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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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Manda85ballarat Fear of doctors
  • replies: 4

Hi I'm new to this forum, I have a totally irrational fear of going to the doctors. I have a phobia of needles due to a fainting incident 15 years ago. I have a spot I need to get checked and of course I am now jumping to the worst possible scenario.... View more

Hi I'm new to this forum, I have a totally irrational fear of going to the doctors. I have a phobia of needles due to a fainting incident 15 years ago. I have a spot I need to get checked and of course I am now jumping to the worst possible scenario. I guess I am just wondering how to get myself there as I am so scared not even my husband can get me there. what do I do?

Chicken_Wings Health Anxiety
  • replies: 10

I was just wondering for anyone who has experienced anxiety around their health, what can you do other than getting your brain scanned to convince you that you don't have a tumor, or getting fully tested to convince you that you aren't developing dem... View more

I was just wondering for anyone who has experienced anxiety around their health, what can you do other than getting your brain scanned to convince you that you don't have a tumor, or getting fully tested to convince you that you aren't developing dementia? I basically imagine the most extreme possible reason for something that I am experiencing and that's it, I'm convinced thats what I've got. Like at the moment, I'm noticing that my memory isn't as good as I'm expecting it to be, so therefore I must have something wrong with my brain. Or I noticed that I am more aware of my top lip than I normally am and just like that, I'm about to get mouth cancer.

thedeadlycake On How A Good Thing Can Lead to a Bad Place
  • replies: 3

This is a very tricksey trick of the anxious brain. You can start out full of inspiration and good intention and end up in full blown anxiety - the type that starts drifting really quickly towards depression. I've been spending more and more time thi... View more

This is a very tricksey trick of the anxious brain. You can start out full of inspiration and good intention and end up in full blown anxiety - the type that starts drifting really quickly towards depression. I've been spending more and more time thinking about what it is I really want to do with my life. I am really committed to the idea of helping other people who are similar to me make that first step in getting help and living a life that isn't dictated by their anxiety. I've been joining websites and forums and filling in volunteer application forms where ever I can find opportunities. Normally I would find an excuse not to do this but I have pushed through and done it anyway. The problem is that good intention is quite rapidly turning to frustration. I am yet to actually find something I can do. The ideas I have I am just not in a position to get out to an audience wider than my FB friends. I'm not in a position to make a difference at work. I've been listening to podcasts and reading about some really inspirational people who have made a real difference in their lives and I start to think I will never do this. My anxious brain tells me I am not good enough to do anything more with my life. Some of the people I've listened to have done great work from leadership roles. Something I can't see anyway of getting into again. Frustration makes me want to scream. I really feel like I could be doing good but I just don't know how. I am reaching out but not getting any answers. I've caught myself feeling like this and it is really interesting how quickly the anxious brain can turn inspiration and positivity into frustration. Almost as if it just wants to fuel anxiety and depression. Even as I write I realise I need to cultivate patience. I need to recognise the trickesy brain and have some faith in myself to find an opportunity. The brain is trying to make me frustrated so I will just give up. But I won't let it. Mindfulness can be like a super power but at the moment I think mine is less trained than it could be. I was quite far into this particular piece of suffering before I recognised it for what it is. It's is interesting that at the moment the default mode of my brain is to lean towards anxiety and depression. Self-sabotaging even good intention and positivity. I hope with more engagement in more formal mindful practice I can really begin the process of rewiring my brain to the point where the default mode is positive!

Chicken_Wings Dreams
  • replies: 3

I had a bad dream last night and I've noticed that I get them more when I'm more anxious. Just wondering if this happens to other people too? Mine tend to be about someone getting hurt, or bad guys out to get me, things like that. I woke up this morn... View more

I had a bad dream last night and I've noticed that I get them more when I'm more anxious. Just wondering if this happens to other people too? Mine tend to be about someone getting hurt, or bad guys out to get me, things like that. I woke up this morning and went for a walk to shake it off.

Jasperw I've suffered from anxiety for what seems like my whole life
  • replies: 5

Hi, I'm Jasper, I'm new to this forum so I'd like to share some of my experiences. I'm 25 years old and male. I've suffered from anxiety for what seems like my whole life, but it turned into "disorder" when I started having panic attacks back in high... View more

Hi, I'm Jasper, I'm new to this forum so I'd like to share some of my experiences. I'm 25 years old and male. I've suffered from anxiety for what seems like my whole life, but it turned into "disorder" when I started having panic attacks back in highschool (around 2007). I have also suffered bouts of depression here and there but the anxiety has been the main concern. After I started having panic attacks I saw a GP and a therapist right away, but didn't try any medication cause I was told it would only offer temporary relief and I wasn't interested in that - I wanted to never have a panic attack again! I was dianosed with a combination of Panic Disorder and GAD (plus a bit of OCD and social anxiety thrown in for good measure!). The therapist introduced me to CBT, Mindfulness meditation and breathing techniques, but while I know these things can be effective I was so caught up at the time in trying to prevent my anxiety that I tried to use these things as a preventive measure to combat anxiety, which of course just made it all much worse and i because even more anxious when I discovered these things couldn't prevent anxiety attacks (not that they can't help fix them in the long term). So after trying and trying and failing and failing I gave up all hope of recovery lived with my condition without seeking any further help for many years, until I saw a doctor who gave me some meds. It was good to talk to someone again, so I eventually saw another therapist, then a different one. Then I started reading books. But I didn't really start to feel a lot better until I found a therapist who taught me some really groundbreaking ideas. The material he used goes by different names (belief system therapy, effective counselling, the fountainhead method), but it's all about looking deep at the many beliefs you hold which are governing how you are looking at life. It has helped me see things much clearer, but recovery will be a long process as I have spent many years having severe panic attacks daily. I joined this forum because I thought it might be helpful for me to interact with other people who might have experienced something similar, and maybe offer some of the things I have learnt. All the best, Jasper PS (sorry for length I might have got carried away)

Mental_as so much pain
  • replies: 42

I feel like i cannot handle the anxiety anymore as much as i try it tears me away from society an my family. I spend lots of time hiding away. Its all to much.i feel like im going crazy help

I feel like i cannot handle the anxiety anymore as much as i try it tears me away from society an my family. I spend lots of time hiding away. Its all to much.i feel like im going crazy help

Guest_85ED2072 Why do i drink when i know it's bad for me?
  • replies: 7

Hello all,Me - 37, great wife, great kids, good job. Happy days.No childhood trauma, happy upbringing, close family.Struggled with anxiety since adolescence for whatever reason, just got on with it. Have struggled with weight since my teenage years, ... View more

Hello all,Me - 37, great wife, great kids, good job. Happy days.No childhood trauma, happy upbringing, close family.Struggled with anxiety since adolescence for whatever reason, just got on with it. Have struggled with weight since my teenage years, I've always been overweight. Found exercise and healthy living worked to alleviate most symptoms. However I've also drank quite a bit since adolescence, nothing hugely unusual in that. Gone are the days of drinking 20 beers and shots and getting up at dawn to play rugby with no side effects.Now a few bottles of wine equals a 24hour hangover. Why do I do it to myself?Struggled with anxiety and mild depression on and off, have had a few panic attacks over the years which is pretty horrific. Found sessions with a therapist very beneficial and take medication which has been excellent.Don't drink during the day/at work and regularly have a few days off but I tend to hit it really hard at the weekends and I cant seem to get out of this rut. Drinking at least 2 bottles of wine, Thu, Fri, Sat nights and some times more. I feel dreadful the next day and know this is a slippery slope. I need to make some changes.I drink because it numbs my feelings and stops my brain going a million miles an hour. It also makes the anxiety go away, at least initially. The bad thing is the anxiety is twice as bad with a hangover.Overweight = Anxiety = Depression = Drinking = Weight gain = Overweight = I'm seeing a pattern here..!Any advice from anyone who is in, or been in a similar situation to help me cut down my drinking/change my routine here?Answering myself (Sorry) I know I could simply give up drinking but it that the only option?Thank you for listening.Rob

ci I need all this to stop!
  • replies: 8

This is to hard! Don't know what this post will achieve but if I don't get it out I'm going to explode! I am try desperately to held everything together but I can't I'm hiding in a corner right now trying to catch my breath and calm my thoughts. Does... View more

This is to hard! Don't know what this post will achieve but if I don't get it out I'm going to explode! I am try desperately to held everything together but I can't I'm hiding in a corner right now trying to catch my breath and calm my thoughts. Does anyone else ever feel like they are just going to snap and loose control of everything I feel like I'm going to just loose it well scream throw stuff in so frustrated! I have ocd and there are people in my house fixing stuff and I so annoyed at my husband for organizing it. It's causing me huge anxiety and thoughts are nuts! I been really struggling this last month told him I need to rest I need everything that doesn't need to happen to stop and I need a break. But here I am in the corner. My husband has been great with all this better than I could have asked and I'm so selfish for needing more than he can give me but I do right now. I'm so tired keep telling I need to get a break I need help I run our business working from home I have 3 kids and no support from outside family on one to help take the pressure off. Feel like I need a week of having someone with me get on top of everything that I'm behind on and give me a chance to rest or maybe go for a walk alone I love my family so much this sounds so selfish but I'm lost as to what to do. Dealing with ocd and depression is one of the hardest thing I've ever gone through and my life hasn't been smooth. How do you deal with this I see doc and therapists not on meds yet tried to avoid but think it's time to fill my scrip?

Ellie05 Early morning anxiety
  • replies: 12

Hi There, I've been experiencing depression and anxiety over the last few months and one of the most difficult challenges is the early morning anxiety I face. I wake most mornings at about 4 to 5am and spend the next few hours in a state of near pani... View more

Hi There, I've been experiencing depression and anxiety over the last few months and one of the most difficult challenges is the early morning anxiety I face. I wake most mornings at about 4 to 5am and spend the next few hours in a state of near panic, worrying about all my most deep seated fears (growing older, losing people I love, Dying alone, the anxiety itself etc.). As it's so early and I'm tired it's really hard to manage the negative thoughts that come my way. It's really affecting my quality of life and I'm not sure what to do. Has/does anyone else here experience the same thing? If so, do you have any tips on how to manage it?

tannat Anxiety why must you consume me
  • replies: 6

Standard Saturday night; sitting at home alone staring at the walls. I should be at an event, an event that would literally have been probably one of the best nights I've had in a while yet my social anxiety decided to put a stop to all the fun. I've... View more

Standard Saturday night; sitting at home alone staring at the walls. I should be at an event, an event that would literally have been probably one of the best nights I've had in a while yet my social anxiety decided to put a stop to all the fun. I've had social anxiety since I was about 14 (29 now). Now, to add to this I have been diagnosed with complex PTSD. So, it is like a double whammy. I struggle to leave the house on a good day, and on a bad day well.. I honestly do not know what to do anymore. I know where my social anxiety stems from; my weight. I am overweight.. and then some. Losing weight is hard.. but hating myself is harder. I avoid looking in the mirror at all costs. I literally cry at the sight of myself. I don't know how I got to the point that I hate myself so much. I can't even get a job because I am terrified to walk into the office/building. I start sobbing at the thought of it. And it all stems down to how I look. I am ashamed. I don't feel worthy of anything. And, worst of all I have no friends. I have one family member. I basically have no one. I honestly feel if I vanished, no one would even notice, or care. I forget what it feels like to be loved, or needed. I feel like an empty vessel. It scares me that this is going to be my existence; that I am going to just live this lonely, worthless anxieety ridden life. I have seen psychologists, I have been on medication, off medication, natural remedies.. self-help groups, meet up groups, social anxiety meetings, hypnotherapy... hell I have even see a psychic! I just feel like this is my destiny, and I really don't want it to be. I was okay for a few years, but I relapsed about 2 years ago now and it has been this downward spiral. I feel like I am at the bottom of a big, deep well and can see the light but it is getting further and further away. Anyone.. is this my life? How do I change it? How do I change it when I have sought out every single avenue that I can possibly think of? The saddest part about all this, for me, is that the only way I can talk to someone is by finding an online community. Having no one is really messing with me, just as much as me hating myself.