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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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Jcob5839 anxiety while driving
  • replies: 9

Hello everyone im a 17 year old year 12 student and im having some anxiety issues with driving a car, i am diagnosed with OCD and depression and im medicated for it. I recently got my drivers license and while i do like the freedom it gives me i try ... View more

Hello everyone im a 17 year old year 12 student and im having some anxiety issues with driving a car, i am diagnosed with OCD and depression and im medicated for it. I recently got my drivers license and while i do like the freedom it gives me i try to avoid driving because it makes me feel so anxious. i need to constantly check the dashboard to make sure im not speeding, every time i change lanes im convinced to could have hit someone on a motorcycle or a bike. i panic every time i go through lights because im scared it will go yellow and i might make the wrong decision if it is safe to stop or not. i had a particularly bad experience on the way to school this morning, i was about to go through some lights which had a crossing on them the speed limit was 70 and the light went yellow and panicked and didn't think i could stop in time and the light went red when i was halfway through it the thing that made it so horrible was that there was a group of school kids waiting to cross and i thought if they started crossing i would have killed and innocent group of kids i have been thinking about it all day and i got to the point where i had to make this account and express my feelings because im too scared to tell anyone in real life, has anybody gone through any similar experiences and know how i could deal with them thank you

Amy12345 Depersonalisation/derealisation
  • replies: 1

Does anyone else suffer from DPDR? Mine is really bad at the moment and I was hoping to get some tips for what helps

Does anyone else suffer from DPDR? Mine is really bad at the moment and I was hoping to get some tips for what helps

AmzzmA1993 “Hit and run” OCD
  • replies: 2

Hey guys! I’ve recently developed the fear of running someone or something over when I’m driving, particularly at night time but it’s becoming more and more frequent throughout the day as well. Whenever I hit a bump in the road or take my eyes off th... View more

Hey guys! I’ve recently developed the fear of running someone or something over when I’m driving, particularly at night time but it’s becoming more and more frequent throughout the day as well. Whenever I hit a bump in the road or take my eyes off the road for a second to check the time or change the station I am overcome with the fear that it was a living thing which I just ran over in my car. If I can’t be sure I have an overwhelming urge to turn around and double check but then I need to double check what I’ve already double checked. Does anyone else deal with this? Does anyone know what I can to do stop myself from thinking this way? It’s so exhausting, I know in the bottom of heart that it’s just a bump in the road but I’m so scared of leaving someone injured or getting in to trouble that I need to double check. thanks guys

TishaJade Compulsive Negative Thoughts
  • replies: 5

I can't seem to stop my intrusive negative thinking. EVERYTHING triggers me. I am SO emotional. I had an argument with my boyfriend yesterday over something silly. He is so patient with me and my moods, that this time he flipped out and said some hur... View more

I can't seem to stop my intrusive negative thinking. EVERYTHING triggers me. I am SO emotional. I had an argument with my boyfriend yesterday over something silly. He is so patient with me and my moods, that this time he flipped out and said some hurtful things. I can't get them out of my head... One in particular is bringing me down every hour or so. I said that I wished he would grow up a little bit and stop being forgetful with things, because when we have children I can't be dealing with him as well as the kids. And he said "well we just won't have kids then!" Out of anger. But it stuck with me and I can't move past it. I have had about 4 emotional outbursts to him, all of which he has made clear he was sorry and he did not mean what he said, and that when we are ready he wants to have kids with me. This makes it hard for me because he already has a child to someone else who we look after weekly. This has been a struggle for me since the beginning because I am envious that he has had a child already with someone else. I feel like my progress has been ruined in trying to cope with the situation. I feel like he doesn't want kids with me, never did, and that I will just have to deal with the fact he wanted to have a kid with someone else and not me. I have no reason to think this way but I am and I can't help it. It feels as real to me as anything even though it's not. I feel so depressed... I feel like I can't get past this or accept that he didn't mean what he said and believe that we will have children together and all be a happy family. All that is running through my head is things such as. "He never wanted children with you" and "he only wanted children with her" and "what's wrong with me for him to not want that with me." I am so confused because I know he loves me and I do believe that he wants a real family with me but i can't seem to shake the negative thoughts... words such as the ones he said to me are so damaging they literally ruin me for weeks and even months. I love him a lot and having a family and getting married mean SO much to me that any small fraction of a chance that he does not want the same as me (Even though) he does, I obsess over. How do I stop hurting myself and driving my partner nuts because he really doesn't do anything wrong and gives me no REAL reason to believe anything that I put in my head. But I continue to feel terrible all the time.

Gumtree77 Self Sabotage
  • replies: 7

Hi All I hope everyone is coping as best they can during this nightmare. I personally am not. I am self isolating with my 16 year old son. He is totally addicted to computer and it is all I can do to get him to have a shower. He has not left the hous... View more

Hi All I hope everyone is coping as best they can during this nightmare. I personally am not. I am self isolating with my 16 year old son. He is totally addicted to computer and it is all I can do to get him to have a shower. He has not left the house in three weeks. I had major shoulder surgery three weeks ago and he was here to help me bless him. It was a terrible time as the pain was indescribable and I basically did not sleep for one week. I also ended up in emergency with a possible embolism which luckily I did not have. Prior to all this I have been on work cover for the shoulder injury so was limited anyway. Last year I developed neuralgia which initially presented as throat cancer. MRI and other tests ruled all this out. I used to drink and smoke a lot due to my depression and anxiety. During this time I of course stopped all of that. Now with this current debacle I am back to my bad habits. I am so useless and pathetic. I worry about the ramifications but I feel powerless to stop. I know I sabotage myself. I try to eat healthy and go for walks and go days on end without the drinks/smokes...then I see the news and what is going on and go back to the old rubbish again. Then suffer major anxiety and the neuralgia comes back. I just cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel and my only real concern is my son. Then again as he is only 16 I feel the full responsibility of being here for him as he really does not like his dad and there is barely any contact between them. I also lost my beloved dog in December and I just feel overwhelmed with loss, anxiety, grief, depression and total chaos. I try to do the right thing! I walk everyday, do my pt exercises daily....keep the house clean and on top of finances etc. I guess we are all in this and nobody knows when it will end. I know I can't keep doing this shit to myself but I truly do not know what else to do. Please help.

Undecided94 OCD? Headaches, Should I seek help?
  • replies: 3

Hi, it feels super strange to be writing this, I think by writing on here I’m looking for others who suffer from ocd to tell me they experience the same things, to perhaps make me feel better. I don’t know. i want to start off with saying I have neve... View more

Hi, it feels super strange to be writing this, I think by writing on here I’m looking for others who suffer from ocd to tell me they experience the same things, to perhaps make me feel better. I don’t know. i want to start off with saying I have never been to the doctor or spoken to anyone about this, so don’t have an official diagnosis. The ocd like “traits” started when I was in grade 3 or 4 over the years the things I do have changed, I’ve stopped some and kept others and added some things includes checking doors are locked before going to bed, checking the stove is turned off, then checking it again and again until it feels right touching something and counting until it feels right. Checking rubbish before I put it in the bin a million times in case I’m throwing something out. moving my head, sort of nodding etc as I think over things in my head that is one I’m really conscious of and worried people can see. If they do notice I just play it off but it’s one that I’ve continued with over time. my worry is that I get headaches from it sometimes, sometimes my ear blocks, behind my eye hurts. im just worried I’m doing something to my head? has anyone else experienced this before? i know it is stress/ anxiety related as when I’m stressed out the things I do get way worse and I have to “redo “ things over and over until it feels right way more. im not sure if I should seek help or not. this is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this. thanks for those that read this far and for those that may be able to let me know if they have felt this way.

anonymous44 first time with intrusive thoughts and I literally want to die yaz has made me have a mental break down
  • replies: 6

hello everyone I’m new here please excuse my terrible grammar I’m not the best with English I started the pill about 2 weeks ago and for the last 2 day I have been having what I now know as intrusive thoughts and they are just devastating I don’t ima... View more

hello everyone I’m new here please excuse my terrible grammar I’m not the best with English I started the pill about 2 weeks ago and for the last 2 day I have been having what I now know as intrusive thoughts and they are just devastating I don’t imagine the act of hurting people or anything I just think what if I was that a person that did hurt people it’s making me second guess everything I do in life and I am a mum of 3 so it’s just debilitating I just feel so broken at the moment and just so scared that it will get worse And I will start thinking about hurting people which I know I would absolutely never do but my brain keeps making me think it’s possible I just really don’t understand what’s happening to me and I’m praying to god it goes away I will be seeing a doctor tonight to start a mental health plan but if anyone else has been through something similar it would be great to not think I am actually crazy I have new I have never had any depression or anxiety every has been pretty cruisy up until now also I’m meant to be getting married in 11 weeks

M1ssjess89 I am exhausted
  • replies: 8

I feel like I am going nuts, and I'm so tired. I just want all of this to stop. I've always had issues with anxiety and stress. I had a family member pass away a month ago and I didn't handle it well. Then I started getting major anxiety about death,... View more

I feel like I am going nuts, and I'm so tired. I just want all of this to stop. I've always had issues with anxiety and stress. I had a family member pass away a month ago and I didn't handle it well. Then I started getting major anxiety about death, losing my husband, not having enough time for anything. Then one day all of a sudden I started getting pins and needles in my shoulders that traveled down my arms. It didn't dissapear. Since then I've had pins and needles in my hands and feet, but it's not always in the same spot. Sometimes it can be one arm. If it's not tingles it can burn or my fingers feel full/rubbery For the past 4 weeks I've basically been in panic mode. I'm only breathing shallow, yawning to breath, my heart goes quick and it makes my symptoms worse. I've got to a physio and doctor and they both think it's all anxiety. I dont have numbness or weakness etc. But because my anxiety is so bad I sometimes think I have weakness. I constantly keep going to worse case scenario. My doctor assures me I'm healthy. I am exhausted from my constant thoughts. I am trying everything to calm down, exercise mindfulness etc and I cannot seem to fully relax I just keep thinking this is the beginning of something bad. Has anybody else had similar physical symptoms for so long? How did you calm down? I've been given medication but I cannot rely on that. I keep getting these symptoms so cannot calm down.

rvch1117 triggers, do i have anxiety??
  • replies: 4

hi guys. i know this might sound kinda stupid because its half a rant but i really need to get this out to someone. i've never been professionally diagnosed but i've always had anxiety inducing symptoms since the end of 2015. i couldnt breathe, bad c... View more

hi guys. i know this might sound kinda stupid because its half a rant but i really need to get this out to someone. i've never been professionally diagnosed but i've always had anxiety inducing symptoms since the end of 2015. i couldnt breathe, bad chest pains, racing heart beat and stomach aches. honestly typing this right now im struggling to breathe and i want to cry. in class when we have ice breakers i find it really hard for me to breathe. i have chest pains and i want to cry in the middle of class if the teacher brings up these sort of self introductory topics. i dont know why. and when in a new group of people, i cant breathe and i struggle to talk to anyone. does this happen to anyone else?? i feel alone because although i have friends who have similar experiences, none of them have the same as mine. is this normal? i dont know whats going on. because it was so bad in 2016 and 17. i would have struggles to breathe and chest pains everyday. and i always felt so nervous on a daily basis. nowadays only certain triggers bring it up though, like social situations or bringing up someone from my past. someone help me figure myself out please.

Allymay94 Lately been very anxious and slightly depressed
  • replies: 3

Hello, I have GAD but I’ve been very good and happy for like 4 months then all of a sudden I had a horrible panic attack about a month ago now recently feeling quite depressed and anxious. I have had my period for over a month due to going on the pil... View more

Hello, I have GAD but I’ve been very good and happy for like 4 months then all of a sudden I had a horrible panic attack about a month ago now recently feeling quite depressed and anxious. I have had my period for over a month due to going on the pill again so I’m hoping it’s that but still doesn’t help how I feel. It may be that my subconscious is scared about the whole covid-19 thing. I live with my friend so I’m not alone and honestly I’ve been unemployed for a while so I’m used to staying at home not doing much. Anyway I feel my anxiety is causing my depression I feel on edge mostly and the depression is a symptom of that. I just need supporting words, some insight on how and why I’m feeling this way, need to be assured again I’m not alone. thanks