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Sophie_M How are you feeling about the social media restrictions in Australia for under 16s?
  • replies: 13

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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fruitinseason I'm not happy and I don't know what to do about it.
  • replies: 1

Lately, I've just been feeling very down and I don't know how to cope or deal with it! I'm not really good at expressing my emotions or talking to people about these things, mainly because I seem to be very optimistic and very outgoing on the outside... View more

Lately, I've just been feeling very down and I don't know how to cope or deal with it! I'm not really good at expressing my emotions or talking to people about these things, mainly because I seem to be very optimistic and very outgoing on the outside. But that's not how it is sometimes. I'm very self-destructive (not in a physical sense, more mentally) and I don't know how to cope with feelings of doubt. Just recently, In school, we are split into these advanced and standard English classes based on the grades that we got the last term. I'm currently in the standard class, and when I tell people this they get really confused because I'm known as one of those "smart kids" at school and I just feel like they expect more from me. I look around and see my friends excelling in all their studies, maintaining a perfect report card, but then there's me who can get maybe one A here and there with all B's. And I don't know what to feel, I thought I was smarter than this, but I guess not. I just feel very envious of my friends who can maintain such a perfect report card, and I always try my hardest but then overthink a situation and get myself hurt to a point where I feel worthless. I don't want to feel this way but I can't help it. Another thing that's been going on is that I've been so negative about my physical appearance and have been trying to fix it for the past month! it's taken so long mainly because I start comparing myself to others in real life and on social media and start to overthink to a point where I give up. This has been a constant cycle. Lately, I've just been so self-critical about everything! from my appearance to my mental state and I don't know why this started to just recently. I used to be so happy, but I guess things change. Anyways, this was literally just a rant about my life. But the thing I really want to take away from this is: have you ever gotten to a point which feels so low? how did you get back up? how can I have a more positive outlook on life? What should I do to help cope? and how can I improve my life for the better, in order to feel happy again?

Betriouffift Stressed about new job.
  • replies: 3

I recently got a new job as a dishwasher for a casual dining restaurant, making this my second job I've ever received, I quit my first job after a couple of months due to overwhelming stress during that period of my life, which caused me to panic and... View more

I recently got a new job as a dishwasher for a casual dining restaurant, making this my second job I've ever received, I quit my first job after a couple of months due to overwhelming stress during that period of my life, which caused me to panic and break down when on my shifts and it just became too much. After a long while of not working, I believed I could get back into it with my newly acquired skills, and I tried really hard to get the job I currently have now by running around and applying to every store and restaurant that I could, until this restaurant decided to put me on for a trial, they really liked me and I enjoyed myself so I got hired. My first shift was two weeks ago and was pretty stressful, it was on a Thursday and I was required to stay until 11:45PM to clean up after the store had closed, I ended up going to sleep very late and spending money on an Uber to get home and was a zombie the next day, but I didn't worry too much, my next shift was easier, even though I was alone. My next shift was fine, until my most recent shift, which lasted 6 hours since I was brought in early, I did well for the start and didn't worry too much, until later in the shift, I began to get an anxious and overwhelming feeling of 'I really don't want to be here', I'm frustrated because I was hoping I wouldn't get this feeling anymore, but it still seems to be present and it makes working a lot harder because of how worried I am to go to my next shift. I know its important to give it time, but this feeling didn't subside at my first job, despite being there for months, I've tried strategies to calm myself down in stressful situations but most don't work or are very temporary, causing me to sort of feel trapped in my mind of what I want to do, the stakes are high for the job as I really need it to pay for important expenses, so I can't leave this time, but I just want to make the transition into comfort a lot easier, any suggestions?

EC101 Where do I even begin?
  • replies: 2

I am a 12 year old girl, and have been diagnosed with anxiety, and I have ASD. My anxiety is mainly caused by certain sounds, and pressure. Hearing hiccups, sniffs, loud breathing or snoring makes me want to cry. My Dad understands, but my Mum doesn'... View more

I am a 12 year old girl, and have been diagnosed with anxiety, and I have ASD. My anxiety is mainly caused by certain sounds, and pressure. Hearing hiccups, sniffs, loud breathing or snoring makes me want to cry. My Dad understands, but my Mum doesn't seem to care. And there's another issue: My parents split up early last year, and I still haven't gotten over it. My Dad gets sad, because he never gets to see us, and he never wanted to split up. I just feel like my Mum ruins everything. My Mum has a boyfriend who lives with her, but I have him. He smokes and is just an awful person, and I feel angry towards him, maybe not because he did anything, just he could never be my Dad. I have a one week cycle with each parent, and when I'm at my Dad's he respects my privacy, and doesn't make me do anything I don't feel comfortable doing (mostly). But when I'm at Mums she's a nightmare. We have at least 3 fights a week, and doesn't understand that not everyone will always be perfect, like my older sister. Then, I have these two friends. They keep on having fights with each other and both make it hard for me to be myself, but I really don want to lose them, cause they're all I have. Except often, they use me, because I'm quite intelligent in some subjects ( I can't say that without feeling guilty) and make me help them with their work. I have a crush on this girl at my school, but my Mum is strongly against homosexuality. Again, my Dad understands and always supports me, but I don't know what to do. I feel I'm too young to come out, or decide this is my life now, and I need help. I feel this is too much for a young girl to handle, along with trying to act like nothing's wrong at the same time... I really need help, for any of these problems you can relate to. I just want a real friend for once. EC

anoncreate i feel worthless
  • replies: 4

all my thoughts are negative it’s like in any situation i will find a way to feel bad about myself. i think too much, i think about everything from the tiniest thing someone will say or the way someone will act without even realising i will take so t... View more

all my thoughts are negative it’s like in any situation i will find a way to feel bad about myself. i think too much, i think about everything from the tiniest thing someone will say or the way someone will act without even realising i will take so to heart and it will genuinely affect me because it stays on my mind for so long it’s like i can’t tell if i’m just mega insecure and feeling bad for myself or if i’m genuinely upset. i hate feeling like this, i don’t want to tell anyone and i never talk about my feelings because it makes me uncomfortable because i don’t want people to look at me differently and also i feel like my problems aren’t worth someone listening to because i feel like it’s not a real problem but at the same time if i’m constantly feeling sad then how can that be not be a problem? i’m just confused because i’ve felt like this for so long and i’ve always denied that there’s been something wrong but when it comes to that i don’t even wanna talk because i’m insecure of what people have said about me like why can someones opinion that doesn’t even know me affect me so much i don’t know what’s wrong with me and i don’t know how to deal with it sometimes i wonder if i wasn’t here would that just make me feel better because stressing about my life that feels so worthless is getting me no where.

Cerise547 Feeling bad and using my phone as an escape
  • replies: 3

Hey all, so recently I’ve been feeling really strange- I feel tired, lazy, unhealthy (I’ve barely exercised for weeks and I’ve been eating pretty badly), rude and grumpy. I feel stuck in a rut and I feel disappointed with how I am and how I’m acting.... View more

Hey all, so recently I’ve been feeling really strange- I feel tired, lazy, unhealthy (I’ve barely exercised for weeks and I’ve been eating pretty badly), rude and grumpy. I feel stuck in a rut and I feel disappointed with how I am and how I’m acting. I just feel strange like all of the time and to combat these feelings, I lie in my bed or on the couch for hours on my phone. I use stuff like Instagram, YouTube, and some other social media. I don’t wanna get up and I just use my phone as a way to ignore my real life. I feel a disconnect from my real life and the people around me. I feel like I’m stuck in a hole, but I’m too lazy to get out. I don’t want to face real life. i just checked my screen time, and last Sunday I spent over 9 hours on my phone. On school days I spend around 3/4 hours on my phone. Ugh. i also feel like I’ve been acting and speaking to others rudely, especially my mum. I feel like I can’t help it and then I feel awful afterwards, since she’s under a lot of stress too. This “stuck in a rut” feeling has made me so lazy that I don’t even help out around the house or do my chores, which disappoints my mum. I feel like I’m disappointing myself and the people around me. even when I’m at school I don’t talk to my friends at lunch, I just go on my phone and stay silent. My friends notice this since I’m normally quite talkative and bubbly, but when they ask about it I just say I’m tired. I just don’t want to talk with most of them. i feel awful, but I don’t want to talk to people about it in my real life because... I don’t know really. Maybe because I’m scared of judgement? Or I can’t be bothered? Or I don’t want to face what’s really going on? I don’t know, but I’m sick of this feeling. I feel stuck. That felt good to get that all off my chest. Please help if you can

Guest51956 Cold feet? Anxiety probably.
  • replies: 4

Hey everyone, I hope all is well. Sorry to be a downer but I'm not so well. Life has stopped for me, day by day nothing really happens. I know life really hasn't stopped but it really feels like it for me. I believe it or not have 11 siblings, this b... View more

Hey everyone, I hope all is well. Sorry to be a downer but I'm not so well. Life has stopped for me, day by day nothing really happens. I know life really hasn't stopped but it really feels like it for me. I believe it or not have 11 siblings, this being the case I shouldn't be feeling lonely at all? Well yes I in fact do feel alone. I haven't got any friends, this is my own fault for not making myself seen by the world. I think what really has run me into the ground though is that ACL broke. Riding a moterbike on a farm in the dark on a dirt road at forty kilometres/hour has some consequences. I hit a stone, lost balance and made a last minute attempt to stop myself from crashing. I put my leg out. This is getting too long. My point is life sucks too much to care.

lonelyglassesgirl Anyone else feel burnt out and like you don't know how you'll finish all your studying for term/semester?
  • replies: 1

I feel like this. 25-year-old uni student, been studying full/part-time for years, doing pretty okay but absolutely sick of it and I've still got another year to go. One particular essay is absolutely destroying me; I only have limited time to work o... View more

I feel like this. 25-year-old uni student, been studying full/part-time for years, doing pretty okay but absolutely sick of it and I've still got another year to go. One particular essay is absolutely destroying me; I only have limited time to work on it due to work, but in my non-work time I'm so exhausted I tend to procrastinate at least 50-70% of the time. It's coming along slowly, but I think it's rubbish. I also feel like my degree is worthless for getting any sort of job I'll enjoy, and the news of the coming recession is stressing me out. Also I've made a job application (for when my current fixed-term contract ends) and they're ghosting me, won't even reply to confirm they've received the application. Yeah, I just feel like a screw with all the thread worn off, like I can't be productive anymore. Work's a bit better; I was having a lot of panic attacks until about two weeks ago, which was really wearing me out, and even though that's improved, I feel like I'm still dealing with the cumulative effects. Sorry for the rant. That time of year, I guess.

Bee1998 Anxious About Death
  • replies: 2

Hi, I am 21 and have been having very surreal thoughts about dying for the majority of my life. I am extremely scared of the thought of death at an old age. I start thinking about when I get old, and the reality hits me, “oh shit, I am going to die o... View more

Hi, I am 21 and have been having very surreal thoughts about dying for the majority of my life. I am extremely scared of the thought of death at an old age. I start thinking about when I get old, and the reality hits me, “oh shit, I am going to die one day, and that’s the end. Nothing more.” It scared the shit out of me... the thought of just being dead . It’s black. Nothing. That’s it. These thoughts get so bad that I start choking up and can’t breathe. Sometimes I get so caught up in today, that I forget that one day it’s going to happen. Can anyone else relate?

Bee1998 21 And Addicted To Alcohol
  • replies: 3

I am 21 and addicted to alcohol. I guess it’s my way of coping with day to day stress, but I can see that it’s becoming an issue. I am spending around $100 a week on drinks, so financially it’s not great for me. As soon as I’ve finished work for the ... View more

I am 21 and addicted to alcohol. I guess it’s my way of coping with day to day stress, but I can see that it’s becoming an issue. I am spending around $100 a week on drinks, so financially it’s not great for me. As soon as I’ve finished work for the day, my first reaction is to buy drinks and come home and get drunk. The worst part is, I don’t want to stop. When I feel this buzz from drinking, it’s the only time I ever feel happy. I know most people say it’s a temporary fix, but for me, it genuinely makes me forget about all the crap in my life , and I really do feel happy. I guess the main reason why I feel bad about drinking is because my partner doesn’t drink at all. And I feel like I’m letting him down every time I have a drink. I also feel like I’m the only person my age who has an alcohol addiction... Is there anyone else my age who is going through the same struggle??

Grace04 Too depressed for school
  • replies: 2

I’m 15 and in year 9. This year I have really struggled with depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and eating disorders (binge eating and anorexia). I’m so depressed that going to school feels impossible right now and I have no idea what to do. I d... View more

I’m 15 and in year 9. This year I have really struggled with depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and eating disorders (binge eating and anorexia). I’m so depressed that going to school feels impossible right now and I have no idea what to do. I don’t want to miss out on learning and at the same time I really don’t want to go to school. My eating habits are terrible, I can’t eat anything without feeling guilty and the second I do it makes me binge eat.