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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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Zephyrus Chronic illness is making me miss out on life.
  • replies: 4

I don't know if anyone here can relate but here goes. For the first 23 years of my life, I was normal. No pre-existing illnesses at all, going through my Uni degree, two years in, a wonderful partner. Life was good. Then a genetic migraine illness hi... View more

I don't know if anyone here can relate but here goes. For the first 23 years of my life, I was normal. No pre-existing illnesses at all, going through my Uni degree, two years in, a wonderful partner. Life was good. Then a genetic migraine illness hit me and threw everything off. For the last year, I have been dealing with what is called vestibular migraines. They are migraines that can present with no pain, no sensitivity, no symptoms whatsoever so I can have one and not even know it. If my migraines go untreated, they then turn into symptoms of vertigo. At its worst, I couldn't even shower without feeling faint and dizzy. After trialling many different medications, I am now at one that semi does the job most of the time but I still get attacks. I am now to the point where I am too scared to leave my home form having an episode and whoever I'm with having to help me. I don't remember the last time I left the house without having to. I feel like I'm missing out on life semi due to my illness but now as well as the anxiety that comes from it. I'm now becoming jealous of my loved ones because they get to still be normal and do normal things. I don't hate them by any means and still love them dearly but I envy them with everything that I am. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone sort of knows what I'm going through and/or can offer any advice from a similar experience on how to get through this until I can hopefully find a permanent fix.

Undergrad Isolation and Loneliness in High School; no friends.
  • replies: 2

I have posted on here before, and I guess this post is in a similar vein to the last, but I feel as though it warrants its own thread anyway. Essentially, I am in high school in Sydney, and have just begun Year 11. (I am aware that my username could ... View more

I have posted on here before, and I guess this post is in a similar vein to the last, but I feel as though it warrants its own thread anyway. Essentially, I am in high school in Sydney, and have just begun Year 11. (I am aware that my username could imply otherwise, not sure why i picked it just thought it sounded alright haha) I get that maybe many of you will disregard this owing to my age and obvious immaturity, and I wouldn't blame you. But, at the moment, I feel as though I don't really have anywhere else to turn to other than you strangers on the internet, so here I am. I guess the gist of it is, I am totally isolated at school. I don't think I have any friends, I mean sure there are some people that I talk to regularly, but they seem to have begun to distance themselves from me since school began, and to be honest I was expecting this. Please do not assume that I have no friends from a lack of trying, it is quite the opposite actually. Over the 6 years I've been in high school now, I can count at least 7 instances where my friends have moved on from me, cut me out, and I was on my own. Now, previously, I would have just moved on and found friends, but now I just can't. There are only so many people in a year group, and I have truly exhausted my supply of potential friends. At the moment, I spend my lunchtimes by myself playing games and reading the news on my phone, I feel extraordinarily depressed, because I am not an introvert, I want to have friends, but people don't want me. I guess aside from venting what I wanted to ask people was does it get better? I know high school is often referred to as a bubble, but thing about bubbles is that you can't tell when you're in one. I suppose I just want to know if there is anyone who had my experience in high school, and have things improved for you?

sport123 confused about a relationship
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, Recently I have just started talking to this guy and I have told him that I don't want a relationship yet because I wanna get everything sorted and work on myself before starting anything serious, and he's fine with that. recently he got... View more

Hi everyone, Recently I have just started talking to this guy and I have told him that I don't want a relationship yet because I wanna get everything sorted and work on myself before starting anything serious, and he's fine with that. recently he got drunk and started saying "you're not even that attractive" and told me that his friends don't think I'm good enough for him and he knows that hurt my feelings and we have spoken about it and have semi sorted it out (i'm still hurt but there isn't anything else for us to talk about). Now a week or so has passed and he wants to catch up with me and 1. my parents don't know that we are talking and I don't know how to bring that up, so if anyone has any advice on that, it would be greatly appreciated, and 2. I don't really know how I feel anymore and if I wanna catch up with him alone I kind of want to see him when i'm with some friends so that I have some support because they all know about what has happened and have told me to get out touch with him because he doesn't seem to be good for me and all that so i'm really confused as to what to do. This kind of stuff has happened to me before and I have never been good and sticking up for myself if it means it can potentially hurt his feelings. So if anyone has any sort of advice as to what I should do and how to potentially tell my parents that would be great! Thank you in advance!

SanadaY Loneliness at School
  • replies: 1

I'm a Singaporean living in Australia. However, I am unable to connect to anyone. I may have autism because I always appear as cold and I can't sustain a conversation with peers. I'll have to resume school tomorrow and I really don't want to. Due to ... View more

I'm a Singaporean living in Australia. However, I am unable to connect to anyone. I may have autism because I always appear as cold and I can't sustain a conversation with peers. I'll have to resume school tomorrow and I really don't want to. Due to being unable to connect with anyone, I play myself as 'the joker' to have a place in the school. I hate this role but I don't know what to do. Everyone dislikes me and I feel bad to even show my face at school anymore. Even teachers dislike me. I have to friends who I can't really connect with but I don't want to abandon. No-one seems to share my interests and I've never felt so alone. Everyone scorns me and I just feel isolated and miserable. What's worse is that I haven't shared this with anyone and my parents keep on scolding me for being disengaged with school. Yet I feel I can't tell them because I'd get into trouble for misbehaving. I facade a 'I don't care' attitude with my friends and they keep on saying that my personality is bad. It isn't my real one but I don't know how to show it. What should I do this year?

Jacko2606 22 year old insecure virgin With no direction in life
  • replies: 1

Hey all, new to this so bare with me! I am 22 and have been in a pit of depression since I was 17 but I have had anxiety my whole life and body image issues. I never really done much with a girl besides the old peck back when I was like 14 due to ins... View more

Hey all, new to this so bare with me! I am 22 and have been in a pit of depression since I was 17 but I have had anxiety my whole life and body image issues. I never really done much with a girl besides the old peck back when I was like 14 due to insecurity... idk what to do because I’m so lacking of experience now compared to others my age. Im not short of female attention and never have been since a young age, I’ve always been thought of as handsome and fit but never can accept it myself. The last 4 years I’ve isolated myself and pretty much only gone to the gym, most people see me and think I must have everything going for me due to how I look but In my mind I just cringe at any compliment I’m given and see it as if they’re just trying to big me up. I don’t know how to talk to people in small talk due to being isolated and ignoring friends and cancelling any sort of plans they try and make because I’d rather stay home with my dog and watch YouTube. I’ve been through numerous jobs during that time because I find it so hard to sleep at all when I have anything on the next day I’m so anxious and end up sending stupid texts in to why I can’t make it and usually haven’t slept and end up quitting because it’s too much anxiety for me even for the most mundane jobs, when I’m working I just don’t stop thinking about being at home in my comfort zone and when I’m home even on my days off I’m like counting down the hours until I have to be at work.. I feel I can’t calm my mind even as I sit here at 2:30am writing this. My virginity doesn’t faze me it only gets to me when I feel the pressure of others to loose it, I’ve recently in the last year started actually having anxiety attacks to which I never have had before where I thought I was dying. I’m scared to get any job because I feel I’ll fail at it.. even the most simple task that I can most definitely do I will doubt myself in. I really just want to be happy but I’m scared to make any move with women/jobs and life! Once someone gets past that awkward stage with me I’m very funny and outgoing but it’s extremely hard to get past it... I know I’ve just rambled on but I just think I need to hear other people’s opinions.

ocdmusing Sex & Anxiety, and a whole bunch of issues
  • replies: 2

Hi, Recently I've started a new relationship. Well, actually I'm 21 and its my first relationship. I've strayed away from anything remotely intimate most of my life partly because my anxiety rules me fearful of most people and i feel as though i cann... View more

Hi, Recently I've started a new relationship. Well, actually I'm 21 and its my first relationship. I've strayed away from anything remotely intimate most of my life partly because my anxiety rules me fearful of most people and i feel as though i cannot trust them. I've (as of like a 5 days ago) had sex for the first time and my general anxiety has been off the charts since. For no good reason I feel so incredibly guilty that i feel sick about it. Even though im on the pill i feel like an extreme anxious feeling that i potentially could be pregnant and that alone scares me from wanting to do anything remotely sexual again. I wake up and immediately feel very upset about that in particular. I've had a very bad general anxiety disorder episode in the past (back in 2018) and this feels like its becoming that. On top of this, i am on a relatively medium level dose of antidepressants for both anxiety and a previous depressive episode, and what worries me is that im beginning to feel this anxious on the medication. The medication also renders my libido to practically 0, so i felt nothing emotionally during the sex part. - I have been honest about my mental health to my partner but i dont think he would understand if i told him that i felt nothing. My parents are traditional and strict, and although i am open about everything in my life to my mum, i cant tell her any of this which furthers my guilt about the whole thing. Apologies for such a long post. Does anyone have any advice? Have you been through something similar? I feel very alone about it.

Ray216 I played myself and might soon lose my best friend
  • replies: 1

If you read through with the following you might think I deserve this. I acknowledge I brought the following upon myself, but I still hope to find some advice here on what to do next. I (male, 21) only have 2 real friends (guy and girl), both met at ... View more

If you read through with the following you might think I deserve this. I acknowledge I brought the following upon myself, but I still hope to find some advice here on what to do next. I (male, 21) only have 2 real friends (guy and girl), both met at uni. The girl (I'll call by her initial F here) I met 2018 at a low point in my life, and our friendship was awesome and really helped carry me through some tough times. It was not intentional at the beginning but halfway through last year I developed a crush on her. It didn't work out, and she told me she didn't like me. I nominally moved on, but didn't actually. Maybe it was my Asperger's derived anxiety, or maybe it was real, but afterwards it seemed F was growing distant. I started doing a lot of abnormally friendly things, like inviting her to lunch and paying for all of it, and frequently buying her gifts. There were 2 reasons, one because I panicked and was terrified to lose F as a friend, but secondly and worst of all, because I didn't really move on from my crush, and in my deluded state thought but doing good things for her I might turn things around. (It's worth mentioning she already has boyfriend so in hindsight my actions were EXTRA STUPID). My other friend (I'll call him R) warned me if I didn't actually move on from my crush, I won't be able to keep her as a friend. My mum even warned me of the same thing. I was stupid and didn't listen. I had a stupid plan made where if I keep being extra good to her not only will our friendship improve, but she might end up liking me. Needless to say my little "plan" backfired hard. F stopped hanging with me. She felt awkward with me paying for stuff etc. She told me she didn't feel I treated her like a friend, but rather like someone I'm in love with (which was true). I explained to her my paranoid driving the aforementioned behaviour, but I had to lie that I truly have moved on and have no romantic intentions. Now, I truly have no more romantic intentions. All I want to be able to do is keep her as my friend. But I don't even know if that is still possible. I'm in a state of panic because she hasn't replied to me asking whether we can continue to be friends, but she's seen the message. I should have listened to mum and R. Any idea what I can do now?

anonnimus123 cant control
  • replies: 1

when im crying ill just snap out of it and the tears will stop and then i start smiling. i cant control it, especially the smiling i dont know why but its starting to scare me a little. when im sad idk how to explain but ill just feel happy that im s... View more

when im crying ill just snap out of it and the tears will stop and then i start smiling. i cant control it, especially the smiling i dont know why but its starting to scare me a little. when im sad idk how to explain but ill just feel happy that im sad and start smiling. it bad becuase when my parents make me cry ill start smiling and theyll think im faking it. is this normal?

HeartDogs Problems With Loneliness
  • replies: 6

Hey all, This is my first time posting on this website, although I've read a few threads from the forums previously. I'm just about to enter my last year of high school and experiencing all the stresses that come along with that but I'm having proble... View more

Hey all, This is my first time posting on this website, although I've read a few threads from the forums previously. I'm just about to enter my last year of high school and experiencing all the stresses that come along with that but I'm having problems with feeling lonely. I have a good group of friends whom I care about immensely and look out for me, I hang out with them a lot a get along with them well. However, I find that the only times I feel truly happy are when I am with them and always feel lonely when I'm not with them, even immediately after I spend the day with them. I feel down in the dumps a lot or even depressed when I'm at home and school so I try my hardest to be with at least someone from my group as much as possible, a difficult task some times since I live far away from any of my friends and my parents work a lot. I see a physiologist every now and then but still have difficulties with finding support since I don't want to burden my friends and my parents don't really take me seriously when I tell them that I'm not okay. I would love some advice on minimising these feelings of loneliness when I can't always see my friends and ways of overcoming it. I feel somewhat bad since my problems seem trivial as a pose to some of the much larger problems that are being faced by other people on this forum. Thanks for listening to what I had to say.

Akhil Height related depression and anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone, This is my first time reaching out, I revisited this thought of making/not making an account multiple times. A little about me- I’m a 25 year old male who’s living in Melbourne. In terms of my work life, I’m successful and ahead of my p... View more

Hey everyone, This is my first time reaching out, I revisited this thought of making/not making an account multiple times. A little about me- I’m a 25 year old male who’s living in Melbourne. In terms of my work life, I’m successful and ahead of my peers my own age. BUT nothing seems to make me happy because I have started to hate myself for being a short guy. In a country like Australia, I feel like I am devastatingly short. My height is 5’5. No matter what I achieve, I feel like I’m being undone because of how short I am. I have lost all my confidence. It’s come to a point where I’ve developed a crippling mentality, I feel each person on the road is judging me for being too short. Even at work, I go into random bursts of dreaming, dreams where I was taller & would have the confidence to talk to people. What hurts me even more is that I’ve lost my ability to even make friends for the same reason. As of today, I find myself unhappy and living a robotic life where I get up, go to work, literally rush back from work, change my clothes and stay in bed till next morning. This has been going on for 6 months now & I have no clue what to do. I’ve been an extrovert all my life & just the lack of having friends now has pushed me in a really dark place. I literally don’t know who or what I’m ranting to and how this works but it does feel a little better to put it out in the universe.