Anxiety/OCD

gaz88 · ‎12-04-2015

I am originally from Scotland. I have always been a worrier, even from a young age I would worry about things that are not that important. I played soccer, which while I was good at it I would get unbelievable nerves before games. I was relatively confident until high school where I became extremely shy and quiet but always had friends. I went through a period of blushing easily and wouldn't go out often and never had a girlfriend. To make things worse I began to lose my hair to male pattern baldness which made me extremely self conscious although at this stage I was becoming a little more confident at around 17. the hair really became my main worry. I often would look and play with it in the mirror for hours and wear caps or sometimes get so annoyed I wouldn't go out. I work in construction so this isn't a problem at work. This I believe is OCD.

I have also really been careful with money perhaps more than I should. Saving, worrying about future events that may not happen perhaps missing out a little on life for a couple of years.

I moved to Australia in 2013 and have been lucky with work. I am currently working in a fifo job making good money and I take regular holiday s to Thailand. When I don't however I stay in a hostel and can feel a little lonely and cannot muster much energy to do anything.

In 2014 i had a hair transplant which has boosted my self esteem a little. Although I still am quite vain. I still have bouts of what if this happens, or what if that happens. I want to just live for the day not constantly worry.

I attempted a self diagnosis online and the one that seemed to fit with a lot of my feelings is generalized anxiety disorder. I feel now I have to do something to help me feel more relaxed about life. At 26, it's a good time to go about it.

I'm looking for opinions from other people on here. Thanks.

Zeal · ‎12-04-2015

Hi Gaz,

Welcome to the forum!

I’ve had OCD since I was 13, though it’s milder and more manageable now. I’m now 22 and studying second year psychology at university. Moving from Scotland must have been a major decision. Are all your family members still in Scotland? It’s great that you have a good steady job here, and can travel too 🙂 I struggled with shyness and low self-esteem until I was about 20, and then I slowly started to feel better about myself and about my future. It took a severe bout of poor mental health in 2012 before I started making changes. This time three years ago I was lonely, had lost touch with most friends, and lacked motivation.

Having supportive friends is incredibly helpful. Spend time with people who are genuine and kind, and share similar values to you. Sometimes, it’s okay to talk about things you’re struggling with. If you are with one or two close friends and it feels right, try to open up to them. Being female, I am probably more likely to talk about my emotions! Then again, that is a stereotype. As for not having a girlfriend – don’t worry, you have plenty of time. I’ve only had one boyfriend before, and I’m also in my twenties, and I have friends my age who haven’t had a relationship yet.

Going to a counsellor or psychologist would be a good idea. Making an appointment with a psychologist doesn’t mean you’re “locked in”. If, after several sessions, you feel uncomfortable or can’t relate to him/her, you could try another psychologist. Based on your post, it doesn’t seem as though you have OCD. It’s possible you have a Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), but it’s best to be diagnosed by a GP or a psychologist.

Your state of mental health doesn’t sound severe, which is great. With help from a professional, and regular contact with good friends, you’ll be doing pretty well :) It’s great that you’ve come to the forum for help. You can learn to overcome your shyness. However, some people are just more shy and introverted than others, and this isn’t a bad thing. Imagine if everyone was loud and outgoing! The main thing is that your shyness doesn’t negatively impact your life.

Good luck with everything,

SM

justinok · ‎13-04-2015

Hey mate, have you gone back to playing soccer since you moved here? I've just started playing recently and while my nerves are ok right before a game, I get really balled up in the few days leading up. Just keen to know how you ended up coping with that.

gaz88 · ‎13-04-2015

I havent actually had the time but from 17 on I was a little less nervous. Suprisingly I was more nervous when I was 10-16.

gaz88 · ‎13-04-2015

Hi thanks yes but I have aunt and uncle here. It was a big decision and sometimes I do get lonely. I find a call home sometimes can help. I still feel worried a lot but I'm sure it is not as bad. I'm not sure what I want to do a lot and this uncertainty is not good.