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Chris_B Forums etiquette: give support to receive support
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newb... View more

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newbies are welcomed when they first post, and we understand that it’s a big step to post for the first time on a forum like this, especially if you aren’t feeling great. It’s important to remember, though, that these forums are a community of real people, just like you, not a one-on-one support environment like going to see your psychologist. To get the best out of being here, one of the best tips we can offer is give support to receive support. Being a good community member means: participating in different threads (not just your own), replying to people who have taken the time to reply to you (even if it’s just to say thank you), and... posting words of emotional support and encouragement when you see others who are hurting and reaching out. You don’t have to feel obliged to solve the problems of others: that’s not what we’re here for. But you can offer empathy and what you’ve learned from your own life experiences, even if it’s just a line or two, eg. “I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support and tell you I care about what is happening to you and hope life will get better soon.” Try to develop an interest in the journeys of others here on the forums. You may be surprised at how good being an active, caring member here can make you feel. For those of you who have had good experiences giving support here on the forums, please post in this thread here and let us know how it has helped you on your journey.

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Alel Afraid of exercising
  • replies: 0

WARNING FOR EMETOPHOBIA I was told by my psychiatrist that I have to start walking everyday when my medication begins to work. I'm 4 days into the meds and I still feel dreadful about the walking. In the past, I had issues with exercising. It would c... View more

WARNING FOR EMETOPHOBIA I was told by my psychiatrist that I have to start walking everyday when my medication begins to work. I'm 4 days into the meds and I still feel dreadful about the walking. In the past, I had issues with exercising. It would cause me to get really sick and puke almost everytime. I also had emetophobia ever since I was younger. For so many years I encouraged myself to keep coming jack back to exercising. And everytime I was still scared and anxious. How do I get into walking when I have emetophobia and anxiety? Does anyone have any emetophobia tips, especially for summer and winter? I have the 2nd appointment with my psychiatrist in december. By then she expects me to be walking around the block (around 30 - 40 mins) twice a day. I can barely walk in the backyard for 5 minutes. I'm afraid of dissapointing her or pushing myself too much and it triggering me and making my anxiety worse. It's also summer soon in Australia, and that makes my emetophobia alot worse, how do I walk then? I can't stop stressing.

Alel Struggling to move on
  • replies: 1

So I recently got diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. I had to go into psychiatrist care and take medication. I'm now at the beginning of taking new medication and it is working well. I am still working on some fears of mine like emetophobi... View more

So I recently got diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. I had to go into psychiatrist care and take medication. I'm now at the beginning of taking new medication and it is working well. I am still working on some fears of mine like emetophobia and agoraphobia. As well as working on my anxious and depressive thoughts. I still find it hard to do simple tasks that I am more than capable of physically doing them, just mentally draining for HOURS. For the most part, I am doing really well. I stopped having panic attacks and major depression. But I'm finding it hard to move on from what I went through. I'm afraid it might happen again or that it's something so serious I shouldn't just continue with life. I don't want to revolve my anxiety and depression around my whole life but I'm also afraid that I won't be ready if it come back. I don't know what this feeling is. I still got so much work to do and to heal from so much, but all I feel like doing is sitting on my phone for the whole day. I can't stop thinking about what I went through and what was happening before.

PaulWatkins How effective is online children's therapy compared to traditional methods?
  • replies: 1

In the age of ubiquitous screens and virtual realms, can the digital embrace of online children's therapy rival the age-old, face-to-face therapeutic odysseys?

In the age of ubiquitous screens and virtual realms, can the digital embrace of online children's therapy rival the age-old, face-to-face therapeutic odysseys?

Rosyrain Asbestos OCD
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone,I’m struggling with Asbestos OCD, and thought this a good place to connect.I bought some vintage workwear pants that were made in the 50’s, from a lovely vintage store.It suddenly occurred to me that they were still using asbestos in t... View more

Hello everyone,I’m struggling with Asbestos OCD, and thought this a good place to connect.I bought some vintage workwear pants that were made in the 50’s, from a lovely vintage store.It suddenly occurred to me that they were still using asbestos in the 50’s, and my OCD has been triggered as I’m incredibly anxious about these pants now - as i have been wearing them around my children and washing them with other clothes.I am feeling as though everything is ‘contaminated’ and its all consuming and anxiety provoking.if anyone has any support to offer it would be greatly appreciated- thank you.

Alel Constantly have to recover from simple tasks
  • replies: 2

So I eat at 9am, 1pm and 6pm everyday. Then I eat yogurt at 7pm and take sleep medication at 10pm. I was also told by my psychiatrist that I have to walk and go out more. This is going to take me a long time since I got agoraphobia and emetophobia. B... View more

So I eat at 9am, 1pm and 6pm everyday. Then I eat yogurt at 7pm and take sleep medication at 10pm. I was also told by my psychiatrist that I have to walk and go out more. This is going to take me a long time since I got agoraphobia and emetophobia. But everytime I eat, I go bathroom, or I go outside for 1 minute as exposure, I have to sit down and think about it for hours on end. I feel like I can't do more than one thing a day. I mean thinking about what I'm going to eat before the time comes stresses me out. Why do I always have to mentally recover from such simple things? And why does it ruin or occupy my whole day even tho it's only a 1 minute task? This is honestly scaring me because what if this is all I'm capable of handling? What if eating, going bathroom, showing, going outside, waking, everything, will always be too hard? What if my brain is broken and I'll never be able to do anything without needing breaks?

nash1984 Pending legal woes and anxiety/depression
  • replies: 1

I recently got picked up having 4 capsules at a pub. It's my first offence. Since this I've been spiralling hard. I was already having anxiety issues on daily basis. I can never relax. Feel like I'm faking my way through life. I lost my father to sui... View more

I recently got picked up having 4 capsules at a pub. It's my first offence. Since this I've been spiralling hard. I was already having anxiety issues on daily basis. I can never relax. Feel like I'm faking my way through life. I lost my father to suicide in 2018. I keep thinking of every worst case scenario while I wait for court summons. I used to take drugs a bit when I was younger but not so much recent years. I have a daughter who is 1.5 years old. I find it hard to even look her in the face. I feel like a bad father now. I'm worried about my reputation now in the community. I think about suicide and what would be best way of doing it but I dont think it's an overwhelming sense I'm going to do it. More casual like what if but I do feel like any other major events I'm not sure how I would cope. I find it hard to sleep sometimes. I cant relax. My chest is always tight with worry. Just curious if anyone else has been through something similar

Amanda 1956 Anxiety of a possible failed relationship
  • replies: 2

Hi my name is Carmen and I am scared of ageing as I am 67 and getting lined and wrinkled My worry is that my partner is going to find someone who looks like a supermodel I do have grounds for this ...a few years ago he was having an affair with a gir... View more

Hi my name is Carmen and I am scared of ageing as I am 67 and getting lined and wrinkled My worry is that my partner is going to find someone who looks like a supermodel I do have grounds for this ...a few years ago he was having an affair with a girl who worked with him , 3 hour long phone calls every night, him getting angry at me for daring to ask questions about his work The list goes on, evidence of an affair was virtually slapping me in the face They don't have contact now and I think that he is blaming me for putting my foot down, was either her or me This has increased my anxiety and I'm worried I am losing him Please advise me on what to do Thanks in advance

loulou89 mental health
  • replies: 2

Hi I was have problems with mental health like anxiety tired depressed no happy.. all this happened from one thing I was had a bacteria in stomach Called Helicobacter pylori long time it make all problems for body after I take medicine I feel very gd... View more

Hi I was have problems with mental health like anxiety tired depressed no happy.. all this happened from one thing I was had a bacteria in stomach Called Helicobacter pylori long time it make all problems for body after I take medicine I feel very gd no mental health problems so if u want feel happy don’t share anything from any one and if u have married every couple months check ur stomach

Ms_P Work Stress/ Anxiety
  • replies: 1

I have had IBS for years which work knows about so sometimes I am late to work or have to take extra sick days. I have also recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia (which includes ibs) and also a unknown cysts that could be magliant. My mental heal... View more

I have had IBS for years which work knows about so sometimes I am late to work or have to take extra sick days. I have also recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia (which includes ibs) and also a unknown cysts that could be magliant. My mental health and memory has declined recently and work has noticed it. I have changed my duties and hours to see if it helps. I was supposed to have a procedure a few weeks ago to find out what the cysts are however the hospital cancelled and has rescheduled it in a month. Work has asked me to reschedule it due to staffing issues. This is seriously stressing me out. Can they ask me to reschedule? If I do I would be put at the end of a pretty long list and I need to know what is happening. I am constantly in pain and stress makes it worse and I am not performing at 100% which I normally do. I don't know what to do

StartingOutSlow Life feels overwhelming
  • replies: 3

I started out life with high functioning anxiety and depression, survived that way until I had my first child and post natal depression (6 years ago). These days I feel like I can still present as high functioning to most people, but inside my home a... View more

I started out life with high functioning anxiety and depression, survived that way until I had my first child and post natal depression (6 years ago). These days I feel like I can still present as high functioning to most people, but inside my home and day to day life I am struggling. I lost the high functioning part in my personal life and now people close to me can see the cracks (really just my husband and kids, not that the kids know what they’re seeing). I get the stuff done that is urgent, like the laundry and groceries, the kids are well cared for, my husband is involved in childcare and chores. But whenever I have a moment with no urgent needs I just end up wasting the time – numbing, scrolling my phone. The list of things that need doing seems never ending, and despite wanting to make progress (like fixing a leaking tap or replacing a light globe) I just can’t seem to find the energy to start. It’s like life is overwhelming and the never ending list of things that need to be repeated every day or week is overwhelming. I know I need to improve my self care, but no matter how hard I try I can’t seem to make progress, I don’t get as much sleep as I need, I don’t eat well unless it involves feeding the kids too, I’m not as active as I’d like to be. I know I will feel better if I improve these things, yet I don’t. I also don’t have enough fun in life, mostly because I don’t know how to have fun, I don’t really know what my hobbies are. For the last couple of years I’ve always talked to my psychiatrist and psychologist as though I’m doing okay, yes I have anxiety but a normal level for things that were happening in life, yes I’m tired but I have a baby. To them I would have presented well with good insight. I really did believe I was doing well, but now I’m not so sure. What is a normal level of anxiety or stress? I see my psychiatrist next week, and a new psychologist in 3 weeks, but I’m not even sure how to explain to them what the problem is. I don’t feel like I can articulate it well. It’s like I want to be better but can’t do the things that I need to do to achieve that because I’m working so hard to stay afloat. Has anyone else had this experience? What helped you?