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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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Na_tash_a Severe Anxiety. Can anyone reccommend anything?
  • replies: 3

I am 27 now and have been suffering with severe anxiety since I was 17. At the time I didn't know what anxiety was, I thought it was because my diet only consisted of maccas and unhealthy food. I was always very outgoing and talkative who had plenty ... View more

I am 27 now and have been suffering with severe anxiety since I was 17. At the time I didn't know what anxiety was, I thought it was because my diet only consisted of maccas and unhealthy food. I was always very outgoing and talkative who had plenty of friends. At first I would just feel anxious before school and would go to the toilet constantly prior to leaving the house. It then moved on to me seeking out public toilets around me so I wouldn't be stuck panicking about going to the bathroom before I reached my destination. As the years went on it started to make me anxious just going to the shop or doing something like meeting up with friends. I would find myself having to wake up 5-6am vomiting and constantly going to the bathroom to calm my nerves so I could be ok to meet them. I couldn't eat prior to meeting them and had to wait to get home or to a safe place where I knew there was a bathroom. It got worse where I pretty much shut everyone out and made up so many excuses just to not go to their bday parties, I've even missed weddings because I wanted to avoid being sick. I now suffer with arm and head jerks when I start to become nervous. I shake uncontrollably until I can calm myself down. I feel I'm always feeling on edge, there's no calm place for me. I have been to multiple GP's and Psychologists and they cannot pinpoint what's causing this. Medications only work for a period of time then they end up making me sick or panicking more. I feel like i'm out of options. I recently went on a fodmap diet which has helped a lot but now making me lose weight. I am now taking private yoga sessions and taking time out of my day to try and relax but nothing is working. Ten years of hell I just want to live a normal life like everyone else and not have to worry about dumb things

Gazza17 Anxiety's back big time
  • replies: 4

Hey guys, very new to this, so I thought I would start with a quick background to my story. I have been suffering from anxiety for well over 8 years, and at one stage, I hadn't slept properly for over 6 years, I would lay awake repeating simple issue... View more

Hey guys, very new to this, so I thought I would start with a quick background to my story. I have been suffering from anxiety for well over 8 years, and at one stage, I hadn't slept properly for over 6 years, I would lay awake repeating simple issues over and over in my mind, i was very frigidity, i would break down and weep for no reason,I couldn't concentrate at work(my work suffered big time). Simple tasks became a night mare, and I just couldn't function in everyday life. With the help from my very loving and understanding wife,and my local GP things got better over time, I did quit the job i loved ( this was a very stressful job) and found a less stressful job, my family rallied around me and helped and i did seek professional advice from councilors and physicists, and things got much better and for the last 18 months all was going really well, but for the last few months, i have fallen back a little and the beast seems to be creeping up on me again, life is really good at the moment, and i think i have no real stresses going on, but i feel like its starting all over again, but my symptoms seem much more serve this time around, I haven't slept more than 10 hours in 5 days, and haven't been able to work for the last 2 days, has anyone got any suggestions for me, do i need to try harder to control the anxiety, cant really afford of the profession help that i had before. Thx Gazza17

Faithh Seeking some reassurance this morning
  • replies: 4

Good morning. A small intro - I have been dealing with anxiety which has become mild depression over the past few months. Seeing my therapist on a weekly basis. Although my partner is very supportive, last night i reached out to him and he was helpfu... View more

Good morning. A small intro - I have been dealing with anxiety which has become mild depression over the past few months. Seeing my therapist on a weekly basis. Although my partner is very supportive, last night i reached out to him and he was helpful in making me feel at ease when i was feeling anxious and had some feelings of depersonalisation (which scares me so much). He had been through some deep depression in his past so i texted and asked if he could tell me more of his personal situation to help shed some light on my situation last night in a time of need. It was late, and he had been tired from a job as well as having a cold, and so he didn't want to get into it. I was disappointed and felt unsupported (even though he does give me his support every day and reassurance). I ended up reading about other peoples stories of anxiety, depression and depersonalisation until about 1am... probably a big mistake! And so I woke through the night feeling anxious a bit shaky and just disconnected from the world. I guess I'm asking for any reassurance and positive stories from anyone who has ever felt this way. I feel scared and although the logical part of me knows Im ok, the other part is "What is wrong with me, why am i feeling like this" Trying and doing my best to "think straight" Thanks guys x Faithh

Feeling_Bullied Is it all in my head?
  • replies: 4

I have the dealing with the neighbour from hell. There has been an ongoing battle for months between myself and the neighbour (mother and son). I feel as though they are purposefully attacking me (not physically but mentally/emotionally). Admittedly ... View more

I have the dealing with the neighbour from hell. There has been an ongoing battle for months between myself and the neighbour (mother and son). I feel as though they are purposefully attacking me (not physically but mentally/emotionally). Admittedly I left my bins out on the street so that I could secure a parking spot however as there is an easement that separates my house and the neighbour (of which they have ownership) that I am not able to use it to access my driveway without their permission hence the need to park my car on the street. They have contacted not only the council ranger but involved the police about this issue and also falsely accused me of putting excrements on the mothers car. Since they were not able to get that to stick, they have contacted the council ranger, once again, but this time to complain about well established trees (at least 17yo) in the front of my house which does not encroach on their property. At times I feel as though my symptoms/feelings are brushed aside by friends and family. Even the council ranger said that he's (the son) got in for you. Am I reading too much into it? Is it all in my head that he's got it in for me?

Instruggletown Feeling defeated.
  • replies: 3

Hi this is my first time posting. I've sought out these forums as i have no where else to vent. I have been dealing with ALOT lately. I see a counsellor fairly regularly but she's not really available to me outside my booked hours. Just this morning ... View more

Hi this is my first time posting. I've sought out these forums as i have no where else to vent. I have been dealing with ALOT lately. I see a counsellor fairly regularly but she's not really available to me outside my booked hours. Just this morning i feel like i broke. I feel like I've coped and coped and now i cant cope anymore. I think i had a mental breakdown or panic attack because it wasnt just crying, i was shaking and hysterical. It got to the point were i thought i may have to go to the hospital because i couldnt stop myself feeling overwhelmed. But then i thought is that even where you would go? Hence i googled and google brought me here. A few things im having to emotionally deal with right now... 1) my husband has cancer and im trying to support him and our children, and deal with every emotion that goes with that 2) one of my children i think is struggling and im struggling to parent her, i feel like im failing her, i feel like im failing both my children 3) i grew up in a dv family (physically abusive step father and a narcissist mother) which i dont feel like im recovered from 4) i recently found a long lost sister and along with that many other relatives on my fathers side. I also found out my father died 10 years ago unbeknownst to me. 5) at the same time as all this happened, a family member discovered they were abused as a child and im trying to be a support person for them So the past year particularly i have had a lot on my plate and have coped for the main part. But just this morning something quite smallish set me off and i was an inconsolable mess. I literally was broken crying out for support from my husband and i got nothing. My 'homework' from my counselor from last session was to show emotion and boy did that happen. But what do i do know...i got nothing from my husband emotionally...not even a hug. How do i support myself when i have no one else.

Assaad I've had multiple panic attacks for 8 days straight
  • replies: 2

Hey all my whole life I've had small fits of anixety that last a few minutes once every few years and they always start when I think of the topic of death recently I've been quite sick and I've been having minor thoughts of what if I died but with no... View more

Hey all my whole life I've had small fits of anixety that last a few minutes once every few years and they always start when I think of the topic of death recently I've been quite sick and I've been having minor thoughts of what if I died but with no anxiety until last week I watched a movie where the main actor could sense her death was coming and it was based on a real life event and I burst into a panic attack that lasted 2 hours thinking I was dying it's been 8 days now and I have a minimum of 4 major panic attacks a day I have zero appitite I don't even think of eating I've lost 10kgs in these past 8 days I look pale and sick In the last 3 days I've been waking up every morning to panic attacks my mind just jumps on the subject of death and as hard as I try it won't get out of my head it's my mind asking me what if I died questions I'm very fatigued I can't sleep I cant eat I can't communicate to anyone I really need some help and I don't want to get addicted to medication in the process can anyone at least help me with waking up with anxiety because that really really scares me thank you

IamBradley Jobactive provider...
  • replies: 9

Of late my anxiety seems to be being more and more exacerbated, and i feel that much of this is the result of my new job coach at my jobactive provider. After my 2nd last appointment with him i felt utterly awful, he pretty much disregarded/struggled... View more

Of late my anxiety seems to be being more and more exacerbated, and i feel that much of this is the result of my new job coach at my jobactive provider. After my 2nd last appointment with him i felt utterly awful, he pretty much disregarded/struggled-off all i had to say about my anxiety (despite having very little understanding at all about anxiety). I contacted a woman that i previously had dealt with at the same jobactive provider (to express how i felt and what had occurred), and she suggested that i should get assessed by Centrelink and that i would need medical evidence. So i went and saw my doctor, whom thought that the better route was to write me a Centrelink medical certificate (as well as referring me to both a psychologist/psychiatrist). So I submitted this medical certificate online on Monday, but as i had an appointment with my jobactive provider today and the medical certificate was yet to be on the system, i had to attend. I told him the situation, which was met with a lack of compassion/sympathy/empathy. Then he essentially stated that going to my doctor, getting a medical certificate and lodging it with Centrelink was 'unacceptable'. Suggested that I should of dealt with my anxiety earlier (he is medically qualified to make this judgment?) I'm not quite sure why i'm writing this, though i guess i need to get it off my chest. Out of interest, how long does it generally does it take Centrelink to process medical certificates. Also should i make a complaint or something about the job coach?

Clare_B Relapse ... I wasn't expecting it so soon... help
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone I posted previously and was coping so well, even managed to go back too work three days a week, then all of a sudden life became horrible. Mainly due to be unable to sleep. This feels so awful I thought I had it under control. Any advice ... View more

Hi everyone I posted previously and was coping so well, even managed to go back too work three days a week, then all of a sudden life became horrible. Mainly due to be unable to sleep. This feels so awful I thought I had it under control. Any advice would be much appreciated. I hope tonight brings sleep and that i can get to work tomorrow. meant to say on my first day back to work in Feb a car drove into the back of me that's twice within a short period of time but i was so determined i went the next day. Goodness knows what will be next !!! Clare B

Squid69 Anxiety and Depression - work realted
  • replies: 3

I have just signed up for Blue Voices, and have decided to share my story and experience, as I continue to struggle with my mental illness and I feel that becoming involved in Blue Voices may just assist others, as well as giving me another outlet to... View more

I have just signed up for Blue Voices, and have decided to share my story and experience, as I continue to struggle with my mental illness and I feel that becoming involved in Blue Voices may just assist others, as well as giving me another outlet to talk about my issues.I have been suffering from Depression and Anxiety for at least 15 years, however in late 2014 I suffered two breakdowns at work within a week and a half. This led to me having four months off work, and subsequently relocating my place of work in March 2015. I was diagnosed as having acute depression and anxiety, which was work related. I work as a Manager in the Banking industry and have been working for the same employer for over 30 years now. My employer went through two restructures which left less people to do more work. This is not unusual in this day and age in many industries. Within two months of the last restructure, and a long running battle trying to fight my way through how I was feeling and dealing with my issues, my body and mind gave up on me. I ended up curled up in the corner of an office, crying and sobbing uncontrollably for half and hour. When my Senior Manager found me, I was told to go for a walk and then meet him in a nearby coffee shop. At that meeting I cried continually still (embarrassing for a 45 year old male). I was given a week off work by my GP, returned to work, and on my third day back I collapsed again. The changes in our office led me to not be able to service my clients to their expectations, nor keep up with the large increase in workload. The feeling of not being able to do my job effectively made me feel like I was letting everybody else down, all the while displaying very obvious signs of not coping. However I chose to fight these feelings, telling myself I would get through this, it would get better, deep down knowing it would not. When my senior manager dropped me at home after my second collapse, he told me that I was simply not able to cope with the increased responsibility and expectations, which made me feel like I was a failure. Over the next three months I struggled to even leave the house. My wife took me out to the shops on weekend, however I couldn't handle being around people, and was very soon wanting to get home. I'm running out of space in this post, to cut a long story short, I am on strong medication. I speak to my medical professionals regularly. I am coping.However I feel that my industry doesn't know how to handle mental health.

Kichi_rou Anxiety on the Road
  • replies: 3

My boyfriend's van is at the mechanic and the other day he had to drive me to work in my car so he could get himself to work. It was raining heavily and although he is a completely safe and competent driver, I was hesitant, knowing that I can get une... View more

My boyfriend's van is at the mechanic and the other day he had to drive me to work in my car so he could get himself to work. It was raining heavily and although he is a completely safe and competent driver, I was hesitant, knowing that I can get uneasy as it is in the car, let alone someone else driving and in bad conditions. I got in the car and we had all but backed out of the driveway when I started shaking uncontrollably (almost dropping my Vegemite toast!). I tried not to say anything but he noticed and stopped the car, at which point I completely freaked out and became hysterical. I felt completely unsafe and was almost certain I would die on the way to work. This was an exaggerated display of what I think to myself on a daily basis when I drive myself to work on a clear day. This has happened to me at a lesser degree when I have been driving the car so I am not blaming the driver and it has happened many times before. I just don't know why. And now any time we are supposed to go pretty much anywhere in the car I stress about it constantly leading up to the journey. I only tolerate driving the 15 minutes to work each day because it is a necessity. I try to avoid driving anywhere unnecessarily, because I fear death or injury if I do. I might mention that my boyfriend rides a motorcycle which I worry about constantly. Sometimes I don't expect him to come home, fearing something horrible is going to happen. These thoughts are exhausting and even though I feel they are justified (the road is a dangerous place), surely there is a way to relax the morbid thoughts I have on a constant and daily basis.