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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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CatastrophySam The Ebb and Flow
  • replies: 7

Right now I'm in a pretty bad place, full of panic and over analyzing every small feeling - twitching/pain/subjective weakness etc and trying to short circuit it with logical and rational thoughts. I always remember what a psychiatrist told me at the... View more

Right now I'm in a pretty bad place, full of panic and over analyzing every small feeling - twitching/pain/subjective weakness etc and trying to short circuit it with logical and rational thoughts. I always remember what a psychiatrist told me at the beginning when all of this started... I will always have anxiety however my control over it will get better and there will be times it comes back but my ability to control it will mean the fluctuations will get less and less. This has largely been correct. There were times at my worst when I was frozen and shaking uncontrollably on the bed thinking the worst... I haven't had that in 6 months. It has been since October 2019 when I noticed weakness in my arm and then my leg. Then the twitching started in my right leg. I can honestly say these 2 areas haven't progressed any or anything noticeably in 9 months... This logically should put my mind at ease immediately... but the anxiety in my brain will try to counter it by saying 'what if you do have something serious, but it's just a slower form of the disease' I then try to short circuit that thinking by knowing that if something is very slow (even though not realistic), then it's still okay. Right now I have trouble in my articulation. I noticed a few nights ago that I was swallowing too much (maybe some allergies) and a few days later my tongue felt tired/sore and I could articulate as easily. I also know I'm thinking about this too much which is making something that has been nearly a subconscious movement in to something I'm analysing for each and every word spoken. This has happened before and went away, which should put my mind at ease immediately but again my brain will counter the reasonable/logical thinking by saying 'what if it is getting weaker and you can't cope anymore?'. I know this is impossible, if you can't move something then you can't move something. It's as simple as that. Despite my logical thinking making overwhelming sense, the illogical/irrational thoughts still pepper away and come and go with intensity. Some weeks I feel like me again and others (like now) the world looks like a different place. I know through my own experience that it will subside again however practice makes perfect eg. mindful meditation/positive assumptions etc. If you're reading this and at the beginning of your journey, just know that it does get easier, and if you fall again, it's normal. You will come out of the fog.

hacketts New to dealing with extreme anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hey, I'm pretty new to all of this, in a way. I've been dealing with anxiety since I was a kid but have only started to acknowledge it/understand it in the past year. However, after I acknowledged it, it has become much worse, and after the recent se... View more

Hey, I'm pretty new to all of this, in a way. I've been dealing with anxiety since I was a kid but have only started to acknowledge it/understand it in the past year. However, after I acknowledged it, it has become much worse, and after the recent separation with my partner, it taken over my entire mind. I can't go a single day without shaking and feeling extremely vulnerable in my self. I've cut down of my drinking habits and try to do things that will calm myself down, but due to a lack of friends and motivation I feel stuck in my head a lot of the time. I feel like I'm the only one that could be feeling exactly how I feel and that thought really isolates me. I'm unsure of myself and have lost all my self confidence and enthusiasm. I'm not like who I used to be, and my confidence has really deteriorated. The anxiety makes me feel sick and helpless, and just so alone. I'm worried it will stay like this forever, and in the height of it I struggle to rationalize. Coping mechanisms are not my strong suit.

Paulastired Getting help in rural area
  • replies: 2

Hey, I am having major issues with anxiety - it is getting out of control lately due to a death in my family. I have done lots of things to manage it, i.e. food, exercise/yoga etc, but it is so bad now it is mucking up my work. I have been to the GP ... View more

Hey, I am having major issues with anxiety - it is getting out of control lately due to a death in my family. I have done lots of things to manage it, i.e. food, exercise/yoga etc, but it is so bad now it is mucking up my work. I have been to the GP twice for help and to ask for medication but refused as I scored 19 and needed 20 to "qualify". I have done a lot of my own reading and learning, and feel this is where I need to go. Instead I was given a script for sleeping tablets, which the pharmacists couldn't administer for some reason, and they need to compound these after I agree to a price. ?? I don't know it seems so stupid, and to wait for 2 weeks to see if I feel better. Anyway, how do you get help when your GP won't listen and says you don't really have a problem and just need sleep, when you really have a problem? I live in a rural area and feel like the doctors here don't think mental health is a real thing. Its hard to ask for help, and get knocked down.

Michelle34 how do you work?
  • replies: 3

How does everyone hold down a job with chronic anxiety? I'm nervous about going back to work as I am having a massive flare and I don't know if I'll be able to cope. I'm lucky in the sense that I keep getting offered more and more hours from differen... View more

How does everyone hold down a job with chronic anxiety? I'm nervous about going back to work as I am having a massive flare and I don't know if I'll be able to cope. I'm lucky in the sense that I keep getting offered more and more hours from different people but I have to keep knocking them back as I don't think I'll be able to manage. None of the people I work for know I have chronic anxiety as I am able to keep my shit together for the hours I'm at work and maintain being bright and bubbly (I have had one person complain to me that they would never hire so and so because they suffer anxiety) though I've had to chuck a few sickies because of it. I've never been able to maintain a steady job. I am a good worker, I always get asked to take on more and do more where ever I work but I get to this point where my anxiety is too much I start wigging out and I have to quit and the cycle begins again. I feel like I'm on a hamster wheel and I never really get any where.

GLJ My son left home with no job and is on drugs
  • replies: 2

Really struggling with anxiety and insomnia. My son, 18, finished year 12. Started an apprenticeship then lost his job for taking too many days off, showing up late, always on his phone. He is smoking marijuana a lot. I have a 13 year old daughter at... View more

Really struggling with anxiety and insomnia. My son, 18, finished year 12. Started an apprenticeship then lost his job for taking too many days off, showing up late, always on his phone. He is smoking marijuana a lot. I have a 13 year old daughter at home too. After 6 weeks of my son up all night, asleep all day, day drinking, doing nothing but live like a bit of a slob while we all worked, i told him to go find work. He packed a bag and left. He came back to the house while we were working and stole my birthday money. We had to change the locks. I have been blocked from him completely. I tried calling him once every day for 3 weeks, he just rejects my calls. Its been over a month now with not a word from him. Im a marathon runner, i work full time and im now extremely anxious and sleep deprived. Im so wired with worry of a night time. Its awful. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Kmmmmm Increase in anxiety after changing meds
  • replies: 2

I have recently been tapering off of an antidepressant medication. My anxiety has been high, a constant feeling of unease and tightness is my chest. It’s so uncomfortable. I am wondering if I should just go back to my original dose. I really wish I w... View more

I have recently been tapering off of an antidepressant medication. My anxiety has been high, a constant feeling of unease and tightness is my chest. It’s so uncomfortable. I am wondering if I should just go back to my original dose. I really wish I was normal and did need all this pharmaceutical help. My medication is so high that my doctors will not write me scripts. I really cannot afford the psychiatrist, but my gp insists on it without any options for financing. I don’t know what to do to get out of this situation. I really want a normal life. I want to be healthy.

Booshark The new girl
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone thought i would join as I have been diagnosed with panic attacks, get some tips, advice etc from others on how they deal with stress / anxieties. Mine has come from living through the fires in January (we were surrounded), looking after m... View more

Hi everyone thought i would join as I have been diagnosed with panic attacks, get some tips, advice etc from others on how they deal with stress / anxieties. Mine has come from living through the fires in January (we were surrounded), looking after my parents (mother has high anxieties whose biggest fear is fire), COVID (I work the front line in a hospital where abuse from the public is a daily occurrence ), single parenting (home schooling is not for me), and now helping my son whose father has decided to move to the UK (who visited him and said goodbye to him during the week). Like everyone it’s been a hell of a year. Hope everyone is doing ok and managing the best they can, as that is all we can do and support each other.

ArtStones33 Is it reasonable to get DSP for anxiety and depression?
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, I decided to reach out to this community to share some of my personal experience, and to ask for advice, I'll do my best to keep it short so a decent amount of things may be left out but I will get straight to the point. I am a 33 year o... View more

Hi everyone, I decided to reach out to this community to share some of my personal experience, and to ask for advice, I'll do my best to keep it short so a decent amount of things may be left out but I will get straight to the point. I am a 33 year old man who has suffered all my life with anxiety and depression, my earliest memory of anxiety was 4 years old, I have done my best to do what I feel society wants from me, when I was younger I got work, did my best with friends tried my best with girlfriends, getting a car, my own place all the things that society expects. for the last 10+ years I have basically become a shut in, in 2018 I went for help, I have seen doctors, counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists, I have been on 3 different medications and about to try a 4th one. From 2013 to 2018 I had no income whatsoever this was due to shutting down completely and not being able to leave the house at all I only had support of family. the last 2 years of my life have been extremely difficult, my mum and I live next to threating neighbours (I can't get into the details of that) and I have been unable to drive my car for the last 18 months. to spite having worked for 3 years in my early 20s and getting a car a a girlfriend or two, I assure everyone that my anxiety is extremely debilitating, while at work I suffered every day and had to eventually quit due to depression. my anxiety is all over the place, at times it's so bad I'm as timid as a shy little kid and my fear levels are off the charts. As I said before I am 33, I am a guy who is approaching middle age and I don't see these issues going away, since anxiety and depression has always been apart of my life, since I have tried with mental health professionals, medication etc then shouldn't my government take me serious? I have applied and been rejected for DSP 3 times so far. So far also no mental health professional seems to want to say my condition is permanent, I can't see how it's not, I am almost half way through my life.... at what point will it be considered? So I'm here to ask...what should I do? what can I say to a mental health professional? I am tired of medication and I am tried of people trying to throw me back into work when I don't want it and can't do it.

Autumn_ What’s it like to live a normal life?
  • replies: 13

Hi Everyone, I’m having a down day and I was hoping to hear some positive stories to see there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I was diagnosed with major depression a few years ago and have been doing counselling since. Recently, I have realised... View more

Hi Everyone, I’m having a down day and I was hoping to hear some positive stories to see there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I was diagnosed with major depression a few years ago and have been doing counselling since. Recently, I have realised I have social anxiety and how much of a profound affect on my life. I know it sounds crazy to only realise this as an adult, however, I feel like it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish between shyness and social anxiety. As a result of my anxiety, I find it difficult to socialise and make friends. I’ve been lonely for a very long time and crave intimate relationships. The few friends I do attract, seem to enjoy me because I’m a good listener. However, when I’m done (or even up) they seem to be nowhere to be found. I think this also translates to my romantic relationships. Men have been interested in me, however, they only seem to enjoy being cared for while not really giving much in return. As a result, I end up in relationships where I do everything (cooking, cleaning - being the sole income earner) for far too long. My therapist and I have talked about redirecting my caring nature to myself. I sometime think that would equate to leaving the relationships which are draining me. But it is very difficult to turn my back on the few social interactions I have. So, basically I wanted to put some feelers out there to get perspective on whether the types of relationship I’m experiencing are normal. Do you have friends that you feel actually care for you? Partners that do the same? Does anyone have social anxiety and went on to have successful relationships? Thanks a bunch. Have a good night

Niki9 Social anxiety and stress rash?
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, Lately i've been feeling a crippling sense of what I think could be social anxiety or some branch of it. For example, the other day I went back to the gym as it reopened after being closed due to COVID. I know most of the staff there and... View more

Hi everyone, Lately i've been feeling a crippling sense of what I think could be social anxiety or some branch of it. For example, the other day I went back to the gym as it reopened after being closed due to COVID. I know most of the staff there and I'm an avid gym goer, so the gym environment has always been a comfortable space for me. However, I was somewhat feeling a little nervous - maybe excited nerves? Anyway, as I got there, the gym owner and club manager were there as they usually are, and there's something about them that subconsciously makes me feel a little awkward or intimidated, however usually I never let it get to me and i'm friendly enough to carry conversation well. They greeted me and then had to take my temperature due to the new COVID regulations, and my temperature was over 37 degrees! They said they couldn't let me in until I cooled down a bit, so I stood there for a while as they chatted to me (I was already uncomfortable/embarrassed at this stage). After about 5 minutes, they took my temperature again and I was even hotter than before! I felt so embarrassed and awkward, and sat there and waited another 10 minutes on my own. I couldn't understand why I was getting so heated when talking to them, when usually I don't have trouble talking to people. The next day I was at the apple store, and the security guard pulled out a thermometer to take my temperature before I entered (which I wasn't expecting), and my heart skipped a beat and started pounding faster. It triggered the memory I had had the day before about the thermometer. A few days later, when I decided I would train again at the gym, I felt anxious all morning about it. I didn't want to see those workers again, let alone have my temperature taken again. As I approached reception, I felt jittery and nervous, but luckily my temperature was under 37 degrees this time. However, the the gym owner made a comment about how it had decreased from last time (which made me feel embarrassed) and he then started talking to me about my training - I could feel myself burning up as we chatted. When I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror after our chat I noticed bright red blotches on my neck! I usually get these temporary blotches when anxiety hits my body hard. What is happening to me?? I love my gym but now I get an anxious feeling about it due to this stupid experience Can anyone relate/give tips? Much appreciated