Anxiety

Random episodes of extreme social anxiety and brain fog when I am normally a social stress-free person (depersonalization?)

replies: 2

I'll occasionally (once every month or 2) have a period that can last from a few hours to a week where I experience extreme social social anxiety. I feel like I don't remember my identity or who I am, it feels like my brain is extremely foggy and my ... View more

I'll occasionally (once every month or 2) have a period that can last from a few hours to a week where I experience extreme social social anxiety. I feel like I don't remember my identity or who I am, it feels like my brain is extremely foggy and my thoughts are racing super fast. I can't focus on anything and my short term memory feels like it is barely working. I become very depressed as I feel like i'm stuck in my head alone and I don't remember how to socialize or to be me. I just can't stop thinking that im a failure I am and I feel socially inept. When talking to even close friends it feels like I have to pretend to be who I was. I begin to stop answering my phone and cut off all my friends because socializing just causes me to feel extremely tired and depressed. I then have to make up excuses for why I didn't answer my phone because it wouldn't make any sense to them if I told them the truth as I am normally a fairly energetic person who enjoys socializing and doing things with my friends. After these episodes finish and I start feeling like myself again, I completely disregard the episode as an issue and think it's stupid that I ever felt that way. I slowly build up confidence again and start thinking well of myself and enjoying life. Just before the episodes start I'm always feeling more confident than I usually do and life is looking up then I just start feeling it again for no reason. The reason I finally decided to do anything about it is because of a very bad episode I had today. I had my first shift of my first job (I'm 16) and I started to feel this way a few hours before it. I was feeling extremely anxious about it and knew that an episode was beginning but I forced myself to go. When I got there I was feeling extreme social anxiety and I just couldn't focus on anything they were teaching me, I was being super awkward, I forgot everything they said straight away and it felt like my brain wasn't working, I had trouble introducing myself to people and there was nothing I could do about all this. I felt like a complete idiot and just didn't want to exist in that moment. I have no idea what causes it but when I read about depersonilization, the way it was described seemed similar to what I was experiencing. It has been an hour since I got home from the job and I am fairly sure the episode is over but I knew if I didn't do anything now then the cycle would just repeat.

I’m struggling

replies: 4

Hey it’s my first time writing in these forums. So I’ve been dealing with intrusive thoughts for months now and they’ve honestly turned me in to the worst state of person possible. I’m so scared of myself and I feel like I’m turning into a psychopath... View more

Hey it’s my first time writing in these forums. So I’ve been dealing with intrusive thoughts for months now and they’ve honestly turned me in to the worst state of person possible. I’m so scared of myself and I feel like I’m turning into a psychopath or going crazy and it’s not good. I’m crying all the time and my head always hurting, I look around and everyone else is always so happy I just feel like I’m faking all my emotions. I don’t understand how to deal with this, does anyone else feel like this? Has anyone beaten feeling like this? I

So worried

replies: 3

hi lm new and lm trying to find myself again..But 9 mths l lost my beautiful daughter to Lung cancer ..It was aggressive and she only had 6 mths to live..She was 29 and very healthy never smoked..Doctors were shocked also..lve my father,sister and no... View more

hi lm new and lm trying to find myself again..But 9 mths l lost my beautiful daughter to Lung cancer ..It was aggressive and she only had 6 mths to live..She was 29 and very healthy never smoked..Doctors were shocked also..lve my father,sister and now my daughter..l helped my mother with my father and sister illness and l havnt been able to grieve them..Now my daughter has passed my mother has beeb very aggressive and hasnt been around for me..Im have a beautiful supportive hubby and 2 other children who have completly disowned my mother from the control she has over me..Im seeking help but now my doctor as me on a low dosage bp medicate as my blood pressure rises when lm overwhelmed.. l need to find me as 5 years of hospitals has taken its toll on me..Im frighten someone else is going to be ill and pass..Just dont know what to do??

Hi I'm new, trying to keep anxiety down while preg

replies: 1

Hi everyone, My doc suggested to come here yesterday. I'm 5 weeks pregnant and have just started casual work in dentistry. I've worked in the field for a long time but it causes me huge amounts of anxiety I need to be very careful about stress and hi... View more

Hi everyone, My doc suggested to come here yesterday. I'm 5 weeks pregnant and have just started casual work in dentistry. I've worked in the field for a long time but it causes me huge amounts of anxiety I need to be very careful about stress and high BP, my first baby was stillborn last year due to preeclampsia. Part of me wants to just give it up for baby's sake but I don't want to run away from it. I want to face it. If anyone has any advice I would be very grateful. Thank you

High pressure job and an overflowing feeling of Anxiety

replies: 2

Hi there, this is my first post so bare with me. Bit of background... I’m a social worker and in a very high pressured job. Most people quit in the first 3 months... I’m coming up to that 3 months and one day after the Easter long weekend I started t... View more

Hi there, this is my first post so bare with me. Bit of background... I’m a social worker and in a very high pressured job. Most people quit in the first 3 months... I’m coming up to that 3 months and one day after the Easter long weekend I started to get IMMENSE feelings of anxiety about going to work. I wake up a few times during the night over thinking about something I have to do or about a meeting coming up that could be confronting or if I do something wrong what will happen to me? I think what this all boils down too however, is that my previous job started to make me feel this way in the end and it was at no fault of my own. The supervisor was OCD perfectionist about work and would niggle at every single thing I’d do, pull me in for a review meeting, tell me all the things I’m doing wrong (even when I’m doing exactly what I’m told) and then send me off my way with no support at all.... 8 people quit the same month I did so that gives you a bit of an idea... My current job is very supportive... I get complimented on my work often and reassured that what I’m doing is the right thing, I just get super stressed that I’ll slip up and then it will all go down hill from There. Yesterday at a training I met another person in my same role who lived in a different city. She could relate with me and it made me feel so much better to talk to someone other then in my office. I can’t do that every time I get anxious though and I don’t know how much longer I can go feeling this way... waking up with a knot in my stomach and tight chest, going to sleep the same way. Over and over again. I also think because I am a social worker I should be able to deal with this. But nothing prepares you for shitty bosses that basically traumatise you into thinking your always going to be doing something wrong!! i try and move past it by doing word finds... remembering that my supervisor wouldn’t be sitting in her lounge at 2am thinking about me and all the things I have to do and that probability of me being fired on the spot for ‘making a mistake’ is really really low and I’ll probably just get told how to do it right the next time. I’m so challenged and I’d love to meet some people that can relate to me! Thanks!

Health issues getting me down

replies: 1

Hi everyone, I wanted to post a thread as I've been feeling so alone lately. I have chronic anxiety and depression and my life is very stressful right now, I've noticed I have been isolating myself lately and maybe relapsing. I have just been diagnos... View more

Hi everyone, I wanted to post a thread as I've been feeling so alone lately. I have chronic anxiety and depression and my life is very stressful right now, I've noticed I have been isolating myself lately and maybe relapsing. I have just been diagnosed with iron deficiency which may explain why I have been feeling so tired lately - however, the underlying cause may be a chronic autoimmune disorder I am going through the stages of being tested for. All of this on top of my normal daily stressors (currently working part time and studying full time), living 600 km away from all family and support systems and feeling distanced from my partner has got me feeling considerably down. I feel embarrassed to talk to my GP as I already have so much going on and I haven't had much success with psychologists in the past. I guess I am looking for advice and maybe just someone to talk to and tell me what I am feeling right now is normal. Anna xox

Confused

replies: 3

Hi For about a week and a half I my anxiety and depression has been back. I have started taking antidepressants again for the past week and went from 10mg to 20mg last night. I’ve been having irrational thoughts where I’m thinking of saying something... View more

Hi For about a week and a half I my anxiety and depression has been back. I have started taking antidepressants again for the past week and went from 10mg to 20mg last night. I’ve been having irrational thoughts where I’m thinking of saying something and then I get this fear inside me that I will say it. I have no idea if this is normal or makes sense. Is this my anxiety? Also I’m finding that I’m waking up earlier than usual and finding it hard to go back to sleep. I’m usually sick on the morning and I have a fear inside me of getting up and facing the day. I’m finding it hard to eat and I’ve been eating barely anything and I don’t know what I should try to eat that will help me. I’m not sure if anyone can shed any light on this. I’m so scared that it won’t go away.

Confused and anxious about myself (Eating Disorder)

replies: 2

I saw in the description for this forum that it involved the discussion of eating disorders, so here I go. I'm a 15-year-old girl from Australia, and I'm nearly certain I have an eating disorder. I definitely don't feel valid enough to have an eating... View more

I saw in the description for this forum that it involved the discussion of eating disorders, so here I go. I'm a 15-year-old girl from Australia, and I'm nearly certain I have an eating disorder. I definitely don't feel valid enough to have an eating disorder, when I'm compared to all the 'stereotypes' you see portrayed in the media. I'm not underweight, I'm not overweight, I don't purge, I don't binge, I wear revealing clothes, I eat because someone has offered me food. I can't seem to place myself in a 'category' of eating disorders, which makes me feel extremely invalid. I'm a healthy weight for my height and age, although I am nearer of the underweight end, and I usually eat 3 meals a day (from pressure and supervision). Although I do what all 'normal' people do with their eating habits, I know that if it were up to me it would be completely different, and here's why I believe I have an eating disorder. I want to be underweight, I want my ribs and hip bones and collarbones to stick out, I want to skip my meals, I want to be fragile. I can't look at myself in the mirror without being ashamed, I cry when I crawl into bed at night when I remember how large I appear to myself and others, it hurts to look in the mirror when I'm showering. I keep logbooks of my weight, measurement, bodychecks. I'm just not losing the weight that I so desperately want to. I'm 'healthy' because no one seems to believe eating disorders are mental illnesses. I just want to know; What am I? Where do I fit in? This seems bad but I don't want an eating disorder to be who I am, but if it means I feel valid for once, then maybe I'm okay with it.

Anxiety with new kitten

replies: 2

Hello everyone, I'm really appreciative people have taken the time to check out this post even if they may not have much input! I apologise if this is hard to follow, I'm rambling for the most part. I've recently adopted a kitten aged around 6 to 8 w... View more

Hello everyone, I'm really appreciative people have taken the time to check out this post even if they may not have much input! I apologise if this is hard to follow, I'm rambling for the most part. I've recently adopted a kitten aged around 6 to 8 weeks old and have been trying to create an environment where he can feel comfortable and entertained in easily. He's residing in my bedroom so I can be actively involved with him. I've bought interactive toys, a scratching post/tree, a ribbon, and am waiting on a treat dice for him to bat around. I'm worried about how interested he will be with these newer items, especially since I'll be busy at school for a good chunk of the day. So far he has made little to no use of the scratching post/tree, instead climbing the sides of my bed and I've been paranoid about if his enrichment is good enough for what it is. It might be tough for me because I've been unable to really enjoy myself, kittens being the big ball of energy they are and all. We've also got two older cats (7 yrs) who currently don't get along since my family never knew how to appropriately do so. I really want to reintroduce them but am unsure how to go about that, any tips for these two?

What is the difference between Stress and Anxiety

replies: 0

Hi all When talking with a friend recently we talked a little about anxiety. She said, it was just stress that she was experiencing. This made me think if we underestimate what is happening in our bodies. I realised I'd done that for years. Blamed it... View more

Hi all When talking with a friend recently we talked a little about anxiety. She said, it was just stress that she was experiencing. This made me think if we underestimate what is happening in our bodies. I realised I'd done that for years. Blamed it on stress when it actually was anxiety. So how can you tell the difference? Would like to hear what other people to think. Stress generally refers to: psychological perception of pressure, and the body's response to it. It involves multiple systems, from metabolism to muscles to memory. Some stress is necessary: it's a way to encounter and to respond to challenges and uncertainties. Thoughts of danger set off an automatic response system, known as the fight-or-flight response, activating hormonal signals, which prepares one to meet a threat or flee from it. A stressful event— e.g. the sudden appearance of a snake on a path or fear of losing one's job — triggers a cascade of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These surge through the body, speeding heartbeat and circulation of blood to support quick action, mobilizing fat and sugar for fast energy, focusing attention to track the danger, preparing muscles for movement, and more. A stress response is meant to solve short-term, life-threatening problems, not extended difficulties e.g. daily traffic jams or marital problems. It generally takes time for the body to calm down after being triggered. Prolonged or repeated stress response, a characteristic of modern life, can have physical and psychological consequences, including heart disease and depression. Anxiety, or extreme apprehension and worry, is a normal reaction to stressful situations. In some cases, worry becomes excessive or chronic and can cause sufferers to dread everyday situations. Generally, anxiety arises first, often during childhood. Evidence suggests that both biology and environment can contribute to the disorder. Some may have a genetic predisposition to anxiety; however, development of the condition is not inevitable. Early traumatic experiences can also reset the body’s normal fear-processing system so that it is hyper-reactive. Anxiety is typified by exaggerated worries and expectations of negative outcomes in unknown situations. Physical symptoms may accompany these worries e.g. muscle tension, headaches, stomach cramps, and frequent urination. Info was taken from www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/stress and www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/anxiety Kind regards PamelaR

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