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

Fibro

replies: 1

Im 19 I have Tourettes, anxiety and depression. After 6+ years of sickness and pain I have finally been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. now every problem I have all makes sense and it makes me so happy that they found something, everyone who said the pain is in my head is now proven wrong, but at the same time im sad. im 19, I have no energy, im tired, im sore everywhere among so much else this isn't usually diagnosed until average age 45, It developed young and only 3-6% of the world have it I don't feel so trapped anymore as for ages it was an ongoing circle of all pain and sick and no results (fibro doesn't show on any test) and now I know, but I feel kinda more alone and still stuck for an answer as to what I can do. im working with a team to help manage my symptoms but it'll never be cured, there is no cure and every day will bring some degree of pain. My partner is lovely and mum is helpful, but they just don't all understand. on the outside I look happy to them as I found something, but in reality im scared because I know what can happen and know I will never have it quite as easy as others, I get told just not to think about it but obviously its not just that easy I don't know, I just feel stuck but in a different way

Hi

replies: 7

I am young, most of the threads I see are older than me. So I want to come on here and express how I feel being a teenager that's almost about have a load of responsibilities dumped on me. But I also just want to find people like me. Anyways Hello View more

extreme pre-exam stress

replies: 70

Growing up, I was never one of those diligent kids; you know the type. Those that go around holding massive organised binders with highlighted notes and study timetables... I would show up to class, occasionally listen, and binge study the night before; strangely, I managed to get by until year 11, when my grades began dropping quite extremely. This year, I am in year 12, the final grade of school. Afterwards, it's university where my life can truly begin, and I can mostly be independent and free. But before then, there's this hurdle I must cross; the HSC. The moment 2019 began, something clicked and I felt this resolve; I must study hard, I must work to get the best results I possibly can. Surely that's great, ambition is key to success and all that, right? Nope. I've heard stories of people who've gone overboard, and I've always pushed that aside. People told me that you should always put your health and wellbeing above studying and they're definitely right, as I've learnt much too late. Now I've fallen into a deep dark hole that I can't get out of. The start of the year was great; I made sure I slept at 10:30pm, I kept a diary, I made sure most of my homework was done and studied hard over the monthlong summer holidays. Alas, it wasn't enough. <- Result of me being too lax throughout year 11 Now I'm in the middle of my assessment block, which'll go on until end of next week. We get ranks in these. As a result, I'm finding myself studying until 3-4am, I'm studying on the train, I'm skipping meals to study, I don't take breaks... Incredibly unhealthy. I've been suffering from low blood sugar levels, and now I've fainted twice in public from fatigue, and fell onto hard concrete both times so I've currently sustained injuries on my arms, legs and fingers (making it difficult to write fast). Not long ago, something happened (not going to go into much detail, it's not too relevant) which wasted an hour of my time. I had a completely mental breakdown, and refused to eat dinner, sobbing and panicking in the fear that people may have 'caught up' to me in that one hour. I have a stomach ulcer as a result of skipping meals, and the pain worsens when I'm hungry. Yet despite starving from skipping meals, I felt as if I had to catch up due to that lost hour. Just that one mere hour. I have gone from overly lax to excessively stressed. I can't help it, and I don't know what to do. If anyone could leave advice, I would so grateful. I just can't go on like this. C74

Struggling more than ever

replies: 2

When i was 13 i broke, My mother never really listened to me or understood how much id missed out on. School, i never had the right uniform and was ridiculed by teachers and students. Big sis would always get lunch money, i never did. At home, i missed out on birthdays because of bills, and when i was told it would be "made up to me" at tax time, instead me and both my sisters would get stuff, so i was still left missing out for my birthday. Anytime id ever try telling mum of any of my problems, she acted as if they were too hard and sent me to my room where id spend the rest of the night crying. When i broke, i yelled and sceamed and shut her down whenever she would speak. I made her listen to me i explained everything i had a problem with, she eventually agreed it was all very unfair. Soon after she took me to the doctors where she told him "My son gets angry all the time, i think its just teenage hormones" thats when he suggested i may have bi polar (he knew this from the 1 line my mum said) and from then i had been put on mood stabilisers. That was 11 years ago, im still broken, i still get angry everyday, ive begged my mum to go back to the doctors and actually explain what my problem is/was, she refuses. I feel as if i never got the right "help". I never got help for being broken. Now i feel as if im too far gone, and am so lost as to what to do anymore

A bit of a mess

replies: 7

Hi, it's my first time on here so I feel a bit weird to be honest. I thought I might come on here and rant for a bit just because I feel like letting some stuff out. Recently I moved schools, halfway through last year I fell into a depressive state and was having panic attacks and I just wouldn't go to class because I didn't feel like doing anything at all at the time and everything seemed really pointless. Anyway, I just moved this year thinking I was going to have a fresh new start and all my problems would just magically fix (it was really stupid I know) I was disappointed and all my expectations weren't matched obviously. It was the same thing all over again but worse, I had to start from scratch and make friends and I was falling behind in class, I had made friends that had turned out to be toxic and overall I just felt terrible. It's really overwhelming and I feel so lonely right now. i feel like I can't talk to anyone and I want to get out but I know im probably overreacting. I feel like I have no one to go and talk to, but that's mainly my fault because I'm too shy and scared about it. I feel like I'm causing a problem, like if I seriously talk about myself I'm being extremely selfish because so many other people need help more than me. im sorry this was all over the place but I don't know what to do right now.

Alone

replies: 1

Hey guys This is my first time posting on one of these, where do I begin. So I recently ended a friendship of 10 years with my best friend, it was my choice ( I had reasons) I did not want to but it had to be done. I have other friends but they all have boyfriends now and I feel like they have ditched me. I feel so alone now I feel like no one cares about me. My own family doesn't understand . I cant go out at the moment as my sister has special needs and cant get sick, so I have to wait until winter is over I just dont know what to do, I hate being so alone. I have had so many failed friendships and I dont know why, I try my best to be a good friend. It feels like people take advantage of me as ive been told i am to nice. All I want in life is a group of friends.

Feeling anxious, lonely and confused

replies: 4

So I left home when I was 17. It's now been almost 18 months living in a town I had never been before and didn't know anybody. I have family and friends that live within a 70km radius although have hardly visited them as some times I feel like I may be intruding. I thought it would get easier as the time passed, but since turning 18 and meeting the most amazing boyfriend I have been really struggling with living away from my home town. I enjoy my own company a lot and I like to do my own thing although now it feels a bit much going to work everyday then coming home to no one. I message and call my parents and boyfriend so much but it's not the same as talking in person. I'd move home in a a heart beat although I do struggle with worrying constantly. I worry about what people think and I am never focused on trying to please myself it's always everyone else. I recognise that but need help with pushing past and learning to be true and honest with myself. I also worry about money as I am on trainee wages and paying rent and a car loan. There aren't many jobs in my home town and I am worried that I'll leave a full time job to potentially nothing for a while. In also struggle with what people will think of that ! I'm blowing up at everyone for no reason and am so moody and on edge and have been for the last 12 months at least. But I have also changed for the better since meeting my boyfriend 12 months ago. I feel terrible when we fight but I'm so bad for snapping at him and taking everything out on him. It's hard living away from him and sometimes I can be so blunt and nasty with messages because I'm just 'not in the mood' I definitely need help with changing before I lose him and my family ... I need to learn how to cope with things and techniques for living with anxiety and sometimes depressive feelings (sad,moody,tired a lot)

21, lonely, single, empty & fantasy

replies: 11

Hi, I dont even know how I got here. I have never even read any threads on here let alone written any. But here we are. I doubt this will even help, but at least I'm willing to try. Oh man where to begin. In a nutshell I am in university, studying something I really love and am passionate about. I've traveled, I have supportive friends, loving and devoted parents. And yet. I am almost 21 and have never been in love. Not even close. I am a virgin. I crave love, I yearn for it, I spend hours (and I mean hours and hours) imagining and daydreaming about what love could be like. I am addicted to movies, tv and books about love. And at the end of all of them I am left feeling more empty and alone that I ever would have. People would describe me as bold, outgoing, honest, brave, strong. But i feel like my insides are made of glass. Like there is hardly anything there. Like my body is one giant hole. I am a happy person. I am passionate about life. I care. But i am lonely. Every, single, day. It's like I have to fight my imagination, my desires about being wanted. Because I am deathly afraid that it will never happen for me. Watching those movies, reading the books, is the most short-lived escape and provides me with the only flicker of feeling that i wouldn't otherwise have. Its like loneliness sits on my shoulders and in my stomach. Everything feels heavy sometimes. I binge watched a romance show last night and spent most of today lying down staring at nothing. I dont like how this makes me feel. But I have always been alone. This is not new. Sincerely,

Moving back to my old school

replies: 2

So, a bit of backstory first... My mum moved an hour away from my highschool to live with her boyfriend. Due to this moving, I also moved schools to one around the corner from our new house. This happened around August of 2019. Currently, he has abused my mother verbally and physically while in the relationship but the police refuse to look at our evidence as it's a matter of Family Law, and we were evicted from the house because this ex boyfriend has convinced the police that we only lived there for one month too. I'm now living at my Nans for the time being which is nearby my old school. It's difficult to attend my current school as its an hour away, so my mum had suggested I move back to my old school as it's more convenient. I'm in Year 11 so it's difficult moving schools during my prelims but I can see the pros of moving back. I would be with all my old friends, with teachers I know and in a familar environment. However, at this new school I met a girl and we've been dating for three months. We were both new students when we met so she is new to the school as well. I see how convenient it is to move back to my old school, but I don't want to leave my girlfriend in a new school with few friends, and it will also be a strain on our relationship trying long distance (realistically we probably won't see each other much if i go back to my old school). I'm really stumped. I know the right choice would be to go back to my old school but i really don't want to deal with any of this at all. It's all very stressful.

Forgetting how to live

replies: 5

Hi, This is the first time I have shared anything like this, but after reading the threads, I feel less abnormal and alone in my feelings. For a while I have struggled to find the motivation to do anything, so much so that I don't even recognise myself anymore. School was once my biggest priority but now, in my second year of uni, I can't seem to bring the same effort to any of my current work. Nearly every day I simply wake up, am overwhelmed by the thought of facing another day, and so distract myself by watching Youtube or Netflix until the day's over. I can only move for work. I'm so frustrated with myself because I know that I have such a great family, great friends, and the incredible opportunity to be educated, so why can't I do anything!? I'm scared of going out and seeing people, mostly because I fear what they will think when they see me. Battling an eating disorder for the last three years, I am extremely self-conscious of my body and weight; it seems impossible for me to think of anything else. When it first started, I would constantly get comments about how great I looked, and how much weight I had lost. But now, as I try to develop a healthy relationship with food, I have gained back all of the weight I have lost and more. I feel disgusted with myself and cannot escape the thought that I am worthless because I am not the image of beauty that the world tells me I should be. I have never felt so much self-hatred. I think I escape into other film and tv worlds just to imagine what it would feel like to live again. I feel like I haven't allowed myself to really live for a long time. I have this constant battle between the idea that I am not worthy enough to be alive, and the other side which tells me I am so selfish for being consumed with my own issues. I want to be there for my family and friends, and I want to be there for my community through activism and volunteering, but I just get so caught up in my own darkness. I don't know how to stop being so self-centred. I'm terrified it will be like this forever. I see a therapist regularly, but I am battling with the question of whether I should also take medication. I was prescribed antidepressants but I didn't take them as my family thought and I thought I could make it through without them. It's not working, so I think I want to give them a try. I would love to hear of some people's experiences with them if they are willing to share. There's no one I can really talk to about this. Thank you

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

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

Fibro replies: 1

Hi replies: 7

extreme pre-exam stress replies: 70

Struggling more than ever replies: 2

A bit of a mess replies: 7

Alone replies: 1

Feeling anxious, lonely and confused replies: 4

21, lonely, single, empty & fantasy replies: 11

Moving back to my old school replies: 2

Forgetting how to live replies: 5