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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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kitykate I just don't know what to do anymore anxiety rules my life.
  • replies: 1

It impacts everything I do, I started a new job after leaving a really awful situation with work place harassment at my old job. I started getting paranoid that I wasn't doing things to my bosses liking and they were annoyed with me which made me sca... View more

It impacts everything I do, I started a new job after leaving a really awful situation with work place harassment at my old job. I started getting paranoid that I wasn't doing things to my bosses liking and they were annoyed with me which made me scared to go to work I'd have panic attacks in the bathroom trying to get ready, this lead to me calling in sick a few times, then I actually became geniunly unwell and was unavailable for a week to be rostered and now they want me to come in for a chat and I'm just freaking out about it thinking how I've gone and messed up a good opportunity for me. I keep convincing myself that people close to me are fed up and annoyed with me so I constantly ask if we're ok and I'm not being annoyed which ends up, you guessed it, making them annoyed. I feel like such a burden and that I'll never be able to hold down a job properly, I have so many bills to pay that I can't sleep at night, how did I get here? I don't even want to be awake most days I just want to stay asleep in bed and avoid all my problems, I'm speaking to my GP and she wants me to see a psychologist but I've done it so many times before and still have the same outcome because I never have enough motivation to help myself, it makes me so frustrated that I can't just live a normal life and I feel suffocated daily by a feeling this is all my life will be, I can't go 10 minutes without thinking how much of a failure I am and how much I've disappointed my friends and family with my constant failures. Why can't I just stop being anxious and depressed?

Elsta What I’ve been telling myself all day
  • replies: 5

I’m someone who is allergic to pollen and has asthma, and I frequently have panic attacks worrying that I’m having asthma (it usually turns out to be panic and not actually asthma). I live in Melbourne and today was forecast to have an asthma thunder... View more

I’m someone who is allergic to pollen and has asthma, and I frequently have panic attacks worrying that I’m having asthma (it usually turns out to be panic and not actually asthma). I live in Melbourne and today was forecast to have an asthma thunderstorm epidemic. Today was one of the hardest days for me, and at one point I was lying on the floor in my house saying to myself, if this is asthma and I die today, then it’ll all be over soon and I won’t know the difference. This thought process helped ease the anxiety, but it’s really upset me. I don’t want to die, I don’t want to leave my family behind to mourn for me. I love living, and I want to keep experiencing life for as long as I can. Does anyone here have a less depressing thought they use to help manage panic?

Busy_busy_bee Panic attack
  • replies: 1

I made some really stupid decisions last night now I am riddled with anxiety. I need to stop drinking... I haven’t slept and feel awful about myself. I seem to set myself up to fail all the time. I hate myself

I made some really stupid decisions last night now I am riddled with anxiety. I need to stop drinking... I haven’t slept and feel awful about myself. I seem to set myself up to fail all the time. I hate myself

Lacie Physical symptoms
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone, For around a month now I have been experiencing different physical symptoms... started with pins and needles in my arms, and sharp pain randomly in my chest, and occasionally my breathing, the feeling like I can’t catch a full breath. I... View more

Hey everyone, For around a month now I have been experiencing different physical symptoms... started with pins and needles in my arms, and sharp pain randomly in my chest, and occasionally my breathing, the feeling like I can’t catch a full breath. I then get worried about it all and then start getting hot, feeling shaky and have to just try to relax and calm myself. I am a very anxious person, and I feel like I suffer with mild anxiety. I have been to see 2 doctors I had a blood test done when I spoke about pins and needles. And then I went back last week because my chest (more so breast) was feeling very achy and a dull pain. She listened to my chest but she didn’t seem worried. I’m know freaking out as to it being something cardio/ respiratory related, but I just feel like to doctors don’t really help with what you actually want from them. I’ve just been feeling emotional aswell and occasionally just cry! But I’m freaking about it all to be honest. But the strange thing is I don’t feel overly anxious about anything.

Haitchy New job
  • replies: 45

Hi Folks. New to this forum. I have suffered from anxiety for a few years on and off now. It came about after an abusive relationship and more recently my fathers sudden death. I left a long term job recently - it was an unhealthy environment for mys... View more

Hi Folks. New to this forum. I have suffered from anxiety for a few years on and off now. It came about after an abusive relationship and more recently my fathers sudden death. I left a long term job recently - it was an unhealthy environment for myself and many others but that being said, I was comfortable with the work and in my comfort zone. Importantly, I was really good at my job. Ive just started a new job. The environment is quite high pressure and I'm struggling a bit with learning new and very unfriendly software. I've had a little training but I'm there alone effectively and trying to do my best. Im finding that I'm getting quite frazzled when it's busy and I've made a couple of mistakes. I'm trying to tell myself that this is normal but the brain is saying I'm useless and the people around me will think I am too. ive actually started to dread going there - it starts when I wake up on the days I'm working with 'that feeling' in my chest. Any advice on how to deal with this much appreciated.

Missandrea Constant worrying in relationship
  • replies: 3

Been with my partner for about 2 years and sometines if we're apart I convince myself he'll realise that he doesn't need me around. Then I lay in my room thinking about it, I start getting defensive and come across blunt because my head has convinced... View more

Been with my partner for about 2 years and sometines if we're apart I convince myself he'll realise that he doesn't need me around. Then I lay in my room thinking about it, I start getting defensive and come across blunt because my head has convinced that this is what he's thinking. I have no idea why I think that sorta thing and not sure how to snap out of it? He's on night shift at the moment so we aren't really speaking so my brain has obviously said to me this is what's going to happen and to be prepared hes going to leave.

Danberg Light Therapy
  • replies: 1

Hi, I have suffer from agoraphobia and have had a flare up with the change of light coming into spring. Just wondering if anyone has had light therapy or know of anyone who specialises in Light therapy. I think I have linked my flare ups with the cha... View more

Hi, I have suffer from agoraphobia and have had a flare up with the change of light coming into spring. Just wondering if anyone has had light therapy or know of anyone who specialises in Light therapy. I think I have linked my flare ups with the change of seasons.

Manalishi Been a while, wish I had better news
  • replies: 3

Hi, so, it's been around a year since I last posted here, I'm Catherine. When I was last here I was plagued with health anxiety, and well, the old demon's back again. Couple of weeks ago now I came down with a case of what appears to be haemmorhoids,... View more

Hi, so, it's been around a year since I last posted here, I'm Catherine. When I was last here I was plagued with health anxiety, and well, the old demon's back again. Couple of weeks ago now I came down with a case of what appears to be haemmorhoids, or a fissure; Pain when I wipe, bit of fresh blood from the back end etc. etc. Sadly, that is not how I see it, in my mind, it's bowel cancer, a veritable death sentence. Since then I've been experiencing little stabbing pains in my abdomen, aches in my lower back, a feeling like I always need to go to the toilet, and constipation when I do. All these signs are adding up and basically just screaming to me "the end approaches!", which, well, I have cause to fear death a little more than usual at this point in my life. You see, I'm transgender, and just started medically transitioning 3 months ago to this day; the thought of dying now, or having my lifespan reduced to a handful of years, now that I'm just, after 23 years finally able to see and explore who I truly am, is too horrible to bear. I've seen a gp who prescribed me some cream, which doesn't seem to be helping much, but at my follow up appointment for hormone therapy I found out I wasn't anemic, which is somewhat encouraging, and I'll be doing an FOBT soon. Where I'm going with all this is that today at work I essentially spent the afternoon in the throes of an anxiety attack, certain that death looms, and, I started to wonder if these symptoms are even real, which led to even more terror over not being able to distinguish reality from my frenzied imagination. I'm getting so scared that I just want to go to the ER and say "I know something's wrong with me and I'm dying, find it!" I hope someone can make sense of these ramblings and give a scared girl a little comfort.

goose1888 I’m struggling with relationship anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone, I’ve been seeing someone new for the last month and a half or so, and whenever we’re in person I feel awesome and really at ease, but between dates I’m finding myself getting really in my own head. For example, we had a date yesterday a... View more

Hey everyone, I’ve been seeing someone new for the last month and a half or so, and whenever we’re in person I feel awesome and really at ease, but between dates I’m finding myself getting really in my own head. For example, we had a date yesterday and I feel like it went really well, and I messaged her after to say I had an awesome time and so on, then I didn’t hear back from her (and still haven’t) so I’m really anxious that it wasn’t as good as I thought it was or something. I’ve told her my feelings for her (that I like her) and she has said she likes me too and really enjoys being around me. I just keep getting anxious that somehow that’s changed, or she’s changed her mind about it, or something. It’s getting in the way of me being able to just enjoy dating, and just my day to day life. Could anyone offer some help so I can stop being so anxious about all of this?

Unforgettable_fire Anxiety is crippling at the moment
  • replies: 1

I am really struggling at the moment, about a month ago my mother had a massive heart attack. Throughout that time I've been to the hospital every day and also trying to arrange permanent in home care for when she gets discharged. I'm also trying to ... View more

I am really struggling at the moment, about a month ago my mother had a massive heart attack. Throughout that time I've been to the hospital every day and also trying to arrange permanent in home care for when she gets discharged. I'm also trying to managing care for my father who has agoraphobia and anxiety and depression. I thought I was coping ok but the last week I've had this overwhelming fear that comes over me in the mornings and only starts to subside by about 5pm. I am also juggling some concerns I face with a tax debt which has really knocked the wind out of my sails. I am trying to put on a brave face for my parents but it is taking a lot of me to keep going and appear normal