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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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User- Feeling like I’m still a teenager at 20.
  • replies: 5

Hi, I’m 20 about to be 21 and, I’m still living at home with my parents. Not that anything is wrong with that for people to do, but, I’ve been wanting to move out since I was 18, and then all of a sudden I turn 18, I couldn’t walk for like 8 months. ... View more

Hi, I’m 20 about to be 21 and, I’m still living at home with my parents. Not that anything is wrong with that for people to do, but, I’ve been wanting to move out since I was 18, and then all of a sudden I turn 18, I couldn’t walk for like 8 months. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I got diagnosed with a disorder where your body shuts down because your brain takes over to try and protect you by giving you very real feeling symptoms of weakness, sharp pains, shaking, etc, it’s called fnd. I’ve been re-learning how to walk, stand, run and just do everything I would’ve normally done before all of this. Due to not being able to move for a long time or get a job, meet new people, play sport or make friends, it has impacted me mentally triple time. I’ve never had a good relationship with my parents either so, it made it much more difficult for me to get back to normality. This started late 2022 and now it’s 2025, since then I have made tremendous progress and I’m basically doing everything I wanted to do again! The only thing now being getting back into work, however, in the meantime I have had SO much more mental buildup from listening to, and being in arguments with my parents, and all of this whilst I recently stopped being friends with my friend of 8 years. She was my big support in getting through all of this and throughout all of high school and just everything to do with keeping me somewhat sane with my parents. I’ve been keeping it all in this year because i barely ever saw her due to her not making an effort to want to see me anymore. So naturally all of this built up inside me and I became so incredibly stressed dealing with that situation and my parents at the same time. My thoughts are sO loud at this period of time and my parents are triggering me a lot and it seems like the progress I made with everything seems to go backwards a bit because of the way they talk about things to do with health. My brain ends up freaking out and then all of a sudden I have “symptoms” in my body. My thoughts are just a load of you need to move out, you need to get a job, you need to go out more, you need to prioritise your health. But I’m stuck in waiting periods, for me to get into a job, to go out and move out I need the money from the job, and to prioritise my health I need to be out of the environment that keeps on triggering it. I’m in an endless loop of thoughts as I’m not able to hurry many things along at this time and it’s all to escape my parents.

Guest_59073492 I don’t know what to do
  • replies: 2

Hello, I’m aged 12 and I’m unsure what to do about my current situation. I’ve been slightly depressed lately, crying mainly every day and I’m thinking about self harm. I can’t trust much people and I’ve only told two people about this situation, none... View more

Hello, I’m aged 12 and I’m unsure what to do about my current situation. I’ve been slightly depressed lately, crying mainly every day and I’m thinking about self harm. I can’t trust much people and I’ve only told two people about this situation, none of them can help. If I tell my parents they’ll get worried. Im also suffering from AFRID. Im not sure if it is that yet, I’ve diagnosed myself. My mother is starting to notice and I don’t want anyone to know.Please help me through this

Spud Friend came out as bi and I don't know how to feel now as I am secretly in love with her
  • replies: 2

I am male. I have known this girl for five years. When I first met her I knew there was something special and I have secretly been in love with her since then but we can't be together due to professional reasons. I know too she has had feelings for m... View more

I am male. I have known this girl for five years. When I first met her I knew there was something special and I have secretly been in love with her since then but we can't be together due to professional reasons. I know too she has had feelings for me as well and it is very obvious. We were apart last year but reunited this year. Things have been really great until this month. A few days ago she sprung on me that she thinks she might be a lesbian which I thought she was joking but then she changed that to being bi. To be honest I was a little heartbroken about it. I know it isn't about me but I said I support her and that I will always be there for her which she was appreciative of. I said I feel quite special that she told me. She hasn't told her family or other friends but me. I said this is a big thing, she responded that she doesn't think so. I asked her how long has she felt like this, she said just this month. I don't know if this is just a moment of self discovery or whatever, I haven't seen any signs, it just caught me really off guard. I don't know now if she really had any feelings for me and it might of just been me. But I think this has really changed things between us as I don't think she sees me in anyway more than a friend now as her focus has shifted to the same sex. She always use to sign off with the xo etc but that's died off.

Anonymous_ i’m lost
  • replies: 2

hi i’m new to this so it’s a bit scary but i thought i’d try something new as i’m 19 and have been in therapy and on medication for over a year now and i still feel so lost. i feel as if i’m losing time due to having social anxiety disorder and inatt... View more

hi i’m new to this so it’s a bit scary but i thought i’d try something new as i’m 19 and have been in therapy and on medication for over a year now and i still feel so lost. i feel as if i’m losing time due to having social anxiety disorder and inattentive-adhd because of how behind i have come in life. i graduate 2 years ago and didn’t go for an atar since i’m not very smart and i never went to uni or tafe and have never had a job and i don’t have my license. all i’ve ever wanted since i was a kid was to be skinny and popular and excel at something anything but that never happened and now i am stuck in grieving something that didn’t happened. does anyone have any advice on how to move forward in life and stop feeling so bad for and about myself. thank you

Guest_25903719 Over it
  • replies: 5

i’m a 17-year-old, obviously this is a hard time for people my age as well for many reasons; I’m fresh in year 12, i have to worry about my future, and work. Its to much to ask of me, i constantly try my best yet i still fail. I am so grateful for th... View more

i’m a 17-year-old, obviously this is a hard time for people my age as well for many reasons; I’m fresh in year 12, i have to worry about my future, and work. Its to much to ask of me, i constantly try my best yet i still fail. I am so grateful for the home i was raised in and how i was raised, but sometimes parents need to get out of their ways and think about how their children, a teenager, ME, would feel. I constantly get yelled at for little things and things i didn't even do, but of course my little sister is a star, i get blamed for everything, i always get snarky comments from everyone that aren't needed. It feels like I have no where to go, i’m constantly crowded with expectations that i cant live up to, yet if i don't i'm a failure. I just cant do this anymore, i have no space in which i can just stop. I feel so alone but full of everything and everyone at the same time. I just seriously cant do this anymore, i have trued everything, i went to therapy but its to expensive, the school doesn't help, so this is my last resort. I try talking to my parents but they don't even acknowledge that i’m there, they are busy with everything else. I feel so ungrateful because i know people’s situations are worse then mine, but i have been struggling for so long in silence. I Cant Do It Anymore…I try and try and try again but i just keep failing, this is now affecting my performance, which of course makes everything worse. I was recently ill, and all it was, was that im not good enough, i did it to myself.. I love my parent's so much, its just there actions speak louder then their words. Emotional, physically, mentally, spiritually, all of them, i just cant keep doing this. Im so drained and exhausted. I don't know what else i'm meant to do. I don't have that much to write because i cant explain the whole pool of emotions that I'm feeling, it’s to much. I Cant Do This Anymore.

Guest_84022597 I hate school so much.
  • replies: 2

I hate going to school sometimes. Every time I think or have any enthusiasm for school, it always goes wrong. I also have this one "friend" who isn't a friend keeps on insulting my looks and making me feel awful. I know I'm pretty though, but I just ... View more

I hate going to school sometimes. Every time I think or have any enthusiasm for school, it always goes wrong. I also have this one "friend" who isn't a friend keeps on insulting my looks and making me feel awful. I know I'm pretty though, but I just hate people insult my looks as if they aren't normal, like I have the most normal face, like average face you see at school. I hate school so much. That friend is NOT my friend no more.

abc_220 Want to drop uni but scared
  • replies: 2

I am in my final year of uni. Unfortunately, I haven’t been interested in the possible career outcomes from my degree since second year but didn’t drop because I felt people would be disappointed if I did. Now I am in my final year and it’s all place... View more

I am in my final year of uni. Unfortunately, I haven’t been interested in the possible career outcomes from my degree since second year but didn’t drop because I felt people would be disappointed if I did. Now I am in my final year and it’s all placements. I failed my 11 weeks clinical placement and I’m really struggling with that. I didn’t get any feedback or any indication that I wouldn’t pass so I felt blind sided and my mental health really plummeted. I wanted to drop out then but was told by a uni supervisor that she was confident I would pass doing another two weeks in the clinic. So even though I went through the worst days of my life I studied hard and decided to give it another chance. I just finished that two weeks at the clinic and still have not passed even though I checked in with my supervisor constantly so I wouldn’t feel blindsided again, and I did everything they told me I needed to do to pass but apparently I need to go back for another two weeks to work on my self confidence. But how can I work on my confidence when every ounce of it has been ripped out of me. Also to mention the two more weeks would be in October. I can’t be anxious and feel awful everyday leading up to the two weeks to potentially not pass again. I don’t know how id get through that. I know it’s ’only Two weeks’ and should try again but I have tried again and done the extra two weeks but now need to do longer. I’ve been told all placement that there are no jobs/very hard to get employment and heard from students who’ve graduated before me still have no jobs. I’ve also been told by supervisors that they regret doing this degree and wish they did something else. Why put myself through this if I don’t want to work in this field but even if I did would struggle gaining employment/ be taken advantage of (which is what we’ve also been told- new grads get taken advantage of and do shit work getting shit money) So I’m struggling with the idea of going back because I’m embarrassed that I’m not good enough and anxious over the idea of facing these uni people again (when they told me I still haven’t passed the second time over video I was crying hysterically and couldn’t breath because I went in to the meeting thinking I passed) but also have no passion or desire to use this degree to work in the related field. I don’t want to go back but I’m terrified of making this decision and would do anything to not have to go through this. I know it sounds like nothing, but I can’t face being told I didn’t pass again, I don’t know if I would get through it. I’m also scared of what my family and friends will say if I drop or defer. I’m thinking of finishing this other degree I started instead because I only have a year left and there’s actually jobs that pay good. I just feel stuck and hopeless and don’t want to face making this decision but I have two weeks to decide.

displayname456 Does anyone else feel like there's nothing? What have you found happiness in?
  • replies: 3

I'm 18. Never been invited to a party, never really had any friends, embarrassed myself a lot when I was younger. I don't have any dreams, I don't get good grades, I don't have a life, I don't have any hobbies, I don't have anything that brings me jo... View more

I'm 18. Never been invited to a party, never really had any friends, embarrassed myself a lot when I was younger. I don't have any dreams, I don't get good grades, I don't have a life, I don't have any hobbies, I don't have anything that brings me joy. My parents just want me to study all day so I can't do a whole lot anyway. I kind of just exist. I have a few friends but we aren't close. I feel like a lot of people think I'm weird because I've never drunk or done drugs or dated before as well. I'm not introverted, I'm a bit extroverted in fact, but I'm a little bit autistic probably, and some people find me offputting. I'm also a bit ugly, though I don't think that should be a huge problem, it just doesn't help. Yeah that's it though. I just exist and have no hopes and dreams. My ATAR is gonna be shit. I did terribly in a bunch of tests which ruin all my good results. I just feel like my life has been kind of pointless and I just don't care about anything anymore. There only thing I want to do that I'm good at is write for television but I won't make it because of nepotism and living in this country and my parents would not support me and I am financially dependant on them so I obviously cannot pursue this. Anyone else feel like this? Anyone who felt like this in the past - what made you feel joy again?

hello_panda dont have any friends
  • replies: 3

I don’t really have any friends right now, and to be honest, I didn’t really have them in high school either. A lot of it felt forced or fake. I always hoped uni would be different, that I’d find “my people”, but it’s been the opposite.University has... View more

I don’t really have any friends right now, and to be honest, I didn’t really have them in high school either. A lot of it felt forced or fake. I always hoped uni would be different, that I’d find “my people”, but it’s been the opposite.University has felt really isolating. Everyone seems busy, caught up in their own world, and it’s rare that anyone really talks or makes an effort to hang out. I’ve tried putting myself out there, joining things, starting conversations, but it never seems to lead anywhere lasting. It’s starting to feel really disheartening. Because of it, I’ve noticed I can’t study like I used to. I used to push through things on my own, but now it just feels... exhausting. There’s something really heavy about doing everything alone all the time from lectures to lunch breaks. I never thought the loneliness would affect me this much, but it’s honestly been creeping in.

Sammy25 How do you restart your life.
  • replies: 2

Recently moved to a new area. Not necessarily by choice but probably for the best, I’d been homeless the past few years living in my car and couch surfing friends houses. My partner of 6 years at the time cheated on me with one of my best mates. Not ... View more

Recently moved to a new area. Not necessarily by choice but probably for the best, I’d been homeless the past few years living in my car and couch surfing friends houses. My partner of 6 years at the time cheated on me with one of my best mates. Not long after I got with a new girl and all of my friends turned on me out of jealousy I presume so I had no more friends houses to stay at and my car broke down for good so I had nowhere to go at all so me and the new girlfriend packed up and restarted life in a different town. 8 months in and we hit a bit of turbulence in the relationship and she’s decided to move back out. So I’m now trying to pick up the pieces and restart my life again in a new town. I just don’t understand how to make new friends as a young adult. All my previous friends were from school days which seemed so easy to make friends then. But in a new area where I don’t know anyone and have nobody to rely on I’m not sure how or where to meet new people.