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.

All discussions

Ghost_Girl I feel so alone and like my life has no meaning
  • replies: 5

Hello BB forum users. As the title suggests, I'm currently struggling with loneliness (and have been consistently struggling with it for a year now.) I'm 19 years old and graduated high school about a year ago. The few friends I made there are at uni... View more

Hello BB forum users. As the title suggests, I'm currently struggling with loneliness (and have been consistently struggling with it for a year now.) I'm 19 years old and graduated high school about a year ago. The few friends I made there are at uni now and have lots of new friends whereas because I'm still living in my small home town, I've barely made any. What's worse is whenever my friends have been back in town they've been too busy to meet up with me and I'm starting to feel like our lives are too different for us to continue being close especially since the last few times I chatted with them on FB messenger, their answers seemed very short and impersonal. Another thing I've been struggling with immensely is lack of intimacy and sexual frustration. I've never had sex or even kissed anyone and I'm constantly fantasizing about finally being physical with someone and it makes me so depressed. Masturbation barely does anything for me anymore and I just wish I could finally experience sexual connection or even just platonic affection. I don't even remember the last time I've been hugged by somebody. I've tried to meet other single people but one of the only ways to do that around here is on dating apps which make me feel really objectified and I just don't feel like they've got what I'm looking for. The more and more lonely and frustrated I get, the more I feel like maybe I should just swallow my pride and embrace random hookups like so many other people my age have. On a more positive note, I'm planning on joining the local theatre group and youth council early next year which should hopefully provide me with opportunities to get out of the house and meet people but I just can't help but have no motivation to truly live my life since so many of the positive social/intimacy experiences I've had this year have been figments of my imagination. I know this must be a lot to unpack but I just feel so depressed and misunderstood and could really use some guidance.

2_Double_O I don’t know how to get help
  • replies: 3

I don’t actually know what’s wrong with me but I do know that something might possibly be wrong. I just have these feelings of like impending doom sometimes and I can’t stop myself from thinking about it. There are other things too but that’s not rea... View more

I don’t actually know what’s wrong with me but I do know that something might possibly be wrong. I just have these feelings of like impending doom sometimes and I can’t stop myself from thinking about it. There are other things too but that’s not really the point of this post. Point is: I’m so lost. I don’t want to tell my parents coz I’m worried of what they’ll think. I know my parents don’t really understand the weight mental illness has and the affect it can have on people. I have had a few counselling sessions at my school but during that time I didn’t have the guts to tell her how I truely felt inside and I think because I pretended to be okay she thinks I don’t need to see her anymore. I know it’s stupid but I don’t want to tell anyone because I don’t want to feel weak. But I feel that if I don’t start getting help something bad’s gonna happen. I just don’t know what to do. I want to stop feeling like this but I’m also scared that I’m just overreacting. I have a pretty good life and I really haven’t gone through anything too bad. I keep telling myself that if I get my life together everything will get better and sometimes that works for a bit but then I end up feeling the same way again. I just want the feelings to stop and I want to let all my emotions out but I’m afraid to. I was going to chat online with one of the beyond blue people but I kind of chickened out. At least posting this isn’t like a really conversation because it’s not directly to someone and I don’t have to reply

EJT struggling
  • replies: 4

Hi! I am F16 and recently have been experiencing some issues. I don't want to write long, boring paragraphs about how I feel and factors which may be affecting it so I'll sum it up in some dot points. I have been distancing myself from others a fair ... View more

Hi! I am F16 and recently have been experiencing some issues. I don't want to write long, boring paragraphs about how I feel and factors which may be affecting it so I'll sum it up in some dot points. I have been distancing myself from others a fair bit recently. Normally I am an energetic, bubbly and friendly person however I have become more quiet and reserved recently. Sometimes my old personality resurfaces for a few hours. When my friends ask what's wrong, usually I say I am tired. This is not completely a lie, as I will generally feel tired. This however is puzzling as I am receiving 8 & 1/2 hours of sleep a night. I feel very unmotivated, distracted and empty. Sometimes I feel as if I am simply existing, and the world is operating around me. This in turn also makes me feel quite lonely. My room is an absolute mess at the moment and I hate it, however I can't find the motivation to clean it. A few months ago we sold my house. We are renting at the moment, and in the process of finding a new house. This is very stressful and frustrating, as a few times now we have had our heart set on a house but we have unfortunately missed out on it. I just want to officially move. The process is so unbelievably tiring. I go through these really hyper, talkative and distracting moods in class where I quite literally can't get anything done. I am aware of when I go through them and it makes me upset because I know I am irritating my teacher and I want to be a good student and receive good grades, but I just physically can't bring myself to pay attention. I have been struggling to find the motivation to do my school work. If/when I start, I will generally not end up finishing it. It also takes me a long time to do work because I get distracted frequently and believe that most things I do aren't good enough, so I tend to re-read everything I have written after I make minor tweaks or write new sentences etc. (sorry I struggle to accurately describe it) Went vegetarian as of the 1st of January for ethical & environmental reasons. I have been taking B12 supplements and would like to start taking iron supplements to see if it helps with my lack of energy & sleepiness. Frequently have been getting stomach pains I get in these really obsessive moods/phases where I will obsessively research something e.g. today I researched getting a dog and calculated all the costs, did the research on the best products etc. I would love to receive any advice or feedback possible! Thanks.

Yuki03 Im scared
  • replies: 2

Hello Todays been a weird day (its almost midnight now) I’ve been feeling really empty and hollow today and either been sitting or lying down all day, exception for food and bathrooms. Its not depression (though I am diagnosed with that, anxiety, OCD... View more

Hello Todays been a weird day (its almost midnight now) I’ve been feeling really empty and hollow today and either been sitting or lying down all day, exception for food and bathrooms. Its not depression (though I am diagnosed with that, anxiety, OCD, panic. amongst other things) I have lots of things to do tomorrow and the days after that but Im too scared and stressed to do anything. hell pls. What are some ways you not feel so hollow and empty??

sop7 is this it?
  • replies: 7

I'm 22, finished my uni degree at 20 and have been working full-time for the last 1-2years. I've moved back home into my parents house away from all of my university friends and live in a town that has virtually no-one my age - apart from my now boyf... View more

I'm 22, finished my uni degree at 20 and have been working full-time for the last 1-2years. I've moved back home into my parents house away from all of my university friends and live in a town that has virtually no-one my age - apart from my now boyfriend who I've been seeing for almost a year. I've recently been getting panic attacks and depressive episodes which is really unlike me. I am wondering "is this it?" about life a lot. It feels like there was such a huge build up at school and uni to get a good full time job, get the boyfriend, travel, get married, have kids, etc and now that I'm finally on that track I don't feel happy at all. I feel depressed and anxious. Is this all there is to life? I used to wake up happy in the mornings and excited for what my day would bring and now I wake up sad, angry and irritable. I only have my boyfriend to talk to and am even doubting things with him. I don't know about anything anymore and i just don't know what to do. I can't keep feeling like this forever.

madi12 How Ive Been Feeling
  • replies: 6

so I haven't been diagnosed with anything. but every day I come home and I get in these moods. where nothing or no one matters anymore, I think of these dark thoughts that I never have before. I don't know what's causing all this though. and I always... View more

so I haven't been diagnosed with anything. but every day I come home and I get in these moods. where nothing or no one matters anymore, I think of these dark thoughts that I never have before. I don't know what's causing all this though. and I always feel guilty for feeling this way since I have a roof over my head and a place to sleep. also at school, I just suddenly really nervous for no reason, and I will go out of class and just cry. I feel like none of this makes sense cause I'm not really good at talking about my emotions. I just feel lost and thought I should get stuff off my chest on here.

CocoPopsicle Night Terrors
  • replies: 3

last night was so shit. i. ugh. i couldn’t stop crying, but then when i did, i was so scared? i felt like arms around my grabbing my shoulders or arms and- look that happens every night but it particularly scared me today. whenever i closed my eyes i... View more

last night was so shit. i. ugh. i couldn’t stop crying, but then when i did, i was so scared? i felt like arms around my grabbing my shoulders or arms and- look that happens every night but it particularly scared me today. whenever i closed my eyes i could see a face of a man that i had never seen before and it was so terrifying, but i was scared that when i open my eyes there would be someone or something gruesome next to me and i couldn’t shake that feeling. when i finally opened my eyes the face didn’t disappear, it floated in my vision and i just had to keep darting my eyes around to avoid it but it was always there. if i closed my eyes my brain would take make even darkness look like a clump and unmoving creatures. when i opened my eyes i would see the mans face. i just wanted to go to sleep.

ramey006 Emptiness and worthlessness
  • replies: 2

For the past 3-4 years I’ve been struggling with feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. I feel as if I’m lost or just drifting into an abyss. I try to fill the void inside of me with alcohol, drugs and sex but they seem to be temporary solutions. I... View more

For the past 3-4 years I’ve been struggling with feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. I feel as if I’m lost or just drifting into an abyss. I try to fill the void inside of me with alcohol, drugs and sex but they seem to be temporary solutions. I’ve struggled to find and keep a job despite my university qualifications. My social anxiety continuously ruins good opportunities for me regarding my career or relationships. I put on this act of being a funny and happy person to my family and friends despite feeling the complete opposite inside. I overanalyse and criticise every conversation and decision I make which further spirals me into a deeper state of emptiness. My life lacks meaning and direction! I look at my friends who are all accomplishing great things while I’m just stuck here floating.

jl338 Un-motivated
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, Lately, I have been feeling very 'un-motivated'. This includes not wanting to get out of bed (not just because I want to sleep in, but rather like I don't want to 'do' today), struggling to socialise and feeling mentally exhausted. I fee... View more

Hi everyone, Lately, I have been feeling very 'un-motivated'. This includes not wanting to get out of bed (not just because I want to sleep in, but rather like I don't want to 'do' today), struggling to socialise and feeling mentally exhausted. I feel as though I have been very worried as of late, feeling like there are so many things going through my mind that it hurts, and I can't focus. I have so many assignments and exams coming up and I'm stressed, there are friendship issues that are ruining school-life, my parents are so strict and peer pressure is piling on me and I don't know what to do. Also, there is a niggling thing at the back of my head that is just making me feel upset and anxious and not like doing anything but lying down and somehow sorting my thoughts out. I can't do that either. My self-confidence has taken a hit too since I have been put into netball team with players all 2 years older than me (the division includes a range of year-levels, and I am the youngest) and our first training is soon, and I feel as though I am really bad, and will not be able to make friends or fit in. They all are better than me and I am so so nervous. I don't know anyone (the team sheet was included with the email, and I saw their birthdates) and I am naturally awkward and an introvert so I am, in short, terrified. I'm sorry, I don't know if this is just a teenager thing, not really worth anyone's time, or if it is more than that. I'm scared to talk to my parents, so please, please, please respond with some advice. Thank you, Jl338 ❤