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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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Petal22 Postnatal Anxiety
  • replies: 9

I wanted to start this thread to bring awareness to postnatal anxiety. I think its important for people to be aware that sometimes after giving birth and during pregnancy postnatal anxiety can be experienced by the mother or father. I have a lived ex... View more

I wanted to start this thread to bring awareness to postnatal anxiety. I think its important for people to be aware that sometimes after giving birth and during pregnancy postnatal anxiety can be experienced by the mother or father. I have a lived experience of postnatal anxiety, in my experience I experienced this condition after both of my pregnancies, the second pregnancy was more sever than the first. Below I've listed some of the things I experienced while going through this condition : I always felt on edge. I didn't feel comfortable allowing the baby to be out of my sight. I found it hard to allow others to hold my baby. I was highly anxious when we were both out of the house in public. I had a fear of going out with my babies or leaving them with anyone else. I was highly anxious about people coming into the house while baby was sleeping ( incase they woke up the baby). This condition was extremely difficult to go through with a new born who I loved and cared for very much, because I felt I just couldn't relax and enjoy the time we had together because I was constantly in fear and flight mode, it was an exhausting stressful condition to have especially while caring for a baby. This anxiety is intense and it can creep up on you, the first step towards recovery is seeking help from a professional.. a good place to start is at your gp you can do a mental health plan together this will allow you to see a psychologist. In some areas there are perinatal clinics that specialise in these types of conditions a clinical psychologist and a phyciatrist sometimes run out of the same clinic. I seeked professional help for what I experienced and recovered. If you are reading this and feel that you may be suffering with this condition or know someone who may be I encourage you to seek professional help and if you know some one who may be experiencing this condition encourage them to seek professional help. Life really can get a lot better once professional help is received. Your not alone, please ask me anything if you have any questions .

Kits Spiralling down again
  • replies: 3

Hi my names Kits and I've had anxiety/panic attacks since I was 15 (2000). For the most part I'd learned to control it and enjoy life. But over the years big emotional experiences seem to trigger my anxiety. For instance my partner dumped me (2016) a... View more

Hi my names Kits and I've had anxiety/panic attacks since I was 15 (2000). For the most part I'd learned to control it and enjoy life. But over the years big emotional experiences seem to trigger my anxiety. For instance my partner dumped me (2016) and I was waking up each morning to an attack and found it difficult to function. I worked afternoon shift at the time so had time in the morning to process my thoughts better and try to get into the right mindset for work. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. But I managed to move on and now I'm happily married and life is better. Until now....we had to put our 14yr old cat and 15yr old dog down in the space of about two weeks apart and we were devastated. So of course, anxiety decided to kick in and I feel like I'm 15 again. I'm now at a different job that requires me to get up at 4.30 in the morning, which is definitely not helping my attacks, I have no time to process and become frozen in fear. I realised I needed help and have spoken to my boss but I fear there's only so many absent days before they have had enough, which is fair, I like to consider myself reliable but at the moment I feel like I've let everyone down. I can't get into a psychologist until July so what am I meant to do till then? Tell my boss ill see you in a month? My partner is worried about me and I feel like a shit wife because I'm adding to the stress and I'm not working. I don't know what to do. I asked my boss about switching to afternoon shift to see if it might help ease it but with my attendance record it probly wont be accepted. I don't feel normal and I hate it, I feel so ashamed that I'm not strong enough to handle the simple task of going to work everyday. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I needed to let it out somewhere.

Willy943 First time being pulled over
  • replies: 4

This week has been pretty terrible for me, I've struggled with depressive thoughts and anxiety for a few years now and I thought I was finally starting to feel better these past few weeks up untill the start of this week. It's been pretty terrible fo... View more

This week has been pretty terrible for me, I've struggled with depressive thoughts and anxiety for a few years now and I thought I was finally starting to feel better these past few weeks up untill the start of this week. It's been pretty terrible for me but it's all kind of come to a head today while I was at school and I had a bit of a breakdown, I was able to calm my self down before work but it didn't last long because I was pulled over during my shift for the first time since getting my licence. Ive been feeling like I don't really have a lot going for me at the moment including family and especially social and academic life. I also kind of feel like I don't really have anything to be proud of except my car and being able to drive whenever I want. It's honestly been one of the only positive aspects of my life in a really long time and it's one of the things keeping me going. Also I had just bought a very cheap second car just for delivering so I could save on fuel. For context, I'm a delivery driver for a pizza restaurant. Today when I was taking a delivery I was pulled over for the first time into a booze bus and was breathalysed, I was really nervous because I've never done anything like this before and it was nearly done until one of the officers pointed out I had Google maps open on my phone. I never touch my phone whilst I'm driving and I only ever set the address before taking the car out of park and it pretty much stays in the phone holder all night. He said I was fined $550 and had 4 demerit points taken. Ive just spent the last of my savings buying this second car and I won't be able to afford the fine unless I sell it. But if I do that I'll lose my job. I can't use my personal car for deliveries since it's a bit abnoxious and not really a great image for the restaurant since it's a big 4wd. If I sell the second car to pay for the fine I'll be left with no money and no job I also won't be able to work on the only good thing in my life because I'm getting it ready to put onto club plates so I need a few things for it and I can't afford the parts. I'm really scared because I love the people I work with and if I lose my licence I won't even be able to drive it either I also might have to end up selling it because I won't be able to cover the cost of rego and insurance. I'm worried I'm going to lose the only good thing I have. It all kind of feels like the icing on the cake of a really really really shitty week and I haven't stopped crying.

HiddenDragon26 Crying at random times with no trigger/reason.
  • replies: 6

I am 21 yrs old and i was diagnosed with Social Phobia and Separation Anxiety when i was in Yr7. I have handled my anxiety pretty well since leaving high school, i might get a a little anxious at times for various reasons (crowds, talking in front of... View more

I am 21 yrs old and i was diagnosed with Social Phobia and Separation Anxiety when i was in Yr7. I have handled my anxiety pretty well since leaving high school, i might get a a little anxious at times for various reasons (crowds, talking in front of people, loud music etc). I was diagnosed with depression when i was 16 and got help from a phycologist, i feel a lot better with my depression since then that it is not a big issue for me now. The last week, i started to cry for unknown reasons, i was not sure if it was my anxiety starting up again. I have just started university and got a new job which i have been at for almost 3 months now. I took 3 weeks off work for family time and the crying started the night before going back to work. I then cried the following 2 days (the weekend) with working (when i woke up to head to work, i was fine). That week was okay, no tears, no feeling on edge, i felt okay and normal. This week has come and the same thing happened, i was crying the day before work (both days) and i thought that when i finished my 2 shifts, that the week would be okay. It is now Tuesday and i cried Monday night and i have cried today too. I am not sure what is causing it, i have a pit in my stomach full of nervousness ( i went shopping today and felt sick), i have been physically sick from crying, nauseous, having trembling, racing heart, cloudy thoughts. I think the first shift back was anxiety but now i'm not sure if its a mix of anxiety and something else, i'm just confused on what is causing it. I was not sure if it was my iron levels being low. I appreciate any tips on how to manage this crying.

Bennyboy10 Dizziness,can't focus and bad memory.
  • replies: 5

Hi Everyone I have felt with health anxiety for a number of years now but in recent years have had it mostly under control. How ever recently I have started to feel slightly dizzy or tipsy feeling and my memory and eyes feel out of focus. I think it ... View more

Hi Everyone I have felt with health anxiety for a number of years now but in recent years have had it mostly under control. How ever recently I have started to feel slightly dizzy or tipsy feeling and my memory and eyes feel out of focus. I think it is from my anxiety because it comes and goes depending on how aware I am feeling physically. Has anyone had experience with this feeling as it is really affecting my work and life in general.

Shelly_S I am not sure whether I am alright.
  • replies: 4

I have cried every day without any trigger since I was in primary school. I probably have a good memory so I clearly memory details of probably every bad thing. I hate myself oftentimes. I do not know who I am. I cannot control myself being sad or ev... View more

I have cried every day without any trigger since I was in primary school. I probably have a good memory so I clearly memory details of probably every bad thing. I hate myself oftentimes. I do not know who I am. I cannot control myself being sad or even happy. I always feel more stressed and overwhelmed after feeling happy. But, people say that I am a happy person. I even cannot do simple things well but I am keen to do them well. I always hear my voice in my mind telling me a lot of tragedies. Sorry.

Quo could i have anxiety or am i overreacting
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm not sure where to put this exactly or what to do, but I'm not sure what else to go or do. I don't mean to self-diagnose myself but I'm just not sure what to do. I've been feeling quite bad for the past few years, I've had times where I don't ... View more

Hi, I'm not sure where to put this exactly or what to do, but I'm not sure what else to go or do. I don't mean to self-diagnose myself but I'm just not sure what to do. I've been feeling quite bad for the past few years, I've had times where I don't have the motivation to get up or had such intense fear I'll purposefully not go to certain events (e.g. birthdays, bad lessons, etc.) because I have the feeling something bad will happen if I go, no one will want me there, or other such thoughts which make me feel nauseous, vomiting, and sick. I've had times where I've felt so bad over messing up something simple, like baking a cake, that'll send me into spirals where I'm laying on the floor and hurting myself. My head will swarm with thoughts and I feel lost and confused. I've had issues sleeping due to these thoughts, problems paying attention and as such my grades have been falling. I went to a therapist two years ago, she told me I was pre-disposed to depression due to some traumatic events I've had in my past, and that what I do is known as 'catastrophizing'. However, she is unable to diagnose anything as this therapist was like a free one and they don't have proper training or qualifications or something. After a bit, she let me go as I was showing signs of improvement. I didn't tell her some of the thoughts I've had before, however. I was doing quite good for a bit, but then I got worse. Often when I have a melt down I'll begin shaking, my teeth will chatter a lot, and so will my body. I don't feel like I can pay attention to anything. I'll feel constantly exhausted, like simple actions can take an effort, and I feel like I'm just dumb. I'm just overreacting, proper anxiety is much worse and I should just deal with it. I'm tired, and I'm wondering whether GAD could be an explanation for what I'm feeling. I'll feel even worse as my family will often leave me when I'm having these moments. Sometimes they'll be supportive and let me stay home from school, or events, but whenever they leave the house whilst I'm having these moments, or yell at me for overreacting, I'll feel awful. It sucks because my mother also has anxiety, but she used to dismiss mine. Recently she's wondered if I could have it, but it still feels like she doesn't really understand and she'll still laugh at me as I'm having these meltdowns and crying. It sucks, I hate it. I have been wondering whether I have GAD.

Sea_Turtle Overthinking, feeling misunderstood and worried about where this is heading.
  • replies: 6

The last few days haven’t been good, I’ve been starting to get the same sort of feelings that I used to get when I was really unwell. I haven’t seemed to be able to have gotten anything done and I feel so guilty. I always feel guilty. For context I h... View more

The last few days haven’t been good, I’ve been starting to get the same sort of feelings that I used to get when I was really unwell. I haven’t seemed to be able to have gotten anything done and I feel so guilty. I always feel guilty. For context I have OCD, an ED and have had depression. I have also been noticing more and more of late that I find some things hard that others don’t seem to like remembering passwords, or chores I told myself I would do, or something someone told me yesterday. Currently I can’t actually remember if one of my sisters birthday is the 11th or the 12th. I should know that my family means everything to me . The truth is I’ve always found those things hard. But have blamed it on the other problems. All of this with my other struggles have made me worry that I’m going backwards, That there might be more things wrong with me and that I just don’t know how to figure myself out. I saw my doctor today, I probably overthought it and all but I started crying when I was in with her. I didn’t know how to explain so I tried to tell her that have been feeling low today and I just can’t. She said that this is a bad day, everyone has bad days, we don’t always walk around feeling great. That this is normal. And of course the classic this is a safe place. I tried to explain and said that of late I just can’t get it together. She said I am getting it together. I think I had some sort of anxiety attack afterwards. I don’t know how you know if you have actually had one and I wouldn’t want to say so for those who actually have them but maybe it’s a breakdown I don’t know they have happened before I know that. trying to drive home I pulled over and started crying hysterically, gasping for air, felt like I was choking, I started to shake my breath sounded horrible I tried but I couldn’t slow it down if any5hing it made it faster. I don’t want this to be normal, I don’t want the way I think and feel right now to be normal. I’m scared I’m falling of the tracks. I have an appointment that I organised with a psychologist, but it’s still awhile away, and I’m worried she won’t understand me.

KFPDW Sick and Tired of Intrusive Thoughts! >:(
  • replies: 11

Honestly, I'm at a point where I'm just done! I'm having intrusive thoughts all the time and I'm so sick and tired of being stuck in my own head. I do what I can to make changes to improve things but Noooooo, I try but it's still there. I'm Fed up!! ... View more

Honestly, I'm at a point where I'm just done! I'm having intrusive thoughts all the time and I'm so sick and tired of being stuck in my own head. I do what I can to make changes to improve things but Noooooo, I try but it's still there. I'm Fed up!! I'm so sick and tired of it. I constantly feel like I'm in one place and people are in another. I try to build a bridge the disconnect is still there. I'm trying my best and sometimes it feels like I'm even at my best, it's not good enough. I just want the thoughts to stop!!! I'm trying to move on and not let it get to me but it's not working. I look up what to do and all the websites says is accept them and move on. I need something more to work with than just that. I do know what to do and I need help to stop these stupid thoughts from popping up and have a more positive mindset. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can make more positive changes to stop the intrusive thoughts from happening?

D Walsh No real reason for relapse
  • replies: 4

I have had depression and anxiety on and off for most of my adult life. Usually there is a period of stress that brings it on. I am currently in a bit of a funk but I don’t really know what has brought it on. I know it will shift but I am finding it ... View more

I have had depression and anxiety on and off for most of my adult life. Usually there is a period of stress that brings it on. I am currently in a bit of a funk but I don’t really know what has brought it on. I know it will shift but I am finding it hard to reassure myself at the moment.