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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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MisterM Fear of the sun
  • replies: 6

Hi all, For about 10 years now (since I got sizzled lobster red at the Aus Open tennis) I have had a fear of going out in the sunshine (even on overcast days) during high UV periods of spring and summer. I've talked about this fear with my psychologi... View more

Hi all, For about 10 years now (since I got sizzled lobster red at the Aus Open tennis) I have had a fear of going out in the sunshine (even on overcast days) during high UV periods of spring and summer. I've talked about this fear with my psychologist. I am pale and burn easy and I always fear I may get skin cancer from previous sunburns in childhood/teenagehood and at the tennis 10 years ago. Days out at work like work lunches or activity days in the outdoors used to cause me tremendous anxiety as noone would slip slop slap and I felt weird if I did so I always did my best to hide in the shade. If my manager organised a team lunch at a nearby restaurant I would scope it out beforehand to see if it was open to the elements or if there are shaded parts. If I get invited out by people to a park for lunch or any outdoor activity I get fear and apprehension straight away. I make excuses to avoid going or to arrive later in the day. I avoid the outdoors in spring and summer until the safe times. I often got/get made fun of for wearing wide brimmed hat and sunscreen. Once I got laughed at by colleagues for putting on sunscreen. Anyone else have this weird abnormal fear like I do? How do you manage?

ci Ocd big decision need advice
  • replies: 4

I'm having trouble with a decision I have ocd and it's at its worst ever at the moment I've been planning to go back to uni this year I'm a mum of three I also work from home part time so I'll be adding a lot to what's already a busy life. I'm wonder... View more

I'm having trouble with a decision I have ocd and it's at its worst ever at the moment I've been planning to go back to uni this year I'm a mum of three I also work from home part time so I'll be adding a lot to what's already a busy life. I'm wondering if anyone with ocd can help me part of me thinks getting out of the house (which I'm starting to find hard to do) will help to focus on something new and help with my ocd. Another part of me worried I'll just completely overload and hit breaking point? Any advice please?

Ashlou Breathing problems at nightime
  • replies: 2

Hi i have had anxiety on and off for many years. Right now i am going through probably the worst patch i have ever had going on 3 months straight of constant symptoms that are really concerning me. Probably my worst symptom right now is my breathing.... View more

Hi i have had anxiety on and off for many years. Right now i am going through probably the worst patch i have ever had going on 3 months straight of constant symptoms that are really concerning me. Probably my worst symptom right now is my breathing. At night time just as im about to drift off i feel like i stop breathing and jolt myself up out of bed then i really have to focus on my breathing like make myself breath its really hard to explain. This can occur many times in one night just before i finally fall asleep probably because im so exhausted. I have a doctors appt tomorrow to get a referral to a psychologist because i cant cope with the way i am feeling. I have this feeling of impending doom like im going to die or something. I have so many other symptoms like left arm and leg pins and needles. Waves of nervousness come across me many times during the day even just sitting on the couch watching tv . I also dont feel present like im just existing with no emotions, i cant even explain it. Is anybody else feeling like this? I am on the road now to getting some help.

Bluey_moon Weird random thoughts
  • replies: 5

Just interest guys. Do any of you have weird random thoughts, that are distressing? Occasionally I'll have a thought that seems to come from nowhere. The other day I was looking at someone's hands and thought, they could be killers hands! (I knew it ... View more

Just interest guys. Do any of you have weird random thoughts, that are distressing? Occasionally I'll have a thought that seems to come from nowhere. The other day I was looking at someone's hands and thought, they could be killers hands! (I knew it wasn't true, it caused me a great amount of stress as i love this person immensely). It was very random! Anxiety related???

Morrisr Post break-up OCD and anxiety
  • replies: 2

Quite recently I was broken up with.During the relationship, I was extremely anxious about being heartbroken (because I had been before) and I was constantly doing OCD rituals because I thought that I didn't, I would be broken up with. Well, I was br... View more

Quite recently I was broken up with.During the relationship, I was extremely anxious about being heartbroken (because I had been before) and I was constantly doing OCD rituals because I thought that I didn't, I would be broken up with. Well, I was broken up with anyway (the reasoning had nothing to do with my disorders. I actually hide it extremely well from everyone).Since the break-up, we have still been in contact. We are trying to be friends. This is proving very difficult for me, and my OCD and anxiety has flared up to a point where it is controlling my life. When I get out of bed in the morning I have rituals... When I go to the toilet I have rituals... When I was my hands or leave the bathroom, my kitchen, or the house I have rituals... I have rituals when I am driving... I have rituals when I am walking... and I have rituals at work. I also have rituals right before I go to bed that play up and sometimes I go over and over again for an hour. It is swallowing my life. The rituals are all still centred towards one thing: him. I repeat numbers and actions because if I don't (I think) it means that he will either 'move on' or 'get with someone new'. I am constantly torn because the thought of him being out of my life completely terrifies me. I am so scared to move on that I am still grasping on to anything I can have. I genuinely want my feelings to go away and I want to be friends. It's getting really, really hard to deal with the constant OCD and anxiety. I haven't necessarily had suicidal thoughts but I have times where I just want to sleep and only sleep. It's getting harder and harder at a time it should probably be getting easier and easier. I am constantly living in fear and am in desperate need of help. beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

HelenM Nothing stays the same
  • replies: 6

It's strange. I was dreading the Christmas period. But a few days before Christmas I found myself feeling well for much of the time. And apart from a few hours here and there I've had a good time. Strange though. It felt like a ceasefire rather than ... View more

It's strange. I was dreading the Christmas period. But a few days before Christmas I found myself feeling well for much of the time. And apart from a few hours here and there I've had a good time. Strange though. It felt like a ceasefire rather than anything else. And I'm very glad I had it. But now I'm back to where I was. Scared. Fear of the future robs you of the day. But I'm not able to live in the day. Whatever the fear it's the intensity that cripples. That awful fear that your life is wrecked. That somehow you will ruin everyone else's life. I'm living with it. And it's amazing how days pass by. And the ways I try to put it in perspective. Looking at all the centuries and thinking of all the people who have got by. If I say please don't tell me it'll be fine don't take offence. It feels like a mockery. I really hope that doesn't offend anyone because on here I meet the nicest people. It's just that at the beginning of Dec. it all got worse and in a way I need people to let me be where I am. Does that make sense. I think I'm frightened of letting people down if I don't improve. I can't be any other way. I can only be ill. The only other thing to say is I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! It is impossible for people to imagine it. What we all suffer. Sorry for being so miserable. Helen x

megl84 Disability Pension - Help!<object type="cosymantecnisbfw" cotype="cs" id="SILOBFWOBJECTID" style="width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block;"></object>
  • replies: 4

Hi All, I hope its ok to post here but I really need advice with applying for the disability pension. I struggle very badly with BIpolar and anxiety. I am not a stable person and I have tried every medication under the sun. I have visited drs sparsel... View more

Hi All, I hope its ok to post here but I really need advice with applying for the disability pension. I struggle very badly with BIpolar and anxiety. I am not a stable person and I have tried every medication under the sun. I have visited drs sparsely, had a few bad incidences which has left me spending days lying under my bed rather than visit a dr. Things have been hard these last ten years, many jobs only to lose then between 3 weeks to 4 months later. I can hold anything down and on top of it my anxiety is so bad I have panic attacks about visiting my own friends. With my brain the way it is, and the side effects of medications meaning i can only take so much, I am applying for disability pension as i feel like its not fair having to live in poverty because of this. I am so stressed out because i can only organise this worth of stuff when i am having my good days. I have been on mood stabilising medication for 6 months getting terrible diarhea or constipation swings between the two. PLease can anyone give me some good advice on how to ensure i apply with my best foot forward. I would be very grateful for any advice. Thankyou so much x

Chicken_Wings Do I Have Purpose?
  • replies: 27

One of the things I find that I get anxious about is feeling like I have a purpose, like there is a point to my existence. I see other people living their lives and I feel like they are achieving things and have goals. I then think about my own life ... View more

One of the things I find that I get anxious about is feeling like I have a purpose, like there is a point to my existence. I see other people living their lives and I feel like they are achieving things and have goals. I then think about my own life and wonder what I'm missing. I feel like I'm getting older and like I've missed a vital step in life. Like there is something I am meant to be doing and I'm not doing it. Days often feel like I'm just waiting for another day to be over. I don't feel like I'm doing much, I just go to work, come home, watch tv, repeat. And then on weekends try and find something to do to fill the days. I've been looking up meetup groups and clubs or groups I could try and join, but it all feels kind of weird and pretend. Has anyone else struggled with feeling like they have no path or no purpose? How did you combat it?

HelenM Struggling so much
  • replies: 18

Life is not good. Three weeks ago my anxiety worsened. I'd been having five or more good days between a bout of about a week. About six weeks ago I had to go for a scan for a post menopausal bleed. Uncertainty is a MASSIVE problem for me. My fear was... View more

Life is not good. Three weeks ago my anxiety worsened. I'd been having five or more good days between a bout of about a week. About six weeks ago I had to go for a scan for a post menopausal bleed. Uncertainty is a MASSIVE problem for me. My fear was that the stress would make me severely depressed again. I wasn't worried about my physical health. I know that doesn't make sense. I was so scared that I ended up going private even though the Dr said it would be only three weeks wait. Since then, apart from a handful of days three weeks ago things have been very bad. I get the odd afternoon or evening when my mood is OK. Normally when I'm unwell my mood never becomes worse. Most of this is fear. Fear of my mental illness. I think as time goes on I'm more afraid. I carry on and I'm very lucky that I'm able to continue my routine. I don't think Christmas is making me worse though I'll be glad when it's over. If I don't reply to any post for a while it's because computers stress me a lot. I said the other week (though most unclearly) that I wish I was an old lady. Then I would only have a short while left. . I hope you know what I mean. Life is very hard just now. A change in meds isn't possible. Because it's kept me well for so long they think it would be risky to change it. Thanks for reading. I know you care. Helen x

Chey3 Symptoms of anxiety stress and tension
  • replies: 2

Hello...I'm just wondering whether someone can help me. I suffer from anxiety and stress and deal with many symptoms as a result, however of late I have been feeling this extreme heaviness throughout my body..shoulders, chest, sides...it feels scarey... View more

Hello...I'm just wondering whether someone can help me. I suffer from anxiety and stress and deal with many symptoms as a result, however of late I have been feeling this extreme heaviness throughout my body..shoulders, chest, sides...it feels scarey, I feel like it effects my breathing...does anyonw experience this? Is this part of anxiety.