Young people

Pinned discussions

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 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!

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 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

Sorted by:

Start a discussion

i missed my school presentations because of myself

replies: 4

I wasn't sure where to post this because now that I think about it, this situation sounds more like a stupid excuse than anything. I'm supposed to be at school right now doing my presentations for some subjects, but I'm at home, why? Because I didn't finish the scripts for them. And yes, it was partially to do with the fact that I procrastinated, but I really wanted to finish it all last night and I somehow didn't. Usually, I get my school work done on time, but lately, I haven't been getting anything done on time at all, and it's been bothering me to no end. I used to work well, but somehow that doesn't work anymore. I get distracted and I don't have any motivation to finish the work. I get worried about the outcome of the grade and I don't trust myself. I think for a while I've had some underlying mental health and commitment issues. I know that I am definitely an obsessive worrier. I always overthink many situations to the point where I scare myself into not doing something, which makes me withdraw further away from asking for help. For example, to authenticate that I missed my presentations and to do them later, I need to hand in a doctor's certificate. What I am going to tell the doctor? "I didn't finish my assignments because I was too worried that I wouldn't do well so I stayed home instead to avoid doing the presentation?" What if they say no? What will I do then? (This example was actually the whole point I decided to write this post for help;;;) These kinds of thoughts make me end up lying to people about my real situation and it just adds onto the worries that have already accumulated, which does not make my head any lighter from carrying the worries. I'd also a high-achieving student, so I pride myself on being smart and knowing things because, without that, I'm not sure what else I have. Sure, I may be nice to people on a surface level, but most of the time, I make friends with the intention of using them to help myself get a better reputation in school and just in general look like a decent human being. I don't know what to do, and at this point, this post has become a vent post. Anyway, what should I do about the presentation issue? Should I just ask my dad to take me to a doctor and to ask them if they're willing to give me a medical certificate to excuse me for today? I still need a legitimate reason, and I'm scared to talk to my school counsellors about it just in case they don't let me do my presentation and fail me instead for it.

First thread for an Infamous_Moustache

replies: 2

Hi there. Its my first time here so I think its appropriate to introduce myself a little Online I'm known as Infamous usually. In my real life, I go to an intensive selective high school and compete in many competitive sports. For quieter activities, I usually put all my stress into drawings and art. I like to eat a lot of foods as well because that always make me happy. Seems like a good life hey? My main reason on coming here is to understand a bit more about myself and hopefully getting some advice and support. Growing up in a competitive environment has understandably created a want to be the best as a moral for my mentality but I also don't understand why my stress is really obvious compared to all my friends around me. I have visited my school counsellor a bit ago this year but I believe that it has gotten worse over the months of 2020. I have a few theories why I may be feeling this way. Perhaps it is with all the changes my family has gone through suddenly. We got someone else under our roof and a whole new bunch of responsibilities to juggle. Perhaps it is my failing performance in studies and disappointing myself. It could perhaps be because I am being threatened of getting stripped of all of my extra activities of which I hold lots of value to. Being honest I don't really know for sure. I also suspect that it may be multiple things, but I haven't really searched that far enough. I am too scared to reach out to my family or my friends because they're all really busy all the time. Some days, I feel like everything is an effort and that I should have no reason to feel this way. Some days I don't want to interact with anyone. I don't look after myself well, often finding it difficult to get myself to eat or drink anything for a day or two. I don't feel comfortable talking a teacher or a counsellor about it for whatever reason I don't know of. Usually my stress would be managed through drawing or simply sketching (buildings are my favourite), but ever since getting restricted heavily on all my mediums, I'm finding it difficult to keep it under-control. I lash out more often and there is a rise of arguments between mum and I (usually in the mornings). My greatest fear is loosing control in front of people because I don't want them to think I am too weak to deal with emotions. I mean, shouldn't we always show our good side to people and keep negative emotions to ourselves?

Don't see a future for myself anymore

replies: 4

So, I'm gonna be an adult soon. Haven't posted in ages, but what else can you expect of someone who barely remembers what day it is? I'm really struggling to see a future for myself. I constantly tried to tell myself that I know what I want and forced myself into that by choosing subjects like chemistry, but the recent exams made me realise how abhorrently stupid I am. I've never felt so disgusted with myself, I seriously don't think I can finish year 12. I was looking at Uni courses since I promised to go to my family, but nothing grips me. I don't want to work, study, or do anything. I can't see myself as anything more than a pathetic dropout who won't ever learn any skills and just starve because I won't be able to sustain myself, and I am sure as hell am not staying in this household for any longer than I must. It's a rant and a half, but I just have no idea if this is depression, something else or really just my brain being useless. if you can offer advice beyond "go to this website" I'd appreciate it. tl;dr : I'm realising that I am too dumb to go to Uni and don't have a future, send help.

Introduction/podcast

replies: 1

Hello everyone! I thought I would introduce myself for my first forum post. I am a 22 year old Student and health professional who is passionate about mental health. I have suffered for many years with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I have recently started a podcast which covers many issues, some episodes are more light hearted and humorous and others delve a little bit deeper. My most recent is on my struggles with OCD. This is the first time I have spoken publicly or in this magnitude about my condition however I believe it is absolutely vital for awareness and more conversations to be ignited surrounding this highly misunderstood and stigmatised condition. If I had something like this to listen to when I was 13 and first diagnosed I think I would have felt a lot more heard and less alone. I am sending so much love and strength to everyone in this community and I’m looking forward to this journey! much love to all

I'm too tired to care anymore.

replies: 18

To be honest, I just couldn't care less about anything anymore. I've got 2 assignment due tomorrow, and I don't even care about the repercussions if I don't hand them in. There's just no point, I'm going to live, work, work, work, work and die. There's no happy ending for me and, if i'm being honest, I don't even deserve one anyway. I'm a terrible person, and there's nothing any of you could say to make me change my opinion. I've ruined my parents marriage and have just made life more miserable, without even trying. My dad is dying cancer, and he can't afford treatment. That is my fault. A couple of weeks before it was diagnosed, I was visiting him, and while we were playing, he slipped and broke his arm. He hasn't been able to work since, and hasn't been able to earn money. If I hadn't played with him, he would have enough money to afford treatment. I've cried for too long, I think i've got no more tears left. I just don't even care anymore. I'm too lazy to even think of attempting suicide, and I've got nothing to wake up to. Everyone hates me, and I hate myself too. I've tried to change my mindset, and even working out, but there's no point if i'm going to die eventually. The only reason I'm even writing on this is because I promised my old therapist.

Don't know how to feel like myself again

replies: 4

Hi, I'm not sure how to begin, but I feel like life has become so painful in the past few months. During the second lockdown in Melbourne, I feel like my mental health has really plummeted. I didn't go out at all after we started remote learning due to my family being extra cautious, so now I don't have the courage to go out anymore. I feel really paranoid due to the stuff I read on social media or see in the news (although I don't really look at either of those things now). I've been really struggling with not assuming that every stranger hates me and everyone is out to hurt me. I've tried talking to the school counsellor recently and she's helpful, though I feel like I'm getting nowhere and just feel a bit hopeless. I haven't talked to my therapist for a while because I feel like she doesn't really help me learn to cope independently. I used to be quite confident and independent, but now I'm always scared and on the verge of panicking. I really don't want to continue like this. My parents say that things will improve heaps after my exams and I really hope so, but thinking about starting at Uni just makes me so anxious. Has anyone been in a similar situation? If so, could you please share how you rediscovered yourself again?

Uni help

replies: 2

Hi so I've always never settled on what i actually i wanted to do but every career ive wanted to do involve helping people or being with kids. Anyway the year after graduating I sat a social work course but dropped out quickly as I wasn't interested and I had alot of personal things going on. I tried to go back mid term and sat social science instead and I finished the term with a 6 GPA and made deans merit that year. i went back this year but dropped out half way through the term I became very stressed because of online learning and I felt like i lost interest in my course I tried a business course mid term dropped immediately it was so boring. Since being out of uni its always been in the back of my head? Right now im very confused on what to do but I feel like returning to my social science course as I liked it before I went online learning. Help? Is it worth going back? .^ to add onto this i was thinking of just doing less units and working less days. Like I think if I go back hopefully I'll fall back in love with my degree?

Job issues

replies: 3

Hi everyone, I've started a casual job around 8-10 hours each weekend as a high school student around a month and a half ago, however, I'm not exactly enjoying it. Every time before I go into work, I feel sick to my stomach and I cannot concentrate on anything else because the thought of work makes me anxious. I've only had 17 shifts there but I have decided I'm going to quit. However, I feel like by quitting I'm just overreacting and being stupid. Here are some reasons that have added up to why I don't enjoy it 1. one of the girls there is kind of rude to me. She doesn't outright call me names, but when she speaks to me to correct me it is in a condescending tone and she looks and sounds like she is judging me. This makes me feel stupid and like I shouldn't be still making mistakes 2. When she told me she was going to clean the floors she told me if I spilt anything on the floor she was going to rage at me. She also always tells me to go faster, which makes me more stressed out, and no one else there makes those comments to me 3. Not many people there talk to me, and it seems like a cliquey environment. I don't want to approach them because they could all be like the other girl or she may put them off 4. The summer holidays have just started, and while schoolwork won't be an issue now, it will be next year when I start year 12 so I would have to leave anyway 5. The manager told me not to call in sick half an hour before work the week after I called in sick- however, I actually gave him two hours of notice 6. According to some other people who work there he got annoyed when one of the girls asked for less hours during her year 12 ATAR exams- and I have a four day holiday in a few months that I would need to ask time off for 7. The work is a juice store, so it's a fast-paced environment which is fine, but combined with all these other little things it doesn't make me feel great. I'm also dealing with some minor mental health issues on the side which I don't think my job is helping 8. When I quit I can go work at my mum's store for four hours a week and while that isn't as much, it'll be ok while I look for another job My gut is telling me to leave because I don't want to feel constantly anxious and sick about work and have it affect my focus and concentration. But I can't shake the feeling that I'm just being stupid, dumb or that I'm a failure for not being able to handle it well, though everyone around me says I'm not. What do you guys think?

I feel lonely

replies: 3

Hi i’m 19 and i’m not really good at opening up when it comes to mental health. My experiences when reaching out have never gone very well. i think I just need a space to share because I feel isolated and alone. Most of my friends struggle with a mental illness making it hard for me to work through mine and reach out to them, when i’m trying to be there for them. It makes me feel exhausted and I just feel tired, it makes me feel like a bad friend. Some days I don’t eat and and I really struggle with my image as when I was 13 I was diagnosed with severe scoliosis. Romantic relationships don’t last very long, so some days I just feel unwanted and over a month ago I got in to argument with two of my closest friends and we haven’t talked since. Making me feel unwanted and unloved. I feel like something is wrong with me since I can’t keep people around. It feels incredible lonely and i’m Terrified to reach out to my family as they see me as their happy daughter i just needed a place to talk and I don’t want to feel alone anymore

Seeking help with an unaccepting family

replies: 3

Hi everyone, So I guess to start off just with just a bit of a background on me- I'm 16 in Year 12 (finishing school in 3 weeks yay!) and I'm actually going pretty great at the moment! The last few months for me have been pretty good as far as my mental health goes. But I have had a bad few years recently, I've struggled with an eating disorder, self harmed and ive had a lot of suicidal thoughts. And at the moment I do feel good but I don't think I'm 'healed' (I can't think of a better word but you get where im going?). Like at times I do feel myself slipping back into the headspace I've had in the past and I think id like to see professional help- just to be able to discuss my issues, and feel a bit more secure in my ability to stay on this functioning level I'm at now? (Wording things is -clearly- not my skill but hopefully you get my gist). I guess my main issue in the past while I was in the thick of my mental health struggle (beyond my mindset that I didn't deserve help) was that my mum doesn't 'believe' in mental health. I think she has a fairly toxic mindset r.e. mental health- at one point I tried to see my school counselor and she told me that depression is a mindset, I just needed to grow up and suck it up- things along that sort of line. Unfortunately I wasn't able to just 'suck it up' and there was genuinely a point last year where I was just a minute or two away from taking my life and I'm scared to sink back into that place. So yes I'd like to seek professional help because although I'm on a roll just now I don't actually have any coping strategies for when I am in a bad patch. But I don't really know how to go about that without my mum's consent? I'm still 16 so I cant drive or get myself to a GP, etc and I really don't feel safe or comfortable trying to approach her about this- anytime I've tried has honestly been more damaging than benefitical. I've had friends who have gotten help for themselves over the years so I think I get the basic- see a GP, get a mental health plan- there's a questionnaire involved? But yeah I'm not really sure how to get there without parental aid? So if anyone has any advice on how to go about this/has similar experiences please let me know? Thank you all in advance and hope you're having a great day Cam

Eeep! When study is overwhelming! - Tips, ideas and coping strategies replies: 51

NEW TO THIS FORUM? Please read this first replies: 0

i missed my school presentations because of myself replies: 4

First thread for an Infamous_Moustache replies: 2

Don't see a future for myself anymore replies: 4

Introduction/podcast replies: 1

I'm too tired to care anymore. replies: 18

Don't know how to feel like myself again replies: 4

Uni help replies: 2

Job issues replies: 3

I feel lonely replies: 3

Seeking help with an unaccepting family replies: 3