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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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Moonchild 11:11 Fearing the fear
  • replies: 3

I’ve recently begun having panic attacks I’m slowly learning to de escalate myself from them. I’d love some insight on fearing the fear or living in a state of apprehension as this is how I can best describe my anxiety at the moment. I think subconsc... View more

I’ve recently begun having panic attacks I’m slowly learning to de escalate myself from them. I’d love some insight on fearing the fear or living in a state of apprehension as this is how I can best describe my anxiety at the moment. I think subconsciously as I’m not always aware what I was thinking when it happens that I may be sort of stuck in this state of anticipation of something happening. My anxiety was centred mostly around the vaccine oddly it peaked after having it and I started fixating on the physical symptoms of what I assume is the anxiety… the scariest one for me being the heart palpitations and chest pains. I also experience muscle twitches and tensing and shooting pains all over my body. I’ve seen my dr and I have a psychologist appointment next week… I have had some tests and they have come back ok but I can’t shake the invasive thoughts that I have some underlying illness. I want to break free from these thoughts. I’m also finding places I’ve had the palpitations triggering. For example the bath or the shower.. I just got out of the shower and my heart was racing. I busied myself getting dressed etc and it continued I find going outside to sit helpful so I did that and it settled but each time it happens brings me back to the thought cycle. Is it really anxiety? Or do I have some awful heart condition? Any help would be greatly appreciated xx

EC123 Anxiety and Muscle Weakness/Shaking/Spasms
  • replies: 8

Hi all, I'm still fairly new here, but just need to explain what i'm feeling as i currently feel like i am going insane. I've had anxiety/OCD/health anxiety for most of my life, but recently this has escalated a lot. For the past few weeks, for most ... View more

Hi all, I'm still fairly new here, but just need to explain what i'm feeling as i currently feel like i am going insane. I've had anxiety/OCD/health anxiety for most of my life, but recently this has escalated a lot. For the past few weeks, for most days, i feel so incredibly weak and shaky in my arms and legs. When i stand they tremble, i get muscle spasms, i feel like i cannot hold myself up properly and this just sends me into a spiral. Of course i've googled and googled and googled and have made myself believe that i have every condition out there, but i just want to know if other people experience this? The weakness and trembling is particularly in my upper legs and forearms and tends to get bad when i go to bed and right before i fall asleep. I know anxiety can cause many physical sensations, but these are not letting up and i am so concerned. Please let me know if you have felt this way before! Super distressed Thank you!

AnxiousFriend Feeling crushed under the anxiety of large life decisions and alone in my experience. How can I cope and does anyone else struggle with this?
  • replies: 8

I've always had anxiety and I typically manage it fine through speaking to my counsellor when I need to. The past few years though I've noticed my anxiety become totally immense and all consuming when it comes time to make a large life decision. Rece... View more

I've always had anxiety and I typically manage it fine through speaking to my counsellor when I need to. The past few years though I've noticed my anxiety become totally immense and all consuming when it comes time to make a large life decision. Recently I was looking to buy a house with my partner. The house itself was fine but I wasn't in the best headspace leading up to the decision and so my partner was the one doing most of the heavy lifting. We had a few days to finalise our decision and I basically had a mental breakdown. I made myself sick, with constant fear and panic and inability to see light from dark. I had to say no to the house on the grounds of needing to get healthy again before I could make such an important decision. Since saying no I've been speaking to my counsellor regularly, and I've also started on Lexapro about 2 weeks ago, but my anxiety hasn't eased. It's become even more all consuming. I'm in a constant state of panic about my job (wondering if I'm not doing well enough), my relationship (wondering if I'm not meant to be with my partner), regret (about not buying a great property), or worrying that my experiences partying and using recreational drugs have ruined my brain and I'll never be normal again. The biggest one is the partner decision, it's hit my like a truck out of nowhere following the decision on whether to buy a house and I'm being snowed under by it. I'm putting off my work, I can't focus and I just want to feel normal again. I'll talk to my therapist only to feel terrible again the next morning. I desperately want my medication to start working but I'm also scared the emotional blunting will push me away from my partner who I really do love. My anxiety is the only emotion I've felt for about a month. I try to think rationally about my relationship but my anxiety is always the loudest voice in the room. I struggle to feel happiness or sadness or anything else. I'm considering seeing a clinical psychologist, and have been considering going into an inpatient program because right now I'm just not functioning. I guess I just wanted to understand if anyone else struggles like this? I asked my therapist if the extent of my anxiety is normal and he said for most patients no, but it is for some. I'm just a bit scared I'll never be able to make big decisions, and will sabotage things like my relationship and career.

Keeeks84 Corner of Struggle Street & Alone Avenue
  • replies: 7

Hi All, I'm new here. I ended up here after I google searched why my tongue was dry and apparently it's from anxiety - which makes sense because these days, my anxiety is through the roof. I live in Sydney and in one of the LGA's in lockdown. I am no... View more

Hi All, I'm new here. I ended up here after I google searched why my tongue was dry and apparently it's from anxiety - which makes sense because these days, my anxiety is through the roof. I live in Sydney and in one of the LGA's in lockdown. I am not allowed out of my LGA and I don't know anyone that lives within a 5km radius to join the singles bubble. All of my friends and family are in the other LGA's that are locked down. I live alone and I am so thankful that I still have a job and can work from home. I know alot of people are unable to which I couldn't imagine how hard that would be. On the weekend I had major anxiety. I've always struggled with it but last weekend was just ridiculous. I am struggling with not knowing how long we are going to be in this for. I understand the need for a lockdown, however, it doesn't seem to be improving anything. Not being able to see my family and friends really sucks. Before the complete lockdown, I was able to go to the office a few days a week which was great, because I had people there to talk to. I work for a great company and everyone that works there is like family. So not seeing them every day is hard. Obviously we talk on the phone but it's not the same. I worry every day that I have the stupid disease. Even though I've hardly left the house. The last time I went somewhere was last week when I had my first Pfizer vaccine. Since then I've had a negative test. I've stopped watching the 11am updates because it's too depressing and I've stopped going on facebook every 5 seconds. But even without that, you still can't avoid it. It's when the ads come on and they tell you how dangerous it is and that you should get vaccinated. There's no escape. My work has some agreement with councellors so I started with them. I need control over this. I've also emailed the Premier (lol) and NSW Health asking if I am able to move in with my Dad and sister for the duration of the lockdown due to my mental health. Just waiting on their response as I don't want to do it and then get in trouble. I'm a sucker for rules and I don't like to break them. I'm also grieving the loss of my Aunty who passed in May. I feel like i haven't had the chance to feel it. I spent a long time looking after her in her final months. It's hard to grieve when you can't see your family because you feel so alone. So that's me in a nutshell. I hope you're all keeping safe and soldiering on.

alayl What am I supposed to do?
  • replies: 2

I'm 23 and I haven't worked a day in my life. I have a lot of anxiety regarding job search and can never convince myself to actually apply for jobs even though its required through centrelink, and even if I did I am no way ready for a job interview. ... View more

I'm 23 and I haven't worked a day in my life. I have a lot of anxiety regarding job search and can never convince myself to actually apply for jobs even though its required through centrelink, and even if I did I am no way ready for a job interview. I don't feel capable and I don't feel good enough. Recently my job providers have decided i'm too difficult to work with and are less inclined to help me, which is how it went with my previous provider as well. So I feel stuck, have been for years. I've done some voluntary work, which was basically putting me on register and call anybody else to deal with the problems I faced. I don't feel like it taught me anything about how to work independently. I have no desire to work in any specific industry, I have no passion or anything. I spoke to my gp who decided I was neither anxious nor depressed despite being formally diagnosed with social anxiety. I have spoken to psychologists previously, several actually, I told them what I wanted out of my sessions and I ended up having anxiety explained to me, like i haven't seen several psychologists before who'd given me the same explanation. I know how it works and why it does what it does but that doesn't change that i'm still very much anxious. I don't have skills or anything desirable. I bailed out of TAFE because my anxiety and I suck at studying in general. I have absolutely nothing to offer. I don't even have a personality yet I still need to find work.

Bell87 Health anxiety running my life
  • replies: 23

Hi all, I haven’t posted in a long time but I’m really struggling with my health anxiety. So I recently got my jab and because I read up on the side effects eg myocarditis I’m completely freaking out that I’m going to get it. I got the needle yesterd... View more

Hi all, I haven’t posted in a long time but I’m really struggling with my health anxiety. So I recently got my jab and because I read up on the side effects eg myocarditis I’m completely freaking out that I’m going to get it. I got the needle yesterday and was anxious then I started thinking I have it as my chest felt funny. I went to sleep fine and thought if I do have it, it would stay and I would feel it all the time. I did read the stats and it is rare. Why do I do this to myself? I currently don’t see anyone or take any medication. I don’t like seeking help as I feel stupid when I go because I can’t control my emotions and just cry all the time. I just can’t bring myself to go and get the help I know I need.

Always_Anxious_ Health Anxiety & COVID Vaccine
  • replies: 12

Hello all, I am wondering if anyone is experiencing anything similar. I have always had severe health anxiety after one of my friend's passed away from bowel cancer. I can't shake the feeling that it could happen to me too. However, after receiving t... View more

Hello all, I am wondering if anyone is experiencing anything similar. I have always had severe health anxiety after one of my friend's passed away from bowel cancer. I can't shake the feeling that it could happen to me too. However, after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine (prior to it being put on hold) every twang or twitch I feel in my body I attribute to being a CSVT clot from the vaccine. I have been speaking to a psychologist about this, however, my anxiety has been getting worse and I am experiencing more physical symptoms of anxiety - the vicious cycle that it is. Does anyone have any coping strategies for a situation like this? Thanks in advance.

Moonchild 11:11 Anxiety without obvious triggers
  • replies: 6

I have recently started having some severe anxiety and panic attacks. The initial trigger for me was getting the vaccine.. I didn’t get sick physically however mentally It took its toll which came with a host of physical symptoms predominately palpit... View more

I have recently started having some severe anxiety and panic attacks. The initial trigger for me was getting the vaccine.. I didn’t get sick physically however mentally It took its toll which came with a host of physical symptoms predominately palpitations and chest pains, rib pains, muscle twitches and shooting pains etc. I have felt pretty good the last couple of days after panic attacks for a wk straight… I went a solid 3 days without palpitations, or overly noticeable pains. however the physical symptoms have returned last night… and I’m genuinely clueless as to why the relapse. I didn’t feel anxious at the time when the chest pains started. I practiced my tools, breath work etc and tried to go to sleep. No dice. There it was, that oh so noticeable heartbeat… I tried my best to get through it but ended up having to get up and take medication and wait for an hr before I was able to sleep. I am still learning a lot about anxiety but this is the part I don’t understand. I can correlate the physical symptoms when actually anxious or stressed but when it comes on for no apparent reason I’m stumped. I sat and cried last night because I felt so defeated. I’d been doing so well and was starting to feel normal and now I’m right back to where I started. I woke up this morning, palpitations as soon as I got up rather than sitting and dwelling I thought I would reach out to my fellow sufferers for some clarity. Is anyone able to explain this part to me? Why the anxiety without obvious triggers can occur? I would be most grateful for any info at this point. xx

Emilyll OCD & Hypochondria
  • replies: 12

Hi everyone, I have not been diagnosed with OCD or hypochondria but I feel like I do…(yet to see a therapist for this) For years, I’ve had 24/7 thoughts about my health and the health of loved ones. Especially the fear of my loved ones dying or being... View more

Hi everyone, I have not been diagnosed with OCD or hypochondria but I feel like I do…(yet to see a therapist for this) For years, I’ve had 24/7 thoughts about my health and the health of loved ones. Especially the fear of my loved ones dying or being diagnosed with a long term health condition. If I don’t do something I constantly ask myself “what if?”… what if I become sick because I didn’t check the cutlery? What if I lose my partner because I didn’t tell him to drive safely? What if I get sick because I washed my hands and then contaminated them again from touching something afterwards? There are so many other examples that I experience every day but my health (especially thinking that I have viruses and diseases in me) is the worst thing I have to deal with mentally and physically every day. I constantly monitor my heart rate and always google my symptoms once I feel “ill” I’m always upset because it is mentally exhausting having to worry about myself and my loved ones like this but I fear that if I stop worrying, everything horrible will happen my brain never switches off and I don’t know where to start or what to tackle first… advice would be greatly appreciated 🧡