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Anxiety

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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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Rupes79 Anxiety and alcohol
  • replies: 4

Hi Everyone, I’ve been struggling mental health issues for about 18 months now. Anxiety has been a real problem for me in the last few months and I’ve fallen into a trap of drinking alcohol most nights as a way to deal with it. I’ve been given some t... View more

Hi Everyone, I’ve been struggling mental health issues for about 18 months now. Anxiety has been a real problem for me in the last few months and I’ve fallen into a trap of drinking alcohol most nights as a way to deal with it. I’ve been given some techniques to try and help it and sometimes they have an effect but most often it’s over powering and I turn to alcohol. I’m generally a social drinker and prior to this bout rarely drunk at home but I can’t recall the last alcohol free day I had. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and how did you deal with it? I haven’t seen my GP for a little while but not really sure what he’s going to be able to do about it anyway? Thanks

BlxrryFace No motivation. Overwhelmed. Stressed.
  • replies: 2

I’ve been overwhelmed ever since I was a kid and now as a teenager in high school it really hits hard. I have no motivation for anything anymore, I just feel so lazy and I feel that I have no energy for anything. It’s hard to focus in classes and I’m... View more

I’ve been overwhelmed ever since I was a kid and now as a teenager in high school it really hits hard. I have no motivation for anything anymore, I just feel so lazy and I feel that I have no energy for anything. It’s hard to focus in classes and I’m easily distracted now. I can’t seem to focus on one thing, and whenever things get too difficult I give up and shy away. I’m constantly stressed all the time and dreading for the worst everyday. I used to be responsible but everything gets too much and I can’t handle things anymore. I start to panic and or break down and I hate it. Anxiety attacks or whatever you call it. I really really can’t with myself. Some days I’ll be fine, but then nights like this, I feel like empty, upset, sad. I hate this feeling and it does hurt. Am I weak? I don’t have any self-motivation and waste my time on the things I shouldn’t but it can’t be helped. I’ve reached out to my counsellor at school but it was not help for me, I took their advice but nothing changes. I want to get better I really do, I want to accept myself, be confident in myself, love myself but I can’t. I can’t do that and its tiring, I’m tired of trying. I fall back into old habits and can’t get out of them. Then i’m stuck in this constant loop of feeling like this. I get real moody and aggressive whenever I feel like this and again with intrusive thoughts, I get those all the time. My anxiety is too much and I just want to cry and run away. What do I do? What can I do? To stop having anxiety? To stop overthinking? To stop criticising myself? To stop breaking myself down whenever I get better? To stop pitying myself? To just get better. Thank you all and Kudos..

SBS Feeling trapped inside my mind
  • replies: 3

My mind is my enemy.Living inside my head, I watch life pass me by.Trapped within the chaos of my mind, I am not free.Racing thoughts and urgent emotions, I cannot slow down. The thoughts are strong and emotions are stronger, they overpower me.They p... View more

My mind is my enemy.Living inside my head, I watch life pass me by.Trapped within the chaos of my mind, I am not free.Racing thoughts and urgent emotions, I cannot slow down. The thoughts are strong and emotions are stronger, they overpower me.They push their way, isolating me.A solitary confinement of my own chaos; cannot form connections, I am lonely.The occupied void is closing in on me, I cannot breathe.It am suffocating, I cannot see. I know I am different, my thoughts are not me.I'm stuck in a loop, I just can't break free.

Hopelesslee Barking dog, arrogant neighbours
  • replies: 5

I’m currently living in a house which is totally surrounded by colour bond fencing due to housing sub division and as a result, noise is amplified to an unimaginable degree.The neighbours have a German Shepherd dog. Over the past year I have done eve... View more

I’m currently living in a house which is totally surrounded by colour bond fencing due to housing sub division and as a result, noise is amplified to an unimaginable degree.The neighbours have a German Shepherd dog. Over the past year I have done everything the council recommended but to no avail, in fact the last encounter was the appointed dog catcher speaking extremely rudely and blowing me off. He closed the case without giving me the opportunity to explain that I have had extremely ill health over the past 14 months. I’m at a point where I feel suicide is the only way to make anyone take notice of my desperation. In the last month, I did make an attempt but once again.. nothing was or has been done. The Police, Animal Welfare and RSPCA don’t want to know. I am not in a financial situation to move and have no family or friends. I’ve cried more than many oceans of tears and feel there is no solution. I’ve had so much advice but at the end of the day, I’m the one living with the noise. I guess dying is what it will take to make maybe one person realise what it’s like to live in hell on earth.

CakeFace Feeling crazy
  • replies: 6

Hi, I don't know if anyone else has this at the moment but is anyone else just feeling really overwhelmed & stressed out with all the changes after COVID? I was mostly fine throughout lockdowns but this year my anxiety has been at its worst where I d... View more

Hi, I don't know if anyone else has this at the moment but is anyone else just feeling really overwhelmed & stressed out with all the changes after COVID? I was mostly fine throughout lockdowns but this year my anxiety has been at its worst where I don't even like leaving the house now as it is so stressful. Some examples, how every time you go grocery shopping half the stuff you need isn't available (especially if it is on special). The rising cost of everything & how it is blamed on COVID or inflation (it cost me almost $20 to post a card overseas for an old relatives birthday!). Another is so many things wanting personal details that I just don't want to give and give me great anxiety to do so. (Example 1 My hairdresser using a third party booking system that needs your card details to confirm bookings now even though you pay in store & not through the third party. Example 2 My real estate wanting to take pictures of my furniture set up in my home as part of rental inspections now, I understand pics of the walls, floors and ceilings but my bookcase with personal photos?! I just feel like everyone else seems so ok with these changes and personal invasions but I'm not and everyone looks at me like I'm crazy for not wanting to participate. Help? 🤯

Mike33 Anxiety and depression and boredom
  • replies: 3

Hi my name is Mikei left work 5 years ago due to my anxiety and depression. I am 67 years old. I have had anxiety and depression for over 50 years. About 2 months ago I felt the illness re-emerge. I cannot work out if it is the illness plus boredom. ... View more

Hi my name is Mikei left work 5 years ago due to my anxiety and depression. I am 67 years old. I have had anxiety and depression for over 50 years. About 2 months ago I felt the illness re-emerge. I cannot work out if it is the illness plus boredom. As I spend most of the day at home. I get terrible headaches and spend about 2-3 hours in bed as it is the only place that eases the headache. Any remedies or ideas would be appreciated.

Baileysmells My social anxiety is making University really tough for me
  • replies: 4

I’ve been on campus for 13 now, I admit I kinda had the mindset of being a loner and just finishing the work. But it turns out my classes require a lot more than that of me. I just looked at tomorrows lecture guideline and there’s going to be an in-c... View more

I’ve been on campus for 13 now, I admit I kinda had the mindset of being a loner and just finishing the work. But it turns out my classes require a lot more than that of me. I just looked at tomorrows lecture guideline and there’s going to be an in-class debate where we get into a group and act as someone from this pre-determined hypothetical situation. Then present results from that to the class. We are also beginning our first assessment which is a group work assignment, we have to figure out the groups and begin planning/exchange information. I am absolutely terrified of those. It feels like it’s going to be a lot of pressure. The people at the table I happened to sit at already seem disinterested in me and talk amongst themselves, I don’t know how I’m going to be grouped up. Wether the people I get with don’t want me there or make an awkward mess of myself during it.

abb01 I hate Year 12
  • replies: 7

I'm in Year 12 this year, it feels like the year just started, but suddenly the end of the year is approaching so fast. Part of me is so scared to be an adult, but I don't even have time to focus on that part of me, or on the part of me that's excite... View more

I'm in Year 12 this year, it feels like the year just started, but suddenly the end of the year is approaching so fast. Part of me is so scared to be an adult, but I don't even have time to focus on that part of me, or on the part of me that's excited. I'm just so overwhelmed with school work all the time. I've been feeling this stress all through high school, especially during quarantine, but these last few months, it's been especially bad. I remember, in Year 9, I had it all planned out, I was so sure I'd have a part time job by the time I was 16, I was going to get great grades, and my life would be do much fun. But I'm almost an adult now, and STILL haven't had my first job. Or my first anything, tbh. Covid's messed everything up. And I just feel so stressed, and so angry sometimes, and I know that there's all these ways to be happier and healthier, and all I've got to do is do them, but I just can't get the motivation somehow. Whenever I feel stressed, I do things to myself that I hate, and I feel way to embarrassed to ever tell anyone about. Either that, or I binge eat tons of food after not eating for days. But somehow, when I do that, my mum always finds out, and she gets so mad at me. But I'm always already feeling mad enough at myself. After doing any of these things, I just hate myself so much, more than I've ever hated anyone in my life. What's worse is I know that there's heaps of simple ways for me to help myself, like just by just stopping doing the things I do to myself. And I know that I'm just so lazy and stupid for not helping myself, after all these years. But part of me also feels like I don't even deserve to get better, I don't deserve to be happy. I just hate myself so much, I hate everything about me, I hate the way I look, and act, and think. I just see so many perfect ppl around me, living perfect lives, and I'm not even trying to be pretty or successful, coming on this chat is the best I've done for myself in ages, but I guess it's better than nothing. I just don't know what to do anymore.

BobbyOz Failed uni due to panic attacks
  • replies: 7

I was doing really well in all my uni courses but since I couldn't do the exams due to anxiety I got no marks and I've failed and am now in massive debt and have to do it all again. What should I do?

I was doing really well in all my uni courses but since I couldn't do the exams due to anxiety I got no marks and I've failed and am now in massive debt and have to do it all again. What should I do?

Giggyy intense spiral from university rejection
  • replies: 4

hi so I have struggled with anxiety and almost crippling self-doubt which has prevented me from doing a lot of things but I decided to put in an application for university early entry, the course had quite low standards and I thought I might get it..... View more

hi so I have struggled with anxiety and almost crippling self-doubt which has prevented me from doing a lot of things but I decided to put in an application for university early entry, the course had quite low standards and I thought I might get it... I didn't. My self-doubt has spiralled out of control because I really thought this was something I could do, now I've convinced myself that I can't do anything and it's hard to get out of this panic/catastrophizing mind. How can I deal with this and try and take control of my future? it's almost time for me to apply to more unis and figure out my life but I'm so panicked that ill be rejected from everything and ill be a failure, I haven't even looked at the pages for any other courses or even jobs because I'm so scared of more rejection any advice is appreciated thx