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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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rational_thinker AIDS phobia
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, this is my first time on this great forum: I have had anxiety and OCD for most of my life but could pretty much get it under control. Due to my social anxiety, instead of having a regular partner, I visited a few sex workers in the last ... View more

Hi everyone, this is my first time on this great forum: I have had anxiety and OCD for most of my life but could pretty much get it under control. Due to my social anxiety, instead of having a regular partner, I visited a few sex workers in the last three years. This eventually triggered off a wave of HIV paranoia more powerful than I have ever experienced. I lost track of my personal and professional goals. I compulsively Googled for information which basically made me feel so much worse. I thought my life was ruined- that I was faced with disability/death. Luckily I am sensible enough to understand that the rational and objective facts matter the most, and this has helped me struggle through a terrifying period. (1) Irrational Fear: I have HIV - Actually the Australian sex industry is well regulated with very low rates of STIs, furthermore heterosexual transmission of HIV is quite inefficient - after getting tested at a sexual health clinic, the test result I received (with 99%+ accuracy) was negative: this means that realistically, the chance of being infected from the encounter and then testing negative would be something like one in a million. (2) Irrational Fear: after getting HIV, I will die from AIDs - Actually, these days, if you are diagnosed quite early and have access to great healthcare, the prognosis is pretty good: 90% of HIV patients on medication have undetectable viral loads, and the most of the remainder have failed to take their pills properly. - My mind keeps zooming in on the terrifying phenomenom of transmission of multi-drug resistant HIV strains, but the literature shows that even these rare strains can be successfully treated- particularly in this day and age where there are many drugs. Nevertheless despite these reasoned and evidence-based findings, my terror sometimes clouds my sense of reality. I dread finding out I’ve been infected with a highly drug resistant strain and then have to battle to live another decade, just like those poor guys in the 80s. It has been difficult to function and I am now seeing a psychologist. Thank you for listening.

mixj illness anxiety with hiv
  • replies: 3

Hi guys Im new to all this so I'll see how I go. Im in a constant state of stress due to thinking I contracted hiv. I have a young family and worry I could have somehow given it to them. This all is crazy as Ive had so many tests and theyve all been ... View more

Hi guys Im new to all this so I'll see how I go. Im in a constant state of stress due to thinking I contracted hiv. I have a young family and worry I could have somehow given it to them. This all is crazy as Ive had so many tests and theyve all been negative. The anxiety I feel makes me think theres definitely something wrong physically. Im constantly so tired I feel like i could sleep all day its horrible. Does anyone else get extreme tiredness? I also get numbness in my hands and feet many times throughout the day. I am so caught up in my head its completely taken over my life, Ive been diagnosed with illness anxiety and now depression. Im just at a loss as what to do next. Ive been to see a neurologist as I thought that there must have been something going on in my brain as Ive had visual disturbances and sensitivity to light as well as the tiredness etc. Tests All came back normal. Its really hard for me to believe all this could be anxiety and stress doing all these physical things to me, I just cant get my head around it. I find myself so anxious worrying about my family its horrible. My psychiatrist has suggested ect which Im seriously considering doing. Its a scary thing to have done but if it helps I would be so thankful. Thanks for letting me vent guys. Maybe someone else has had a similar experience who knows.

P_ Loosing Everything
  • replies: 11

Hi Everyone, This is my first post online about my anxiety and feel like i am loosing everything. I have a loving (but frustrated) wife and two beautiful girls who adore me yet my anxiety and depression are pushing me over the edge. It all started ab... View more

Hi Everyone, This is my first post online about my anxiety and feel like i am loosing everything. I have a loving (but frustrated) wife and two beautiful girls who adore me yet my anxiety and depression are pushing me over the edge. It all started about two years ago after we moved into our new house on a bit of land which had no neighbors except for an old pensioner who loved his gardening. It was great but we soon had a new house built beside us and the noise (which really was minimal) from the new neighbor sent me into a spiral of panic and anxiety around being able to hear them at night. I went to a Councillor but found it fairly unhelpful and the only thing that seemed to help was headphones on the PC or not being home at all on weekend. Things changed and the neighbors separated leaving the house empty most of the time and things returned to normal while the house is on the market. Our neighbor (old guy) was then murdered by some people who were staying with him (friends of the family) and the house was then empty up until about 2 weeks ago. The new people who have moved in are "social" (3 parties in two weeks until all hours) which has sent me into a very bad spiral. I am not eating, spending either all my time away from home or with my headphones on avoiding the world........ I feel like leaving my house and my family is my only option....... and the scary thing is that i know they will hate me (i will hate me) but i am ok with that. Decided to meet them to try and bring back in the crazy which helped as they said they are quiet people and wont notice them......... Two days later another party. I have made an appointment to see my doctor but as i am away for work for two weeks it isn't until the 14th of March.......... I am thinking that if i am not better when i get back i will leave. I just want it to be over and i am fine when at work etc. My wife has been really understanding but is getting close to the end of her patience and is now telling me that i need to harden up. Please help

Nicholas_A Anxiety, Depression & Depersonalisation
  • replies: 1

Hello everyone My names Nic and I'm 19 soon to be 20 and the past 3 and a bit years i have struggled with Anxiety,Depression and the main factor DEPERSONALISATION!! My anxiety and depression is slowly getting resolved and worked on which I'm very gra... View more

Hello everyone My names Nic and I'm 19 soon to be 20 and the past 3 and a bit years i have struggled with Anxiety,Depression and the main factor DEPERSONALISATION!! My anxiety and depression is slowly getting resolved and worked on which I'm very grateful for but the depersonalisation is something constant which puts me in such a crippling state where i can't move, can't leave the house and freak out to beyond extent. I haven't left the house in 3 months because of this and its horrible. Constantly feeling like I'm watching myself through someone else's eyes and feeling like I'm constantly in a dream or film and that nothing around me is real and its just all imaginary and its horrible. I was wondering if anyone new any techniques or any possible doctors/any medial team that can help me beat this and move on with my life.

Snelly Lost
  • replies: 1

Happy new year to everyone, but I wish I felt better about the year to come. I have struggled with anxiety and depression for a few years. The first 2 years of retirenent were wonderful, but I'm feeling really lost now and have become low in mood and... View more

Happy new year to everyone, but I wish I felt better about the year to come. I have struggled with anxiety and depression for a few years. The first 2 years of retirenent were wonderful, but I'm feeling really lost now and have become low in mood and disinterested. This started when I first got very anxious in January 2016. I thought it was because of upcoming dental work and it would disappear after that ordeal was over. However, it didn't and I had terrible panic attacks and unexplained pain. I tried every type of treatment for the pain and every blood test for the lethargy. Finally, after 6 months of numerous emergency visits , I was found to have clots in both lungs and small nodules. I spent 3 scary weeks in 2 hospitals having cancer tests. This was my first time in hospital (at 63) so I was given anti anxiety medication. I continued this when discharged for a few weeks and was great for 12 months, travelling and enjoying life. About 12 months later, the anxiety attacks came back (no idea why). Doctor suggested antidepressants and psych . Psych was great but I was too scared to take more than small doses of the antidepressant. The anxiety eased after about 6 months. 18 months later, it's back with a vengeance. 2 or 3 panic attacks a day and the anti- anxiety doesn't really help much. Once again, I have the antidepressants, but too scared to take them. I'm scared of everything - going to bed, that I have a illness, even driving. I feel lost in a life of fear, tension, pain. What to do? How to get my life back?

George_K Chronic Fatigue's Relationship to Anxiety? (Plus background info - TMI?]
  • replies: 1

Hi. I've visited the BeyondBlue website numerous times over the years but never poked my nose into the forums - I don't think I knew they existed. Does anyone here know where I can find information about chronic fatigue and its relationship with anxi... View more

Hi. I've visited the BeyondBlue website numerous times over the years but never poked my nose into the forums - I don't think I knew they existed. Does anyone here know where I can find information about chronic fatigue and its relationship with anxiety, or other such difficulties? I've been battling CF for years but not been able to identify a cause - GPs haven't found any physical reason despite tests. I did an Enhanced Primary Care plan and have an appointment to see a psychologist later this year but it feels like a really long wait, and I'm not sure it'll help. A decade or so ago I battled tension - something I assumed to be stress, but now suspect was anxiety - there's history in the family. I tried some SSRI but had an adverse reaction and spiraled into major depression. After getting through that I spent a couple of years overseas. A year after returning I was struck by CF and battled that since. Recently (as in only a few months ago) I discovered I was diagnosed with ADD as a child. Might any of this cause or compound chronic fatigue? I started an Excel spreadsheet in 2018 to track sleep stats. I need to improve my schedule but even good periods don't cure the tiredness and fatigue. Walking\exercise is supposed to be good for health but I struggle with exhaustion - I pushed things up to vaguely normal back in September, crashed, and now struggle to do half that. Since the suggestion (whose I forget) that anxiety\ADHD\OCD\whatever could be a contributing factor I've been trying to note tension levels - 1 if it's mild (which is my norm), 2 it it's moderate and\or I have mild abdominal\chest discomfort, and a 3 for when things are painful - thankfully not yet occurred. Yesterday seemed like straight 2's but usually I only get a 2 for several hours, and sometimes have a break between days. No direct correlations, though it's starting to seem like any pressure causes a 2, even needing to do household chores or think about Centrelink obligations. I can't see any direct triggers but it seems like the tension is getting more constant. Sorry if this is offtopic. I'm getting frustrated and figured while this forum is a longshot someone might be able to suggest something useful. Officially I'm semi-healthy and supposed to be working but am not up to that. I don't know what's wrong with my health, can't see direct correlations between things, but without concrete evidence I'm somewhat up a creek without a paddle. Any suggestions?

sunflower999 OCD and terrified
  • replies: 2

I don't think I've ever felt this terrified in my life. I don't want to self-diagnose but I'm pretty sure I have OCD, more pure O from my experiences these past couple months, and awhile ago when I was younger. I recently had a memory come back to me... View more

I don't think I've ever felt this terrified in my life. I don't want to self-diagnose but I'm pretty sure I have OCD, more pure O from my experiences these past couple months, and awhile ago when I was younger. I recently had a memory come back to me of something I did that makes me feel awful, and I know OCD can distort that but I honestly believe I should feel awful about it. I didn't realise anything was wrong at that time months ago, but now I do and it's terrifying. I can't stop checking either, the timeline of events in my head and memories etc. Where I live there are no specialising therapists in OCD. I want to seek out online therapy but it is awfully expensive. I feel like my only hope is the work placement I am due to start in a couple of weeks, so I can afford to access help, but with how I have been feeling these past few days (felt like I was recovering well before), I am unsure if I should even be going on placement as it is in a different state to where I live.

NMTB Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad
  • replies: 28

I have just seen the Ad relating to Anxiety by Beyond Blue. Sadly, I find the closing statement in the Ad very disappointing. I was so surprised by it I thought I had misheard and had to check it on youtube to make sure I had heard correctly. The Ad ... View more

I have just seen the Ad relating to Anxiety by Beyond Blue. Sadly, I find the closing statement in the Ad very disappointing. I was so surprised by it I thought I had misheard and had to check it on youtube to make sure I had heard correctly. The Ad and its concept are fine but the closing is just wrong – indeed it runs counter to information about anxiety and anxiety disorders provided by Beyond Blue on its website, facebook page etc. Here is a link to the Ad for those who have not seen it: The Ad ends as follows “Is it you or your anxiety talking” – fine, we all know that feeling but then : “Visit Beyond Blue to start a life beyond anxiety” Coming from a specialist mental health organisation that is a terribly ignorant statement and it sends the wrong message idea to that part of the community who know nothing of anxiety. 1) Anxiety is natural, normal and vital to survival – that is just stating the obvious. 2) Where anxiety is present at a level or in a form that is debilitating or amounts to a disorder its amenability to treatment is highly variable. Some people may find after a few sessions with a psychologist they have the tools to deal with it adequately. On the other extreme some people, myself included, might suffer severe anxiety and engage in a lifelong struggle trying every measure through trends in psychology, developments in medication (on and off label) in psychiatry etc. By all means encourage people to recognize/come forward if they are having the troubling thoughts illustrated in the Ad, but even hinting at a life “beyond anxiety” is misleading and does not fit with BB’s fine reputation – at least in my view. [Mod note: we have embedded the ad directly into this post so it can be viewed easily]

Marie27 Anxiety caused by coming off birth control?
  • replies: 1

I recently have come off the pill birth control. About two weeks after stopping the pill I have begun having major anxiety attacks. I am already diagnosed with depression and general anxiety disorder, but have never had such debilitating anxiety atta... View more

I recently have come off the pill birth control. About two weeks after stopping the pill I have begun having major anxiety attacks. I am already diagnosed with depression and general anxiety disorder, but have never had such debilitating anxiety attacks as the ones I have been having in the last week. I have been trying to work out the cause of the sudden attacks, and was wondering if it might be from coming off the pill. Has anyone else had similar issues? If so, did things go back to normal eventually?

tates2019 ANXIOUSLY AWAITING A REPLY
  • replies: 1

Hello, I have recently broken up with my boyfriend of two years and have never found myself in such a deep dark circle as what I have lately. I have suffered from depression and anxiety before but not I feel like I am just right back to where I was b... View more

Hello, I have recently broken up with my boyfriend of two years and have never found myself in such a deep dark circle as what I have lately. I have suffered from depression and anxiety before but not I feel like I am just right back to where I was before me and him got together. No matter where I am or what I'm doing I find myself texting him to try and fight to get our relationship fixed, but I end up sitting there having an anxiety attack while waiting to see what his reply is. I find myself crying a lot more regularly and even being around people doesn't seem to help. I spend a lot of time in my bedroom either watching TV or just starring at the roof. I don't find myself smiling because I am actually happy, I find my smile has just become fake lately. My anxiety has turned into attacks over night, I don't know how to control them. I feel as if my anxiety became a big part to as why our relationship broke up because I would cautions decisions that I would think would make everyone happy but they didn't, someone was always unhappy and I feel like it was always my boyfriend. My anxiety attacks have become more common due to our breakup and some other mental issues have come of it also. I feel he plays with my emotions and this is a big course of my anxiety. I don't have many friends my biggest support group is my family. I came here wanting to find some people that could possibly relate to me or that could chat and help me through this. Thank you tates2019