Immediate support
Immediate support

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.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Categories
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Start a discussion

datesyrup05 I feel empty..
  • replies: 2

Hi, this is date syrup i wonder if other people my age can relate but i used to be so curious and inspired by everything around me to the point of becoming a whole other person after coming to australia, however, certain family problems have caused m... View more

Hi, this is date syrup i wonder if other people my age can relate but i used to be so curious and inspired by everything around me to the point of becoming a whole other person after coming to australia, however, certain family problems have caused my feeling to be a roller coaster of ups and downs and constant breakdowns, so much so i began to drift away from what i like doing and now i just feel like... a person behind the screen that is my eyes, writing this from far away. family problems dont feel like anything, hobbies dont feel like anything, the people i like talking to leave me feeling nothing, even getting hit doesn't make me feel anything anymore. the only thing i still worry about is my school homework but even that is minimal. my taste in music changed dramatically in a short period of type. i want to do the things i like but when i do, i dont feel the same hype as before. i hate staying at home with my family, it's so suffocating but i guess i'll have to endure until the virus passes. i dont know what to do with myself. Thanks for listening to my ranting, feel free to read or ignore.

Loula_bell32 Need some advice ASAP
  • replies: 4

Hey everyone my name is Aimee I’m 16 I’m not happy at all I’m sad all the time and isolate myself a lot activity’s i used to find interesting or that used to make me happy don’t anymore I feel like there is something wrong with me due to the fact tha... View more

Hey everyone my name is Aimee I’m 16 I’m not happy at all I’m sad all the time and isolate myself a lot activity’s i used to find interesting or that used to make me happy don’t anymore I feel like there is something wrong with me due to the fact that I have self harmed on different occasions and I often of thoughts about how better life would be if I wasn’t here anymore I have really bad anxiety attacks to he point of were I work myself up to the point of we’re I want to end my life, throw up ect I have tried talking to my mum and to drop hints that’s somethings wrong she also knows about me self harming she is on meds for depression ect and I feel like she is just brushing all this stuff off bc she is scared to admit the fact that I’m like her I don’t know what to do and I want to talk to a professional but I’m only 16 and I don’t know if they will help me without an adult

User233 Parental problems
  • replies: 1

So I'm 16, my parents divorced last year and during all this I've been pushed between the two. I've now been kicked out of both homes and pretty much degraded. To my dad I'm a disgusting waste of space and time. And to my mum I'm a slut. I'm now stay... View more

So I'm 16, my parents divorced last year and during all this I've been pushed between the two. I've now been kicked out of both homes and pretty much degraded. To my dad I'm a disgusting waste of space and time. And to my mum I'm a slut. I'm now staying with my friend as I have nowhere else to go. I was just wondering how to deal with parents who have always been emotionally unavailable and now don't love me. I miss having a family and I miss my siblings. Anyone have tips on how to be happier during this?

mmx Maybe it’s just part of being a teen...
  • replies: 11

I’m 14, and for the last 3 years I’ve been feeling so alone. I have anxiety, I’m not sure about depression because there is no way I could ask for help from my parents. I really don’t like school and the stress it puts on me. There is a group of girl... View more

I’m 14, and for the last 3 years I’ve been feeling so alone. I have anxiety, I’m not sure about depression because there is no way I could ask for help from my parents. I really don’t like school and the stress it puts on me. There is a group of girls who ‘run’ my year level, and I feel like I have to live up to their standards all the time so I don’t look like a weirdo. Lately, I’ve been exercising and eating less to get thinner and look how I want to. Every day when I go to school, it’s like I put on this mask that I am this happy girl who is loving life, but when I’m alone the mask comes off. I’ve tried to reach out for help about my anxiety and thoughts, but nothing helps. I just put up with it all now. I can’t wait for this all to be over. I don’t even know why I’m here, I just want to put my words down somewhere. Reply with whatever you can.

Cresw1ck New to this need some help
  • replies: 7

I’ve always been pretty reluctant to get help, I’ve always thought it was weak to ask for help but I really need it, I’m so lost and so scared of how my life’s going to turn out and my friends don’t understand how I am and why I do things I do, I’m n... View more

I’ve always been pretty reluctant to get help, I’ve always thought it was weak to ask for help but I really need it, I’m so lost and so scared of how my life’s going to turn out and my friends don’t understand how I am and why I do things I do, I’m now a month sober yesterday and I’m starting to struggle again, I really just need a friend Thankyou

peachbob7 do i have adhd?
  • replies: 4

im currently 17, almost 18, and a first year uni student. ive constantly struggled with studies as a kid, especially with focusing and retaining information. for example, i used to do Kumon tutoring and i never got far in it cause it tests how fast y... View more

im currently 17, almost 18, and a first year uni student. ive constantly struggled with studies as a kid, especially with focusing and retaining information. for example, i used to do Kumon tutoring and i never got far in it cause it tests how fast you can solve equations and do reading comprehension, but i would lose focus and start daydreaming. that would result in me being yelled at. i especially struggled in year 12, as i really wanted to study but i never started until it was too late and my SAC scores always turned out horrendous. i become super depressed and started to lose touch with reality as i would go to school in a daze, come home and procrastinate for the rest of the day and then not be able to sleep cause id be guilting myself. anyway, i managed to barely scrape past and hoped maybe uni will be better. now im in uni, everything is online cause of the coronavirus and im losing touch again. its only week 3 and im 2 weeks behind on work. i have no motivation or focus. im thinking of deferring this year and taking a well-earned break. but ive had this itch in my brain since i learnt about adhd; do i have it? i read the symptoms and i think “oh god that’s me”, but im scared my parents might reject the idea. how do i get myself clinically diagnosed? some other symptoms i share with adhd is struggling to keep emotions in check; sometimes i feel completely numb and empty, but other times i get excited so easily or snap at others over small things. i make the most careless mistakes even with simple things like 2+2. i put my phone somewhere for a minute and then forget and get frustrated that i cant find it. sometimes i think i stim? but im not sure im usually not focusing on it. please help and give any advice. im feeling lost in life right now

continuousventer cover letter
  • replies: 5

hi all, I'm 21 and I would like to find a job so I could have money. The problem is I don't know how to write a cover letter. I've written many cover letters, but I don't have experience to back me up. Like I study full-time at university, so it is h... View more

hi all, I'm 21 and I would like to find a job so I could have money. The problem is I don't know how to write a cover letter. I've written many cover letters, but I don't have experience to back me up. Like I study full-time at university, so it is hard to find time to find a job because I have pre-readings and assignments to do. But I can't focus all of my attention on study. I am currently studying occupational therapy, but I'm not as balanced as everyone else with jobs and social life. Like I know I shouldn't be hard on myself, it's just that life is unpredictable. I might do the degree and not end up with a job. I feel like a black sheep because of my difficult upbringing. Like if I had time, I should be volunteering or seeking support for cover letter making. I really like OT, but maybe I am setting myself for failure because I come from an abusive household and it's like i'm always stressed.

sanmmi Why do i feel like this?
  • replies: 1

So i've been feeling this for quite a while now, i'd say 4 years or more.. I feel a kind of rush of adrenaline and sort of like a rush of fake happiness and like i would just start smiling and laughing and feel so confident with myself but not in lik... View more

So i've been feeling this for quite a while now, i'd say 4 years or more.. I feel a kind of rush of adrenaline and sort of like a rush of fake happiness and like i would just start smiling and laughing and feel so confident with myself but not in like a normal way... if that makes sense? This would usually happen once every few months, its like episodes i guess? And i could feel it coming, so like i could feel its like a kind of switch in my chest and i could feel it switch itself and i would be different. Usually occurs when im under stress or when something triggers it like today i felt it switch when i was talking about it to my friend, i haven't ever talked about this before and i kind of also forgot about it for a year or two but today i for some reason remembered it and told someone and i came home and felt it switch. It makes me feel like i could be on top of the world or go onto really high places like roofs or go for a run or scream and stuff like that. I really dont know how to explain this feeling im so sorry but i just want to know what this feeling is and why i get it.. i'm not trying to self diagnose myself with anything i just want to get an idea of what it might be so i can have some sort of closure that i'm not going crazy. I cant see a professional about this either because my parents are against it.. even though im 18 >.< I was diagnosed with dissociation disorder, depression and anxiety disorder in 2016 but the therapist that diagnosed me was a bit sketchy so i'm not too sure if this is why i feel this way? Sorry if this doesn't make sense... I'm not sure how to explain it but does anyone know what this is?

sanmmi Stressed, Depressed, Overwhelmed
  • replies: 4

Hey so i just started studying a Diploma at a college. It's been alright, the work is okay just a bit too much with the assignments which make me a little stressed because of how little time i have to do them. Anyways, it's been 2 months since i star... View more

Hey so i just started studying a Diploma at a college. It's been alright, the work is okay just a bit too much with the assignments which make me a little stressed because of how little time i have to do them. Anyways, it's been 2 months since i started and i've already had 2 breakdowns IN CLASS. One of them was yesterday, had a full blown panic attack in class, everyone was super nice about it but i dramatically ran out the class which was so embarrassing. I've been struggling a lot with my anxiety and panic attacks and depression. My moods have been all over the place i cant seem to control them. I feel like my emotions and my whole body is so out of control and i don't like the way it makes me feel. I also feel really alone since i fell out with my best friends last year, tried reconnecting but they don't seem to want to be civil. So i feel really alone, my mental health is deteriorating and idk what to do about it. I would go seek help if i could but my parents are against it, even though i'm 18. I thought about going by myself but i don't know what the process is and how much it is... but yeah idk what to do.

Soulstorm Not Suited for Full-time Study
  • replies: 3

I'm having a surprising amount of trouble with tertiary education. The TAFE I go to only has full-time study for my chosen course, meaning even though I am passionate about what i'm studying, I might not be able to finish it. Additionally, the campus... View more

I'm having a surprising amount of trouble with tertiary education. The TAFE I go to only has full-time study for my chosen course, meaning even though I am passionate about what i'm studying, I might not be able to finish it. Additionally, the campus doesn't offer a certificate IV, so I'm stuck studying a diploma, the difficulty of which I am only just finding out. My brain just isn't suited for academia and it feels disappointing I'm not at that level yet. It's cliche but I feel lost now that I'm transitioning into a full-blown adult. Thanks for reading.