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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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shayne w Adult ADHD ,
  • replies: 3

HiI was just wondering if there was anyone else out there with adult adhd who finds it hard to keep existing freinds or making new freinds ,which can lead to loniness.?

HiI was just wondering if there was anyone else out there with adult adhd who finds it hard to keep existing freinds or making new freinds ,which can lead to loniness.?

Amanda 1956 Anxiety of a possible failed relationship
  • replies: 3

Hi my name is Carmen and I am scared of ageing as I am 67 and getting lined and wrinkled My worry is that my partner is going to find someone who looks like a supermodel I do have grounds for this ...a few years ago he was having an affair with a gir... View more

Hi my name is Carmen and I am scared of ageing as I am 67 and getting lined and wrinkled My worry is that my partner is going to find someone who looks like a supermodel I do have grounds for this ...a few years ago he was having an affair with a girl who worked with him , 3 hour long phone calls every night, him getting angry at me for daring to ask questions about his work The list goes on, evidence of an affair was virtually slapping me in the face They don't have contact now and I think that he is blaming me for putting my foot down, was either her or me This has increased my anxiety and I'm worried I am losing him Please advise me on what to do Thanks in advance

PaulWatkins How effective is online children's therapy compared to traditional methods?
  • replies: 1

In the age of ubiquitous screens and virtual realms, can the digital embrace of online children's therapy rival the age-old, face-to-face therapeutic odysseys?

In the age of ubiquitous screens and virtual realms, can the digital embrace of online children's therapy rival the age-old, face-to-face therapeutic odysseys?

Rosyrain Asbestos OCD
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone,I’m struggling with Asbestos OCD, and thought this a good place to connect.I bought some vintage workwear pants that were made in the 50’s, from a lovely vintage store.It suddenly occurred to me that they were still using asbestos in t... View more

Hello everyone,I’m struggling with Asbestos OCD, and thought this a good place to connect.I bought some vintage workwear pants that were made in the 50’s, from a lovely vintage store.It suddenly occurred to me that they were still using asbestos in the 50’s, and my OCD has been triggered as I’m incredibly anxious about these pants now - as i have been wearing them around my children and washing them with other clothes.I am feeling as though everything is ‘contaminated’ and its all consuming and anxiety provoking.if anyone has any support to offer it would be greatly appreciated- thank you.

Alel Constantly have to recover from simple tasks
  • replies: 2

So I eat at 9am, 1pm and 6pm everyday. Then I eat yogurt at 7pm and take sleep medication at 10pm. I was also told by my psychiatrist that I have to walk and go out more. This is going to take me a long time since I got agoraphobia and emetophobia. B... View more

So I eat at 9am, 1pm and 6pm everyday. Then I eat yogurt at 7pm and take sleep medication at 10pm. I was also told by my psychiatrist that I have to walk and go out more. This is going to take me a long time since I got agoraphobia and emetophobia. But everytime I eat, I go bathroom, or I go outside for 1 minute as exposure, I have to sit down and think about it for hours on end. I feel like I can't do more than one thing a day. I mean thinking about what I'm going to eat before the time comes stresses me out. Why do I always have to mentally recover from such simple things? And why does it ruin or occupy my whole day even tho it's only a 1 minute task? This is honestly scaring me because what if this is all I'm capable of handling? What if eating, going bathroom, showing, going outside, waking, everything, will always be too hard? What if my brain is broken and I'll never be able to do anything without needing breaks?

nash1984 Pending legal woes and anxiety/depression
  • replies: 1

I recently got picked up having 4 capsules at a pub. It's my first offence. Since this I've been spiralling hard. I was already having anxiety issues on daily basis. I can never relax. Feel like I'm faking my way through life. I lost my father to sui... View more

I recently got picked up having 4 capsules at a pub. It's my first offence. Since this I've been spiralling hard. I was already having anxiety issues on daily basis. I can never relax. Feel like I'm faking my way through life. I lost my father to suicide in 2018. I keep thinking of every worst case scenario while I wait for court summons. I used to take drugs a bit when I was younger but not so much recent years. I have a daughter who is 1.5 years old. I find it hard to even look her in the face. I feel like a bad father now. I'm worried about my reputation now in the community. I think about suicide and what would be best way of doing it but I dont think it's an overwhelming sense I'm going to do it. More casual like what if but I do feel like any other major events I'm not sure how I would cope. I find it hard to sleep sometimes. I cant relax. My chest is always tight with worry. Just curious if anyone else has been through something similar

loulou89 mental health
  • replies: 2

Hi I was have problems with mental health like anxiety tired depressed no happy.. all this happened from one thing I was had a bacteria in stomach Called Helicobacter pylori long time it make all problems for body after I take medicine I feel very gd... View more

Hi I was have problems with mental health like anxiety tired depressed no happy.. all this happened from one thing I was had a bacteria in stomach Called Helicobacter pylori long time it make all problems for body after I take medicine I feel very gd no mental health problems so if u want feel happy don’t share anything from any one and if u have married every couple months check ur stomach

Ms_P Work Stress/ Anxiety
  • replies: 1

I have had IBS for years which work knows about so sometimes I am late to work or have to take extra sick days. I have also recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia (which includes ibs) and also a unknown cysts that could be magliant. My mental heal... View more

I have had IBS for years which work knows about so sometimes I am late to work or have to take extra sick days. I have also recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia (which includes ibs) and also a unknown cysts that could be magliant. My mental health and memory has declined recently and work has noticed it. I have changed my duties and hours to see if it helps. I was supposed to have a procedure a few weeks ago to find out what the cysts are however the hospital cancelled and has rescheduled it in a month. Work has asked me to reschedule it due to staffing issues. This is seriously stressing me out. Can they ask me to reschedule? If I do I would be put at the end of a pretty long list and I need to know what is happening. I am constantly in pain and stress makes it worse and I am not performing at 100% which I normally do. I don't know what to do

Philip123 Anxiety and Depression because of my situation in my family.
  • replies: 1

This is just me writing it out because I can't talk to anyone about this. Mid 2022, I had a fairly big argument with my mother. My parent's have been divorced for a while so I'm okay with that. My dad has always been in the picture but would never li... View more

This is just me writing it out because I can't talk to anyone about this. Mid 2022, I had a fairly big argument with my mother. My parent's have been divorced for a while so I'm okay with that. My dad has always been in the picture but would never listen to anything that I had to say about my mental health. And my mum was amazing, and she would listen to me, but then she would go on and tell her new partner, my stepdad, and then he would just laugh at me that it made me feel very embarrassed and I ended up not talking to my mother about this anymore. Then, when this argument about all of this happened mid 2022, I eventually ended up moving out in November 2022. Again, my mother wasn't happy with that, but what was I meant to do. Now, I have been living in my own house since November 2022 and looking after my grandmother. I'm not sure what to do because I am in the centre of all arguments in my family. I started that argument with my mother and then everything else in my family just began to crumble. So, I really focused on my work in childcare centre and my study in university and college. I hope this makes sense, but it's very much a rant. But this is my life.

CountingCrows1 DPDR Depersonalisation Derealisation at University
  • replies: 1

This is a rant because I can't tell anyone in my life what I am going through, so I want to write it here. The rant is directed at the teachers who judge me at university, because I occasionally appear a tiny bit abnormal or spaced out. Because I hav... View more

This is a rant because I can't tell anyone in my life what I am going through, so I want to write it here. The rant is directed at the teachers who judge me at university, because I occasionally appear a tiny bit abnormal or spaced out. Because I have DPDR and I am managing my debilitating and frightening symptoms while trying to appear normal in conversation. Masking. Depersonalisation disorder is a hidden illness and it is frustrating to have this through university because I can't tell the teachers about it due to stigma. They think I am 'only suffering from anxiety' and judge me because "they have anxiety too". DPDR fluctuated with stress level. Fact. Imagine being in final year and juggling a lot of competing priorities - it would cause a lot of stress, particularly if there were also life stressors and fatigue involved, correct? So it is logical to suggest that the symptoms of DPDR increase during this time also, making it nearly impossible for me to navigate my studies at no fault of my own. This is NOT my fault and I am tired of teaching staff treating my like I am lazy because I appear normal sometimes, or treating me like I am incompetent because I appear anxious and scattered sometimes. The anxious and scattered version of me is the DPDR me. It is NOT an accurate representation of who I am in the real world, when I don't have all of these stressors happening. It is NOT an accurate representation of my intellect, or my academic capabilities and it is NOT an accurate representation of my attitude towards my degree or the university. I care very much about my degree and my future career. That's a part of the reason why I am so stressed. Because I actually care. I am NOT lazy, incompetent, unstable, slow or stupid. That is the DPDR you are judging, not ME. I have a hidden disability - a legitimate disability! One that makes every day a living hell and I am in SO much pain, trying my best to get through each day and then smile and have conversations with everyone as though I am fine at university. I am not fine. If you only knew what it was like under this high level of symptoms, you would fully understand and be supportive. You would be crying after one day of this hell if you felt it. I can barely function each day right now. If I make it to university I only speak with teachers the whole week. So thanks for discriminating against me and making me feel ridiculous and stupid in the only interactions with people that I can manage to have. Cheers.