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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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Talon Social anxiety destroying my life
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I'm a 46 year old male and believe I have endured some degree of social anxiety for as long as I can remember. In the past I've sought professional assistance and been given coping strategies and other advice. I suppose I didn't ever really... View more

Hi there, I'm a 46 year old male and believe I have endured some degree of social anxiety for as long as I can remember. In the past I've sought professional assistance and been given coping strategies and other advice. I suppose I didn't ever really seriously put any of these to use. To this day I still suffer and endure this nightmare. I sometimes find myself reminiscing about the past and not in a good way. I believe I've existed through most of my life thus far, and never really enjoyed events and occasions which should have been celebrated, creating memories which bring a smile to your face. Instead, I made these events and occasions unbearable at times and although getting through most of them without quitting, come out the other end worse off. I mean this in that I have and exhibit little to no confidence, constantly mind read what other may be thinking and avoid many activities I enjoy, in case I'm struck down with a massive hit of anxiety. Almost always caused by my irrational negative thoughts. I have found it difficult to make and foster decent mateships. I only have a couple of mates who I sometimes also feel anxious around, thinking am I ruining this or that outing. I'm sure it shows to. I become reserved and leave analysing the night as to how I came across and was received. Even though I have know them for a very long time. I'm getting older and wonder if I'll ever be a happier, go lucky type person who accepts me for me. I have always been a people pleaser and been taken advantage of on numerous occasions. I have a good heart and would give the shirt off my back to help anyone, known to me or not. That's just me. I don't expect anything in return but rarely am I contacted again (boys trips away etc) and find out later. This only serves to exacerbate my anxiety and question everything about my being. I'm currently going through a separation with my wife (we have a 4 year old and 1 year old) I'm most likely facing a medical discharge from my job due to PTSD and face a very uncertain future (26 years in this job). I'll be starting a job from scratch. I have no idea if I want to continue my marriage and have no other skills. I have been divorced before (have 2 teenage boys) and am feeling absolutely worthless. I can't bear the thought of failing my children because my anxiety, coupled with PTSD, depression and very little confidence has plagued me for so long I'll never change. Please any advice or words of hope appreciated.

luft_ Can't seem to hold down a job
  • replies: 4

Hello to all, I've had some trouble these past few years finding and holding down jobs. I have never been unemployed - but I seem to flit from job to job. Inevitably, something always seems to happen. - I was fired from a gym when I was a teenager fo... View more

Hello to all, I've had some trouble these past few years finding and holding down jobs. I have never been unemployed - but I seem to flit from job to job. Inevitably, something always seems to happen. - I was fired from a gym when I was a teenager for locking the keys in the till (for some reason the spare keys were on the same key ring as the original set). The person firing me told me I seemed like I was a "pretty stupid person" and "not very smart". - I got my first (proper) job in my early 20s after graduating university. I was there 18 months, didn't really like it, resigned to work on a 6 month election campaign, where I had a mid level role, did really well and made some great friends and contacts. Loved it. - When it ended, I set up my own consultancy and worked alongside a very high profile Australian, then picked up several other clients and did ok. I still have some of these clients. - At the end of that year I was attacked on the side of the road by someone who tried to abduct me, and then things sort of took a nose dive. I took on a client I didn't work with very well, the client at the time got very angry with me, then cut me off. - After working for myself I decided I would try to find a proper, salaried job, because I was a bit stressed working for myself and running my own business. I got a job on a big political campaign. Two weeks in and my grandmother got diagnosed with cancer. Things went badly and I was stressed. I was bullied and worked for a manager who seemed slightly insane and wouldn't let me make any decisions. My direct manager was fired after also being bullied. After making a few small errors I was basically asked to resign and ended up resigning. 8 other people also resigned. - I applied for another job and got a senior role in private sector with 4 direct reports. On my first day I was sexually harassed, other girls were too. 2 months later at Christmas my grandmother died after having cancer for 6 months. I freaked out that I wasn't doing well and resigned at the end of January and took up a 6 month contract for another political campaign (which is going ok but ends in mid-August) and took on a client on the side. - Client I have on the side is going bankrupt - went psycho at me today over something that wasn't my fault (wasn't ever told about this thing). Sorry for the abrupt timeline can't help but feel this is all my fault - I feel like I keep having issues at work and can't seem to hold anything down ​

Wilma1 When is it ok to just not be ok
  • replies: 3

When you're done everything, everything, like all the distraction that sometimes work, read posts and reached out, even if it's a silent prayer because you just didn't have the right words, you still felt their pain and gave your best. One small step... View more

When you're done everything, everything, like all the distraction that sometimes work, read posts and reached out, even if it's a silent prayer because you just didn't have the right words, you still felt their pain and gave your best. One small step ..yes...and a list...but it's not ok. Sometimes you get a glimpse behind your own mask, the one you've kept just for you, and there it is again. No, there's not even been a running away...it's just not ok in so many ways.

dochisholm Ongoing sleep anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi I wondered if anyone can help. My anxiety is about health overall but predominantly sleep. If I don't sleep or struggle my thoughts just snowball. I think I need sleep to function the next day especially when an event or work is the next day. If I... View more

Hi I wondered if anyone can help. My anxiety is about health overall but predominantly sleep. If I don't sleep or struggle my thoughts just snowball. I think I need sleep to function the next day especially when an event or work is the next day. If I miss a nights sleep I get into a huge panic and mess. The more urgent it is the more I struggle. This has been going on for long enough and I am tackling it. I have been told to try medication but I am afraid that it will further mess with my sleep. Any feedback would be great thanks

Blondie1992 Anxiety is killing me.
  • replies: 2

Hi, my name is Melissa I'm 25 years old and I suffer from anxiety, I have been dignosed in 2013 with anxiety . I just want to tell you how I feel and my story . when I first got dignosed with anxiety I was so sick. I was living with my family at this... View more

Hi, my name is Melissa I'm 25 years old and I suffer from anxiety, I have been dignosed in 2013 with anxiety . I just want to tell you how I feel and my story . when I first got dignosed with anxiety I was so sick. I was living with my family at this time, I started crying for no apprent reason and then the anxiety just got to me, every morning at 7am I would wake up with a racing heart and I was panicking it was like my 7am was an alarm for me . When I would go in for a shower it felt like I was falling down so my mum came to the bathroom while I was having a shower , I was even scared to walk to the letter box because I was thinking the worst if I were to walk to the latter box, anyways I was on meds for it and I was feeling better with myself as soon as I felt better stupid me got of them. Now it's 2017 it's all getting to me but different symptoms, I have racing thoughts in my head, unwanted thoughts in my head like it will come and go I feel like I'm going crazy .... I just don't know what to do!

TJE Relapse, falling behind with work
  • replies: 2

Hi Don’t really know what I’m looking for but thought it might help to write this out. I’ve been managing my anxiety and depression okay for the last year or so, but it’s back with a vengeance recently. There are a few external reasons for this – I’v... View more

Hi Don’t really know what I’m looking for but thought it might help to write this out. I’ve been managing my anxiety and depression okay for the last year or so, but it’s back with a vengeance recently. There are a few external reasons for this – I’ve started up as a freelance writer earlier this year, which is my passion and something I’m really proud of having done. Also means I can work from home. The nature of freelance is that the level of work is unpredictable and I’m just about earning enough to get by financially, but I’m struggling with the level of work and keeping up with deadlines and demands, especially because we moved house last week. Most of my work is through one agency, and I get on with them okay. This is my ‘regular’ work – about 6 articles a week for various clients of theirs. I’ve told them I’m moving and will be busy with that, but I’m still worried that they’ll dump me because I’m falling further and further behind. I recognise they haven’t actually said that, or put that much pressure on me beyond asking when I’ll be able to send some more work. To be honest I still think they are unhappy with me though and my lack of reliability/ability to deliver regularly. Trouble is I’ve got to a point where anxiety is stopping me from doing the work. I guess I’m just mentally exhausted and once I’ve done a couple of basic tasks (e.g. posted mail, dropped off paperwork at estate agent) I’m panicky and can’t face the writing work. I just want to cry and/or sleep. I know I’ll feel better once I’ve made a start and even done a couple of articles to get things going again, even if catching up on all the ones I’ve missed isn’t realistic. I’ve tried to give myself a day or two to rest but I just can’t seem to get into the mind frame to concentrate and write. Any thoughts? Thanks.

happyannie Losing the fight
  • replies: 17

Hi I just needed to tell someone how Im really feeling. My anxiety is crippling me Im so anxious about everything. I worry all the time that something bad is going to happen, such a feeling of dread and despair. I do mindful breathing and try to stay... View more

Hi I just needed to tell someone how Im really feeling. My anxiety is crippling me Im so anxious about everything. I worry all the time that something bad is going to happen, such a feeling of dread and despair. I do mindful breathing and try to stay calm, but lately nothing seems to help. I know my anxiety is not helping me with my depression. I also have agoraphobia I only leave the house to see my Doctors, I have a fear about leaving my house, I dont have friends, my husband is my full time carer, I have a daughter who works full time, and I have panic attacks when she leaves, it all comes back to me worrying that something bad will happen. My Mum died from Motor Neurons Disease then I lost my brother then 11 months later my Dad passed away, so the only family I have now is my husband and daughter, sometimes I feel I cant breath, my body gets tight and tense. Im just having a hard time at the moment, I feel like a whinger Thanx for letting me vent Annie

sarahl Anxiety in Pregnancy
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I'm currently 22 weeks pregnant, and everything is going swimmingly. My anxiety (which I've had my whole life) has been under control and even after a number of life altering changes (moving interstate for one!) I've managed to keep ever... View more

Hi everyone, I'm currently 22 weeks pregnant, and everything is going swimmingly. My anxiety (which I've had my whole life) has been under control and even after a number of life altering changes (moving interstate for one!) I've managed to keep everything in check, however, in the past 2 months I've started having panic attacks. The first few have been on aeroplanes, the most recent just this morning at home. I don't get chest pain - more that I'm hot, dizzy, shaky and want to vomit. My guess is this is triggered by the fact that my husband is leaving tomorrow for 6 months for his job. I thought I was doing really well coping with this but I'm thinking perhaps my subconscious has other ideas. I'm doing the breathing through it, distracting myself etc etc, and hoping that once the stress of tomorrow eases, it will return to normal, but the thought that I am hurting the baby is starting to stress me out more!! Can anyone else share their experiences of anxiety in pregnancy and how they coped with it? Many thanks xxx

startingnew is it life? paranoia? something else?
  • replies: 8

at this point in time im too scared to leave my house very often unless its to the shops or my new horse but even then im overly weary, maybe more than what i should be? i feel like my mother and her bf have set up spies everywhere who trace my every... View more

at this point in time im too scared to leave my house very often unless its to the shops or my new horse but even then im overly weary, maybe more than what i should be? i feel like my mother and her bf have set up spies everywhere who trace my every move and when i go out they follow me around to see what im doing. i even worry there are spy cameras in the house. its freaking me out. it first started when they threw out my meds but now its getting worse since everytime i meantion anythign to do with drs, psychiatrists or psychologists they flip out at me i have new ad tablets now after all of mine were thrown out and left without anything and its making me even more paranoid that they will find them.i thought it would dissapear after the tension eased off but the tension hasnt eased and these fears of mine are seeming to become more real to me

PattyB Just want to overcome anxiety
  • replies: 3

I'm new here, am suffering anxiety and want to overcome this feeling. I am recently married and have just returned from our awesome honeymoon, so life should be great right? So why isn't it. All of a sudden I'm anxious about going back to work which ... View more

I'm new here, am suffering anxiety and want to overcome this feeling. I am recently married and have just returned from our awesome honeymoon, so life should be great right? So why isn't it. All of a sudden I'm anxious about going back to work which I have been there for over a year, I feel anxious my husband has gone back to work (FIFO) which he has done since we met. I'm anxious about finances, and also many other things. Nothing bothered me before so why now? It's not a nice feeling at all.