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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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High_Anxiety Going into meldown over relationship breakdown
  • replies: 3

My wife has told me she wants to split with me and I'm having what feels to me severe panic attacks!! My greatest fear is rejection and the one I love the most is doing it to me right now. I can't sleep, don't want to eat, feel sick and have body tre... View more

My wife has told me she wants to split with me and I'm having what feels to me severe panic attacks!! My greatest fear is rejection and the one I love the most is doing it to me right now. I can't sleep, don't want to eat, feel sick and have body tremours. I'm supposed to be going back to work tomorrow as I have to kick off a big project and I fear I'll be disfunctional. This is the worst feeling I have ever felt!!!! HA

Hobbers Feeling and actions anxiety cause
  • replies: 4

Hi. I never really talk to anyone about my anxiety apart from my councilor. So sometimes i wonder how other people act. Today has not been a good day, i have ovet thought ever thing and i question if i actually think these things or the anxiety doing... View more

Hi. I never really talk to anyone about my anxiety apart from my councilor. So sometimes i wonder how other people act. Today has not been a good day, i have ovet thought ever thing and i question if i actually think these things or the anxiety doing it. My trigger is mainly as its been a full on week with no wind down time not enough sleep and then i have hit the wall and in comes the emotional wreak. Im snappy frustrated fuzzy head feel dumb exhusted. crying feel sick head thumping like it will explode ashamed to be in this mess. I want to be left alone but also want to be held so tight to make it all go away but i know this is going to pass but never go away. I have recently started a new realationship and im struggling with how this person will ever handle me or put up with me..

alwayswinning how can i stop the stress cycle?
  • replies: 2

I tend to obsess over things I cannot do anything about in the present moment. Even though I tell myself stressing wont help I just cant seem to stop it. I worry and worry and worry almost like self punishment. People suggest that I do things like re... View more

I tend to obsess over things I cannot do anything about in the present moment. Even though I tell myself stressing wont help I just cant seem to stop it. I worry and worry and worry almost like self punishment. People suggest that I do things like read a book etc. but I feel so fixated that I don't have the energy because all I can think about is how I cant do anything about it right how so I continue to stress and stress and stress.

Asenna Please some feedback
  • replies: 5

A month ago I decided to leave work. Family business. Feel like i do things to show my ex wife that I can be the person she loves. The week after I had finished Monday morning rolled around and I fell to pieces. 17 years of my life was now in the pas... View more

A month ago I decided to leave work. Family business. Feel like i do things to show my ex wife that I can be the person she loves. The week after I had finished Monday morning rolled around and I fell to pieces. 17 years of my life was now in the past. Anxious but not bad. Overwhelmed with life, hell yes. Got diagnosed with adult adhd that week and I thought aha! It makes sense. Got put on to some stimulants and in the beginning it relaxed me. The tightness in the chest had gone. I felt good. Two weeks after I came down again but I felt nervousness. Not palpitations or panic attack but just nervous. Walks helped. I felt lonely and isolated. Speak to friends who allow me to sothe my mind but the fear of never returning to a sense of strength and some normalcy frightens me. Why do I feel like I've got nobody? Why do I fear life on my own when my parents eventually die? Why do I feel lately anxious when my children leave to go back to their mothers place. I feel alone in this world when my anxiety comes through. Why do I fall apart so easily? Why can I not regulate my reactions and emotions? I just cannot at all! Please anybody help. Does it resonate with anyone?

Hope_for_the_best Weird symptoms during times of intense stress
  • replies: 8

With the help of my psychologist, I combated two episodes of intense stress during my studies. I am feeling okay now, but I dwell on the loneliness while I was suffering from anxiety symptoms, because some were very atypical. All friends I know eithe... View more

With the help of my psychologist, I combated two episodes of intense stress during my studies. I am feeling okay now, but I dwell on the loneliness while I was suffering from anxiety symptoms, because some were very atypical. All friends I know either have insomnia or stress-eat when they are anxious. However, I never have any issues with sleeping; I fall asleep easily at night and often wake up the next morning. When I am stressed out, I lose my appetite instead of gaining. Some friends have racing heartbeats and shortness of breaths, which I had sometimes and I could calm down within minutes of listening to relaxing music. Up to now, these are still very typical symptoms. The two atypical and bothersome symptoms that I had were (1) a lumpy throat feeling and (2) overreaction to smells. None of my friends have ever experienced a lumpy throat, although I realised how common it is when I googled. When that happened, I could feel my throat muscle tightened up. I did not know what to do about that. I could only wait until the feeling passed. I bet some of you encountered a lumpy throat feeling before. How did you deal with that? For the overreaction to smells under stress, I hardly found any information about that. Basically, when I am stressed out for a prolonged period, I must develop an aversion to a daily smell. For example, I never like cheese, but I am fine with someone having it in my vicinity. I remember I was in a stuffy lecture hall one day shortly before exams. One of my classmates was eating a very cheesy creamy pasta. He was not supposed to eat there, but the lecturer did not stop him. The smell was so overwhelming that I could not take it. I could not attend the rest of the lecture. Since then I got super aversion towards cheese smell. I was madly checking all food to ensure no cheese. I also avoided the cheese stall in the supermarket. Strangely enough, after finishing those stressful exams, I suddenly became as comfortable with cheese as before. Has anyone ever encountered that before? I feel that I am weird as nobody seems to have that. Thanks for sharing!

Gemair how do you get help when you can't afford to?
  • replies: 4

I'm struggling at the moment! My husbands business is not financially viable but yet he won't do anything to improve the situation - although he does do work and he does help out, so I'm not trying to have a go - but financially it is not working. Fo... View more

I'm struggling at the moment! My husbands business is not financially viable but yet he won't do anything to improve the situation - although he does do work and he does help out, so I'm not trying to have a go - but financially it is not working. For the last few months, we have struggled to pay the mortgage and have gone on a strict budget where food and things are concerned. My hair is even showing the grey as we can't afford what we used to. I can't afford to see our doctor or get help, but things have got to a really bad stage. I even broke down in the supermarket yesterday (as my husband told me about another bill that had come in over the phone). I am not sure how to fix things financially, but my anxiety levels are at a real high and I know that I am not coping but most of the time I put on a smile and mask everything that is going on. I have two young kids who I try to not let see me in breakdown mode, but the truth is I'm falling apart. I still work four days a week and I can't afford to give this up and our children still do after school sport although we even cut this back this year. How do you get help when you can't afford to?? the last time I was at my doctors they said that there weren't any help that were free (I think I have used my medicare free limit - I have had PTSD from childhood goings on), but I haven't been like I am for a very long time.

sonicjaguar Getting Irritated By Everything
  • replies: 5

Hi all, First time posting here. I was diagnosed with chronic anxiety/depression a few years ago and it's been an uphill battle as you would all know. Lately however I find myself getting annoyed by many trivial things such as the way someone eats, o... View more

Hi all, First time posting here. I was diagnosed with chronic anxiety/depression a few years ago and it's been an uphill battle as you would all know. Lately however I find myself getting annoyed by many trivial things such as the way someone eats, or a coworker comes into the room and noisily sits themselves down at the table and begins to munch and make a variety of annoying noises. It also happens when I see people on the tv, like they have a face that genuinely annoys me to the point where I can feel it bubbling inside me. Or the way the someone talks or makes various sounds. It seems to be that I'm noticing every tiny thing that is happening around me. I have always had a mind that seeks out things in great detail, and maybe that is a cause of these feelings, but I find it to be very uncomfortable. Almost like if you combined misophonia with a visual equivalent. Does anyone know of any ways to stop me getting so annoyed at every tiny thing? It's all so trivial and pointless and I know that but I can't seem to stop it happening... Thanks and a happy new year to you all.

xxNad Health Anxiety/ Panic Attacks
  • replies: 4

Hi All, I’ve decided to write this post to see if there is anyone else out there who is quite like myself. A quick background I am a 22 year old female, I’ve just completed my Bachelors degree and I’m struggling with Health Anxiety. It all began abou... View more

Hi All, I’ve decided to write this post to see if there is anyone else out there who is quite like myself. A quick background I am a 22 year old female, I’ve just completed my Bachelors degree and I’m struggling with Health Anxiety. It all began about 3 months ago,I remember being sick with a simple influenza virus at the time and like any virus the coughing began not long after. This cough progressed for over 2 months with chest pain as well as headaches. I was sent firstly for an MRI of my head (came back clear) and did a blood test and throat swab. My blood test came back high in a particular hormone which worried this new doctor who urgently wanted me to take another brain MRI, this doctor pretty much told my mother and I that I most likely had a brain tumour. This stressed me out like crazy and I began googling everything, that same night I woke up in a sweat. My heart was racing like insanely, I couldn’t breathe, my vision was declining, my skin felt as if it was on fire. I woke up my parents and thought I was either dying or having a heart-attack they rushed me to the hospital, they performed more blood tests (came back normal), 2 ECGs (normal) a Chest X-Ray for my cough which had been going on for more than 2 months (normal) and also a Chest CT Scan ( which showed a minor collapsed lung but other than that normal). The doctor at the hospital believed i had a panic attack However, with all these tests done I’m still not content. I’m still coughing and have been told my coughing is most likely an anxiety cough. What worries me is if I have something in my oesophagus and now all I can focus is on that. I still experience frequent chest pains, burning sensations particularly in my neck region which makes me worry I have some form of lymphoma. I feel so ridiculous writing this. I have sleepless nights, I cry nearly everyday and am constantly worrying I’m dying. My parents are trying so hard, but I feel like a lost cause as I think something is honestly wrong with me. I have booked to see a psychiatrist and waiting on this. My Symptoms: -Chest Tightness -burning neck -Sleepless nights -Cough -Headaches -Muscle Pain -Weight Loss My Tests all done this year: -2 ECGS -Abdominal/Pelvic Ultrasound -Blood Tests (5 this year) -D-Dimer Test -Leg Xray -2 MRIS (head) -Chest CT -Chest X-RAY I wanted to know if anyone else experiences the symptoms I have or suffers from health anxiety. Any tips would really help.

Meowface Food & Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Does anyone else find themselves obsessed with food when dealing with anxiety? I've had all extremes - avoiding food (and losing way too much weight), thinking about shopping lists/products all day, over eating, feeling anxious until I know what we'r... View more

Does anyone else find themselves obsessed with food when dealing with anxiety? I've had all extremes - avoiding food (and losing way too much weight), thinking about shopping lists/products all day, over eating, feeling anxious until I know what we're eating, over thinking eating out, meal planning or even when preparing food for others or even always going to the groceries. I think it's a control thing because it's something you can sort of have control over. Interested if anyone else relates to this pattern....

eckybecky How can I find independence?
  • replies: 3

Hello, I'm 32, three beautiful children and an amazing husband, but I am struggling with my anxiety. Its mainly social anxiety. I never leave the house by myself. I don't drive, I always have my husband or mum mum with me if I have an appointment wit... View more

Hello, I'm 32, three beautiful children and an amazing husband, but I am struggling with my anxiety. Its mainly social anxiety. I never leave the house by myself. I don't drive, I always have my husband or mum mum with me if I have an appointment with someone. I never invite friends around, and in doing so I really don't have any friends as I am too cut off. I don't look anyone in the eye and very rarely hold a full conversation with someone other than family. Its horrible being so dependent on my family. I would love to be able to duck down town to buy milk, or go for a walk, or go to church, which I have missed for years and would love to go back. I just don't know how to overcome this fear. Right now I'm shaking and crying because I am talking to you guys, even though you don't know who I am and you all understand mental health issues. Whenever I send a text or email to someone, even someone I know and trust, I instantly freak out and wish I hadn't sent it, even if it just said hello or how are you. i know I will feel this way as soon as I post this but I am desperate. I'm not seeking an instant solution to this problem but would love to hear from those in similar situations who may have some advice or support? Thank you for listening to me