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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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Huff Hello Everyone! Just reaching out a little bit.
  • replies: 4

I don't know if I have anxiety really. I've self diagnosed that I have. I've done quizzes and tests online and I've been diagnosed from none to mild to medium to severe, so I don't really know. I don't have panic attacks or many physical symptoms rel... View more

I don't know if I have anxiety really. I've self diagnosed that I have. I've done quizzes and tests online and I've been diagnosed from none to mild to medium to severe, so I don't really know. I don't have panic attacks or many physical symptoms related to anxiety at all. I function in the world. I have a job, I can talk to colleagues and strangers and I have a few friends. But I carry around with all the time - a feeling I can't quite define. I guess the closest word is 'unease'. Most times I can push it back, but sometimes its front line and centre and then I am paralysed. I need to retreat and not talk to anyone. Sometimes I wish I wasn't here at all. I fantasize about being in an fatal accident, but I am actually very safety conscious. I am not suicidal. I love my family too much. I haven't seen anyone professionally. I just can't bear the thought of talking to someone in case they tell me I'm imagining it, or that I've been reading or watching too many things about anxiety and if I stop doing it, I'll get better. I guess I'm actually anxious about not being anxious enough. I’m not very articulate anyway, and find it difficult to talk to any health professional for any reason. This is why I'm writing to this anonymous forum. I worry that I'm just diagnosing myself with something, so I can account for the fact that I'm a little bit weird and don't quite fit in. The only person I tell when I'm feeling very bad with this unease is my husband and that's to give him insight into my current behaviour. He thinks I analyse everything too much and should just get on with things. And he's probably right. In fact - in some ways he fits in less than I do..but doesn't seem to care. Maybe I just care too much about what other people think. I can tell from this forum that people are truly suffering and I feel a bit fraudulent by posting. But I thank you for listening anyway.

Bookgirl Struggling today after good day
  • replies: 2

Yesterday after seeing my dr i felt ok. Didn't feel anxious for the most part after having a really bad day previously. Today even though i woke up at 4am with some symptoms (pins and needles) went to work because i thought at least it would be a dis... View more

Yesterday after seeing my dr i felt ok. Didn't feel anxious for the most part after having a really bad day previously. Today even though i woke up at 4am with some symptoms (pins and needles) went to work because i thought at least it would be a distraction. Now feeling bad. When i am stressed i get this pain under my breast which i have gotten for years. This time though after having had a full blown panic attack a few weeks ago i feel heavy across my chest with other assorted symptoms. I know its probably anxiety but i still worry its something else. Haven't felt this bad in years and struggling. Hate the ups and downs of this. Think i should have stayed at home and taken something but thought i should solider on. Does anyone think its better to rest when you feel this bad or do something to distract yourself?

Safeasmilk Panic attacks keeping me away from sport and public performance
  • replies: 7

Two years ago I started having panic attacks, which would arise during sport or any sort of public performance. I spent a season of cricket making excuses why I couldn't attend training, such as working late, because my anxiety was getting the better... View more

Two years ago I started having panic attacks, which would arise during sport or any sort of public performance. I spent a season of cricket making excuses why I couldn't attend training, such as working late, because my anxiety was getting the better of me. The next year I tried to quit but kept getting asked to play due to lack of numbers so I reluctantly played but never trained. I'm quite heavily involved in this cricket club, being on the committee and it being apart of my social life. I also enjoy being in the company of most of the people there. Once again this season we are short of players and I have been asked to play again or at least fill in. I really don't want to play as my anxiety has killed any enjoyment playing but being so heavily involved in the club I feel abliged to do so. Or if I say no to playing then I feel like I can't show my face there again because I've let people down. I was seeing a psychologist last year about this and am also on medication but I can't seem to overcome my anxiety. Just wondering if anyone had any advice for me as it is constantly on my mind. Thanks Ben

VenusInFurs Waking up paranoid/severe anxiety at night?
  • replies: 3

This is something that's been happening on and off for a few months now, but every now and then I'll have a night where I'll fall asleep easily, but I'll end up waking up feeling extremely paranoid. And it's not about anything in particular, I just h... View more

This is something that's been happening on and off for a few months now, but every now and then I'll have a night where I'll fall asleep easily, but I'll end up waking up feeling extremely paranoid. And it's not about anything in particular, I just have the general feeling of really bad anxiety, I feel really restrained and I can't keep my body still. Sometimes when I feel I might finally be getting to sleep, my body will suddenly jerk and it starts all over again. I lie there scanning the room feeling extremely uncomfortable and scared. This usually goes on for about 2 hours until I finally fall asleep, but usually after this occurs I end up having a nightmare. This has only haopened around five times in my life, and I can't pin point what's causing this. I'm feeling extremely alone in this and just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this, and maybe even some ideas on how to stop it?

AnxietyGirl222 Introduction
  • replies: 4

Hi All, I've just joined Beyond Blue after starting anxiety medication for the first time last night. I suffer from CHRONIC GAD and possibly OCD. I was terrified to take the medication after reading all of the horrible side effects online, but today ... View more

Hi All, I've just joined Beyond Blue after starting anxiety medication for the first time last night. I suffer from CHRONIC GAD and possibly OCD. I was terrified to take the medication after reading all of the horrible side effects online, but today I am feeling calm for the first time since June. I am so excited to see how this goes. I am looking forward to contributing to posts and to helping out when I can. Speak to you all soon x

Bookgirl news anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi, does anyone else get anxiety over the news cycle? When i have high anxiety i just get panicked by news stories about terrorism or wars or can be anything really. I have been doing this since i was a teenager. Think i should stop watching news bul... View more

Hi, does anyone else get anxiety over the news cycle? When i have high anxiety i just get panicked by news stories about terrorism or wars or can be anything really. I have been doing this since i was a teenager. Think i should stop watching news bulletins but nowadays its 24 x 7 and is everywhere. I think the media now makes it worse for us with anxiety.

Kengy Choking feeling when anxious
  • replies: 14

Hi all Does anyone else experience a choking sensation during the worst of their anxiety? I feel like my throat is tight, and I'm choking on something, making it hard to breathe. I'm just wondering if other people have this issue, and what they do to... View more

Hi all Does anyone else experience a choking sensation during the worst of their anxiety? I feel like my throat is tight, and I'm choking on something, making it hard to breathe. I'm just wondering if other people have this issue, and what they do to get rid of it?

Hymz Anxiety over things said or done
  • replies: 3

Hi I am just looking into information about anxiety of things I say to people in social occasions. Whether it be text messages to speech I always over analyse it to the point its makes me sick. I worry that I have offended people and its getting wors... View more

Hi I am just looking into information about anxiety of things I say to people in social occasions. Whether it be text messages to speech I always over analyse it to the point its makes me sick. I worry that I have offended people and its getting worse the older I get.

newtassiemum Struggling with post natal anxiety and sleep deprivation.
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I am struggling so much at the moment. My baby is almost 4 months old, and isn't sleeping much at night. I'm getting about 4-5 hours broken each night. Lately even when she is asleep I can't sleep. I hit my head on the car boot a week ag... View more

Hi everyone, I am struggling so much at the moment. My baby is almost 4 months old, and isn't sleeping much at night. I'm getting about 4-5 hours broken each night. Lately even when she is asleep I can't sleep. I hit my head on the car boot a week ago and ever since I've had terrible non stop headaches. When I lay down I feel like my head is burning. I went to one doctor and she said my headaches are due to my anxiety and sleep deprivation. I went to another doctor for a second opinion and while my neurological symptoms checked out fine she offered me a CT scan which I took, and came back normal. I still keep worrying that there's something wrong with my head though, it hurts so much. I'm too scared to sleep as I am scared I won't wake up and that my little girl won't have a mum. It brings me to tears just typing this. I'm currently seeing a psychologist every fortnight but I'm still really struggling.

Teacher9 morning anxiety
  • replies: 3

So i'm a relief teacher and have to wait for a call every morning for work. I've done this for many years and the anxiety is always there yet I've learnt to manage it better and it is usually only really bad after school holidays. Once I break the ic... View more

So i'm a relief teacher and have to wait for a call every morning for work. I've done this for many years and the anxiety is always there yet I've learnt to manage it better and it is usually only really bad after school holidays. Once I break the ice and get to work i'm fine but once I wake up and wait the anxiety grows. Growing up when I would be anxious going back to school or work I had family to talk to in the morning which diverted my attention, but I basically live on my own as hubby works away months at a time. This was first week back and I had a call in advance for work (which I usually prefer to get organised) but seeing it was just after school holidays my anxiety and anticipation was worse. Having been told in advance I had work, made my mind go into over drive and I woke up reaaal early thinking of everything and anything.To make matters worse I had bad period pain (sorry tmi) which amplified my emotions and I felt sick from this also. I got so overwhelmed I had to call in sick, which they were fine with but after a sleep and by mid morning i'm fine and want to slap myself for being so silly. Then I beat myself up over knocking back work. What can I do to stop morning anxiety until I get back in the swing of things. I only get this a few times a year.