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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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Jimbo86 Ocd
  • replies: 12

Can't get the thoughts out of my head that I'm going crazy or insane ocd ?

Can't get the thoughts out of my head that I'm going crazy or insane ocd ?

Missberri Struggling with work
  • replies: 4

Hello, I posted not too long ago about some problems I'm having with a new job. I started this job about a month ago and was feeling awful there from the get go. I don't know if this is normal, as I've never had a full-time job before, but I decided ... View more

Hello, I posted not too long ago about some problems I'm having with a new job. I started this job about a month ago and was feeling awful there from the get go. I don't know if this is normal, as I've never had a full-time job before, but I decided to wait it out and see if things got better. One month later things haven't gotten tat much better. While I feel a little less overwhelmed I'm still feeling quite pressured and just generally unhappy. I'm not sure what to do. This work is great experience for me, but a lot of the work does not resonate with me at all and in fact makes me feel really anxious.. I have to constantly email clients, call clients and eventually will be going into huge meetings to present pitches for our company. I'm one of the most socially anxious people I know and this sounds like a nightmare for me. And just in general, I feel like this role is not at all playing to my own personal strengths and values and every day I just want to come home and lie in bed and not even talk to my room mate or anything.. I just want to sit there. I've had to work over time so much already - I haven't finished on time even once since I started and I'm not even getting paid extra for this. I don't know if I'm just a miserable anxious person in general or if this job is really effecting me. I don't know if i got a new job if i would feel the same way or if something different may actually make me feel better. I don't know what makes me feel good anymore and I don't know what I'm good at. I feel like I'm good at pretty much nothing and my boss is almost making it quite clear that she feels the same. She's clearly disappointed that I'm not what she expected I was going to be, but i don't know how to be what she wants. I feel honestly like a disappointment of a person because my social anxiety and depression gets in the way of almost everything.. I just want to find something that is meaningful to me and somewhere i can feel good and appreciated and feel like what I'm bringing to the table is valued and I value doing it. I have no idea what to do I just can't think straight and am stuck in my own head feeling stupid and pathetic. I can't believe I have to go back to work tomorrow again and feel more of the same thing. I just feel like a mess and I have no idea what to do anymore.. If anyone has any ideas on what i should do please let me know..

Hailz Social Anxiety affecting life and work
  • replies: 4

I'm new to the community here. I'm 17 and have had depression and anxiety for the past 4 years. I have a job interview tomorrow that I'm feeling extremely anxious about. I had to move away from friends/family a while ago and have been feeling the imp... View more

I'm new to the community here. I'm 17 and have had depression and anxiety for the past 4 years. I have a job interview tomorrow that I'm feeling extremely anxious about. I had to move away from friends/family a while ago and have been feeling the impact. I feel alone here with no one to talk to and I'm scared that I will get this job and then have an anxiety attack when I get there the first day. Any advice on how to calm anxiety would be deeply appreciated. Thank you for reading

Guest_41 Could it just be anxiety?
  • replies: 4

I recently gave birth to my beautiful daughter who is currently 12 weeks old. It was a really awful birth that resulted in an emergency c section - it was code blue due to her heart rate so it was so quick and as my partner described it was very viol... View more

I recently gave birth to my beautiful daughter who is currently 12 weeks old. It was a really awful birth that resulted in an emergency c section - it was code blue due to her heart rate so it was so quick and as my partner described it was very violent as they tried desperately to get her out before she coded. It took 8 weeks to recover enough to walk and hold her on my own & the pain was excruciating. I was on so many pain relief medications... I started experiencing strange symptoms the week before my partner was due to return to work. its now become almost unbearable with no real answer as to why it's happening... I've had a few trips to ED. I have pain in my chest with what appears to be fluttering (nothing shows up as abnormal on ecgs) pain in my left arm & hand that doesn't cease as well as tingling. I also get similar sensations in my left leg from my shin down to my toes. I have inflammation under my tongue & just a general feeling of being unwell with it feeling like it's difficult to breathe... Sometimes it fills me with panic other times I feel completely calm and these symptoms come on... It doesn't seem to ever go away... I've had X-rays, blood tests, ecgs etc etc nothing shows up. I awoke to new stronger symptoms this morning and I'm just over it... I just can't seem to get it out of my head that something is wrong with me and I'm going to die. It's torture living with this feeling Day & Night so I've turned to this forum. is it just anxiety?

Guest_41 Missed heartbeats - freaking out
  • replies: 15

Hi all, I have been having episodes of missed heartbeats that come and go but when it happens it's so strong it leaves me either in tears or thinking I'm about to die. usually what happens is it comes out of the blue with no real pattern to it but la... View more

Hi all, I have been having episodes of missed heartbeats that come and go but when it happens it's so strong it leaves me either in tears or thinking I'm about to die. usually what happens is it comes out of the blue with no real pattern to it but lately it's been getting worse and worse. Especially yesterday I was getting formula in Woolworths & It happened while I was walking and I thought I'd pass out, I couldn't breathe & then I nearly burst into tears. I spent my night panicked thinking the worst and it seemed to keep coming in waves while I was trying to relax. I have had an echocardiogram done recently & a 24 hour holter but didn't experience any "episodes" when I had the holter on. Results all came back normal. I had these done as I'd been experiencing chest pains was hospitalised & had an episode of tachycardia while in hospital... (again new experience as this has never happened before) I have never suffered panic attacks before so I'm unsure if this is what it is as I get tingling, pins and needles, nausea & other symptoms that come after the missed heartbeats but sometime it feels like it hurts too.. & I can't catch my breathe. I've also been experiencing things like I can't breathe in general when I'm at rest. I feel like I also get waves of unease. all of this has come out of the blue but I am 3 months postpartum and life has been stressful and I've been freaking out about my health since my Daughter was born so maybe I brought this on?? any similar experiences would put my mind at ease. Thank you Louise

Poppy1 Starting medication tomorrow for GAD - Petrified
  • replies: 4

Hi guys I have been suffering from anxiety/panic attacks for far to long now (15+ years) now and recently has gotten worse to the point i can barely function. My gp has prescribed medication and am so scared to start this medication as i am really sc... View more

Hi guys I have been suffering from anxiety/panic attacks for far to long now (15+ years) now and recently has gotten worse to the point i can barely function. My gp has prescribed medication and am so scared to start this medication as i am really scared of side effects and whether my anxiety will be worse. But i need to start as it is out of control at the moment and completely consuming me. Anyone had medication for severe anxiety and what was your experience like. thanks heaps!

Geekaysee Anxiety/OCD/intrusive thoughts books/reading
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, First time posting so I’ll keep it relatively short but I just wanted to know if anyone recommends any books on anxiety/ocd/intrusive thoughts that they found helpful? There are so many out there I’m overwhelmed. I’ve recently been diagn... View more

Hi everyone, First time posting so I’ll keep it relatively short but I just wanted to know if anyone recommends any books on anxiety/ocd/intrusive thoughts that they found helpful? There are so many out there I’m overwhelmed. I’ve recently been diagnosed with ocd on top of my over a decade long anxiety & with the ocd comes intrusive thoughts that are consuming me. I take medication, see both psychiatrist & psychologist however my 10 sessions for the year through Medicare are finished so I’m really trying to read/ practice methods I can do by myself. Thanks

smallbrainedcat Is this possible anxiety or am I overreacting?
  • replies: 2

I've always been an over-thinker but its been getting worse in the past few months. I'll start feeling hot, shakey and be on the verge of tears whenever I end up in an argument, make a mistake or end up in a situation where I'm not in control, even i... View more

I've always been an over-thinker but its been getting worse in the past few months. I'll start feeling hot, shakey and be on the verge of tears whenever I end up in an argument, make a mistake or end up in a situation where I'm not in control, even if its very minor. I'll often feel dizzy and shakey when I stand up or even sit up from lying down, followed by a 'whizzing' sound in my head which I have to crouch or sit down for it to go away. I constantly wonder what people think of me whether it be my clothes, behaviour or if I talk too much. I also fidget a lot and I can't sit still, I'm often told by my mum to stop tapping my foot or tapping a table, and being late (especially to my dance classes) makes me feel extremely stressed. I've mentioned this to my mum once or twice but she keeps telling me that I'm overreacting and that this is normal (I'm 17 and in year 12) and now I'm worried that I am overthinking it and I'm just being stupid over normal stress. Some days it does feel like normal stress and other days everything feels very overwhelming. I don't want to ask my mum if I can speak to a professional about this because I don't think she'll agree to that idea but I think I just need a bit of guidance or a second opinion.

S_1987 Relapsing GAD and depression
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, think I’m just looking for someone for some reassurance! Bit about my story! Was diagnosed 6 years ago with post natal depression and GOD after the birth of my first child! 3 years of therapy and antidepressants plus ongoing prescription of ... View more

Hi guys, think I’m just looking for someone for some reassurance! Bit about my story! Was diagnosed 6 years ago with post natal depression and GOD after the birth of my first child! 3 years of therapy and antidepressants plus ongoing prescription of additional medication when needed for panic attacks. Been great! Skip forward 2 more kids and very rarely used medication! Like I’ve prob had the script filled once every 1.5 years. new baby 9 months old, went out with friends and husband for a 30th drank so much I have no memory of the night, wasn’t embarrassing just wasted is what I have been told! Hangover was brutal and lasted 3 days, ever since I feel like I am downward spiraling back into how I used to be! The anxiety is full force, all the symptoms that I used to experience - headaches, tingling in the back of my head, nauseas, faint, feeling like I’m going crazy, foggy head etc im angry at myself! I am such a controlled person because I have to be! If I let go I get anxious! I’m always super aware of my body and now I feel like I’m slipping! I don’t feel strong, I have a few hours where I’m like ok I’m feeling better and I can get stronger again then it hits me again and I panic! I have 3 kids and a husband now, I can’t be this 23 year old mess again! I’m 30 and we have so many responsibilities and my kids and husband don’t need this again! Help!

Chriss84 Anxiety help
  • replies: 7

Hi I am having a relapse in my anxiety I don't want to take antidepressants as I have had bad side effects with them before has anyone got any advise on the natural approach that's help them with this problem Thanks Chris

Hi I am having a relapse in my anxiety I don't want to take antidepressants as I have had bad side effects with them before has anyone got any advise on the natural approach that's help them with this problem Thanks Chris