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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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Feeling_lowsy Feeling scared
  • replies: 15

Hi All, Doing everything I’m meant to be doing to deal with the anxiety and depression yet still feel scared almost all of the time. Even logging into this forum as a first time user is challenging my emotions. Please be kind on your reply.

Hi All, Doing everything I’m meant to be doing to deal with the anxiety and depression yet still feel scared almost all of the time. Even logging into this forum as a first time user is challenging my emotions. Please be kind on your reply.

Bigtony Sleep problems
  • replies: 5

Hey guys, I have a bit of an issue I can’t seem to find anywhere when I look on the internet, before I speak about it I understand a lot of people have sleep anxiety where they can’t sleep, but mines a bit different. Around 1 year ago this problem st... View more

Hey guys, I have a bit of an issue I can’t seem to find anywhere when I look on the internet, before I speak about it I understand a lot of people have sleep anxiety where they can’t sleep, but mines a bit different. Around 1 year ago this problem started where i got bad anxiety from drinking energy drinks and I tried to go to sleep at 4 am and I couldn’t I just laid there with bad anxiety, it didn’t happen every night after that but eventually it became a constant thing, (That was a one time thing with the energy drinks, I don’t drink energy drinks or coffee or do drugs) but after that I got a weird habit stuck in my brain where it I stayed up till 4 am or later I’d lay there having panic attacks not being able to sleep, and this was 100% of the time if I stayed up that late, if I went to sleep at 3 am or earlier I am fine no anxiety, but over time my sleep has gotten worse now I don’t like to stay up past 1 am, I can’t go out with friends because staying out late scares me incase I don’t make it home in time for my sleep schedule, but yes basically the sleep anxiety only exists if I stay up past my sleep boundary and I will have panic attacks all night until I realise I should stop trying to sleep, any suggestions? It sucks but it’s not the worst thing as long as I avoid staying up late

Void511 Returning to work 
  • replies: 1

I am so anxious to return to work it’s been 9 years since I’ve held done a job.Ive had jobs lots of them I only seem to last a few weeks.I am currently looking for work which is so stressful as you could imagine.I stopped socialising and basically cu... View more

I am so anxious to return to work it’s been 9 years since I’ve held done a job.Ive had jobs lots of them I only seem to last a few weeks.I am currently looking for work which is so stressful as you could imagine.I stopped socialising and basically cut me self off from the world completely 3 years ago.I noticed I was down right depressed and anxious all the time.Yes I was on weed at the time which wasn’t helping, I noticed I was just trying to do anything to escape reality.It was a year long struggle to become sober. Now two years clean with a couple of beers once every now and then and me dozen cigarettes a day habit.Yes I did stop cigarettes only lasted 6 weeks. Done that twice in past 2 years.So that’s a little of situation lately.

Wallflower1 Public speaking
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I was just wondering if anyone had any tips on public speaking for people with anxiety? I practiced none stop for about two weeks, but of course within two minutes of talking I forgot what I was saying, repeated myself, minced up words, wen... View more

Hi there, I was just wondering if anyone had any tips on public speaking for people with anxiety? I practiced none stop for about two weeks, but of course within two minutes of talking I forgot what I was saying, repeated myself, minced up words, went bright red, ran out of oxygen etc. I tried to convince myself that it didn’t go as bad as what I thought, but today I get an email from my boss with a list of about 9 things I did wrong and that I needed to practice more etc. So now I feel super sh*t. What can I do to get better at speaking in front of others?

cj_horror Recently OCD
  • replies: 4

HI, I was recently diagnosed with OCD alongside a number of other issues. My doctors want me to go on medication. I won't lie, I'm terrified. I'm sick of being the way I am, but I have no faith in there being any possibility for a change for the bett... View more

HI, I was recently diagnosed with OCD alongside a number of other issues. My doctors want me to go on medication. I won't lie, I'm terrified. I'm sick of being the way I am, but I have no faith in there being any possibility for a change for the better. I feel like I'm drowning. I drink heavily and use narcotics to cope, but this can't last forever. I don't know anymore. Any pointers or relevant experience is welcome.

Rubykt Anxious
  • replies: 4

I feel fake and numb but continue to live a daily life where my partner and family think im ok. I absolutely love my wife and my family but I still feel detached, going through the motions. I'm sure everyone feels like this but how do you get over it... View more

I feel fake and numb but continue to live a daily life where my partner and family think im ok. I absolutely love my wife and my family but I still feel detached, going through the motions. I'm sure everyone feels like this but how do you get over it. Without being told to just get over it.

isabelle1188 Anxiety is preventing me from getting an education
  • replies: 3

I have had anxiety since I was very young, but over the last 5 or so years it has become unbearable. A short time after I started 8th grade I stopped going to school completely because of my anxiety and I haven’t gone back since. I am supposed to be ... View more

I have had anxiety since I was very young, but over the last 5 or so years it has become unbearable. A short time after I started 8th grade I stopped going to school completely because of my anxiety and I haven’t gone back since. I am supposed to be in 10th grade this year and every day I worry myself sick in terms of what to do about my education. My dad is pressuring me to attend a mainstream school, my mum on the other hand is looking into homeschooling, but I am afraid I can do neither as my anxiety prevents me from leaving the house and I find it difficult to find the motivation to do schoolwork at home. I have been seeing school counsellors, social workers, and psychologists on and off about my anxiety since I was as young as 6 years old but I have yet to find anyone that has been genuinely helpful. I have had psychologists tell my parents they will no longer see me because I’m too difficult to work with, which has further contributed to my feelings of hopelessness. I have been told to see a psychiatrist, but my mum can not afford to pay for one and my dad doesn’t believe in using therapy or medication to manage depression/anxiety. I feel like I’m running out of options and I don’t know what else to do.

lilykitten Panic attacks on holidays
  • replies: 6

Hello folks. I have GAD but seem to manage it very well using all the breathing methods etc. I work as a teacher, have 2 demanding teenage girls and my husband is out of work but despite a racing brain which makes me a bit forgetful, no one would not... View more

Hello folks. I have GAD but seem to manage it very well using all the breathing methods etc. I work as a teacher, have 2 demanding teenage girls and my husband is out of work but despite a racing brain which makes me a bit forgetful, no one would notice. It's in my downtime that the panic attacks hit. As the meal arrives at the dinner or as I am about to get on a plane or when arriving at a swanky hotel. The symptoms are pins and needles across my scalp, fuzzy vision, clamminess, nausea but most of all diarrhea. I can get through it with deep breathing and many visits to the loo but I wonder if I am destined to never fully enjoy a holiday. I am looking at two options 1. medication for anxiety or 2. mediation for nausea and diarrhea. Do you think either is worthwhile? I'm the sort of person who never takes medication and doesn't drink.

Guest_294 is it true or just my anxiety talking?
  • replies: 4

hi all, im just feeling very upset right now and i needed to talk to someone. i was pretty upset about a mark i received and i messaged my friend, who has come back with a fairly reasonable, but also rather cold response. she is always so supportive ... View more

hi all, im just feeling very upset right now and i needed to talk to someone. i was pretty upset about a mark i received and i messaged my friend, who has come back with a fairly reasonable, but also rather cold response. she is always so supportive and caring and im worried ive said something wrong because now she wont respond to my messages. i feel like this is just my anxiety talking but it feels like shes really angry with me and i dont know how to react now feeling super stressy, A

BigRed23 Dealing with people
  • replies: 5

So, I was working with a client during the last weekend and I was threatened by a member of the public just because I did not move for him so he could retrieve a bag. I thought that I could deal with it but I saw the gentleman again whilst out with m... View more

So, I was working with a client during the last weekend and I was threatened by a member of the public just because I did not move for him so he could retrieve a bag. I thought that I could deal with it but I saw the gentleman again whilst out with my family. My family did not see him as they had gone as my 30 week old son was upset so my wife took him to breastfeed him. Since then my anxiety levels have gone up as the thoughts of being assaulted have brought up some old wounds. I have already spoken to a person through Beyond Blue and I have now informed my workplace of the incident. (as you can imagine my mind was not thinking at the time of the first incident) How the hell do I try and get these thoughts out of my head knowing that he is a member of the public and I can see him at anytime! Thanks for any advice!