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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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Lynn16 Struggling with anxiety.
  • replies: 1

I need help to stop my imagination . Having panic attacks.

I need help to stop my imagination . Having panic attacks.

brandon8249 What are your biggest issues with anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone, I’m currently trying to find out how one could make the lives of people with social anxiety a lot easier Which is why I have two very simple questions: 1.As people with social anxiety, what are the 2 biggest issues you’re dealing with? ... View more

Hey everyone, I’m currently trying to find out how one could make the lives of people with social anxiety a lot easier Which is why I have two very simple questions: 1.As people with social anxiety, what are the 2 biggest issues you’re dealing with? 2.Regarding your romantic life, what would you wish for more than anything else? Thanks so much in advance - looking forward to reading your answers!

spiral123 Struggles of dealing with anxiety and work
  • replies: 3

Hi all, this is my first post in the forum. I need some perspective into what I should do in my current situation. I struggle with social anxiety every day and it significantly interferes with my well-being at work. I work in an office job and the ro... View more

Hi all, this is my first post in the forum. I need some perspective into what I should do in my current situation. I struggle with social anxiety every day and it significantly interferes with my well-being at work. I work in an office job and the role is suited to an extrovert. I will avoid social interactions where I can at work and I have found that if someone new comes into the office, at times I won't introduce myself and make small talk due to my social fear and I am worried this might come across as being rude. Every time the phone at work rings, I get a fear that it is a client calling for me to complain to me about something. I struggle to run through things with my boss as he can be very straight to the point and blunt, which cause me to freeze in fear with the worry that I am going to say something stupid or wrong. The stress and anxiety I feel at work has impacted my health and well being.I find the constant fight of keeping to tight deadlines and dealing with my anxiety puts a massive weight on my shoulders or like I struggle to breathe. I feel like this feeling is becoming too much and that I need to leave my job to focus on creating a life for myself where I don't feel like I carry such a heavy burden. My dilemma is that I have only been in this job for 3 months which wont look good and I know my family will be disappointed if I leave. At this point though, I feel stuck as I don't know how much longer I can deal with juggling my anxiety and this job or alternatively, the thought of facing my boss to resign and sitting my family down and explaining to them why I want to leave my job. Has anyone been in a similar situation?

miss_jade I need help with odd OCD obsession
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone, I've had OCD since I was twelve, and have had many obsessions in the past, religious (afraid being possessed by demons), harm (afraid of secretly wanting to murder people), existential (afraid I was in a dream/lucid dreaming) and many... View more

Hello everyone, I've had OCD since I was twelve, and have had many obsessions in the past, religious (afraid being possessed by demons), harm (afraid of secretly wanting to murder people), existential (afraid I was in a dream/lucid dreaming) and many others but this one has been the hardest on me for some reason, and the first time it's ever escalated to panic. Basically a few months back I had a bad experience with pain medication in which I experienced physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms when I ran out and didn't go back to the GP to renew my prescription like I should have. During that experience, I was finding it difficult to divert my attention away from the experiences in my body, my thoughts and feelings and, very oddly, perceiving time moving slowly. My obsession is this, I'm afraid of noticing or being aware of time moving slowly. I'm afraid it will never go away and be 'stuck' in my head and I won't be able to focus on anything else. I don't want this thought in my head because I believe it will cause extreme boredom and anxiety that will be present as long as its in my head interfering with the quality of my life. It's basically an obsession about the thought/awareness of time moving slowly causing emotions that I don't want to be there, I just want it gone so I can focus and be at peace again. It's constant and I'm so tired. I have been seeing a therapist which is helping, but its hard because it's so long between sessions.

miss_jade Irrational fears after trauma
  • replies: 5

Hi, This is my first time posting. I’ve suffered from OCD since I was about 12 and have had every obsession you could think of (religious, sexual, harm, existential, etc.). Recently, I was on a pain medication (taking the highest legal dose) and I de... View more

Hi, This is my first time posting. I’ve suffered from OCD since I was about 12 and have had every obsession you could think of (religious, sexual, harm, existential, etc.). Recently, I was on a pain medication (taking the highest legal dose) and I decided one day that I would stay home and study (exam period) instead of refill my prescription and that I could deal with the pain for a few days. I experienced severe withdrawal symptoms (felt like a severe depression or anxiety), but I didn’t know what was happening I thought I was going insane. I tried to do anything to keep my mind occupied off the symptoms (working, cleaning, video games, tv) but nothing worked and I ended up staring at the clock for hours just waiting for it to be over, it moved so slowly. Once I got the medication back, the physical symptoms faded within an hour but the mental stuff stayed with me. Now I have a lot of fears pertaining to physical anxiety symptoms and perception of time. I’m afraid of thinking about or experiencing time moving slowly. I don’t know exactly why that is or what I think will happen, but I feel as if it would be a never ending torture if I did. I’m afraid that I won’t be able stop thinking these thoughts about time, that they’ll always distract me. I’m also afraid that the physical symptoms of anxiety (I developed later on) will dominate my attention, that I won’t be able to stop thinking about them and not be able to focus on other things (fun, work, partner). That I won’t be able to function and they will get worse/unbearable. I had some bad experiences with panic (I started on SSRI) because I thought the same psychological consequences (focusing on slow time/not being able to disconnect from physical sensations and focus on other things) would happen again. I don’t know whether it’s PTSD, OCD, panic, etc. but these are the fears that are bothering me and it’s been hard trying to find someone with my experiences. Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you.

Newbie25 Overwhelmed by school
  • replies: 5

I've been feeling extremely overwhelmed, anxious and stressed about school lately. It's only the start of Year 11, but I'm doing two Year 12 subjects, Math Methods and Software Development. I'm a very high-achiever and perfectionist and I have been D... View more

I've been feeling extremely overwhelmed, anxious and stressed about school lately. It's only the start of Year 11, but I'm doing two Year 12 subjects, Math Methods and Software Development. I'm a very high-achiever and perfectionist and I have been DUX of nearly all my subjects since Year 7. I feel that this has put a lot of pressure on me each year to continue to keep achieving my goal of being the best. It feels like everyone expects me to be the best. People keep telling me that I will easily be DUX of Year 12 without having to put in much effort. What they don't realise is that I put in so much effort. I tend to hide it, but I really struggle to learn and understand most things and have to spend hours doing extra homework just so I do as well as I do. I've been doing this for years, but this year it's starting to feel like it's too much. I've got new tests for Software Development every week and I barely have enough time to understand all the new concepts before I'm tested on them. I knew Year 11 and 12 would be challenging, but I didn't think I'd be struggling as much as I am currently. I've been asking the teacher for help and have been getting by but I don't have anymore class time before the week-long assessment starts. My teacher told me to email him if I have any more questions, but the issue is that I have too many questions. I don't understand enough to even be able to formulate proper questions. The only email I could send is one that says I don't understand it at all, but what's the point in doing that? He won't be able to help me. I just don't know what to do. Often I feel like I just want to drop out of the subject it's that hard. I've always been up for a challenge, but I feel that this is just too much. There are also times when I feel fine which confuses me even more. I know I should relax more and not take school so seriously, but that's really hard for me. I like to set goals and achieve them, and it's been my goal to DUX Year 12 since I was in Primary School. I don't think I can just let go of that goal, but at the rate I'm going, I know I won't achieve it. I'd just really appreciate any advice.

Law92 Anxiety side effects
  • replies: 5

Hi Just wondering does anyone else with anxiety experience profuse sweating on a daily basis? I find that I get hot very easily and start sweating even if it isn't hot, and can't sleep or relax if the air con isnt on. And some days are good, I'm happ... View more

Hi Just wondering does anyone else with anxiety experience profuse sweating on a daily basis? I find that I get hot very easily and start sweating even if it isn't hot, and can't sleep or relax if the air con isnt on. And some days are good, I'm happy as, and other days like today I feel like crap. Just feel really tired, hard to get out of bed, no motivation to do anything, feel nauseous and no appetite. The only thing that helps a little is eating high sugar high carb junk foods and sugary drinks. Would love to know others experiences. Thanks.

Boya Anxious about delayed recovery
  • replies: 1

I had a prostrate operation 4 weeks ago. The doc said it went well but I do not Dee any improvement at all in my need to go to the toilet all the time. I am stressed about it. I don't see the specialist for another 4 weeks. How can I reduce this anxi... View more

I had a prostrate operation 4 weeks ago. The doc said it went well but I do not Dee any improvement at all in my need to go to the toilet all the time. I am stressed about it. I don't see the specialist for another 4 weeks. How can I reduce this anxiety in the mean time? This is my first post and am I doing it correctly?

Pureison Did I just have a Panic Attack today?
  • replies: 4

Hello, Today, I went out with my dad to go to a local second hand shop. At the checkout I noticed as I was holding some books, I started shaking in my left hand and arm, I was confused because it wouldn't stop shaking and at first maybe it was to do ... View more

Hello, Today, I went out with my dad to go to a local second hand shop. At the checkout I noticed as I was holding some books, I started shaking in my left hand and arm, I was confused because it wouldn't stop shaking and at first maybe it was to do with books that I'm holding or maybe I didn't eat breakfast. I walked to the car and noticed that I was still shaking and this time as I gave my books to dad, my arm was shaking vigorously, it felt like I didn't know how to stop or even if I could stop shaking. I started breathing heavily as I was getting into the car, and it took quite a few moments to finally settle down, probably like 5 maybe 7 minutes? It felt like I couldn't really concentrate, and afterwards I wasn't really listening to what my dad was saying in the car, I couldn't stop thinking about what just happened. It was a very uncomfortable experience, and I felt silly for sobbing for no reason. It came on so suddenly, and I have no idea why. Should I see the Dr about this? Was I having a Panic Attack, because I never felt like chest pain or nausea while I was having this 'episode'. Should I keep an eye on it and wait and see if it happens again? I do remember that last year, I was out shopping with a friend and noticed my hand shaking suddenly, it wasn't as intense as today, but it was very weird and sudden. It stopped after a few minutes though. I'm just trying to figure out what happened today, and if I should be concerned. I can't stop thinking about it.

veghysterian Transitioning into University - My Anxiety Dilemma
  • replies: 2

Hi Guys, first time posting after a long time lurking. I'm currently set to start University in two weeks, and while I understand that it's perfectly normal to be apprehensive about a big life shake up, at this point and time I don't feel like I'm eq... View more

Hi Guys, first time posting after a long time lurking. I'm currently set to start University in two weeks, and while I understand that it's perfectly normal to be apprehensive about a big life shake up, at this point and time I don't feel like I'm equipped to handle it. The prospect of a place I'm not familiar with in a city I hardly know is proving too much. I've struggled with social anxiety for the majority of my life and though I thought I was making progress my with therapist, the amount of sleep and hours spent worried about this is seriously making me reconsider. I recently decided to make a day trip down to the uni to take a guided tour, but I couldn't even make myself go - instead I ended up on the verge of a panic attack at the local library. Now Im second guessing if I'm even capable of doing this, and seriously contemplating withdrawing of pushing back my course. I feel horrible about myself, and can't help but compare myself to others on my situation who are taking it in stride. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!