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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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Skyline97 Tired of being lonely and miserable
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone, I'm a 20 year old male, I don't have any friends and haven't had any real friends even through school/high school I was bullied and avoided through those years. I'm at a point where I am sick of being lonely, I have a job that I work fro... View more

Hi everyone, I'm a 20 year old male, I don't have any friends and haven't had any real friends even through school/high school I was bullied and avoided through those years. I'm at a point where I am sick of being lonely, I have a job that I work from 7-4pm full time. I don't have any opportunities to make friends at work because I work with family. I am socially awkward and can't draw on past friends to be able to go out. I would really like to go clubbing and stuff like most guys my age. It gets me down seeing the good relationships and the amount of fun people have that I see on Facebook and such. How can I make friends and stop being so lonely? My social awkwardness comes from lack of experience, throughout my schooling years I chose video games over social activities mostly because I had no friends. The lonely feeling is killing me.

freshkoriander Unsure if I'm the 'right fit' for Uni
  • replies: 8

Hi all, Newbie here Long story short- I coasted through high school with great academic performance and have spent the last few years in and out of degrees, trying to find something that 'suits' me. I've settled on psychology and I can see myself in ... View more

Hi all, Newbie here Long story short- I coasted through high school with great academic performance and have spent the last few years in and out of degrees, trying to find something that 'suits' me. I've settled on psychology and I can see myself in the mental health arena but I've gone from doing four subjects a semester and doing okay, to 2 subjects and barely scraping through. I have depression and anxiety, and I know for sure that has a huge imapact on my academic performance. Right now though, I really just feel like quitting. I don't like the education I'm receiving- I don't even feel like it's education. I'm not learning, just memorising. And the content does not feel relevant at all. There's no hands-on application for what we're studying and it frustrates me because I know all too well once I graduate, I'll have almost nothing useful to take with me into my career. I've been considering TAFE. I'm just worried I'll start that and it'll be the same as my experience with uni. Any guidance/advice is appreciated. Thank you!

Nightingale_ Everytime i see my reflection or look in the mirror i feel ugly...
  • replies: 2

Hello, I am new to Bluebird and not sure how to start this. I just feel so ugly and can't help but critise myself, i'm not even sure why it matters to me as much as it does because, unlike many others, I know what I want to be and want to do. When th... View more

Hello, I am new to Bluebird and not sure how to start this. I just feel so ugly and can't help but critise myself, i'm not even sure why it matters to me as much as it does because, unlike many others, I know what I want to be and want to do. When the issue of self- depriciation first started for me, I was sated by the arguement of ' people on social media have spent hours trying to perfect their pictures' or 'that's not how they actually look', but now i'm just comparing myself to everyday people and as much as I've tried to stop, I just can't help it... Everytime I try to better my looks (skincare for example) and it works, I would feel happy and content for a miniscule amount of time before the back of my head reminds me, yet again, that I am unattractive. I have mentioned this to my parents, but you can probably guess their response. I'm too scared to talk to this with my friends as I believe that they'd judge me or brush the statement off by saying' you're not ugly' when it's quite clearly a lie. I don't think I've ever gotten a genuine compliment that wasn't from my parents and thinking about that just makes it all the worse. I don't even want to be undeniably beautiful, I just want to be average.

Nub Worry about future career prospects
  • replies: 11

Hi all, I'm 20 and in my penultimate year of university. I am panicking intensely about my future career prospects since I would be graduating with two degrees in an ultimately useless fields since I don't have any skills or abilities that employers ... View more

Hi all, I'm 20 and in my penultimate year of university. I am panicking intensely about my future career prospects since I would be graduating with two degrees in an ultimately useless fields since I don't have any skills or abilities that employers are looking for. I’ve never had a part time job in my life (was originally planning to get one this year, but COVID and moving back home has altered my plans and mental health significantly), and I’m honestly just been feeling defeated and anxious at home. The career I want to go into (museum work) is intensely competitive and rarely has any positions open. While I have volunteered at both galleries and museums for a little over a year I feel like it’s not enough and I don’t know if this would ever lead to full-time (or even part-time) employment. I’m honestly already feeling defeated before I begin. These thoughts been significantly distracting me from my studies, and the fact that my parents remain supportive of me studying my degree makes me feel even more guilty. Since I have no marketable skills and abilities, I feel like a failure who doesn’t deserve the privileges I’ve had. I constantly compare myself to other people my age even when I know that it’s unhealthy and pointless. I need to focus on the ‘now’ rather than anything else, but these thoughts run me in circles and it makes me anxious. I’ve tried to spin my thoughts into being productive, with a ’Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,’ attitude by arranging a meeting with my university careers counsellor and by considering getting a few business/finance certificates from TAFE for the ‘hard’ skills, but I honestly still feel useless. I know that this stuff takes time, but I keep on returning to these thoughts and I feel like my brain is racing away from my body so all that happens is that I feel numb and distracted. I truly love my studies and degree (strongly considering postgraduate study - even if i do constantly stress about my grades), but I can’t help but feel like it’s completely and utterly useless in todays’ competitive job market where I can’t compete with post-graduates and active professionals with experience. Argh. Apologies if this isn’t in the correct thread, but thank you for reading.

emma_cross So Should I open the text?
  • replies: 2

So I have never done anything like this before but I really need to get this off my chest. For reference I work as admin for the Sydney health district which before March was a pretty good job as it is flexible to do between my degree and it gave me ... View more

So I have never done anything like this before but I really need to get this off my chest. For reference I work as admin for the Sydney health district which before March was a pretty good job as it is flexible to do between my degree and it gave me weekends back. As well as that I earned good money without smelling like food or having to deal with money struggles of a failing business. I have a close friend that loss her job about 2 years ago and never looked for a new one as she moved to Melbourne but was living in a college so she had to move back up between semesters. We were quite close but last December, she started shaming me for "working too much". Things I suggested doing she would with other people claiming I was too busy. When I talked to her about it she said her mental health was not great so she couldn't be blamed for ignoring me and then moved back to melb and just stopped talking to all our friends in syd. Right before the border shut, I sent a message to her and another friend who lived in melb with the new restrictions cause I got emailed them. She came back to syd without telling anyone and then broken quarantine rules and was manipulating people saying it was fine. All while receiving from me in a group chat about how I getting abused at work and struggling with keeping my job to not get sent further out in the district. She sent me a message about two weeks later asking if I wanted to hang out. I said yes because I thought we could talk it out. When I brought up my issues what she had done and how it was affecting me she told me I was wrong that she knew more. She started making my pain into a competition of who has hurt more. I knew she didn't want to apologize or even admit that she had hurt me even when I had out right told her that she had. I tried putting that conversation back on to safe topics but her mood changed and just won't talk; only one word answers. Last week she texted me again. I haven't opened. I feel guilty but I just not okay at the moment. I'm struggling with my emotions and coping with the stress and loneliness of covid. I am struggling with anxiety, depression and paranoia but because of covid I cant get my usual help. I know the text isn't "Do you want to hang out?" it seems to be something long and critical of my behavior. I don't know how I would reply. So should I open the text?

missthea Severe anxiety around exams
  • replies: 2

Hi! I'm doing my HSC currently and I get severe anxiety when it comes to exams. I more often than not get anxiety attacks when in exams and I cannot think straight in them and can't recall any information at all despite the fact that when not in the ... View more

Hi! I'm doing my HSC currently and I get severe anxiety when it comes to exams. I more often than not get anxiety attacks when in exams and I cannot think straight in them and can't recall any information at all despite the fact that when not in the exam I can recall just about anything from my subjects. I feel so alone no one else I know experiences anxiety as bad as I do when it comes to exams except everyone tells me that they understand, but they don't. It would just be nice to know that I'm not the only one who feels this way and to see if anyone has any tips for controlling the anxiety when under exam conditions.

J55555 I dont know if I'm okay
  • replies: 3

I've recently started a part time job. I'm in university studying engineering. Although I understand that having a part time job is important, i don't know how to balance my work and study. I want to work but at the same time it takes me alot of hard... View more

I've recently started a part time job. I'm in university studying engineering. Although I understand that having a part time job is important, i don't know how to balance my work and study. I want to work but at the same time it takes me alot of hardwork to understand what my lectures are talking about. I want to do my best and achieve the best of what I can. Although it's normal to be working part time and studying at the same time, i dont knwo if I can handle it. My manager is kind and understanding but always asks if I can work more. Every body at my work place is a uni student, but they all work alot. I don't want to dissapoint them, I don't know if I do what others do. I've thought about quiting if I can't handle it, but my mum is very against it. She says she understands, but I don't think she really does. She always compares me, telling me that I don't actually study. But I do study, i don't even have a social life anymore. I don't have friends in uni. And i feel like compared to most uni students, I've already sacrificed alot of things just to stay home to study. I barely go out with the few friends i have, and I've never been the rebellious teenager who sneaks iut to meet friends. I've always put studying first. But it feels like im5never doing enough. I feel like I'm nlt doing anywhere near what others are doing. My mum tells me that this is life, that i have to learn hoe to manage my time, but i don't know. I feel very emoty. I feel like I'm doing what i can. I don't know if the reason I'm crying is because i can't handle the stress, or if I just feel sad and empty. I dont know how to express this in words, but I don't feel right. Thank you for listening.

bluekangaroo Looking for help on undiagnosed mental health issues
  • replies: 2

Hey Everyone, It's my first time on a forum such as this, so I hope I'm doing the right thing and posting in the right place. I don't know if I'm using the wrong resources here, so if I am and my issues aren't serious enough to be seeking help on thi... View more

Hey Everyone, It's my first time on a forum such as this, so I hope I'm doing the right thing and posting in the right place. I don't know if I'm using the wrong resources here, so if I am and my issues aren't serious enough to be seeking help on this platform, I'd like to apologise in advance. At the end of april/beginning of May, I found myself begin to loose a lot of energy and I was sad every day without reasoning. I felt so down in the dumps and I couldn't explain why. Everyone would tell me there has to be a reason, but I just wasn't all that interested in life anymore and I didn't know why. My boyfriend at the time would be constantly checking up it me, but it would make it really hard when I myself couldn't explain what was wrong or why I was sad. His own mental health issues made him feel useless. This went on for about a month, and at the end of may my boyfriend broke up with me. Here's my main issue - ever since we broke up (and I don't know if thats related, or just a coincidence), I've had a series of panic attacks (at school and work both). The first ever panic attack I had was the night we broke up. The second one, I was in tears for an entire two hours. After that, I lost count. They've sort of died down recently, however, over the past two or so months I've probably experienced a good 6-7 panic attacks. I'm not sure if this is normal or if there is something wrong with me. I guess I would just like to know, should I be taking this more seriously? Or is it just a stupid break up issue? I feel so stupid, I don't even know what is happening most of the time. My ex is my best friend still; I couldn't imagine my life without him. But he can't help me; and I can't even help myself.

bluetime00 lonely hours who tf is up!
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm not used to reaching out to others (which is honestly probably part of my problem), but please bare with me as I'm very new to this whole concept. I'm 20 years old and have been suffering from perpetual and intense loneliness for the past 12 ... View more

Hi, I'm not used to reaching out to others (which is honestly probably part of my problem), but please bare with me as I'm very new to this whole concept. I'm 20 years old and have been suffering from perpetual and intense loneliness for the past 12 months. I have always been quite a sociable person, but suffer from social anxiety and fear that people think I'm boring or not worth their time. After finishing high school I spent a year traveling with some of my closest friends and gained confidence through hanging out with people who were older than me. As time went on a lot of those friendships fell apart and I began to feel very disillusioned and anxious in regards to my social life and place in friendships. Regardless of that fact I continued to go out and remain very close friends with one friend in particular. We did everything together and had since high school. Things then begun to change when she got a boyfriend (I'm aware of how cliche this experience of loneliness is trust me ahah). Nonetheless my friend and I begun hanging out less and I found myself spending the majority of my time alone. I used to be fine spending time by myself but now I find it incredibly isolating and don't know how to overcome this feeling. I also feel desperate constantly asking to hang out with my close friend as she now lives with her boyfriend and he comes to everything we do together. I don't want to come across as spiteful, because I see how happy my friend is in her relationship and I obviously like to know she has someone who cares about her. I feel like I'm surrounded by people in relationships and people who have an abundance of friends which only further perpetuates my feeling of loneliness. Honestly don't know what I'm expecting to get out of this post because I'm not sure what advice I would find useful in this particular situation. If I'm honest I just needed to get this off my chest and attempt to perhaps not feel so lonely lol

Olivia1 Compulsive liar, help!
  • replies: 10

Hi everyone! I'm new here but I just really needed to get this off my chest. I am 17 years old turning 18 in December and I want to try and stop my compulsive lying habit before it gets really out of hand!! Before I discuss that further I want to tel... View more

Hi everyone! I'm new here but I just really needed to get this off my chest. I am 17 years old turning 18 in December and I want to try and stop my compulsive lying habit before it gets really out of hand!! Before I discuss that further I want to tell you a little about me. I suffer from high levels of anxiety. (leading to me trembling and having slight panic attacks) I also experience a roller coaster of different emotions. Sometimes I am happy other times I am in complete lows. I also was diagnosed with Asperger's when I was in year 2 (high functioning) and I struggle fitting in at school. I only have 1 friend and I just can't seem to connect with people my age. Lastly, I was in foster care for the first three years of my life (because my birth parents chose drugs over me) and so that is why I have developed trust issues and anxiety. Ever since I could remember I would lie about the smallest of things. I would do this to get myself out of trouble, or because I was ashamed and wanted to make my parents proud. So I would just lie and because of this I have become so good at lying that I don't even think when I do it. It comes so naturally to me and it makes me feel fake and guilty. Now days I still lie to get me out of trouble, however I am usually caught anyway. And when I am in public I also act like someone I am not, because I hate myself and want to look like a better person to others. Because of my constant lying I have fractured my relationship with my adoptive parents and they can't trust me, when all I want is to make them proud. I feel like such a bad child and such a waste of space. I constantly remind myself of the happiness my family would have had if I wasn't there. And I really don't want to become a person like my birth parents, but sometimes I feel so dark and empty that I feel like I am a really bad person. I also get really angry at myself for the horrible lies I tell to the only people in the world that truly care for me. I just wish I could be a better person. Sorry for my rant and I hope you are all going well. I just feel so alone because of all the lies that I'm left with no one. ♥xx ♥