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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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BM_John Exam help
  • replies: 4

is there anyone who can help to manage the exam stress? I am about to finish my studies and so much stress in my head. Can't focus and do the studies for the exam.

is there anyone who can help to manage the exam stress? I am about to finish my studies and so much stress in my head. Can't focus and do the studies for the exam.

LittleBlueWren Self esteem and anxieties
  • replies: 3

Hey all, I'm new to this and don't know much about threads. Just wanted to see how others have felt and dealt with self esteem issues. Long and the short of it, I am engaged and about to buy a house with my fiance. We have a long history. Like realll... View more

Hey all, I'm new to this and don't know much about threads. Just wanted to see how others have felt and dealt with self esteem issues. Long and the short of it, I am engaged and about to buy a house with my fiance. We have a long history. Like realllly long history, dating back to school friends. We also had a long time apart but found ourselves reconnecting after solo travel etc. We moved interstate together. To start a life we had been dreaming of. I thought things were great! Apparently he may not have. I found out he was advertising himself on a dating site. Trying to meet women for a hook up. He didn't meet anyone and deleted the account but my anxiety is through the roof and now I am doubting everything and myself. Am i not good enough? What is missing? Why cant he come to me about this? Am i not who he wants? Just a safe option. Do we get married and continue to buy a house or not? Do I walk away? If so, where to? We moved 1500kms away and i know no one. He wants to move through it as do I but how do i feel better about myself when this has happened? How do we rebuilt us and how do i rebuild me? Helllppppp

DaffodilDarling I just got diagnosed with OCD
  • replies: 19

Hi everyone, I'm always a little nervous to post in these forums and haven't done so often so please bear with me. This week I received confirmation of what I had been suspecting for a few months-- I have OCD, 'Pure O' to be exact. I was expecting to... View more

Hi everyone, I'm always a little nervous to post in these forums and haven't done so often so please bear with me. This week I received confirmation of what I had been suspecting for a few months-- I have OCD, 'Pure O' to be exact. I was expecting to feel relieved once I got this diagnosis, because I thought that once I knew what was going on, I could start working towards feeling better. But instead I felt the opposite? It kind of felt like this huge weight on my shoulders, like a big heavy label on my forehead that meant things would never be the same again, and I'd always be carrying the weight of my OCD with me. Did anyone else feel this way at first? I have great support from my family, but I'm struggling to explain it all to my partner. How do you tell someone about the awful, horrible, intrusive thoughts in your head without them looking at you differently? These thoughts go so against who I am and what I stand for as a person, that it's just so hard and embarrassing and terrible to explain. Any advice or words of wisdom would be so appreciated! Daffodil x

44Max44 Health Anxiety coming back (I guess it never went away?), feel like I'm a burden to my doctors, can't get a psychologist/psychiatrist booking
  • replies: 4

I thought I had my health anxiety under control, but over the past month I've gone into the doctors maybe 10 or so times for various reasons, and honestly, if I could go in everyday, I would. It all started up again around a month ago when I felt a s... View more

I thought I had my health anxiety under control, but over the past month I've gone into the doctors maybe 10 or so times for various reasons, and honestly, if I could go in everyday, I would. It all started up again around a month ago when I felt a small bump on the inside of my mouth, since then I've been to 3 different doctors to get it checked and all 3 of them said it was nothing to be concerned about, but I kept saying to myself "They didn't have a proper look at it. They aren't taking me seriously because they see my medical record and see that I came into the doctors a lot before for no good reason. They just think I'm imagining it again". On one hand I don't want to waste the time of these doctors if it is just my health anxiety acting up again and I'm just blowing it way out of proportion, but on the other hand I don't want to risk it if it is something serious and it goes undiagnosed. I just feel like I'm being a burden to them. I feel like every time they see me book an appointment they think "Oh boy, it's this guy again, what bs has he got for me this time?". I obviously need to see a mental health professional, but right now due to Covid (and even before Covid) every single psychiatrist/psychologist I tried to book with was booked out. It feels like a one step forward, two steps back type of thing. I finally get the motivation to better myself and work on my mental health issues, find a psychiatrist/psychologist, call them up, and get the same 'Sorry, we're at capacity' response and it throws me right back to where I started and I lose all motivation again. I don't know what to do at this point. I don't want to keep going to see the doctors if it's unnecessary to do so, but I also don't want to just go 'you're just imagining it, don't worry' and then possibly have something go undiagnosed because of it. How can I see a psychologist or psychiatrist (psychologist to deal with my health anxiety, psychiatrist to get what I suspect to be ADHD diagnosed) if they're always fully booked? I feel like at this rate I'll never get to see one. Thanks if you've read this far. I appreciate you.

Russian_Red_Foxx Freaking out because I can't find a job
  • replies: 2

I have nowhere to go. I have been looking for a job for ages because I'm broke but nobody is hiring me, probably because I am too idiotic. I'm not at risk of homelessness or anything (I live with my parents), I just feel that I may never secure any w... View more

I have nowhere to go. I have been looking for a job for ages because I'm broke but nobody is hiring me, probably because I am too idiotic. I'm not at risk of homelessness or anything (I live with my parents), I just feel that I may never secure any work since any applications that I submit are ignored or denied. There's also the fact that nobody wants to hire somebody who is autistic (such as myself). I'm just stuck and freaking out because I don't know what to do.

Glenncoco88 Headache
  • replies: 4

For the last few days I have been suffering headaches on and off. Is this something anyone else suffers while having anxiety? This is new for me and just curious

For the last few days I have been suffering headaches on and off. Is this something anyone else suffers while having anxiety? This is new for me and just curious

PolyVacuum Feeling bad more often and don’t trust my instincts
  • replies: 3

I’ve recently broken up with my girlfriend and trying to meet people on dating apps. I noticed that after I matched with someone, if I really liked their profile, I would start feeling anxious and worried that I would say the wrong thing and get reje... View more

I’ve recently broken up with my girlfriend and trying to meet people on dating apps. I noticed that after I matched with someone, if I really liked their profile, I would start feeling anxious and worried that I would say the wrong thing and get rejected. A friend of mine suggested that I should try and seek the fear of rejection feeling as shying away from feeling bad means that I will tend to avoid things that make me feel bad even if they are good for me. I’m trying to apply this approach to other areas of my life when something bad happens to not shy away from feeling bad and sitting in the feeling. I feel like I might have a lot of instinctual defensive mechanisms that stop me from feeling bad (e.g. rationalising things or telling myself I don’t feel bad) and as a result have less faith in my instinctual responses. I’m feeling bad more often and feel more lost when I’m feeling bad. I don’t really know if I have a question but thought it might be helpful to post here and see if anyone had anything they wanted to share. Thanks in advance.

Jarred28 Cant handle it anymore
  • replies: 3

I cant stop shaking and panicking constantly. On the verge of panic attacks constantly. Ive had them before in the past. Been having a lot of trouble sleeping. I went and visited a doctor and they said they wont give me anything to sleep so i'm livin... View more

I cant stop shaking and panicking constantly. On the verge of panic attacks constantly. Ive had them before in the past. Been having a lot of trouble sleeping. I went and visited a doctor and they said they wont give me anything to sleep so i'm living off of 3 hours sleep every-night which is affecting my work and daily life in general. I feel so weak all the time. I know this is probably all just caused by anxiety but i'm honestly not sure whats causing it. Im booked in to see a psychiatrist and psychologist but not until the new year and i'm not sure how i'm going to last til then. If anyone has some advice or anything to help that would be appreciated, thanks

David_C1 Any experiences with medication or treatment for anxiety and panic attacks?
  • replies: 2

I have suffered for over nine months with terrible anxiety and panic attacks. I have had enough. I can't take much more. My friend says that I should go to my doctor and insist that he put me on a low dose of a medication such as benzodiazepine for l... View more

I have suffered for over nine months with terrible anxiety and panic attacks. I have had enough. I can't take much more. My friend says that I should go to my doctor and insist that he put me on a low dose of a medication such as benzodiazepine for long term treatment. I know these can be addictive but I need to have some sort of life. I have early onset Parkinson's so I'm worried for the future anyway. Anyone out there who would recommend this or another treatment? Waiting on your response. Cheers.

Avery_lam I’ve have had anxiety for 21 years now.
  • replies: 7

I’ve had my first anxiety attack when I was about 22. And now after 20 years, it’s so bad I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried seeing Psycologist over the years and also 2 psychiatrist. At the end of the day, I think I’ve tried a few different ways bu... View more

I’ve had my first anxiety attack when I was about 22. And now after 20 years, it’s so bad I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried seeing Psycologist over the years and also 2 psychiatrist. At the end of the day, I think I’ve tried a few different ways but anxiety keeps coming back and each time, stronger, harder and heavier. I basically have light attacks and once in a while, very heavy attacks. I avoid so many things and find safety nets all over the place just to prevent panic attacks. I’m now to the point that I can’t really travel further than up there road, and really afraid to be alone at home. I’ve come onto this website and this forum hoping that I can find a way out. Not only but seeking help, maybe my experience can help others prevent anxiety from getting to my level. I still have hope. I’m still a fighter, but it’s one tough battle. I hope someone out there may experience similar. May have over come this long battle or maybe I can also in return help and share my year though this disorder.