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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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Wornout_worrier Anxiety about WW3-
  • replies: 3

I have always been anxious, which increased 10fold when my daughter was born with a heart defect. I hardly leave my children. I work as close to their school as I can manage, and try to survive on a small wage as best possible to enable me to spend a... View more

I have always been anxious, which increased 10fold when my daughter was born with a heart defect. I hardly leave my children. I work as close to their school as I can manage, and try to survive on a small wage as best possible to enable me to spend as much time as I can with my two kids. I have always had this cycle of anxiety, where at the times I feel shaky and scared , I suddenly find myself planning and prepping for disaster spending endless hours on the internet figuring out how on earth I am going to keep myself and my kids alive in a catastrophic world. It gets so bad I don't sleep. Now with the recent news my anxiety is skyrocketing. I have also just interviewed for a new job and it seems highly likely I will get the position. It is in a shopping centre I am convinced would be a terrorist target, which is the reason I quit my job there 2 yrs ago. I keep telling myself to calm down, that I can't control everything and that a promotion would be beneficial for my family. Any other suggestions?

leigh1972 ANXIETY - CATASTROPHIC THINKING
  • replies: 7

I have had anxiety for as long as I remember and have mostly self-managed throughout my life with regular top ups of counselling when needed. I have found that my anxiety changed as I evolved as a person. When I was young my anxiety manifested in pan... View more

I have had anxiety for as long as I remember and have mostly self-managed throughout my life with regular top ups of counselling when needed. I have found that my anxiety changed as I evolved as a person. When I was young my anxiety manifested in panic attacks, then as I got older into social anxiety. When I became a mum, it was back to panic attacks and also PND. Now in my 40's I am being visited by a seemingly unending flow of catastrophic thoughts - everything from being killed in a car crash to someone murdering my daughter. As a logical person I know this to be unlikely but once you pick up the thread of those types of thoughts, they are very hard to let go of. I find I can be having just a normal thought when it suddenly segways off into an absolutely diabolical scenario! Lately, I have been having night time anxiety... waking up consumed with terror over a 'noise' or else waking up petrified from a nightmare where I am being pursued. I am thinking its because my parents are embarking on their first overseas trip in early May, I have started a new job and my daughter is going away for a week in May as well. Any 'change' acts like a trigger for my anxiety to take hold. I have tried breathing through it, getting up and reading a book and getting up to have a cup of tea. I also self-talk but it seems the voice of my anxiety is stronger. Does anyone else suffer catastrophic thinking?

CO814 My Job is Making Me Anxious, Should I Quit?
  • replies: 1

I got my first job about a month and a half ago and it makes me feel horrible. Talking over the PA, making small talk in the break room, conversing with customers, everything is making me nervous. Even worrying about whether I'm packing groceries too... View more

I got my first job about a month and a half ago and it makes me feel horrible. Talking over the PA, making small talk in the break room, conversing with customers, everything is making me nervous. Even worrying about whether I'm packing groceries too slow. I'm 15 and I was diagnosed with social anxiety and depression last year. Things have been spiralling downhill ever since and since I got a job things have been even worse. All I do now is worry about my next shift, when I'm out with friends or family or if I'm alone in my room. It's all I think about now. Before every shift I feel sick and I can't stop myself from remembering previous mistakes I've made and how my supervisors/co-workers hate me for it. I've considered resigning but I don't want to disappoint my family and I don't want to stop making money. The only reason I haven't resigned is because of the income, I love going to events and festivals but asking my parents for money makes me feel guilty and I hate it. So without a job I won't be able to go out with friends or to events anymore. Without my own money I won't leave the house as much as I do which already isn't a whole lot. Recently I've been thinking that if I quit it'll be harder for my to get a job in the future because of my anxiety and the employers looking into my records or whatever they do. I don't know if the money is worth the anxiety, what should I do?

EllenG Making new friendships with social anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hello everyone I'm currently doing a full time post graduate course and working part-time. I have always had social anxiety, plus I don't drink, which makes it difficult to make stronger friendships when all my acquaintances are going partying and dr... View more

Hello everyone I'm currently doing a full time post graduate course and working part-time. I have always had social anxiety, plus I don't drink, which makes it difficult to make stronger friendships when all my acquaintances are going partying and drinking to socialise. I have a few of these friends who I make small talk with online, but I don't know anyone (other than my boyfriend) who I would feel comfortable going out with. My interests are in outdoor activities, watching movies and nature/animals. I feel too nervous about going to a meet-up or club where I don't know anyone. Thanks for reading my post!

Kst20 Social anxiety is winning
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I finally decided this morning that I needed to reach out after I came to the realization that my social anxiety is destroying my relationship. It's very long story but I have been the 'shy' girl my entire life which is easy to get away wit... View more

Hi there, I finally decided this morning that I needed to reach out after I came to the realization that my social anxiety is destroying my relationship. It's very long story but I have been the 'shy' girl my entire life which is easy to get away with when you're young. I never realized how bad it would get or that it was even a disorder until this past month. Realizing my behavior had a name was a big step for me but also a crippling one. I'm too embarrassed to talk to my partner about it. History aside, most recently my issue is with speaking to my partners parents. We've been together two and a half years and I just can't get over this intense fear of them judging me. It all came to a head last night when my partner went to dinner with them (I wasn't invited but didn't think anything of it) He came home and stated that his Dad said he hates me....... This was crushing to me. As anyone with social anxiety knows, this is my worst fear coming true..... I immediately had a rush of feelings. I felt sick to my stomach, upset, and defensive... after all I'm not dating his dad and I could see that his dad had really gotten into his head. We've had a fantastic relationship and I'm terrified of losing him. Social anxiety has ruined my relationships before and I don't think I can handle it happening again. Help!

New_mumma Post natal anxiety
  • replies: 3

Baby is 4 weeks old. Since she was a week old, I've been constantly getting flat and then started to get anxiety. I last had anxiety about 4 years ago which was finance related as I was made redundant. What triggered this anxiety was hearing about fr... View more

Baby is 4 weeks old. Since she was a week old, I've been constantly getting flat and then started to get anxiety. I last had anxiety about 4 years ago which was finance related as I was made redundant. What triggered this anxiety was hearing about friends of mine potentially separating. They have since been working through things. But it has made me question my relationship. I fear that it can crumble. ​I get the anxiety build up in the late afternoon to early evening, which I think is related to me being a tired new mum. I am taking medication at the moment as a short term option until I start counseling and the I might go onto an antidepressant. Im honestly sick is feeling this anxiety and saddness. Im looking for hope that things will get better

FastFoward Is this anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hello I had a strange experience today that I have had before but was somewhat different. I was at work (barista) and felt the chest tighten that I feel all too frequently - like something has been injected into my chest and is causing a tingle and t... View more

Hello I had a strange experience today that I have had before but was somewhat different. I was at work (barista) and felt the chest tighten that I feel all too frequently - like something has been injected into my chest and is causing a tingle and tightening feeling. I thought ok, just a panic attack (never been to a doctor about this but a simple google told me what it was years ago). Then it got a little different though. Suddenly everything became seriously more pronounced. Volume went up, colors exaggerated, cold and hot spots that were extremely exadurated all over my body but continuously changing, my vision was kind of flickering, and I felt light - like I was floating. It was like something had lifted something that had been muting all my senses. And I felt like I was going to faint too (I have never fainted in my life but I could feel myself slipping away). I know it is normal to think something is seriously wrong during a panic attack but since I found out what they were I have always accepted them and thought - "you feel like you are going to die but that is just not the case - you are fine" - no matter how bad they where. But this was different, all I could think is that "I'm glad i'm not alone at home because if I collapse here someone will notice straight away and get help". Then a local came in, who I always have a chat with, and I was like - "oh no, he's gunna see something is up". I greeted him and asked him how his day was. I could here myself talk but it didn't feel like it was coming from me. Like I was observing the conversation from just within myself, I was deeper within and there was a kind of glass barrier separating me from the front I was putting on. Anyway, it was weird, very uncomfortable and it lasted in its intensity just a few minutes. But it continued too some extent for about an hour. I was just able to keep it at bay by keeping myself very bust and blanking my mind whilst I cleaned and cut tomatoes etc. Licky no one else cam in for a while. Anyway, has anyone else experienced something like this

Andy999 Finding it hard to cope
  • replies: 2

Heey im looking for some advice on my anxiety and depression. ive just had my 21st birthday and kind of struggling to enjoy this time of my life, my anxiety and depression has really peaked recently and i just dont know what to do anymore. it started... View more

Heey im looking for some advice on my anxiety and depression. ive just had my 21st birthday and kind of struggling to enjoy this time of my life, my anxiety and depression has really peaked recently and i just dont know what to do anymore. it started just over 3 years ago after using some drug which i believe triggered my anxiety, it just hit me out of nowhere. the next morning i woke up a different person and soon learnt that it was anxiety. Ever since ive gone through some good periods and some very bad. I was hoping through time it would pass but it just hasn't been the case, just over 6 months ago the insomnia started and this did really make my anxiety 10x worse and made me really depressed, i decided it was time to seek help straight away, i was seeing a psychologist which i did find useful but at the same time did make things a little harder for me i guess with the confusion of if i was doing it right and constantly having my anxiety on my mind. It wasnt until the following weeks/months after i stopped visting my psychologist that i started feeling my best, all those little worries and unexplained on edge feeling were almost gone, i was still far from where i wanted be but really heading in the right direction! considering how good i was feeling i decided to go on a holiday with a few friends just recently, i was having the time of my life until halfway through i had a really bad and completely unprovoked panic attack, since then things havnt been good, all that constant worrying and shitty thoughts have come back, it just takes to long to get into depth on all the symptons im feeling but its all becoming almost unbearable, ive been really miserable and starting to think medication is my last hope, i was hoping someone might have some advice on medication or if they think i should continue trying without thanks

Fairywings Ocd with odd numbers
  • replies: 4

Ok this may seem odd but been this way for as long as I can remember. And hubby brought this to my attention tonight as I was crunching figures like I always do every fortnight. I have a thing where if I see an odd number sitting in the balance of my... View more

Ok this may seem odd but been this way for as long as I can remember. And hubby brought this to my attention tonight as I was crunching figures like I always do every fortnight. I have a thing where if I see an odd number sitting in the balance of my bank account I have to round it off whether it be in relation to the minus or the positive figures. Has never crossed my mind to see it as an obsession until tonight how blind am I xx Am I the only one who does this? Love to get people's thoughts on this

Lola_M Confused by these anxious feelings
  • replies: 6

Hi. About a month ago I awoke with constant adrenaline surges in my belly and severe anxiety. The surges are gone but I am left with constany nervousness, anxiety and butterflies in my belly - it's all contained there. Those feelings intensify when I... View more

Hi. About a month ago I awoke with constant adrenaline surges in my belly and severe anxiety. The surges are gone but I am left with constany nervousness, anxiety and butterflies in my belly - it's all contained there. Those feelings intensify when I think about anything, whether it is a good, bad or neutral thought. I can be picturing myself in my favourite place and the anxiety comes up. I'm puzzled by this as I don't have anxious thoughts generally but now everything I think about brings those anxious and nervous feelings. It's peculiar and I'm not sure that many people experience this, which adds to my distress. Does anyone have any idea what's going on?