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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.

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TheoWulf Theo has joined the party.
  • replies: 11

Hello, world. My name is not actually Theo, but it's what I go by. I've decided to join the forums to find support in the case that I start to fall apart. I am a high school that struggles with depression and anxiety. I'm gay, a mega computer nerd an... View more

Hello, world. My name is not actually Theo, but it's what I go by. I've decided to join the forums to find support in the case that I start to fall apart. I am a high school that struggles with depression and anxiety. I'm gay, a mega computer nerd and doodle artist, and I have a small group of friends that I joke around with. I hope I can make some friends here and help others out the best I can, as well as get help for my own problems. Theo.

giggywick My self esteem is incredibly low and i do not feel like i have any worth
  • replies: 3

From a young age my parents have told me that i was "special", my dad told me i was smart and continually told me that i was autistic, not as an insult or anything he meant it as a compliment of sorts or more like a fact (i do not know why he wants m... View more

From a young age my parents have told me that i was "special", my dad told me i was smart and continually told me that i was autistic, not as an insult or anything he meant it as a compliment of sorts or more like a fact (i do not know why he wants me to be autistic and i have never been diagnosed so i do not know where he got that idea from). In primary school i was put into a gifted class, but i never performed as well as anyone else, i struggled with basic maths from around year 4 onwards and complex questions about tax and Pythagoras confused me to no end. Now i am in year 9 and i am in compaction science but i am still struggling in class, i have been scraping Cs in maths still and have only ever gotten one A and that was in french. The delusion that i am "smart" is crumbling and my self esteem as never been lower, i have been thrown into the deep end and my self worth is suffering immensely. I often think that my life means nothing and i will never achieve anything i am terrified about the future, i do not know what i will do as a career even working at McDonalds feels like it would be challenge. Exams are coming up soon and i havent studied at all, it feels like theres no point cause i will fail anyway. I have zero talents i cannot play any instruments, play any sports, i do not excel in any subjects, even things i invest lots of time in trying to get better at like video games i am still bad at (ive only ever achieved low gold in one of the games i play a lot), i even get upset about small things like messing up the spelling of a single word, i cannot answer any questions on IQ tests (admittedly they were online and not that good but i still couldnt answer ANY of the questions). I do not know what to do, i do not know if this is just normal teenage insecurity or something else but i figured because i cant talk to anyone else i ought to post here.

P17 Exams and expectations
  • replies: 7

I wasn't exactly sure how to describe this, I hope I make sense here. I have always been an above average student. I won a scholarship to a highly prestigious school and everyone that knew me knew me as a really smart person. This has translated into... View more

I wasn't exactly sure how to describe this, I hope I make sense here. I have always been an above average student. I won a scholarship to a highly prestigious school and everyone that knew me knew me as a really smart person. This has translated into huge expectations of myself to perform really well in exams. I always study really hard, up to two months before the exams. However recently, my results have been slipping. It's not like they've been awful, but they've been getting worse. Besides, my school requires scholarship students to be in the top 30% of the grade. I've been doing that, but I've been really depressed lately, as my results are very mediocre. I've been doing really well in class, but when it comes to exams my mindset becomes flustered and I can't perform to the extent of my capabilities. This, combined with my peers' expectations that I will do really well, is really frustrating me, and I find it hard to cope at times. I'm not sporty or musical, and academics is my only main strength. Right now, I'm feeling really useless. I feel so stupid writing this. If you are reading this, thank you.

moomamoo Panic Attack? Social Anxiety?? IDK whats wrong with me
  • replies: 5

So the other day, I went with my dad to a store to ask about getting a battery replacement for my phone. I was kinda scared to go ask for some reason, and so I asked if my dad could go ask instead. He was like no, this is your own phone, you've gotta... View more

So the other day, I went with my dad to a store to ask about getting a battery replacement for my phone. I was kinda scared to go ask for some reason, and so I asked if my dad could go ask instead. He was like no, this is your own phone, you've gotta do this yourself or we're leaving. So I went in and nervously approached this lady who seemed kinda uninterested and impatient. I was really nervous Idk why I was just sweating a lot and shaky. I wasn't really paying attention to what she was saying or anything but luckily my dad was right there listening in on the conversation. My dad then asked me if I wanted to replace my battery, to which I responded that I didn't understand what she was saying. He got a little mad and told me to ask again then if I didn't get it. But at this point, I really didn't want to ask again, and I found myself starting to tear up. I was also struggling to breathe, and I started biting my hand to try and stop crying. I was really scared of something, I'm not sure what, but I had to run out of the store. My dad then found me outside and asked me if I was going to book an appointment or not, which meant that I had to go back in and talk to more people. So I asked if he could instead, as I was a big mess, to which he replied again, this is your phone and you're wasting my time, so hurry and decide yes or no. This made my state even worse, and I was just shaking and crying at this point, but he didn't seem to care. We ended up leaving without an appointment. On the walk home, my dad commented that I was being weak and needed to toughen up and talk to more strangers, I had a problem that needed to be fixed. I've been quite agitated recently and have been crying a lot. I cried last night, this morning in class, and 2 hours ago when I got home. I don't really know what's wrong with me. I don't believe I have social anxiety as I have a lot of friends who I am fine with conversing with, and I don't find it hard to make new friends. Sure, I sometimes get nervous when speaking to teachers or the cashier when I buy something, but it's never really been this severe. Can anyone help?

Vicbuilder Hey guys! I'm 24 turning 25. Don't know where my career is heading
  • replies: 2

So pretty much ive studied multiple qualifications, and somewhat feel like im on a path, but can get disheartened quite easily. Any advice is appreciated, So pretty much I studied a bachelors in psychology and then moved into construction and will ha... View more

So pretty much ive studied multiple qualifications, and somewhat feel like im on a path, but can get disheartened quite easily. Any advice is appreciated, So pretty much I studied a bachelors in psychology and then moved into construction and will have my construction degree soon, initially i was offered a construction course but declined, im not sure why to be honest. However I feel as though I dont know exactly what i want to do yet in the industry. I'm working on site as a labourer doing renovations, but have the qualifications to be an entry level administrator or junior project manage or estimator, but im dying to work on site and be site based, i love being amongst it, i was thinking of doing a trade but my parents are really against this and im worried about work consistency and ongoing potential earning capacity (i have to support a few people). I would like to site supervise eventually, but cant really get there without a trade background. Whats the answer here? Just go against my parents and do a trade? It feels like my psych degree is somewhat wasted in this and i dont want to disappoint my parents

Du0k1 I have trouble fitting in with people
  • replies: 1

Good Evening everyone, How are you going? So I am a 19 year old male. I have always had trouble with fitting in with people I don't know why I can't make friends I have tried making friends for the past 14 years of my life. I don't have any friends t... View more

Good Evening everyone, How are you going? So I am a 19 year old male. I have always had trouble with fitting in with people I don't know why I can't make friends I have tried making friends for the past 14 years of my life. I don't have any friends that i can talk nor share my life with. I have been told by my family they don't really love me nor care for me. I have also been told by my family I have low emotional intelligence And that is why I don't have very many friends. I have been called Queer, weird, your a freak. So I believe I am just going to sit back and work my whole entire life not have any friends and just be by myself bc it is so much it than talking to people. I am extremely smart i work very hard to do well in my apprenticeship. The problem is I don't really understand how to love nor to receive love. I wish I could love but I know I am never going to be able to love someone otherwise I know I am just going to either get rejected like every other time in my life or not give love out to someone that cares about me. I wish I could love but I am very uncertain to love someone and care for them. I know I am going to have no one in my life apart from me. I am currently a first year diesel fitter I love my job more than my own family.

Willow_444 I can't do or remember a lot during my days anymore
  • replies: 2

Hello! I don't know exactly why I'm here or what I'm even doing in general. I guess I just want to talk. I feel like I'm really bad at communicating in general so I'll try to list things. 1. Halfway through this year I started zoning out a lot, I'd s... View more

Hello! I don't know exactly why I'm here or what I'm even doing in general. I guess I just want to talk. I feel like I'm really bad at communicating in general so I'll try to list things. 1. Halfway through this year I started zoning out a lot, I'd stop typing essays and assignments and play with my fingernails for two hours. I feel really detached and unable to properly do a lot of things I used to tackle easily like study, packing and preparing meals. 2. I don't sleep a lot anymore. Because I'm so behind in my work I'd try to stay up late, fall asleep at 2am then wake up at three hours later and try to fall asleep again. 3. I cry a lot now. A lot of the times without any emotional or physical triggers. Sometimes when my parents say or do things that are a little insensitive. This used to happen only when I was alone but now these sudden crying bouts hit me out of nowhere, even when I'm driving, and I have to excuse myself from a social situation or just go quiet and hope I don't burst into tears. 4. I've already talked to my parents about my feelings about medical school (they wanted me to be a doctor), mental health and things that stress me out but they don't seem to have heard me or they just don't seem to care. There are things that they say which make me feel very uncomfortable, more so now than it did when I was a kid because I feel I have a better understanding of their meaning now? Things like 'depression is for people who aren't busy enough' and 'depression is an excuse' and 'you better not be lesbian.' A lot of this is said in a joking manner but... I think they really do mean it. 5. I've begun to attach myself to really cute/pretty/aesthetic looking things, like old childhood plushies and cute hairclips and earrings and stuff. I don't know if this is relevant at all to my more negative emotions but these things calm me and distract me. 6. I only feel happy when hanging out with close friends (none of which I can see very regularly) and doing sports. I'll be competing for my country in next year's university games and I like to sweat things out and exhaust myself. What do I do? I want to get out of whatever this mood is I'm having. I'm almost always really upset and irritated with myself now. I feel like I've tried everything to improve (such as making my study notes look cute and neat. Actually does work in terms of memorising) but it only improves my mood for a short span of time. I don't want my parents to think I'm weak or attention-seeking.

rlo a bit low - i think
  • replies: 2

hi guys, hope you are all well. please excuse me, i am new to this and have no clue whether i'm doing it right or not. but lately, i guess for at least a month it seems as if i'm just fading out. i'm always tired, i find it super hard to be with my f... View more

hi guys, hope you are all well. please excuse me, i am new to this and have no clue whether i'm doing it right or not. but lately, i guess for at least a month it seems as if i'm just fading out. i'm always tired, i find it super hard to be with my friends and laugh and smile along with them, i'm not talking to my family and whenever i try to i just feel like it's not worth it or i'm not worth it, also recently this non-stop urge to cry constantly has decided to come along as well which is super. i feel like i'm just failing everyone around me and i'm this dark cloud that spreads to those close to me. my self esteem has dropped super low and i just don't really know why, and how i can go back to how i was. i'm used to being sad but now i just feel like i've got the symptoms of sad without really feeling anything at all, sometimes anger. mostly anger actually. i don't know what's going on but i'm disappointing people and my family are getting aggravated at me understandably. i just can't seem to help it. i'm eating normally-ish, not sleeping too good i guess, i feel normal enough, i'm still following my passions, i'm just slightly disenchanted with life right now. anyone experienced something familiar?? any tips or tricks anyone has would be a great help. thanks for reading and taking the time. please if you're going through something similar, join the discussion and we can help each other out.

GalaxyDalmatian Uni and Depression
  • replies: 5

So, this year has been a bit of a mess. I haven't been attending class (minimum attendance only) both from being in the position of choosing between studying and paying bills and also from those off days. Just being too exhausted to wake up and live ... View more

So, this year has been a bit of a mess. I haven't been attending class (minimum attendance only) both from being in the position of choosing between studying and paying bills and also from those off days. Just being too exhausted to wake up and live life. I'd spend days in bed not eating and seeing no one. I fought hard in school to get where I am and I'm proud of it but I've moved out and it's hard to keep going without my support network around me. I really struggled in my transition. I failed half my subjects in my first semester and with two exams coming up tomorrow, I'm not feeling confident that I'll pass all my subjects this semester either. See, I've been struggling with a toxic mix of medical, financial and mental health issues for several years now. It's left me depressed and failing to cope with life in general. Listing out all the things that have gone wrong would be useless and petty so I'll leave it at that. What I need now is for someone to tell me that I should keep fighting for my passion and that I'm worth more than my grades. These are the two things that I'm not getting from the people around me right now. I'm just a uni student looking for some encouraging words.

soo-ah running out
  • replies: 5

i’m having trouble keeping up with living. i’m running out of energy to keep on living. i’m constantly feeling like i’m drowning, and i’m struggling with so many things. i just want someone to notice that i’m struggling, is that so bad?

i’m having trouble keeping up with living. i’m running out of energy to keep on living. i’m constantly feeling like i’m drowning, and i’m struggling with so many things. i just want someone to notice that i’m struggling, is that so bad?