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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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Bibbetyboo What future?
  • replies: 18

Long story short I didnt do well in school at all. I just wasn’t very good at anything. I could write stories but they were hardly readable due to dyslexia that remained undiagnosed. That also affected my ability to tie my shoes, read a clock and tel... View more

Long story short I didnt do well in school at all. I just wasn’t very good at anything. I could write stories but they were hardly readable due to dyslexia that remained undiagnosed. That also affected my ability to tie my shoes, read a clock and tell the difference between left and right as well as limited me to a grade 3 education in Mathematics. Don’t ask me how i got to year 11. I had a mental breakdown due to some seriously bad nightmares that went on for a few years in year 12 and dropped out. I was withdrawn and terribly depressed, my family made fun of me. Fast forward I’m now 36 and have never improved. I’m smarter but i am a recluse. I had a addiction issues with alcohol through my 20’s and due to bad anxiety didnt hold down a job. My family have all but disowned me but were never very loving anyway its where the bulk of my pain comes from. Now i have left another abusive relationship but this time I have a son. He’s 10 months and doing very well but i am the shell of a person. I was homeless and pregnant and have only just managed to claw up a roof over our heads. His father is on an IVO and contributes nothing. I’m saving for a car finally but never learned to drive after many attempts. I dont know who I am. I have no super, no house or assets I’m nearly 40 and have no idea how to get work without family to help take care of my little boy. I have no idea what I am going to do now that i care about someone else. If it were just me I wouldn’t even care but I look at how other family’s at least have pets or siblings or a future and i cant even provide that for him. I love him so much it hurts. I wish i wasn’t such a loser, he deserves better and it’s breaking me into pieces. I am so tired i hardly laugh or smile I’m always sad or angry. I just feel like i wasn’t meant to be for anything and don’t fit anywhere.

Teagan_N 20 years old - debilitating hypochondria, convinced myself I have bowel cancer
  • replies: 7

Apologies in advance, I’ve never posted on a forum like this before. I’m not really sure where to start. I started having issues with my physical health late last year, swollen glands with no apparent cause, chronic chest pain and shortness of breath... View more

Apologies in advance, I’ve never posted on a forum like this before. I’m not really sure where to start. I started having issues with my physical health late last year, swollen glands with no apparent cause, chronic chest pain and shortness of breath - various tests and ultrasounds later and nothing, perfectly “healthy”. I’m not exactly sure when the worrying started, but now panic attacks and sleepless nights have become a common occurrence. In the last 7 months I’ve convinced myself I have lymphoma, bladder cancer, brain cancer and more. My most recent fixation is bowel cancer, the pain in my lower left abdomen started around two months ago - it’s always there just in varying intensities, it hurts when I press it too (it ranges from sharp to more dull). Multiple specialist appointments later and there’s no gynaecological cause, the bladder ultrasound showed nothing, my stool test showed no inflammation (so not a type of IBD). Now I’ve convinced myself that I, at 20 years old, have bowel cancer. How have I rationalised this? 1. The persistent pain that isn’t triggered by my eating habits, 2. A change in bowel habits and stool texture, 3. The fact that literally everything non bowel related has been ruled out, and the things that are bowel related that have been ruled are the relatively non-sinister things (IBD). I’m booked in for a colonoscopy in a few weeks and even though my gastroenterologist has told me she doesn’t think they’ll find anything I’m absolutely terrified and feel like she’s made a terrible oversight. I feel like my life is just starting and now my brain has presented me with the prospect of dying in five years or less, I just want to feel healthy and happy like I did last year. I’m not even sure why I’m putting this on a forum, if I want my feelings to be validated or some smart person to tell me “don’t be stupid, it’s unlikely you have bowel cancer because of x, y and z”, but here I am anyway, feeling like I’m losing my mind. This has been the longest seven months of my life, I just want to live a long, happy life. Not even full time uni and part time work can distract me from my intrusive thoughts anymore.

Elle_gross Needy? separation anxiety from ex
  • replies: 7

So about a few months ago me and my ex broke up because we both weren’t ready for a relationship. I couldn’t handle my emotions well and there was often miscommunication from his side. Right now we still have feelings for each other but decide to foc... View more

So about a few months ago me and my ex broke up because we both weren’t ready for a relationship. I couldn’t handle my emotions well and there was often miscommunication from his side. Right now we still have feelings for each other but decide to focus on ourselves. We talked about waiting for each other but decided it was best to just go with the flow because it’s more fair and he wasn’t ready for commitment. We both agree that when we graduate from high school if we still happen to have feelings for each other we will try again which is in two years. Soooo long. I’ve opened up to him about my anxiety and he’s understood and listened but overtime he says it became a bit irritating cuz I keep relying on him to much it drains his energy and he is doing work most of the time I open up. Now when I try to open up he isn’t as empathetic as before (he is much more understanding irl tho). I can’t open up to my parents because they don’t want me to talk to him because they think he did something bad because all the miscommunication. So we can barely hangout and only privately. I’m always so anxious that we will slowly grow apart and he will lose feelings for me. He isn’t a good texter and he barely starts conversations which makes me soooo anxious. I am afraid of the future if this persists and we slowly just stop talking and lose the connection we have. How can I focus on myself if this is bothering me so much. I don’t know what I should do.

macfan6 Starting a new medication
  • replies: 7

Hi, a doctor has just put me on medication for severe constant stress and anxiety from moving. Does anyone have experience with taking medication and how it makes them feel? I feel terrible today. Woke up with worries, and now I can’t shake it. Feel ... View more

Hi, a doctor has just put me on medication for severe constant stress and anxiety from moving. Does anyone have experience with taking medication and how it makes them feel? I feel terrible today. Woke up with worries, and now I can’t shake it. Feel like I’m going crazy.

Anxiousbear Scared/Anxious of the future/current state of the world
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone this is my first post here. I'm seeing a psychologist but I need some extra help. The current state of the world has me feeling extremely anxious. Im terrified that i won't have a future, i am feeling very hopeless. With the current pande... View more

Hi everyone this is my first post here. I'm seeing a psychologist but I need some extra help. The current state of the world has me feeling extremely anxious. Im terrified that i won't have a future, i am feeling very hopeless. With the current pandemic, climate change and all the recent news my anxiety is unbearable. The current deterioration with US/Russia, China/Us/Taiwan and North Korea, really just any possibility of a Nuclear war that can cause the end of the world. Honestly I thought things would stabilise more with a new Us administration but it doesn't seem to be in the slightest. I know there is nothing I can do and I should live in the moment but I find that hard to do when I feel hopeless and like i don't have anything to look forward to/ the world could collapse at any moment. I've heard we are living in the most peaceful time but I find that hard to believe with all the conflict happening and brewing. I can spend all day reading about what's going on and what might happen and it's like an addiction and I can't stop even though it makes me feel more anxious. I don't want a war to happen and dont want to die in a global famine. I've heard about catastrophising in anxiety but it's hard to stop when it feels so real. Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Thanks

MissJ94 Vaccine!!
  • replies: 9

Im extremely vaccine hesitant for the covid vaccines. I have so many concerns about them. Will i die from having it? Will i have a massive allergic reaction? Will it affect my fertility? Will it make me permanently disabled? Ive asked my doctor all t... View more

Im extremely vaccine hesitant for the covid vaccines. I have so many concerns about them. Will i die from having it? Will i have a massive allergic reaction? Will it affect my fertility? Will it make me permanently disabled? Ive asked my doctor all these questions and hes tried to reassure me that im more likely to die from covid if i get sick with it instead of the vaccine but it doesnt settle that anxiety, that feeling like im on the verge of a panick attack! I have bad asthma, when ever i do get sick it ends up as bad bronchitis and has lead to pneumonia a couple times. Im of Aboriginal background. I work in aged care. So pretty much tick everything, that i need to have it. Im booked in for the pfizer vaccine on monday and i just feel like im signing my own death certificate. Im tempted to write a will and have it legally signed or whatever you have to do before i have this vaccine. Im already planning on posting to my facebook page "if i die, someone please make sure my son goes to my mum or sister and not someone hes never met(his father)". I havent felt the fight or flight response so severely in myself before and its like my mind is in conflict with itself! I havent been about to stop shaking since i booked it in earlier this week. I know i should have it for so many reasons, but im scared to death of having it! And nothing my doctor has said has helped to ease those feelings. Right now i feel like they would have to knock me out to have it! I have a cousin and a couple friends who feel the exact same too so i know its not just me with these feelings! Its so distressing.

RhiannonJ I'm new-unbearable withdrawal?
  • replies: 5

I'm new to all this, i have had anxiety for most of my life on and off. I started getting anxious recently and was prescribed an antidepressant as a cure by the local meat market (GP). Worked great for sleep, didnt completely fix my anxiety and made ... View more

I'm new to all this, i have had anxiety for most of my life on and off. I started getting anxious recently and was prescribed an antidepressant as a cure by the local meat market (GP). Worked great for sleep, didnt completely fix my anxiety and made my appetite insatiable. After two months and breakthrough anxiety my doctor suggested switching to another medication which would cause me heart palpilations for the first few days. now considering this was the reason i went to see him in the first place i balked at the idea. i went back to him and asked about quitting cold turkey. i was on it for two months only. he said i should be fine and to use my benzodiazepine when required. Well, the first week was fine, then came the stomach problems, loss of appetite, nausea, and hell anxiety attacks. Now i have been struck down with insomnia also which is increasing my anxiety into this viscious circle. i have been working from home and this helps keep me occupied but now i'm freaking out about my work because it is becoming truly unbearable. it has now been 24 days since my last mirt. Just starting to wonder if this is no longer withdrawals? Seriously i didnt even have that bad anxiety before going on the mirt. i have never felt like this ever and i am withdrawing from everyone, even my family.

Lucyyy Breakups and flare ups
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I recently was broken up with by my boyfriend as he couldn’t handle my mental health anymore. This has caused a big spike in my anxiety especially since it also meant I needed to pack up my stuff and move from his house in under 24hrs. I find... View more

Hi all, I recently was broken up with by my boyfriend as he couldn’t handle my mental health anymore. This has caused a big spike in my anxiety especially since it also meant I needed to pack up my stuff and move from his house in under 24hrs. I find I keep being on the edge of panic and am unable to eat even though I’m starving. I just feel so nauseous and feel like I have a lump in my throat. Clearly I’m going through a lot but it makes me feel like this cycle of anxiety will just never end and I don’t know how much longer I can deal with it. I was prescribed antidepressants and was unable to continue taking them as I had a bad reaction and am also terrified of taking any types of medications as well as pain killers. I’m lost on what to do and am just so exhausted

millhhaus new here - Anxiety and poor sleep help
  • replies: 6

hi there, for the last week i have not been able to sleep through the night. i previuosly have not had issues with sleeping but atm im awake most of the night. when i do sleep i feel alot of anxiety ( fretting). feel like im losing touch with reality... View more

hi there, for the last week i have not been able to sleep through the night. i previuosly have not had issues with sleeping but atm im awake most of the night. when i do sleep i feel alot of anxiety ( fretting). feel like im losing touch with reality, constant tinitus ringing in my ears. im at a loss as to what to do? thanks.

Joan65 Help PLEASE I have a near 18 year old so overwhelmed, who will now not get out of bed.
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone. Hoping someone has some fabulous tips that have worked to get us out of this storm. I am a single mum, with a 17 and a half year old son in secondary school. Over this last period of Victorian lockdown, he has got himself to the point th... View more

Hi everyone. Hoping someone has some fabulous tips that have worked to get us out of this storm. I am a single mum, with a 17 and a half year old son in secondary school. Over this last period of Victorian lockdown, he has got himself to the point that he is not attending online classes and sleeping in until the afternoon. He has a heavy school load and I know this feeling of overwhelmnous is the contributor to his avoidance of any school work. He has begrudgingly gone to a few physcology sessions in the past 5 weeks but I dont feel it is helping. I have emailed the physcologist last night to ask what I can do to help. The problem is my son won't seek any extra help. He is not listening to me at the moment. Technology is a major issue and contributor. I know the obvious answer is to cut off the internet but that isnt feasable. Any input will help me Thanks for reading.