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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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Coconutblue Thought I had my Anxiety under control
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, Back in 2019 I had my first introduction to the good old panic attack!!! Nothing in my life at the time was really all that bad, I had a chest infection and was treated with antibiotics. While completing the course I thought I better sto... View more

Hi everyone, Back in 2019 I had my first introduction to the good old panic attack!!! Nothing in my life at the time was really all that bad, I had a chest infection and was treated with antibiotics. While completing the course I thought I better stop drinking wine so the effectiveness worked better. This made me realise I was in fact self medicating with alcohol and have never felt worse...... up until last week where I was at work picking up a parcel from our mailroom and BANG, I instantly felt dizzy, sick, sweaty and shaky. I had had lunch and drink a fair amount of water. Dr ruled out medical issues from blood tests and had an ultrasound on my upper abdo. As I had been experiencing contraction like pain a few times. She has up'd my medication which Im happy to try and see if that makes a difference but I also feel deep down I know my own body and dont feel like something is 100% quite right. Has anyone else experienced a period of 2 or so years with no panic or severe anxiety for it to just pop back out of the blue? I feel like im going mad not knowing whats gotten me feeling these physical symptoms. sorry for the long post and thank you in advance

RedRocket My thoughts on anxiety
  • replies: 5

Like many people, I find myself struggling with my own mental health as of recent. I have been trying to self rationalise why that is the case, what lead me here and how its become what it is. Lifestyle changes, Covid lockdowns, amongst other factors... View more

Like many people, I find myself struggling with my own mental health as of recent. I have been trying to self rationalise why that is the case, what lead me here and how its become what it is. Lifestyle changes, Covid lockdowns, amongst other factors no doubt, are all relevant to the question. How do you describe it? Is it a feeling, a thought, an emotion, or a collection of all three? I find it best described as almost like being out of equilibrium with your baseline sense of feeling. Needlessly feeling an impending sense of distress or dread, that ebbs and flows, and at times can spiral, no matter how much you want to fight it. Why? That's the million dollar question, there's no observable, or logical reason, it just is. Ordinarily this could be self managed I believe, however the physical symptoms and frequency are what make it harder to manage from someone untrained to deal with their own mental discomfort. The chest tightness, the trembling limbs, sensations of tingling, intermittent hot flashes, and de-realisation, which I'm sure you have all been there, or felt something similar. The worry of when they will come next, will they come when you are at work? Will they jeopardies your relationships? Will they never stop coming? And the worry spirals. Oh and don't forget the impending sense of the heart attack, which no matter how many times you go through it, never comes, thankfully haha. Funny that, it never comes, yet you feel the same way each time, well at least you know what it isn't for next time! As an individual with no history of mental health issues, or significant clinical triggers, it has taken me by surprise. "It wont be me, I've always been stronger than that, I have mental resilience" That's what you tell yourself at first, and then you finally come to the realisation it never mattered, how "strong" you perceived yourself, mental health is not something you can brute force or totally prevent. You can only mitigate it, as best as you understand how. Ultimately this realisation has led to me to search for answers, self diagnosis is never the right option, as such seeking out a professional is going to be the next step. The most frustrating part, funnily enough, is not that likelihood of having some form of mental health issue, but that not knowing what it is, or why it is, only what it might be. I believe some sense of catharsis will come from identifying it clinically. Thanks for taking the time to read this, we're all gonna make it!

Justin95 Life of hope
  • replies: 3

Just read about a book about reincarnation. I get Anxiety just thinking about it, what if I become a Chicken or a Fish when i perish. Such thoughts torment me. What if I did bad things in my lifetime and have to suffer for it in the Afterlife. Life i... View more

Just read about a book about reincarnation. I get Anxiety just thinking about it, what if I become a Chicken or a Fish when i perish. Such thoughts torment me. What if I did bad things in my lifetime and have to suffer for it in the Afterlife. Life is so short we don’t know what comes after. I hope the people that made fun of me would be reincarnated into a caged chiken. What are your thoughts about reincarnation.

Darthrivia Working with anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hello everyone, I have never posted in here before. So hey! I wanted to bring up working with anxiety & depression. I’ve been diagnosed with both and it’s ruining my career. Well, the last two jobs I’ve had I personally hate and it’s not for me natur... View more

Hello everyone, I have never posted in here before. So hey! I wanted to bring up working with anxiety & depression. I’ve been diagnosed with both and it’s ruining my career. Well, the last two jobs I’ve had I personally hate and it’s not for me naturally which of course triggers my anxiety and then I just don’t want to go because my brain is like “oh just stay home then!” Instantly I feel better I’m at home in my comfort zone with my pets and my gaming and then the guilt sets in that I’ve lost income and my amazing supportive partner is busting his ass off at work. I started this job back in April and I’ve had more days off then days I’ve actually been there. I just called in for the rest of the week which is a pathetic 3 days that I can’t even bring myself to go to. I know I need to find something in my field I’ll enjoy. I got a possible opportunity in the gaming/IT sector which I think will be great for me. It’s just very hard to get into without experience. And studying costs a lot and I’ve made that hard on myself by not working much. Sorry for rambling and I hope that made sense. Does this happen for anyone else here? The never wanting to go to work? Always calling in sick? Looking forward to hearing everyone’s stories and opinions. Thanks for taking the time to read

Anon111 Severe Anxiety from friendship betrayal
  • replies: 7

Hello all, I’m new here and just needing some support after trying to book in to see someone but there is nothing available I’m struggling with sever anxiety after my best friend/roommate/business partner betrayed me. It’s a long story but it hurts a... View more

Hello all, I’m new here and just needing some support after trying to book in to see someone but there is nothing available I’m struggling with sever anxiety after my best friend/roommate/business partner betrayed me. It’s a long story but it hurts a lot. I told her everything I was feeling when I found out, she took it on board and actually took some accountability and promised to change - even seeking professional help. I feel like I was so happy about her wanting to changed that I pushed all my pain down so I could focus on her. This was a couple of weeks ago and now all the betrayal trauma is resurfacing and I just don’t know how to cope. I’ve been struggling to sleep, eat and focus. I had adhd as well which already doesn’t help with these things. I was having a mental breakdown at work the other day and I messaged her and told her how I was really struggling and her reply just seemed fake and ingenuine. She hasn’t asked me how I am doing once, it’s like she’s forgotten what she did and doesn’t seem to see the impact it’s had on me. I somehow feel like I’m the one walking on egg shells, worried that every thing I say or do is going to annoy her. I feel like she thinks I’m weak for showing emotions so I just have to keep them inside until I just can’t anymore. I can feel her passiveness and I hate it, I overthink enough as it is and it’s just unfair that I’m the one who has to feel like this when she wronged me We had just started a business together months before I found out about the betrayal, and I just don’t want to throw away all the work I’ve put into it. We also have a lease together, and our lives are just so intertwined so I really wanna make this work but I dont know how. Im just left feeling anxious, angry and trapped. Does anyone have any tips on dealing with betrayal trauma and the severe anxiety it brings? thank you so much ☺️

Hello_you Workplace pressures
  • replies: 4

Hello just needed somewhere to express. I recently had a workplace altercations with a colleague. I’ve never been spoken to rudely like it before in a workplace and it has really hurt. I just couldn’t hold back my tears and spent the day crying, many... View more

Hello just needed somewhere to express. I recently had a workplace altercations with a colleague. I’ve never been spoken to rudely like it before in a workplace and it has really hurt. I just couldn’t hold back my tears and spent the day crying, many people saw me including senior people. I feel so embarrassed and now questioning the whole scenario and just can’t stop thinking about it. I have to go to work tomorrow and just feeling so anxious about going and worried what everyone is thinking. I’m really worried it has affected my chances of gaining ongoing appointment. I just feel so embarrassed and up to standard of everyone else

BballJ Anxiety and worry
  • replies: 3

Hi all, Been a long time since I have posted on here - over 2 years to be exact. Hope everyone is well as we know how much the world has changed in 2 years. I wanted to log back in and ask a question regarding anxiety and symptoms. Specifically this ... View more

Hi all, Been a long time since I have posted on here - over 2 years to be exact. Hope everyone is well as we know how much the world has changed in 2 years. I wanted to log back in and ask a question regarding anxiety and symptoms. Specifically this - do you find if you are worried about something health related, your anxiety almost makes your symptoms worse, as if they are always there niggling you cause your mind is always focused on it. You work or talk to friends or do something that may distract you but in the back of your mind the symptoms you are worried about are nagging at you? Just curious if anxiety can make symptoms worse. Hope everyone is doing well. My best, Jay

Daydream Running out of options
  • replies: 3

Long term (20yrs) anxiety and depression but treatment resistant. Ive tried everything.. all kinds of med and med cocktails. Some played havoc with appetite and weight . Course of TMS didnt work. The anxiety is worse than ever atm ! Can barely functi... View more

Long term (20yrs) anxiety and depression but treatment resistant. Ive tried everything.. all kinds of med and med cocktails. Some played havoc with appetite and weight . Course of TMS didnt work. The anxiety is worse than ever atm ! Can barely function. What next???

RoadToRecovery1001 Destroying my life
  • replies: 5

I'm currently sitting here reeling over my decision from yesterday. I was all set to start a new and exciting role in a great company but became overwhelmed with fear, insecurity and self-doubt and backed out at the last moment. I worked so hard to g... View more

I'm currently sitting here reeling over my decision from yesterday. I was all set to start a new and exciting role in a great company but became overwhelmed with fear, insecurity and self-doubt and backed out at the last moment. I worked so hard to get to the point of being offered the role too. I interviewed long and hard over several months for what I thought was the perfect role. Now I've resigned from my old job and have no new job to go to. This isn't a reversible decision either. I was a good performer in my old role but didn't get along with my manager and certainly can’t go back there. I’ve disappointed my new employer, my family and most importantly myself. I see so much wasted potential when I look at mysel. A degree that I squandered because I acted to late, failed relationships and failure to develop into the person I want to be. I'm in my early 30's now and am changing jobs every couple of years. I have no clear goals, no direction and am just drifting around aimlessly. I'm currently alone and have no one to talk to. I'm genuinely terrified that I have destroyed my life. I feel so upset. I can’t get a grip on my extreme anxiety around change and keep self-sabotaging myself. I have completely missed the boat of life’s opportunities. Career, marriage, friendships are all rapidly disappearing from me.

2teray Lonely
  • replies: 4

Hi I had somehow made myself the one everyone was comfortable with the one who everyone knew would care support comfort & do all that they could to help. But being “the one” made me somehow a thing & not really a person. I would try to be heard but I... View more

Hi I had somehow made myself the one everyone was comfortable with the one who everyone knew would care support comfort & do all that they could to help. But being “the one” made me somehow a thing & not really a person. I would try to be heard but I was met with rolling eyes sighs & sometimes yelling because I wasn’t considering their feelings. I would even try to point out that I am only asking to be considered as well but me trying to ask for consideration & respect never went well unfortunately I wasn’t taken seriously I was labeled as moody & cut off until they had something else to share or get off their chest & I would instantly be “the one” again as if nothing ever happened I started changing with family friends & work this was difficult cos people who had labeled me “the caring one” they would come to me & unfortunately the label was accurate I do care, too much if I’m honest. I have seen psychiatrists psychologists & counsellors but found no help with my biggest issue “caring too much” I wanted help to stop caring I wanted to learn how to be more like others I had witnessed my whole life starting with my parents & older brother I guess I learned how not to be from a very young age. I truly believed that treating others how you would like to be treated that they would pay it forward but not towards me however I have always received appreciation & compliments for the way I am but I see it as a curse not a good thing at all. I tried treating others how I am treated by them, & I was tossed aside again. I eventually became agoraphobic I rarely leave my house - I am in treatment because I am very much a believer of “well it can’t be everyone else” nice people are what I am terrified of most because it’s been my lifelong experience that they use me & end up treating me really badly. I know it’s my fault I set it up every time by showing kindness & compassion & forgiveness (like you’re supposed to) but unfortunately no one learns to be decent towards me - Im lonely but scared to death to open myself up to others when my own family members have written me off as moody changed or simply as “unrespectable” My partner disrespects me he admits he needs to treat me better but he’s as selfish as they come. I don’t understand it - get nice? be nice, not hard. sadly Ive found no one learns from treating others how you would like to be treated & as for treating others how they treat you that teaches nothing either it just makes you lonely