A person is looking up. They're made up of different words, drawings, and island flags to form their facial and body features.

The Lowdown

Your identity is shaped by many different factors:

The way you look – skin colour, body shape, hair, eyes, height, sex characteristics etc.

Your gender identity and gender expression

Your ethnicity – your family and where they come from, where you were born, where you have lived and where you live now, your languages and your accent.

Your culture – your customs, practices and world views 

Your beliefs – your religion, morals and what matters to you.

What you do – how you express yourself creatively, what you do for work, how you like to live, exercise, have fun and relax.

Your dreams – who you want to be and what you want to do.

What you think about yourself has a big impact on the way you feel about life. Your identity holds importance because it gives you a sense of purpose and belonging. It impacts the way you think, the words you use, what matters to you, your actions and your relationships with others.

Sometimes you can also lose sight of your identity. Perhaps people have attached labels to you that differ from how you see yourself. Maybe your family hold certain expectations of you around what career you choose or what religious beliefs you must hold.

Maybe your gender or sexuality is different to others around you, and it’s difficult to tell people about your experiences or find friends who can help you understand key pieces of your identity.

Perhaps you just realise that who you saw yourself as previously doesn’t feel like you anymore. That’s pretty common too.

It’s important to remember that this is just a stage of your life, and over time you will become confident in yourself again. These changes can also be really positive for us so it might be helpful to see this period as an evolution of who you are, becoming closer to your ultimate self.

Sometimes parts of who you are may feel like they’re in conflict with each other.

This is completely normal – it sucks, but it’s okay to feel that way and it’s also okay to take your time in exploring how you can introduce who you are as a whole into certain parts of your life. 

You don’t have to fix or change yourself for anyone and you don’t have to hide who you are unless you want to.

This is your journey and you can take it at your own pace – you get to decide when, how and with whom you share your full authentic self.

If you’re struggling with your identity, it can be really tough on your mental health. It’s important to not struggle with this alone, so reach out to someone you trust to talk about how you’re feeling so that they can support you.

If you’re thinking about harming yourself or are having suicidal thoughts, 

to talk to someone who cares and can support you.

Identity is at the core of who you are as an individual and as a member of groups in society. Your identity is unique and fluid – who you are now may be different to who you are tomorrow, next year and in your future. It can also be incredibly confusing. It can take a long time to figure out who you feel you are, and you may find yourself finding and then feeling like you have lost your identity many times through your life. 

Your Identity

Want to learn more about gender identities such as transgender? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Want to build and care for your mental health and well-being through Pasifika approaches? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Grief can be a painful process. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Your mental health is essential to your overall well-being and is just as important as your physical health. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Finding school tough? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Want to learn to build and care for your hauora through Te Ao Māori approaches? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Who you are and what you think about yourself has a big impact on the way you feel about life. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

It's normal to feel anxious sometimes. But if you're finding it hard to cope, find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown. 

Want to learn more about depression and mental distress? Find support, connect and learn at The Lowdown.

It can be difficult to identify and express thoughts and feelings. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Expression through creativity can have a positive impact on your mental health and well-being. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Bullying in any form can take a huge toll on your mental and physical well-being. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown. 

Coping with stress can be overwhelming especially for a young person. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Friendships can have a big impact on your mental health and well-being, but they're not always easy to create or maintain. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Dealing with loss can be one of life's hardest challenges. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Struggling to manage your anger? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown. 

Culture is not just a word but a sense of being. Need help supporting your mental health? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Supporting others can be very powerful for both parties involved. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Finding it hard to relieve your sadness? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown. 

In today's world, it can be easy to become overwhelmed. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

If you're having suicidal thoughts, you need to seek help now. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Troubled by constant worries and need tips to help stay calm? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

The relationships we have with our family can have a huge impact on mental health and well-being. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Here's a list of content based around the topic of tough times at The Lowdown.

Your ability to connect with others in a healthy way plays an important part in your mental health and well-being. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Abuse is never OK and there are no excuses for it. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Pressure can come in many forms, but with support we can get through the tough times. Find support, connect and learn at The Lowdown.

Having study trouble? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Life has its ups and it also has its downs. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

The relationships we have with our whānau can have a huge impact on mental health and well-being. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Staying well is vital for your mental health and well-being. Struggling? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

If guilt isn't addressed, it's unlikely to go away. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Spoken Word is a great medium to deal with 'these feelings' you might be having. Find support, connect and learn more on the Lowdown.

Death is a certainty in life, though it doesn't mean you'll ever be prepared to deal with it. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

The topic of stigma around mental health can often lead to feelings of shame. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Struggling with your mental health? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Coping with a breakup can be rough. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Youth often don't get the mental health support they need because they don't know where to start. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Having a supportive community can help make a positive impact on your mental health and well-being. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Relationships often require a lot of work to grow and can be quite complicated at times. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Feeling lost? You are not alone in these feelings. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Starting a new school? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Navigating the dating world? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown

Want to know more about body dysmorphia? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown. 

Work troubles getting you down, or need tips around getting into the workforce? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Need help with body positivity thinking? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Your ability to connect with others plays an important part in mental health and  well-being. If you're struggling with unhealthy relationships, find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Struggling with how you feel about your body weight? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Want to learn more about eating disorders like anorexia? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Need support relating to drug use or just want to know more about safe choices? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Want to know more about phobias and anxiety? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Learning about someone else's lived experience might help you gain the information you need. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Disabilities can impact our lives in many ways. Find support, connect and learn at The Lowdown.

Dance is a way to express difficult thoughts and feelings you might be experiencing. Find support, connect and learn more on the Lowdown.

Want to learn more about neurodiversity? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown. 

Is money making you stressed and anxious? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Coping with shock can be a difficult process. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Want to learn more about orientation? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Need support relating to alcohol use or just want to know more about safe choices? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

The relationships we have with our aiga can have a huge impact on mental health and well-being. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Gender isn't a label, it's a fluid and beautiful piece of our identity. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Want to learn more about eating disorders like bulimia? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

No matter what you're experiencing in your relation to your sexuality, there is no need to go through it alone. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Pregnancy can be exciting and scary at the same time. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Living with social anxiety may have a tough effect on your life, but it doesn't have to. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Want to know more about consent and the role it plays in keeping us safe? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

At some stage in your life, you'll have to make important decisions around the topic of sex and that can be daunting. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Antidepressants are medications prescribed by doctors to help treat depression. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Has COVID-19 impacted your life? Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

One of the most important aspects of recovery is learning to keep yourself mentally and physically healthy. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

Understanding body image plays an important part in a young person's developing self-esteem. Find support, connect and learn on the Lowdown.

#Transgender

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