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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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EmeraldALT114 [HELP] just got kicked out, i have one week until I have to leave, what now?
  • replies: 5

Just got into a huge argument with my mum and she now wants me out of the house, if she really does mean it, I have been offered to stay at my cousins place for a while which is good until I find out what I'm doing. I'm only 18 years old so what do I... View more

Just got into a huge argument with my mum and she now wants me out of the house, if she really does mean it, I have been offered to stay at my cousins place for a while which is good until I find out what I'm doing. I'm only 18 years old so what do I do? I don't want to live life struggling, I want to make something of myself but also enjoy my years ahead of me, not struggling and being scared of where to go. I live in australia, victoria. Welcome to ask any questions, would really love some advice or tips xx.

Doberman38 Taiwan
  • replies: 4

While I have managed to reduce my anxiety concerning the whole Ukraine conflict, there is another brewing conflict which is starting to worry me even more: the China-Taiwan situation. A lot of analysts seem to think that China is going to try and inv... View more

While I have managed to reduce my anxiety concerning the whole Ukraine conflict, there is another brewing conflict which is starting to worry me even more: the China-Taiwan situation. A lot of analysts seem to think that China is going to try and invade Taiwan at some point, and while that in itself would be a terrible tragedy there are three main reasons which are particularly fuelling my anxiety: the prospect of Australia being attacked or invaded, the consequences of American intervention on America, and the possibility of a nuclear crisis. The current Australian government has been very tough, at least in words, when it comes to China, sometimes very legitimately and sometimes very recklessly. I'm terrified that if Australia directly intervened we'd get hit with air raids, ballistic missiles or even invaded. As for American intervention, it looks increasingly likely to me, and I'm really worried (since I have a lot of online friends over there) that if it resulted in American territory getting directly attacked or an economic collapse it would result in a civil war and/or some sort of military or Neo-Nazi dictatorship. My third great fear is that if America intervened it could trigger a nuclear exchange, since both countries have them. I really hope the people who matter are sensible enough not to let it happen, but the possibility is enough to terrify me. These fears have been plaguing my mind, on and of, for half a year and when they come to the surface they really sap my enjoyment and optimism for the future.

Anicca Anxiety over West Gate Bridge
  • replies: 6

I have had debilitating anxiety about travellling over the West Gate Bridge for many years now. I used to be ok but then I began getting anxious if it was windy and thinks spiralled from there. I just googled this and found there are some old posts o... View more

I have had debilitating anxiety about travellling over the West Gate Bridge for many years now. I used to be ok but then I began getting anxious if it was windy and thinks spiralled from there. I just googled this and found there are some old posts on BB. I am so glad I am not alone. I recently read that Anthony Field, the Blue Wiggle, had a panic attack and stopped his car on the bridge. I was so close to this the last time I drove across it!! For some reason I thought it was just me and felt foolish that I haven’t been able to overcome it. I am going on a trip where I could use the bridge but I use another route that takes the same amount of time. I have GAD and have been able to overcome other fears but I don’t want to put myself through that anxiety again. I was ok with someone else driving but I won’t even do that now. It is such a relief to hear that other people do have the same fear that I do. Today I was able to tell someone that I am not the only one!! It legitimises it somehow. I just hope this post helps another person. Best wishes, Anicca

Missy1807 My brain makes up worst case senarios
  • replies: 17

Hello I'm very new to this page but it's getting to a point where it's getting to much. I suffer from quite bad anxiety and ocd most of the time I can keep it at bay and use the tools my psychologist gave me but some time I can't control it. My thoug... View more

Hello I'm very new to this page but it's getting to a point where it's getting to much. I suffer from quite bad anxiety and ocd most of the time I can keep it at bay and use the tools my psychologist gave me but some time I can't control it. My thoughts get so real and worst case senarios I can't stop over thinking. For eg I got into a verbal altercation over the weekend with someone and now my thoughts are I am going to be arrested for assult. Now I know it never happened but tue thoughts don't stop and I get so anxious and nervous and over think everything. These episodes usually only happen once a month but recently it has been weekly. Really stupid things cause it and I can't shake it untill the stressor goes away which could be days. Does anyone else have this type of thing or any ideas when it's at it's peak to make it stop? I'm exhausted

CourtneyJ Travel anxiety
  • replies: 6

GAD sufferer here. I'm going on vacation for a week tomorrow. It's a 2hr drive from my house in a nice hotel I've been to before. I've been looking forward to this break. Last year I tried to go on holiday to the same place. On the drive there I had ... View more

GAD sufferer here. I'm going on vacation for a week tomorrow. It's a 2hr drive from my house in a nice hotel I've been to before. I've been looking forward to this break. Last year I tried to go on holiday to the same place. On the drive there I had a panic attack and had to pull over. In the end I had my parents pick me up and drive me home. I didn't end up going on holiday. It's the night before and the anxiety is starting to kick into overdrive. I know my first night anywhere is new is terrifying. I'm going to be honest I usually have to self medicate with alcohol to get through it. Then after that it's usually fine. Here's just some of the things I'm worrying about: - a storm hitting my house causing damage - an electrical outlet sparking a fire in my house - forgetting to turn something off which will cause a fire - having another panic attack on the highway and trying to find somewhere to pull over safely - something falling off my car while driving at high speed (it's happened before) - getting to the hotel at all. Chickening out halfway there and turning back like an idiot - getting to the hotel and spending the first night along in deathly silence Also I don't have the option of having someone come with me. But I am having coffee with a friend before I leave so I'm hoping that that'll create some positive feelings. I also have my best friend on standby to call or text me if I need someone to talk to. I know most (if not all) of these are irrational fears that I can physically mitigate. I also know that confronting fear head on is the only way to conquer it. I don't know what I'm asking here. I guess I hope that writing it down will take some of the power away from my anxiety?? I don't know.

Lyss123 Anxiety about the Future
  • replies: 5

Hello everyone im new here so I hope eveyone is having a good day. So I’ve been struggling with relationship anxiety for a few weeks now. I keep worrying about our future and worrying that something bad will happen. I can’t shake this thought and I’m... View more

Hello everyone im new here so I hope eveyone is having a good day. So I’ve been struggling with relationship anxiety for a few weeks now. I keep worrying about our future and worrying that something bad will happen. I can’t shake this thought and I’m losing sleep over it. My boyfriend is very supportive of my mental health and takes the time to listen and support me as much as he can I guess I’m reaching out to see if anyone else suffers from relationship anxiety and anxiety about the future and have any tips or strategies that can help me and maybe some other people out Have a great day everyone:)

AnonymousPencil How to go about getting stress leave?
  • replies: 4

In my current position I've had extreme burnout, and my anxiety has gone through the roof. I've already handed in my 30 days notice, and I feel as though my boss is being slightly vindictive in asking me to take on lots of work in the lead up to me f... View more

In my current position I've had extreme burnout, and my anxiety has gone through the roof. I've already handed in my 30 days notice, and I feel as though my boss is being slightly vindictive in asking me to take on lots of work in the lead up to me finishing. I was meant to be cutting down to 3 days a week prior to resigning, and now they're asking me to work across multiple weekends and attend the office (I work from home). I think they feel I'm being lazy, but I'm at the point where I'm just trying to survive. Counting down the days until I finish so I can take some time to look after my mental health and the consequences of the job being overworked and chaotic. I want to fulfil as much as I can before I leave, but is it possible to get a note from a doctor advising my boss that due to current stress levels I need to minimise the amount of time I am working? Or alternatively, just get a doctors certificate to take some stress leave? (Unsure if this is possible in a notice period before resigning) Thank you!

Dan172 First time anxiety at 43
  • replies: 3

G'day beautiful people. I just wanted to see if anyone else has/had something similar to myself. 5 weeks ago contracted covid, 5 days later I got shortness of breath and its still lingering but 90% better, I didn't go to hospital but I wanted to a fe... View more

G'day beautiful people. I just wanted to see if anyone else has/had something similar to myself. 5 weeks ago contracted covid, 5 days later I got shortness of breath and its still lingering but 90% better, I didn't go to hospital but I wanted to a few times, I did go to a respiratory clinic a couple of times and they said I'm doing fine. About 3 weeks after my shortness of breath started (and it was still a struggle), I had dinner, all of a sudden like a light switch had been flicked I got this overwhelming feeling of what I guess now was anxiety, never experienced it before so it was scary, I had funny silly thoughts that lasted 3 days. 2 weeks on my mind and thoughts are pretty good, however I get jitters and sinking feelings most of the time, unless I'm distracted. I feel my head listens to my body's feelings which keeps me thinking about the anxiety, if my body wasn't releasing stress hormones I would be as I was post covid infection. All this was at the the time the war started, and during the floods, I'm a pretty sensitive caring and relaxed kinda dude but never had anxiety, major stress, traumatic events, depression or the like, which I feel blessed for, my heart and feelings are with all of you that have though. My question is, is this a temporary covid thing? What can I do to stop the body's anxiety symptoms? Cheers all.

AUSb Health Anxiety - Relapsed Fears
  • replies: 4

For the last 18 months I have had increasingly worsening health anxiety ranging from pains in my chest causing ER visits thinking I’d had a heart attack to blurry vision causing optometrist visits because I thought I was going blind. Mid last year my... View more

For the last 18 months I have had increasingly worsening health anxiety ranging from pains in my chest causing ER visits thinking I’d had a heart attack to blurry vision causing optometrist visits because I thought I was going blind. Mid last year my GP put me in touch with a mental health counsellor and I spoke to him up until early this year about different cognitive behavioural therapy methods that he thought could help me. CBT didn’t work for me but talking helped and things eventually started to get better by themselves around Christmas and as such I stopped seeing the counsellor. One of the main fears I had struggled with a lot last year was of airborne carcinogens, I had an incident at work that involved me spraying roundup without the correct PPE and it caused me a great deal of stress and crippled my ability to function for weeks. Looking back on it now I know that it is extremely unlikely to have caused any issues as it’s only prolonged constant exposure to roundup that poses serious health risks and people spray it in their backyards etc without masks everyday, never the less at the time I was petrified and still go through spurts of worrying about it. Recently I have accepted a new job and am due to start soon, the new job will require I move an hour from home to my girlfriends house. As the move has gotten closer and closer I have begun to have worries, predominately again about airborne carcinogens and my partner's house. I am finding myself in the same position as I was with the roundup and am petrified of the house I am moving to containing asbestos, so much so that I have had a building inspector look and take samples to test for asbestos, which he indicated there most likely is. We are waiting to see what comes back from the tests but I don’t know what I’m going to do if they are positive. I know that thinking rationally asbestos isn’t an issue unless disturbed or prolonged exposure but I still find myself worrying and falling down the rabbit hole. I don’t know what to do in this situation - I can’t give up on this job as it’s one I’ve always wanted and I can’t let health anxiety control my life or impact my ability to function, but I’m also worried about what will happen to my mental health if the asbestos tests are positive and I have to live in such close proximity to something that I am so afraid of.

Notmyfirstrodeo Seriously anxious about my partner’s health
  • replies: 6

My husband has a couple of chronic health conditions that could become life threatening in the long term (although don’t for many people) that I am struggling to cope with. He is actually doing fine! Some annoying symptoms, but in good spirits and fe... View more

My husband has a couple of chronic health conditions that could become life threatening in the long term (although don’t for many people) that I am struggling to cope with. He is actually doing fine! Some annoying symptoms, but in good spirits and feeling generally well. My trouble is I have a history of going off on these debilitating anxiety spirals that last for a month or so before they dissipate. My last one was in December/January, which I had just gotten over, but the last 3 days have been bad and I’m so scared it’s the start of another long haul. I cry frequently. I take a medication, but I’m already on twice my usual dose (was put up in my last episode). I just can’t seem to stop fixating on the worst possible outcomes and what it will mean for my family (we’ve got three kids). I’m afraid I won’t cope, that the fear will be unbearable and my kids will suffer. I know it’s crazy to be making myself miserable right now by thinking I won’t cope with something that may not happen or might be a long time at down the track, but once I get started I find it so hard to step off the loop. Dr Google is my worst enemy, but I do it compulsively! I have done CBT last year and I use the beyond blue helplines. How do you deal with obsessive negative thoughts? Any ideas on how I can stop the behaviours (like googling) that just make it worse for me?