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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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shadowprince Anxiety about Past Mistakes
  • replies: 7

Hey so, I've made some bad mistakes that I really regret because I used to be an addict. Some of them really stupid and questionable, others that hurt people I care about. It's been a quite a while since I've done these things and I've focussed on be... View more

Hey so, I've made some bad mistakes that I really regret because I used to be an addict. Some of them really stupid and questionable, others that hurt people I care about. It's been a quite a while since I've done these things and I've focussed on becoming a better person through counselling. But every now and then, I'll see something that'll trigger a spiral of anxious thoughts and overthinking, usually centred on thoughts that tell me that I'm still a bad person, no matter what I do to change myself. That my past mistakes will always haunt me no matter how much I improve myself. I'd just like some advice for dealing with these anxious and intrusive thoughts.

tourist Insomnia induced Panic attacks & Anxiety - and how it stopped
  • replies: 1

Hi all, First of all I would like to say a big thank you to Beyond Blue as it has helped me immensely over the past few weeks, including talking to people in the middle of the night on the phone service. I also found a lot of comfort in reading all o... View more

Hi all, First of all I would like to say a big thank you to Beyond Blue as it has helped me immensely over the past few weeks, including talking to people in the middle of the night on the phone service. I also found a lot of comfort in reading all of the posts in these forums and seeing the support and understanding that happens here. My story occurred over a very brief period of time and has made me feel like a 'tourist' in this experience of panic attacks and anxiety (hence my user name). I caught the flu about a month ago and was actually sicker than I thought and due to the symptoms only slept a few hours a night for about 4-5 days. As I live alone and have secure work with sick leave entitlements I just did the usual things and thought Id be able to ride it out. And then I didn't sleep at all for one night. This is when the anxiety and fears of not sleeping began to happen. The fear of the fear of not sleeping then caused me to not sleep for another two nights at all and I started experiencing what has since been diagnosed as constant panic attacks and a severe anxiety disorder on and off for almost 4 days. I thought I was going mad and losing my mind. A visit to my trusted GP resulted in some medication being prescribed and a relative travelled from interstate to stay with me. The panic attacks slowed but the constant 24/7 anxiety symptoms remained and I thought my life was over. I couldn't stop it happening as much I fought it with breathing techniques, distractions, etc. However at 3 in the morning one day when I awoke in fright I was reading the forums here and saw someone mention Dr Harry Barry and Claire Weekes. I watched Dr Barrys 13 minute video called 'Dr Harry Barry: Overcoming Panic Attacks' and followed the advice to not fight the panic attack- but let the symptoms flood over me. I was back asleep 30 minutes later. I used his techniques over the next 3 days (and the very similar approaches by Claire Weekes) and have now had 2 days of 'normality' and excellent sleep and am starting to wean off the medication. Its early days but this seems to have worked well for me. I will continue to also have some counselling, but as a 'circuit breaker' and a potentially long term management technique this has given my life back after only a month when I thought it was all over. I'm not a doctor, but wanted to provide my story to help others, just as all of your stories helped me when I needed it at my darkest moments. Thank you all!

Juliet Family won’t let me talk - undermining my illness
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone! Just feeling a bit frustrated at the moment. It seems every time I bring up my depression or anxiety no-one in my family wants to listen and they just want to change the subject or literally get away from me. It is as though they think I... View more

Hi everyone! Just feeling a bit frustrated at the moment. It seems every time I bring up my depression or anxiety no-one in my family wants to listen and they just want to change the subject or literally get away from me. It is as though they think I am just whining about the same old subject and they don’t want to hear about it. I feel I want to talk about it as it is my everyday life! I’m not sure why they don’t want to listen but it seems like selfish reasons to me. They don’t want to hear all that negativity. Miraculously both of my eldest sisters let me know this week that they have had depression but they were able to come out of it on their own. Haha My eldest has let me know she had depression when she broke up with her husband and currently suffers from anxiety also! Amazing. My sister just above me in age who is much more responsible also just told me she also has anxiety. And when she caught a plane recently, because the guy next to her was fearful, he also suffered from anxiety. It is very frustrating when I have had both since 17 and I know they have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. All of a sudden, you get sad = depression, you feel stressed and overwhelmed, must = anxiety. No doctors or medication necessary though you just definitely have it. All of this is insulting to me after having Major Depression and Major Anxiety for the last 26 years. If only I could give them (they are beautiful sisters) but if only I could give them one day of anxiety or depression just so they could understand.

-Noah- Service Animals
  • replies: 3

Okay so hi im new here, Basically I have a lot of issues with my anxiety and it’s effecting my day to day life, I have panic attacks in class and in public, I have had days off because the thought of going out made me sob (and usually does), I get ov... View more

Okay so hi im new here, Basically I have a lot of issues with my anxiety and it’s effecting my day to day life, I have panic attacks in class and in public, I have had days off because the thought of going out made me sob (and usually does), I get overwhelmed really easily and as a result shut down and won’t be able to function for a good while after. What’s worse is that sometimes my way of responding to these things isn’t the healthiest (things such as scratching or digging my nails into my palms or skin). In short it’s an issue. And a little while ago I went down a rabbit hole and found that you can get service dogs to help with this kind of thing, such as interrupting these sh behaviours, alerting to oncoming attacks, helping owner through attack, getting the owner to a safe spot ect ect. However I am consistently stuck in a loop of convincing myself that it’s not that bad and I don’t need one, and that I only want one for attention and that I’m faking it. But at the same time I genuinely think this would help me. I only see a therapist once a month and our session has just passed so I don’t have anyone to talk with about it. Before chatting with my parents and bringing up the idea I want to make sure that I qualify for one and know as much info as possible. So basically my question is: Does this sound like enough of a reason do try to get one of these animals? And how would I begin the process of getting one if the answer is yes? Any help would be amazing, Noah

MainlyG Daily health blog
  • replies: 6

Hi all. I hope you don't mind, delete if not appropriate. I just am just going to do a weekly blog on feelings (physical and mental) to learn about myself at the moment. Feel free to comment. See if there are triggers...etc.

Hi all. I hope you don't mind, delete if not appropriate. I just am just going to do a weekly blog on feelings (physical and mental) to learn about myself at the moment. Feel free to comment. See if there are triggers...etc.

ArielK Has anyone tried hypnotherapy for anxiety?
  • replies: 12

I have suffered with anxiety now for about 3 years, since then I have stopped going to social events with friends as people and public places freak me out, I struggle going to shopping centres on my own, can only drive certain distances and to certai... View more

I have suffered with anxiety now for about 3 years, since then I have stopped going to social events with friends as people and public places freak me out, I struggle going to shopping centres on my own, can only drive certain distances and to certain places (my worst panic attack was while driving) which caused that..... as a hairdresser I sometimes feel anxious at work, and feeling like your going to faint, throw up ect while doing a clients hair is very embarrassing.i also freak out daily about my healt, eg; hear that someone has died of a 1 in a million illness and all of a sudden, I’m worrying I might have that illness. all of the above is ruining my life! I have tried medication and psychologists, the medication worked for a time but I don’t want to solve my problems with a pill forever.... and the psychologist was just telling me everything I already knew about my anxiety. my next step is to try hypnotherapy as I’ll try anything that might work, so has anyone tried it or know of anyone who has successfully been hypnotised for anxiety? Or have any other treatments I can try?

car10001 need someone to talk to
  • replies: 3

hi everyone. just found out the place of work may be sold in a few months and may be out of work and am a bit concerned because while am getting centrelink am not going to be able to live off just that. many of you know the place of work had been put... View more

hi everyone. just found out the place of work may be sold in a few months and may be out of work and am a bit concerned because while am getting centrelink am not going to be able to live off just that. many of you know the place of work had been put on market a while ago? found out today 20/6 that it may be sold in a few months and unless something else is found am going to be getting less money and just cant afford to not work. it is sad but can understand why owners have put it on market, they been doing 7 day weeks for 15 years and its time has come. reason for staying is because there currently wasnt any other option plus because of the owners and now that it may be sold in a few months am racing to work something out because it may be sold depending on decision. just want the problems sorted and to go away and to get money ontop of centrelink. was planning for this to happen in next couple years and to hopefully be out in next few years but it was a bit too soon and unexpected and now trying to work out something for someone with mild disability. am hoping to reach out on here for someone to talk to. thanks

Frogs Noise anxiety
  • replies: 15

Hi~ I'm 32 and 5 years ago came down with sinusitis followed by neck pain, which resulted in my leaving work, I've had 5 surgeries. Being unwell and at home a lot, noisy neighbors really started to grate on me. I guess I've always been a bit noise se... View more

Hi~ I'm 32 and 5 years ago came down with sinusitis followed by neck pain, which resulted in my leaving work, I've had 5 surgeries. Being unwell and at home a lot, noisy neighbors really started to grate on me. I guess I've always been a bit noise sensitive, without going in to my past too much, I was neglected as a child and didn't have a sense of safety & security. Have had crippling anxiety before, particularly ages 21-25. Have come a long way in general but noise is something I just can't seem to get over. I think it's largely due to the morality of it. For example, there's no need to play music so loud the whole neighborhood can hear. There's way to have fun without being a nuisance, it's just selfish. Noise that is essential, like construction, doesn't bother me nearly as much nor does it when I'm out. At our last house it started with a nearby school upgrading their loud speakers. From 8-3 weekdays you'd hear 'ding dong announcement' at least twice an hour. Was so loud, could hear what they'd say clear as day. The street was very busy with parking, which would set off a dog between 8-9 & 3-4. I started using earplugs and sleeping until 4pm just to bypass the noise. Night was the only time you could get peace in that house. Then the house across from us had a group of teens move in who were always in their yard having illegal bonfires. The smoke irritated my sinuses so much I know have a phobia of smoke. I'm cutting it short with the character limit but it was so bad we decided to move. We chose a solid brick house in a country town, at the end of a dead-end street, opposite a paddock. Should be peaceful right? Soon after, the block next to us started construction. I was worried about them having a dog so politely mentioned it before they moved in. They did and it was fine until they got another dog. It would bark as soon as it heard our door open and would continue relentlessly until we came back in. Goodbye gardening hobby. By this stage, hubby is working at home and I'm sleeping normal hours. After speaking to them many times (nice people actually), they solved the small dog but now their big dog is doing the same thing. They do not walk them. We're also nestled between two people who work on cars and rev their engines. We get a ridiculous amount of traffic for a dead-end. Was woken up at 8 today by the dog and then someone else started blasting music that I yelled at them to turn it down, they called me rude. Feeling sick from anxiety tbh

Alotgoingon Positive stories about starting medication
  • replies: 5

Hello everyone, after many years of suffering with GAD I've decided to try medication which I feel really positive about but I am also really nervous about the initial side effects, especially because I have a really busy life and have a child plus w... View more

Hello everyone, after many years of suffering with GAD I've decided to try medication which I feel really positive about but I am also really nervous about the initial side effects, especially because I have a really busy life and have a child plus work full time. I'm concerned that I will really struggle for a few weeks and won't be able to go about my daily duties. Was there anything that helped get you through the intial weeks of taking medication and could you please share your positive stories ? Thanks

Beaser Everything is getting too much.Dont know where to turn.Feel so sad.
  • replies: 12

Im starting to feel overwhelmed and like i just dont matter to people. Ive reached out to my friends and told some of my struggles. It just seems everyone is so busy in there own world though. Ive tried so hard to give back to my community and friend... View more

Im starting to feel overwhelmed and like i just dont matter to people. Ive reached out to my friends and told some of my struggles. It just seems everyone is so busy in there own world though. Ive tried so hard to give back to my community and friends. I volunteer at my local football club and did seven hours behind the bar volunteering on the weekend. I felt just taken for granted and came home sad and tired. Ive seperated from my partner and wish i had of put more of my time into being with her and not worried about letting people down who i werent seeing. I just feel so sad and lonely . Why do i have to endure this pain ive been a good citizen and person all my life. I just cant get my life right . I just want to be happy again . I dont know where to turn too any more.. Brett