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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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pvroom I believe I have OCD
  • replies: 6

I have had anxiety my entire life but the past few years have led to a long journey of self discovery and I have realised that my anxiety goes beyond generalised anxiety. I have a lot of intrusive thoughts but I don't do the typical OCD compulsions o... View more

I have had anxiety my entire life but the past few years have led to a long journey of self discovery and I have realised that my anxiety goes beyond generalised anxiety. I have a lot of intrusive thoughts but I don't do the typical OCD compulsions of hand washing, it's a lot more subtle and more in my head. I have quite a lot of disassociation and can't remember huge parts of my life. Sometimes with a lot of explaining, I will remember things but a lot of things are just a complete blank. I've been tested for ADHD and autism, both negative. The psychologist said likely CPTSD. I have several traumatic experiences including adverse childhood experiences. But the trauma has persisted into adulthood, and I'm now late 30s. I am quite good at hiding my anxiety and presenting a functional person which I don't really do deliberately but just feel I 'have to'. Should be functional, should pull myself together to be functional. I don't know if all of my thoughts could be explained with depression, I have never scored more than 'mild' for depression. I can't afford to see a psychologist that doesn't bulk bill, and I live in a rural area with no local psychs anyway. I saw some via telehealth but I find it very hard when they challenge me with beliefs that conflict with mine. I can be very black and white, political beliefs are extremely triggering for me. What can I do to help myself? I already do mindfulness and am on antidepressants.

PlushMonkey Intrusive irrational ocd thought.
  • replies: 2

I’ve never cheated but I’m having these CRAZY irrational thoughts that my baby isn’t my partners. It all started by a stupid dream I had that I was forced to have nonconsentual sex… this happened at the beginning 2 weeks after I found out I was pregn... View more

I’ve never cheated but I’m having these CRAZY irrational thoughts that my baby isn’t my partners. It all started by a stupid dream I had that I was forced to have nonconsentual sex… this happened at the beginning 2 weeks after I found out I was pregnant. I then thought… was I violated? I got over it quickly and never thought about it until the last week and I started over analysing everything and kept saying “what if my baby isn’t my partners” and I keep thinking about the time I had the weekend before I found out I was pregnant. I was at home with my 3 younger sisters and my sisters boyfriend with his two guy mates who are like 10 years younger (they’re 17 and I’m 27) and I was black out drunk and I went to bed and I keep having irrational thoughts that they have came into my room and ... while I’ve been sleeping and my sisters are covering it up. It sounds so stupid I had to freaking ask my sister if anyone came into my room that night and she looked at me like I’m stupid and said no? But apart of me is like is she lying? lol. I keep reassuring myself by saying: For example Im like 1) my sisters would of told me straight away or atleast by now, if it wasn’t my sisters it would be my mum because my sisters are loud mouths… plus they’re so aware of their surroundings so if one of the boys did go into my room they’ll know straight away because they’re the type of people if they haven’t seen anyone in a tiny while then they’ll search the house lol 2) I remember waking up the next morning and I still had my dress, undies and big baggy jumper on… even tho I don’t remember going into bed I remember one of my sisters coming into the room at 4:30 to wake me up to drink again but I said no. 3) I’ve became obsessed with the idea of conception now and I’m like well if something did happen to me in my sleep and everyone’s covering it up then I know when I conceived as the ultrasound dates lead back to conception 5 days before that date and I had a blood test indicating I was ovulating and was intimate two days after that blood test and that’s what my ultrasound goes back on 4) I cannot get a positive pregnancy test 7 days after being intimate especially when I had a strong pregnancy test.. like I’ve became obsessed over the idea of my sister lying to me and it actually happening. panicking for no reason and having a crazy irrational thoughts even tho I know how conception works, I trust my sister saying the truth and she even swore on her sons life because I asked her too because of my anxiety

Baileybasil How do I deal with anxiety about the future and that life has no meaning?<br />  
  • replies: 4

I’ve had a rollercoaster of a few months, I’ve found a decent combination of anti depressants thankfully which have helped my energy and depression a little. My problem is, I’m making forward moving actions in my life like setting study up and I’m ju... View more

I’ve had a rollercoaster of a few months, I’ve found a decent combination of anti depressants thankfully which have helped my energy and depression a little. My problem is, I’m making forward moving actions in my life like setting study up and I’m just absolutely dreading it. life to me is pointless and mundane, I’m not sure if it’s my meds or mdd but all my interests are boring as hell to me now, I just sit there ruminating about how much the future is going to suck. I’ve recently moved to a small town and I feel very isolated having only my L’s and the shortage of psych sessions are crazy. I’ve waited months between sessions. How do I shake the thought that life has no meaning and accept/enjoy life and responsibility?

Guest_1573 Why Does Everything I Do Go Pearshaped?
  • replies: 6

Hi All Yes me again. There has been a lot of drama recently regarding the dear dog I fostered....suffice it to say I wrote a scathing report on the website and I was called up and had to discuss why I said what I did. I again was made to feel like a ... View more

Hi All Yes me again. There has been a lot of drama recently regarding the dear dog I fostered....suffice it to say I wrote a scathing report on the website and I was called up and had to discuss why I said what I did. I again was made to feel like a total nutcase. All I wanted to do was rescue the dear soul and there was so much backstabbing and gossip and it made a heck of a lot of trouble. Basically one particular individual was making trouble from day one and I do not understand why. She lied to me and she played chinese whispers and upset a lot of people. All I ever did was state my concern about the lack of follow through and the lies that were told to me about the dear dog. I do not know how I get myself into these situations over and over again. Deep down I think it is because I care so much and I get infuriated at people's lack of conscience and so forth. I seem to be an ars.hole magnet. Various people treat me like an absolute imbecile and it is getting to the point where I don't want anything to do with anyone. Yes I was wrong to post the review and five hours after I deleted it as I felt bad. But....the bu..shi. they put me through upset and infuriated me so much it made me feel better at the time. Everything I said was true. I felt so bad I donated $500 to the group for the dogs. I still feel bad and I still have had no communication regarding the dogs I have applied to adopt. Why are people so mean and horrible? I just don't get it. So I am now in a hole that I don't even care to crawl out of. This recent debacle has just stirred up memories of all the good I have done in the past that was negated by horrible, selfish and cruel people. I don't know anymore. It is not even worth trying as everytime I do something to help it goes wrong and I end up being the bad guy. Because I stick up for myself and the dogs! Ugh I hate most people right now and I don't think I will pursue rescuing a dog from any of them. Very traumatised and upset. Thanks for reading.

Tils Emetaphobia camping
  • replies: 4

Hi I have an extreme fear of throwing up called emetophobia this cause me to have a panic attack here I scream and cry, Something that is coming up has been scaring me. I have to go camping and for normal kids, this would be fun but for me, it is fil... View more

Hi I have an extreme fear of throwing up called emetophobia this cause me to have a panic attack here I scream and cry, Something that is coming up has been scaring me. I have to go camping and for normal kids, this would be fun but for me, it is filled with trauma. a couple of years back my sister got sick while camping and now I am forever scarred.I know people probably won't see this but if anyone else has emetophobia I would appreciate some advice.

Gg22 Headaches every day
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone I Have GAD and health anxiety. I've been doing so well but just had a baby 3 months ago and I've been experiencing headaches everyday. I feel foggy and tired all the time, my eyes are sore and I'm stressing so much about these headache... View more

Hello everyone I Have GAD and health anxiety. I've been doing so well but just had a baby 3 months ago and I've been experiencing headaches everyday. I feel foggy and tired all the time, my eyes are sore and I'm stressing so much about these headaches. It's like a tight band around my head, pressure feeling in my forehead and occasionally sharp pains. I get vertigo too. Im so scared I have a brain tumour. I had a brain MRI 2 years ago and am convinced something has grown since then. I don't know what to do anymore, I'm constantly at my drs with new symptoms. I just hope I can have some others experience with this, is this a common anxiety symptom? Im scared

Petal22 Easter and self care tips
  • replies: 6

Today is Easter, For some people Easter can feel isolating and lonely. If you are feeling this way today please try to practice some self care . You could call a friend or family Go for a walk outside in nature and practice mindfulness Practice medit... View more

Today is Easter, For some people Easter can feel isolating and lonely. If you are feeling this way today please try to practice some self care . You could call a friend or family Go for a walk outside in nature and practice mindfulness Practice meditation Cuddle a pet Be kind to yourself Practice gratefulness Be the giver ( giving always makes us feel good inside) Change your surroundings…. Im sure there are many other self care tips…. Maybe you could suggest some on this thread?

Doberman38 Family history of cancer
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone. I've just discovered that another of my mum's sisters has developed bowel cancer. At least one other had developed it in the past and I'm not sure but there might have been more. As far as I know they all developed it in middle age or o... View more

Hey everyone. I've just discovered that another of my mum's sisters has developed bowel cancer. At least one other had developed it in the past and I'm not sure but there might have been more. As far as I know they all developed it in middle age or over and I'm only 24, but I'm worried this means we might have a specific genetic predisposition. I have the urge to look up bowel cancer genetics but I know this probably won't make me feel better. It's just hard to adjust to this new knowledge, it feels a little like a ticking bomb.

Bell87 Need some support
  • replies: 12

Hi all, haven’t posted in awhile. Getting my booster today and feeling nervous. I was ok with my first 2 doses I did get a few heart flutters with I think was due to being anxious as they went away when I calmed myself. Did anyone have heart flutters... View more

Hi all, haven’t posted in awhile. Getting my booster today and feeling nervous. I was ok with my first 2 doses I did get a few heart flutters with I think was due to being anxious as they went away when I calmed myself. Did anyone have heart flutters after getting vaccinated? I think that’s why I’m so nervous I know it’s only temporary with the side effects but I just dread it. Any tips on how to calm down and try and not think about it

redandblue Loneliness despite close family and friends
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I find it very difficult to connect with people on a personal level, including with my wife and family. I constantly feel lonely even when socialising. I have been seeking treatment for this and other issues but most recently my loneliness ha... View more

Hi all, I find it very difficult to connect with people on a personal level, including with my wife and family. I constantly feel lonely even when socialising. I have been seeking treatment for this and other issues but most recently my loneliness has been at its peak. I often find myself on forums to find stories from people in my same situation as it helps me feel connected that I’m not the only one who feels lonely despite being around family and friends. Im wondering what others have done in this situation when loneliness and a lack of connection with people gets you down? thanks for reading