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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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Hannahm2 No job in 2 years because of panic attacks
  • replies: 2

It started when I got fired from my job at the time for having panic attacks at work. It's been 2 years and I still haven't had a job since, I need some advice on what to do. I'm only 21 and feel as though I've done nothing in my life and I'd love so... View more

It started when I got fired from my job at the time for having panic attacks at work. It's been 2 years and I still haven't had a job since, I need some advice on what to do. I'm only 21 and feel as though I've done nothing in my life and I'd love so much to have a career and a job that I love but can't pluck up the courage. I get sweaty, nauseous and gag when I think about getting a job. What do I do? I'm also having trouble with when I do end up applying for jobs should I be letting my employer know of my condition or keep it to myself?

Tiger04 Anxiety symptoms?
  • replies: 3

Hi, ill keep it short I just want to ask if anyone gets really dizzy, almost vertigo type feeling when their anxiety is really bad or they have anxiety attacks? i feel dizzy all the time lately and my anxiety is out of control right now, I can't even... View more

Hi, ill keep it short I just want to ask if anyone gets really dizzy, almost vertigo type feeling when their anxiety is really bad or they have anxiety attacks? i feel dizzy all the time lately and my anxiety is out of control right now, I can't even go to the shop without having an anxiety attack. i suffer from vertigo and have for most of my life and I'm not sure what's what anymore and it's driving me up the wall. I guess I'm looking for answers I don't know.

Hypersleep When you do something you thought you couldn't, how do you reward yourself?
  • replies: 2

Thus far I have two ways of rewarding myself, that come to mind at least. After I do something that stresses me out I get some take out or if it's something big I buy myself a video-game or other media related merchandise. But lately I am looking for... View more

Thus far I have two ways of rewarding myself, that come to mind at least. After I do something that stresses me out I get some take out or if it's something big I buy myself a video-game or other media related merchandise. But lately I am looking for more ways to spoil myself. So I'm wondering: how do you reward yourself for doing something that made you proud or otherwise overcoming an obstacle?

nic98 Anxiety has reared its ugly head
  • replies: 18

Hi I'm posting for the first time. I've a history of migraines intertwined with anxiety. The anxiety I've managed with medication for several years but a few months ago had to change it to try a migraine treatment. Anyway, after recently changing bac... View more

Hi I'm posting for the first time. I've a history of migraines intertwined with anxiety. The anxiety I've managed with medication for several years but a few months ago had to change it to try a migraine treatment. Anyway, after recently changing back to my original AD, my anxiety has increased. I'm also coming off triptans atm. I'm highly anxious in the mornings and am needing some support

EllieC Who I want to be vs my anxiety
  • replies: 9

Hi guys, young woman with GAD here One of the hardest parts about anxiety sometimes is the constant struggle between what is ethically right and what is right for my anxiety. I want to be the sort of person who is socially responsible and who is a lo... View more

Hi guys, young woman with GAD here One of the hardest parts about anxiety sometimes is the constant struggle between what is ethically right and what is right for my anxiety. I want to be the sort of person who is socially responsible and who is a loyal supporter of their friends, but I'm usually pretty afraid of conflict so I don't often show it. Today a friend of mine was copping very personal abuse on social media due to a cultural group she belongs to and I finally felt like I could do the right thing. I wasn't rude to these other commenters but I was firm, saying that I didn't agree with their views and they were being incredibly nasty to all my friends who are part of this cultural group I felt good about supporting my friend and speaking out on how much damage discrimination can do... until the first comment calling me a "fat loser" popped up. The second and third comment along the same lines just made things worse. Since then I've been feeling sick, shaky and crying on and off. I have a background of being bullied at school, especially for my weight (which led me into developing a binge eating disorder, so thanks classmates!), so the feeling of being ganged up on and made fun of has just triggered my fear and self-loathing all over again I don't know what the right thing is to do. I want to be this superhero who goes into bat for people who are being treated unfairly but I just find that whenever I do that I get abuse hurled at me and my anxiety sends me into a meltdown. But am I a bad friend and a facilitator of unethical behaviour if I stand by and let them be abused by trolls? On the other hand, I know that I have anxiety so should I be more protective of my mental health and not wade into these highly emotive situations? This is really eating me up inside tonight and my confusion about how to approach this is making me feel like both a fat loser and a bad friend. Normally I would call my Mum when I'm this upset but she doesn't understand social media and just tells me to delete Facebook whenever something on there bothers me. My friend did send me a private message thanking me for being supportive and saying that the other commenters were being mean (she used other words, which I won't repeat here), but I don't feel close enough to her to tell her all this either I feel a little silly posting here because I know other people probably have more pressing problems, but if I don't get a response I at least had to say this somewhere

kned Social anxiety treatment options
  • replies: 8

I'm really wanting to look at some ways to manage my social anxiety. Medication would be last resort. What has worked for you? Has anyone tried alternative medicine (herbs etc)? Did they work? What psychological techniques have you found useful. If a... View more

I'm really wanting to look at some ways to manage my social anxiety. Medication would be last resort. What has worked for you? Has anyone tried alternative medicine (herbs etc)? Did they work? What psychological techniques have you found useful. If anyone can share some links to websites or apps, it'd be very much appreciated. Cheers,

Wa_ranger I feel burnt out and anxious.
  • replies: 2

Hi This is my first post and to be honest I never thought I would get to the point when I needed to do this. My reason for posting is work related anxiety and no matter how much I tell myself 'I have done my best' I feel like the anxiety is winning. ... View more

Hi This is my first post and to be honest I never thought I would get to the point when I needed to do this. My reason for posting is work related anxiety and no matter how much I tell myself 'I have done my best' I feel like the anxiety is winning. I haven't gone into work today as I can't face it. I don't sleep well and if I do, I wake up regularly worrying about work. It's taken over my life, and my work life balance is all wrong. Sunday's every weekend consist of worrying about going back to work so I know I'm struggling. My main issue is feeling stuck and knowing this situation is not changing anytime soon so that fills me with dread. My work is quite specialised and there are no other jobs in my location to apply for. My office is a regional base for a multi-national company and it has gone through a downturn in the last 12 months to the point where I am the only full time person, and I have been there less than 10 months. I manage a small team who are either part time or casual staff, which also makes me anxious. I'm basically overwhelmed, new work keeps coming through, I'm behind on my current work and I have made mistakes that I know I would not normally make. Management know the situation is not ideal and they have given 'support' which I have accepted. I was made redundant in a previous job (through no fault of my own) and knowing that feeling of being out of work prevents me from resigning, although I would if I could. I am a resilient person, so up until now I have just got on with it, although I basically feel 'stuck' and completely alone. Is anybody else in a similar situation who could offer me any advice please?

MissBear26 Can't sleep
  • replies: 4

Hey, Can't seem to switch the brain off. It's not just the brain it is my whole body. So tired and as soon as i lie down it is like everything is magnified. Small sounds in the room. The light from the charger. The small itch on my leg. The stray hai... View more

Hey, Can't seem to switch the brain off. It's not just the brain it is my whole body. So tired and as soon as i lie down it is like everything is magnified. Small sounds in the room. The light from the charger. The small itch on my leg. The stray hair on my neck. Its too hot. Its too cold. I get so fustrated i want claw at my face and scream. I can't sleep next to someone cause i toss and turn till finally (after a long time) i sleep. If i do sleep next to someone all i can think of is that I can't move, to the point where i want to panic cause i so badly need to move. I get myself so worked up. Soooo i get up and try to reset. I will habe another shower. Change pjs. Brush my hair. Remake my bed. Get a cold drink and try again. This i found is the most effective way to get to sleep Tonight however just not working for me.

Clairevj19 Physical anxiety symptoms :(
  • replies: 3

Hi all i've been reading a lot of these threads and it is helpful to know I'm not the only person who feels like this. im 26yrs old and was diagnosed with anxiety about 7 years ago. All has been great but this past week has been hell. I changed medic... View more

Hi all i've been reading a lot of these threads and it is helpful to know I'm not the only person who feels like this. im 26yrs old and was diagnosed with anxiety about 7 years ago. All has been great but this past week has been hell. I changed medication as I thought it might be better for me in the long run eg having children etc. what I didn't realise is how horrible it would make me feel. I have a massive fear of having a heart attack or fainting and this last week I've had so many horrible physical symptoms eg chest pains, headaches, dizziness, shooting pains. Been to 2 different doctors who said my chest is fine and my health is fine. i spoke with my doctor and we decided it's best to go back on medication so I'm on day 3 now, waiting for it to kick in so I go back to normal. I feel good when I'm at home or at work, but as soon as I get in the car to drive it all the physical symptoms come back before I even think about it. As soon as I walk in the door at home I'm ok. does anyone have any tips on how to calm the physical symptoms? I have medication but I don't like to take it as I would rather be able to attack it myself. I know I'll be okay again soon but I just hate the way it feels!!!

Struggly Struggling with the past
  • replies: 4

I have major regrets about my past and its stopping me from living my life. When I was in my 20s I owned my own home. Then I got involved in drugs and ended up selling it for no good reason. It was a fantastic place in a great location. I then bought... View more

I have major regrets about my past and its stopping me from living my life. When I was in my 20s I owned my own home. Then I got involved in drugs and ended up selling it for no good reason. It was a fantastic place in a great location. I then bought the first house I saw because I was worried about losing my money on drugs. The real estate agent took advantage of me and I ended up with a much worse house for about the same money. That place started giving me panic attacks so I sold it in a state of anxuiety. Of course I sold it really chep. By then I'd really gone backwards. The I was so anxious about buying the next house I put an offer on one place buyt go so panicky I couldn't go through with it. It was a really nice place too. Finally an agent pushed me into buying a partly renovated house. It has turned out to be a complete disaster and money pit. That last one was 15 years ago. I am now so totally devasted at what Ive done. I regret what could of been. I know this might come across as shllow, btut its not about money but shame and humiliation. My father always told me I was useless. How can I get out of this. The ain is just unbearable.