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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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Nevermind_me Word of advice from an anxious person
  • replies: 12

To all the anxiety survivours, 1. You're stronger than you think. It isn't easy battling demons in your head. In fact, it's exhausting! For 25 years of my life I've been at war with myself. Sometimes I let the demons show, other times I don't. It tak... View more

To all the anxiety survivours, 1. You're stronger than you think. It isn't easy battling demons in your head. In fact, it's exhausting! For 25 years of my life I've been at war with myself. Sometimes I let the demons show, other times I don't. It takes strength to hide something so severe and fool others into believing you're fine. Trust me! 2. Anxiety isn't your personality. It's all in your head, not something that characterises you. You're a beautiful and complex human being. Don't ever feel you aren't, just cause somedays feel harder than others. 3. Anxiety is serious and can have an effect on your whole life. Don't ever let others tell you to 'toughen up' or make you feel that your problems are insignificant. These people are the problem, not you.

Cookie60 Sleep anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi am new to this , I am struggling with anxiety bar the moment and can’t sleep more than a few hours a night , i drop off to sleep ok but way 2 hours later in a panic and then am so wound up i struggle to get back to sleep , if I take circadin (mela... View more

Hi am new to this , I am struggling with anxiety bar the moment and can’t sleep more than a few hours a night , i drop off to sleep ok but way 2 hours later in a panic and then am so wound up i struggle to get back to sleep , if I take circadin (melatonin ) I feel horrible the next day like wired , I have tried precription medication but I wake during the night and it feels like I have stopped breathing , now I am afraid I think to sleep

Purplebear Anxiety about the future
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone... I don't post a lot here. I'm more of a reader but I was wondering if anyone had any tips for the situation I'm going to mention below. So I suffer from anxiety and depression for over 10 years. It gets worse with every death in the fam... View more

Hi everyone... I don't post a lot here. I'm more of a reader but I was wondering if anyone had any tips for the situation I'm going to mention below. So I suffer from anxiety and depression for over 10 years. It gets worse with every death in the family. Late last year my grandpa who I was really close with and was a second father to me got really really sick and passed away early this year. Now I live with my grandma as my dad and uncle have passed 10 years and 4 years ago respectively. I have been with my current partner for over a year and a half. We've decided to not have kids. I believe I wouldn't cope mentally. I already have enough issue trying to sleep and manage myself. My grandma ever since my grandpa got really sick pushed me to have a baby even though I told her I don't want one. I talked to my partner about not having one. My partner already has two children from previous relationship and recently got the snip. That's fine. My concern is the amount of stress I feel when my grandma brings it up because it leaves me a quiet closed off mess and I find it hard to talk about it with others. My grandma has, for lack of a better phrase, my life "planned out" as in get married and have kids. I am very lucky to already have a house I'll be paying off. It's hard when I don't want that. It's hard because my job as a teacher lets me teach and build relationships with other peoples children and that's enough for me. My gran doesn't get it but I love her anyway as she's the only blood family I've got living with me during this coronavirus stuff and my partner who is a few towns away from me in regional Victoria. I don't want to have a child just to make my grandma happy... I don't know what to do as she doesn't approve of me not wanting kids because of my legitimate mental health concerns.

WritersBlock Treading Water
  • replies: 1

Sometimes I have good days sometimes bad. With my anxiety and depression it is sometimes 2 steps forward 5 back. I try to do things to keep it at bay, eat right, try to exercise, get sleep, medication, meditation etc...But it is always lingering...kn... View more

Sometimes I have good days sometimes bad. With my anxiety and depression it is sometimes 2 steps forward 5 back. I try to do things to keep it at bay, eat right, try to exercise, get sleep, medication, meditation etc...But it is always lingering...knocking at the door or window ready to overwhelm me at any moment. I should look at the positives...I am employed, I have a family that loves me. All that makes you feel guilty of feeling like this. Getting tired of treading on water. The tsunami of emotions make it hard to stay afloat.

BananaMuffin Medical Anxiety
  • replies: 31

I have been aware for several years that I have a crippling anxiety around medical tests, to the point where I basically don't have them done. So I was born with a genetic condition inherited from my father. The syndrome has various symptoms, all of ... View more

I have been aware for several years that I have a crippling anxiety around medical tests, to the point where I basically don't have them done. So I was born with a genetic condition inherited from my father. The syndrome has various symptoms, all of which are present at birth. His major symptom was huge trouble with his eyes from childhood , resulting in him being legally blind at around 59 yrs old. I did not have eye trouble to his extent at all. I am now 51 When I was 19, in 1988 I accompanied him to an eye specialist. Even though I did not have an appointment they put me in the chair. They saw some vascularization on my eyes and said basically quit your life you will be blind in 10 yrs. I have been to numerous eye doctors since then who have said your corneas are fine, you are no tf going tyo go blind. Probably 5 different eye doctors have said that. Well I took that 30 yr old report to an eye specialist 2 weeks ago because of some dry eye symptoms and he said your eyes have not changed , and in fact my visual acuity test was 6/5 (excellent) But the last 3 week's waiting for this appointment has been a nightmare. I can't forget that original diagnosis and I feel like maybe all these other doctors were wrong and the first diagnosis was right? I have no issues with my vision and I know it's illogical but the trauma of that diagnosis of blindness, even though I didnt believe it at the time has haunted me. I can't get rid of it I have an appointment on Monday with a dry eye specialist and waiting for this appt has caused me such severe anxiety to panic attack mode. I've been going through this this for 3 weeks since I booked it I never ever EVER book medical appts. Dental ones are fine, but anything else no way. I wil never forgive that eye specialist 32 yrs ago for what he has done to me

Sickofeverything Self Hatred
  • replies: 5

How do others cope with self hatred. I am really struggling with this at the moment

How do others cope with self hatred. I am really struggling with this at the moment

Onion_boy Anxiety & Relationships
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am struggling with anxious thoughts. I have been in a relationship for nearly 7 months. At the start it was so good I was constantly having fun. Recently though we have fought a lot more. I’m not too sure why, we have spoken about communication... View more

Hi, I am struggling with anxious thoughts. I have been in a relationship for nearly 7 months. At the start it was so good I was constantly having fun. Recently though we have fought a lot more. I’m not too sure why, we have spoken about communication and how we need to talk about how we feel to avoid this. He knows how he feels, he knows that he loves me but I’m just not too sure. My mind keeps telling me to break up with him because maybe that would be easier for us both and better for him. Whenever we talk about breaking up I just cry because part of me doesn’t want him to leave but then I don’t know why I think I want to break up with him. I have extremely low iron which I was told could be a cause. But I also do have bad anxiety. My boyfriend tells me that the thoughts I have of wanting to break up and not knowing what I want is normal and that he will always be here and that it’s his choice. I don’t want to hurt this boy because he has always been my number 1 supporter along with my parents. He is constantly there and all he wants for me to be is happy. I just want to know I’m not alone in feeling this and that it is normal for my anxiety to doubt and second guess everything.

Guest_9264 PTSD anxiety stress and depression
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone I have been suffering for as long as I can remember. I have never seeked help or spoken to anybody about my problems but it’s become too overwhelming and can’t help but think life would be so much easier if I wasn’t around any longer I me... View more

Hi everyone I have been suffering for as long as I can remember. I have never seeked help or spoken to anybody about my problems but it’s become too overwhelming and can’t help but think life would be so much easier if I wasn’t around any longer I mean this feeling just won’t go away and I just want to be at peace. im engaged to a beautiful lady who knows some of what I’m going through but not all. I am embarrassed hate attention and don’t like talking about my feelings. If not for my fiancé I fear I would have don’t something stupid. I really think it’s time I get help but don’t believe anything can help me. anyone who can relate or have useful advice would be most appreciated. thanks for listening.

Anon1997 Anxiety gets so bad I have to leave home when I don’t want to
  • replies: 7

What is someone called when they’re distant towards you but also make snide remarks/comments in the disguise as a joke. Or how about when they’re distant from you and your son but you’re not sure what’s actually their problem and now you get this hor... View more

What is someone called when they’re distant towards you but also make snide remarks/comments in the disguise as a joke. Or how about when they’re distant from you and your son but you’re not sure what’s actually their problem and now you get this horrible anxiety so crippling you literally skip town in hopes you don’t see them so you don’t have a big confrontational argument because you’re scared of what will happen because you’ve tried that in the past and it back fired on you & were made to feel like your feelings were invalid, that they are allowed to judge my music taste, like they are better than me, like the person who made you feel like they had a worse childhood than you due to sexual abuse but didn’t know you actually suffered sexual abuse from a family friend and to this day still haven’t told anyone apart from mentioning it right now. Now her (my eldest sister) daughters (my nieces) are distant towards me, don’t acknowledge my son most times & are apparently different to him when I’m not around. Her eldest daughter will not acknowledge me in town anymore. That’s okay, her and I never really became close after the first blow out. Her youngest was quite close to me up until Easter and now all she thinks is my son is spoiled and she’s not (whole other backstory; she got more Easter presents then my son and that’s all I’m going to say). She won’t even acknowledge my son (2yr old) if he’s trying to get her attention, he’s very persistent and he’s not speaking much but he can definitely use his voice to indicate what he wants. He could practically be on her and she wouldn’t even look at him. Yet with her eldest sisters sons both 4&2 she is all over them and interacts with them but with my son she is cold. It’s starting to affect me to the point I don’t acknowledge any of them & the fact that my father and another niece from my other sister is telling me things I’m not comfortable with (not acknowledging my son, idc about me). My foot was put down when my eldest sister invited my mum out for her birthday dinner, that’s fine, she usually asks if I want to go but things had been pretty rocky so I didn’t expect it but felt a little hurt. Then they come back to pick all my nieces up to go back to her house to cut mums cake. They got my eldest niece and her two boys over there but they never texted me or rang me, not even to include my son. Which was very odd considering they would usually contact me. I felt so hurt I didn’t talk to anyone for days.