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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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Nervous_Nell Situational anxiety
  • replies: 1

In 2016 I felt the creep of what was later diagnosed as Generalized anxiety disorder cover my entire body. It was BAD. Poor sleep, weight loss, dry retching, catastrophising, poor concentration, terrified I was going mad. My GP started me on medicati... View more

In 2016 I felt the creep of what was later diagnosed as Generalized anxiety disorder cover my entire body. It was BAD. Poor sleep, weight loss, dry retching, catastrophising, poor concentration, terrified I was going mad. My GP started me on medication and I attended counselling and slowly I started to feel normal again. The it happened again around the same time the following year. Not quite as violently this time but I felt I was back to square one. 2018 was a good year as it didnt happen. I had about a week of feeling pretty low and that was it. 2019 around the same time and it was back! Not as bad as 2016, but worse than 2017. I coped with counselling and an increase in medications. By now I knew the nature of the beast and that I had to do whatever I needed to do to cope until it resolved. This year I had a couple of days where I thought it was going to come back, but then I was ok. Now though, there has been a change in my youngest sons life and I realize that I have probably had Situational anxiety all along because it is back. What scares me is that a lot of the counselling focuses on whether you have control over a situation or not or trying to remove triggers from your life. I can't remove the trigger and I have no control over the situation so I find it hard to think I can beat this again. I am using all my usual coping methods but worry that these aren't working. Anyone else have similar situation?

b-rad727 Anxiety over a fear of throwing up?
  • replies: 5

Hey all, I've had this problem for maybe 3 years, although it seems to have gotten worse. It has its peaks and lows but it is extremely inconsistent. The issue is, eating (or even if I don't eat) before going into a public space in which there is no ... View more

Hey all, I've had this problem for maybe 3 years, although it seems to have gotten worse. It has its peaks and lows but it is extremely inconsistent. The issue is, eating (or even if I don't eat) before going into a public space in which there is no escape, eg going on a long bus trip, going for a haircut, going to work ect. In these situations I feel as I loose control of the digestion of food, and that my stomach starts working in the opposite direction (sending food or whatever up) causing panic which in-turn increases the severity. This is a huge issue when I have to be at a specific place at a specific time, because I hate being late for work ect, but it is only minor if I am on no particular schedule. It makes it extremely hard to eat in public (at restaurants ect) and socialise and commit to things (ie if a manager asks me to work, and as soon as I agree the anxiety and nausea show up, if I just show up it will be only minor). The worst part is that it is unpredictable, and scenarios or techniques I use which seem to help it sometimes seem to work; don't work (eg, before getting on a bus to go drinking at a friends house, before getting on said bus it is quite bad, but generally when I get on the bus I goes away, but last time this didn't happen, even with breathing techniques and listening to music). When this anxiety first started, I could eat 30 mins before doing the things listed above, but now even if I don't eat I have this fear. I believe when I learned I can feel nausea and gag as if I'm about to vomit even if I haven't eaten for a while, or anything at all created this monster. Any advice? I took some sessions with a therapist a while ago, it didn't help that much. Thanks in advance! I'll add anything if I've missed it. I've been meaning to make this post for weeks.

Whatsinaname Been a long couple of months
  • replies: 27

Hi again everyone, I'm having a pretty rough time tonight, but if I'm honest I've been struggling for close to 2 months. I quick background is ive had anxiety offically for about 10 years or so, I see a psych on and off and am on anti depressants. I ... View more

Hi again everyone, I'm having a pretty rough time tonight, but if I'm honest I've been struggling for close to 2 months. I quick background is ive had anxiety offically for about 10 years or so, I see a psych on and off and am on anti depressants. I live in regional vic, so lock down isn't helping, plus we are building a house and expecting our second child. Just to put some pressure on! A fear ive always had is ill lose my job for one reason or another and now with my wife off work and taking on a lot of debt its compounding. I know most of my triggers and I generally just avoid them and of i am triggered I can bounce back relatively quick. I had a server panic attack close to 2 months ago and am yet to bouncw back. I have small triggers that ruin my day, like today. My psychologist has suggested I talk to my GP and and psychiatrist to potentially increase my dosage during this stressful time and look into if I have OCD. Ironically enough the idea of another diagnosis and increasing meds is making me.anxious, but I'm keen to get on top of this for my son, my unborn child, my wife and also myself. Thanks for reading, I just needed a rant.

Valky Health Anxiety is ruining my life!
  • replies: 8

Hello, I have just signed up for this group! thought i'd talk about my struggles maybe someone can give me some in sight. Ever since I can remember ive had this huuuge fear of death. I am terrified to die to the point where 10 years ago it was making... View more

Hello, I have just signed up for this group! thought i'd talk about my struggles maybe someone can give me some in sight. Ever since I can remember ive had this huuuge fear of death. I am terrified to die to the point where 10 years ago it was making me have suicidal thoughts. 10 years later im still her thankfully, lived through the death of my pop and father in a span of a year. I always think that there is something wrong with me from skin cancer, to cancer caused by heartburn, cervical cancer, colon / bowel cancer every ache and pain oh must be cancer .. have a headache must be a brain tumor (thats is what my dad died of). I am 34 years old currently and have been suffering from this since I have been 20. And i feel its getting worse I just dont know how to deal with it. My partner is getting annoyed im always worried about my health, my mother doesnt like me talking about this kind of stuff with her and I dont really have any friends I can confide in. I have been putting off going to the doctor as I am terrified they will confirm what I am worried about. Is there anything I can do to alleviate this? Do I need to get medication or go see a physiologist? Can someone overcome health anxiety, i just want to live my life without a giant cloud hovering me all the time! Thanks for reading my story, i know i'm not alone in this.

Lone Up and down anxiety - managing work
  • replies: 3

I have really been struggling with anxiety lately and rely on medication to get me through most days. I start the day with a panic attack and the mornings are generally worse than the evening. Due to my anxiety I have lost confidence in my ability to... View more

I have really been struggling with anxiety lately and rely on medication to get me through most days. I start the day with a panic attack and the mornings are generally worse than the evening. Due to my anxiety I have lost confidence in my ability to do my job even though I work hard because I always think the worst. I have two part time jobs and and so this has made everything incredibly challenging. Does anyone have an tips in managing work and anxiety

Phil99 Anxiety and sleep is destroying me
  • replies: 1

Hi all , I’m new here . ive had anxiety for a while Now but usually keep it under control with a few bad days here and there. My main problem usually is sleeping, especially when I have to get up early. My job is mainly afternoon work so this usually... View more

Hi all , I’m new here . ive had anxiety for a while Now but usually keep it under control with a few bad days here and there. My main problem usually is sleeping, especially when I have to get up early. My job is mainly afternoon work so this usually Isn’t a problem. Recently I got a promotion that required me to do early morning work and my anxiety blew up to the point I pulled out of the promotion because I wasn’t sleeping. i went back to my afternoon work and everything was going ok until I was involved in a traumatic incident. im now not sleeping anytime, the anxiety around sleep is killing me . I’m laying awake all night worrying about my job and the fact I’m not sleeping at all. I’ve been off work for over a week and the dr said I need more time off. I’ve got butterflies in my stomach all day . im getting professional help but just needed to post somewhere and talk. I feel like there is no way out here and it’s never going to end .

yvngxblud Anxiety - I’m not so good at writing, so here’s the best I could do. ✍🏻
  • replies: 1

Hi, so this is my first time posting and I see it’s about anxiety so I want to tell you how it feels for me to me. My anxiety makes me feel like I’m trapped inside my mind, I wanna say things but yet can’t, I just want to be free. I cannot see my fri... View more

Hi, so this is my first time posting and I see it’s about anxiety so I want to tell you how it feels for me to me. My anxiety makes me feel like I’m trapped inside my mind, I wanna say things but yet can’t, I just want to be free. I cannot see my friends, which causes everyone to get up and leaves I cannot drive to the small shops down the road nor walk up a main road of a smaller town to an ATM just to get money out. And whenever I go to reach my handout... all that I’m left with is a mindful of self-doubt. Don't get me wrong I have other conditions, but anxiety is that one that I cannot learn to deal with. It’s subconscious, it’s never ending in my head, even when I know that I am safe, no matter what place. I’ve shed tears sitting in a car surrounded by pretty sparking trees covered in amazing glowing lights. I cried because I wanted to be normal, I wanted win, I’m sick of having these fights with my anxiety, but I never win. I wanted to get out and look at these beautiful things but I couldn’t, it was crowded and I felt so left out within. I wish I could explain my anxiety to people who either can cope fine, or do not have it. as it’s not something I can shake, I am not weak, I am quite thick-skinned but anxiety is a disorder unlike my mother would tell me, alongside my other disorders. But I look at her constantly with tears in my eyes, see she knows her and my father brought out one of my other disorders but all that they expect me to do is take their orders. Not realising they’ve ruined their child, not taking the time to educate themselves. Not only is it ME that suffers from this, but also Borderline Personality. I need help to cope, but it’s nowhere I can find. - Anxiety is not pretty nor is it fun, I cannot take phone calls, I cannot work jobs around lots of people. I can’t do normal things. If anyone has been in this situation, I feel for you; as I’m still unsure what I can do.

Jadeliza Anxiety ruining relationship
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, this is my first post and I’m very nervous sharing this but wanted to give it ago. Since 2016, I had been with my partner who I love very much. We were only young when we got together I was 19 and he was 20. The beginning of our relation... View more

Hi everyone, this is my first post and I’m very nervous sharing this but wanted to give it ago. Since 2016, I had been with my partner who I love very much. We were only young when we got together I was 19 and he was 20. The beginning of our relationship was fun and great but then stressful times started arising as I felt like the weight was always on my shoulders to support him! He broke up with me just over a year into our relationship because another opportunity had arise and we got back together a week later. Since then I’ve always felt like I haven’t been good enough and there’s always someone he’s talking to better than me which causes me believe but I’m not good enough! Then at the start of this year he was acting very distant! He said goodnight but from the bottom of my heart I could tell something was up. I tried calling multiple times texting and he was ignoring my calls and messages everything and he wasn’t home. To this day he still says he was ‘just thinking about us driving around’ at 11.30pm for two hours. I then had no trust in him and was so scared of being hurt I ended it and regretted it the next day but he didn’t fight for us, he just walked away. I was so upset and angry at myself and believe that what he says is true, that I argue too much and I’m never happy with anything A few months ago he said he wants to work things out and fight for what he wants (me apparently). This whole time I’ve been very hesitant I had my walls up because I didn’t want to go through it all again and be hurt and have someone walk away for the third time. This year I have achieved so much independently like moving out of home and buying my own brand-new house but still feel like I’m not worth anything and will never be good enough. We had an argument just over a week ago because I felt like he had stopped putting in effort which caused my anxiety to kick in and run for saftey - i had gotten back to my old self of not trusting him, starting arguements, picking at little things etc. And again he walked away and said he doesnt want to keep going round in circles and its not going to work. - I asked him to come over because i needed to show him something (my script) as he made a comment about my anxiety being ‘self diagnosed’. I probably should have told him when we started talking again but i didnt want to be a burden or for him to think less of me - Now he feels responsible for everything, doesnt want to be with me but feels bad leaving me

Tasguy Left shoulder pain anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi had shoulder pain for almost 3 weeks and because it's in my left shoulder and left forearm I worry it's heart related. I more my shoulder and it doesn't hurt so I don't know where the pain comes from I'm worried it's referred pain. I did go to hos... View more

Hi had shoulder pain for almost 3 weeks and because it's in my left shoulder and left forearm I worry it's heart related. I more my shoulder and it doesn't hurt so I don't know where the pain comes from I'm worried it's referred pain. I did go to hospital two days after it started they did ecg and blood test and believe it's musclure but I can't stop worrying about it

SwansandSharksMan Ignoring orders when growing up.
  • replies: 6

When you were growing up, what would happen to you if you didn’t do as you were told, or just totally ignored your parent’s orders? Did your parents punish you severely? I just remember being extremely frightened of disobeying my parents so I always ... View more

When you were growing up, what would happen to you if you didn’t do as you were told, or just totally ignored your parent’s orders? Did your parents punish you severely? I just remember being extremely frightened of disobeying my parents so I always did as I was told and didn’t want make them angry.