Young people

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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 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!

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 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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The Dark. Though pointless, writing this made me feel better

replies: 2

Sometimes, I’m afraid of the dark. And that’s okay. But today, right now, I’m not. Frankly? That’s not okay. Usually, the dark scares me, a lot. I walk quickly to my room when I’m the last one awake, the one who has to turn the lights off. I walk so quickly in fact, I almost start running. I read somewhere that people are afraid of the dark because humans have a natural fear of the unknown, but here’s the thing, you aren’t actually afraid of the dark, you aren’t actually afraid of anything, you are only afraid of the consequence that comes with it which is, of course, being out of control, being hurt or dying. You aren’t afraid of heights, you’re afraid of what happens when you hit the ground, you aren’t afraid of spiders, you’re afraid of what they might do to you, and if you’re afraid of death? Congratulations! You value self-preservation which is, of course, a good thing. Fear is a superpower. so then what happens when it all of a sudden turns off? I just don't care anymore. I am no longer afraid of disappearing. In fact, I welcome it. I'm writing this in the dark. Depression for me is never just one thing. It’s multiple things, but they’re small things. Maybe there's a bigger issue at the core but what pushes me to the edge are the small bits that build up. It’s someone accidentally stepping on my foot, slamming the door in my face, or forgetting my name. These tiny details build up into a big ball and when the moment comes, I break. The big ball explodes and the little specks of unpleasantries stick themselves around my mind making me remember every single reason why I’m intolerable. That’s not to say that people can’t make small accidents like calling me Clare instead of Sarah, because they happen all the time and it’s completely fine. But I don’t understand how something so small can have such a large impact or why I can take them so personally sometimes. But at the end of the day, when rational thinking comes back into view, I once again remember why I’m here. Just because I am. I have one job to do and that is simply just, exist. I know that nothing lasts forever, which is completely true. whether it be the grocery store or the sun, time will outlive us all. So I know this empty feeling will wash away when the time is right. This will always be a part of my life but I know that it’ll always eventually go away. Only then will my fear of the dark return and only then will I turn on the light.

Am I having panic attacks?

replies: 3

Hi everybody, I've never made a post in an online forum about this type of thing before, but i really don't know where to turn. I've always been a person who worries a lot and gets anxious feelings, but recently (for about 2 months), almost everyday i get this feeling in my chest and stomach, like my heart is being squeezed and my stomach is churning. It feels like the scary feeling when you're at the top of a rollercoaster and suddenly drop, it feels like I am falling. This feeling is usually manageable, and I can make myself feel better when it occurs, but it does make me very uncomfortable. But if something even goes the slightest bit wrong, I feel like I fall apart. A small disagreement with a friend can feel like the world is ending. I get that feeling, but I can't shake it. I start sobbing violently and it feels like I can't get enough air, and occasionally this has lead to me being extremely nauseous and sick because of my heavy breathing makes me feel like I'm choking. I don't know what to do, I can't calm myself down or think straight, I just hide under my desk until it is over. It usually lasts about 40 minutes - an hour. I used to think maybe this was just a bad crying session, but now I think these 'episodes' or what not are actually panic attacks. Last year a therapist told me I had GAD, but I honestly didn't take her seriously because i didn't think i was "bad enough" to have an anxiety disorder (though now I feel I was just in denial). I always thought I was just a 'worrier' and very sensitive, but now these feelings are taking a massive toll on me and seem to be getting worse as I get older (I'm 18 now). Are these episodes I'm going through panic attacks? Or am I just crying? Any suggestions or opinions or anything would be greatly appreciated, thank you so much in advance.

Feeling numb

replies: 2

Hey all, I'm new to these forums so I hope I've gone to the right section to post. I feel like I've experienced depression throughout my teen years and anyone who knows me is kind of able to tell, even classmates have picked up on my behaviour since I also have ASD which can make me react over things emotionally. Over the years I feel like something like maybe depression has taken away my emotion. Everything in life is pretty fine and I have so many good times but those good times seem more underwhelming and feel like I kind of have to put on a mask and exaggerate. It doesn't mean that moment didn't mean anything to me, it still increases my mood, however it just doesn't feel the same as it used to, none of that same energy. I want to get back those emotions but feel like this numb feeling will remain forever. I want to know if anyone else has experiences this and was able to overcome it and I want to know if I will also overcome it and how because I feel quite hopeless over this. I can't remember when I felt completely normal but I believe this numbness especially started showing last yr and progressed up to now. Let me know your thoughts please. Thank you

Rant, Advice, Anxiety, Help Eachother!

replies: 7

Hey, I'm new. Basically i just wanna rant to ya'll because you understand aha. So basically, I've had anxiety since year six, it's been rough. when i have an attack i feel like i'm going to pass out, or my chest will explode or something like that. I decided to post right now, because i had an attack this morning. And i managed it. Granted, i sat on my bedroom floor crying for a half hour, and i almost hyperventilated, but for me that's progress! But i still have a long way to go, but i'm really glad that i'm learning to manage my anxiety, and i'm no longer having attacks everyday. I'm in high school, and these two teachers always make me feel so stressed and anxious, even when they walk past me in the hallway. My palms get sweaty, and i tense up. I don't feel safe near them. AND, a neighbor of ours is SUPER narcissistic, he bullied my and my younger brother when we were little, and once he came to our damn house, and i had to tell my little brother to hide in the bedroom, so i could answer the door, only to be bullied and berated. The situation was dealt with, but whenever i walk past his house i feel so scared and anxious. It gave me massive PTS from when i was in touch with my dad, and when i saw him. I feel like i can't escape from my anxiety, it's like a huge black smoke that follows me, and when something scary or odd happens, it fills my lounges and chokes me. And covid19 isn't helping either!! Sorry for ranting, i just needed to get that out of my system. I guess that's what these forums are for though! Sending love and virtual hugs to everyone!! Hope ya'll are well xx

Feeling like im a background character.

replies: 4

Hi, I'm new to this so I don't really know what to say but ill give it a go. I'm not young but younger than many people here (I'm in high school) so I feel like this isn't really valid or anything because some people can't even get up in the morning and I'm just complaining. Recently I was admitted to the hospital for self-harm and suicidal ideation, it was probably the worst experience I've ever had as it was forced by my school and 'friends'. Although the initial experience was horrible my abusive family became more aware and my parents really tried to stop and change. I also had an 'I don't care' attitude about everything afterward and it made me do some stupid things like give myself a stick and poke tattoo, but it also made me feel like I could keep living and do anything without the constant fear of ruining everything I've tried to achieve. With all that said, in the past couple days I've been feeling down and I've had a lot of time to think about everything and I've noticed that my friends say they're there for me always but they're really not; they only respond to me when they are bored and it's obvious they are tired of dealing with me. And I'm not going to act on this or anything so don't worry about it but I know for certain they would not care if I left and I feel like a burden to them. I've realized that I should find a new group of friends as this happens really often but I'm sick of having to switch friend groups because they don't care about me. They will get upset about something and I will comfort them like I would like to be treated but they don't open up to me; I'm pretty sure the reason for them being ignorant is the lack of a firm connection but I can't force them to open up nevertheless a friendship cannot progress if its all one way. I can't get any of my school work and my once 'close' aspirations and dreams feel so far away now. I've thought of most of the possible solutions so I've come here for help. Sorry if it's long, thank you for reading if you made it this far.

i can't do school anymore

replies: 4

So just some background. I'm a year 11 student doing distance education. I moved from a normal school because I wasn't completing the work and usually wasn't going to class due to mental issues. Still not entirely sure what I'm officially diagnosed with but I think it's depression. Also ASD but I doubt that for some reason. Now I'm doing senior over three years instead of two with only four subjects a year. Thing is, I can't even do that. I did okay last term; my grades were good. But now everything seems so pointless and I feel terrible all the time. I can barely get out of bed, so doing a massive history assignment seems futile. I miss my friends every day. I'm so behind in my work. I never study anymore or complete my homework. I was given all of these second chances to do well and I don't even try because it seems impossible. Beginning to feel like I'm not fit to live in this world that values productivity so much when I'm so useless and lazy. I just want it all to stop. Thanks for listening.

Losing friends, dealing with the hurt and worry of not making new friends

replies: 2

Hi, recently i have been constantly feeling that my friend group doesn't care about me and that in a way its time for me to move on. i was always scared to leave as I felt I wouldn't be able to find a new group. last month a certain friend and I had a falling out in which she said she felt she couldn't be friends with me anymore, this really hurt. Ive given her space and whenever we have a group facetime made sure to be nice and ask questions from time to time and engage. I've felt through this that others from the group have taken her side and made me feel even more lonely and miserable. i feel at this point I've tried my best to reach out but she isn't wanting to be my friend anymore and there's a divide in the group and eventually, they'll all choose her side. I'm wanting to know the best way to go about this, make it end as civil as I possibly can whilst still keep friends with certain people who have made it known to me that they are still there for me. i just am sick of waking up everyday wondering if ill be ignored again and feeling so miserable and defeated

tired of being me

replies: 2

ive been starving myself for two days now to get skinny

Is it normal to imagine people watching you?

replies: 1

I keep imagining that people I'm attracted to or have respect for are always watching me. I know 100% that they aren't there but I can't help but imagine it, and the thing is I hate it. This has been going on for months, and I haven't been able to feel like myself at home or at school anymore because of it. If it's someone I'm attracted to, then I feel like I have to act like someone better than me and has no flaws for that someone to like me. If I don't, I feel embarrassed and upset with myself. If it's someone I have respect for (like an authority) I feel like I have to act intelligent, know what I'm doing, etc. I can even imagine people that I haven't seen in years watching me. This gives me the urge to look at mirrors, cabinets, windows, doors, any place that could have someone looking through, or open space. Anything I'm doing, that someone or people are watching me and judging me, even walking around the house. I hate doing this because I feel like I'm going crazy and this is some abnormal problem that I've created in my head. I just don't think this is normal, I've read that this could be a self-image problem but IDK. Does anyone have a clue on what I'm doing or what this could be?

I'm confused to what I'm feeling

replies: 2

Hi I'm a teenager and I've always been the really happy, hopeful and helpful girl but I've been changing. I've started getting these mood swings and getting really anxious sometimes and sad other times. I've had two mild anxiety attacks. I feel like I can't talk to anyone about it and I know I should but I don't. I feel like I can't let anyone down. I do have a really supportive friend group and family but i keep up a mask. I pretend that im fine and happy and they believe it. I just wish someone would notice, but I don't want things to change and people to fuss over me. I get insecure about everything and am super shy/have an irrational fear of talking to anyone I don't know well. When my feelings go haywire it feels like the world is collapsing but I keep telling myself this is just part of being a teenager. Does it stop? I feel like I can't talk to anyone, I'm avoiding talking to my friends and it doesn't help that I like to be alone and am very introverted. I'm just really stuck. Please help

Eeep! When study is overwhelming! - Tips, ideas and coping strategies replies: 51

NEW TO THIS FORUM? Please read this first replies: 0

The Dark. Though pointless, writing this made me feel better replies: 2

Am I having panic attacks? replies: 3

Feeling numb replies: 2

Rant, Advice, Anxiety, Help Eachother! replies: 7

Feeling like im a background character. replies: 4

i can't do school anymore replies: 4

Losing friends, dealing with the hurt and worry of not making new friends replies: 2

tired of being me replies: 2

Is it normal to imagine people watching you? replies: 1

I'm confused to what I'm feeling replies: 2