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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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Ardenrose It's my birthday today and Im having an emotional breakdown
  • replies: 5

Hi all, so as the title says– its my 24th birthday today and here I am feeling extremely depressed, have been crying since last night.. I have been going through alot for the past month ( post abortion depression, family problems and relationship ) a... View more

Hi all, so as the title says– its my 24th birthday today and here I am feeling extremely depressed, have been crying since last night.. I have been going through alot for the past month ( post abortion depression, family problems and relationship ) and in all honesty, I feel so emotionally burnt out. Im sick of people and how im being treated. My family being so passive aggressive towards me hurts me so much and i try my hardest to ignore it. Im starting to hate them because I know deep down they are one of the main reason why I chose to terminate my pregnancy even though I didn't want to.. My current boyfriend who (somehow) cares constantly makes me feel so alone. I dont understand anymore. Ive been feeling depressed and miserable for the past 6 years and to be very honest all I want is to disappear. I keep praying to God that my life should be given to somehow who deserves MORE to live than me who's always constantly miserable. Im tired of being me. Im tired of my BPD. Having the constant uncontrollable anxiety and fear of being abandoned and neglected. Im tired of living.. Every day reminds me of how much life sucks for me. And today is such a reminder of how alone I am. How people dont really care because they have their own lives to think about. I feel shit for feeling so desperate to be happy on this day. Now here I am in my bedroom crying, could barely breathe and feeling so hopeless about everything.

Spl spl Procrastination but worse.
  • replies: 18

Hey, figured I'd post here since I just need some advice on this problem. So, in highschool I was your typical procrastinator. Just before a deadline, I got that sense of panic which would push me to work hard and finish an assignment. Only over time... View more

Hey, figured I'd post here since I just need some advice on this problem. So, in highschool I was your typical procrastinator. Just before a deadline, I got that sense of panic which would push me to work hard and finish an assignment. Only over time that really started to dim. That panic I felt at the deadline became less and less of a deal because every time without fail, I would get it done, so I started pushing things off later and later. And every time I would feel even less stress. So much that even if I failed one or two things, it really wasn't a big deal to me. Then Yr 12 rolled around and I was just ignoring semester-long assignments left and right, even if they were part of classes that were important/that I enjoyed, because the deadline wasn't a big deal to me anymore. I didn't care anymore. Not as a pessimistic attitude thing, the stress just stopped registering, so I felt no need to do it. This habit became natural to the point where if I saw that something huge was due, I knew that I would just fail it anyway, so I gave up before I even started. It wasn't even procrastination at that point I just straight up didn't do it. Which is a problem for me right now. Because now even if I desperately want to do something, I just can't do it. And if I need to do something I don't necessarily want to do, the stakes are even worse. And because if I get (or got) paid occasionally to do Things for people, and I don't do them by the deadline, then it kind of becomes an even bigger problem. Not even the law can stop me at this point. It's like my panic button is broken. I need advice on how to stop giving up before I even start. Anyway, reason I was motivated to post this is because there's this project Im doing due in about 5 hours and it's not done, and physically can't be finished in the next five hours. I'm pretty much doomed and it sucks since I really wanted to do this project since its something I'm personally interested in, and I cleared my whole schedule for this past week to complete it, and I made a schedule for it, and I was productive for about a day and then - bam. Flat out avoidance. Total apathy despite this literally being an opportunity I've waited for all year. I stopped feeling anything. Help would be appreciated.

bonbon1 The society pressure of always having to go out and drink when you're 22
  • replies: 7

Hi all, newbie here. Wanted to see if I wasn't alone in not wanting to go out and drink with my friends. For the past couple months I've been doing the best I can to avoid social outings, but only with a particular group of people. I don't have many ... View more

Hi all, newbie here. Wanted to see if I wasn't alone in not wanting to go out and drink with my friends. For the past couple months I've been doing the best I can to avoid social outings, but only with a particular group of people. I don't have many friends and I love these people as if they were my family, my family away from home I call them. I just don't want to go out and drink with them, I've realised its become very bad for my mental health, I'm beyond happy doing anything else with them, just not to go out and drink or party you might say. I just don't know how to tell them. I adore their friendship, I just don't know how or know why I don't want to go out and have a "good night" cause "we're only young once" with them. Please tell me I'm not the only one? I just don't want to feel alone anymore. Also, I don't suffer from social anxiety or anything so I'm just not sure. I know this sounds like such a little thing and that I should just go talk to them. But I've been struggling with this for months now and not sure who else to talk to. So I thought might as well give this a go, as this is the first time I've actually said (well wrote) this out loud. If anyone is reading this and is thinking the same, even if they just don't want to go out and drink and rather stay in every weekend at the age of 21/22 please know that you're not alone. I also hope this thread can help someone else see that they're not the only one.

not_really controlling physical anxiety
  • replies: 7

Hello! I've just joined the forums because I thought that I'd like to share with and get advice from others in here. I'd never even considered that I had anxiety until like a year ago, and it was strange to see a fancy medical term slapped onto what ... View more

Hello! I've just joined the forums because I thought that I'd like to share with and get advice from others in here. I'd never even considered that I had anxiety until like a year ago, and it was strange to see a fancy medical term slapped onto what just was my daily internal conflict and worries. Up to now I've noticed a pattern for my anxiety- it usually manifests when people focus their attention on me. It's not actually very severe, because I can cope normally in everyday situations. Sometimes even, I think that I'm not nervous for something, but it turns out that I was probably subconsciously nervous, so I ended up shaking or smth like that and surprising myself. I found that I've experienced two cases of my face muscles twitching uncontrollably- I've searched this up and it's not due to any medical condition, because it only arises when I'm talking individually to people I don't know well. What has confused me is that my face muscles hasn't done that for everyone I've talked to individually either- I cope fine when just talking to a stranger or classmate. I'm thinking that maybe I get subconsciously nervous when a figure of authority is confronting me, or when I'm trying to confront them. Usually it happens when I smile, my cheek muscles and muscles under my eye start to twitch and I can't stop it. Then I freak out on the inside trying to stop them and they probably walk away wondering what was happening to me ;). Does anyone know how to control this? I've also experienced my voice shaking when I'm doing things like announcements at my school assembly. What's also strange is that the first time I did it, it went completely fine. Then the second and third times, my voice started to shake. After that I investigated a little more and tried to keep my breathing under control as I was probably not taking enough air into my lungs, and I think it's gotten better. I hate that feeling when I'm about to do public speaking and I get that heart-thumping, anxious feeling, and regardless of taking deep breaths, I feel even more nervous. I've managed when actually doing the speaking- usually totally nervous when I start, and then after maybe a break I'm completely relaxed. Does anyone have tips on how to deal with this spurt of anxiety for the beginning? I'd also ask how to stop thinking about it so much because that's how my anxiety manifests but it's a bit difficult to answer. Thanks!

Forrest_123 I don’t fit in
  • replies: 2

I know this isn’t particularly important but I don’t fit in at school. Everyone has Instagram and Snapchat, the latest iPhone, AirPods and unlimited trips to the canteen (all paid for by parents) I am 13 almost 14 and I can’t have Instagram and my al... View more

I know this isn’t particularly important but I don’t fit in at school. Everyone has Instagram and Snapchat, the latest iPhone, AirPods and unlimited trips to the canteen (all paid for by parents) I am 13 almost 14 and I can’t have Instagram and my almost 16 year old sister still can’t have Snapchat yet. I still have a glitchy iPhone 6, no AirPods, no canteen trips allowed and not a whole lot of pocket money. I feel really left out and my parents get mad when I try to talk to them about it

NoodleChicken123 I feel so horribly sad all the time because i regret moving schools.
  • replies: 2

So this year i thought it would be a cool idea to move schools! get a fresh start a change ya know? i now realise how terrible of an idea that was. i’ve been going to my new school now for about a week and i feel so depressed and sad all the time. i ... View more

So this year i thought it would be a cool idea to move schools! get a fresh start a change ya know? i now realise how terrible of an idea that was. i’ve been going to my new school now for about a week and i feel so depressed and sad all the time. i have two people that i actually talk to and sit with, but i feel like the rest of the people in the group don’t want me sitting there. i’m so shy and anxious and introverted i feel like i can barely speak majority of the time. I dont really have any other friends there.my anxiety has also been skyrocketing. I guess the main thing i’m sad about is i miss my friends so much. they had there flaws, but at least i could honestly talk to some of them about anything, i felt truly comfortable around them, i laughed around them alot and its so hard for me to get close to people for some reason. but right when i build these great friendships, i decide to leave. and now i haven’t seen them for 7 weeks and i don’t think they really care that much. I miss knowing everybody in my grade. I miss being able to talk freely without my heart racing constantly from anxiety. I miss laughing with my friends and making jokes with them and now all i can think about is how much fun i would be having if i was in classes with them. I regret moving so much. i’m so stupid and now ive lost something ill never get back. my old life basically. Its so hard for me to walk into school everyday and be surrounded by a bunch of strangers. I really feel so alone now, i don’t want to burden my old friends with my problems, and they obviously don’t care much (which is okay). I really have nobody to talk to, i come home so drained and exhausted everyday and the only place i feel slightly secure is in my bedroom by myself. Its been taking a toll on my mental state, my ex-therapist about 2-3 months ago diagnosed me with anxiety and clinical depression and now this is making everything worse also moving back to my old school just isnt something i can do.

Blue_bunny 15 with anxiety and depression
  • replies: 3

Hello my name is chloe and i have anxiety and depression. I see a therapist but it has been a while and i am on school holidays so I'm home alone a lot. I have just recently started taking medication and i don't believe it is working. I feel lonely a... View more

Hello my name is chloe and i have anxiety and depression. I see a therapist but it has been a while and i am on school holidays so I'm home alone a lot. I have just recently started taking medication and i don't believe it is working. I feel lonely and bored and could use a friend

Jerome17 Moving to new School Now I want to move back, should I ?
  • replies: 1

Hi i'm Jerome and i have recently just started year 11, i just moved into my nan's in the city from the western suburbs, since Christmas and i'm used to the house, but what i'm not used to is my new school I've moved to. Been here for 3 days and abso... View more

Hi i'm Jerome and i have recently just started year 11, i just moved into my nan's in the city from the western suburbs, since Christmas and i'm used to the house, but what i'm not used to is my new school I've moved to. Been here for 3 days and absolutely hate it its sucks because its such a small school and its is so so different to my old school, its full of students on visas and a lot of kids who cant talk English. This year also only has 30 kids in it and there basically no one . I also hate the teachers here as they seem to not care. Also in my last period yesterday i almost cried cause i feel so depressed I have the option to move back to my old school where i have friends and know all the teachers and get along but the thing is it takes me 1 Hr and 30 minutes to travel there by train every morning and afternoon is it worth it? and im not sure if i want to do my absolute best in atar as im not a hard studying student and was thinking of doing a trade So Should i Move back ?

triggerhappy Father who abandoned us wants to reconnect
  • replies: 3

Hi In short, I'm just about 18 and so about 8 years ago my biological father left my three siblings and I without contact. Recently, via his mum who we scarcely talk to, he sent us a brief message including apologies, sympathies, saying it wasn't our... View more

Hi In short, I'm just about 18 and so about 8 years ago my biological father left my three siblings and I without contact. Recently, via his mum who we scarcely talk to, he sent us a brief message including apologies, sympathies, saying it wasn't our fault, telling us where he lives, etc.. My mum and he divorced ages ago. She remarried to a guy who I have seen as a parent for basically as long as I have known him. I don't have an issue with the need to have a 'father figure' in my life. All those years ago, the four of us saw him every second weekend. My siblings remember everything but I don't for a single thing and haven't for years so I am going off what they have said. Apparently he would 'take off' a lot without contact for as long as 6 weeks and wouldn't really look after us properly when we were with him. It turns out he was psychologically and sexually abusive to my mum when they were together when I was maybe 6 years old. He left this time 8 years ago and didn't make contact until about 2 years ago when my mum tried to get hold of him on behalf of us so that we could legally change our names (we wanted to). At the time before he left he had a girlfriend who didn't know he had children. He was also working a very high paying job at the time and, to the best of my knowledge, for years after, but did it in such a way to evade tax. He comes from a family who are highly manipulative. My eldest brother was greatly effected and ended up in hospital. Apparently I was sad for a few weeks and suddenly 'got better' at the time, but had an 18 month episode maybe two years ago triggered by minor stressors which closely resembled the actions of my father. I was majorly distressed for most of that time without an apparent reason but in hindsight I think I was having a delayed response to my father disappearing suddenly without knowing it. I AM curious but would never have any sort of relationship with him. My mum tells us she supports whatever we want to do collectively but obviously doesn't actually want us in contact with him, and has said that perhaps mere curiosity isn't a valid reason. I don't want to admit it but it does extend beyond curiosity. Apparently he used to be manipulative and so I should be cautious regarding my expectations. My older siblings haven't dedicated any time to discussing with my sister and I, so I do feel a bit stuck. Anything I decide to do also affects my myself, siblings and mother. Thoughts? Cheers R

Grace333 I feel completely useless
  • replies: 1

I woke up this morning feeling worse than normal about myself mentally and ended up taking the day of work which definitely sounds really sooky so maybe I should have just gone, IDK. I just feel like the absolute worst human and have for a while so I... View more

I woke up this morning feeling worse than normal about myself mentally and ended up taking the day of work which definitely sounds really sooky so maybe I should have just gone, IDK. I just feel like the absolute worst human and have for a while so I wanted some advice please. I'm 21 and working a full time trainee ship at the moment and I just feel completely useless and like there's nothing i'm good at. Its like no matter how hard i'm trying, i'm always mediocre at best and always complete unforgettable as a person and it feels like it has always been that way. It kind of just feels like i'm an invisible person if that makes sense, i'm just a really boring person to the point that my best friend in high school told me she didn't like or enjoy hanging out with me. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to be less useless and annoying all the time. Its like i can't hold a conversation with people and I feel like even though i'm trying hard to have a proper conversation some times I come off as rude like i'm trying to cut it short. When i'm in a conversation with more than 1 other person I can barely every get a word in and it's frustrating. In work meetings if I get asked a question my mind completely goes blank, my face goes bright red and I physically can't get any words to come out of my mouth. I've really hated myself since i was 14, I talked to my friends about it for a bit but they said they were going to tell my parents about it so I told them I was feeling better and haven't talked to anyone about it since then. I don't what to talk to my family about it and I lost contact with my friends. After I graduated high school my family moved 3 hours away, we've been here since 2017 and I haven't made any friends yet. I do think i'd like to make some friends here but I get so anxious and scared about talking to people and I can't help but overthink everything, it's all so exhausting I really wish I could sleep forever. I don't know what to do, I feel overwhelmed by everything and like I never make the right decisions. I'm sorry if that was to many questions in one post, if anyone is able to decipher any of what I've written I would really love to receive some advice. Thank you.