours. I'm not originally from Perth. I grew up in America an am a dual citizen. I moved to Pe... View more

I recently moved from Perth, WA to Sydney in order to do an honours year here. The uni that I did my undergrad at was second tier and now I'm at Usyd for honours. I'm not originally from Perth. I grew up in America an am a dual citizen. I moved to Perth when I was 18, because its where most of my extended family lives. I was never happy growing up. My parents aren't particularly emotionally mature and my own emotional problems were often neglected by them, and ballooned as a result so that I felt depressed and anxious most of the time growing up. I love my extended family in Perth, they are warm people and for the 5 years I lived there I felt relatively happy. However, I never really felt like I fit in, in Perth. Its not really a city, its more of a small town and people aren't interested in the world at large. It took me a long time to find friends there, and even though I have some friends in Perth, and also in America that I love dearly I never planned on living there long term. I decided to finish uni and get out. So I did, and now I'm at a big prestigious institution for honours, and comparing this place to where I did my undergrad makes me feel like that degree is worthless, and I'm embarrassed by it and wish I'd transfered uni's and moved to Sydney sooner. I'm 24 and don't want to start an undergrad again because I'm graduating late anyways. I feel anxious and depressed constantly, these days. I don't feel like I'm good enough, smart enough, or know enough to be where I am. I regret wasting 3 years of my life, and am depressed that I'm stuck working in a bar again at 24. I'm ready to move on and have a professional job. All these thoughts are making it hard to focus on honours, and I'm scared for how I'm going to do. I just want to drop out and get a masters and get into the workforce. But (and I know this is ridiculous) that would make me feel like a failure because both my parents have PhDs, and I think they look down on me an my brother a bit because we didn't go to good uni's like they did... I know that it was depression growing up that lead me to where I am now, and a lack of guidance. I feel lost. Like I've missed out on a lot of things I could have done with my life, and I'm exhausted from working so hard all the time. I am struggling to deal with feeling resentful that I didn't get more of a helping hand, or guidance to put me on the right path sooner. That I had so much more potential, and that was wasted on feeling depressed...

Seachel I'm struggling with food these days
  • replies: 2

I don't know why but lately I feel very very heavy, I feel full of fat and everything gross. I logically know you don't need to be skinny to be happy but I can't stop the feeling that I am fat, I hate myself everytime I eat except it's all I want to ... View more

I don't know why but lately I feel very very heavy, I feel full of fat and everything gross. I logically know you don't need to be skinny to be happy but I can't stop the feeling that I am fat, I hate myself everytime I eat except it's all I want to do, I'm constantly thinking about food and I have no control over myself once I get the thought in my head of eating something. I suffer from depression, anxiety and have very very low self esteem already, and I have also noticed lately that my current partner doesn't really have a healthy view on food. She also comments a lot about how she feels fat after eating and that if she knows she's going to eat a big meal for dinner or something she'll make herself do a heap of exercise before hand and she uses the excuse that it makes her 'hungrier' but I don't believe she thinks this way just because of other things she says after eating. She knows I don't have a very healthy view on food but she keeps saying things like 'oh I want to cry now after eating so much food' when she's around me.. I'm not blaming her at all because I have always had an issue with food but I believe this is making me worse. I don't know what to do anymore, I hate food and I hate having to eat but food is all I think about, it's like I'm relying on food to keep me happy of a day time because I have nothing else... I've tried to keep myself busy and distracted but nothing works.. I'm hating myself a lot more than usual lately.

Jess_E I don't know if I have depression
  • replies: 2

I am 17 turning 18 this year and In the last 2 years I have become extremely emotional and I'm not sure if it's just growing up emotions that everyone feels. I get feelings of sadness, loneliness, anger and overwhelment almost all the time. I kept it... View more

I am 17 turning 18 this year and In the last 2 years I have become extremely emotional and I'm not sure if it's just growing up emotions that everyone feels. I get feelings of sadness, loneliness, anger and overwhelment almost all the time. I kept it to myself but lately my mood swings have caused problems with my motivation at work, and my relationships with my family and my boyfriend. Depression is genetic in my family but it's a lot worse for them than it is for me so I can't really talk to them about it because they will think I'm seeking attention. I want to go see a doctor about it but I'm not sure if they would be able to help me.