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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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R-claire Anxiety with career and being unsure
  • replies: 18

I ah e always been an extremely driven and motivated person when it comes to my career. Ive come from retail management and over the past 2 years left retail due to covid and got in DES I was there for 9 months then a role come up in recruiting. I ha... View more

I ah e always been an extremely driven and motivated person when it comes to my career. Ive come from retail management and over the past 2 years left retail due to covid and got in DES I was there for 9 months then a role come up in recruiting. I have been there for 2 months but due to my mental health being so incredibly bad I am wanting to move to the GC to mend my soul and find me again (I have family there and friends) I use to be scared but now it’s exciting. However I don’t want to leave my job and start again. I’m 26 and my resume looks so bad like I can’t hold a job I’m so lost and having panic attacks. Any advice?!

Sasquatchion (TW: Eating Disorder) Food & Male Body Image
  • replies: 2

Hello all. First post, but have been lurking around on the forums for a few weeks. I am a binge eater. Formerly bulimic, but I have since curbed my need to vomit after eating and instead I just binge. In a way my problem with food has now become wors... View more

Hello all. First post, but have been lurking around on the forums for a few weeks. I am a binge eater. Formerly bulimic, but I have since curbed my need to vomit after eating and instead I just binge. In a way my problem with food has now become worse as I have continued to put on more and more weight because of this. My job requires me to fit into harsh standards relating to BMI and fitness, which I can no longer achieve due to my problem. It's because of these standards that I began to focus on my weight more and binge eat out of sadness when I was not achieving what was required of me. I have had doctors that have examined me for my work berate me for my lack of self-control and tell me that I should not be trusted with my own health because of my weight. At the beginning of 2018 I felt the worst I had ever felt about myself. I starved myself for months to achieve a new weight and was feeling positive about my body, albeit very hungry. Since then my eating as gotten worse and I am now struggling with my weight again. I am unable to look at my reflection without feeling shameful. I have covered all the mirrors in my house so that I cannot see myself. My body is in ruins, I am covered from my shoulders down in bright red stretch-marks which makes me feel disgusted in myself. Despite reassurance from my girlfriend that she does not mind and loves me regardless of my weight, I can't help but feel like no one could look at my body and enjoy it. I have suffered from intimate performance anxiety in the past, but it's now worse than ever as just once glance at my own body disgusts me so much. I had a streak of about 4 months with no binging before the start of Sydney's lockdown, but the pressures from work and my other mental health issues (medicated depression) have brought back my binging in full force. My girlfriend is often away from work, so our time together is limited, which means I am free to binge without anyone knowing every single day for weeks at a time. I cannot get myself out of this rut and I don't know what to do about it. I don't hear much about males with eating disorders, so if there is anyone else out there like me I would love to hear from you. Cheers, Sasquatchion

Colourful_Queen Agoraphobia.
  • replies: 3

Heya Does any one else suffer Agoraphobia, and if so , have you recovered, or is it a permenant thing for you? I'm very agoraphobic, I've been like it my whole life. It is now at the point where I do not go out. At all. Ever. I may make it to my Drs,... View more

Heya Does any one else suffer Agoraphobia, and if so , have you recovered, or is it a permenant thing for you? I'm very agoraphobic, I've been like it my whole life. It is now at the point where I do not go out. At all. Ever. I may make it to my Drs, but usually we do phone consults. Centrelink and the job network people have been on my back about going to appointments, but I don't think they understand that when I have an appointment coming up, I am physically dry wretching and vomiting for at least two days before and three days after the appointment. I get full on panic attacks, anxiety , very on edge and highly strung. I hate it. I really do. I've also got physical issues, very busted back which causes pain and rheumatoid arthritis, which when flares up, I cannot even wear a bra because my shoulders are in so much pain. I can't even hold the steering wheel, yet they want me to go to meetings, and lets not talk about public transport. I completely melt down. I've been like this since I was little. I do have a few 'safe' places, but not many. As soon as I go somewhere, within 5-10seconds I have scanned the room and planned my escape routes. If I can't find one, or don't like the escape routes, I leg it out of there. I now know that is not normal. I thought everyone did it. Apparently not. Does anyone have any suggestions how to deal with Centrelink and if they accept agoraphobia on the disability pension, as well as physical issues, such as chronic pain and a very bad, very excrutiating bad back? ( I have MRI scans/results to prove the severity of my back ) Any suggestions, advice, help etc would be gratefully accepted. Thanks... Peace to us all!

EC123 Health Anxiety
  • replies: 13

Hi, I’m new to this forum. For as long as I can remember I have had anxiety. I mean, as a child I would have panic attacks that would make me vomit at the thought of going to school or sleeping away from home. As I have gotten older, this anxiety has... View more

Hi, I’m new to this forum. For as long as I can remember I have had anxiety. I mean, as a child I would have panic attacks that would make me vomit at the thought of going to school or sleeping away from home. As I have gotten older, this anxiety has become more generalised and sometimes comes on so intensely without any real trigger. Lately I have been having some health issues, but I am constantly finding myself obsessing over what could be wrong and always google searching my symptoms to find what my condition could be. I know it’s normal to be worried about your health sometimes, but I feel like I am completely consumed by this anxiety. I struggle to eat, study or think clearly and I go through periods of not being able to sleep no matter how exhausted I am. I just want to get to the bottom of these health issues and get on top of my mental health, as right now I feel like I’m drowning. How can I calm myself at least until I get my medical results? And how can I change my way of thinking to a more positive mindset? TIA for any advice!

SquireHarbour None of my spaces are safe
  • replies: 6

Hello everyone, it's me again back with more lockdown venting. I just saw the stuff happen on the television. I just feel sick to death of the anti-lockdown protesters claims of freedom. I really want to go out there and shout at the world but I know... View more

Hello everyone, it's me again back with more lockdown venting. I just saw the stuff happen on the television. I just feel sick to death of the anti-lockdown protesters claims of freedom. I really want to go out there and shout at the world but I know that won't help. Mostly I am feeling extremely let down for my future prospects. I am scared of calling the helplines because I don't think they will understand what I am feeling about all of this. My parents have tried multiple times to help, but they're at their wits end. My psych and my meds helped but every day still feels like a rut. I don't know how I am going to survive until September. I tried going to the coping thread on this forum, but all it seems to be now waves of cynicism, hatred and dreams of punishment, posters just angry at everything and not cooping at all (raging about people, blaming people, having opinions that are just damaging MH and not contributing anything at all) and I can't stand my spaces being infected with this stuff any longer. Seeing the anti lockdown protests on the telly, people raging about 'the media', angry at people, rage at everything, its just sending my anxiety through the roof. Is this what its going to be like until next year? People raging at everything? I wish I can tell people to just stop, but I am terrified they will all jump on me as a breakage of the train line. And I still feel disconnected from everything, really.

PiCkLeMuFfIn Social Anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hey, ive been suffering with social anxiety for over 2 years now, and im struggling with it, making friends and talking to people at school and work is hard for me. every time im forced to talk to someone or if i have to a presentation at school i st... View more

Hey, ive been suffering with social anxiety for over 2 years now, and im struggling with it, making friends and talking to people at school and work is hard for me. every time im forced to talk to someone or if i have to a presentation at school i start to freak out, i start shaking and sweating and fidgiting and i start to cry and i cant seem to take control of it. Self confidence is another big thing that im struggling with. Doesn't matter if im lacking in self confidence in my self or just trying to make friends, i just cant do it, i just seem to break down and cry cause i cant fix it, cause i cant help it that im like this, i just wish i was confiedent, everything will be a lot more easier for me. i do see a therapist but i feel like it doesnt help me at all, all i do is talk about it, but never able to fix it. im scared to tell my parents that i dont want to go anymore, but im scared to tell them. see i cant even talk to my own parents. i wish i was an extrovert. i wish i was good enough. recently, ive started talking to a boy i really like and he likes me back, but the thing is we are both inroverts and its kinda hard to talk to him without fidgeting. we try and try and try but we can never seem to talk irl, we talk perfectly fine on instagram but in person just freaks us out, it would just be a little more easier if one of us was an extrovert. i just need someones advice and help on this. ive been really sad lately and just hate it, i like being happy. someone pls just come and help me. or even if your like me an just want to talk about it.

JennaD anxiety back and worse
  • replies: 8

I was first diagnosed at 16 weeks pregnant with my second child with pre natal anxiety and depression, I was then medicated and had been up until a month ago when I stopped taking it abruptly silly me hey! not the smartest thing to do after taking th... View more

I was first diagnosed at 16 weeks pregnant with my second child with pre natal anxiety and depression, I was then medicated and had been up until a month ago when I stopped taking it abruptly silly me hey! not the smartest thing to do after taking them for 5 years! fast forward to almost 3 weeks ago when I had 3 panic attacks in the matter of 15 minutes went to the hospital to check everything and everything was fine. I then knew i needed to get back on my medication . I've been back on my medication for about 2 weeks now and honestly feel worse then before had a doctors appointment yesterday and he upped my dosage. I know that will make my anxiety play up. I'm suffering from health anxiety as I now know cause I'm constantly thinking that I have cancer or a brain tumor or there's something seriously wrong also suffer panic disorder and depression, I'm constantly scared and crying over what I feel is nothing, have trouble sleeping cause I'm to scared to cause I'm scared I won't wake up, I live everyday scared that somethings gonna happen, I feel stupid to tell people what's wrong and how I feel cause I feel people just think I'm stupid and crazy. I'm waiting to see a physc to help me threw and help me deal with everything. I'm at the stage in my medication I think where it's getting worse before it gets better Ive never cried so much in my life! I've been threw this before and came out better but unfortunately I stuffed up and relapsed but guess we learn from our mistakes hey! it does make it better knowing I'm not the only one with these kind of symptoms and feelings! and I've learnt a lot from reading everyone's else's threads just wish we knew why anxiety makes us think the things we do and does what it does to us. hopefully I can get better for my kids and partner.

Euphorie Feeling trapped
  • replies: 9

I have unfortunately bought a place next door to a hoarder. They hoard animals and junk. I didn’t know and I couldn’t see the place until all the trees got cut down. It’s traumatic to see it. The first warning was the dozens of barking dogs. Then oth... View more

I have unfortunately bought a place next door to a hoarder. They hoard animals and junk. I didn’t know and I couldn’t see the place until all the trees got cut down. It’s traumatic to see it. The first warning was the dozens of barking dogs. Then other red flags started. It’s been super scary since November and I am really struggling now. I have a protection order to help me since they also have taken to screaming at me, and put up a sign saying they’ll shoot. Meanwhile I am selling. I’ve built a big fence but not on the boundary as it was a case of no tradies would do it they were all threatened too. It’s not exactly ideal. My money is going down the drain. The local authorities wash their hands of responsibility. I live only inside with nobody to talk to but I have a few friends I have told. My child has two brain lesions and suffers severe epilepsy. They’ve been to ER and inpatient more than a dozen times this year. My life is not going great. I had major surgery this year. I feel like nobody will buy this place now. That all my best effort’s are wasted, that I am so weak I can’t drive even, that I only have police support, that I will never get out of what really is a Living hell. I try to stay positive I try to cope with the 24/7 noise pollution from next door but I am starting to fall apart. There’s no real laws to help this situation. I really need some love and hope. Thanks for being here.

Bits12 I’m struggling to help my teen with panic attacks.
  • replies: 13

My 16 year old daughter is usually bright, bubbly, smart, funny, has a great bunch of friends, not a care in the world. It all crashed down 2 weeks ago when she had her first panic attack. She ended up in hospital due to chest pains. Tests ruled out ... View more

My 16 year old daughter is usually bright, bubbly, smart, funny, has a great bunch of friends, not a care in the world. It all crashed down 2 weeks ago when she had her first panic attack. She ended up in hospital due to chest pains. Tests ruled out a physical cause. Since then she’s had daily attacks. She has had the stuffing knocked out of her. There is no joy, no happiness, no motivation. She is embarrassed and angry about why this has happened to her. She can’t eat, she cries all the time. She is a straight A student who is watching her grades slip away because she just can’t find the energy to do anything. This is making her more anxious. She doesn’t want people at school to see her like this. She wants to be “normal” again but can’t see a way out. She has spoken to her school counsellor. She’s spoken to the Beyond Blue counselling line. She’s seen her GP, who has ordered blood tests to rule out any physical cause like iron level or thyroid. It will take a week for results. I’m lost as to how to help. Every day that goes by she is getting worse. It’s like a switch has been flicked off inside her and I don’t recognise her now. She’s lost her essence, her spark, in an instant. She says her mind and body have betrayed her and it’s like she’s just given up. Anything that will help her will take weeks or months and I don’t think we can wait that long. We’re both just so sad.

Summerinvincible Emetophobia
  • replies: 6

My 11 year old daughter has emetophobia. She’s had anxiety for years and very low self esteem caused by her father leaving and starting a family with another woman when she was 7. All these things have contributed towards her emetophobia. We have jus... View more

My 11 year old daughter has emetophobia. She’s had anxiety for years and very low self esteem caused by her father leaving and starting a family with another woman when she was 7. All these things have contributed towards her emetophobia. We have just started the Thrive program. Does anyone have experience with dealing with emetophobia?