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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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SKat work, food, anxiety and struggling to adult
  • replies: 4

HI guys. So as of late I feel like I am struggling a bit more than usual. I was diagnosed with GAD around 2 years ago and am on regular medication. I think I have had it all my life, since childhood as looking back I can now see what the signs were (... View more

HI guys. So as of late I feel like I am struggling a bit more than usual. I was diagnosed with GAD around 2 years ago and am on regular medication. I think I have had it all my life, since childhood as looking back I can now see what the signs were (trouble with sleep, concentration, feeling like I always needed to go pee, and just being a worry wart). So at the moment I am struggling at work. I am not as busy as promised and am not getting many hours. I was promised more but at the moment I feel like they are using me. I can not pay rent with my pay and I have been using my savings (before you ask it is legal as I am a contractor you get paid per job so if someone cancels then you won't get money). It is kinda a graduate job and my first post uni 'career job'. I am super stressed over it and I feel like a failure as an adult. I am kinda feeling like if this is the struggle I have to go through for this job then maybe I should quit and find another one. This job is a great opportunity in theory but practically it hasn't turned out that way. I do like what I do but it isn't sustainable, and I feel like they are trying to help me get more work but either it isn't must effort or it isn't working. I also only get a percentage, so they take majority, I would have thought they would do more to help me get more work. I have only been in it 3 months. I just struggle to get out of bed in the morning not having regular work and income. You can't do much if you don't have money to do things. I am in my late 20s I should be saving for a house or big holiday but I am not wanting to spend more than $10 dinner. I am also having cravings to eat lots of junk food. Like binge and get rid of it by either purging, exercising or spitting or combination of those. I have acted on it in the past and I got really into it doing it a few times a week. I am trying not to do it but with the stress and intrusive thoughts coming back stronger it makes it harder to resist. It is kinda like a release I guess. But I don't want to get sucked back into it. I don't want the side effects and constant thoughts about it and hiding it. Another struggle is I am on a mental health plan but as it still costs me money to see the psych, soI haven't gone in a few months. I did get my tax return and could go again but I'm worried it won't be worth it and I could spend the money better elsewhere. I am struggling financially Thanks for reading about my struggle and letting me vent.

nessie_lou Life stress or medication
  • replies: 4

Hi guys. I've have suffered from anxiety and depression on and off for 18 years. I have over the course of that time been on 2 different medications. The one I am on currently I have been so for 12ish years and have been managing. My anxiety issues a... View more

Hi guys. I've have suffered from anxiety and depression on and off for 18 years. I have over the course of that time been on 2 different medications. The one I am on currently I have been so for 12ish years and have been managing. My anxiety issues are usually around death, travelling and health. In the last 16 months my anxiety has been more prevalent... the last 16 months I have had the following happen...dog had to be put down, father was diagnosed with cancer, father in law passed away, sister in law passed away, my grandma was diagnosed with rapid dementia in june, had a fall broke her hip and is now in a home. So here is my question... would this stuff be the reason my anxiety is giving me grief or could my medication not be working anymore.

ci Failing! ! ! ! !
  • replies: 5

Haven't posted on here for so long but I'm trying to fight of a panic attack and I need to vent I'm sorry just need to get my frustration out. My head is spinning I feel like such failure how is this my life how is this me! I have ocd and been going ... View more

Haven't posted on here for so long but I'm trying to fight of a panic attack and I need to vent I'm sorry just need to get my frustration out. My head is spinning I feel like such failure how is this my life how is this me! I have ocd and been going so well made big improvement and quality of life so much better. But bang here I am in the dark hiding from my kids cause I can't breath the world is spinning and I can't speak with out bursting into tears. I tried to have a normal life I tried step up study to get qualified at something so I could contribute more to my family instead of feeling like a burden. But I'm failing at that too. Was diagnosed with fibromyalgia also last year and it feels like a cruel joke if it's not my brain torturing me it's my body giving me pain and making it almost impossible to walk. Today it's just reached breaking point everything feels to much! I just need to hide and switch off from the world but I can't I have to smile and show my kids and husband all is ok get them what they need and make sure they happy all while inside I feel like I'm imploding like at any point my frustration and disappointment will explode out of me and I will loose myself.

T4 panic attack or not
  • replies: 2

HI everyone I'm very worried about this i usually have panic attack which was minor and recovered quickly but 3 days ago I was in class all a sudden my ear started ring, heat surging in my chest I felt like I was about to collapse I quickly ran out a... View more

HI everyone I'm very worried about this i usually have panic attack which was minor and recovered quickly but 3 days ago I was in class all a sudden my ear started ring, heat surging in my chest I felt like I was about to collapse I quickly ran out and since that day on I constantly have that feeling I would just sit there I start hearing a ringing, loss sensation of body with chest pain and heat surges It last for a few seconds but comes on a lot in the day and I very frightening I so afraid to go out now because of this. Thanks in advance

_AnxiousMess_ Please Help...
  • replies: 6

I am really struggling with anxiety at the moment. The physical symptoms are starting to get the better of me. I feel like there is a constant knot in my stomach I'm dizzy spacey and just can't stop crying. But when I am at work I am focussed as long... View more

I am really struggling with anxiety at the moment. The physical symptoms are starting to get the better of me. I feel like there is a constant knot in my stomach I'm dizzy spacey and just can't stop crying. But when I am at work I am focussed as long as I keep my mind active I'm fine. Soon as I leave work I'm a mess. I have my first psychologist appointment on 28th of this month but I'm scared I will go crazy before then!!! Please help with any coping strategies you have to help me through... I would be forever grateful

dudu87 INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS.. MAY I GET INSIGHTS PLEASE?
  • replies: 14

I have these intrusive thoughts, I didn't even know my problem had a name for it. But I read about "intrusive thoughts" and I can absolutely relate to it. I have intrusive thoughts of becoming gay. I have nothing against gay people, I have many frien... View more

I have these intrusive thoughts, I didn't even know my problem had a name for it. But I read about "intrusive thoughts" and I can absolutely relate to it. I have intrusive thoughts of becoming gay. I have nothing against gay people, I have many friends who are.. And I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it.. I just get afraid I may become it, that's all.. It all started in one of my old jobs, a few years back when a lesbian took over as 2IC and then after a few weeks working with her on a morning driving to work (I remember as if it were yesterday) a thought popped up, it was related to what if I was gay?" and that's how it had started.. I even remember what intersection I was on when this all took place.. Light was red, and I was waiting to turn right onto the FWY.. Before this, I had never not once feared that I would turn gay. I was so happy with who I was, and what I had achieved (as I had anxiety before this job.. I had feared and convinced myself I was going blind.. but that's past now..) I get paranoid that I may walk gay, talk gay, how I sound when I'm speaking to someone, try to act more manly even when I get a hair cut.... =/ I know, I'm VERY aware how silly this is.. I only get sexually aroused by woman. I see myself with woman. I see myself with a kid. It's what I always wanted since the age of 16.. I have no sexual fantasy on men at all.. I do however know when a man is good looking/handsome.. And this to be honest scares me, as I made myself believe that a straight man can not determine whether or not other men are good looking.. I get scared to speak to my psychologist about this as I fear he will straight out label me as gay, and I'm the type of person (with my anxiety) to believe stuff, and make me worse then I already am.. Deep down I know I'm straight, I just can't help but feel this uncertainty So my questions are: Do straight men know when another man is attractive? What exactly does in the "closet" mean? Are they afraid of what society will think, or are they afraid to be gay because they want to be straight? (I know this looks like a stupid question. And I'm sorry if I look to be ignorant, its just with this intrusive thoughts, these weird questions pop in, and remain unanswered..) Again, please don't take me the wrong way, I help people as much as I can, I love gay people, I respect them, and they make awesome friends. It's just me and this fear, and I really want to get through this and get better.. Thank you all. Thank you

45987 Is it better to quit a casual job if it's causing anxiety?
  • replies: 3

Such as lack of sleep (i.e. as low as ~2hrs a night), general stressing/constant worry/extra pressure (which roll into other unrelated tasks). I'm a first year uni student and pushed myself to take on a tutoring job, but I feel like no approach I try... View more

Such as lack of sleep (i.e. as low as ~2hrs a night), general stressing/constant worry/extra pressure (which roll into other unrelated tasks). I'm a first year uni student and pushed myself to take on a tutoring job, but I feel like no approach I try gets through (this is confirmed by students test results), despite the fact I put in heaps of extra effort to make notes, practice how to explain, ect. Then I just feel super bad for how much parents are being charged (I'm more than happy with $24/hr, but this turns into an actual rate of much lower when driving and extra time factored in, also I feel super bad parents get charged $60-65/hr, when I'm just a recent high school graduate, and not actual professional tutor). Am I a bad person for quitting?

Lostflutterby Overstressed about my usefulness
  • replies: 3

I suffer from depression and generalised anxiety and im finding it really hard to cope with day to day life right now. Im a mum of two kids 5 months old and 4. My anxiety is causing me to shut down and i dont end up doing any housework or running err... View more

I suffer from depression and generalised anxiety and im finding it really hard to cope with day to day life right now. Im a mum of two kids 5 months old and 4. My anxiety is causing me to shut down and i dont end up doing any housework or running errands or sometimes even playing with my kids. My head is full of everything and nothing. I mediatate and scrapbook and knit for myself. And was doing boxing until i injured my shoulder. I had two main emotional supports but sadly my aunty passed in september 2015 and my other, my dad passed last year. Im overall having a hard time. I have my psych and a good gp but they obviously cant help me organise my life. I have two housemates that are amazing helpers but i hate that most days i literally.leave everything to them. Are there any simplified apps or strategies to help combat my stress and so i can get things done? Thanks in advance.

M2 Dealing with fear
  • replies: 1

Does anyone have any advice on battling debilitating fear? I suffer from anxiety (general and social, with panic attacks when it gets particularly bad) and depression. Fear seems to be the source of all of this. If I could work out how to overcome it... View more

Does anyone have any advice on battling debilitating fear? I suffer from anxiety (general and social, with panic attacks when it gets particularly bad) and depression. Fear seems to be the source of all of this. If I could work out how to overcome it, I'm certain the rest (including depression) would follow. Changing thought patterns is obviously hard, but what can be done to alleviate fear? I try challenging it by facing it but I find that introduces massive spikes of intense anxiety over a short time so I shy away. Pushing through it causes panic attacks. I don't want to live like a recluse. I want to have and maintain friendships but I also want to live without feeling like I'm suffering heart attacks, followed by dark periods of self hatred. Life can surely be a more pleasant experience! Any advice?

Lurch09 Severe anxiety.
  • replies: 2

Hey guys, all my life I have had problems with anxiety and sleeping. They went away for 18 months but have now come back again even worse then before. My rock all my life, Is now leaving for a holiday and I mentally and physically can't deal with it.... View more

Hey guys, all my life I have had problems with anxiety and sleeping. They went away for 18 months but have now come back again even worse then before. My rock all my life, Is now leaving for a holiday and I mentally and physically can't deal with it. I've gone back on my medication and have booked an appointment for Monday with my gp but I was wondering if anyone could help with to get through the next couple of days/ weeks. Thanks in advance.