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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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Blissy There is nothing wrong
  • replies: 4

I am so sick of feeling down when there is nothing wrong. I am getting so angry at myself. I am surrounded by loved ones and positive vibes but still feel completely alone with tears streaming down my face and that constant anxious feeling deep in my... View more

I am so sick of feeling down when there is nothing wrong. I am getting so angry at myself. I am surrounded by loved ones and positive vibes but still feel completely alone with tears streaming down my face and that constant anxious feeling deep in my stomach. I want it to stop so badly. I want to convince myself that I am loved and people do care and think of me and miss me but it doesn't go away. I want to be humble and not expect back what I'm so willing to give. I want to be able to turn a blind eye to the apparent small things that cut me so deeply. I just want to be normal. If I keep acting how I am, I create the same vicious circle. Pushing people away for fear of them just breaking me more, them promising they won't leave so I push them until they can't handle it. there is nothing wrong. I create problems in my mind, find reasons that they might be true and can't escape feeling so sad.

peaches1 Can't cope with staying at home
  • replies: 7

I can't deal with staying at home doing 'nothing' (i.e. not going to the shops/seeing friends) for more than a day or two at a time before getting stressed over...nothing. I recently graduated from school, and I would experience this anxiety during t... View more

I can't deal with staying at home doing 'nothing' (i.e. not going to the shops/seeing friends) for more than a day or two at a time before getting stressed over...nothing. I recently graduated from school, and I would experience this anxiety during the holidays. I had a Christmas job, but I won't be getting any more shifts, so I now have two months where I am doing absolutely nothing and I can already feel the anxiety building up. I don't know why it is, but I feel so stressed about not having something to do. I don't even have particularly bad thoughts - I just start feeling like I'm drowning when I think about staying at home with no plans to do anything in the future. It gets worse when I see other people having fun on social media, as I feel like I'm wasting my time by not having something to do. It sounds stupid when I type it out, but I don't know what I'll do with no plans for the next two months...

elizabeths90 Managing Anxiety and New Relationships
  • replies: 12

First time ever posting on any kind of forum in regards to my own issues, but this just seems like such a welcoming and supportive environment to do so. I find it difficult to always approach my friends about these issues as I feel like they think I'... View more

First time ever posting on any kind of forum in regards to my own issues, but this just seems like such a welcoming and supportive environment to do so. I find it difficult to always approach my friends about these issues as I feel like they think I'm a burden or complaining - There is my anxiety again! I've struggled with it for ages and now I can recognize whats my anxiety and whats ME. Though I really really struggle with it when trying to form new romantic relationships. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this? How they manage it and maintain the relationship. I've had many off and on relationships and many with a manipulator and my first relationship as a teenager was an abusive one, I struggle with thoughts of doubt, stress, hurt and anxiety when I meet someone I like. Sometimes the anxiety towards a new relationship is absolutely unbearable! I'm 25 and am dating again now, I don't want to have a complete melt down when it doesn't work out or in the initial stages because I struggle with the anxiety. I see my GP and psychologist regularly, but just wanting to hear from other people who experience the same issues and have coped with them. Thank you all so much in advance

Alexander I think I am suffering anxiety
  • replies: 10

I am a middle aged male in a happy home environment. My youngest daughter last year experienced an event related to vomiting (a gear of) that led to her rapidly losing weight and displaying a range of really weird behaviours ranging from scratching h... View more

I am a middle aged male in a happy home environment. My youngest daughter last year experienced an event related to vomiting (a gear of) that led to her rapidly losing weight and displaying a range of really weird behaviours ranging from scratching her skin to saying she just wanted to die. This culminated in her being admitted to hospital to be refed via a naso gastric tube. Since then she has gained weight but there are still a whole range of anxious behaviours continuing. At the start of the school year she has made it very difficult for us to get her to school. She says she likes the school but comes up with many reasons why she can't go. This revolves around her stomach and the sick feelings she gets. We have been seeing a group therapy team since she left hospital which has been helpful but there still seems to be so much unresolved business. This experience has left me feeling very distressed and unsure what the future will bring. I work a high pressure job but I am now constantly worried about what the future looks like because I can't see past the problems we are currently experiencing. I feel I cannot be an effective father because I get unreasonable angry when my daughter won't conform to what I see as a normal behaviour such as getting up and going to school. I know we have to deal with this but in the meantime I feel like my usually strong character is dissolving me into an anxious person. I have seen a psychologist and occasionally take a half a relaxation tablet. I have lightened up my professional workload but I still feel vulnerable and as a result, I am worried what the future will bring

Mary1 Anxiety ruining my life please help
  • replies: 7

Hi all my General story is posted under "coping with Xmas" thread. I didn't intend to write about myself at all but rather support others. Yet reading through the stories of people living with anxiety, I felt strongly I needed to reach out. I suffer ... View more

Hi all my General story is posted under "coping with Xmas" thread. I didn't intend to write about myself at all but rather support others. Yet reading through the stories of people living with anxiety, I felt strongly I needed to reach out. I suffer from crippling anxiety. At worst which it is now I struggle to do anything I need to & can't bare leaving the house. My husband & 2 kids have a holiday planned from Wednesday & I'm extremely anxious about how I'm feeling & not wanting to affect their holiday with my anxiety. Yet we are going away up the north coast to a beachside suburb & I don't cope well with the heat or with being out of my normal routine. My biggest anxiety really will sound pathetic. My bedroom looks like someone's ransacked it & I have baskets & baskets of clothes to put away which is necessary to fix or I won't have any clothes to take. Yes it sounds so minor. But I keep putting it off & get overwhelmed by what I need to do to the pint I end up doing nothing. And I have irrational fears that people will judge me on our holiday & I feel so self conscious. This holiday is so important to my family as my husband has & continues to fight a life threatening illness. I feel weak, overwhelmed, struggling with an overload of thoughts, feeling unmotivated & out of control. I wake up anxious & spend days feeling so ill on stomach, constantly realising I'm not breathing propeley but rather holding my breathe too long. I feel like is someone made an unexpected noise I would jump through the roof. for me anxiety precedes depression. I get so wound up, full of self hate & hopelessness & then when I feel the anxiety is all pervading I then get depressed at my inability to cope & my sense of being overwhelmed. Today for example I woke in full anxiety mode struggling to breathe with my mind full of racing thoughts & then felt so so down at the impact this is having over my life. Why can't I simply deal with folding & putting away a ton of washing, why am I more anxious about people looking at me or stressing over what clothes to take rather than looking forward to being on hols with my family? Admittedley it's been one of the most difficult years of our lives. And without going into detail there are also a range of reasons why I feel burnout as well. i just need some support that I'm not being pathetic & how to get through this time given my mind is racing constantly & I just want to hide. Mary x

steviewonder87 feeling alone and unhappy with who i am
  • replies: 2

Hi all this is Steven here and I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like my happiness is slowly going away and all that is left is hurt and pain. Starting to be ashamed at the person I am. My aniexty that I have I thought I could mange and be alri... View more

Hi all this is Steven here and I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like my happiness is slowly going away and all that is left is hurt and pain. Starting to be ashamed at the person I am. My aniexty that I have I thought I could mange and be alright with but today something so simple happen that really hurt me and made me upset. To anyone who knows me they think it be silly but its not. I have been in a battle with this all my life but these last few years have been the best but this year as it comes to an end has been the worst year for me. I lost the love of my life. My first real relationship and I feel it was because of the person I am. From that my heart has been shattered and my happiness has not been the same. All I have now is this hurt and pain. I feel like my dream of wanting to get married and have family is never going to happen now. I am going to be alone rest of my life that's how it feels. Nothing I feel as much as I try and try as I have I still dealing with this and it a battle that I just don't know how to handle anymore. I don't want this anxiety anymore. I don't want to be shy and quit anymore. I want someone special to love me and who would want to build something special with. I want to be happy overall. Just don't know what to do anymore.

CarolynJ New Here and really need to vent.
  • replies: 7

Hello all, Sorry but I really need somewhere to vent before I go completely insane. I am subletting a room in my home to a lesbian couple (they have been here only 3 weeks) and they are already sending my anxiety off the charts. They were told No pet... View more

Hello all, Sorry but I really need somewhere to vent before I go completely insane. I am subletting a room in my home to a lesbian couple (they have been here only 3 weeks) and they are already sending my anxiety off the charts. They were told No pets and conned me into the dog staying (unless he caused a problem with my cats) I don't like dogs as they are noisy and messy and my Landlord doesn't like dogs either. They also brought their cat (which apparently was meant to live in their car) both animals are now occupying my outdoor entertaining area, along with Housemates boxes, bags, etc which they were told to store in the shed. They drink all of my milk (I have purchased 18 litres in the last 3 weeks compared to their 6 litres) I only use milk in coffee, have eaten a 4 ltr tub of ice cream, polished off a box of breakfast cereal that hadn't been opened, scratched 2 of my good non stick pans and asked for $60 off the rent last week so they wouldn't be short. I get home from work tonight and find out they have used my Xtra Virgin Olive oil mixed with vegetable oil to refill my deep fryer. They have their own bedroom and use of the bathroom and toilet (I have an ensuite) but they have suitcases in the bathtub so even if I wanted to use it I can't. I'm sick of them eating and drinking my food (they have bought some of their own and eaten all of that also) I have 2 fridges, I told them I cleared one out for them to use but they continue to use things from my fridge. I can't afford to kick them out at present but I don't know how much more I can take. I can't eat or sleep properly due to anxiety and stress caused by housemates, work and losing my License for 6 months because of a DUI (stupid mistake, 1 drink too many and followed an intoxicated friend home) I also have an undiagnosed medical issue which has been stressing me out for over 12 months. Specialist can't find a cause for muscle wastage in my right hand Thumb after numerous tests. I get the shakes, feel nauseous and have difficulty getting to sleep but wake before 6am. What can I do to try and calm my stress and anxiety, I don't want to go back on medication Thanks for any assistance.

Durras My First Support Group Meeting for Recovery HELP!
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I'm getting ready for my first support group meeting at Grow. I'm going by myself and feeling very nervous and anxious. I know I need this support and know it is vital for my recovery with depression and anxiety and also with my dependence on... View more

Hi all, I'm getting ready for my first support group meeting at Grow. I'm going by myself and feeling very nervous and anxious. I know I need this support and know it is vital for my recovery with depression and anxiety and also with my dependence on alcohol. I have been feeling strong since I first acknowledged myself with having depression on Monday, I found this website and the forums have been giving my a lot of help, I've ordered a book online Managing Depression with Mindfulness for Dummies and found this Grow support group but still I'm feeling really nervous about speaking out in person and letting everything out. Its safe to do it here on line but actually in front of people I'm really scared. I've never been comfortable around people unless I have alcohol in my system first. Anyone with some advice would be much appreciated. Thanks Durras

Chicken_Wings How do you do it?
  • replies: 3

I think I need a change in strategy because my anxiety is kicking my butt. i wake up every morning and it's there like a bad smell, lingering and unwanted. This is my current routine: wake up between 4:30 & 6am try relaxation breathing in bed to get ... View more

I think I need a change in strategy because my anxiety is kicking my butt. i wake up every morning and it's there like a bad smell, lingering and unwanted. This is my current routine: wake up between 4:30 & 6am try relaxation breathing in bed to get back to sleep get up and go to lounge, listen to guided meditation sessions Try to get a little more sleep on couch if I have time go for a quick walk force myself to get ready go to work I do all this and I still end up going to work really anxious. Sometimes on the way I even cry in the car.mon weekends I can take a little more time with it and the walk can be longer, but the results are the same. so I was wondering what sort of routine others have found helpful so I might try it.

ND1234 Relationship Anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hi everyoneI'm a first time poster on this site but I really wanted to get some advice.I'm a 28 year old guy and I've suffered from anxiety for most of my life. It started by manifesting as homesickness when I was a kid, then it turned in whatever el... View more

Hi everyoneI'm a first time poster on this site but I really wanted to get some advice.I'm a 28 year old guy and I've suffered from anxiety for most of my life. It started by manifesting as homesickness when I was a kid, then it turned in whatever else I couldn't be certain about.Now it has settled on my relationship. I've been with my girlfriend for 6 months, but we have really been together for a year (we met, got together and then she travelled for 6 months). She's wonderfully affectionate when we are together but she is also incredibly driven and has explained to me on numerous occasions that when she works, she has blinders on to the world. I've never been with a girl is this independent and someone who really does need their own space.The problem is, my anxiety has grabbed hold of every element of uncertainty about my relationship. My gf is having a very rough time at the moment as her job future is uncertain, she's living with her folks and she constantly fights with her Mum and one of her best friends just tried to harm himself (I don't know the details). But because she has become distant my anxiety has convinced me that there is something else wrong. We saw each other two weeks ago and it was amazing and incredibly affectionate. But the moment that changes I can't think about anything else! I can't eat, there is literally no food that I want and the thought of eating makes me feel sick.The only thing that takes the edge of is alcohol. I drink far to much, but it's the only thing that takes the edge of the anxiety. I am also on an antidepressant and I see a therapist, but I can't get these issues out of my head. To the point where if I sent her a message and she responded in a way that wasn't what I wanted, I freak out!I want to be able to focus on my own things and not have this anxiety keep me compulsively thinking about 'what if' there is a problem with my relationship.I would really appreciate any advice and support from you guys, I have found reading forums very helpful. If someone has had a similar experience, please let me know, I would love to talk about it.Thanks guysND