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

Tuilop How do you stand up for yourself?
  • replies: 6

Hey everyone, So I have been having this issue for a while; whenever someone is arguing with me or they try to fight me I end up running away from the situation, even if they discriminate me or just make fun of me... Even the guy who tries to argue w... View more

Hey everyone, So I have been having this issue for a while; whenever someone is arguing with me or they try to fight me I end up running away from the situation, even if they discriminate me or just make fun of me... Even the guy who tries to argue with me he just confronts me that I don't fight for myself. I just don't want to be involved in any arguments at school it bothers me that I can't fight for myself when people make fun of me I just don't want to create drama I have told them to stop but of course saying stop doesn't do anything. Hopefully this can get resolved soon because it really bothers me, Tuilop.

Thebluepineapple Bulimic,Bi & all alone
  • replies: 8

Trying to adjust to a new school in senior year, been there for a week and i have found no like minded people. Suggestions?

Trying to adjust to a new school in senior year, been there for a week and i have found no like minded people. Suggestions?

Sylva I feel emptiness inside of me
  • replies: 1

I’m lost with words and emotions right now. I’ve had sleepless nights and cry myself to sleep. People would label me as the brightest person in the room yet I feel the darkest. It’s an effort to put myself out there and visit friends or to talk to my... View more

I’m lost with words and emotions right now. I’ve had sleepless nights and cry myself to sleep. People would label me as the brightest person in the room yet I feel the darkest. It’s an effort to put myself out there and visit friends or to talk to my family about how I feel inside. If I did I would automatically change the subject about them to not talk about myself, I have always done that. But I’m so exhausted in seeing how other people are because no one asks how I am. Im only 24 and life seems to be so hard that I can’t bare to be at work or around my friends or even love my partner of 4 years. I recently had helped a good friend of mine that got out of a abusive relationship. I let her and her new born baby live with us as like she was my own blood family. I did everything I could do just to get her back into her feet. A month or so had past and she had been saying dishonest things and she ended up going back to the man she said she hated. She had messaged me and said she had left and said it was all a lie just for her to receive payment from the government. That she would rip the government off ? After all this had happened I felt every emotion running through my body. All my happiness I had just gone. I am the type of person who would do anything for a friend and would help anyone if needed. People had told me it’s her fault that I shouldn’t worry but that’s not what I am most concerned about. I’m not concerned about her or anyone else but myself because I feel empty and miserable. I find myself daydreaming about nothing and just staring at a wall. I feel like somethings really wrong with me inside but I am to afraid to talk face to face with someone because I can’t get the words out. I struggle to tel my family because they see me as the happiest sister or daughter of the family (the clown). I’m afraid my partner won’t be bothered to listen to my own problems and he might just walk away. I feel emptiness inside of me and I’m afraid of it.

london1298 Stepmother hates me and is ruining my relationship with my dad
  • replies: 5

My dad and I used to be so close, we would hang out every day, but when my parents split up and my dad started seeing my stepmum i started to see him less and less. Partially because she obviously disliked me, because he didn't make an effort anymore... View more

My dad and I used to be so close, we would hang out every day, but when my parents split up and my dad started seeing my stepmum i started to see him less and less. Partially because she obviously disliked me, because he didn't make an effort anymore, and because I never felt welcome in that house. They both moved to a different city and now i see him twice a year at most. about 4 months ago I was staying at my dads house and coincidentally my mum (who is the kindest, loveliest person ever) was also in the city with my stepfather. I had been up all night because I had a bad cold and couldn't breathe, my dad and stepmum were at work and so I called my mum because I was still struggling so hard to breathe. She got an uber to my dads house and sat with me while we waited for an ambulance to come. When we arrived at the hospital they did so many tests and found out that I had pneumonia and bronchitis. My dad didn't bother to leave work early, but came to the hospital to sit with me. The whole time he was on his phone and when I asked him why he said that my stepmum was very angry that my mum had been in her house. She did not care nor did she ask how I was, she was furious that when I was so unwell and couldn't reach her or my dad, I asked for my mum to come and help me. That is ridiculous and hurtful. I was released from hospital at 8pm that night and went back to my dads house. on the way home my dad said that because my stepmum was so angry, she probably wouldn't come out of her room to see me. This really is a depiction of her as a person; really couldn't give a damn about me, just herself. So I laid down to rest and I heard them fighting. My stepmother called my mum a B*tch that spreads lies about her and said that she hated my sister and I. I didn't want to be in that house so I left and sat on the curb crying. my dad followed me out and drove me to my mums hotel room. she never said sorry for the awful things she said about my mum and my sister. My mother always encouraged me to have a good relationship with my stepmum and tried to help me see things from my stepmoms side when I would get upset about something. My stepmum said horrible things about my family and didn't care at all that I was unwell. I don't think she was sorry for what she said I just think she's sorry that I heard her. My dad has tried to get me to reconcile with her but I don't know if i want to. But im scared that if i don't I will lose any relationship I have with my dad.

Nelliel Tu Grandpa's alzheimer's and my dyslexia (and dyscalculia) in school
  • replies: 1

this is a bit heavy but. my grandpa was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a year ago or so and he has only gotten worse. His medication is not working anymore and he has become more violent. this is not my grandpa it's not the same man I grew up with. I fee... View more

this is a bit heavy but. my grandpa was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a year ago or so and he has only gotten worse. His medication is not working anymore and he has become more violent. this is not my grandpa it's not the same man I grew up with. I feel scared for my grandma. she has become afraid of him. he threatened to kill her if she put him in a nursing home and I think she is slowing starting to become less and less mentally well. Don't worry there are people around who are investigating how violent he is, things are being done. this has put lots of pressure on my mum since she is an only child and is the only one who can take care of them and i miss my old grandpa and I want to help but I feel so useless. this happened just before my exams and now I'm sitting in my final year and feel like I can't go to school now. I'm so tired of being tired. as you can imagine this impacted my grades and now I am feeling even more powerless as I have my exams result back. My dyslexia and dyscalculia have always been an insecurity of mine but now it's even more powerful as one of my teachers told me what I hear every time "your ideas are good it's just getting them on paper." I'm so tired of having to keep this inside and worrying whether I'm a burden on others. (sorry I just needed to rant)

Valar_Morghulis When I don't wanna give up thought get toxic!
  • replies: 2

Why is it hard to leave a place or situation even though I know it's hurting me each day! I always said to myself I don't wanna give up easily and kept on getting hurt and said "Yay! at least I didn't give up!!". And trying to justify the situation a... View more

Why is it hard to leave a place or situation even though I know it's hurting me each day! I always said to myself I don't wanna give up easily and kept on getting hurt and said "Yay! at least I didn't give up!!". And trying to justify the situation and people so bad even though I know it's not worth it!

bidysharma29 Need some help on staying positive
  • replies: 1

Hi Before i start talking, I'm not writing this to invoke pity on myself, I'm just trying to get stuff of my chest and hopefully make myself feel better. This year has been a drag for me. I started to get really down around mid April to July, a lot o... View more

Hi Before i start talking, I'm not writing this to invoke pity on myself, I'm just trying to get stuff of my chest and hopefully make myself feel better. This year has been a drag for me. I started to get really down around mid April to July, a lot of it due to University. I've always been the shy, awkward kid that doesn't talk to many people and doesn't have many or any real friends at all, and nothing changed in uni but it becoming more evident. I've been feeling incredibly lonely and its like walking around a place you don't belong for 12 hours a week and then repeating it for 12 weeks. I've struggled to make friends, and the isolation has had its toll. It all hit its climax, when I started bombing courses and ended up failing one of my units. Ironically this made it a bit more tolerable, as I focused more on my studies for the next semester, but now that the break has come, the negative thoughts are starting to return. Going into this break, I hyped myself telling myself, that I would find a new job, be committed to the gym and get revise up on material for next year, but two weeks in and it has been the complete opposite, the absolute worst actually. I've been incredibly lazy, tired and every time I stuff up, I just become more negative and more pessimistic. I've been skipping the gym simply for waking up a bit late, and recently I forgot that I had work and didn't turn up. It just seems that I keep making mistakes after mistake and mistake and I'm feeling really hopeless. I understand fully that I'm mostly to blame for all these problems, but I've become less and less optimistic in my ability to improve myself and starting to think that this is who I am in general. My thoughts have becoming more and more negative and I posted this just to get stuff out of my head. I would appreciate any advice if anyone's got any.

Random_man101 Uneventful and Unfulfilling Life - am I wasting my life away?
  • replies: 3

Hey guys! This is my first post. So basically, over the last half of the year my life has gotten progressively uneventful. I've been spending my weekdays basically just doing homework. And then my weekend consists of either lying in bed on my laptop ... View more

Hey guys! This is my first post. So basically, over the last half of the year my life has gotten progressively uneventful. I've been spending my weekdays basically just doing homework. And then my weekend consists of either lying in bed on my laptop or doing homework. And this just feels so unfulfilling. I feel like I'm wasting my life away and I also feel more and more lonely because I just spend my time alone. And whenever I ask if any of my friends want to do something they're busy. And so I guess what I want advice on is how can I make myself do more things? I mean I read articles and all they say is to walk, or bake or do other hobbies but this still doesn't work. How can I start going out more with other people? Like how can I ask them to do more things with me? Or what things can I do to make my life more interesting? Because at the moment the only really significant thing in my life is school which just leaves me feeling so sad. The thing is I have friends, but no best friends if that makes sense. Is there a way I can reach out to more people? If I'm honest, my ideal goal would just to have a best friend who I can see all the time and randomly text and go out with. I feel like that's a bit much to ask for but thats just to put it all into context I guess. Since the summer holidays are coming up, this is a chance to do more things so can you please give me suggestions? Because if I don't do things, I think I might spend the summer feeling lonely and sad at home. Also, if any of you have gone through this how did you change things? Thanks for reading it means a lot

Tanop Young and Alone
  • replies: 2

I’m new here. When I got on this forum, I started typing up a storm about how alone and depressed I am. I really just started ranting about my whole life story, even going past the word limit. But I realised that I’m sure a lot of you have heard it a... View more

I’m new here. When I got on this forum, I started typing up a storm about how alone and depressed I am. I really just started ranting about my whole life story, even going past the word limit. But I realised that I’m sure a lot of you have heard it all before. So, I'll just start with the heart of the matter, I’m very very afraid. I'm afraid of where my life is heading. I'm afraid of dying alone I'm afraid that I will never know the happiness and joy of loving someone and being loved. I'm afraid that I will never experience the happiness and memories of real friendships I'm 21 years old. I have no real friends. Despite really trying to seek out new relationships, I feel that I can never solidify anything meaningful. I don't know what to do, or where to go, or who to talk to. I've never had any social safety net in my life, and I really don't think I can handle it much longer...

spontaneous sunflower i feel so much that i feel nothing and it's ruined my life for the past 3 years.
  • replies: 4

I'm so tired of it. It hurts, it hurts so much that it doesn't. Right now, typing this, I don't feel depressed or anxious or anything of the sort. I've had quite a pleasant week actually. But I don't feel genuinely happy either, or optimistic or cont... View more

I'm so tired of it. It hurts, it hurts so much that it doesn't. Right now, typing this, I don't feel depressed or anxious or anything of the sort. I've had quite a pleasant week actually. But I don't feel genuinely happy either, or optimistic or content. I don't know if it makes sense.. but it's like I'm depressed without quite feeling depressed. Like my mind has closed itself of those thoughts for most of the time, but they're still there. Like right now, typing this, I can feel some of the depressive thoughts lingering in my mind, they're present but still kind of hidden. I find it so hard to verbalise them out loud or even into writing. Sometimes something triggers one of those depressive thoughts I have locked away, and I find myself crying and actually feeling depressed. But as soon as that moment's gone, the thought locks itself up again. I think the reason I've blocked all of my negative thoughts in my mind is because I'm sick of it.They're all thoughts and feelings I've had before and I feel frustrated that I still haven't kicked them to the curb. I'm not surprised though- I should've kept going to my psychologist, I should've asked for help sooner, I should've prioritised good eating and exercising habits... but here we are. I'm determined to get back on track but I'm disheartened because this isn't the first time I've had to "get back on track". I know life is basically a series of messing up and then getting yourself back together again and again, but I'm 17 and I haven't lived properly for a good couple or so years. Every year for the past 3 years, I've experienced a tough patch- a good 3-4 months of the year spent with severe anxiety and depression. Both 2018 and this year, that tough patch has lasted for maybe even half the year. I honestly feel like I've lived more than half of the past 3 years in darkness. And you have no idea how badly I want to live in the light, to be happy, to see beautiful places and meet wonderful people. I want to go on adventures, face fears, achieve great things. But I'm always just waiting for that day where things fall back into place, that day that I wake up and realise the solution to my problems. I'm sick of waiting. I want to go out there and get my life back.. but I don't even know where to start.