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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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Wild_Westerner Quit a job I was doing well at due to anxiety. Anyone else?
  • replies: 12

Hi everyone, first time really sharing my mental health struggles here. So I've struggled with anxiety since childhood, specifically social and general anxiety plus depression as well. Over the years I've seen a number of counsellors, psychologists a... View more

Hi everyone, first time really sharing my mental health struggles here. So I've struggled with anxiety since childhood, specifically social and general anxiety plus depression as well. Over the years I've seen a number of counsellors, psychologists and psychiastrists for my condition and made progress even though it has been uneven. Unfortunately upon graduating uni and starting full time work I've struggled a lot. My first full time role was in sales which was awful. I hated picking up the phone to make sales and did not perform well. It caused a relapse of my anxiety for the first time in years. In any case I handed in my resignation and was allowed to leave without notice. I was depressed for a few months but got on antidepressants which helped me get back up again. I convinced myself that I only relapsed because the job was the 'wrong fit' and proceeded to focus more on looking for jobs related to my degree in marketing. I eventually I got a job at a marketing agency and was doing really well, I still had anxiety but it was manageable. I was at a decent company and the work load and environment was chill so I never felt like overwhelmed. I was so confident that I stopped seeing my psychologist and taking my medication. I then moved to another agency into a more client facing role, I had my anxieties but was doing well initially. This was until the workload and number of clients given to me was too much to handle and I began to doubt my abilities... I was hesitant to bring this up with my manager due to mental health stigma even though they would have been understanding. I started to worry again as all my symptoms were coming back to the point where I could hardly concentrate on work tasks. This time I knew I was screwed as I was doing well in the job but my anxiety still came back. It was so bad I had to quit with little notice. It's been more than a month since that, I've gotten a lot better but the thought of working again is terrifying as I don't want to be overwhelmed and relapse again. I'm now back on medication and seeing a new psychologist. Anyone else have a similar experience? Would love to hear your situation and how you handled it

Yui_Nakano How to manage anxiety when none of the techniques work
  • replies: 7

Hey everyone,I've been dealing with anxiety and depression most of my life but due to recent changes its getting so much worse. I've been trying the tactics taught in Mycompass and breathing but none of them seem to help. when I'm alone or with my pa... View more

Hey everyone,I've been dealing with anxiety and depression most of my life but due to recent changes its getting so much worse. I've been trying the tactics taught in Mycompass and breathing but none of them seem to help. when I'm alone or with my parents I get a creeping anxiety that doesn't stop building and I start feeling a crushing loneliness and feelings I'm not wanted, the only way to stop it is to talk to friends but their often busy and are so so far away from me. I've been fighting my flight response since I know if I run I'm not going to survive but living like this everyday is killing me. I'm booked to see a psych this Saturday but it feels so far away and I don't know how long I can deal with these feelings. I just want to feel loved I don't want to feel isolated and alone anymore.

june_03 crushing expectations of myself
  • replies: 8

Hifor as long as I can remember I have had very high standards of myself. It is a quality I admire but it also ruins my life. I'm still in high school but I feel like I never got to be young because I stress so much and have so much anxiety over bein... View more

Hifor as long as I can remember I have had very high standards of myself. It is a quality I admire but it also ruins my life. I'm still in high school but I feel like I never got to be young because I stress so much and have so much anxiety over being responsible and a 'good kid'. I physically cannot deal with failing at things. If I get 100% on a test I do not feel excited, I only feel relief. I struggle to play sports because I have this need to always be good at it and I can't handle being bad at something. Nothing I do is ever good enough for me. I have a very supportive network of people so that's not an issue. it's just so engrained in me to perform well. and i feel as though I have set an expectation of being at the top that I'm afraid to fail. Even at work I can't relax because I'm so scared that I'll mess something up. My psychologist always says that I have exceedingly high expectations of myself and well she's right. The bar I have set is always impossible for me to reach. I just want to be okay with failure. I put my all into everything and it's exhausting. If I had to I'd study until I drop and I dont think that's okay. Anyway I just want to know how I can live more freely. I feel like I'm holding myself back and hurting myself. any tips on how to survive highschool with this mindset. Or anyone struggle with the same thing? -june

BanditBear Do I have ADHD?
  • replies: 1

I'm 16 female and at the start of this year the thought had never crossed my mind, but after my Mum jokingly said that she's always thought i'm a bit ADHD, it got me thinking. At the time i had never been exposed to ADHD, i had no idea what i might m... View more

I'm 16 female and at the start of this year the thought had never crossed my mind, but after my Mum jokingly said that she's always thought i'm a bit ADHD, it got me thinking. At the time i had never been exposed to ADHD, i had no idea what i might mean to have it, so naturally i got curious and looked into it. On every online test i've taken i have received results such as 'strong indications of ADHD', and looking back I'm surprised that i never realised that something might be wrong earlier. I constantly zone out during conversations, i lose items WAY to easily, i constantly fidget in class, and don't even get me started on starting and completing activities. I've always felt different than my siblings, both are older than me and have been perfectly fine in school, nothing seemed to affect them as i have been affected. I noticed that the subjects i enjoyed i would fixate on so much more than anything else, especially art. I've gone whole days not eating or drinking as i am too fixated on a project, but with other subjects (especially math) i try really hard to focus and understand what is happening, but i end up completely zoning out and missing details or i just can't focus on doing the questions. After nearly a year of suspecting that i might have ADHD i asked my mum not once, but twice if we could get me tested. She said it was too expensive (and truthfully, it is) and that it's probably not worth it as, even if i had it, as the medication is not always good and there is no real gain from knowing that you have it as it wouldn't really change anything. As much as i respect and love my mum i feel that she is wrong in this decision. I have no knowledge on what treatments there even are for ADHD, but i suspect that by knowing i can get needed support and even if it doesn't at least i know that these 'symptoms' are not just me being lazy (I'm plagued by this thought). I told my sister about wanting to get an ADHD test as well, but she said the same things and also said that if i did i would probably use it as an excuse for some things. These discussions have shut down any confidence i have in talking to anyone about this, especially in person, thus why I am writing this. I don't know where to go from here. I'm worried that even if i get tested i won't end up having ADHD and then i'll just be embarrassed for having these symptoms and not having ADHD. Honestly, i need advise on what to do.

Rach93 Facial numbness
  • replies: 6

Does anyone get facial numbness randomly especially on the cheek area near your nose? I get it even when I’m not feeling anxious can this be a anxiety or stress thing and does anyone experience it frequently?

Does anyone get facial numbness randomly especially on the cheek area near your nose? I get it even when I’m not feeling anxious can this be a anxiety or stress thing and does anyone experience it frequently?

Maxy-Moos Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • replies: 3

I am interested in any other sufferers stories who have been diagnosed with GAD.I have had it for many years but it has got progressively worse as I hit menopause 4 years ago.

I am interested in any other sufferers stories who have been diagnosed with GAD.I have had it for many years but it has got progressively worse as I hit menopause 4 years ago.

Monswa My anxiety journey with physical symptoms
  • replies: 5

Hey all. How you going? Silly question, Guess if you are reading this, you also suffering from anxiety too haha. Nice to know I ain't alone. I was hit with terrible terrible anxiety a few years back. One night my breathing went all gdhdndkdm. Had no ... View more

Hey all. How you going? Silly question, Guess if you are reading this, you also suffering from anxiety too haha. Nice to know I ain't alone. I was hit with terrible terrible anxiety a few years back. One night my breathing went all gdhdndkdm. Had no idea why I could not breathe. Many visits to the GP, ER and specialist. 3 years of it. Trying and hoping again and again numerous tests etc etc etc etc etc haha. Only to realise I do indeed just have a massive anxiety disorder that keeps me believing there is something seriously wrong with me. Been in and out of hell. So long and many GP, ER visits and of course nothing came out of then leading to me being terrified that I am being horrifically discriminated by the healthcare system. That becomes part of my paranoia mental illness issue. So anxiety and paranoia and then also extreme depression. Yep, just about all the mental illnesses out there I have. Tick tick. Now just last week I began having heaps of heart palpitations. Again visited GPS, ER and etc. Again. Its anxiety which of course I didn't believe. Still trying to figure out if its anxiety or not exactly. Lucky I have internal tablets to help with them as the GP today would not give me even a simple script to stop those annoying boom booms in my chest. I would love to support and hear other peoples stories. Tell me your stories. Happy to chat to you all any time. Let's support each other to finally get this terrible mental disease under control and gain back our old happy lives. Luv ya alls. You are not alone. CheersMonswa

ash1976 Do not know If i have been exposed to HIV
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone hope someone could help. So, I am 26 Year old Male and recently I have engaged in outercourse, some of the activites were protected (with a condom), others were not. I do not know the HIV status of the Woman. I did not happen to notice if... View more

Hi everyone hope someone could help. So, I am 26 Year old Male and recently I have engaged in outercourse, some of the activites were protected (with a condom), others were not. I do not know the HIV status of the Woman. I did not happen to notice if there is any would on her hand and i am afraid what if there might be one, but self doubt is kicking in and I am imagining if she did , but half certain that she did not . I am just freaking OUT , please help and advise if I have a chance of getting HIV . or was there any risk behaviour that has happened for HIV to transmit.

Simoney Grinding teeth
  • replies: 3

I’ve started really grinding my teeth in the last few months and straining my jaw. I started on medication late last year but I’m not sure if it’s helping with my anxiety. Im not sure what to do about teeth grinding but it’s getting painful and I’m w... View more

I’ve started really grinding my teeth in the last few months and straining my jaw. I started on medication late last year but I’m not sure if it’s helping with my anxiety. Im not sure what to do about teeth grinding but it’s getting painful and I’m worried about damaging my teeth

Louj Swallowing Problems - Anxiety?
  • replies: 3

Hello all! I’m looking for some help and or suggestions maybe anyone who is going through the same issues as myself. I’ve always had anxiety but managed it well for many years. One day 3 weeks ago I just started to feel like I was choking on my food,... View more

Hello all! I’m looking for some help and or suggestions maybe anyone who is going through the same issues as myself. I’ve always had anxiety but managed it well for many years. One day 3 weeks ago I just started to feel like I was choking on my food, like it would catch in my throat. From there it’s just gotten worse - that anxiety loop where you fear it, become scared of the sensation - so it keeps going. It’s really scary and at the point where I am eating minimal daily and loosing weight rapidly. The doctor has put me on Lovan to help but it’s only day 3. I’ve had this before many years ago but cannot remember how I recovered. This time unfortunately feels worse & I’m struggling to cope. I’m not even getting hungry anymore as my stomach just have shrunk so much. I know it’s all phycological as I can drink water normally and sometimes food then BAM I get that choking feeling and back to square one.Hoping to share these feelings with others that may be dealing with this.Thanks in advance 🫶🏻