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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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ashkey Dealing with Anxiety and a Narcissist
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I have popped on here before and asked for some help with feelings of a new kind of anxiety and I have managed to learn and process and deal as best as possible. It's still a work in progress but I feel better after the situation I have bee... View more

Hi there, I have popped on here before and asked for some help with feelings of a new kind of anxiety and I have managed to learn and process and deal as best as possible. It's still a work in progress but I feel better after the situation I have been dealing with has been resolved as best as possible. I have been dealing with a new manager I have had to train and learnt things about her through multiple mediations with her and our area manager supervising. This manager I have been training is a textbook narcissist and has been the cause of my huge anxiety attacks. She has offsided the whole team I work with and they feel horrible and she still won't take blame but puts it all on me. I have a narcissist in my family who we had to cut off cause he was just so toxic it wasn't good for any of my close family or extended family. But this one is someone who I work in the same company with so calling her out in the way I truly want can't happen cause otherwise I look like the bad guy, which is what a narcissist wants. So my question, does anyone have any tips on overcoming knowing a narcissist? I don't have to be near her anymore but obviously for work purposes I have to be professional and not look like I am wrong even though upper management know my worth and value so I am reassured by that knowledge. It just sets my anxiety on edge a bit and I hate the feeling of someone thinking they have control over me when they aren't even near me now. I want to take my control back. But yes, any help with dealing with the feelings of knowing a narcissist and how to push away the thoughts of knowing them and how their existence is purely frustrating would help. Thank you, Ashkey

marinadiamond My anxiety ruins everything
  • replies: 2

Ive recently been diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression a year ago and since then it has been getting so much worse. It began with me crying every few days but Ive now developed into a completely different person and having panic attacks almost every... View more

Ive recently been diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression a year ago and since then it has been getting so much worse. It began with me crying every few days but Ive now developed into a completely different person and having panic attacks almost every single day, ive been on medication and I'm seeing a psychologist but nothing seems to be working. It began after my best friend of 10 years completely broke off contact with me then pretended I didn't exist at school, saying terrible things behind my back and detaching me from our friend group. The only person Ive got is my girlfriend who has helped me through this but I feel like a burden to her and to everyone, I hate the pitying looks I get from people when I cry and I hate that my anxiety stops me from doing what I want to do. Just recently I was unable to go to my school camp because I was too anxious about it and having panic attacks every day leading up to it. I know that I wouldn't have been able to handle it but now that everyone has gone, including my girlfriend, I feel sad because I couldn't go. My girlfriend tells me to research ways to cope with my anxiety and depression but I don't know what to do and I feel so alone, The internet says quotes, meditation or eating healthy but none of these sort of things have been working How can I change my mindset and gain the confidence to be myself? Thanks

white knight Worry worry worry part 2
  • replies: 3

Hi again, In part one we dealt with "worry" and how non productive it is except for giving us ulcers. Here I'd like to explore other ways of reducing worry. Commonly we tend to tackle challenges on our own, many of us don't like passing on responsibi... View more

Hi again, In part one we dealt with "worry" and how non productive it is except for giving us ulcers. Here I'd like to explore other ways of reducing worry. Commonly we tend to tackle challenges on our own, many of us don't like passing on responsibilities to others, it causes us to feel we are cheating by getting others to do our work, how realistic is this? Take a factory for example. If two machine operators do the same work but one operator is supplied with a different order that places twice the volume of work onto the operator left. Changes would be needed like overtime or a third operator to work the machine during lunch hour. What I'm suggesting is when workloads are raised there needs to be changes like water finds it own level, so should workload. This leads to speaking up. Asking for help if you are snowed under with tasks is something you need to consider. Your partner or family members aren't mind readers. They could be lounging watching TV as you sweat over a hot stove, then the dog attacks a cyclist so you are out there chaining him up then your meal burns and you fall on your bed with resentment that "he didnt even help me". Instead "please darling can you tend to the dog, I'm cooking at the moment". Delegation can be so easy yet we dont often do it. The other mention is prioritizing. Some people are terrible at this. My first wife was a slow worker. She'd take 60 minutes to hang out the washing after I hung it out as I never hung it out "correctly". During that time I'd mind the children and be late for work. Things got way out of proportion and nothing was prioritized. Some people cannot co-ordinate tasks. eg the washing of dirty dishes is priority over mowing the lawn unless rain is close by. Hygiene more important than vanity and so on. If you think your prioritizing is non existent then ask an older person how to change. That not only makes you more efficient but your partner will no longer carry the burden of such absence of planning. As worry reduces smiling increases. Laughter returns and your heart will not give up early entering your twilight years. Such steps along with appropriate medication and therapy will get your life back on track. TonyWK

ClearQuartz Where to go when having a panic attack in public
  • replies: 3

I have been having frequent panic attacks over the past few weeks and a lot of the time they are when I am at work (Sydney CBD) or in public. I find when I am having one there is no where to go to calm down in private other than the bathroom which do... View more

I have been having frequent panic attacks over the past few weeks and a lot of the time they are when I am at work (Sydney CBD) or in public. I find when I am having one there is no where to go to calm down in private other than the bathroom which doesn't help because I worry other people will hear me hyperventilating. Where do you guys go to calm down in private?

Laurie08 Anxiety attack? Suddenly increase in anxiety
  • replies: 3

Sorry this Is a long one. I assume I have anxiety, though I've never been to a mental health doctor about it. Its usually manageable or to be realistic, ignorable; but I recently (Aug 2019) started having I guess heart palpitations and shortness of b... View more

Sorry this Is a long one. I assume I have anxiety, though I've never been to a mental health doctor about it. Its usually manageable or to be realistic, ignorable; but I recently (Aug 2019) started having I guess heart palpitations and shortness of breath when there is a build up. It started when I had to do a job application and interview for a position higher than mine. Change is hard and I had just been getting comfortable after 6 months in a different position, but felt the pressure(encouragement) from work and parents to apply. I didnt get the position which I'm kind of relieved about; but now there is the expectation for me to up skill at work through a Diploma education. I dont mind so much it will be good for my resume but It is inducing some stress to think about. I went to the doctors and found out I'm very iron deficient and B12 deficient, which I've researched can increase symptoms too. I also started having heart palpitations and shortness of breath if i drink too much coffee or have it in the afternoon. This is strange for me because up until August I found coffee relaxing and would drink multiple a day. Now it feels like I crash hard and my mind notices when my body is falling asleep which let's off adrenaline and keeps me awake. Just yesterday I was feeling jittery at 3pm. I had 2 coffees that day before 9:30am but overall had had a nice fun family day relaxing decorating cookies and watching movies. I noted I felt jittery before my drive home and was provided some relaxation lavender oil. I ended up heading off home which involved driving down a freeway at 110km/h. I started zoning out, sweating palms and feet and my heart was going crazy so I had to pull over. Luckily there were no cars immediately behind me and I was able to stop safely. I calmed myself down with breathing turned the music down and aircon up and continued, but was still in my thoughts about what if it happened again...so naturally it did. I had reached a part where there was no where to pull over, heart beating madly, sweating, trying to control my breath, pins and needles throughout my whole body... I managed to take an exolit, put on my hazards And drive long enough to find a parking area. I was absoloutely shaking when I stopped. I called my parents and my brother came an picked me up so I'm all fine now besides exhausted and my chest still aches.

Hamada Terrified of Serotonin Syndrome but can't find enough information on it.
  • replies: 4

Hey all, I only just made this account because I honestly feel out of options so I thought I'd ask here if anyone had any information that specifically relates to what i'm going through. Iv'e been my usual AD for about 6-7 years now however after com... View more

Hey all, I only just made this account because I honestly feel out of options so I thought I'd ask here if anyone had any information that specifically relates to what i'm going through. Iv'e been my usual AD for about 6-7 years now however after completely shredding my body with caffeine over a year (extremely high doses) iv'e developed a panic disorder that is entirely crippling, I am getting better slowly however after a visit to my psychiatrist he placed me on another AD for sleeping while I'm being weaned off my old ones, i'm not entirely sure of the T&C's here but i'm told we aren't meant to name medication names but I honestly have nowhere else to turn, I'm being weaned off medication and taking new medication (for 4 days) when someone mentioned Serotonin Syndrome, I'm hopefully presenting this in a way that isn't discussing medication. In anxiety fuelled rage I've researched myself into a mess and am now terrified of taking my meds which are effectively giving back my life because im terrified of this thing happening, I was wondering if anyone has any information on if I can develop it after 24 hours or if once I've taken it for a while I'm kind of in the "clear". Again, I may be breaking some forum rules but I honestly have nowhere else to turn and a very very long sleepless night ahead of me if someone can't point me in the proper direction. Thank you.

alexis123 feel like i am a burden to everyone
  • replies: 2

my anxiety is so constant and controls my life, i can barely do anything social anymore which as a result of that i’ve lost a lot of friends from me bailing all the time, i just think if i don’t go places i won’t be a burden because if i do i’ll ruin... View more

my anxiety is so constant and controls my life, i can barely do anything social anymore which as a result of that i’ve lost a lot of friends from me bailing all the time, i just think if i don’t go places i won’t be a burden because if i do i’ll ruin it

Stanlee14 Anxiety Managment Your Tips
  • replies: 1

Hello everyone! I wanted to create this thread to talk about tips and tricks to manage your anxiety. Recently I’ve been suffering from quite bad health anxiety. Just another chapter in my own mental health story, a plot twist I didn’t see coming. Pun... View more

Hello everyone! I wanted to create this thread to talk about tips and tricks to manage your anxiety. Recently I’ve been suffering from quite bad health anxiety. Just another chapter in my own mental health story, a plot twist I didn’t see coming. Puns aside, I wanted some coping tips from others. For me personally I find keeping myself busy with things and hobbies to do very useful for combating negative feelings. This is a bit difficult for me at the moment as I’m out of work. Another thing I do to combat negative thinkingis to have a set of positive phrases which I repeat to myself through out the day, like you are safe, you are loved, you can do this ect. Another strange one that I’m sure many with health anxiety can relate to is the nagging urge to google symptoms and illnesses every 5 mins. Every time I get this urge now, instead of googling I get on forum and spend that time reading and contributing to posts on here. A strange one but I feel it’s more positive than than the latter and felt I should share it. But I want to hear some other coping strategies that others use. Cheers in advance, Stan.

Zac32 Anxiety and can't breathe
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone I'm new to this kind of thing and don't no what else to do I'm a 26 year old male quit smoking after 4 years about 4 weeks ago (and no i do not crave a ciggarette) and I have anxiety the doctor has put me on anti-depressants but can take... View more

Hey everyone I'm new to this kind of thing and don't no what else to do I'm a 26 year old male quit smoking after 4 years about 4 weeks ago (and no i do not crave a ciggarette) and I have anxiety the doctor has put me on anti-depressants but can take weeks to work i need a imediate fix and have alot of thoughts but the main thing I'm stressing and panicking over is that I can't breath,my throat feels like it's closing and my breaths are shallow and when I take a deep breathe it feels like I can't fill my lungs up to the right capacity if thag makes sense it makes me panic alot and this has been going on for 3 days now I wake up in the middle of the night at lime 3am and instantly panic and can't breathe and I stay up the rest of the night worrying! I constantly stay inside all the time and hate even going to my leter box I hate where I live and will moving place help with the anxiety do you think? Will excersise help? Just really want to know what helps Sorry if this has been covered alot Thanks so much everyone Zac

nht anxiety attack as you fall asleep
  • replies: 5

Hi, has anyone experienced anxiety/panic attack as soon as you fall asleep. I get this quite often during the day when I take a nap. I also get it in the morning after I wake up from some short perid of sleep, then try to fall sleep again. It makes y... View more

Hi, has anyone experienced anxiety/panic attack as soon as you fall asleep. I get this quite often during the day when I take a nap. I also get it in the morning after I wake up from some short perid of sleep, then try to fall sleep again. It makes you very scared of trying to sleep then you give up trying to sleep. You lose more and more sleep because of that. If someone has been through this how do you cope or prevent it from happening