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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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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

car10001 when is it time to leave jobs and what can you do to hang on a bit longer
  • replies: 5

hi not sure where to put this but want to ask following and hope someone can listen. because the place that am working at is for sale have decided to call it when it sells or the owners 60th whichever comes first because have goals that am wishing to... View more

hi not sure where to put this but want to ask following and hope someone can listen. because the place that am working at is for sale have decided to call it when it sells or the owners 60th whichever comes first because have goals that am wishing to follow at some point and starting to get a bit tired of the hospitality work and always working when events are on and missing out on so much because of it and feel that after 13 years its time to start planning the next move and think its better to plan at some point while you may be able to hang on just a bit longer. by the time the shop sells itll probably be 15 years in service and after that long and giving up your life its time to get out. what am wanting to do next is electrical test and tag and add antennas and emergency lights inspection and should be enough to get consistent 2-3 days a week work, plus may be able to take a few second hand things to sell at markets once in while as well. am looking into testers and need something for now just to get started but dont have much to spend to start off with so wondered wether basic one would be ok for now and upgrade later or should you try get the one you want from the start and is there a way to laybuy it online without afterpay like you would in a shop where the laybuy just gets cancelled if you dont or cant pay and money minus the laybuy fee gets returned to you. being in hospitality is wearing you down because you work every weekend and every events and every holidays and you just want to go to some events and/or meet people but cant because youre always working and it wears you down and am tired and had enough and have goals and want to follow them while am still able to. the food industry work is already hard work and has gotten harder in last couple years and will probably never be same plus it isnt meant to be a forever thing but instead be a stop gap for uni students or to just have a job while you work towards what you want. what could you do to try and hang on a bit longer until you can get out. you dont always have to leave on bad terms, sometimes you have goals that you want to reach

Rose.8 Feel like I’m not doing enough with my life
  • replies: 7

I am 21 still live at home, currently enrolled at university and I work a casual job, I’m doing 14 hours of class a week not including the time it takes to do my assignment, sometimes I freelance photography work for extra money… I help my parents wi... View more

I am 21 still live at home, currently enrolled at university and I work a casual job, I’m doing 14 hours of class a week not including the time it takes to do my assignment, sometimes I freelance photography work for extra money… I help my parents with house work, grocery shopping ect, I’m basically the only one that cleans the house….. I also work around 12 hours at my casual job which is not a lot compared to some people, but that’s where I stress, I feel like I’m not doing enough? People I work with seem to always be picking up shifts wherever they can whereas I say no when I’m asked to come in last minute. I don’t say no all the time but when I do I feel so so guilty even if I actually have 5 assignments due and I can’t work or I’m out with friends. I know I could say yes but I feel like I get burnt out so quickly….. am I just being lazy? Do I need to stop having a sook and just work? I’ve been asked to work tonight and I don’t want too….. I need to prepare for class tomorrow, do assignments and I also need to find an internship for uni. anyone else get an overwhelming amount of guilt saying no? I hope this makes sense, I don’t want to come across as a privileged sook who still lives with parents and doesn’t want to do anything with her life….

KaiyaE Anxiety Sucks
  • replies: 5

Anxiety has effected my life in ways I could never imagine, and I only just sat down and reflected on what it's done to me. I haven't been sleeping well, my appetite has been ruined (And I LOVE FOOD), I can't stop shaking, and I'm constantly afraid t... View more

Anxiety has effected my life in ways I could never imagine, and I only just sat down and reflected on what it's done to me. I haven't been sleeping well, my appetite has been ruined (And I LOVE FOOD), I can't stop shaking, and I'm constantly afraid that I'm going to start freaking out in front of people.My counsellor has described what I go through as panic attacks. Feel sick, short of breathe, shaking. It's every day. It's exhausting, I don't want to do it anymore...The biggest thing I want is for someone to ask me if I'm ok. I would tell them how I'm feeling. Just them asking proves to me that they care. But no one does..

R.Penn Homeless and in limbo indecision
  • replies: 9

Hi there, I have previously posted here before a couple of times. I have reached out and am receiving therapy once a week on the phone with lifeline which I am super thankful for. I have moved around so much since my first relocation interstate and s... View more

Hi there, I have previously posted here before a couple of times. I have reached out and am receiving therapy once a week on the phone with lifeline which I am super thankful for. I have moved around so much since my first relocation interstate and since covid things have gotten progressively worse for me and prolonged unemployment hasn’t help either has my attitude to returning to employment. I want to work I just want to work with good people, I have had so many jobs where people have just been awful and bitchy and gossip. I got involved with a woman at one of my longest held jobs a meek 1 year and it ruined me. I won’t go into this detail as I have worked through it and have gone no contact for a year. I just have become homeless now due to the housing crisis and lack of decent share houses/ affordable rooms and lack of rentals in QLD. I try to remain thankful for my friend in Brisbane, my family and my car that is my safe space. I haven’t slept on the street yet but am close to it as I can’t find anywhere to live and have no money for bond upfront. I receive job seeker allowance which I am so thankful for but the whole process seems to be weighing me down and I feel like I am drowning. I am 32 I should know how to look after myself by now but I feel so behind. I want to buy a van because half my problem is not knowing where I want to based and not really feeling like I belong anywhere. I lived in Melbourne for 9 years which was my home and I tried to return last year but got stuck in the 5 month lockdown with some not so close friends in a sharehouse. I just don’t know what to do now… I need somewhere to live this week so I can find a job as I am at desperate point now. I can’t focus on one direction and feel like I am a burden to my family and friends now. I just want to run away some days but I don’t want to become more isolated. Has anyone been in this position before? I know its happening to a huge amount of Australians at the moment and I get rage against the system and our government not providing enough emergency accommodation for everyone. There are so many homeless people… I was thinking maybe I could go join them wherever they are camping… I just get scared about my safety. I think I have decision paralysis from moving back and forth interstate too many times during covid pandemic also getting stuck in quarantine and a longer lockdown. I would appreciate anyone’s advice moving forward Thankyou

Rupes79 Anxiety and depression
  • replies: 5

Hi Everyone, Is it possible to have anxiety but not depression? I feel my symptoms are more in line with someone suffering anxiety but that makes you feel pretty awful about life which is sort of associated with depression. Do the two go hand in hand... View more

Hi Everyone, Is it possible to have anxiety but not depression? I feel my symptoms are more in line with someone suffering anxiety but that makes you feel pretty awful about life which is sort of associated with depression. Do the two go hand in hand? Thanks

joe.p Drug-induced anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, hope everyone is doing well. Thought I’d share my story as it’s quite similar to those already posted. 3 months I took a few caps of what I thought was speed (was quite speedy) and was feeling fine all night. I got home late and decided to s... View more

Hi guys, hope everyone is doing well. Thought I’d share my story as it’s quite similar to those already posted. 3 months I took a few caps of what I thought was speed (was quite speedy) and was feeling fine all night. I got home late and decided to smoke some pot, and then everything changed. I started to feel really uncomfortable, tight in the chest and my head felt like it was about to explode. Now I’ve realised it was a panic attack. The following week wasn’t so bad, just felt a little out of it and had headaches and some chest pains, somehow even played a game of footy. The following week I went out, probably had about 6-7 drinks, and then it hit me. It was another panic attack but this time it was so much worse, I ended up in hospital thinking I was about to die. Since then I’ve struggled with anxiety and some depression, really bad brain fog, potentially some depersonalisation (I feel like I’m living in a movie), headaches, random pains etc 3 months later, the anxiety still gets to me, the headaches are gradually going away, going out and socialising seems a bit easier but my surroundings seem so off, kinda like they’re in 2D. My brain fog is still really noticeable, even writing this was a struggle. I tried SSRI’s for a few days but suffered every side effect there is, maybe I should try stick them out? A couple mates have been through something similar a couple have completely recovered, but one of them still struggles (3 years on). I used to be so confident, happy and sure of myself. Now sometimes I question whether my surroundings are even real. words can’t describe the feelings that someone who has to experience this must endure. I feel like a completely different person. Hopefully one day things will start to change, and I start to feel like myself again. That goes for everyone else out there struggling as well. Peace and love.

BlxrryFace Is it really worth it?
  • replies: 17

Hello, I’m new here, I’m BlxrryFace, age 17 and I’m male. I hope everyone is alright. I’ve hopped on today to talk about myself and my issues. Mental health conditions:I don’t even know what mental health conditions are, but I’ll list what I think. I... View more

Hello, I’m new here, I’m BlxrryFace, age 17 and I’m male. I hope everyone is alright. I’ve hopped on today to talk about myself and my issues. Mental health conditions:I don’t even know what mental health conditions are, but I’ll list what I think. I have bad anxiety issues, doubt myself everyday, trust issues, lack of sleep, zero confidence, always angry, always tired. I’ve given up on myself and I know I will never be good enough. I’m tired of trying to live up to the expectations as I’m not even smart. I think I have trauma as a kid Idk. Right now, I’m so tired of living. I’ve always felt like this for years (lost count) and I’m so lost. I’m tired of helping friends with their issues as no one helps me. I hate myself, I really do. I never talk to anyone about my feelings and problems knowing I will get hurt and judged. I put up the tough act even as a kid, I push away my needs and help those who need it even though I am suffering. The memories I remember as a child never went away and I get lovely reminders of those memories nearly everyday. My parents divorced, still got my mother and got a stepdad. Things didn’t turn out pretty. They always argued and fought. I was always scared for my mother. Justa scare 5 year old. My mum used to be so happy before he came. I say the past never forgets. I am in the past stuck. What he did to my mother I will never forgive nor forget. And to witness that as a kid will always traumatise me. I’ve been feeling sad for years now, I don’t deserve anything, I don’t deserve help. I’m just tired. I don’t know what to do, I’m so lost and I know the future for me won’t be anything better than this. I don’t know why I’m writing this. I don’t know if I even need help but everything painful. I wake up sad, go to sleep sad its so tiring. I wonder if its really worth living? I guess the only reason why I’m here is to protect my mother. I don’t believe in friends as they only use you or they are fake. I feel so alone my mother has changed and I can’t blame her. Do I even need help? I guess I just needed to let my feelings out. Wondered If anyone would listen to me just for once. Maybe because I’m suicidal, maybe thats why I’m here. I don’t know. I guess this is it, thank you.

TheBigBlue Trichotillamania (hair pulling)
  • replies: 6

Anyone else suffer with this? i didn’t even know it was a thing until I mentioned it to my psychologist. Then I found it had a name & I was able to read up about it. I'm trying really hard to divert myself away from doing it. But I’ve been feeling so... View more

Anyone else suffer with this? i didn’t even know it was a thing until I mentioned it to my psychologist. Then I found it had a name & I was able to read up about it. I'm trying really hard to divert myself away from doing it. But I’ve been feeling so stressed recently that I find myself pulling my eyelashes out again. I know, it sounds like the weirdest thing ever. But i can’t stop & I feel “better” when I do it. I'm not sure if this is a rare or common issue, so just wondering if anyone else out there has it?

Madale My Social Phobia, I've decided to take steps, baby steps and fight it! At least start fighting it!
  • replies: 11

Finally I have decided to get out of that entrance door! I'm shivering thinking about it, but I'll just push myself! I've had enough! I'm planning to go out for a walk or maybe even just stand at the portico (after few hours). I want to do it, I hope... View more

Finally I have decided to get out of that entrance door! I'm shivering thinking about it, but I'll just push myself! I've had enough! I'm planning to go out for a walk or maybe even just stand at the portico (after few hours). I want to do it, I hope I do it. 🥺