Young people

Body Dysmorphia - OCD about a flaw on my face

replies: 6

Hi, Ive always been a perfectionist especially when it comes to my skin, i always had acne growing up and then again as an adult which always bothered me and i have quite dark under eye circles, i would get huge anxiety and panick attacks and cancel ... View more

Hi, Ive always been a perfectionist especially when it comes to my skin, i always had acne growing up and then again as an adult which always bothered me and i have quite dark under eye circles, i would get huge anxiety and panick attacks and cancel plans if my makeup didnt go right or when i was younger i would not go to school if i couldn't cover it properly so no one would notice my flaws. Ive always worn makeup pretty much everyday of my life since a teen, and as ive gotten older (37 now) my acne has improved (after medication) but my dark under eyes have remained. I ended up getting filler about 8 years ago which filled in the hollows but not so much the darkness. it was good for a long time and i continued to wear makeup to cover the darkness and didnt worry too much. Well back in november of 2025 i decided to put more filler in there because the hollows had come back slowly over the years with ageing and i had wrinkles i wanted to fill out, this time i went to a different injector, it was a huge mistake, i ended up with a lump on my left side under my eye, which the injector then dissolved after a week as she believed it was overfilled on that side. The dissolver was only supposed to get rid of the lump but it did too much and led to going back really hollow on that side, so i was completely assymetrical and i was left in a panick and felt awful. I had to wait for 2 weeks and then i ended up getting it refilled but much more conservatively, it does not have a lump now but the skin under that side is now crepey and more wrinkly than the other side, it has lots of texture and is still more hollow compared to the right side aswell (given she didnt want to overfill again) i dont want to put more filler in if i coukd help it and when i went back for a check shes said if we did theres a risk i will end up with a lump again. So its been about 8-9 weeks now since the refill and it really bothers me, its all i can think about from the moment i wake up to the moment i go to sleep. I am constanly trying to hide it with makeup techniques to disguise the area, I feel like its so noticeable to everyone and i constanly am checking in mirrors and taking photos in different lighting to see if you can see it or if its changed or gotten worse. its really getting me down to the point i have really bad depression and anxiety now because of it. My relationships are suffering, my work life is suffering and i just feel awful and down all the time. I havent wanted to go out and i havent been able to enoy life or look forward to things like i once did. All i can think about is how i can fix the area but im too scared to try anything else incase it makes it any worse or even more noticeable. I have even looked into surgery to possibly fix it but this is very expensive. The thing is my friends and family and my children all tell me they cant even see what im on about and its not even bad or noticeable at all. They tell me to forget about it and they dont want me to do any more filler or surgery or anything as they dont think i need it but in my head its all i can think about. So why is it so noticeable to me? Its ruining my life and i know it sounds so petty but in my head its a huge deal. My rational part of my brain knows we all have flaws and no one is perfect but its really affected me. I guess im just looking for support or if anyone has been similar and what i should do to help myself without rushing into more procedures which could potentially leave me worse off?

Feeling self conscious

replies: 2

I am grateful to have a great set of friends/family and I mostly enjoy uni. However I feel lonely and I tend to experience bouts of self hatred. I have noticed when I express something, I have a lot of thoughts like “why would I do that?” or “why am ... View more

I am grateful to have a great set of friends/family and I mostly enjoy uni. However I feel lonely and I tend to experience bouts of self hatred. I have noticed when I express something, I have a lot of thoughts like “why would I do that?” or “why am I like this?” Something that shocks my friends is that I have an intense fear of posting on social media, just the thought of it makes me freeze up. Simplest decisions become hard; I am really scared of sharing things like my favourite songs or dressing how I like for what people may think of it, although maybe it is just my shy introverted personality. As a lockdown teen, the other thing is I am really prone to falling down internet rabbit holes for so many different things. I worry about annoying my family/ friends and being a burden with my concerns about my health, even mental health and avoidance of things like food poisoning which can get pretty annoying. I also believe the internet has had a big influence on my identity and I am worried someone will see right through my strange and/or influenced ways (e.g. political opinions, romantic preferences, seeking help, topics of interest). Regardless, thank you for reading and I hope you are doing okay and taking good care of yourself

I’ve suddenly started to feel a strong hatred to people, whether it be randoms or people I know

replies: 2

I don’t know how to explain it, but my patience and tolerance for things has decreased. I am only 16, and have felt like I hate everyone around me. I’m snappy, prone to slam things and punch walls easier, I’m quick to anger, I get angry over things I... View more

I don’t know how to explain it, but my patience and tolerance for things has decreased. I am only 16, and have felt like I hate everyone around me. I’m snappy, prone to slam things and punch walls easier, I’m quick to anger, I get angry over things I never usually got mad at. As soon as I see someone walk past me, I immediately start thinking I hate them. In school, I hate teachers mentally, I hate people at the gym, I hate my own friends and I hate my family. I treat fictional characters better than real people. Life is also dull, my passion for basketball is fading because I’m still a fat loser rotting in his room. ‘Go outside and play then’ easier said then done, when it’s always 35+ degrees where I live during summer and also I can’t go to the gym because I have to rely on my nana to pay for it. I don’t have a tax file number, I don’t have a bank, I don’t even have a phone. I barely passed grade 10 and I already feel like I’m going to fail grade 11. And if you are wondering, I prefer to be alone, I hate people a lot actually, like seriously a lot. Like I can’t stand living around people, to the point where I just lock myself in my room and only leave when I have to and people have the audacity to call me lazy?

Friend Trouble

replies: 6

I need help as i’m struggling with my best friend. Ever since i have got a bf, she had been rude to me, mean, bossy, controlling etc. Now she has gone to the extent of not speaking to me as i stood up for myself. I do live with her which makes it har... View more

I need help as i’m struggling with my best friend. Ever since i have got a bf, she had been rude to me, mean, bossy, controlling etc. Now she has gone to the extent of not speaking to me as i stood up for myself. I do live with her which makes it harder and it’s taking a toll on my anxiety. I’m not sure if it’s jealousy or not. When i try talk to her about it she gets defensive and tries to turn it back on me like I’m the bad guy. Any tips would be helpful.

New school and no friends

replies: 11

Hi everyone, I am a 16 years old girl in year 11. I am finding it very hard to cope at the moment. I started at a new school this year thinking everything was going to change and get better but it is quite the opposite. I was partnered with someone t... View more

Hi everyone, I am a 16 years old girl in year 11. I am finding it very hard to cope at the moment. I started at a new school this year thinking everything was going to change and get better but it is quite the opposite. I was partnered with someone to look after me at my new school but they ditched so now I am finding it very hard to find friends or any group to sit with. Every now and then I’ll ask to sit with a particular group but I feel unwanted and a nuisance to them as their table is full and I’m struggling to socialise as I am consistently worrying all the time. Often I will spend lunch times in the bathroom or go to the library but this continues to affect my mental health negatively. I am often referred to as very shy and quiet but when hearing this it tends to pull down my self esteem even more. I have recently gone through a friendship breakup at my old school and now I have virtually no friends left. The friendship breakup has particularly affected me as it has taken a toll on how I perceive myself. I don’t like who I am and which I was someone confident who made friends easily.I find myself lying in bed crying having no passion for life or to get out because I don’t feel worthy to anyone. I have my mum but she doesn’t completely understand what I’m going through, she’ll say I’m overreacting and doesn’t take mental health as seriously as I wish. I tell myself I sound selfish to be complaining when I know how lucky I am but I can’t help but cry knowing things aren’t changing and no one understands just how much I am struggling. If anyone could share tips it would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Bad friends

replies: 7

I haven’t been on these forums in a really long time but since I have it’s gotten slightly better and then just completely worse. I have had friendship problems for a long time with a particular group and a specific person, recently I was ‘kicked out... View more

I haven’t been on these forums in a really long time but since I have it’s gotten slightly better and then just completely worse. I have had friendship problems for a long time with a particular group and a specific person, recently I was ‘kicked out’ by this group with another friend and the build up to it was awful. it really worsened my already awful mental state and put me in a dark place, they were never good friends but they were fun to hang around and I miss having a big friend group, I really want to make friends out side of school but I have no idea how, I just want to find a few accepting people and friends I can be myself around I, my school is very small so it’s not like I can just join another friend group, I do have 2 friends I still hangout with, I love them but they are surface level friends and I really want to find people I can connect and communicate with, I hope this is not to much to ask for and I am not good at making new friends. any tips on making new friendships would be appreciated.I hope this made sense as I am not very good at explaining things or expressing my emotions.

I struggle with love

replies: 1

Yesterday I was asked out to my first ball by the girl Ive had a crush on for a while, but I feel a sense of emptiness and anxiety. Ive been struggling to talk to girls since I started highschool and its really taken a toll on my mental health and no... View more

Yesterday I was asked out to my first ball by the girl Ive had a crush on for a while, but I feel a sense of emptiness and anxiety. Ive been struggling to talk to girls since I started highschool and its really taken a toll on my mental health and now being asked out to a ball has created a whole new series of overwhelmness and anxiety for me. I'm thinking of just saying that I don't want to go because im not used to this stuff (Im the type of guy that just stands in the corner and doesn't talk at any event), but this is the girl that Ive had a crush on, so why do I want to pass up this opportunity of going to a ball with her. I feel like I wont be fun enough because she's very extroverted and wants to be dancing and all that but im extremely introverted and probably will just stand against the wall the entire night with my other introverted friend. Im gonna try my best and work on my mental health leading up to this event since 10+ weeks away and hopefully get rid of these thoughts and anxiety.

I’m tired

replies: 2

Hey I’m back again. A few months ago made a new friend! And I got really attached (that also seems to be a problem) and I broke down on the phone with them recently and yesterday I got told not to talk about my problems with them or they will cut con... View more

Hey I’m back again. A few months ago made a new friend! And I got really attached (that also seems to be a problem) and I broke down on the phone with them recently and yesterday I got told not to talk about my problems with them or they will cut contact with me. It seems I have been burdening them with too much. It feels like I am going in circles with my life. I can barely distinguish between dreams and reality unless they are completely absurd like magic or something. It’s hard for me to understand other people’s emotions unless they are making obvious signs such as laughing or crying and I don’t know my boundaries with people or how to express my boundaries or emotions. I am too conscious of how people will react to me and trying not to hurt their feelings that I rarely say no. I have agreed to unwanted intimacy which I have been stalling and don’t know how to get out of (he is my friend and is in my year group) sorry I think that is tmi. I’m tired of analyzing how people react to different topics to try and keep the conversations going and I just feel like an npc repeating dialogue every single day trying to keep them as friends. I’m sure problems at home will get better when school starts again but also school will give me more problems. I’m tired to running around trying to fix them. I could use some advice thank you

I don’t know what to do

replies: 3

I saw my dad for the first time in 4 years 1 week and ever since I’ve felt lost and scared when I’m alone. (Bit of a backstory he abused for most of my life.) I’ve been suffering ever since I was younger because it it but since seeing him I just feel... View more

I saw my dad for the first time in 4 years 1 week and ever since I’ve felt lost and scared when I’m alone. (Bit of a backstory he abused for most of my life.) I’ve been suffering ever since I was younger because it it but since seeing him I just feel this sufofocating presence when I’m by myself and my brain Jsut stops. I don’t know what to do

Lost & wanting to be somewhere else

replies: 5

Hello, I have this problem where I really, really want to be somewhere else, living a different life and with different, more interesting, creative and supportive friends. I'm really lost where I am, studying law in a city I don't really like, and I ... View more

Hello, I have this problem where I really, really want to be somewhere else, living a different life and with different, more interesting, creative and supportive friends. I'm really lost where I am, studying law in a city I don't really like, and I have this dream of moving to Melbourne and being surrounded by lovely creative people and pursuing something I love, or just enjoying life before settling down. I feel like I made choices too young (at 18) and now I can't start over and have no idea what to do. Just wish I was living that other life, where I had moved to Melbourne and been surrounding by inspiring people in a cool place, not where I am today. I wonder if anyone has similar experiences of being unable to live in their own life because you feel like you should be living your potential somewhere else. Thanks

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