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

sop7 is this it?
  • replies: 7

I'm 22, finished my uni degree at 20 and have been working full-time for the last 1-2years. I've moved back home into my parents house away from all of my university friends and live in a town that has virtually no-one my age - apart from my now boyf... View more

I'm 22, finished my uni degree at 20 and have been working full-time for the last 1-2years. I've moved back home into my parents house away from all of my university friends and live in a town that has virtually no-one my age - apart from my now boyfriend who I've been seeing for almost a year. I've recently been getting panic attacks and depressive episodes which is really unlike me. I am wondering "is this it?" about life a lot. It feels like there was such a huge build up at school and uni to get a good full time job, get the boyfriend, travel, get married, have kids, etc and now that I'm finally on that track I don't feel happy at all. I feel depressed and anxious. Is this all there is to life? I used to wake up happy in the mornings and excited for what my day would bring and now I wake up sad, angry and irritable. I only have my boyfriend to talk to and am even doubting things with him. I don't know about anything anymore and i just don't know what to do. I can't keep feeling like this forever.

madi12 How Ive Been Feeling
  • replies: 6

so I haven't been diagnosed with anything. but every day I come home and I get in these moods. where nothing or no one matters anymore, I think of these dark thoughts that I never have before. I don't know what's causing all this though. and I always... View more

so I haven't been diagnosed with anything. but every day I come home and I get in these moods. where nothing or no one matters anymore, I think of these dark thoughts that I never have before. I don't know what's causing all this though. and I always feel guilty for feeling this way since I have a roof over my head and a place to sleep. also at school, I just suddenly really nervous for no reason, and I will go out of class and just cry. I feel like none of this makes sense cause I'm not really good at talking about my emotions. I just feel lost and thought I should get stuff off my chest on here.

CocoPopsicle Night Terrors
  • replies: 3

last night was so shit. i. ugh. i couldn’t stop crying, but then when i did, i was so scared? i felt like arms around my grabbing my shoulders or arms and- look that happens every night but it particularly scared me today. whenever i closed my eyes i... View more

last night was so shit. i. ugh. i couldn’t stop crying, but then when i did, i was so scared? i felt like arms around my grabbing my shoulders or arms and- look that happens every night but it particularly scared me today. whenever i closed my eyes i could see a face of a man that i had never seen before and it was so terrifying, but i was scared that when i open my eyes there would be someone or something gruesome next to me and i couldn’t shake that feeling. when i finally opened my eyes the face didn’t disappear, it floated in my vision and i just had to keep darting my eyes around to avoid it but it was always there. if i closed my eyes my brain would take make even darkness look like a clump and unmoving creatures. when i opened my eyes i would see the mans face. i just wanted to go to sleep.

ramey006 Emptiness and worthlessness
  • replies: 2

For the past 3-4 years I’ve been struggling with feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. I feel as if I’m lost or just drifting into an abyss. I try to fill the void inside of me with alcohol, drugs and sex but they seem to be temporary solutions. I... View more

For the past 3-4 years I’ve been struggling with feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. I feel as if I’m lost or just drifting into an abyss. I try to fill the void inside of me with alcohol, drugs and sex but they seem to be temporary solutions. I’ve struggled to find and keep a job despite my university qualifications. My social anxiety continuously ruins good opportunities for me regarding my career or relationships. I put on this act of being a funny and happy person to my family and friends despite feeling the complete opposite inside. I overanalyse and criticise every conversation and decision I make which further spirals me into a deeper state of emptiness. My life lacks meaning and direction! I look at my friends who are all accomplishing great things while I’m just stuck here floating.

jl338 Un-motivated
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, Lately, I have been feeling very 'un-motivated'. This includes not wanting to get out of bed (not just because I want to sleep in, but rather like I don't want to 'do' today), struggling to socialise and feeling mentally exhausted. I fee... View more

Hi everyone, Lately, I have been feeling very 'un-motivated'. This includes not wanting to get out of bed (not just because I want to sleep in, but rather like I don't want to 'do' today), struggling to socialise and feeling mentally exhausted. I feel as though I have been very worried as of late, feeling like there are so many things going through my mind that it hurts, and I can't focus. I have so many assignments and exams coming up and I'm stressed, there are friendship issues that are ruining school-life, my parents are so strict and peer pressure is piling on me and I don't know what to do. Also, there is a niggling thing at the back of my head that is just making me feel upset and anxious and not like doing anything but lying down and somehow sorting my thoughts out. I can't do that either. My self-confidence has taken a hit too since I have been put into netball team with players all 2 years older than me (the division includes a range of year-levels, and I am the youngest) and our first training is soon, and I feel as though I am really bad, and will not be able to make friends or fit in. They all are better than me and I am so so nervous. I don't know anyone (the team sheet was included with the email, and I saw their birthdates) and I am naturally awkward and an introvert so I am, in short, terrified. I'm sorry, I don't know if this is just a teenager thing, not really worth anyone's time, or if it is more than that. I'm scared to talk to my parents, so please, please, please respond with some advice. Thank you, Jl338 ❤

Cat_Mum Anxiety lmao
  • replies: 2

Hi guys, how’s it going? I’m super new here, but I really need some help atm. My anxiety is being an absolute pain, and I was wondering if anyone has any coping mechanisms they could suggest for me? Some background on my anxiety: aight. So it started... View more

Hi guys, how’s it going? I’m super new here, but I really need some help atm. My anxiety is being an absolute pain, and I was wondering if anyone has any coping mechanisms they could suggest for me? Some background on my anxiety: aight. So it started when I was in year 5, and 6 years later ITS BACK. My anxiety causes me to feel constantly nauseous, and bad unable to eat, or even drink with me feeling I’m going to throw up. Anyone have any advice on how I can make myself eat? When I first got my anxiety, my mums says I was really underweight, and she could feel my spine when she rubbed my back. I really really don’t wanna go back to that again. Im honestly scared.

Zu Why do I feel so dead?
  • replies: 4

I dont really know where to start. But I guess Ill just start the basics for over a year now I have felt so dead. Im so tired & drained, I go to class with no motivation & just cant focus or work at all. After a while my head feels all heavy, like a ... View more

I dont really know where to start. But I guess Ill just start the basics for over a year now I have felt so dead. Im so tired & drained, I go to class with no motivation & just cant focus or work at all. After a while my head feels all heavy, like a headache but slightly different. I just feel so tired like I need to lay down. I usually always just end up laying on the desk all lesson. Which sucks because I do so well when I actually have energy, even when I do, the energy is fleeting. Itll be a couple weeks where Im just so alive. Its the best thing ever but so bittersweet because it wont last. Sometimes it’s just a couple hours, usually when I have a nice shift at work. Its overwhelming, I have to stop myself from crying over it. Its just really nice to feel alive. Eventually Ill crash again. Things were good the last few months, I thought maybe it was okay but its hit me hard again. Ive been back at school for 3 days and Im already so far behind. I just cant think. I told some customers about how far behind I was, one of them jokingly replied telling me that if I keep that up Ill be stuck in this town working in a supermarket for the rest of my life. Probably the scariest thing anyone has ever said to me, especially since shes a complete stranger. I cant get out of this place soon enough. I thought maybe this would spark something in me but I got as far as 16 words on my essay before I laid down and cried over it. Ive been to many different places trying to get an answer. Got numerous blood tests, had an MRI, the doctor just told me she didnt know & couldn’t help me. That was 7 months ago. For a little bit more background information, I made a post on here about something similar to this around 18 months ago. Things werent as bad then. It cleared up a few weeks later (only took 8 months) & I was the happiest Id ever been for about 3 months until I moved to the other side of the country. Thats when it began again, just so much worse this time. Ive felt like this for so long that I don’t even really know what I’m supposed to feel like anymore. Is this normal? Does everyone feel like this? I really want to do well at school but I just cant do anything when I’m like this. It keeps getting worse & I really need to get my shit together for VCE. Does anyone have any suggestions?Why do I feel so dead? What can I do about it? Anything would be appreciated Also sorry if this post is all over the place, I am tired and upset and not really thinking straight

Misunderstood_13 I don’t know anymore
  • replies: 1

Just getting straight into it. I don’t particularly trust my friends, but I’m too scared to lose them, because group work at school is hard without friends and I’ve known them for so long. Plus I’m not the greatest with talking to people and making n... View more

Just getting straight into it. I don’t particularly trust my friends, but I’m too scared to lose them, because group work at school is hard without friends and I’ve known them for so long. Plus I’m not the greatest with talking to people and making new friends. There are 4 of us in total and I find that in our group there are 2 people who pretty much run the whole thing. Their opinion matters, they can judge, they can say whatever they want and everyone is fine with it. But as soon as soon as I say my opinion or how I feel I get shut down or that I’m “over thinking” or just feel like my opinion and what I say is always judged and belittled. I also feel like I get talked about when I’m not around. One of the friends has had a long term relationship for a few years, the other 2 and me got boyfriends about 9 months ago. All of their boyfriends are able to go out and do what they want but mine has a strict parent so he can’t do much. this makes doing group things really hard for me because I hate third wheeling them all because that’s how it’s been for so long for me before I got my boyfriend. But I dint want to miss out on plans or group things. I also feel like now with all the boyfriends, I feel like we can’t plan anything without the boyfriends involved, I just feel so lost in my friendship group and like it wouldn’t matter if I was there or not. I also have struggles in my relationship. I’ve been with him for about 9 months and recently almost broke up. Now I feel awkward because of my trust issues. Now I’m starting to question how I feel in the relationship or even if I love him at all, or if I just love the attention or the thought of him. I just feel like everything’s so difficult and out of control, so it’s hard for me to deal with everything.

HeIp Point To Life?
  • replies: 5

To anyone reading this, I am 18 and have never been loved neither conditionally nor unconditionally by anyone. Most would say I am being dramatic, but what is the point to my life? I have no interest in marriage, dating or having kids so I am struggl... View more

To anyone reading this, I am 18 and have never been loved neither conditionally nor unconditionally by anyone. Most would say I am being dramatic, but what is the point to my life? I have no interest in marriage, dating or having kids so I am struggling to see the point in working my life away to just die at the end of it all. I have no religious faiths and most of my generation (specifically my age bracket) can not communicate socially without the use of a technological device. I lived in one state for about the first 12 years of my life, in which I left my childhood friends behind, and moved to another and struggled to find like-minded people. I eventually found a group in which I assimilated but was isolated at the same time - not invited to outings and such for no reason (I am not pessimistic - openly at least) so I have always felt excluded. About 9 months ago I moved back to that state and guess what? Not even a whisper about me leaving (mind you I waited a couple of months for people to initiate contact via social media - I do so and all I was given was short replies and neglection as is common in my life so I delete social media). So I end up at this fancy new school, new system of education (transition from grade 11 in one state to grade 12 in another) and I think to myself "Maybe things will be different" but nope, its much worse, I have no friends (I made numerous attempts for a very long time but everyone was more interested in their phones) and if it weren't for my sister I would have no one to talk to at school. This is as low as I have ever been with my grades reflecting this. I have never had a job and I think that I am stuffed as there was never an opportunity to do so (the town I was in for 6 years was very family-employer heavy so you had to either be family friends or childhood friends with people to get a part-time job), so I think that my life is pretty much pointless now as I have nothing to contribute to anything.