Hi, new here

[YellowBanana7]

Hello everyone! I joined Beyond Blue today hopefully to seek some support in my recovery and maybe just some guidance/advice in my everyday life aswell.

I am 17 and suffering from depression and social anxiety for 3 years now. I have been in and out of school ever since due to the mental illness and social problems aswell. However it wasn't until recently I got into a nice school where I felt comfortable enough to be in and to continue my study. I'm trying to focus on my recovery by going through a treatment plan and also with the support of my school counsellor. I'm also trying to focus and improve on my studying, social life and my wellbeing in general. The school is great, the students are decent, mature and accepting and things were okay until recently.

The last month has been unstable, frustrating and confusing. The recovery is tough and mentally draining. I've been going through some social problems and I'm so confused about what I'm feeling and why I'm feeling it. I'm struggling with school work because I have been procrastinating a lot and it is just so tiring when I do it. I also have been questioning a lot about myself such as who am I and what do I want out of life. I understand that these things are normal for my age but I just don't know what to do. I feel like I can't talk about this with anyone because they will either not understand or the fact that I don't trust them in general.

[Kazzl]

Hi YellowBanana7, welcome to the forum! It's great to meet you. You strike me as a very self-aware and mature person and that's such a great asset when you're dealing with mental health issues so young, well, at any age really.

I think wondering about your future and questioning yourself is quite normal at your age. I know my daughters certainly went through a lot of that. And, yes, procrastination is tiring (and thank you for observing that, I hadn't considered it that way before but you're absolutely right, says another procrastinator!)

Sometimes overthinking things, considering too many options or angles, can make it hard for us to do anything. In my line of work it's known as 'paralysis by analysis'. I get that way and have to make myself move on. Sometimes what we decide to do or the approach we choose to take is right and sometimes it's not. But that's how we learn, by making mistakes. And making mistakes is part of life, at any age.

It's good you're in a nice school now and have the support of a counsellor. Take a good look around the forum, especially our Young People's board and you'll see there are quite a number of people your age here with similar issues. It's a very safe and open place to talk to others about your experiences. We have a chat thread called Friends Cafe on the Young People's board where young members chat about school, life, friendships etc. You would be very welcome there.

And of course keep posting here if you want to talk.

Very best wishes to you

Kaz

[geoff]

hello YellowBanana, oh dear school can be so tough, not only with studying, making and keeping friends but also trying to cope with all what goes on behind the scenes and any or all of these can have a significant impact on how we feel.
You have been thrown into an environment that starts to question where and why you are heading towards, such as these 'social problems' which have now made you feel unstable.
You know that even as though you may feel as though no one can help, there are many people who have could have been in similar circumstances, and by saying this I don't mean that it involves the same people, but what has or is happening now could very well relate to us, so I hope that you can trust us and certainly get back to us.
There is NO shame in how you feel, but unfortunately people do believe that what any form of depression they do have and no one else someone else has had to cope with, but this is so wrong, because there is only one place depression takes us to, and that's down to the dark pit, where it changes our life.
Can you please get back to us whenever it suits you. Geoff.

[ahw309]

Hi YellowBanana!

I don't have advice or anything but I just wanted to say hello and a huge welcome to the forum!

I am also 17 and suffer from depression and social anxiety (as well as generalised anxiety). Like you, I have been procrastinating a lot on my school work, and have been constantly questioning myself over the past year or so. You are right - it is pretty common for our age!

I'm sorry to hear the past month has been tough. I'm so glad you've found a great school with accepting students, and have the support of your counsellor!

Please know that this is a safe and supportive place and there are so many understanding people willing to listen to you. You are always welcome to talk here!