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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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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

mcshmurt Declined a job offer and now I feel like a time waster
  • replies: 3

Hello! I'm not sure if I should be posting this here or in another category. Today I declined a job offer as the salary was below what I was willing to accept as a minimum offer. I was very polite about it and explained my reasoning and thanked them ... View more

Hello! I'm not sure if I should be posting this here or in another category. Today I declined a job offer as the salary was below what I was willing to accept as a minimum offer. I was very polite about it and explained my reasoning and thanked them for the opportunity to apply. While the hiring manager was also polite I did feel like absolute crap when he said that it would have been helpful for him to know that I wasn't as flexible with my salary expectations as I'd expressed in the interview. While it doesn't seem like it should be a big deal, I do agree with him that I should have been more honest. I am already feeling really upset at myself about it because I feel as though I came across to him as a time waster and not actually serious about the job. I think my problem was that in the initial interview when I gave my salary expectations I knew what I was seeking but I was trying to be a people-pleaser and giving a lower range in the hopes I'd be hired, but then he offered even lower than that. I know I shouldn't be beating myself up about this because I hadn't even received the formal offer yet and I know there were plenty of other candidates to select from, but I just can't help but take those words he said to heart and feel like a dishonest time waster. I feel an overwhelming urge to call him up and apologise over and over again and express how great an opportunity the job is. But then, that's the people-pleaser coming out of me again. Please, if anyone could provide their perspective and/or tips on how to handle this I'd be so grateful! Thank you

MainlyG Tight hips and body (anxiety)
  • replies: 3

Hi all. 39male here. Only my 2nd post. Have many had really tight hips from anxiety? I feel I may have anxiety and will tell GP in weeks ahead. Signs are... -worrying about things (never used to) -stress -tight hips -always tired -feel pretty weak -b... View more

Hi all. 39male here. Only my 2nd post. Have many had really tight hips from anxiety? I feel I may have anxiety and will tell GP in weeks ahead. Signs are... -worrying about things (never used to) -stress -tight hips -always tired -feel pretty weak -by 5pm I'm cooked (even on days I don't work) In saying that I have had a pretty big 6 months but I have been relaxing-mindfullness etc. I must admit the 2 glasses of red at 6pm really does loosen my body up so I'm going to continue that. but back to my original question, have people experienced ridiculously tight hips with anxiety? I'm seeing a physio weekly but obviously he doesn't talk about anxiety. He does say they are so tight.

jonjr short story " to disappear"
  • replies: 3

I would like to share some of my stories about my struggle. I wright them during real moments as a snap shot, I have to edit them into stories as often they can be just a jumble of words or nonsense sentences i scribble down at a point in a journey. ... View more

I would like to share some of my stories about my struggle. I wright them during real moments as a snap shot, I have to edit them into stories as often they can be just a jumble of words or nonsense sentences i scribble down at a point in a journey. i hope you like them To disappear Its 3 o'clock I am up and sleep is not on my mind, theirs nothing to do theirs no one to talk to. I make some tea to try and distract myself for the feeling of collapse that my mind is in. No where to go ,no doors I can open, I feel trapped. The nurses stare from the glass station pretending to be occupied by work but I feel the glancing looks from behind the screens. No where to hide I am in constant line of sight.. I begin to feel the wrath of my own mind as the speed of my thoughts quickens, repeating the same messages over and over. The feeling of something coming, the inevitable sense that I am not about to be me. Confusion, pain , in this moment I am not sure where I am. It takes a while for the surroundings to become some what normal and familiar. I am not where I was, theirs no cup of tea. The nurse is beside me calling my name , I hear her and try to focus on the voice. You disappeared for a while she says, the reality of what happened hits home. The evil triplet the strangest of the three Mr dissociative has had a play. The other two siblings anxiety and panic are still there, like they been freed from there estranged partner in crime they continue the offensive. I remember nothing from beginning to the end its like I had simply vanished Its not a new thing to me nor is it surprising but it is terrifying and totally un welcome. Over the years I have learned It can not drive, it does not know left from right, stairs seem troublesome. I still wonder what it is like though, do I talk , can I run or jump, so many things without answers. I stand up and make my way back to my tea ,its gone cold. 4 o'clock that is 1 hour I have lost for ever, it has simply disappeared.

Hitchcock Share House Anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I've been sharing a house with a couple (James, Sarah) for the last 18 months and it's presenting a few difficulties and contributing to anxious feelings: I hope it's appropriate for me to collect some of my frustrations here in the hope for ... View more

Hi all, I've been sharing a house with a couple (James, Sarah) for the last 18 months and it's presenting a few difficulties and contributing to anxious feelings: I hope it's appropriate for me to collect some of my frustrations here in the hope for some advice. I had known James for 8 months prior but had never met his partner Sarah. James and I got along relatively well as colleagues and coincidentally were both forced into a quick exit from our previous living situations and felt it would be appropriate to move in together. We had a few interests in common, so we figured it could work. Sarah is a self confessed introvert - we have nothing in common and struggle immensely to strike any sort of rapport unless there are a few beers involved. If we're in the communal area, at most it's a "Hey, how are you? Good" and that only stems from me initiating the conversation, otherwise she will pass by like I don't exist. If I enter and they're present, she will almost instantly leave, allowing James and I to have a slight amount of chit-chat that more often than not feels forced (for the sake of us knowing each other prior. He isn't a brilliant conversationalist also) before he leaves. I love my downtime, but I guess I'm also relatively extroverted. I feel I often need to speak to break the tension within the room just to feel like there is even a small sense of community. I try to strike subjects that I know they're both interested in, even if I'm not as well versed to try and lay some foundation in the hope that the next day might not be as difficult. You can literally cut the tension most days like butter. When I eventually burn out and can't be bothered trying and want to ignore them myself, I'm the worst person ever however. I don't want to be best friends but I feel perhaps a little bit of effort on both of their behalves would go a long way in making the house a little more enjoyable. I respect their space when cooking and will join the kitchen from my room once they've sat down to watch some television, but more often than not find I'm locking myself away in my room just to avoid the uncomfortable situation that inevitably awaits me. This is an ongoing thing during lockdown and its starting to affect my mental health hugely. Constant stress and anxiety; avoid them - feel bad, try to help, feel worse. It's a really uncomfortable environment. Apologies if this is a ramble, any thoughts or experience with this is greatly appreciated. Thanks kindly.

Fiatlux Easter Anxiety
  • replies: 4

I know many of you will understand the anxiety of holidays and family gatherings. I have absolutely hated them. My abusive husband would give me a stern warning even before we got in the car to go anywhere that I had better be good or else… Strangely... View more

I know many of you will understand the anxiety of holidays and family gatherings. I have absolutely hated them. My abusive husband would give me a stern warning even before we got in the car to go anywhere that I had better be good or else… Strangely he remembers family gatherings as fun. Even my children remember him menacing me in the car as they got older. He would make all celebrations about him. Christmas we tried a small family gathering, just 4 of us and this he had to ruin by telling awful untrue stories of me from 25 years ago. I spent the next few days crying. I want to see my sons if for no other reason than to give them an Easter egg, but I have yet to contact them to try to arrange a catch-up. I absolutely hate Easter