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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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sean_TSO Does anyone else struggle with underestimating their anxiety level until it's too late?
  • replies: 5

Over the last few weeks, I noticed that I was more irritable, and on edge, but hadn't noticed any anxiety attacks, so didn't pay much attention to it.Then over the last week, I found myself getting emotional, things in the paper and on TV would make ... View more

Over the last few weeks, I noticed that I was more irritable, and on edge, but hadn't noticed any anxiety attacks, so didn't pay much attention to it.Then over the last week, I found myself getting emotional, things in the paper and on TV would make me start to tear up, which is not like me in the slightest. Today, I was working at my computer, and started to notice the signs of an oncoming anxiety attack. I was getting tense and breathing erratically, even holding my breath at times without realising. Noticing this, I decided that I'd take a break from work to try and calm down.Upon minimizing my work windows on the computer, I started to tear up, that then turned into sobbing, and within another minute I was crying and howling hysterically, something I can't remember doing since I was a child. This was accompanied by incredibly severe hyperventilating, again something that hadn't happened to that severity since I was a child (I'm in my 30s). This then went on for the next 30 minutes, crying so hysterically that I'm sure the neighbours could here me. Fifteen minutes into it I took some medication, and 15 minutes later, after listening to a 'calm down' meditation, I was close to normal again. I cannot think of any particular event or worry that would have triggered such an attack. The last time I was like that was when I had a nervous breakdown 4 years ago, and this was worse than that in severity, although not length (mind you, I didn't have medication back then). All I can think, is that I've become so accustomed to an increased level of anxiety, that I've underestimated the level of chronic day-to-day anxiety, and that over time it's compounded until I lost it today. I'm shit scared that this might be a sign of an impending breakdown. The last time I had a breakdown, it was something of a relief, as it meant I left my stressful job and took time off work for two years (as I luckily had income protection insurance which covered medical reasons for being unable to work). However, I no longer have that insurance in place, and no real savings. If I get to the point of being unable to work, I have no idea how my family would survive. To make matters worse, my psychologist is away on holidays, and I don't want to tell my wife, as she's struggling massively with depression at the moment, and I don't want to add to her worries. Has anyone else had experience with underestimating or being oblivious to their high anxiety levels?

aussiememe need some advice
  • replies: 4

Have got severe anxiety don't know how to tell my friends because I want them to know but how do I bring it up??

Have got severe anxiety don't know how to tell my friends because I want them to know but how do I bring it up??

hushed Brave face
  • replies: 7

I put on the brave face every morning. I go through my morning routine. The voice tells me I am too slow. I will make us late. Then I hear the footsteps on the hardwood floors. It confirms I am slow. It is my fault. We will be late. The heart races. ... View more

I put on the brave face every morning. I go through my morning routine. The voice tells me I am too slow. I will make us late. Then I hear the footsteps on the hardwood floors. It confirms I am slow. It is my fault. We will be late. The heart races. I feel sick. And that is the start of my day, I set myself up for failure without realising. I can't stop the thoughts. They carry into my professional space. I know my craft yet a sub-dialogue starts ranting about whether I can manage. And that is only half of it. There is the immediate family activities,The raising of kids and being something to others. I love these people too much to share the pain of my reality. So I push it all back in and surf the web for solutions. I have been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder but choose not to share due to my partner's misunderstanding of the condition. I try really hard to ignore symptoms with a "get over it" attitude. It isn't working. Huge step being taken here. Suggestions are welcome.

the-australian psychosis , panic attacks or generalised anxiety disorder
  • replies: 9

ok so first of all i was told by a psychiatrist about 7 months ago i had drug induced psychosis that came from me taking illicit drugs. I was prescribed an antipsychotic. I took it for 6 months like she advised, and about a month ago i stopped taking... View more

ok so first of all i was told by a psychiatrist about 7 months ago i had drug induced psychosis that came from me taking illicit drugs. I was prescribed an antipsychotic. I took it for 6 months like she advised, and about a month ago i stopped taking it. I got lots of withdrawal symptoms. I felt this constant fear and felt very weird. I started thinking too deep into things again like life and reality. Thats what freaks me out the most when i start thinking about what life is and things like that. I am constantly scared that im being sucked back into a drug trip and that ill be stuck in it forever in this bad trip hell. after a few weeks off the medication i started feeling ok. but the weird feeling was always there. ive never had delusions or anything like that. I drank a fair bit of alcohol last night and have felt really really bad all day like im not normal its like im trapped. i went for a drive today and while my friend was talking my hand started getting sweaty i was getting hot and i was in this weird state where i was in a weird state and i felt very unreal and was intensly scared but could still talk to my friend and pretend i was ok, it lasted a couple of minutes, but after it i still felt very weird. I dont know if im getting psychosis or panic attacks or i have generalised anxiety disorder. I do have the antipsychotic pills with me but it took me so long to get off them and withdrawals were hell and putting on weight while on the pills was depressing, i dont want to take the pills if i really dont have to im really just not sure if i should or if i should ride it out

CMF Upbringing and our mental health
  • replies: 1

This may be a really simple and obvious thing but i have been reading a few threads and have noticed a connection between anxiety and upbringing. Controlling parents, family who make us feel 'not good enough', feeling that we need to live up to certa... View more

This may be a really simple and obvious thing but i have been reading a few threads and have noticed a connection between anxiety and upbringing. Controlling parents, family who make us feel 'not good enough', feeling that we need to live up to certain expectations to feel valued. I do believe we are a product of our upbringing. Are our anxiety triggers embedded in us from an early age. Am i stating the obvious? Interested in people's thoughts. Baby Steps

Slipstream_SS New Guy.... My Storey
  • replies: 16

You guys can call me CK after reading this forum its made me understand that theres so many ppl struggling today in society, just like me. Ive got what id call A tuff Social Phobia It all started in yr 7 at primary school, yeah i was rather quiet alw... View more

You guys can call me CK after reading this forum its made me understand that theres so many ppl struggling today in society, just like me. Ive got what id call A tuff Social Phobia It all started in yr 7 at primary school, yeah i was rather quiet always had a timid side,but ive never had trouble making friends. In yr seven i got a new Maths teacher and Maths wasnt my best subject, once in class i couldnt figure out a question so the teacher brought me in front of the class and would make fun of me and the kids would laugh. The next time he did it i got up to write on the board and my right hand shook so bad i couldnt stop it and i couldnt write straight. Everyone thought that wasnt the funniest thing they ever saw. Ever since then ive never been able to fill in paperwork in front of people, its something i wont even contemplate. Now as the years have passed im 40 yrs old now, and the funny thing is, ive done alright for my self, as ive got older ive managed little ways to hide it. I have a good high paying job, own a house too, but there is still a demon that i believe will be with me forever. For example i still avoid certain situations like the plaque. Relationships.. yeah ive had a few but whenever they get close i usually git ride of them, as i think if they ever see me shake, they will think less of me and leave me, so i do it before they do...im sick of being lonely, i had dreams of being a father and having a good healthy relationship... Its not all doom and gloom though, like i said i lead a good life, i believe ive done well for myself. I have found that training helps me alot, so i do Crossfit 6 times a week and that really helps me too. My life saver..... thats what i think....Ive seen dr, ive tried all the meds , all they did was zone me out. Then one day i had a differant dr then i usually ses (Just a GP) and she was a freething dr from Sweden. I told her about my shaking issues , and she said have you ever heard of Beta Blockers? we had a long discussion , she said thats what Actors and Musicians use to help them with stage fright. Any way they have changed my life, if i have a meeting or have to go somewhere, i take on 30 mins before and im good to go. Theres a catch though, they take 30 to 40 mins to work, so if i get sprung without notice, i get the shakes.. By the way.. the teacher who made fun of me, at the end of yr tried telling me it was for my own good, didnt he understand he ruined my life.... Peace CK

bigstreamy behind the mask
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone, This is my first time posting here. I have dealt with social/performance anxiety for about ten years now, and although I've made some good progress, I still experience the major downs from time to time. Recently, after taking a few ye... View more

Hello everyone, This is my first time posting here. I have dealt with social/performance anxiety for about ten years now, and although I've made some good progress, I still experience the major downs from time to time. Recently, after taking a few years off to work on my mental health, I have returned back to Uni. The biggest thing that plagues my mind is the fear and shame that people will see 'behind the mask', and see the real, weak, pathetic me, and ultimately reject me. My biggest fear is that I will lose control in front of my peers to the point where I look like a blabbering, pathetic idiot. I guess the worst case scenario is if I just started crying uncontrollably in front of others. I am a very sensitive person, and often feel on the verge of tears - but never let it show. As a male, I feel I have a lot of pressure to be strong and stoic - but what I really want is to just be vulnerable and sensitive in front of others - and feel okay for it. I put on a tough exterior, and am terrified that people will eventually see through this and judge me severely for it. I'm sick to death of pretending I'm on top of things. Do you think it's acceptable to cry/show vulnerability in public as a male? Thanks, BS

Faerie Anxiety attack after seeing my psychologist for the first time…
  • replies: 6

Anxiety attack after seeing my psychologist for the first time… A bit of my background in dot points… - Shy child - Avoided sports that I was good at because I was worried about my weight. - My mum passed away when I was 19 (Cancer) - My dad passed a... View more

Anxiety attack after seeing my psychologist for the first time… A bit of my background in dot points… - Shy child - Avoided sports that I was good at because I was worried about my weight. - My mum passed away when I was 19 (Cancer) - My dad passed away when I was 21 (Cancer) - I met a guy 15 years older than myself and ended up falling pregnant, kept the baby we got married had another daughter. - Together 4 – 5 years before I realised he was emotionally abusive, manipulative and a compulsive liar (much more to it than that but basics I would be here all day going on about him) Anyway now to my initial question… for the first-time I visited with a psychologist to discuss having anxiety, I wake up anxious during the night, have dreams that cause this as well as some other symptoms of feeling anxious and worried. Is it normal that my first actual full blown anxiety attack was after seeing my psychologist for the first time I left her and went to Medicare and while I was waiting my heart was racing I couldn’t breathe I felt like I was going to burst into tears it was just an uncontrollable sense of everything falling apart?

meelk I can no longer leave the house due to my anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi, Bit of background - history of anxiety and minor depression, recently had a traumatic event happen and have been seeing a psychologist, have recently been seeing a GP and was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder (however i do not agree with the diagn... View more

Hi, Bit of background - history of anxiety and minor depression, recently had a traumatic event happen and have been seeing a psychologist, have recently been seeing a GP and was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder (however i do not agree with the diagnosis as i do not display most of the tell tale signs). I've recently had such bad anxiety to the point where whenever i have to leave my home for anything i get so nauseous, foggy and feel like i'm going to faint. For example i'm in my final year of university and everything i'm about to get up and go i just cannot seem to leave the house, i cannot concentrate or do anything really. (This is a big issue as i cannot drive due to the anxiety and worry i have). The doctor i was seeing has been trying me on different medications but i've had extremely bad side effects to all of them except for benzodiazepenes which cannot be used for the long term. Before i started all the medications i had manageable anxiety but now my anxiety is so bad that it has completely ruined my life and is holding me back from doing anything. Is there anyone who has had something similar? i'm at the point where i'm considering asking for a referral to a psychiatrist so i can figure out what exactly is wrong with me.

Laura__ Anxiety over casual work/living situation
  • replies: 11

Basically my situation is that I am a casual teacher, I graduated end of last year. I got married this year, but the timing wasn't great as my partner dropped from full-time work to part time in order to complete a degree. This meant that rather than... View more

Basically my situation is that I am a casual teacher, I graduated end of last year. I got married this year, but the timing wasn't great as my partner dropped from full-time work to part time in order to complete a degree. This meant that rather than our original plan to move out, we had to stay living at my parents (and will likely have to for the next couple of years). The issue isn't living here because we have a big house with our own space (and privacy) the issue is that I so desperately want our own home and to start a family. And for the past couple of years it's all I can focus on, it's exhausting. My partner has gone for many jobs/scholarships this year as he hates where he currently works and gets paid next to nothing. Everytime he comes so close but just misses out. He had an amazing job opportunity come up this week, and it seemed as though he had it in the bag. But circumstances changed and it doesn't look like it's going to happen. The problem is I got my hopes up too high, I started looking at houses for sale and furniture and got way ahead of myself. I haven't been taking casual teaching days because I'm so tired (I've been having restless leg syndrome at night) and my mind is so preoccupied, and all I've been doing is sitting at home and dwelling on the life I want but can't have. I feel as though I can't face work in this anxious state, and I just want to be by myself. I feel trapped in our situation, it's an incredible amount of pressure on me to support us on my casual wage. I have a problem with sitting on social media and comparing myself to everyone else, and envying them because they are achieving things I'm not and living 'normal' adult lives. I'm not a patient person and people always say "you have it so good at your parents" "your still young" etc. But I catastrophize and feel like we will never get out of this situation we are in. My Mum also adds to my anxiety as she is a very anxious person herself and makes comments like "did you get any phone calls for work today?" or "I hope you don't plan on living here until your 40" in a very negative tone, I feel guilty, pressured and embarrassed by this. I'm always going round and round in my head thinking of strategies to get out of our situation "can I get a full-time job in a different industry?" "should my husband defer uni?" etc. but it always comes back to the fact that we can't change anything until he graduates. I don't want to live with this anxiousness and misery anymore.