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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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yes is there still hope for my atar
  • replies: 4

Hiback in yr 11 i was doing pretty well like my grades were good and i played sports but i dont know why everything went wrong in year 12 and it's not even because of some external reason. I just know it all started with one subject that i used to be... View more

Hiback in yr 11 i was doing pretty well like my grades were good and i played sports but i dont know why everything went wrong in year 12 and it's not even because of some external reason. I just know it all started with one subject that i used to be doing really good at which, on my first yr 12 exam, i basically failed and then it just spread to my other subjects one by one. If I do good at one, I do bad in another. I even quit sports to focus solely on studying but it was no use. This term it was especially bad because i was under average in all my subjects and by a lot as well. I don't know i feel like all the goals i had from before have just evaporated because theyre unreachable now. I dont get why i suddenly did bad in the only year when my marks are meant to count and now im just depressed and unmotivated to continue studying because this is the result every time.

iamveric Limerence. Loneliness.
  • replies: 3

Hey y'all, I'm Veric and I feel like shit. I've had limerence for the past year now for this guy I met when I was gaming. We've known each other for two years now, and the limerent feelings started as I got to know him a lot better and found out we a... View more

Hey y'all, I'm Veric and I feel like shit. I've had limerence for the past year now for this guy I met when I was gaming. We've known each other for two years now, and the limerent feelings started as I got to know him a lot better and found out we actually live in the same city. Fast forward to now, we still haven't met IRL. I know he doesn't have any feelings back and I'm fully aware that it's all unrequited. He's definitely become a friend and has even met my own closest friends. There are times we don't talk for weeks and I know I shouldn't expect us to be constantly talking, but there's no reciprocation at times. I feel lonely especially my mates all got their own partners and I'm naturally on my own most of the time. I've been trying to distract myself with my hobbies and other things, but he was the one that I talked or just virtually hung out with when I was alone. I've been doing well trying to do no contacts and lessen the amount of times we talk. I have no idea with I should let this thing go. I'm just making myself miserable and I wanna protect my peace and energy. It's definitely made me lonelier, but it lessened the times I became attached to him. I've been working on myself for the past six months trying to understand all these feelings and ways I gotta handle myself. If anyone has gone through limerence before or even just unrequited love, I would appreciate any advice and guidance as to how you've managed through it all. It would really help me out just knowing I'm not alone on this.

Guest_88424214 School troubles
  • replies: 3

I can remember last year where I thought that my life was great. I was getting good grades, my socializing skills were great, I lacked stress and I felt safe. However, this year, I lost all of those.It all started with my large friendgroup consisting... View more

I can remember last year where I thought that my life was great. I was getting good grades, my socializing skills were great, I lacked stress and I felt safe. However, this year, I lost all of those.It all started with my large friendgroup consisting of 8 people, I used to be included in all of their conversations. But one of the girls suddenly decided to take authority and excluded me from every conversation simply because I stopped listening to 'k-pop'. Even when I come to lunch late with other people from the friendgroup, I'm always the one being scolded and criticized. Not only do I not feel accepted with my friends but also my classmates. I used to have a close relationship with every single one of my classmates due to my constant socialising skills (I'm an ESTP) and in class I'm in this trio of girls. Nowadays, my classmates have been ignoring my existence and paying all of it on my friends from the trio. They would only talk to me for test answers or for favours and I'm tired of it. No matter how hard I try to socialise, I either be left forgotten or as the last option. I know it might sound stupid but I'm jealous, I feel alone. I even just found out that the girls in my trio hung out without me and them and my friendgroup have groupchats that didn't have me in it.Plus, on my birthday, every single friend forgot my birthday, and when I told them they just brushed it off and told me it was no big deal. Yet, when it's someone else's birthday, although I'm closer with my friends, my friends bombard them with gifts and happy birthday songs. I just can't help but feel excluded and forgotten by everybody. The group I used to feel safe with no longer makes me feel belonged.Furthermore, my grades have been going down and my stress have been skyrocketing high. My school gives students a bunch of learning tasks and I used to be able to keep up with them. But recently, I've been so focused on all of my friendship issues and cramped test schedules that I can't sleep, study or even find ways to seek happiness. My whole life is a mess. I used to get grades that was 95% at minimum, and now I'm stuck at 66% in only 6 months.I'm so tired of this feeling but I can't tell what feeling it is. I just want to live my life. Is that too hard to ask?(sorry if the grammar and fluency of this post is horrible, I'm just writing directly from what I'm feeling)

Lovster Recently got diagnosed with ADHD in year 12 and I keep spiralling
  • replies: 1

Sorry if this keeps getting posted, my phone keeps freezing I recently got diagnosed with "severe combined ADHD" (as the psychiatrist put it) and generalised anxiety disorder After struggling for all of high school, my mum took me back to get tested ... View more

Sorry if this keeps getting posted, my phone keeps freezing I recently got diagnosed with "severe combined ADHD" (as the psychiatrist put it) and generalised anxiety disorder After struggling for all of high school, my mum took me back to get tested (I went in year 7 but was told if there was actually something wrong I would’ve been tested earlier, and I was likely faking it as it was a “fad after lockdown”) and I got diagnosed with ADHD and GAD The psychiatrist I see for the medication kept giving me different types with the same effect. Essentially all would work at first and pretty well, I felt like for the first time I could do my schoolwork with ease, but then I would get crippling side effects when it wore off, and they would wear off faster. For my earliest ones, I would spend class with such debilitating headaches and brain fog that I couldn't function properly. I spent my exam block trying too hard to concentrate but then the medication would start wearing off and it made work near impossible. It also made it near impossible for me to do my job too. But at least cause they were short acting I could just quit them and stop taking them cold turkey I'm now on a different medication, and this has been by far the lowest l've felt so far. The previous dose gave me severe side effects in the morning where I was an actual zombie, but in the afternoon I could function perfectly. Then weeks later the severe crashes began to happen, and they were horrific. The crashes are tearing me apart. I can't control my emotions at all. It's like I'm a host in my own body every single night when I wear off. I have huge breakdowns, just sobbing and begging for this all to end, or I have fits of extreme anger where I scream all night and toss everything, and I've put holes in my wall. My mum is scared. Every little thing sets me off once I hit the crash. Off the medication, I get severely depressed, I can't do anything, and knowing that something could help me function but it isn't working makes me even more depressed The psychiatrist gave me medication to help when the crash happens, and otherwise told me to take it as needed, but it doesn't help. I crash before I realise to take it, and taking it during the crash doesn't help. I don't know if this is just from the stress of exams/life or the medication, but the exams are only going to get worse and I can't function like this I’m so behind on my schoolwork from being off or being too sick to pay attention, so trials and the hsc will be so much more stressful Last Friday he told me there's essentially there's nothing more he can do, either grin and bare it, go cold turkey, or go to hospital for a while Now I feel utterly helpless

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

Ever How to talk about feeling?
  • replies: 7

Hello! I'm Ever,I'm in year 10 and for 2 years now i feel like i've been really struggling everywhere; school, friends, self image, studies, family. Nothing to warrant immediate concern but everything's been building up so much it hurts. I've always ... View more

Hello! I'm Ever,I'm in year 10 and for 2 years now i feel like i've been really struggling everywhere; school, friends, self image, studies, family. Nothing to warrant immediate concern but everything's been building up so much it hurts. I've always been anxious, shy and have really low lows in my life already. Including panic attacks that and SH that i haven't been able to talk about how i wanted. Last when i tried to seek help from a counsellor i was brushed off, i'm wandering if it's my fault or i've blown it out of proportion or if my feelings are even relevant, i can't ever seem to tell others where they come from, even writing this i can't express myself.Anyone know how you actually talk about feelings like that? Or know what's going on, basically i could use some tips regulating my mental health, i spiral easily and am impulsive, terrible mix.

bril4 Why did I force myself to go to uni?
  • replies: 3

I've been set on going to uni for as long as I can remember. I think it's because my mum never went and she'd always done so much for me, that I wanted to make her proud. From a young age, I always tried to get good marks so she'd be happy. Then high... View more

I've been set on going to uni for as long as I can remember. I think it's because my mum never went and she'd always done so much for me, that I wanted to make her proud. From a young age, I always tried to get good marks so she'd be happy. Then high school came along, and that no longer became possible. Especially with COVID, my motivation began to decrease, and I slowly stopped trying. Fast forward to last year, I finished year 12. I ended up with better marks than expected and was able to get into a uni in my dream city. I thought that since I'd finally be doing something that interests me, I'd be able to work harder. I was wrong. I joined uni without really knowing what I wanted to be in the future. I've always been a procrastinator and being in uni would never change that. I started off well, passing all my classes and even getting HDs. Now I'm at the end of Trimester 1 and I feel like giving up. I find my courses dull and excessive, which I should've expected as no one said uni would be easy. For some reason, I didn't think this would apply to me. My depression and anxiety are worse than ever before. I hate myself for forcing all this pressure onto myself. It doesn't help that since I'm in a new city, I have no friends I can easily talk to. All I have is my mum who knows nothing of this. Right now I'm writing this with 3 overdue assignments due 4 days ago. I don't know what to do. I feel stuck. I know I should just lock in and do it, but my brain is telling me "what's the point?" and so I just sit around and watch youtube instead and drown in self-pity. I hate that this is my reality. I hate that if I don't hand anything in in 3 days time, I'll get a 0. I should've never enrolled. I was never smart enough for it anyway.

tofu_puppy Bullied and betrayed
  • replies: 3

I made my first ever highschool friend on orientation. We hit off, she's amazing. Lets call her K. K and i were close and our group grew a lot from 2 people to 16. She is funny, kinda dark but your stereotypical teenager. She fit in the crazy side of... View more

I made my first ever highschool friend on orientation. We hit off, she's amazing. Lets call her K. K and i were close and our group grew a lot from 2 people to 16. She is funny, kinda dark but your stereotypical teenager. She fit in the crazy side of the group and lunchtimes were so funny. I ignored many things that she did, subtly fatshame us even though she's also overweight herself. Openly racist to the point i followed suit. Which i deeply regret now looking back. She started to fatshame my friend, telling her to commit suicide and get weight loss medication. Photoshopping her onto a fat mans body with blood and knives and needles everywhere. I was scared but i loved the few friends i had left so i took them under my wing, standing up for ourselves and telling the teacher with all the evidence i could rack up, screenshots, chats, timestamps. This was over the course of weeks and weeks of hard work and meetings and late nights. In the end, we won, they got their punishment and i felt so accomplished. The "friends" i kept under my wing? they betrayed me. all 6 of them. saying the punishment was too harsh, doubting their futures and being concerned that it would impact their future jobs like "what if they wanted to be doctors and a suspension or expulsion won't let them" keep in mind i have a super close "friend" who was also a victim alongside us which was around the same level of maturity as me and i thought she would back me up. I was wrong. She went along with it. It was the last day we were ever going to spend together at school, i was leaving for holidays and she wasn't going to be here next term because she was moving schools. I couldnt keep going on that day. i put my goodbye present in her bag and begged my mum to pick me up. I did. I only spent half of my last day with her. After coming back from my holiday and spending it fighting with my parents and ignoring all thoughts about school, it came back to me, making me break down and scream and shake and cry uncontrollably. I detached from the friends who were still going my school, the one i was closest with too. Today something happened at my mums work and she's upset. I took that into consideration and unpacked her bags, cleaned her room and went back to comfort her. Im thirteen by the way. I talked to her but she ignored it, asking how my chiropractor session went today. I told her the details but she cold and rude. I broke down 5 times in the last hour because she said, "why are you so sensitive?" Im. DONE..

cantdothis Rant about my life in university <3
  • replies: 2

I started university and I have met so many people but I just am struggling to connect with anybody on a deeper level. I'm not actually friends with any of these people. I know these people but I don't KNOW them. AT THE SAME TIME, I'm realising I mad... View more

I started university and I have met so many people but I just am struggling to connect with anybody on a deeper level. I'm not actually friends with any of these people. I know these people but I don't KNOW them. AT THE SAME TIME, I'm realising I made NO highschool friends, but it seems i'm gradually drifting from all of those too. How the hell is this possible? I get FOMO so bad now. I don't get invited to group stuff anymore. What even happened in my life to screw up so bad that nobody wants to be friends with me. The issue isn't that I'm not meeting people because I'm meeting people. God, I feel so fucking lonely. I feel so lonely and I don't think anybody cares how I feel. And recently, it feels like my best friend has stood me up twice even though it's probably just miscommunication but I'm just upset. I'm upset because I'm already alone but now I can't even rely on my best friend. I can't rely on anybody and I am by myself and alone and I am alone. I went out the other day, great stuff, and I came home and I just don't even feel happy. I don't even feel happy when I go out. I run so I can forget about stuff. The only time I feel good is when I'm dancing to really loud music in my room or when I'm drunk. Thank god I live with my parents because otherwise I would be drinking and going out for runs at night. Bless my parents. I just don't understand why it feels like nobody cares about me and if anybody would stop to check in on me and see how I was doing I would really appreciate it. I didn't even have that many friends in highschool either. I went out w/a guy and that has made it even worse because i'll think about him whenever my life is shit and then i'll get even more sad. the worst part is if my social life sucks, my work and grades should be good right? no. somehow all aspects of my life are going shit right now. I'm grateful for everything I have (my parents, a roof over my head, my sister, food) but god. GOD. I literally cannot do this anymore. I just gotta get used to having no friends because this is some real world shit but HOW is my friend making ten times the amount of friends I am. HOW am i losing all my friends. I am alone and I want to cry but I can't even cry so it's just a hollow pit in my stomach. And don't give me no optimistic bs because i've already heard it. I don't care. Worse bc my problems are small compared to other shit. no, i dont have rent, bills. I gotta suck it up and stfu.

Illyana_333 I dont know how people do this.
  • replies: 2

I'm in year 10 of high school and honestly don't know how I'm gonna keep doing this for the rest of my life. Getting out of bed every day just to go to school where i get constantly bullied and always feel judged is killing me and I've got so much go... View more

I'm in year 10 of high school and honestly don't know how I'm gonna keep doing this for the rest of my life. Getting out of bed every day just to go to school where i get constantly bullied and always feel judged is killing me and I've got so much going on i cant be happy for anything. My dad despises me, my mum is so stressed with work that she yells for no reason, my dog is dying soon etc etc. (For added juicy context, i have diagnosed anxiety so that's fun) My dad also wants me to get a part time job on top of allat but hell no. I honestly feel like i need to be placed in a psych ward because i literally have no way of coping for this. And i cant even talk to my parents because my mum is so busy and my dad doesn't believe in anxiety or depression or anything like that. Maybe its my medication, but everything just feels so dull and i don't know how I'm gonna survive like this. All i want to do is go back to bed and never wake up tbh