Young people

A space for people aged 12-25 to discuss life. If you’re over 25, please be mindful that this is a space for younger people to connect.

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romantic_thi3f 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 i... View more

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!

Sophie_M 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 mindfu... View more

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

pinktulip Career counselling
  • replies: 2

Are they any career counselling services for depressed people for a fee? Because I don't see studying re towards my degree anyway because keep getting depressed... and because I've been doing a reduced course load in the first place; I have all the m... View more

Are they any career counselling services for depressed people for a fee? Because I don't see studying re towards my degree anyway because keep getting depressed... and because I've been doing a reduced course load in the first place; I have all the memories of struggling to concentrate etc... And I look online and there's career counselling services but I don't think they are meant for people currently depressed or irritable... Oh, but I'm over 25 so I wouldn't qualify for Headspace advertised stuff... Like a psychiatrist who didn't know what they were talking about re area of study tell me I was letting myself down re changing degrees re shorter period of time and more relevant...

roxie15 I hate myself
  • replies: 4

I do. I have always felt this way. I hate how obnoxious I usually sound and even though it's is not hard for me to make friends, but it's hard maintaining them. The thing is that I was a people pleaser. I used to act how others wanted me to act. So I... View more

I do. I have always felt this way. I hate how obnoxious I usually sound and even though it's is not hard for me to make friends, but it's hard maintaining them. The thing is that I was a people pleaser. I used to act how others wanted me to act. So I used to be hard on myself when people wouldn't like me and make a list of how I can please them. It was exhausting. And moreover, I could never feel close to others because in my mind I always knew that none of them knew the real me. I felt alone. So I decided to change that. I thought this year I will focus all the attention on myself and will not care what others think of me. For that ofc I had to remove all the toxic people from my life to have a new head start (that was the hardest). It is October now, and right when I thought that I would not hate myself and love me for the way I am, it is so hard. For a very long time I have avoided all these flaws in me that it is hard to accept them all over again. I do have a best friend btw (she lives in a different country, I am an international student), and she keeps telling me that although I do act crazy but that is normal, everybody is annoying in one way or the other- they just don't know it. And she's right (wish I was one of them . Life would've been so much easier. But it is not. And the worst, real me is so obnoxious. I don't like her, but I want to because I know this is what I am. And I am this way because of all the rejections, hurt and abandonment. And it is okay to feel this way. But it is hard.

Dove20 I took a break to work on my mental health but all I did for months is stay home, and watch shows.
  • replies: 1

Hi, So, the title pretty much says it all. This year, my mental health took a turn for the worst. I've been suffering from depression and anxiety for a few years. I think it has been snowballing for a long time but this Spring, it just spiralled out ... View more

Hi, So, the title pretty much says it all. This year, my mental health took a turn for the worst. I've been suffering from depression and anxiety for a few years. I think it has been snowballing for a long time but this Spring, it just spiralled out of control. I began having panic attacks, even at home in bed where I should've felt most safe and comfortable. My anxiety stopped me from working at my casual job for months on end; there were too many occasions where I would call in sick because my anxiety just made me feel so sick, nauseous and dizzy. I sought help from my uni's counsellor but he was no help at all. All he was wanted to talk about was my life as a student and not my life outside of my studies which affected me mentally. It got to the point where I could not leave my house because of how bad my physical symptoms of anxiety were. So, when I couldn't attend my internship and had to drop out of the program I decided it was time to drop out of Uni temporarily this year to focus and recover my mental health. However, all I found myself doing was watching TV, Netflix and sleeping. I don't do much else. I tried to find hobbies to enjoy but I don't find myself enjoying anything. Is this self-care? I can't tell if I'm putting myself down the rabbit hole even further or if I'm helping myself recover. The stress and responsibilities of Uni have stopped, but my life stress and obligations are still the same. I'm an assistant caretaker for a family member and am relied on to help our family finances. With COVID making it difficult to get shifts (I only work short shifts 2 times a week), and even more difficult to find a second job the stress of it all becomes too much sometimes. Sometimes, I can't help but feel ashamed that I couldn't continue with Uni while dealing with my life obligations. There are so many people who deal with so much more than me but still push on. I've been asking myself why couldn't I do the same...

princess1 i’m pretty sure I have ADHD
  • replies: 1

hey guys, ever since the start of high school i’ve shown symptoms of ADHD but never really looked into it. Now that i’m in my first year of uni my symptoms are much more present especially that uni is online now because of covid. I have an extremely ... View more

hey guys, ever since the start of high school i’ve shown symptoms of ADHD but never really looked into it. Now that i’m in my first year of uni my symptoms are much more present especially that uni is online now because of covid. I have an extremely hard time sitting in one place and focusing and also remembering information, doesn’t matter what environment i’m in I literally just can’t focus it’s like my brain can’t comprehend what the teacher is saying. I try my hardest to sit and not get distracted but I have an extremely short attention span and I absolutely hate the subject i’m studying right now and i have no interest in it. I’m very hyperactive and I get irritated very easily, I also often get very angry when i’m bored because i constantly like to be doing something 24/7. I’ve been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, BPD and PTSD and i’m also on medication for insomnia because im always too restless to fall asleep.

Egbert97 Anyone else have bad tinnitus?
  • replies: 8

Hi there! Over the last few days it seems my tinnitus has developed for the worse. I was wondering if there's anyone out there that are dealing with tinnitus themselves? Connecting with others about my issues really help & there doesn't seem to be ma... View more

Hi there! Over the last few days it seems my tinnitus has developed for the worse. I was wondering if there's anyone out there that are dealing with tinnitus themselves? Connecting with others about my issues really help & there doesn't seem to be many support groups out there for this issue, let alone for young people.

PoisonRose My Introduction - it doesn't really make sense (sorry)
  • replies: 3

I was a little sceptical about posting. I have never really done anything like this before, but it seems like I have no where else to turn. I have no idea what I am doing with my life, in terms of my studies, career, family. Just everything. I find m... View more

I was a little sceptical about posting. I have never really done anything like this before, but it seems like I have no where else to turn. I have no idea what I am doing with my life, in terms of my studies, career, family. Just everything. I find myself crying everyday because I don't know what to do. I have tried to tell my mum and my sister but they just result in telling me how hard they have it and that my issues are small and I shouldn't worry about it. I told my mum that I wanted to see a psychologist, because I honestly think that the way I feel everyday isn't normal. Her reply was that she needs to see a psychologist, because of all the stress she has. I am sure you have guessed. My mother and I don't have the best relationship. Most of the things that happen at home are put onto me for blame. And hey maybe I am to blame. I am 22 and can't keep my room clean so I get called Lazy which is understandable because I should know better. It's just that every time I come home from work I feel so drained, that I don't want to do anything. So I ended up throwing my clothes somewhere and it builds. It's my fault for this because I understand that it makes my mother angry. My mother will make my sister her lunches and she will turn to me and tell me to get my ass downstairs and make myself something because she now has to go make my dad something. I feel like an outcast. It's petty and I shouldn't complain. But it's just that every time I try to reach out for help I just feel rejected. I feel like I have so much pent up emotion that I am going to explode. I honestly don't know if any of this makes sense. I am literally just blotting down my emotions as they come, so I am sorry if it doesn't make any sense whatsoever. My dad won't say anything he will just side with my mother. I have thought of moving out, but it is so expensive. So then I think to myself I am lucky to have a house and a roof over my head. Maybe I am just being silly and that is just how it is meant to be. My life at the moment has no direction and fells like it has no support from the people I have spent most of my life relying on. Maybe I am just being a baby and need to grow up (which is what I have been told by multiple people). So I don't know. I am just confused and I don't know who to turn to or what I should do. I just need help.

rkhurxnx Music for my heart
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, My name is Rose and I'm new to Beyond Blue. This is my first forum and in it I would actually like to tell you about my experience with pulling myself out of moments when it feels like I'm drowning in my own mind... I'm the type of perso... View more

Hi everyone, My name is Rose and I'm new to Beyond Blue. This is my first forum and in it I would actually like to tell you about my experience with pulling myself out of moments when it feels like I'm drowning in my own mind... I'm the type of person who kind of pretends like i have it all together until I get home and faceplant into my pillow and sob for like an hour, at one stage when I had really bad anxiety and felt really debilitated all the time, it felt like a routine. Like all day I would let all my emotions simmer and then at the end of the day, I would let them all out and cry until my head hurt. I'm sure this sounds relatable for some of you, and what I discovered helped me out of this routine was music. I wasn't really someone who listened to music very much before, kind of just a radio listener in the mornings but through a journey I've discovered music really can lift so much weight off your shoulders and honestly give you so much relief. I took time to discover artists, listen to their albums and find my favourite genres. This really helped me because now whenever I feel super overwhelmed I listen to my spotify playlist and it really lets me relax. On this playlist I have sad songs as well as really upbeat songs, I'll listen to music and all of my worries get washed away with the sound. I'm not very good at singing or dancing but I'll always push myself to sing and dance when I'm at a low because then I don't feel so bad anymore. It's definitely something I would recommend to others as well, let me know if you've had any similar experiences, if not with music, with something else like for example reading or your favourite TV show that never fails to make you smile, let me know your favourite singers and how you've learnt to cope with the weight on your shoulders. This is a safe space so feel free to speak your mind. Please reply because it would be so nice to hear from you all, thank you!

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

Hi everyone, I really don't know what to put here but I'm here because I don't want to bother people with my problems and I'm embarrassed, they probably won't even care. Lately I've noticed that I don't care about many things and I don't know how to ... View more

Hi everyone, I really don't know what to put here but I'm here because I don't want to bother people with my problems and I'm embarrassed, they probably won't even care. Lately I've noticed that I don't care about many things and I don't know how to comfort people either. I just feel so useless and empty you know? I have no motivation to do anything and I'm just emotionless like I can hardly cry. I smile, laugh and joke a lot but I can't tell if it's fake or genuine now. I can't remember being happy. But anyway, I'm not sure if this is just a part of being a teen or if I need some help.

Jolly_Chaplin How to make the right decisions
  • replies: 7

Figuring out what is best for you can be challenging. I do have a helpful tactic. It can be simplified by pulling the information from your head and writing it down. It sounds simple, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t effective. Writing things down will... View more

Figuring out what is best for you can be challenging. I do have a helpful tactic. It can be simplified by pulling the information from your head and writing it down. It sounds simple, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t effective. Writing things down will clear space in your mind, allowing you to think in a more logical way. Logic comes from a sound mind. When you’re looking at all your options on paper, you can become better at making that choice. Spend time by yourself to do this, write down all your worries/concerns What are all the solutions? Which is the best solution? When will I start following the choice I’ve made? Hope this helps. -Chris

Jolly_Chaplin Therapy Through Music
  • replies: 2

Hello everyone. Music has been a huge part of my life now and has been part of my life for over a decade. Learning musical instruments is awesome for brain development and can be a way to express yourself through the sound of your chosen instrument. ... View more

Hello everyone. Music has been a huge part of my life now and has been part of my life for over a decade. Learning musical instruments is awesome for brain development and can be a way to express yourself through the sound of your chosen instrument. It can be a great way to heal yourself and let all your other thoughts fade away. It's also rewarding and exciting! It might become your new passion which you've always needed. Or if it doesn't, that's fine. Better to have tried than never at all. If anyone wants tips for where they can start or how to learn, let me know. -Chris