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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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RandR Does anyone suffer from Chest Pain Anxiety?
  • replies: 7

Hi forum members, Over the last week I've had TWO seperate incidences of severe pressure in my chest and throat and each time has lasted around 10 minutes and has made it harder to breathe. It almost feels like someone is sitting on my chest! I've ne... View more

Hi forum members, Over the last week I've had TWO seperate incidences of severe pressure in my chest and throat and each time has lasted around 10 minutes and has made it harder to breathe. It almost feels like someone is sitting on my chest! I've never had this happen to me before. Ever. I did some online research and came across chest pain anxiety. Has anyone ever experienced this or something similar? Would love to hear from you. Kind regards, Raman

SachaB Having trouble with uni and don't know where to go from here?
  • replies: 1

I'll start off with a bit of a back story. From as young as I can remember my parents never liked each other, in-fact they hated each other. I remember their entire relationship being terrible. They argued, physically hit each other, used to destroy ... View more

I'll start off with a bit of a back story. From as young as I can remember my parents never liked each other, in-fact they hated each other. I remember their entire relationship being terrible. They argued, physically hit each other, used to destroy each others possessions as away to get back at each other but they decided to stay together. My mum went to study abroad for a year, my dad disliked that he decided to throw away a lot of her possessions and chop down her favourite tree in the yard. He would yell at her when she called and sometimes wouldn't let me or my brother speak to her. I never understood it at the time but I saw my dad as the better of two parents simply because when my mum got frustrated or stressed with work after she finished studying she would take it all out on me and my brother. Saturdays used to be cleaning days and she simply couldn't make up her mind on what me and my brother should do. "CLEAN THE DISHES!" she'd yell. So my brother and I would start washing the dishes. 2 minutes later, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!!!" CLEAN YOUR ROOM!" she'd yell. So my brother and I ceased our current duty and strolled off to our rooms to clean them. 2 minutes later she would walk past the kitchen sink. "WHY ARE THE DISHES STILL DIRTY?! I TOLD YOU TO WASH THEM!!". I was so confused i didn't know what to do and I don't remember how I got through it. My parents finally divorced when I was 21. by this point in my life I was halfway through an apprenticeship as a chef and i stayed in that job hating it for 10 years. I recently left that career behind and embarked on a new journey studying science. I'm now stuck between a rock and a hard place. uni isn't going so well my confusion on how to tackle the work defeats me and i've found myself not doing it. I've tried therapy but it's become a burden seeing my therapist I don't feel he's helping anymore. I try to look at positives and I've made 2 really good friends at uni that i'm grateful for. I haven't had friends like that for years but it doesn't help with the uni work. I don't want to give up because I can't go back in a kitchen and if I give it up I don't know what i would do plus I have a genuine interest in what i'm studying. I can feel stupid at times and unworthy as a person because I can't get through these problems. Sometimes I feel fate has handed me my parents luck. I'm sorry if I babbled on, I actually would have included more but there's a character limit

Colt98 My Story with Anxiety and help with management or long term solutions
  • replies: 8

Hi Guys, This is my story with anxiety. Firstly since I was young i've always been shy and nervy person from time to time. When I was 16-18 I had to take blood tests monthly for Acne as was on a certain drug to heal my skin. Anyway I've been a fit pe... View more

Hi Guys, This is my story with anxiety. Firstly since I was young i've always been shy and nervy person from time to time. When I was 16-18 I had to take blood tests monthly for Acne as was on a certain drug to heal my skin. Anyway I've been a fit person for most of my life and done activity/basketball/sport since I was 6 but found I had low blood pressure and sometimes would get a light head when having blood tests so always laid down for them and did that why I was getting tests for the Acne. Also over time besides the blood tests I've always had small amounts of negativity in me about scenario's and life in general but normally try stay positive and there is known history in the family with negative thoughts and etc.. Anyway to the Anxiety and how it all started. I was about 23-24 and was getting a routine blood test but at the time forgot to lay down and once got up I fainted and landed and hit a desk then woke sweating and loss of energy. The next day I had a stiff neck and from then on had 2 years of ongoing tests including MRI's, CT's, more blood tests and etc as after the fainting incident I got some sort of whiplash from the fall and ever since that always got electric shocks in my head and chest, tingles through my whole body, pinching feeling in my chest and shoulders and list goes on.. My heart felt it was racing and going to explode and my anxiety was at full speed! Always the thinking I'm going to have an heart attack and yes I'm young but couldn't get the feeling out. Also always felt uneasy or uncomfortable. Sweating and blushes all the time. Even had physio and other treatments to my back and neck including osteo. Anyway 2 years later one day it just went away and only sometimes would get the electric shocks but wouldn't make me feel with anxiety and other symptoms. Since then I've had a lot of changes in my life with a child and etc. But since that fall I have a constant feel of scared of blood tests Now 3 weeks ago it has all come back!! why? Started to get all the same symptoms like I got 10 years ago. I'm now 35 and found out my dad got an heart attack and its in the family! Straight away after hearing the news it made my body change and got chest pain again, electric shocks, tingling sensation and just don't feel normal! Stressing out that I'm going to get one even though I eat differently and is no guarantee that I'll get one just because my Dad had one. Any suggestions for managing my anxiety to get back on track again?

startingnew does anyone have this problem?
  • replies: 2

Hi Guys so it has been brought to my attention a few times now, it makes me feel really self concious but im hoping that im not alone in this. so a few months back people were telling me that im constantly scratching. i didnt even notice it until the... View more

Hi Guys so it has been brought to my attention a few times now, it makes me feel really self concious but im hoping that im not alone in this. so a few months back people were telling me that im constantly scratching. i didnt even notice it until then. we thought it was the ADs so i went off those but it still continued. im now on new meds and it hasnt changed either. it was told again to me the other day. so this is the third or fourth times and i keep thinking its the meds but everything has all been changed so its all ruled out. ive now noticed that i do scratch a fair bit, and i tend to get to the point of making sores and then picking at them. im wondering if anyone else is experiencing this.. maybe its seasonal? maybe its my anxiety as i have severe GAD, maybe its habit but id really like some advice on what else to do as im feeling pretty stuck on how to approach this

wate0121 University trouble...
  • replies: 1

I study at university doing a double degree full time. I have never disclosed to teachers that I have anxiety because well I just don't want to I guess. I struggle at uni as it is, I haven't made a single friend in 2 years.. I go to campus for my com... View more

I study at university doing a double degree full time. I have never disclosed to teachers that I have anxiety because well I just don't want to I guess. I struggle at uni as it is, I haven't made a single friend in 2 years.. I go to campus for my compulsory lessons (most of the time) then I leave straight after..I sit by myself, rarely converse with others but I've been doing OK I think.. Well the problem isn't my quality of work .. it's the fact that my anxiety lets myself often miss compulsory classes.. even if I've told myself you going to that class tomorow, go to bed early, all my works up to date, and wake up early... I'll get ready to go and then the smallest thing like for example; I forget I need to get petrol on the way and then I tell myself that now the time I've allowed to get myself to uni isn't enough to get petrol too so I'll be late and then ill have to walk in late and then I find myself deciding oh yep nope it's way too late now I'll just stay home. We have to complete placement (we did last year too so it's not new to me) once a week for 10 weeks this year ... and first I was excited to go.. I emailed the site and didn't get a response.. Waited and waited and then emailed once more.. no response... by this time everyone else in the topic has started placement and I'm waiting for a response.. I call up and the manager isn't there so I just kind of give up for a week or so... by this time everyone else is on there 4th week and I'm not. Finally I get a response and am meant to start that week... but of course my anxiety kicks in.. and for 3 weeks I tell myself on Tuesdays oh nah not tomorow I'll go Friday.. Friday rolls around... I'll just go next Tuesday.. so im now about 7 weeks behind and the uni Liason visit is due... she goes there I'm not there and she calls me...(I've managed to not move from bed when my alarms gone off) and make up that I'm sick and I'll go twice of the next fortnight... and when asked what day up to out of 10 days.. I freak out and say day 4.. even though I haven't started.. I go this week finally!!! and LOVE it and can't believe why I was so anxious.. except by now my uni liason has spoken to the manager and knows I've lied and haven't been in for those 4 days... She's now reported me for a discrepancy in what I've said and I have to go in for a meeting to pass...WHAT DO I SAY!!! I don't want to tell them but I'll have to and now I'm freaking out and cannot think of anything else . HELP

sophialy making stupid mistakes and needing help
  • replies: 6

this is my first post. I am sorry if I do something wrong or post it in the wrong place. Since February this year I have been noticing changes in my attitude towards many things. My parents have never exactly been relaxed with each other and get into... View more

this is my first post. I am sorry if I do something wrong or post it in the wrong place. Since February this year I have been noticing changes in my attitude towards many things. My parents have never exactly been relaxed with each other and get into verbal fights quite often. This would stress me out as I am fearful of my father who has threatened me before if I were to interfere. My friends at school have been telling me I am getting fat and would snatch food I bring out of my hands, forcing me to not eat the entire day. I have not told teachers this, since my friends say it's better if I eat as little as possible. This has now made me extremely anxious of what others think of me and began to venture into other alternatives to skipping. I dealt with this for about 4 months but for the past 3 months I have began to purge often, almost weekly. I do not enjoy it but I believe it will make my friends think better of me and possibly make them respect me. This stress makes it difficult to focus on classes, my grades have been slipping, which does not aid in my parents situation. My parents have been fighting a lot more lately and restrict my technology use meaning I cannot message family members or call a counselor. I am trying to fight this on my own, without friends, without parents but I am beginning to crumble. I don't find things as amusing as I used to. My purging episodes are becoming more frequent, to the point where I feel so weak I lay on my bathroom floor. Even now, I'm crying while typing this. Please someone help me.

The_Sensei Experiencing anxiety and depression, worried it's about my relationship.
  • replies: 2

Hi Everyone I'm new to Beyond Blue and this is my first time posting. A little background about myself i'm 30 years old and over the past 6 months have developed allot of anxious and at times depressive feelings. My parents divorced when I was 14 and... View more

Hi Everyone I'm new to Beyond Blue and this is my first time posting. A little background about myself i'm 30 years old and over the past 6 months have developed allot of anxious and at times depressive feelings. My parents divorced when I was 14 and my father passed away suddenly 6 years later we had a strained relationship when I was growing up but had grown closer prior to his death. Throughout my life I have always been a pretty positive person and generally have coasted through life until this year. At the begining of the year me and my partner of 8 years decided to part ways which was for the best at the time and at my place of work there have been allot of sudden and radical changes which at times have been very challenging as I am at a managerial level in the company and am relied on to implement allot of these changes. Around 6 months ago i started feeling very down and then started to have these overwhelming feelings in the pit of my stomach. It got to the point a few times when I would have to walk out of the office and go sit on my own for a bit and do my head space app. During this time I have actually reconnected with my partner who I love very deeply and really do want to make things work with and have a happy life together. I initially thought that my anxious feelings might have been because i missed her but they are continuing to plague me. My feelings are very up and down some days I feel great and experience really great feelings about her and work isn't so bad, but then I have days where i feel like shit and I begin to question everything with her "do I really want this", "will it work", "will I hurt her" and then begin to feel guilty and makes me feel even worse. Has anyone experienced feelings like this? I know when my head is clear and I can tell my self that this is the anxiety that's making me feel this way that I do feel better and really good, but far out some days get hard and it really can pull me down. I am seeing a counsellor through work which i find really does help. He thinks allot of issues from my parents divorce and the death of my father that I never fully faced when I was younger have started to come to the surface. I'm taking a month of work and going on a holiday with my partner which i haven't done in 3 years so hopefully getting away from work will help calm things down. Has anyone got any advice or gone through anything similar? Is it worth seeing my GP and talk to him?

Felby my daughter is going away and I freaked out
  • replies: 1

I have been coping on a thread all week. My daughter is going to India on a school trip tomorrow. I have been working on every strategy about managing but feeling the anxiety creep up and up. tonight I stopped coping and went into a full blown panic ... View more

I have been coping on a thread all week. My daughter is going to India on a school trip tomorrow. I have been working on every strategy about managing but feeling the anxiety creep up and up. tonight I stopped coping and went into a full blown panic attack. BUT she is packed and ready, but online i cant really explain why i feel so shit - but ill try, She was all ready but then she checks in with her dad (my ex), and the ex family, and they question everything. and then she questions me , and my anxiety ramps up, why do they undermine me? She is ready, we have got everything ready together, but they get under her skin and she turns on me...

kaykay92 Horrible physical symptoms
  • replies: 5

Hello everyone and thank you in advance for reading, I'm 24 years old and have had issues with both depression and anxiety from the time I was a teenager but was able to, for the most part, manage my symptoms through diet/exercise, meditation and see... View more

Hello everyone and thank you in advance for reading, I'm 24 years old and have had issues with both depression and anxiety from the time I was a teenager but was able to, for the most part, manage my symptoms through diet/exercise, meditation and seeing a naturopath/taking supplements. After feeling quite low last year I decided to give an antidepressant a try, and took it for about 8 months before I convincing myself I didn't need it and could handle things in a natural way. So with the help of my GP, I weaned off over a longer period. That was about 3.5 months ago and since then my symptoms have gotten worse and worse, to the point that they are far worse than even before I decided to take the drugs.. Now my main issue is anxiety, I've been suffering panic attacks for the first time in my life and feel horrible physically. I have constant headaches, dizziness, upset stomach, feel very weak and unable to exercise how I previously had been. Concentrating at school feels impossible where it never has been an issue for me. My chest is constantly tight (like someone standing on it) my heart races, and I now have what is considered high blood pressure for my age, which deeply saddens. I believe I've developed "health anxiety" and am constantly fearing something is wrong with me, especially my heart and have been going to the doctors almost every week. They say all the above can be chalked up to anxiety because all tests (blood, ECG) are normal. I'm doing my best to keep it together but it truly feels like my body is falling apart. Apart from the health anxiety I do not "think" anxiously... so sometimes it feels like my body is the one with the problem, but I know the mind and body are deeply connected. Even when I feel excited to go to class, my body reacts in these terrible ways, so its awfully confusing. I've been seeing a great CBT therapist for the past month and that has been helpful, but I do feel I need something more because of these physical symptoms. My doctors have recommended I begin antidepressants once again and I have resisted but now feel that perhaps I should as I cannot continue feeling this way and truly believe I have exhausted all other options. I have some fear regarding starting them, despite being on them in the past, and feel somewhat shameful of needing them which I know is stupid. I'm curious if others have experienced similar, nearly 24/7, symptoms and if they've chosen antidepressants to help with them? Thank you!

Safeasmilk Anxious about working future
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had any advice or had been in a similar situation. I love my workplace and colleagues but I have been doing the same roll for the past 3 and a half years. I am starting to worry where my future lies within the compan... View more

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had any advice or had been in a similar situation. I love my workplace and colleagues but I have been doing the same roll for the past 3 and a half years. I am starting to worry where my future lies within the company and wondering if there is any chance to take on more responsibility and or increase my pay. I think my role maybe limited to my current duties and I find I fear approaching my boss for more to do, but I'm starting to feel unchallenged. I don't want to seem ungrateful as they showed faith in me and gave me my first opportunity and it is a great work place which has given me excellent work/life balance but I am increasingly getting frustrated which is starting to show such as today. Finding a new job is an option but at the moment I am currently trying to get finance approved for a house which will make it difficult. Anyway thanks for listening to my ramblings, any advice would be great. Thanks Ben