Anxiety

Doubts about what I'm doing in life - Studying? Dropout? Work?

replies: 2

I started a course at uni (first semester). It's my 2nd degree. I can't figure out what I want to do in life. Census date is on 31st March. I started having doubts about whether I want to continue this course. It's Week 5. I'm still 'adjusting' to fu... View more

I started a course at uni (first semester). It's my 2nd degree. I can't figure out what I want to do in life. Census date is on 31st March. I started having doubts about whether I want to continue this course. It's Week 5. I'm still 'adjusting' to full time study, having come from full time work. At the moment, I'm just studying. I don't work, I applied for Youth Allowance (still being assessed). I've been struggling with the work load, it's non-stop, my life is consumed by study. I don't go out much, I feel guilty if I'm not studying. I'm barely keeping up with the work. I don't have close friends in this course, but have spoken to some peers - They seem to be on top of everything. It makes me feel incompetent. Why does it take me so long to do the readings, activities and assessments? I'm trying very hard, but still don't reach the same level of understanding as peers. I can't find meaning in what I'm studying. They're supposed to teach me and prepare me for the job, but I feel like I don't know anything practical. I'm also starting to question the career related to this degree - I need this degree for the career I want. People have told me that the actual job is nothing like the university course. People tell me the job itself is very tough, few friends felt like quitting. IDK if I want that job anymore. I'm in a negative state of mind. I feel so dumb compared to peers, I feel stupid because this time last year I was so keen on this course and related career, even though my parents advised against it by saying it's not a great job, you're incurring more student debt, they basically told me to stay in my full-time job. I'll feel so ashamed if I drop out. - Do I want to do this course? My mind is clouded with negative thoughts, so I can't make a clear rational decision. I can't decide if I enjoy the course or not. - If I withdraw by 31st March, no financial penalty, my Youth Allowance will be cut. No backup plan. I'll have to find work ASAP for $. With current events (virus, unemployment), it will be hard. - Or, I can finish this semester, and apply for jobs along the way (not sure if it's a good idea, IDK my passion). If I manage to get a job, take it, then withdraw (financial penalties of $4K will apply since census date will have passed). That will mean I'll have to continue to try keeping up to date with studies, since if I don't get a job, I'll continue the course. And, I'll have Youth Allowance as long as I'm enrolled full time. Other options?

Anxiety/Depression Relapse

replies: 6

I had my anxiety/depression 10yrs ago, I had m full recovery, after 4years i had my relapse and had full recovery again. It's been a long time i never experienced this unpleasant feeling but because of this Convid19 problem my anxiety cameback again.... View more

I had my anxiety/depression 10yrs ago, I had m full recovery, after 4years i had my relapse and had full recovery again. It's been a long time i never experienced this unpleasant feeling but because of this Convid19 problem my anxiety cameback again. Feeling of unsettled, nervousness, shortness of breath, numbness. I hate this feelings. From my experience, it help me if i talked to someone had been there before and they became ok and back to normal. I think this strategies boost my self that there still hope after all of this. We can still live a normal and happy life. Is anyone had multiple relapse then recover again and again?. Thanks.

My Anxiety

replies: 1

Hi I'm new to this forum. My anxiety really kicked in, in the last couple of months. Landlord is selling the place I'm renting. I've been behind in rent. Both my partner and I have health issues. Partner is the only one working. My anxiety started in... View more

Hi I'm new to this forum. My anxiety really kicked in, in the last couple of months. Landlord is selling the place I'm renting. I've been behind in rent. Both my partner and I have health issues. Partner is the only one working. My anxiety started in 2013 when mum died, 2015 I had triple by-pass I cried for 2 weeks after my op. Some days I don't want to do anything, menopause doesn't help either. At the moment I am terrified of being locked out and lossing everything and 2 cats

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.

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

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.

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?

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'.

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.

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.

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