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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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Vexen Where to from here?
  • replies: 2

Hi Everybody, I wanted to see if I could get some advice should it be available from someone that went through a similar issue. It's 2020, I feel like i'm in one of the most damned generations of all time. I'm a 25 year old male currently going throu... View more

Hi Everybody, I wanted to see if I could get some advice should it be available from someone that went through a similar issue. It's 2020, I feel like i'm in one of the most damned generations of all time. I'm a 25 year old male currently going through a "quarter life crisis" stuck living with my parents, Bachelors in Business in management with no work experience in a skilled position. Trying to find a place in the world so I can become independent. Probably a lot of people in a similar boat. In short, I currently work in a car parking role with a solid organisation that I fell into about 12 months ago. It's likely to get me through this potential recession that we are about to have. It's not feasible for me to quit my job and I can't move out of home as I only make minimum wage. I can't seem to get better employment to give me a better standing to support myself which has caused a high sense of frustration. I'm also finding that management may not be something that I am particularly suited to as I have begun to want to pursue a more specialist based role. I thought about joining the ADF due to their training for a specific role however I get anxious about joining in general and it's still on the drawing board as a potential idea. Doing another degree to get me qualified for another specific job is not feasible and I literally got through my degree by a very small margin so I don't like my chances of passing again. It also can't guarantee me a job or career to follow for a considerable amount of time. In saying that, I want to avoid a life where I only make 40k a year in a dead end job with the constant thoughts that I won't amount to anything while living in constant first world poverty. I know that by default I have it better than a lot of people in the world but I definitely know that a lot have it better than me in society and I feel that I'm not up to scratch as a result. My social life is very limited in all directions of life which makes things even worse. I feel that I am constantly on my own with everything, it becomes difficult to bounce ideas when there's not many people around. I've talked to careers people that also can't really help my situation or walk around it and give holistic advice that really doesn't help me resolve the issue. There's a fair bit more, but I'm trying to keep it brief. Any advice would be appreciated.

Missy72 Getting back to work
  • replies: 3

Hi I’ve been off work for the past two and a bit months due to severe anxiety. It came on in November after a traumatic event and I tried to battle through going to work by self medicating, however by mid January I broke down and was hospitalised for... View more

Hi I’ve been off work for the past two and a bit months due to severe anxiety. It came on in November after a traumatic event and I tried to battle through going to work by self medicating, however by mid January I broke down and was hospitalised for 6 weeks. I’ve been out of hospital for nearly a month. The anxiety is still pretty high and I’m still on medication (antidepressant and antipsychotic), I’m also seeing a psychiatrist and psychologist weekly. My psychiatrist mentioned today about going back to work. He seems to think it would help the recovery process. I would love to be well enough to go back to work, at the moment it’s hard for me to find things to do every day to keep occupied and to try not let the anxiety consume me (even though it does). I just want my ‘normal’ life back. I’m in the emergency services (police). I would just like some feedback on how & when people felt ready to go back to work. Has returning to work helped your recovery? I would be under a rehab plan of reduced hours. Thank you

Jitters_Jumps___Lurking_P COVID19 and increasing anxiety
  • replies: 3

With everything going on lately with the COVID19 and the lurking economic depression, my anxiety is sky-rocketing. I am so worried that I've contracted the virus as I have been ill for the past week. I have been to the doctors and the fever clinic an... View more

With everything going on lately with the COVID19 and the lurking economic depression, my anxiety is sky-rocketing. I am so worried that I've contracted the virus as I have been ill for the past week. I have been to the doctors and the fever clinic and both believe that it is only the flu as I have no temperature and I have not travelled overseas or knowingly been in contact with someone who has the illness. I'm currently being tested for everything to be sure but I'm horrified that it will come back positive with something nasty. My worry has turned to what feels like in shock - I'm so confused and scared and my mind won't settle. So many 'what-if' scenarios... To make matters worse, I'm an immune compromised university student who came back from a field trip a few weeks ago where there was 150+ students (I'm assuming all healthy at the time) in one area and I live with my mother and grandmother (who believe I just have the flu). I've done my very best to limit any contact with others, practice good hygiene to the point of it becoming OCD and following my doctor requests that I put myself into social isolation (as she is worried about me contracting anything else - not necessarily me spreading anything) but I'm worried that it maybe too late and I've passed whatever I may or may not have onto other people. I don't know what I would do if my test came back with something and I've unintentionally passed it onto someone else - especially the elderly or other immune compromised people. I think I would shrivel up into a hole and die. But the doctor says that it's highly unlikely that I have it, that I was only tested to make sure that it wasn't COVID or glandular fever and that I was requested to stay home as to not get sick from other people but I still feel like I need to rip my hair out - scream (if I could) - run (if I could) - throw something. I honestly can't remember the last time I had anxiety that resembles a state shock like this. I'm so lost.

Ricman Anxiety Attacks - Heat Sensation
  • replies: 1

I have recently lost my sister to cancer after a short illness. My second sibling to die under the age of 50. I am the youngest and only one left. Just me and mum. A couple of days before her funeral I had what I believe was my first anxiety attack. ... View more

I have recently lost my sister to cancer after a short illness. My second sibling to die under the age of 50. I am the youngest and only one left. Just me and mum. A couple of days before her funeral I had what I believe was my first anxiety attack. Racing heart, dizziness, the fear of doom. Hard to remember everything that happened. Since then I've had my heart checked, seen my GP who has put me on AD's for GAD. Occasionally use medication if I am really bad. My main anxiety comes from the thought of something happening to me. I get that life is uncertain but it's the attacks that worry me the most. Fear that they aren't an 'anxiety attack' and something more sinister or when I'll have another one. I've read a lot online about the symptoms and I pretty much have them all. Muscle aches, headaches, tiredness, insomnia, feeling jittery etc but when I have an 'attack' I get scared the symptoms are something else. If I could describe it, I suddenly get this intense feeling of heat running from my leg right up the left side of my body mainly in my ribs and then I get the rest, pounding heart, racing thoughts that something bad is going to happen, feeling spaced out etc. It usually passes in 20 minutes or so but then I am left absolutely exhausted. Am I losing my mind?

JaneC76 Worried that the coronavirus will cut off my support
  • replies: 3

I'm not worried about the virus itself even if I was to catch it. I do remain concerned about the older people in my family. But seeing people behaving badly & selfishly has really upset me and set off my anxiety. I'm also worried I won't be able to ... View more

I'm not worried about the virus itself even if I was to catch it. I do remain concerned about the older people in my family. But seeing people behaving badly & selfishly has really upset me and set off my anxiety. I'm also worried I won't be able to see my psychotherapist or my psychiatrist, both of whom work out of a hospital. And what about my medications? What if I can't get them? What if have a flare up of my mental illness? In the past I've been hospitalised in psych wards, would I still have access to psych wards? And how will I manage my mental health if I'm required to be home with both children. I tend to count on regular 'breaks'.

AMlove Opening Up
  • replies: 3

Hi, I have never posted on a forum like this before. But, here goes. I have a diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and also, currently, depression. I've had GAD since probably high school but for the most part, throughout my teens and 20s,... View more

Hi, I have never posted on a forum like this before. But, here goes. I have a diagnosis of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and also, currently, depression. I've had GAD since probably high school but for the most part, throughout my teens and 20s, it was manageable. Three years ago I moved cities (I've lived overseas before) but I struggled with this move. I started university shortly after moving (a rather stressful course) and found that my anxiety was taking over. I had always prided myself on being a good student and found the fact that I was too anxious to engage in the material extremely distressing. That experience really knocked my confidence. I've recently enrolled back to study and have been extremely anxious since doing so. To say I've felt extremely anxious almost feels like an understatement. My anxiety has also evolved into depression. I am a perfectionist and place extremely high expectations on myself. I have a good job that I should be proud of and have done well in my career thus far but struggle with feelings of worthlessness, feeling deficient and feeling not good enough. I don't know what I want out of this really but I just wanted to share my story. I have felt really low recently and it can feel so, so isolating. Has anyone else been through something like this? Are there any other perfectionists or recovering perfectionists out there? I'm determined to get through this period. I take medication, see a psychologist and have a fantastic support network. But, still, it's so, so, so hard. I think for me breaking the negative thought loops/negative emotions will be the biggest challenge. Is there anyone out there who has been through something like this or managed to overcome their negative thought loops? To all of you who struggle with anxiety and depression -- you are not alone.

Butterfly_Wings_of_Hope Fear Surrounding Work (Self Esteem Issues)
  • replies: 1

I am a disability support worker and have been in the field for the past three years. Due to my mental illness, I am currently not working and because I zoned out on shift, work is now asking for a letter from my psych or psych nurse, proving that I ... View more

I am a disability support worker and have been in the field for the past three years. Due to my mental illness, I am currently not working and because I zoned out on shift, work is now asking for a letter from my psych or psych nurse, proving that I am fit for work. The hospital wrote out a general letter for my employer but it was not good enough for my employer and they are insisting upon a specific letter from a psych or psych nurse. The hospital is not budging and even said no when I asked to have a conversation with my case worker, my boss and myself. The hospital is claiming that they have done enough their part by writing a general letter. My hands are tied and my next step is to have another talk with work, but I don't know where we go to from here. If I'm honest though, I don't think I am ready to go back to work. The irony is, that this whole thing has made my mental health even worse because of the amount of pressure I've been put under to obtain this letter that the hospital has refused to write. My anxiety actually sky rocketed due to all the pressure, and I ended up in hospital twice over the last month. My mum is suggesting that I ask for a few more months of unpaid leave, get a good amount of CBT and any other therapy I can find and then look at returning to work after that little hiatus of self-care. This has really smashed my self esteem though. I miss the old me who could once work 20-30 hours a fortnight and who was contributing to society by assisting people with disabilities. I used to give back to the community! Now I am sick and clutching onto my job for dear life and feeling worthless because I cannot work. I need to find my self esteem again. Cheers for listening ~Butterfly.

NotSoSilent Job Issues and the flow on
  • replies: 1

Hi forum, First time poster and not really sure what to expect. About 6 months ago I was placed under investigation for a work matter and it has dragged on and on and on. They have recently advised me that the recommendation is termination. There is ... View more

Hi forum, First time poster and not really sure what to expect. About 6 months ago I was placed under investigation for a work matter and it has dragged on and on and on. They have recently advised me that the recommendation is termination. There is a process I need to follow to plead my case etc. While all of this has been happening I have continued to go to work everyday, but it is taking a huge toll on me and my family overall. I am now petrified that in this current virus pandemic that no one will be hiring so I won't find a job, we will be homeless (I'm the main money earner), I'll have to sell my car and and and... the thoughts keep coming. Everything is worse case in my head and I can't stop it. I will then just start crying, I'm a failure, my partner is going to leave me, I can't do anything right, it must be because I'm a bad person etc My logic side kicks in and my support network kicks my butt and I come out of the rut, only to fall straight back in to it. I'm highly sensitive when people are "off" around me and I ask if they are ok and then become obsessive. I did it to my partner tonight and I could see him get shitty because I was hassling him but nothing was actually wrong. I've vented a lot of "stuff" above but I guess it comes down to deep insecurities and feeling worthless. It's unfounded but so deeply ingrained in my personality I have no idea how to cope. I've seen GPs and used works EAP program but they keep saying that it's situational because of the work stuff and I feel it's deeper than that. When I get dismissed it devalues my feelings and then I stop wanting to ask for help because I think I'm crazy. I think I just need to stop typing now. Stay safe forum people, hope you have loo paper!

Butterfly_Wings_of_Hope My Experience with The Psych Ward
  • replies: 1

I apologise in advance if this thread comes off as a whinge/rant but I honestly believe that some of the nurses that "treated me" need to be exposed for their horrendous attitude towards sexual assault trauma and psychiatric trauma in general. So her... View more

I apologise in advance if this thread comes off as a whinge/rant but I honestly believe that some of the nurses that "treated me" need to be exposed for their horrendous attitude towards sexual assault trauma and psychiatric trauma in general. So here is my story, and I share with you the honest truth of what happened to me. My name is Beckie, I am thirty years old and I live with Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety. I recently admitted myself to hospital twice over the past month, because I was having paranoid delusions brought on by escalated anxiety and sleep deprivation. I stayed in the psych observation area for three days, went home and ended up back in the system due to relapse. When I went back in and was shown around the psych ward by the psych nurse, I realised I had a made a grave error. The place looked like a prison, and in truth my stay there was very much like prison even though I was a voluntary patient. In my opinion, a psychiatric hospital should be warm, encouraging and supportive but what I got was the opposite. For the first 12 hours of my stay, I was in constant tears and begging to go home to my mum and husband. All I needed in that moment was one of the nurses to hug me or just hold my hand but the nurses treated me like a leper and wouldn't touch me. Out of a team of about 10-15 psych staff, only ONE kind nurse called David had the emotional intelligence to give me a first pump. One other beautiful nurse called Margie listened to my poetry and gave me the time of day to help me with one of my poems. Besides those two, the others were all cold and/or condescending. One nurse even ignored my cry for help when I told her that I was afraid of being raped. I have sexual assault history and I had strange men walking up and down the corridor next to my door and I was afraid that one of the men might come into my room and rape me. When I went to the nurse for help, she told me I had nothing to be scared of and to just go back to bed. When I went to her a second time she shook her head at me, ignored me and went back to her paperwork. She didn't give a damn about how terrified I was that I could be raped, and her paperwork was more important than me feeling safe in my own environment. The lesson I have learnt from this, is that I will NEVER take myself to ED again. What I experienced was actual hell and people NEED to know about this. I don't mean to come across ungrateful but this is the reality of our mental health system.

Missy72 Baseline
  • replies: 2

Hi In 2010 I had a very traumatic experience & from that had severe constant anxiety for about 9’months. It gradually went away. I was had never experienced anxiety before that. I was 38. I’m now 47 and last November went through some further trauma.... View more

Hi In 2010 I had a very traumatic experience & from that had severe constant anxiety for about 9’months. It gradually went away. I was had never experienced anxiety before that. I was 38. I’m now 47 and last November went through some further trauma... and the anxiety came back, thick and fast. It’s now been with me for 4 months. My psychiatrist has told me that I have a good baseline and should recover & go back to normal anxiety levels. Has anyone had this happen? I’m afraid that this extreme anxiety is my new life. I’ve worked really hard in my career and life to get where I am. I currently can’t work & am on sick leave. I’m seeing a psychologist weekly and am taking an antidepressant. I was hospitalised for 6 weeks as it was so bad...I was hospitalised the last time for about 4 months. I just need to know that my brain will find its way back to normal.