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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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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?

infjt I want to quit my job but I can't
  • replies: 9

I am currently a student doing a part-time job in property management. This job is not aligned with my career path and some areas of the job are not aligned with my values. I want to resign to focus on building my skills and finding a job aligned wit... View more

I am currently a student doing a part-time job in property management. This job is not aligned with my career path and some areas of the job are not aligned with my values. I want to resign to focus on building my skills and finding a job aligned with my values and career path. In addition to that, lately, I have been so stressed with too much workload and pressure in addition to the stress in completing all my school assessments. I have to work or can't help but think about work even on my day off. I don't know if it's because of stress but I've been feeling sick often and having palpitations. One time after work, I just locked myself in my room for almost 24 hours and I don't even know why I did that. I have been thinking about resigning for some time now (months) but I can't find the courage to do so. Now, my manager is going through something difficult and the workload is heavy, and I don't want to be an additional burden so I can't hand in my resignation. I don't know what to do.

PsychedelicFur Anxiety for university interview tomorrow morning
  • replies: 3

Hello there, Recently - as of last week I made some university applications for a bachelor of communications/journalism. As I have almost completed my diploma for 2021 and I am thoroughly enjoying the content and want to expand my knowledge. I really... View more

Hello there, Recently - as of last week I made some university applications for a bachelor of communications/journalism. As I have almost completed my diploma for 2021 and I am thoroughly enjoying the content and want to expand my knowledge. I really have a thirst for learning. One of the higher education places I applied for has arranged an interview with me for tomorrow. I am so anxious. When I was aware of the interview late last week, on the night, I prepared my answers to the three set questions. As I want to appear punctual, responsible, organised, ethical and invested in my learning. I love learning. I thoroughly enjoy studying. I have read over my set questions hundreds and hundreds times and I am feeling confident. Just a little nervous. PF.

Banksia20 Anyone with Social Anxiety?
  • replies: 13

Hi, Anyone else here with social anxiety? I'm not a shy person but I constantly worry what people think of me or I will go over and over things I have said or done. It is exhausting! Any advice to reduce these thoughts and emotions?

Hi, Anyone else here with social anxiety? I'm not a shy person but I constantly worry what people think of me or I will go over and over things I have said or done. It is exhausting! Any advice to reduce these thoughts and emotions?

NichD Only able to sleep 3-4 hours during lockdown/everyday.. (Any Solutions?)
  • replies: 2

Hi there, I'm a male currently at the age of 22 years old, this routine happened after the lockdown started and really kick my anxiety and depression in the early of July. During the lockdown, I feel like I'm being trapped at home. I lived alone wher... View more

Hi there, I'm a male currently at the age of 22 years old, this routine happened after the lockdown started and really kick my anxiety and depression in the early of July. During the lockdown, I feel like I'm being trapped at home. I lived alone where I have no one to talk to, usually I always go out and work before lockdown happened. Now, I only spent my day at home for about 2 months where I have no one to talk to and spent my time mostly on my computer and phone. Every night when I go to bed, I just can't sleep at all I tried many things, for example, taking sleep vitamins, exercise, meditation but it not helping me out when I tried to sleep. This makes me feel so stressed out during night time when I go to bed my mind always thought "it's another night I won't be able to sleep again". Its been like a month I only able to sleep like 3-4 hours and slowly im getting weaker and sick. My body always feels really tense and extremely tired but yet every time I went to bed I always cant sleep at all. At some point I wanna take sleep medecine but Im scared of side effects. Since I cant sleep really well my anxiety and stressed getting worst by day. I always started to overthinking somethings, scared of unnecessary things, and mostly scared going to bed Does anyone have advice or solutions about this, how I can get back to sleep normally?

The_Bro WHEN 'YES YES' BECOMES 'NO NO'
  • replies: 2

Hi Everybody Learning that all of our Olympians from South Australia have to endure two lots of quarantine on return to Australia got me thinking. Here they are, enduring unimaginable sacrifices and years of training to become champions and represent... View more

Hi Everybody Learning that all of our Olympians from South Australia have to endure two lots of quarantine on return to Australia got me thinking. Here they are, enduring unimaginable sacrifices and years of training to become champions and represent our country, being tested for Covid every day in Tokyo and again when entering Australia, quarantining for 14 days on arrival, then having to go into a second 14 days in South Australia. I can't see the common sense in that. I wonder how they feel about that level of recognition? This made think about the times I have looked forward to something like picking up a new car, getting all excited, then being told delivery was running late. Or being told I had got the job I applied for after three rounds of interviews. Getting excited with anticipation, then being told there was another interview yet to pass! Or even going on a first date with a new girl, then she calls with apologies and can't make it. Even though setting another date, my level of anticipation took a blow. Just wondering how our forum members have experienced things like this happening to them where something they looked forward to was delayed, and how they handled their emotions? I found it was easy to get annoyed at the situation, or the person causing the delay - of course this didn't help! With the added job interview, after thinking about it, I used it as an opportunity to learn a bit more about the company, thought about how I could improve on previous interviews, and as a result of this, sailed through it and got the job! With the late car delivery, I cleaned out the garage to make more room for the car and was amazed by the extra room created! With the delayed date, I later learnt she had a family emergency and her delay was genuine. Our delayed date was great! Are these an example of every cloud has a silver lining? Is it better to live in the moment and not let anticipation control our emotions? Would love to hear your thoughts - has good things being delayed happened to you and how did you respond? Many thanks - The Bro

josh1245 online uni/school/work fatigue
  • replies: 4

Hey guys i hope everyone is well I've been doing online uni for a year and half and sometimes I don't know when its going to end and the the last three months have hit me hard due to the last three lockdowns Melbourne has been in. I have had depressi... View more

Hey guys i hope everyone is well I've been doing online uni for a year and half and sometimes I don't know when its going to end and the the last three months have hit me hard due to the last three lockdowns Melbourne has been in. I have had depression and anxiety for years and i just feel its just getting worse at this point. i just feel so alone sometimes as my sister and mum are at work and school and I'm doing uni online by myself and it feels really isolating even my placement is online so I'm constantly on a screen Monday and Friday and its jsut so draining. im just wondering if there any other people who can relate to this fatigue and how its making everyone feel.

LissyLou99 My son was destroyed online… and it’s me not coping
  • replies: 10

Hi friends My son, about a month ago, tried to take his own life at 17 years old as an ex girlfriend posted online that he was a sexual abuser. Of course initially our priority was to ensure he was safe and got him some help to keep him safe. Next we... View more

Hi friends My son, about a month ago, tried to take his own life at 17 years old as an ex girlfriend posted online that he was a sexual abuser. Of course initially our priority was to ensure he was safe and got him some help to keep him safe. Next we investigated the allegations and even took him to the police and asked for them to investigate it. Our reasons were 2 fold. If it was true or any basis for her allegations, then we needed our own son to be responsible for his actions. But if it was false, we want him to have a voice of reply and to have her dealt with. To at least remove the post that went to 300 of the school kids. The result was there was no basis for her post, it was posted out of jealousy to deter another female from liking my son, no charges were laid against my son, she was reprimanded and the post was removed. Unfortunately it made an awesome story for 17 years old that he goes to school with and although is still receiving a lot of help from professionals, is a risk every time he leaves the house of whether he will be able to keep himself safe. He is avoided at school as, although she keeps it off line, she verbally still spreads stories of him. The knock on effect is what this has done to our family. I can’t get it out of my mind. I turn over the events constantly. The anger is what she’s done to gain attention and to be portrayed as a “strong resilient survivor” flies in the face of every woman who has truely been assaulted. But I can’t seem to move on… i want to be the mature woman I used to be but I’m the middle of the night when I can’t sleep, the intrusive thoughts prevent a clear way through. I’m trying meditation to try to calm my mind and it does help. For a short time. I exercise every day but still doesn’t exhaust me enough. I don’t want to go to work but once I’m there, it does distract me. I’m hiding all these thoughts from my wonderful and supportive husband. I’m embarrassed that I’m not coping. He truely is CaptainSensible! But sometimes I just wish my mind would just stop.

Seekingbrighterpath Anxiety about the future
  • replies: 6

Hi Guys, I have just joined in order to seek help. I have 2 small children and all of a sudden I have started to suffer MAJOR anxiety about the future of the world. Not just normal feelings but feelings of Doom and gloom about coronavirus, AU/China U... View more

Hi Guys, I have just joined in order to seek help. I have 2 small children and all of a sudden I have started to suffer MAJOR anxiety about the future of the world. Not just normal feelings but feelings of Doom and gloom about coronavirus, AU/China US/CHina etc. What have people done to cope with this? I find myself reasoning to calm myself down but it seems to come back worse every few days to the point of major panic attacks.. why am I upset about things I can't control? Please help