Hey @mochi      I just wanted to check in on you friend and make sure you were doing well. How are you going? Sorry if I'm late to reply but let me know if you want to talk. ... View more

Hey @Aluzar I really hope you are doing well and that you are bouncing back. Just because your grades are dropping, DOES NOT mean you can't get into university. I got into university WITHOUT my ATAR because of early entry programs. On top of that Uni is no the be-all, end-all. There is TAFE, Year 13, and apprenticeships and more. I promise you things will get better, and you just have to keep pushing. I hope you figure things out. ... View more

Three Positives of today ! 1. - Got to wake up to my SO and spend the day with her. 2. - I was able to finally clean my computer. 3. - Starting Avatar the Last Air Bender. ... View more

Hi @hellofriend    Today I appreciate my body because its mine, and I am able to work on it and change it and make it want I want it to be. I'm going to start working out more now that Uni is done, and I am so excited to change myself FOR myself.     ... View more

Hi @cats1234 !     I just wanted to check up on you :) I hope you are doing alright and have managed to sort things out with these people. From what it sounds like you are a very supportive, trusting, and overall a nice individual, and unfortunately, people like that can be taken advantage of by certain people. You are great, and don't stop being yourself, but have a real look around at the people you consider as friends and if they continuously talk behind your back, take you for granted, be mean to you, or anything like that which makes you feel bad then consider looking for better people who will treat you right and the same way as you have treated them. If its hard since you are in high school that's understandable, but set boundaries and don't let these people control you and step all over you. In your situation, it sounds like they are gaslighting you which means they make you question your intentions and make things out to be your fault and not theirs. Don't let these people get to you and keep clear from them.   You deserve better and don't forget that. Hope you figure things out, friend. ... View more

Hi @Heretorelate      I just wanted to check in on you and let you know that we are here for you and that there is people that will listen and support you. I don't know what you are going through or what you have been through but the future is uncertain and things can and will get better eventually. Please continue to reach out to people whether it's your friends, family, or us on the forum. If you have ever need to visit a psychologist or counselor and talk to someone. If you are worried or don't have the energy there are always helplines that are free to call, anonymous, and is open very regularly. I really hope you are okay and that you know that life will pick back up for you.   Hope you are doing well friend.  ... View more

Hey @Postivevibesonly  ! I just wanted to check in on you and see how things have progressed and if you needed some more support. I hope your friend is doing well, and that you are able to look after yourself in these times. I understand if you feel drained and running out of options when supporting people for so long through tough times, but I can assure you that you just being already makes a difference. I hope everything is turning out better :) ... View more

Hey :) I want you to know that its okay to want to feel like taking time alone and to be by yourself and just work on yourself. I personally agree that it's not always a good idea to always be "connecting" and that finding a balance between personal time and taking time with your family is important. I hope you find a way through this. ... View more

Hi Keezeik :) I dont have any actual advice but I wanted to check in with you and make sure you were okay. I understand this can be really hard especially if you feel like you're losing friends or that you dont have anyone close to you anymore like some people have. Just know that the right people will come to you and that its okay to not be good at making friends and feeling worried. Everyone just wants people who support them and you deserve that. At the very least you have the people here at reach out to support you and check up on you and feel free to update us. Hope things go well :) ... View more

Hey Bumblebee :) I've definitely felt like this with plenty of people. Sharing a good friendship and drifting apart can be really hard. I understand the fear that you have that they won't care as much as you and just blow you off, its clear you care about her and are fond of old memories and want to catch up. If I were in your shoes, I just do it and message her because the longer that you wait, the more you will overthink. In addition to this, NOT doing it and NOT messaging her will make you miss out and regret not doing it and will probably just continue to eat at you. Worse comes to worse and she doesn't give the same energy and response that you were hoping for, at least you can start to heal and move on. Its not healthy to pine after someone for that long without doing anything about it. At the very least you will have your answer if you do decide to message her. Maybe you could start simple and say "Hey ... its been a while since we last chatted, how have you been? Dont pressure things and come off strong, but keep things casual and slow. I understand its so much easier to say than to actually do, but if you think of it as this - .You won't get anywhere if you never act on it, regardless of how hard it may be, its better to take the first steps Hope this helps :) ... View more

Hi @CMC02 ! Everyone has their own pace in terms of growing sexually and getting into relationships. Where you are right now is nothing you should be ashamed of and its totally normal. There is nothing wrong with not knowing your sexuality and not being in a relationship. If I were to give you advice, maybe focus on building friendships and meeting new people instead of worrying about finding a relationship ( a bit hard cause of the quarantine), and if you find someone that you might like (or think you like), maybe consider flirting with them or making some advances so that you give yourself a chance for experiences. You could also try focusing on yourself and building self-confidence and character. Hope this helps and encourages you somewhat! ... View more

HEY @ayrc_1904 ! I really love this post, and one of my favorite things to do with my SO and friends is to play ANY card games we can think of on this site called "playingcards.io" What's unique about it is that you can see live what cards the person is moving and their mouse acts like a hand. It also has no rules so you can play whatever you feel like and even makes your own game (they also have premade ones like go fish, matching cards, and even checkers). Not sure if that made sense but people should definitely check it out ... View more

Hey @aebarrie12 Its frustrating and I understand that you're going through a really hard time and anyone in your situation would be. No one deserves to be shamed and bullied by their family and friends. I suggest reaching out to some people who you do feel you can trust and can support you. Also to help you ignore them, maybe you can try and throw yourself into some activities such as games, movies, tv shows, reading, etc. Maybe you can even go for a walk just for the sakes of getting away from your family and getting some fresh air. I hope you get through isolation okay and were here for you :) ... View more

Hey @Beautifullybroken  :) I just wanted to check in with how you were doing     Being vulnerable is a very scary thing and its normal to NOT want to feel that way. I can also relate to not turning to your family and parents for support as mine never really fostered the environment of opening up and sharing our feelings (they are good parents, but it just never came up with our family). I want you to know that there are people who WANT to listen to you and want to help you.   As scary and uncomfortable it is to reach out to a friend, it can be really helpful if you do. Aside from that, there are multiple helplines that keep your identity anonymous and you can call them for a casual chat about being anxious or really anything if you need someone to talk to. I've used them before and they are really helpful and good at their job by keeping you calm and feeling comfortable and secure without any pressure or invasiveness.   Thank you for opening up about your worries and I hope this helps and that you get through this !  ... View more

Hey @goldilocks I hope you're doing okay. Its a very confusing situation that you're in and I want you to know to not blame yourself. People say and do confusing things all the time, and you do deserve and explanation. Is this person your friend? and if you're comfortable sharing more what do you think happened between you two for some context. Just from what you have said, and my assumption, I think he might have had a thing for you and got hurt so he lashed out? (just a guess though) I really hope things are well for you and you work out the situation with this person. Best of luck :) ... View more

Hey @ApplesRoses !     I hope you're all right and things are well with you and your dad. It's a very tense and stressful situation especially if you aren't that close with your parents. At the end of the day, you will most likely have to talk to him and it would be best to clear things up so that he does know the context. You don't have to be specific, just explain to him what you have told us and I'm sure he would understand.   Also, what makes you think that he found your journal?   Keep us updated, I hope you're well :)    ... View more

Hey @aebarrie12 Just checking in on you, I hope things are well with you guys. If its too hard to talk in person, and I guess with whats happening in the world its kind of hard, but with that it would be a good excuse to chat and message instead which will help with the nerves. Its a lot easier to type things out than talking face to face. I know it can be daunting but taking the first step is always good especially if you want to clear the air with her and build any kind of friendship/relatioship. ... View more

Hey @Option Sounds like you really care for this girl and I hope things are still well between you two. She seems like shes deflecting and not in the position to be in a relationship. Whether this is due to her not having the same intimate feelings for you, or because she is still recovering from her past relationships, I think you should try to prioritize yourself more. From my personal experience these situations can be hard and its very easy to fall down a destructive slope where your relationship dynamic becomes one-sided. Make sure she doesn't take advantage of the fact that you would do anything for her. Im sure shes great and you guys have a solid friendship, but I like I said the dynamic can change when one person feels more than the other. If you want the best for the both of you two, I would suggest setting boundaries, and not letting yourself get hurt. If shes really your friend, then you guys wont lose each other. Dont pressure things and ensure you guys have a mutual power dynamic. Not sure if any of that makes sense. Keep yourself in check and see what your friends think from an outsiders point of view. I wish you the best of luck and keep us updated. ... View more

Hey @nooooooooothanky  :)   Lots of people grow up feeling the same way as you, and I did too. Talking about my emotions and opening up wasn't as normalized in my family and environment. But over time I learned to cope with things and to help you I would suggest that you get into the habit of writing down your thoughts and emotions. It can be journaling, or even just opening up notes on your phone and typing there. This process can help you get some pressure off yourself, clear your mind, and normalize the behavior of expressing yourself. In the future it can also help if you're still not able to openly talk to another person, maybe showing a bit of your notes in person or by email can be an alternative when trying to ask for help.   ... View more

Hi @MB95 :) I just wanted to check in to see how you were doing. Fighting our own thoughts and inner demons can be really hard especially since It sometimes seems like they are stuck with us forever, constantly nagging and giving us doubts, fears, and anxiety. But I want to reassure you and let you know that they do go away, and you are not alone in facing them. An advice I can give you if you feel like you need some space from your thoughts that I've personally used is to write down what's bothering me and just rant on my notes app and get everything out, then I lock that note and I get off my phone and try to do something to distract me that I enjoy. Games, Netflix, sleeping, going out all give me peace of mind. ... View more

That is very strange and no doubt confusing. I wonder how long you've known this person for and what kind of dynamic you guys have. Hopefully, you get to the bottom of this. Best of luck, humans are confusing  ... View more

Hey @lpdkojnkbhsc         Life can be hard, and some people find it more difficult than others, but you have to remember that life will go on, and you will move onto the next stages. Its ok to feel tired, sad, upset, lonely, and lost since everyone needs time to process whatever it is that might be going on. BUT, pick yourself back up because it is never too late to fix things. It can be hard I wont lie because as much as someone might want change, the process to get it can be daunting and scary. Take things one step at a time.   A few things I recommend that has helped me that you can think about: 1. If you are in high school, and you feel like you're failing, know that its not the end of the world. Trust me, I didn't do well in my HSC and still managed to get into MQ Uni, and currently on track to apply for honors (I use to procrastinate heavy and just confused in general, but I still made it). 2. Its hard to make friends and get back up when you've lost relationships and gone through breakups. What helped me was realizing that I couldnt rely on other people for all my happiness. I started working on myself, my confidence, my health, and my outlook on life. Do things that you love, and exercise positive thinking and working out. Learn to love yourself and improve yourself. 3. Messing up is okay. We all make mistakes and the more that you make them, the more you will learn. Its never too late to get back up, and you will improve and feel better once you start taking small steps. Consistency is key   I hope you are okay, and know that there will always be people here you can talk to. Im proud of you for reaching out and taking the first step. I believe you and you should too.   Good luck  ... View more

@Eden1717 Everyone goes through tough times and I think its a wonderful idea to have a place specifically for sharing those moments to just get something off your chest and get some support. Sometimes its easier to have a casual forum where you can just pop in and rant or express yourself. Wanted to also check in with you and see if you felt better, or still feeling tired. I know it can be hard when theres so much things to tackle and you feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Best of luck ! ... View more

One advice you sort of touched on that was highlighted when I went to a resume workshop at my uni, was to specialize your resumes for the Job and organisation you are applying for. It might be cumbersome and take more time but it pays off and shows that you put in extra effort. ... View more

Heyo @Lonelyboy17  !   From my experiences that usually means they are not look to be in any relationship or even date at the current time. Most likely they are either recovering from something, or focused on other things such as work, studies, self improvement etc.       ... View more

Hi @not-an-otter  !    That sounds like a really worrying time for you and no one should have to hide themselves especially from their family. But its understandable if you dont feel ready and thats always going to be your call to make when you have the talk with them - but now might also seem like an opportunity to have that talk if you feel like you're losing yourself instead.   If you still feel like keeping it your own secret till you've figured it out more clearly, maybe consider using incognito browsers to hide your activity.   Also maybe the ads your mom is getting is due the Mardi Gras  and maybe you can tell her that ?    Hope everything works out ! ... View more

Hi @aebarrie12  ! Hope you're doing well    If Im going to be honest with you - getting an early job would be good for most people. I say this since my brother went through the whole of high school without pushing to get a job or do extra curricular actives at school and I guess you could call him lazy. He is now currently 3-4 years out of high school, coming up to his mid 20s in a few years and the biggest struggle he has had is finding a job. Reason for this, he didn't do it when he was younger, and now he has no experience or backing to make him a good candidate for anything.   As messed up as it is, employers will always choose younger inexperienced people over, an older experienced person simply because its cheaper to employ. The best way you can secure yourself and get around this in the future is to help yourself now and build up a good resume so that you have something to offer to employers, because your age will work against you.   NOW saying all that, don't panic and dont feel too pressured. I was around 17 when I got my first job and its honestly one of those things where late is better than never. Remember as well that everyone goes in their own pace, I'm currently started in second year of uni and still working on getting my hours up on my learners licence , but what I realized is that you have to push yourself now in the present if you want to give yourself an easier and more secure time in the future.  Start thinking about job searching or just doing things as school or in your community or online to volunteer - just in general things that can build your resume so that when you do want a job, you have lots of things that make you stand out to an employer. Build your skills and experiences now.    Good luck with everything, always here if you have more questions ! ... View more

Helllo @Bananatime04  !    Im not familiar with what's been going on with your side and the extent of the story. But I just wanted to let you know that you should firstly be proud of yourself for looking out for those around you and pushing yourself to cheer them up. With that said please make sure that amidst all this you don't forget to look after yourself too. I realise it's hard seeing those you love struggling and you want to do everything and anything to get them back up but don't forget to check up on yourself and give yourself time to rest and be happy too.   With your mom im not sure as to what you should do as I haven't been in experiences quiet like it, but don't give up and the fact that your showing her you care and that you're looking after her already is so much.   Maybe you could try to talk to your relatives and other family ? Sorry if my recommendations don't line up with some things you might have said in your previous posts.   Hope you and your mom gets through this <3    ... View more

Hey Jae !    We are all different with different preferences and tolerance. Normal is such a hard term to fit into since most people will break that mold in one way or another and that's not always a bad thing.   First I think that letting those around you know how you feel and set boundaries is a good thing and communication is key. Also does your family know about how you've been feeling ? If not I think it'll be good to have a casual chat with them.   Don't be afraid of exploring yourself and talking about things. I recommend that maybe you see some professional help so they can figure out what exactly could be causing you to feel this way and what are some techniques you could employ to help your everyday life.   ... View more