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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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gucia6 Social anxiety or something else?
  • replies: 9

Hi everyone, Generally I am craving for being among people, but lack social skills allowing me to get closer. Whenever I meet someone, I am terrified, my mind goes blank. And this moves to "what-should-I-say-now,what-should-I-say-now", "they probably... View more

Hi everyone, Generally I am craving for being among people, but lack social skills allowing me to get closer. Whenever I meet someone, I am terrified, my mind goes blank. And this moves to "what-should-I-say-now,what-should-I-say-now", "they probably think I am boring/cold/rude", "oh,this is so awkward", "what if they think I am not worthy talking to anymore?" etc. I need a moment to get used to them and realize that they are not going to eat me and I can actually talk to them (if they are still there of course). During parties I am the listener and observer, and I need someone safe (usually my husband) to be beside me to feel comfortable. I am also OK speaking in front of people, as long as I am prepared. But any change of agenda and if I have to answer sudden questions I get light-headed, dry throat, go bright red, my heart wants to beat itself out of my chest, and really just want to turn around and run away. But the real problem is this horrible fear of being left out, not fully accepted, never being invited to share time with those people I care about. In the past, I preferred just to leave thinking that I am not good enough for them to accept me. Once I was openly pushed away from a group, because I was the target of bullying, and they didn't want to have trouble because of me. Back then I already shut myself out and I didn't bother. I volunteer in the community, I thought I got somehow close to couple of people and even thou the progress is really slow, I was OK with it. But recently one person from 'my' group was moving so I offered my help, but was told they have enough helpers. After that this person started discussing plan of action for the moving day with two others from 'my' group. This completely kicked me off balance. I don't think it was intentional, as I can feel I am liked and respected. And well, I know it is slow and the necessary closeness has not bloom yet, but still it hurts as hell. Later at home I ended up in teary mess. I wanted to scream "What did I do wrong?", "Why am I being treated so different if we all started the volunteering at the same time?", "it's so unfair", etc. After calming down I started being angry at them. But this I can handle. I will not jump out at them, I know I suck big time when it comes to socializing. But I am learning how to improve. The thing I am in need now is rather how to cope with this overwhelming pain of rejection, disappointment and how to prevent pushing them away due to my upset condition.

Trexemillion Feeling Restless and Spaced Out!! But Also Energetic?
  • replies: 2

For a few months I've been experiencing anxious symptoms from tightness in the chest to rapid breathing, Which I have experienced before through panic attacks and stress, but the biggest problem I'm having is feeling exhausted and zoned out with a bi... View more

For a few months I've been experiencing anxious symptoms from tightness in the chest to rapid breathing, Which I have experienced before through panic attacks and stress, but the biggest problem I'm having is feeling exhausted and zoned out with a big dose adrenaline fueling my body/brain. It feels as if I'm walking around on auto pilot but also like I'm going a million miles all day/night. I'm also noticing a hightened level of emotions from happy to sad to angry and they can get erratic at times peaking randomly. I feel as though so much is happening in me and I'm not catching up or vis versa. Which then makes me feel overwhelmed. I do work in retail and with these times I understand that could be urging these anxious feelings but am I alone in feeling like this? Is anybody else feeling this anxious, energised and exhausted feelings mashed together?

Mitch_Master_Mike Multiple head sensations from anxiety - reaching out for help
  • replies: 3

Hi friends, The last 3 years I've been getting a series of strange head sensations, They generally stay for 6-9 months then stop for a few months only to return after being triggered by organic sensations similar (a head cold or over tired). It makes... View more

Hi friends, The last 3 years I've been getting a series of strange head sensations, They generally stay for 6-9 months then stop for a few months only to return after being triggered by organic sensations similar (a head cold or over tired). It makes me feel like i'm going to faint or 'check out' when i'm speaking to people face to face and makes driving difficult and unsafe plus generally feeling not ‘with it’ 24/7. Caffeine brings on the sensation 10x harder, even little doses like in painkillers affect me. After the first belt of this and after many inconclusive doctors visits and MRI scans i spoke to a friend who also suffers from anxiety and said it is probably adrenaline being produced in excess which is causing the problem due to anxiety. It actually helped, went from a 8/10 to a 3/10 after a few days of trying to process this theory. Problem is I can't shake it..Everytime i get a trigger (cold or over tired) it comes back. I'm reaching out to anybody who has had anything similar to this or may be able to help. I can't find anything that ticks all the boxes online. After speaking to health professionals nothing has been resolved, nobody knows what it is exactly which makes me feel increasingly anxious and depression is starting to set in. It's starting to drive me crazy not to know what is wrong with me. Symptoms: Heavy eyes Eyes sensitive to light Ears ringing ‘Gassy’ feeling in head Slight off balance 20 frames per second behind (based on a study saying 110 fps is standard) normal life speed Constantly tired Spaced out feeling (almost like being stoned) Hard to focus long distances If anyone has any input big or small it would be appreciated. Thanks! MMM

Roogirl14 Feeling anxious and lonely. Can't sleep, crying and my chest is tight
  • replies: 4

I have done something really stupid and I am very angry with myself. I have let my work colleagues and bosses down. I have apologised so many times but they dont believe me. I love the place I work at but they think I am a bad person now. I am very a... View more

I have done something really stupid and I am very angry with myself. I have let my work colleagues and bosses down. I have apologised so many times but they dont believe me. I love the place I work at but they think I am a bad person now. I am very anxious about going to work tomorrow and feel like a failure. I am seeing my daughter today but I don't want to tell her what I have done. I live alone and have no one to talk to. Everytime I close my eyes the words just repeat through my head. Hence no sleep. O don't know what to do and feel like I am worthless. HELP

Sam2019 Desperate for help
  • replies: 5

I have been living a life of hell for almost a year. It all started off after coming back from a trip. I was stressed before hand and stressed during and I came back almost to a break down. I've had the following 1- Extreme fatigue since august last ... View more

I have been living a life of hell for almost a year. It all started off after coming back from a trip. I was stressed before hand and stressed during and I came back almost to a break down. I've had the following 1- Extreme fatigue since august last year to the point where I need to sleep all day 2- I've ended up with a million different tests thinking I've contracted a virus. Nothing keeps showing up. 3- I developed massive ectopic beats almost 1500 a day confirmed by holter which sent me into a new panic and more testing. Heart MRI's stress tests etc... all again normal and no explanation for the extra beats. 4- I developed intolerance to standing up. MY heart just races when I stand and the ectopics go nuts. 5- Recently I've started with twitching everywhere especially my legs. They will not stop from the knees down. Its been this way for month now. 6- I then started to get internal vibrations whilst asleep in bed. I haven't had a proper night sleep in weeks. I just feel like my legs and body is trembling as soon as I start to doze off. 7- Now I have tinnitus in ears almost daily and wont stop. 8- I've been to 2 neurologist thinking and convinced I have ALS (motor neuron disease) from all the twitching. 9- I've started to notice my left calf muscle where all the twitching is is smaller than my right and this sent me into a total spiral drive about the above ALS issue, I'm waiting to get further testing to prove what it is. 10- I wake up every morning measuring the size of my calf for atrophy and I'm too scared to walk or run incase I feel weakness in one which will totally destroy me. My mind is just going in circles all day. From ecoptics, to twitching, to tinnitus then I go back to ectopics and the loop goes over and over. The fatigue is almost debilitating. doctors think t's all health anxiety and a breakdown caused by stress so they threw benzos at me. I took them for a few days by the symptoms did not go away. this sent me even more into a mental break down because I'm thinking in my head if thebenzos didn't help then there must be something seriously wrong ! I've seen a couple of phycologist who are all trying this CBT stuff but my brain just sees the physical symptoms and is basically telling itself you're too smart to be tricked by CBT. I'm lost at the moment !the only think I'm able to do is dull the fatigue and symptoms with alcohol for brief periods of time to get me through the day Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

constantoverthinker new to this, does anyone get weird bowel movements?
  • replies: 15

hey guys, first time here and thought id seek some others out there.. does anyone get weird bowel movements with anxiety? like doing 2 or more poos a day and get random pain but think it is something drastic when its in your head? i hope this makes s... View more

hey guys, first time here and thought id seek some others out there.. does anyone get weird bowel movements with anxiety? like doing 2 or more poos a day and get random pain but think it is something drastic when its in your head? i hope this makes sense?

Whatsinaname Unworthy - Is this my anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I've been contemplating this for awhile now and was wondering if anyone else has the same feelings. I am blessed with a happy health son and just found out I have a daughter on the way. I have a good job, that pays well, and they know ab... View more

Hi everyone, I've been contemplating this for awhile now and was wondering if anyone else has the same feelings. I am blessed with a happy health son and just found out I have a daughter on the way. I have a good job, that pays well, and they know about my mental health issues and are very understanding about it. Married to the love of my life, we have had our ups and downs but ups definitely out weight the downs. We are currently building our dream home, which going to look amazing. What I can't seem to shake is that I don't feel worth of it all. Not only in the sense that it's unbelievable that these things are working out, but am I out side of my true self. I grew up with very little money, but loving parents, and now find myself quite comfortable (which is amazing in the current state of our economy) and can't shake the fact that I don't think I fit this mold. Like an impostor almost. I have, and continue to, work very hard for everything we have. Am I chasing a dream that isn't mine though.. Anyway, happy to hear peoples thoughts/stories. Thanks as always,

Redd Post Panic Attack Breathing Difficulties
  • replies: 2

Hi all. Around 5am on Monday I woke up to a sudden panic attack in my sleep and went to hospital completely unaware of what was going on (thought I was having a heart attack and shook so hard I couldn't walk). There was no signs of anything wrong wit... View more

Hi all. Around 5am on Monday I woke up to a sudden panic attack in my sleep and went to hospital completely unaware of what was going on (thought I was having a heart attack and shook so hard I couldn't walk). There was no signs of anything wrong with me and it was ruled down to panic, albeit inconclusive results. Ever since then, from the moment I wake up I am completely short of breath, tense in the chest and haven't been able to sleep in fear of having another attack. As I write this, I am absolutely exhausted but unable to fall asleep without receiving a sudden jolt as if I can't breathe. In fact, I think I've otherbreathed so much I've thrown my whole body out of wack and I don't know if practicing deep breathing has only made matters worse. I have never had anxiety or depression in my life. I'm as chipper as they come but, even when I'm in a good mood, I still can't shake this off. Every night I get the muscle spasms, cold sweating and insomnia, and I'm worried this will never go away or allow me to go back to living my life. Right now, I would just like to speak to someone who can tell me what I have and what I should do so I can at least know I'm doing the right thing. It's pretty terrifying to be left alone with this and worse what it means for the future.

Notanurse Have had enough of my OCD habits!
  • replies: 1

Lately I've found a pattern on when my OCD is worse and better. When I'm more stressed or tired its worse and irritates the hell out of me. Throughout the day its checking my car to make sure its locked when I leave it, I'll literally be checking the... View more

Lately I've found a pattern on when my OCD is worse and better. When I'm more stressed or tired its worse and irritates the hell out of me. Throughout the day its checking my car to make sure its locked when I leave it, I'll literally be checking the doors to make sure they're locked, pressing the lock button 10+ times, walking away walking back to the car to make sure its locked and at times ive got back in the car to just get out again and make sure its locked. It drives me crazy. When I leave home I take a 10+ minutes making sure things are where they should be, checking windows and doors, making sure EVERY switch is turned off. When I go to bed of a night I spend up to an hour doing everything mentioned above and when I am so exhausted from work or study I get so frustrated with myself and this crazy need to do these crazy things! In my head I'll tell myself I've checked everything and its OK but if I havent checked it enough or correctly I feel like I have worms crawling under my skin until I've checked everything correctly. Its really starting to hit me now that my son has caught onto it. He tells me I've checked it already and its locked or turned off or whatever and he's started getting irritated at times too at what I'm doing. I have briefly talked about it with my doctor and psychiatrist and they haven't taken much notice of it, saying my diagnosis of bipolar is the number one concern when it comes to my management of my mental health. But this is driving me crazy, I have no reason to be checking so much but I feel this need to! I'm thinking of going back to discuss it but worried they won't really take the concern seriously again. I don't care if its counselling or meds that will help it i just can't stand it any more!

Vers Feeling Flat
  • replies: 4

i have struggled with social anxiety for about 12+ years at this point and was prescribed medication about a year and a half ago and everything was going well but over the last few weeks i have felt really flat and my anxieties have started creeping ... View more

i have struggled with social anxiety for about 12+ years at this point and was prescribed medication about a year and a half ago and everything was going well but over the last few weeks i have felt really flat and my anxieties have started creeping back up. most notably i recently went a short trip with a few friends and just felt as if i no longer belonged with that group and ever since i have avoided pretty much all contact with those people which sorta just leads to me feeling worse. On top of my friends issue i feel like im wasting my time with everything that i do. nothing really sparks any joy for me, things just fill in time as i wait for the day to end and i can go to sleep. straight after high school i went into university where everyday was overwhelming until i finally had a breakdown and was unable to even set foot in uni again. a cycle repeated for about four years where i would attempt to enroll in classes and go, fail the classes, breakdown and take the second semester in the year off completely. i tried to get back into the rhythm of things but each failed class just added to my doubts and eventually i just gave up and did nothing. and now im doing some classes at tafe and they are going fine but i have no motivation for them. i donn't care if i pass or fail, i have no idea what job i want and i don't even have any real goals or dreams or things i want to achieve. i feel like im just doing these classes so im not wasting all my time. people always tell me just "follow your dreams" or "work in what you're passionate about" but i don't care about anything really so i end up just feeling lost. its been 4 years since i finished school and im no closer to a career than i was straight after high school not to mention i donn't feel like i have any strong bonds or connections with anyone at all. i mean i have friends but i don't feel very close to any of them and i feel like they don't want me around most of the time but i get confused cause i can't tell if that's true or its just my anxiety. i just feel really lost and really down. im not sure what to do or where to go and im really sick of just dragging myself through life but i have no idea what to do about it. apologies that this isn't very well formatted but i was just typing whatever came to mind. any advice is appreciated.