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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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Samsah Hope
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, i am having a bad bout of anxiety and depression which has lingered for at least 12 months. Is there any hope of a full recovery? I get counselling, go to a GP, am receiving medication, exercise... do all the right things and yet I have ... View more

Hi everyone, i am having a bad bout of anxiety and depression which has lingered for at least 12 months. Is there any hope of a full recovery? I get counselling, go to a GP, am receiving medication, exercise... do all the right things and yet I have a constant knot in my stomach or a tight chest. I just want to know if any of you have actually ever recovered or is this the best I'm going to be. Right now I feel like there is no end to this awful feeling.

WJD Anxiety Messing With My Time Management. How do I keep anxious thoughts off my mind?
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, I'm still currently in school (year 11) and have always had troubles with anxiety. This combined with having learning difficulties is not a fun experience. Despite this I do actually perform fairly well at school but couldn't help but r... View more

Hey everyone, I'm still currently in school (year 11) and have always had troubles with anxiety. This combined with having learning difficulties is not a fun experience. Despite this I do actually perform fairly well at school but couldn't help but realise how much my social anxiety effects how well I manage my time with not just school work but everyday activities. What I mean by this is whenever I face a traumatising social experience all I can do when I get home is keep thinking about that experience and what people would of thought of me at the time, and the thought keeps occurring over and over again until I gradually forget about it. This can put me really behind on all the tasks I need to get done. The thing that sucks is if or when I do university i'm probably going have to face these social experiences on a daily basis so I was looking to develop management techniques for how I can keep these events off my mind. I searched online but couldn't find any helpful advice as no one seems to link poor time management to social anxiety. This is something I really have to fix because in order to get good grades it feels like I have to dedicate almost my entire life to studying due to the effect my anxiety has on me managing my time, so if you know any useful techniques for managing my anxiety in situations where I need to get stuff done it would be really helpful.

KMODITY Panic attacks making me dizzy.
  • replies: 3

Hi. I've suffered from anxiety and severe panic attacks for years. I've recently given up pot after using it for the past year to relax after my stress full job of telemarketing! Since I have given it up,along with cigarettes 8 weeks ago,I've started... View more

Hi. I've suffered from anxiety and severe panic attacks for years. I've recently given up pot after using it for the past year to relax after my stress full job of telemarketing! Since I have given it up,along with cigarettes 8 weeks ago,I've started gambling on the horses. I'm anxious before I go into the tab but I like it and don't do to badly. I know that I am a compulsive gambler though. Any way my panic gets really bad whilst gambling to the point of dizziness and vertigo!! Is this because I know I shouldn't be gambling!? It's become so bad that today I found it hard to stand on my feet and couldn't get out of my car. This is terrible!!!

Hello22 Generalised Anxiety Disorder!!!!!
  • replies: 2

Well here is my story.... 3 years ago my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer while I was ending my bachelor of psychological science, because I had to be with her at chemotherapy and treatment I had to get extensions all the time for important exams... View more

Well here is my story.... 3 years ago my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer while I was ending my bachelor of psychological science, because I had to be with her at chemotherapy and treatment I had to get extensions all the time for important exams and essays. During one of my exams I felt my heart beating out of my chest and ended up feeling like I was having a heart attack and its then I was shortly diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder. My doctor put me on a drug called Paxtine for my anxiety 20mg. I have been on this drug for about a year and a half and its always made me feel very tired. Now here I am trying to come off this drug by splitting the tablet in half and I am experiencing extreme dizziness, nausea and confusion. If anyone has experienced side effects weaning off this drug what were they and does it ever get better?

Mack_ Coping strategy woes
  • replies: 7

Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well x I have written on here a few times, and you've all been great and have really helped with my concerns. (huge Thankyou!) In past posts I've briefly and vaguely (I've never been good with words) mentioned... View more

Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well x I have written on here a few times, and you've all been great and have really helped with my concerns. (huge Thankyou!) In past posts I've briefly and vaguely (I've never been good with words) mentioned my stuggles. Now, I feel my most recent struggle has been developing Trichotillomania - or in simple terms, the compulsive behaviour of pulling out ones' hair. I really thought this would be a phase, because it kind of came out of nowhere. For over half my life I've struggled with OCD and anxiety, but never resorted to this behaviour. I had always been one for more harmful behaviour in the past. Now, I just seem to be seeing my OCD carried out with odd behaviours with Trich and a few other things. I'm not sure I want to say what, in fear it's triggering for others or inappropriate for this forum. I wouldn't say it's harmful as such, but it definitely wouldn't be classified as an OK behaviour? It all seems to be getting worse, or moreso that I'm becoming more reliant and developing infections from the Trich in particular. Long, and vague story short - I need help. This is all new for me.. It took me ten years to seek help for my mental illnesses.. I don't want to let that happen again with this too. If anyone here suffers from Trich in particular, what do you find helps?! Do I just need to talk to my psychologist? Should i see my psychiatrist again? I don't know how to stop this, it's such a subconscious behaviour now. Mostly a habit, but can definitely see it as my way of coping also in recent months. help?? Thanks in advance x

Sophiee__ Is it social anxiety?
  • replies: 9

I am seeking help on what to currently do about my situation. I don't know a lot about mental health and don't know if what I'm experiencing is just regular 'everyone has bad day' symptoms or whether it's something I need to go and talk to someone ab... View more

I am seeking help on what to currently do about my situation. I don't know a lot about mental health and don't know if what I'm experiencing is just regular 'everyone has bad day' symptoms or whether it's something I need to go and talk to someone about. like everyone I've had times in my life where my mental health has been low but I'm an adult now and don't know if my behaviours are toxic. For example the other day I broke something of my fathers and even though he wasn't that upset by it I felt very torn up inside and spent a few hours after the event very upset and still haven't forgiven myself for it. another behaviour I am concerned about is my ability (or lack of) to socialise with people. I currently live in a dorm with 30 other people at university and it's brought out my introverted side a lot. Naturally I am introverted but I find myself unable to go out into the kitchen to grab things like a glass of water if I can hear people talking and I have a habit of compulsively looking out my window to check if the light in the bathroom is on (to signify someone in there) before entering myself. Socialising is a big part of dorm life and I cannot make myself do it choosing to hide out at the library for many hours late at night while my dorm hosts events in the common rooms just so I avoid running into them if I have to pee. I dont know whether I need to just get myself out of my dorm situation or whether I need to go and talk to someone as I don't want this problem to affect other areas of my life in the future.

Wild_Rover My anxiety story
  • replies: 3

Hello, Im 30 married and have a 6 month old son. I have had anxiety as long as I can remember, it most likely started as seperation anxiety when it came time for kinder and school. it went away for quite some time then reared it’s ugul face when it c... View more

Hello, Im 30 married and have a 6 month old son. I have had anxiety as long as I can remember, it most likely started as seperation anxiety when it came time for kinder and school. it went away for quite some time then reared it’s ugul face when it came time for work! i think my first Panic attack happened after I had been working for some time. so my doctor put me on medication and with some CBT it settled and went away... after a while I came off the tablets. things would happen over the ne t few years that would see me back on them, work stress, family stress a few deaths in the family a break up.... sometimes only on the medication for a month or 2 sometimes on it for months at a time, the most obvious physical symptom was a gag/dry reach. after a relationship break up 5 years ago I went back on them, eventually came off them as i substituted them for walking 9k per day. Medication helps me, it levels me and I can generally function at an extremely high level, holding down a job, travelling, large crowds ect of course with the panic attacks here and there and a few crashes where I could no longer fight the anxiety. I met my now wife about 12 months after the breakup Then my anxiety started to kick in with her extremely needy mother. There was also work stress and financial stress compounding the situation. So back for some CBT, personally for me I don’t think it does anything, talking to a psych, again personally don’t think it did anything and back on medication that settled me and allowed me to function fully again. Since I turned 30 I feel my anxiety is worse. I now have more physical symptoms such as head pressure, tension headaches, dizziness, feeling of electronic pulses, gag, feeling of something on my throat, panic attacks worse and takes me longer to get over even on medication, there are more physical symptoms I just can’t remember them now. It’s unfair and I wish I could change it, I know it’s anxiety but the littlest side effect and I think dying, right now the centre of my chest is sore, I had a crap day anxiety wise and had 2 panic attacks, I think heat attack but I know it’s just anxiety, doesn’t make it any easier. The thing that scares me most is dying probably more since my son has been born as I want to be here to see him grow up, so I always have my health under a spot light. Any tips on how to beat it or anyone have similar symptoms to mine and can tell me how to control them?

SMP Full-time working Mum with anxiety
  • replies: 1

I'm 43 and have a 6 yo daughter and 4 yo son. Approx. 7 months ago I returned to my old role, (part-time) and then 8 weeks ago I comnenced a new full-time role in a different department. The manager who got me the permanent role "bent over backwards"... View more

I'm 43 and have a 6 yo daughter and 4 yo son. Approx. 7 months ago I returned to my old role, (part-time) and then 8 weeks ago I comnenced a new full-time role in a different department. The manager who got me the permanent role "bent over backwards" to get me the role, even when she came up against a lot of opposition (government organisation). But ever since I started the new role my anxiety has been slowly growing stronger & stronger each day and I now have 3 major projects to deliver in the next6 weeks and I've basically had a breakdown. I've been battling anxiety & depression for nearly 10 years and in that time have had 4 miscarriages, 2 children, carer to my husband for 2 years as he suffered from severe PTSD, mental health issues with my mother, 2 suicide attempts, various health issues.....and the list goes on. Is it reasonable to think that perhaps I'm not quite in the right mindset or ready to work full-time or should I be grateful that I have a friend who was able to get me a good well-paying job and try to push through this busy period?? I'm still on probation with the role and have had a few run ins with my new manager already....so things are not too great there anyway.. Any suggestions/comments, can anyone else relate? Thanks

Hope_for_the_best Predisposition to mental illnesses???
  • replies: 7

I know that the causes of mental illnesses are very complex, and likely a combination of genes, environment and brain chemical balance. Somehow, I think I am predisposed to mental illnesses because of my family history. I am not diagnosed with anythi... View more

I know that the causes of mental illnesses are very complex, and likely a combination of genes, environment and brain chemical balance. Somehow, I think I am predisposed to mental illnesses because of my family history. I am not diagnosed with anything by professionals, but I get anxious and stressed more easily than average people. For example, when I learnt that the firemen just put off a fire next to my building, I got stressed even though no one was hurt (could not sleep for one night), but then other people will just say "Oh no! That's awful!" and forget about it. Things that most people think are trivial can make me jump up. Even not-so-close friends describe me as "paranoid". My psychologist does not think it is unusual though. She just puts it down to my sensitivity towards stress (indeed I am). Here comes my family history. I was raised by an anxious grandma (my mum's mum) because my parents were working full time. She gets stressed over small things. I might have learnt that from grandma, though I only started to be like her since I left home and lived alone. She is not diagnosed with anxiety but depression, and is on medication. My cousin from my father side has very severe depression which is not well managed despite trying all treatments. I have a few more relatives from both my mum and dad's sides having mental illnesses, and sadly they are not doing well. Nevertheless, my parents and sister are all good, i.e. they don't have any mental illnesses, and none of them are as stressed as me. My psychologist asked me not to worry because I am proactive in seeking professional help, which should greatly reduce my chance of getting a mental illness. Still, given my anxious personality, I worry about getting a mental illnesses one day. Is there anybody who successfully combats mental illnesses despite a strong family history? Thanks for sharing.

Hope_for_the_best Public bathroom anxiety???
  • replies: 13

I am having a stressful time with my studies and as a result, I become overly sensitive to the surroundings. I raised some concerns about my stress symptoms earlier, (https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/weird-symptoms-duri... View more

I am having a stressful time with my studies and as a result, I become overly sensitive to the surroundings. I raised some concerns about my stress symptoms earlier, (https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/weird-symptoms-during-times-of-intense-stress-) but this particular “anxiety” stands on its own so I would like to make a new thread. I know no one likes public bathrooms. I don’t like too, but I was fine with using one if needed until I got a diarrhoea at a shopping mall last year. I should have avoided greasy food when my digestion was not great under stress, but somehow I ate a creamy pasta for lunch and went shopping in a mall when I needed to go very badly. I went, the bathroom was quite clean actually, but the ventilation was not that good. My diarrhoea smelt awful and made me gag. I rushed out of the bathroom as soon as I finished and I felt better after breathing in some fresh air. But since that incident, I started to be uncomfortable with public bathrooms. I still go and eat out as usual, but I get obsessed with smells in public bathrooms and I avoid using one if possible. My gut is usually very obedient so I only need to pee most of the times. Still, it becomes a lot of struggles in mind before I ever walk in and use a public bathroom. I talked to my psychologist about that. She says it is normal to hate public bathrooms and if I do not stop going out because of them, it is okay. She asks me to be patient and allows myself some time to get over it. Over the year, I improved a lot on my own. At least, I think less before using a public bathroom these days. However, I still have the struggling thoughts of going or not at times. I wish to get back to before asap, i.e. use a public bathroom without a second thought. Any suggestions? Thanks.