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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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amalee78 Health anxiety when pregnant
  • replies: 3

I have been diagnosed with GAD and PTSD and have been seeing a psychologist to deal with this, although I haven’t seen her in a couple of months. I am also pregnant at the moment with a completely unplanned pregnancy, which has really made my anxiety... View more

I have been diagnosed with GAD and PTSD and have been seeing a psychologist to deal with this, although I haven’t seen her in a couple of months. I am also pregnant at the moment with a completely unplanned pregnancy, which has really made my anxiety worse. Anyway, for the last week i’ve Been obsessing over having a blood clot in my leg. Last week I had a sore spot which turned into a bruise, and today the same leg is sore in a different spot. A bit like a muscle strain, but over a good third of my leg. Once again, i’m Convinced it’s a blood clot. The thing is, I don’t even know what the symptoms of a blood clot are, but I am still obsessing over it anyway. I think it’s been too long since I saw my psychologist, and definitely I have been struggling since I found out I was pregnant. Does anyone have any advice for me? I could really use some.

Romy GAD/stress and the immune system
  • replies: 4

Does anyone else find that they catch every cold/flu going around? I seem to have periods when I'm stressed, run down and anxious and then eventually when it all calms down I get sick.

Does anyone else find that they catch every cold/flu going around? I seem to have periods when I'm stressed, run down and anxious and then eventually when it all calms down I get sick.

ScarlettR Do you have negative thoughts stuck on repeat, playing over and over in the mind?
  • replies: 3

I have had this problem since I was about 12 or 13 (am 30 now). Basically, negative thoughts of past traumatic events like bullying is something I always think about. I don't blame myself for the bullying, but I'm angry and sad that the bullying happ... View more

I have had this problem since I was about 12 or 13 (am 30 now). Basically, negative thoughts of past traumatic events like bullying is something I always think about. I don't blame myself for the bullying, but I'm angry and sad that the bullying happened in the first place, and also how extreme a lot of it was. I've read a UK research article on this - a thought pattern called rumination. The article explained that it's the leading contributor to depression and anxiety, globally. I don't know if anyone else has this problem? And what to recommend to reduce or cease the symptoms?

anita24 Im lost - What do i do from here?
  • replies: 4

So i have been struggling with depression/anxiety for 10 years now. I have gone through so many jobs and left the job in the wrong way because i was scared to speak up, as i couldn't take it anymore i just left job after job, theres many gaps of time... View more

So i have been struggling with depression/anxiety for 10 years now. I have gone through so many jobs and left the job in the wrong way because i was scared to speak up, as i couldn't take it anymore i just left job after job, theres many gaps of time on my resume showing i've done nothing. Its gotten to the point where i am scared to take another job because i'm scared i cant handle it and its just more bad reputations i am doing to myself. Ive tried many medications, pyschologists. I feel like my life as the years go by are getting worse and worse its hard to see it getting better, since i havent been able to hold a job ever for more then a few months. I just want to keep a job, Its also taking its toll on my partner, he supports me but he doesn't earn much himself. He never complains but i'm so sad that i'm not contributing, and i just want to know how if any techniques helped others with this situation and if anyone is in the same position i am.

TeacherTears Anxious baby teacher
  • replies: 16

Hi everyone. I became a teacher at the start of the year. I work in low-SES school. I have very little teaching experience and I have no background in 2 of the 3 subjects I teach. The one that I get the most support in is the one that I did have expe... View more

Hi everyone. I became a teacher at the start of the year. I work in low-SES school. I have very little teaching experience and I have no background in 2 of the 3 subjects I teach. The one that I get the most support in is the one that I did have experience in teaching (to adults). I am floundering. A lot. Yesterday was the start of Term 2 and my classes went belly-up, each for different reasons. But even on the walk to school yesterday I was thinking about how I know that challenging anxiety and growing resilience is very important, but here I feel like I am in my Stress Zone more often than my Stretch Zone, if you know what I mean? I have tried a few different careers and I suppose my experiences starting off in all of them were similar, when it comes to Stress vs Stretch Zones. So on the one hand, I kind of know that I will probably survive each day, and hopefully even the 2 years I'm contracted at the school. However, I got pretty bad dread before school a few times last term, and I spent most of the day before coming back to school this term crying, because I just didn't want to. This morning, I woke up at 5:30am, and I believe I was having an anxiety attack. It's now 6:30. I've made a coffee and tried to do a mindfulness exercise, messaged a friend and tried to engage in some positive self-talk. But mostly I still want to cry. So I thought it might be a good idea to put my hand up in a safe space and at least vent, and say I'm not okay right now. A little context: I've moved across the country to take up this job. My fiance, family and friends are all on the other coast. I went home for the holidays and I think it almost just made it harder to come back. Anyway, thank you for reading.

stroppytom I hope someone can help me...
  • replies: 4

I am a 58 year old man. I have had chronic depression for fifteen years. Sometimes I also get terrible panic attacks which can last for a few weeks. Recently I had an accident and the outcome of that was that I broke seven ribs. During all the scans ... View more

I am a 58 year old man. I have had chronic depression for fifteen years. Sometimes I also get terrible panic attacks which can last for a few weeks. Recently I had an accident and the outcome of that was that I broke seven ribs. During all the scans done to look at my skeleton the doctors also discovered that I am in urgent need of a hip replacement which is happening in the next few weeks. About a month ago I felt an anxiety attack coming on. I was mortified and didn't know what to do. In hospital I was okay and they were giving me medication for the pain. Anyway...I took my normal medication and prayed it would go away. Well...the attack continued and my normal meds weren't working so I tried taking other medication I had on hand to see if that would work. It "sort or" did work in that the racing heart slowed down a bit but like with every time I have an anxiety episode, my appetite was gone, I had zero interest in going anything and I was starting to have suicidal thoughts because I had had enough of the fear. A friend suggested that my pain medications may have interfered with the normal meds I take and I had a think about that. When I was discharged from hospital I was told to keep taking medication until I was ready for the hip operation. I hadn't stuck to that regime because I don't like taking painkillers at the best of times. Anyway...I took medication and within 40 minutes my anxiety was gone! My appetite came back and I felt okay and I WAS okay, until the next morning when I woke up with the shakes and the fear again. Once I took the daytime dose of medication all was well again. Bingo! I knew what was wrong. I am worried that I have become addicted to the stuff. I know it can interfere with SSRIs but my GP doesn't know how else to help me. I am scheduled to have my hip operation in the next few weeks and I am so scared about how to proceed. Can anyone here help me?

delbel Moving out of home anxiety
  • replies: 3

So I've been dating my boyfriend for nearly 18 months and we have discussed moving in together. This is something we both want. For context, we are 23/24 and he moved out at 19 due to moving cities for work/uni. I still live at home. I have suffered ... View more

So I've been dating my boyfriend for nearly 18 months and we have discussed moving in together. This is something we both want. For context, we are 23/24 and he moved out at 19 due to moving cities for work/uni. I still live at home. I have suffered from severe anxiety my whole life and take medication for it. Lately, it's been worse because I am scared to leave home. It's not to do with responsibility because I am an incredibly independent person and I have a stable job, pay most my bills myself and own my own car etc. I'm still at uni for another year or so doing my masters but thats not my concern. I am very, very close with my mum. She is my best friend, the only person I can be myself around. Strange, I know but we are very very very similar.. almost identical. We hang out on a regular basis. I am scared of moving out because I'm scared of growing old (not up) and scared of leaving her behind. She lives alone after my parents divorce and I feel somewhat responsible for taking care of her. Mums not sick or anything, but she does have her own struggles as well. This feeling has been stronger since my older brother moved out. I'm not sure if this is normal, and I need someone other than my boyfriend and friends to provide some insight. I've been told I need to move out eventually and I know this, but I'm really struggling with it all. I know it is my anxiety taking control.

is_sandi Health Anxiety
  • replies: 5

I was wrongly diagnosed with cancer over a year ago and ever since my health anxiety has been uncontrollable. I have always had bad anxiety, but now this health anxiety has taken over my life. When I feel something is wrong, I google and find all the... View more

I was wrongly diagnosed with cancer over a year ago and ever since my health anxiety has been uncontrollable. I have always had bad anxiety, but now this health anxiety has taken over my life. When I feel something is wrong, I google and find all these bad things, them I am not able to cope with everyday life. I know I should not google, but I cant control it. If i do go to the GP and have to wait for results, I cant eat and I cant go to work, I can barley look at my daughter because I fear she will be growing up without a mum. I don't understand why I cant be logical about these health issues. I don't know what to do about this, does anyone else suffer with this? I am dying to find better ways to cope other than having to take relaxants to be able to semi calm down.

Pepsicola Severe health anxiety!!
  • replies: 5

I don’t even know where to start. I have suffered from anxiety and depression for 16yrs. Have just had a baby 9mths ago (went of my meds before falling pregnant and haven’t been back on) and since then, my mental health has spiraled out of control AN... View more

I don’t even know where to start. I have suffered from anxiety and depression for 16yrs. Have just had a baby 9mths ago (went of my meds before falling pregnant and haven’t been back on) and since then, my mental health has spiraled out of control AND on top of all of that I have now developed health anxiety and it is so extreme right now it has completely consumed my life. I have had a few episodes of vertigo in 3mths which is likely to be BPPV. Harmless and fixable! However, I have googled and joined vertigo groups and have convinced myself I have a brain tumour or cancer. The thing is, I have seen multiple drs (all said BPPV) and blood test (everything perfect) etc but I was still not convinced!! Grrr. I then went to ONE last dr to “ease my mind” so to speak and she requested specialist tests and MRI. This has thrown me into an absolute puddle of fear. WHAT IF THEY FIND SOMETHING. So I’ve decided NOT to do the tests because as crazy as it sounds, I don’t actually want a diagnosis. I’m too scared!! I would rather NOT know. Please tell me someone else has gone through these thoughts and feelings!?!? What do I do I’m booked in to see my dr to get back on my meds and start psychology. I just want this worry and obsessive thoughts to stop. I want to stop feeling like I’m doomed and I’m going to die. I’m exhausted, confused, panicky and utterly drained.

JustSomeGirl Why am I like this...?
  • replies: 4

I have social and general anxiety disorder (which like with many people, leads to depression) and have been struggling through the last year. I can't seem to be able to escape the discouraging thoughts inside my head and just want it all to stop. I'v... View more

I have social and general anxiety disorder (which like with many people, leads to depression) and have been struggling through the last year. I can't seem to be able to escape the discouraging thoughts inside my head and just want it all to stop. I've become afraid of my own thoughts, and with it, a lot of other things. I'm 14 years old. I don't know anyone else my age who seems to be like me. Which is good, no one should feel like this but at the same time, I feel alone. Despite my many attempts to describe anxiety and depression to my friends, they just don't seem to understand. They think it's something that just goes away after a while. I've been like this for years, however my family and I only recognized it recently, when I had already had two full on anxiety attacks and we decided to talk to a doctor, where they told me I did have anxiety and depression. I am on medication and I see a therapist but sometimes I feel like it's all for nothing. My brain keeps telling me I'm never going to escape these things inside my head and that'll I'm a failure to my friends. I don't want to let people down, they just tell me to calm down and move past it. I don't think they know how it feels to be suffocated by their own skin though. I'm terrified of being abandoned by them... I guess, the thought of being left alone in such a world, scares me. I'm afraid that because of how I am - I constantly choose to stay home then go out and the fact that I never want to do stuff exciting - that my friends will all leave me. I don't want to be like this. Why is it that I'm struggling through life when everyone else seems fine? I guess what I would like is some thoughts from other people like me. What should I be doing to help keep this all under control? Will I ever be... Normal? I know this all probably sounds really stupid coming from a 14-year-old but please - if you can - help me, or at least talk to me. I'd like some more friends and it'll be greatly appreciated. I'm just... Struggling. I'm a little sick of these continuous panic attacks too. Thank you for reading and/or helping -JustSomeGirl