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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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Srfr OCD/anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi All, Anxiety has caused me grief at work; which leads to OCD at work & anger toward the management style of the boss trying to use meditation/kindness/patience & breathing exercises whilst working. But, lost my “cool” today in front of a much youn... View more

Hi All, Anxiety has caused me grief at work; which leads to OCD at work & anger toward the management style of the boss trying to use meditation/kindness/patience & breathing exercises whilst working. But, lost my “cool” today in front of a much younger work colleague (who is also in management). Feel frustrated, angry at situation & contemplating leaving, although I understand that, if I do, the same control issues will arise just with different people what else can I do? Am a golden “oldie”!

Moonstruck Scared of "trivial, everyday" things
  • replies: 87

Does anyone else share this irrational, stupid, inconvenient anxiety? It doesn't happen all the time but when it does I cannot explain it or know what to do, to get rid of it. It will sound comical, laughable when I tell you but that's OK...it sounds... View more

Does anyone else share this irrational, stupid, inconvenient anxiety? It doesn't happen all the time but when it does I cannot explain it or know what to do, to get rid of it. It will sound comical, laughable when I tell you but that's OK...it sounds funny to me also. I will start by saying there are certain situations I am active in, at which I exel, where the majority of folk would be terrified. I am brilliant there...and yet scared of this "little stuff" . For months I was frightened of going to a different petrol station nearby. Prices went sky high at most places in my town, and this one was cheaper, popular, accessible and an obvious choice and for months I put off going there...because I was scared of it. Which bowser should I pull up at? Which buttons do I push to key in the dollars I want?. What if there is a big queue?...so I eventually had to ask a neighbour (who is familiar with anxiety problems) to go with me, just to sit beside me and quietly tell me what to do. Otherwise I would never have "mastered the petrol station"! Yesterday i bought a new vacuum cleaner. It was a good price, I am pleased with it, I want to use it asap and need to use it. I look forward to using it. I am scared to get it out of the box. What if I can't understand the instructions in the manual? It's different from my last one. see how stupid it sounds? I am scared of my vacuum cleaner!!!! and yet if you could see what I achieved just recently in a specialised field...you would be amazed at my competency and confidence!!! WHY am I scared of these trivial everyday things? God knows how long it will take for me to begin assembling that vacuum cleaner which I know, logically, I am intelligent enough to figure out!! So why am I procrastinating about it? What is wrong with me? Who could help me? Any suggestions or thoughts would be very welcome......have a nice day..... Moonstruck.

Gambit87 Anxiety, OCD causing intrusive thoughts - running on 3 hours sleep. Help.
  • replies: 2

Hello legends. I'm scared and I need to get this off my chest. So I've come to the realisation that I probably have some form of depression (I shouldn't trust Dr google, but some of the signs are there). My anxiety levels have been through the roof l... View more

Hello legends. I'm scared and I need to get this off my chest. So I've come to the realisation that I probably have some form of depression (I shouldn't trust Dr google, but some of the signs are there). My anxiety levels have been through the roof lately (more than likely because I've been by myself for the last 6 weeks while my partner has been on holiday - she gets back tomorrow). I've been getting really intense and graphic intrusive thoughts. These thoughts have been mainly 'if I hurt myself- how long would It take for the ambo to get me?' or just the words 'kill?' it gives me the absolute heeby jeebies. Now - I love life. I will always choose life. I would never do anything to harm myself or anyone else (also my brother is a paramedic and I'm mortally afraid that if I call an ambo for any reason - he'll get the call). I know these are just thoughts and thoughts pass but I obsess over them. When I obsess I tell myself 'you're stronger then that' 'you're not a serial killer or a people basher - stop being silly' but I also tell myself off harshly for thinking such things in the first place. My days are mostly filled with intrusive thoughts, reassuring myself I'm not a bad person then telling myself off for having those thoughts. It really drains me. I'm trying really hard to be positive, trying to let these thoughts just pass by but the more I do, the more intense it is and I feel I'm loosing it? I'm using the smiling mind app for meditation and it take the edge off (shame I cant meditate 24/7) and I'm getting out and about to help clear the mind. I've got an appointment booked with my GP to finalise my mental health plan so I can start some therapy but the appointment isn't until Saturday. I'm sorry for the long post, but I really needed to get my thoughts out and to see if anyone had any tips. I feel like I've reached uncharted territory and I need some light. thank you so much for reading.

peacock Holiday anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi , does anyone else find the holiday period anxiety-producing? I find that without the routine of work and with all the enforced socialising I feel restless and a bit anxious. This happens to me every year and I’m actually relieved when the Xmas pe... View more

Hi , does anyone else find the holiday period anxiety-producing? I find that without the routine of work and with all the enforced socialising I feel restless and a bit anxious. This happens to me every year and I’m actually relieved when the Xmas period is over? Am I wired.

roogirl Shock anxiety?
  • replies: 3

Hi Everyone, I have a question which may sound slightly strange or not. Can anxiety start up again after you've had an emotional shock you certainly weren't expecting? I've been lucky these last few months with my anxiety pretty much under control un... View more

Hi Everyone, I have a question which may sound slightly strange or not. Can anxiety start up again after you've had an emotional shock you certainly weren't expecting? I've been lucky these last few months with my anxiety pretty much under control until about 10 days ago when I was told some news which I wasn't expecting. I seemed ok at the time, but the next day I started to have dizzy spells/light head and muscle weakness in my legs. My doctor thinks it's anxiety and has sent me off for blood tests. While in the past the light head and a bit of dissociation has occured, I never get dizzy as such or have muscle weakness. Since most of my anxiety is related to my health of course I think I have a brain tumor etc etc. My psychologist is unavailable for a couple of weeks so am wondering if anyone out there has suffered anything similar? Thanks for listening. Any advice, suggestions gratefully received. Regards Glenda

LevisWarrior Spending Nights away / being in new situations sends me into panic
  • replies: 4

Hi all, This is my first time here and I am really really looking for any help and or ideas to help with the issues I have been experiencing. Some Background I’m in my mid 20’s and male with a wife an child. I experienced anxiety in High School in ab... View more

Hi all, This is my first time here and I am really really looking for any help and or ideas to help with the issues I have been experiencing. Some Background I’m in my mid 20’s and male with a wife an child. I experienced anxiety in High School in about 2009 Which led to me hardly attending school and after leaving high school in 2011 I went into the workforce and had no issues. Since 2011 I have had numerous jobs in Industry ETC and Sales before joining one of the State Government Departments in 2014. I never experienced any real issues with anxiety or being away even when moving towns for a promotion. After being in my new position and town for probably 8-10 months I was sent inter state for a natural disaster. After arriving in this location and being in a new situation I began to feel extremely uncomfortable and anxious, this eventually led me to that afternoon not eating and crying in my room all night, after another day I couldn’t cope and made up a story so I could be flown back home early. I had always spent nights and up to a week away from home at a time and never had an issue. This was the first time I had a major panic attack. Upon returning home I had no issue I felt fine again and eventually mostly forgot and never really had any major issues again until approximately mid 2018 when on a remote 10day work trip. During this I had limited connection to home and half way through really struggled for 2-3 days and eventually came out the other side but having extreme fear of being away from home in unfamiliar ground. Upon getting home I didn’t think to much of it and continued on in life. A few months later o got married and our honeymoon was overseas in which after being there a few hours experienced the same issues and we flew home 1.5 days into our holiday. Ever since then I have lost all confidence and now have issues with being away from home for overnight at all. Even with family and at family houses. My biggest issue than happened this year in which I was offered a higher position in a near by town after being there for a short amount of time I called it off and went into sick leave for about 10 weeks. I returned to work without solving the issues earlier this year and now experiencing the same again currently off work struggling with sever depression and anxiety. i have been seeing a psychiatrist and psychologist but not much seems to be giving and help. I am after any advice and or if anyone else has experienced similar. TIA.

Catlady99 Anxiety, OCD and relationship effects..
  • replies: 4

I have been battling with anxiety and OCD like issues for a long time. Lately my anxiety has been affecting my relationship. My boyfriend will make plans with his mates and I will trust him 100%, however I start to get anxious and run through all the... View more

I have been battling with anxiety and OCD like issues for a long time. Lately my anxiety has been affecting my relationship. My boyfriend will make plans with his mates and I will trust him 100%, however I start to get anxious and run through all the possible problems and worse case scenarios even though I know they won’t happen. Has anyone found some helpful ways to subside the anxiety I feel. I want to be able to trust and not feel worried when my partner goes to do something. For his and my sakes. Thanks for the advice...

TheLastSlice_ofBread I never said yes
  • replies: 5

I don’t feel safe I’m always bracing for the worst Knowing that it hurts Not just from being a kid But through though the experiences I have lived why did people see yes? while I silently screamed no why was i expected to be the best? when I couldn’t... View more

I don’t feel safe I’m always bracing for the worst Knowing that it hurts Not just from being a kid But through though the experiences I have lived why did people see yes? while I silently screamed no why was i expected to be the best? when I couldn’t calm for my much needed rest I feel so damn guilty for the way I feel But feeling is the only thing i have to remind me that ok I am real I’m not perfect Nor am i a defect This is just the way it is My life My journey My me

zbloom Anxiety During Dates
  • replies: 1

Hi, I was diagnosed with GAD a few years ago after my anxiety got out of control during a dating relationship - I thought she was the girl I was going to marry, but started to have real heavy doubts about the relationship (no obvious red flags, I jus... View more

Hi, I was diagnosed with GAD a few years ago after my anxiety got out of control during a dating relationship - I thought she was the girl I was going to marry, but started to have real heavy doubts about the relationship (no obvious red flags, I just started to feel different about it - and very anxious). We ended up breaking up, but this same crippling anxiety has plagued me in other relationships since then. I don't totally know how to describe the feeling, but I start to feel trapped while sitting across the table from the other person, and start to feel very avoidant. Most of the anxiety is very visceral, and not necessarily very mental. I guess my confusion is whether or not this is my intuition telling me I am not into the person, or if I am having major attachment insecurity; I don't want to run from a good thing, but I wonder if I should trust my gut. Telling myself that I just like the person as a friend can give me comfort, but it is so hard to tell what is true.

AlexDeLoser Anxiety deriving from a low form of 'ptsd'?
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone, I just wanted to post this thread in hopes that someone who has had similar experiences with this to provide tactics/solutions. I know this may sound like an insignificant thing to be anxious about, but I feel the need to mention it b... View more

Hello everyone, I just wanted to post this thread in hopes that someone who has had similar experiences with this to provide tactics/solutions. I know this may sound like an insignificant thing to be anxious about, but I feel the need to mention it because it is affecting me. I have really bad driving anxiety - more specifically, with traffic lights (when they turn yellow, and the amount of time they remain yellow). Everytime a traffic light turns yellow even within the distance where its clearly better to go, my heart just starts palpitating like crazy; I can feel it going all throughout my body including my head, and also makes me feel like i'm gasping for air and that I can't breath. Oh, and most times when a yellow light appears, I lock the breaks, which isn't safe either. I don't know if this is worth mentioning: this all pretty much started to happen the first time I locked up on a yellow light. people where looking and laughing at me. At that time, it wasn't even a lack of ability to spatially judge - it had happened because I got lost and was paying attention to the roads rather than the lights; I never had an issue with effective judgement prior to this. It's almost like I lost that ability when it happened. It's hard to 'just practice' to get rid of this mannerism, since there are serious consequences in failing. That being said, it makes trying to get rid of this anxiety really difficult. Nothing I've done (exposure therapy) has really helped me in anyway. I'm unsure of what to do. Anyways, I hope I have made sense, and that someone can help me with this matter. Thanks everyone. Happy new year! (in a few days, of course)