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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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Jenny1980 Anxiety - 60 hrs of flying at 31 weeks pregnant
  • replies: 5

Hi all, this is is my first ever post. I have a history of anxiety that gets triggered every few years. I'm suffering badly at the moment and need reassurance so I took a job requiring me to make a trip. I took it early in my pregnancy and told them ... View more

Hi all, this is is my first ever post. I have a history of anxiety that gets triggered every few years. I'm suffering badly at the moment and need reassurance so I took a job requiring me to make a trip. I took it early in my pregnancy and told them I was pregnant before taking the job. Location wasn't clear (could be anywhere) and time was meant to be earlier. Anyway it's now scheduled when I am 30 weeks pregnant (7months) and it's a 30hr flight to get there and 30hrs back (seriously?!) with 6 days on the ground. I freaked out. Can't sleep, eat etc. panic attacks, vomiting... so I emailed asking if I can move the job to Melbourne (it's possible just maybe not ideal for them). Please tell me this is ok. That I'm not letting anxiety rule my life and I'm not being a bad person. I've been bursting into tears at least every hr. I hate not living up to expectations, or letting people down. I really wanted to do this but I can't see it being a good idea.

LilyJax Humiliated about medical anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi I'm brand new to this forum but am seeking (hopefully) urgent support. Just in the sense of reassurance that I'm not the only one and maybe how to fix this issue. I have medical / health anxiety. I've had it for years at different extremities. I'v... View more

Hi I'm brand new to this forum but am seeking (hopefully) urgent support. Just in the sense of reassurance that I'm not the only one and maybe how to fix this issue. I have medical / health anxiety. I've had it for years at different extremities. I've always been embarrassed about it because I don't want to be seen as a hypochondriac- because I don't believe I am one. When I hear that word I think of someone being all dramatic and making stuff sound worse than it is and talking about it all the time. I'm not like that. Mine is extremely internalised and I've only shared my fears of medical things that could be wrong to trusted GP's. In fact I felt like one was treating me so much like a hypochondriac that I changed GP's. I've since found an incredible GP who I've been seeing for over a year, mainly for help with depression and generalised anxiety. But sometimes I have physical issues too, and of course I raise them. My depression and anxiety is so bad that I see her quite often. Anyway I've noticed my medical anxiety getting so much worse, and this afternoon I said to her this - that "I think my medical anxiety is..." and she finished my sentence with "through the roof?" Which is exactly what I was going to say. I agreed of course, but then she said something along the lines of she feels that I sort one thing out and then the next thing pops up. I'm hoping she didn't mean it the way I'm scared she meant it but ever since then I've just felt horrified, deeply humiliated and my depression has jumped to an all time low. I'm COMPLETELY embarrassed. I didn't choose to be this way, I don't make stuff up, I have very real symptoms and I worry. I don't go around telling anyone else other than my GP if I think I have an issue. But I'm horrified to think she might see me as a hypochondriac like I described above. It makes me want to close up and not tell her my worries like I have been - which of course is just as unhealthy. I have had a significant physical health issue 5 years ago and that has deeply affected me, I'm currently dealing with another less serious one (both very real!) and have had SO much in between so that doesn't help. But nothing is made up or dramatised. I am just devastated. Has anyone else felt this way with doctors before? I'm seriously just so embarrassed. I feel like doctors who think (or know) you have medical anxiety don't treat you with the same concern they usually would - they think it's being dramatised. Is ANYONE like me?

M2B Struggling to keep it together
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone I hate talking about this stuff as I feel very vulnerable. I have so much going on in my head but so I don't exactly know where to start. I've felt this way most of my life but got better once I moved out of home (14 years ago). I love my... View more

Hi everyone I hate talking about this stuff as I feel very vulnerable. I have so much going on in my head but so I don't exactly know where to start. I've felt this way most of my life but got better once I moved out of home (14 years ago). I love my family but it is almost taboo to talk about feelings and show emotion other than happiness (but not excitement). I know I have anxiety and am pretty sure have had depression on and off (if that's even a thing), I wouldn't say it's server though. I did get diagnosed with PND after having my first son and did counselling for a while but ended up stopping as i was feeling better. This was a few years ago now. I basically just want to hear from people in similar situations. I know I haven't really explained my situation well. I just don't really know what to say. I snap a lot and am frustrated and irritated a lot, I am overly emotional at things that have nothing to do with me (like when watching a movie) but when these things happen to me, I don't seem to feel much. Sometimes when I am feeling something, I don't understand what it is i'm feeling. I don't know why I am feeling a certain way or what triggered it. The birth of my 2 children, I didn't cry. They handed them to me and I just felt relief it was over. When I married my husband, I just wanted it to be over and couldn't concentrate on anything that day as I just wanted to be out of the lime light. But then I will cry for no reason and for example when I saw my sick grandparents who were really sick, I just wanted to get away from them. I just don't think I could handle the emotion and even more so I don't want anyone to see me get emotional. As I said earlier, we weren't aloud to show emotion when we were kids so I think I struggle with it now. I do want to run away from situation's when they bring up emotion and get flustered very easily. My parents talk about this stuff with such negativity, saying things like "their not right in the head" (even though my mum suffers from anxiety which no one ever talks about) and they definitely do not know how I feel or how I have ever felt as I have and never will tell them. I always put on a happy face and pretend everything is fine. Anyway, I know this is getting long, I just find myself struggling more now to put on a happy face. I'm always snapping at my husband and kids and always feel stressed about something. Would just love to hear how other people have coped with this stuff.

Slipstream_SS Time i started being more social
  • replies: 8

Hi People Its cold and raining here in Perth, some summer hey, anyway thought id put some more thoughts out there. As per my Social Phobia my social life suffers because of it, and even though ive found ways to control my fears though Beta blockers t... View more

Hi People Its cold and raining here in Perth, some summer hey, anyway thought id put some more thoughts out there. As per my Social Phobia my social life suffers because of it, and even though ive found ways to control my fears though Beta blockers to relax me, ive learned not to put myself in situations that could cause panic. The positive is i dont really get panic attacks anymore, the negative is my social life is pretty dead. To put it into perspective, my fears restrict alot of my life. I dont go to dinner parties where i dont know anyone, yet ill go to dinner at a restaurant if its someone i know. I push girls that i meet away before they know my fears. Ive never travelled, as in never been on a plane, never been out of Western Australia, and thats sad i think, cos theres a big world out there to explore, and ive not seen any of it. Reason is i might be in another country at airport or something and have to fill out paperwork. Ive never had trouble making friends so ive always got someone to see if i want, but i spose i just got so adjusted to my safety zone i dont step out of it. My life consists of working 6 days a week training 6 days a week, then Saturday night and Sunday i just stay home and do nothing, where i should be getting out in the world. I also feel that being in my early forti4es now, my life is being wasted. All my friends know about my phobia and are understanding, but they are all normal in the scheme of things, and dont let stuff hold them back This is why i like it here, because im not being judged and weve all got some kind of issues in life. Anyway just a Sunday arvo vent. Have a good week ppl CK

Saschala First steps to getting help
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone , this is the first time posting here , I've decided after tonight's panic attackt at 2 am due to sounds of men talking that I need help heart racing , nausea , headache , shaking and tight chest ... full of adrenaline , too scared to eve... View more

Hi everyone , this is the first time posting here , I've decided after tonight's panic attackt at 2 am due to sounds of men talking that I need help heart racing , nausea , headache , shaking and tight chest ... full of adrenaline , too scared to even wake up my own husband because I'm so fearful not of him ,but of someone trying to hurt us or him I guess I've had anxiety my whole life , I was sexually abused by my step dad at 5 years old up untill I was 9 then as a teenager I was held hostage by a group of thugs who broke into the home as I was sleeping at, I was 14 . I'm a married women with 3 children , I worry about everything but my triggers are crime related - we recently moved into a home with antisocial backyard neighbours, the teenagers who live there have threaten to hurt me and my husband , and since then I won't even go out the back yard ,I'm actually doing my washing inside ! I'm like this tiny little girl who is absolutely terrified of people and I cant trust anyone and I'm absolutely terrified of people who I feel threatened by . I'm too scared to walk my kids to school which is 5 minutes away because I'm so scared I'll bump into my backyard neighbours and they will hurt me, so I drive them to school , I won't even let my children play in the backyard anymore , this is getting so out of control and my own husband doesn't understand what is wrong with me , the control it has over me and how it makes me feel and that that when im scared I'm triggered off and I go into panic .only things that tigger my panic attacks is when im feeling scared , if I hear voices or noises At night if I see someone im scared of, if I'm driving and someone gets to close ,when my husband goes outside to mow the back lawn my anxiety is very high because of my irrational thoughts of the nighbours going to hurt him , i felt like I'm losing my mind and I dont want to spend my life like this anymore , I am losing my battle with anxiety and falling into a depression because I have no support around me , my anxiety keeps me inside a lot and I don't have family or many friends , I go weeks without a phn call from anyone and my husband works very long hours , I feel like my poor children are going to hate me because of my anxiety .I know I need some help and this is my first step into getting help and changing my life around

Iamawinner Uni stress.
  • replies: 4

It's my first week back st uni and I'm already extremely stressed. I have to meet with my teacher to discus my project like everyone else. I procrastinate a lot and find it really difficult to communicate my ideas. Every time I meet with the teacher ... View more

It's my first week back st uni and I'm already extremely stressed. I have to meet with my teacher to discus my project like everyone else. I procrastinate a lot and find it really difficult to communicate my ideas. Every time I meet with the teacher and I don't know the answer or I haven't worked it out yet. I will say well I'll just have to work on that more .. but I always always feel him judging me and so when I look at him I get very overwhelmed that he thinks I'm stupid or just a pretty little girl. Or that I haven't put any effort in when 99% of the time I put everything into my uni. And it always makes me hold back tears. A lot of the time I di cry. It's so embarrassing in front of the rest of the class. I'm in my fourth year of uni and this happens every year and with most meetings with teachers. I have panic attacks when it comes to doing my assignments regularly and have so for the last 2-3 years at least. I know I can do it but when I think about not getting the work done I have so many negative thoughts that then cause the panic attacks or close to it. I just hate that everyone else seems to cope with stress so much easier it makes me even more upset!

CMF PMT anxiety/panic attacks/overthinking/constant chatter
  • replies: 22

Hi, I am 46 and have always suffered anxiety on and off. The last few months I have had triggers that caused anxiety and I will have a particular thing that I panic and worry about. I have started to notice that it happens more around that time of th... View more

Hi, I am 46 and have always suffered anxiety on and off. The last few months I have had triggers that caused anxiety and I will have a particular thing that I panic and worry about. I have started to notice that it happens more around that time of the month. I do suffer other pmt symptoms but am noticing a pattern with the anxiety now. There will be a trigger, I will feel panic/anxiety during the day and wake at times during the night as i constantly think negative things about it about. It will then it will lift, like a dark cloud has been removed from my mind and I think more rationally and of positive things re what I am anxious about and tell myself how silly I was being. I will then feel ok and more upbeat until the negative talk sets in again-i.e when I wake the next morning. When this happens I try to remember that I was feeling ok and why I was feeling ok and that it is the anxiety making me think negatively but it is an ongoing cycle. I know hormones play a part in this. I have a dr apt next week but I am assuming it is hormone related as my last few anxiety/panic attacks have been around the time of the month. My cycles etc are also changing. I am taking magnesium and B6 now and drinking chamomile and green tea. Has anyone been though this or had experience with pmt anxiety. cmf

Faithh Hi friends - Seeking some words of support
  • replies: 6

Hi guys, Thought I'd post here cos I wasn't exactly sure where I could just write an "update/having bad day" kinda post! Before I go on, I do have a therapist i speak to but just reaching out today in the hope of some responses as I'm not having the ... View more

Hi guys, Thought I'd post here cos I wasn't exactly sure where I could just write an "update/having bad day" kinda post! Before I go on, I do have a therapist i speak to but just reaching out today in the hope of some responses as I'm not having the best time and hope to feel less alone in this feeling. I'll put a little run down to what is affecting my life in negative ways (which I'm trying to change) but today has just been a bit of an overwhelming time. - Lost job in Nov 2016, still haven't been able to find anything. Im an art director and Ive been looking outside of my industry as well to earn some cash. I've gone from a healthy salary to nothing. Thankfully i have a partner, but still I need to make money and also keep busy! - Staying with mother in law lately to help her out after she was in hospital. I want to help of course but this has also pushed back my recovery program (haven't been to the gym since last Thursday and i can really feel the difference) - Dealing with my own health anxiety. I freak over the smallest things and catastrophise to the point of what feels like no return! Eg: tension headaches for me are... the worst case scenario, and I know I make them worse by imagining myself having to go to hospital for something terrible! - Shouldnt have googled anything health related!! Today has just made me feel so horrible I was pretty much in tears. Any words of wisdom, comfort and understanding would be so appreciated. Thanks xF

Frangipani25 New to the forum 🙂
  • replies: 4

Hello, I've never done anything like this before so I guess I will just start at the beginning of the story that has led me here today. I've suffered with mild anxiety for over 15 years, in my late teens. it got worse after the traumatic birth of my ... View more

Hello, I've never done anything like this before so I guess I will just start at the beginning of the story that has led me here today. I've suffered with mild anxiety for over 15 years, in my late teens. it got worse after the traumatic birth of my youngest daughter 10 years ago. Afterwards I was diagnosed with PND. Since then add in an abusive relationship with my children's father, a divorce, court proceedings, custody battle, remarried, and change of location of 400kms away from my hometown it's fair to say I've been through a lot. About 6 months ago I started having panic attacks at work. I've had a few of these over the years, and only a handful quite debilitating. However my workplace was one of very negative energy. This obviously began affecting me, and as a result I resigned from there early Jan this year. Since then i spent a good month of daily to every second day experiencing an attack, have become mostly housebound and need to drive my children the 9 houses up to school each day as the thought of walking scares the life out of me. The 'what if' comes into mind. thankfully the panic attacks are nowhere near as frequent, and now mostly consist of chest tightening and feeling abit odd. After leaving work I saw a dr who diagnosed me with PTSD (traumatic birth), anxiety and debilitating panic attacks. I am currently in the care of a psychologist, but am finding the things that are getting brought up are so upsetting I feel so much worse after the visit. To make matters worse my husband and I have been trying over 2 years to fall pregnant. I do believe that is where my fear of birthing again, as well as medical procedures has come from. clearly we won't be getting pregnant whilst I am in this kind of state, which adds further stress to it all. Add in social phobia, medical phobia and being a little too dependent on my husband to always be there, things are pretty glum atm. Any help, support or advice is so greatly appreciated. sorry for the novel and thankyou to anyone who has made it this far in reading my post.

thebatman Anxiety and nausea
  • replies: 54

Hi, I'm 21 years old and I've suffered from anxiety from the around the age of eight. During this time my anxiety continues to change my symptoms, as my resilience builds against current symptoms. Because of this, each time I'm faced with the questio... View more

Hi, I'm 21 years old and I've suffered from anxiety from the around the age of eight. During this time my anxiety continues to change my symptoms, as my resilience builds against current symptoms. Because of this, each time I'm faced with the question - is this anxiety, or am I actually ill this time? As of the past month or so I've been feeling extremely nauseous from time to time, and I've also been light headed and feeling panicked. I made the mistake of googling 'what causes nausea?', and this has now increased my nausea and vertigo severely because of the possible illnesses that could be the root of my symptoms. I was previously unaware that anxiety could actually cause nausea or vertigo, so I suppose a large portion of me is worried that I am suffering an actual illness. It seems when I start to feel nauseous, it gets worse, because it consumes my each and every thought. It has now gotten to the stage where I don't want to leave my bed, and I'm struggling to eat anything at all, in fear it will make me sick. My question is: has anybody else experienced this? and if so, how did you get over the nausea or the feeling as though you're about to faint? Thank you. RELATED THREADS How do you eat when food makes you feel sick? Anyone suffering physical anxiety symptoms? Fear of feeling sick/dating/anxiety Anxiety and not being able to eat properly