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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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viac just struggling
  • replies: 6

I can't find the motivation to get any work at school done, I feel like I'm constantly stressed and under pressure to get practice work turned in and submit uni applications. Just everything surrounding school and all the uncertainty with covid with ... View more

I can't find the motivation to get any work at school done, I feel like I'm constantly stressed and under pressure to get practice work turned in and submit uni applications. Just everything surrounding school and all the uncertainty with covid with trials and hsc has started to trigger more anxiety than normal. Especially not being able to see my friends in person has been hard, and zooming with them is not nearly the same. I've been finding it impossible to get work done or just feel genuinely happy most days throughout the week. People ask if I'm okay and I don't want to be a burden on anyone so I usually answer that I'm doing good, but I'm not actually. I am being relied on for my friends, checking up on them and making sure they are okay, but I don't have much being reciprocated. I just honestly don't know what to do, and need someone to talk to and actually be there for me, I just don't really know.

Richardb3 depressed 19 year old virgin
  • replies: 9

hello to anyone that reads this. I am a 19 year old male who has never had sex, had a girlfriend or even kissed anyone. I feel like a failure as a man. I am very depressed as a result, especially when hearing about other people my age or younger and ... View more

hello to anyone that reads this. I am a 19 year old male who has never had sex, had a girlfriend or even kissed anyone. I feel like a failure as a man. I am very depressed as a result, especially when hearing about other people my age or younger and their sexual experiences. It's like I am a small child still. I had an eating disorder when i was 15 (over it now) which i believe is one of the key reasons as to why i am in this situation now. I regret that period of my life everyday. Now lockdown is really screwing me over because I can't go out and meet people. I have started seeing a therapist but that isn't really helping because i can't go back in time prevent myself from getting to this point. I really hate life and i don't know what to do.

janine is happy I failed a test and I feel like a failure
  • replies: 4

Today, I got my math test which I did miserably. My classmates got better marks than me and I felt jealous. Even my sister got better marks. I then went home and told my parents and they got really mad at me, saying that I would be homeless in my fut... View more

Today, I got my math test which I did miserably. My classmates got better marks than me and I felt jealous. Even my sister got better marks. I then went home and told my parents and they got really mad at me, saying that I would be homeless in my future. I’m currently really sad and have negative thoughts. How do I cope?

Trish2 I feel too insecure in life
  • replies: 2

So, after about 11 years or so, (I'm now 21) I only somehow just came to realise that I may have actually been bullied as a kid. I hung out with a pretty popular group at the time and I felt like I was the odd one out. I'd get made fun of and at time... View more

So, after about 11 years or so, (I'm now 21) I only somehow just came to realise that I may have actually been bullied as a kid. I hung out with a pretty popular group at the time and I felt like I was the odd one out. I'd get made fun of and at times I think I was also physically hurt like I had a hard ball thrown at me (and being jumped on in a pool). At the time I never thought much of it because the adults would laugh it off and say we were having fun and for a long time, I believed it; but I came to realise that it's affected me well into my teenage years and even later which I never expected. I've been so insecure in many areas throughout almost my whole life because I've never felt like I was good or cool enough to hang out with people who may have been more like-minded to me than I would have thought. As a result, I think I've missed out on A LOT. I've purposely avoided trying to make friends with those who actually seem really awesome simply because I didn't feel worthy enough or perhaps I was scared of getting rejected. I've got no clue where to go from here since it's been engraved in my mind that I'm not good enough from an early age and It's just crazy to think I only notice this now? I just feel so out of place in life and I'm worried there's not much I can do at this point to change things. I just felt like saying something about it and thanks for taking the time to read this

kirbyGirl Where do I even start
  • replies: 3

I don't even know how to put in writing how I feel anymore, but here we go. Bit of background - for most if not all my life, ive been abused by a father and emotionally and physically manipulated by my mother and sister. I moved out in January this y... View more

I don't even know how to put in writing how I feel anymore, but here we go. Bit of background - for most if not all my life, ive been abused by a father and emotionally and physically manipulated by my mother and sister. I moved out in January this year, and while its been the best decision ive ever made, its also led to a lot of other problems, dramas, and realization. Ive started to realize how much anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc I have - and even become aware of the fact I have had OCD for a long time. Usually i can cope with kind of stuff, and I just work through it, but im finding myself cracking, I feel like I'm falling and I dont know what to do. R recently I found out I am pregnant (accidently) and will soon have to go through an abortion which is so scary to me, and no one seems to really grasp how this is affecting me even though i have mentioned it, the worst part is I cant even have my family with me. Over the span of 4 months ive lost so many friends ive lost count, a lot of the time this was because they were toxic, but recently my friend went off at me because I didnt realize they're pronouns were they/them and accidentally referred to them as she a few times - this is completely my fault as I was very much sheltered and kept from things like this by my toxic family, but it really upset and bothers me because I never want to upset someone like that Ontop of this my current bf doesn't seem to listen to me generally, he tends to ignore me when i express im upset and only realizes he messed up when i start to cry. Theres so much more i can unpack, problems upon problems, and its all just suddenly made me snap i guess you could say - I feel like i want to cry and scream constantly, Im frustrated, and dont want to be around people at all, ive started to go back to old habit thats are extremely bad for me, and i just feel utterly hopeless...i guess when youve suffered for so many years and have people consantly tell you "it gets better" as their response, yet it never does, you really start to lose hope. Anyone have any advice on my situation?

Someone-who-sleeps Life feels so hard
  • replies: 6

I have felt a little broken lately, I don't even know why. I have people who care and love me, I have friends but I feel so down. My friend group has been torn lately, one day they are all happy the next they are tense. I don't know what to do. I als... View more

I have felt a little broken lately, I don't even know why. I have people who care and love me, I have friends but I feel so down. My friend group has been torn lately, one day they are all happy the next they are tense. I don't know what to do. I also feel like school is becoming a pressure and a bit to deal with. I complain so much, my friends and family are sick of it. I haven't cried for a while so that is good...right? I feel like my life is a mess, I just can't keep up with it some days. I feel like I am being petty and I should be complaining about myself. There are many others suffering more.

rosa-rose Just started Year 12 and I'm struggling to cope
  • replies: 6

I was sort of always a high achiever in previous years of my schooling and I've sort of built a reputation about it. But the truth is I've always struggled with time management. I struggled through my finals exams in Year 11 because of it, and fell i... View more

I was sort of always a high achiever in previous years of my schooling and I've sort of built a reputation about it. But the truth is I've always struggled with time management. I struggled through my finals exams in Year 11 because of it, and fell into a really really bad state of anxiety where I struggled to eat or do anything... I felt like I failed, and therefore already messed up Year 12 and that I no longer had a future. Even after the exams were over I stayed in this state of extreme anxiety. I woke up everyday of the holidays terrified about the future and crying over how I've ruined everything or I wasted my opportunity at High School. I couldn't stay calm no matter what I tried, my mind was always jumping to the future or the next thing to worry about. Towards the end of the holidays I feel as though my brain got tired of it all, and suppressed these feelings... so now I just feel really numb and depressed. This has been making it very hard to stay motivated because I can't bring myself to care about things I used to anymore and I feel so disappointed in myself for it. I dropped mathematics as a subject recently because I struggle with it and felt it was affecting my other subjects. But after looking up how important math is in general in regards to opening up careers, I've been stressing and regretting my decision. I feel so indecisive and I hate it. Everything is just too hard now. I can't concentrate in class anymore, I'm struggling to get even just simple homework done. I've been getting my exam results back as well and they actually turned out to be alright, but for some reason it only makes me feel more pressured that I probably won't do as well in this final year. I want to graduate and not let all these years, and all the money my mom spent to send me to school go to waste. I want to finish High School for myself and for my family, but it's so hard and I feel like I'm never going to get better. I'm just so tired. I hate feeling like this and I hate wanting to run away from my problems all the time. Lately when I struggle in class my immediate thoughts are that I want to just drop out, and I hate it. I've also been sort of overcommitted in extracurricular activities (particularly a ministry camp I just went on, which put me a week behind Year 12 work that I'm struggling to catch up with) and it's really taking it's toll on me. I don't want to give up when I'm so close to finishing but I'm just so so tired.

Avondale1234 Don’t want to help myself
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone I am a 25 year old, work full time and live with my partner in a long term relationship. I’m grateful for everything I have in life, but I just feel like I can’t cope. I’ve been struggling with anxiety/depression, lately more than ever. I... View more

Hi everyone I am a 25 year old, work full time and live with my partner in a long term relationship. I’m grateful for everything I have in life, but I just feel like I can’t cope. I’ve been struggling with anxiety/depression, lately more than ever. I’m on medication and am seeing a psychologist. but Every time I feel like I’m doing better I just crash and it feels like a failure, and then I just spiral again. I feel like I’m getting to the point where I feel too comfortable with this pattern and don’t know how/want to help myself anymore. I feel like I know what I need to do, I know my triggers, but i just can’t help myself and don’t have the motivation to get better because I know I’ll just end up here over and over again. does anyone else feel this way? Does anyone have any suggestions? thanks in advance

rabarbie Always overwhelmed
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone, this is my first post and the closest I can get to some form of help.. As of recently (the past 6 months), I have been extremely stressed/tired/anxious/overwhelmed - primarily from school. I have extremely high expectations of myself in ... View more

Hi everyone, this is my first post and the closest I can get to some form of help.. As of recently (the past 6 months), I have been extremely stressed/tired/anxious/overwhelmed - primarily from school. I have extremely high expectations of myself in achieving a 98 ish atar, but as of now things aren't exactly going as I hoped and some of my marks/ranks are subpar. Aside from that I'm having trouble starting anything from anxiety, and now i'm left with a few days before my assessment with almost no preparation. This isn't the reason I'm writing here though. All of this has been amplified by my parents that are constantly yelling, shouting, screaming at me, telling me how much they hate me, and how I'm useless, how I won't accomplish anything. They make no room to prioritise giving me some space, or listen on to my needs. No, infact they laugh and yell ay me when I cry, telling me its irrational. Now as a student who wants/almost needs to achieve a 98...I have so much, too much workload. But all this pressure is just getting to me. Its too much, so much. And I don't have time for a break, or my break ends up being waay too long you know. Getting any sort of counselling is also off the table.... bc parents. And overall, Im very uncomfortable talking about family to anyone I know who is close to me. Please, what should I do. I'm trying to be strong and balance all this pressure, overhwelming anxiety and stress whilst maintaining good grades and dealing with my parents but its...hard.

Sakina_ Loss of family members
  • replies: 5

I just need someone to talk to..anyone. If you're willing to listen please reply, it would mean a lot to me. This thread is for people dealing with loss. Stay safe. <3.

I just need someone to talk to..anyone. If you're willing to listen please reply, it would mean a lot to me. This thread is for people dealing with loss. Stay safe. <3.