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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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mp_ I'm worried about my girlfriend
  • replies: 3

My girlfriend and I are in our early twenties and are 3 months in to studying abroad together for a total of 8 months (we'll be home in February). She suffers from what I am fairly sure is an anxiety disorder according to the research I have done on ... View more

My girlfriend and I are in our early twenties and are 3 months in to studying abroad together for a total of 8 months (we'll be home in February). She suffers from what I am fairly sure is an anxiety disorder according to the research I have done on this site. She over-thinks things, she makes decisions based on what she thinks other people will think of her (often assuming that people think the worst of her), is often worried about one thing or another, and certain worries will trigger other worries in a cycle that is difficult to break once it starts. She often sleeps during the day, and is unable to exercise regularly due to back problems caused by muscle tension (which I suspect is related). She is incredibly hard on herself, and cannot see that in many of the areas where she is concerned that she is lacking (such as interacting with our new housemates), she is actually overcompensating. She saw a counsellor back home who taught her exercises to help with the worrying, but I think that the dramatic change in our living situation (foreign country, language etc) has been tough on her. She doesn't like the labels "anxiety" and "depression" and is worried about people labelling her as crazy. She will often ask me to just tell her that she's fine and normal. I'm the only one she shares her worries with, as she is concerned about other people judging her. I really love her and care about her, and I'm really worried about her. Whenever I tell her that I'm concerned it seems to only add to her own worry. Sometimes I feel responsible, and I often feel that I've made it worse through trying to make it better. I guess I'm asking for advice on what to do. I'm worried about how she's going to take another 6 months of this. It's tough because I feel as though we're so isolated. Does anybody have any experience with finding english-speaking mental health professionals in non-english-speaking countries in Europe? I can do all of the patient, non-judgmental listening in the world, but don't think I'm in any sort of position to actually make things much better. I'd give anything for her to feel better, and to believe in herself the way that I believe in her. Thanks in advance for any help or advice! M

kimberley sorry, just catharsis
  • replies: 1

After experiencing an episode of depression, I have been on medication for almost two years with significant progress. But right now I'm a bit frightened as for the past week I have had thoughts indicative of a fall back into depression. I know now h... View more

After experiencing an episode of depression, I have been on medication for almost two years with significant progress. But right now I'm a bit frightened as for the past week I have had thoughts indicative of a fall back into depression. I know now how to identify the signs, and this is basically me doing something about it really, and hoping it's just a bad week and I'm a bit stressed from uni, etc. Still, I haven't had these kind of thoughts in a while. I never know whether I can say I 'had' depression, instead of I 'have'. Is the sudden reappearance of these feelings common? By dwelling on them am I helping myself, or just encouraging myself to go back to a place I've grown from? There seems to be a lot of information about combating depression for the first time, or short term recovery, but what about after that? I just want to know how other people have coped, how do you know whether what you're feeling is simply what you remember you felt, or what you are experiencing now? Does talking about it with your doctor set your progress back? Can you ever know when you're ready to get off the medication? I actually feel a lot better after just writing this, but if anyone can offer advice from experience I'd love to hear it. Thanks.

CassieEmily I'm new
  • replies: 5

I'm 18, and I was diagnosed with depression a few months ago, although I think it's been going on for much longer than that. I finally started seeing a counsellor after I had a particularly bad few days, when all I could do was cry. I just hated myse... View more

I'm 18, and I was diagnosed with depression a few months ago, although I think it's been going on for much longer than that. I finally started seeing a counsellor after I had a particularly bad few days, when all I could do was cry. I just hated myself, and I didn't know who to talk to. I've always been such a cheerful, bubbly person, and I feel like I kept up the facade even when I was feeling down, so my family and friends had no idea. I saw a psychiatrist after that, then I was diagnosed with depression. I get really frustrated with myself, because I feel like my life is really good, so I have no right to be depressed when so many people have been through so much more than I have. My family and friends are wonderful, and I'm studying medicine like I've always wanted to. But some days I don't like anything about myself, and I just don't even want to exist. I've told a few friends about it, and I really appreciate how they try to help, but sometimes I feel like they just don't understand. My family also know, but I feel like they don't really want to talk about it. It just feels really lonely sometimes. I'm really glad I found this website, it's nice to talk to people who know what it's like. Thanks for reading!

Curtis Learning to play sports - a less serious topic
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I had a not so great childhood which resulted in me not getting to do many things. In most aspects I'd say my life is on track, however there is just one thing, I don't know how to play sports. I really want to learn to play rugby league... View more

Hi everyone, I had a not so great childhood which resulted in me not getting to do many things. In most aspects I'd say my life is on track, however there is just one thing, I don't know how to play sports. I really want to learn to play rugby league. I know literally nothing asides from what I've seen on TV. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I could learn the fundamentals so hopefully I can one day join a club? It's something I've been aspiring to for about a year and a half. So far in which I've mostly been looking at getting fit enough, I'd say I'm getting pretty good with that and I want to take the next step. I'm a 21yr old male who is big on watching sports so I find this very embarrassing. Any help would be awesome thanks :).

Will_C I feel like I really need to ask this
  • replies: 7

Ok, I've been wanting to ask this on this forum for a while but I've been putting it off because I thought it was a stupid thing to ask. I'm about 15 years old, turning 16 in December, and I'm always quite cheerful at school. But when I get home, I b... View more

Ok, I've been wanting to ask this on this forum for a while but I've been putting it off because I thought it was a stupid thing to ask. I'm about 15 years old, turning 16 in December, and I'm always quite cheerful at school. But when I get home, I become angst ridden and feel nervous about just being home. And it's weird because my mum is THE nicest, most selfless, generous person that I know (I'm an only child). But I feel like I can't tell her or ask her anything. Then I just end up feeling selfish. Whats wrong with me, if anything?

Amarant88 I don't understand
  • replies: 7

I'm 25 years old and I don't know what's wrong with me. I am in my last semester of uni and I have no motivation at all to complete anything and when I do, it's a struggle. It's really scary. Previously to this semester, I was doing quite well academ... View more

I'm 25 years old and I don't know what's wrong with me. I am in my last semester of uni and I have no motivation at all to complete anything and when I do, it's a struggle. It's really scary. Previously to this semester, I was doing quite well academically and prided myself on my strong writing abilities, but now it seems I have forgotten everything. I am even struggling writing this post and thinking clearly. I feel numb and helpless. I was taking medication for anxiety a few months ago and told my doctor that I didn't need them anymore, but now I feel I have depression. I feel if I were to see my GP again and possible get counselling help, it would take too much time out of my degree and I'm not sure if I can afford it. What should I do? I don't wanna ruin my life. I just wanna be happy and motivated again.

emilymollie found, but lost
  • replies: 2

Hello, My name is Emily, I am sixteen years old and Australian. Approximately two years ago I started to develop symptoms of depression. My life had turned miserable, my dad was gambling all our money away which made my mum cry all the time, my siste... View more

Hello, My name is Emily, I am sixteen years old and Australian. Approximately two years ago I started to develop symptoms of depression. My life had turned miserable, my dad was gambling all our money away which made my mum cry all the time, my sisters were crying because they were hearing the fights, and I was just there. So I hid away in my room, by myself with no one too talk too. I didnt know how too cope with what was happening at home, or the usual teenage drama. I was beginning to not associate with anyone, and make up excuses so i didnt have to do anything or leave my dark, and lonely room. I dont think the fact that I had low self esteem and hated myself helped the depression get worse and worse. But the biggest regret of my life was October, the 16th. This was the day that I lost control of my emotions and I harmed myself. For the first time at 15 years of age, I self harmed. Psychologically, it helps release the emotional pain through physical pain. When I finished I was horrified. I didnt know how I could have sunk so low, and worse, that it felt so so good. I hated myself and so I started harming everytime I lost a battle with myself. There are scars up my arm, and I could tell you what happened that caused every single one. Another year had past and I was worse than ever. By this point I was ready to die. I had given up so badly on everyone, and everything that made me happy. The only time I went out was to get drunk with my friends so I could forget abot everything and the pain would go away. But that only seemed to last for the night. I also did a few stupid things with a few boys that I wish I could take back. Having no self respect meant that I didnt care if anyone else respected me. It was a shit day at school and I came home too the house, that was empty. I was alone, and it seemed perfect. This was a way out! I could end this pain that was bottled up inside me. Beforehand I wrote out notes to every member of my family. I was almost unconscious until my mother came home. She saved me, even though at the time I didnt want to be saved. I'll keep writing about the next year some other time, but thats why I am here, and still alive.

Zach What's wrong with me?
  • replies: 1

I'm in year 12, I play high-level basketball and at the moment it looks like I'll get the ATAR I need to do Biomedical Engineering on the other side of Australia at uni next year. I feel like I'm never good enough and I'm always letting everyone down... View more

I'm in year 12, I play high-level basketball and at the moment it looks like I'll get the ATAR I need to do Biomedical Engineering on the other side of Australia at uni next year. I feel like I'm never good enough and I'm always letting everyone down. I constantly try to improve myself. I'm not perfect enough for my parents, my teachers, or my friends. I can't sleep, I can't stop over-thinking every detail of what I've done or what I want to do, I get weird moments where I get really hot but start shivering and my chest gets tight when I think too much about it in public, I've been sick with the flu for 2 months and I've gone from having heaps and heaps of friends to even my best friend texting me this morning saying "Our friendship=over. I'm sick of you and all your problems.". I'm bad to my friends and I can't tell I'm doing it anymore. I can't keep living like this. Please help me understand what's going on.

Emily_1 Searching for advice from anxiety sufferers
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone! Can I get anyone's opinion? I suffer from severe anxiety and I feel as though it just paralyses me. I'm currently in my third attempt at completing year 11.. through distance education. I can't go to mainstream school because it terrifi... View more

Hey everyone! Can I get anyone's opinion? I suffer from severe anxiety and I feel as though it just paralyses me. I'm currently in my third attempt at completing year 11.. through distance education. I can't go to mainstream school because it terrifies me. Being at home for school, I rarely leave the house and I spend majority of my time sleeping, all to avoid anxiety. Will I ever be successful in life? I feel as though I will never be able to go to university or be in a relationship or get a good job because of this stupid anxiety!!!!!!! Is there anyone out there who feels the same? Is anyone remotely successful despite their anxiety?

beej Just a vent, not sure where to go next
  • replies: 5

Hey guys, I'm new here. I'm a female, nearly 20 and just feel like my life is going no where. I have no energy anymore and don't see the point in life. Really I don't like thinking about the future at all, just living life day by day, struggling to g... View more

Hey guys, I'm new here. I'm a female, nearly 20 and just feel like my life is going no where. I have no energy anymore and don't see the point in life. Really I don't like thinking about the future at all, just living life day by day, struggling to get to the next. The reason I'm here is because while I feel like I have depression/anxiety for a while (haven't been to a GP/psych just yet), the last few weeks things have made a turn for the worst and my symptoms have escalated quite severely. All I can think about is ending my life. I have been planning to go overseas in q few months with my partner for a while now, but I'm not even sure I can make it that far. I feel completely useless. I can't talk to family/ friends because I don't want to stress them out or make them worry about me, especially because most of them have similar mental issues. I can't talk to my partner because his father committed suicide and I don't want to bring up anything that's going to hurt him. Right now I would like to get some help. My family, partner, pets, and the trip overseas are the only thing keeping me alive at the moment. If they weren't around I would have ended things a long time ago. The thing is one of my biggest anxieties is going to the doctors and talking to people deeply about my feelings. How should I go about getting help? I feel like I am at the end if my tether. Any replies are much appreciated. beej x

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