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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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AnxiousOCD Anxiety, worry and fear about the past
  • replies: 3

Hi Everyone, I haven't posted on one of these sights before but I'm struggling with my anxiety at the moment. It's tough because I know my triggers and I know the pattern I go through to trick myself into believing I've don't me something wrong but I... View more

Hi Everyone, I haven't posted on one of these sights before but I'm struggling with my anxiety at the moment. It's tough because I know my triggers and I know the pattern I go through to trick myself into believing I've don't me something wrong but I just can't seem to shake it. I have had anxiety on and off for about 3 years and I have always been an anxious person. I am on medication and have seen a psychologist but having recently just moved I no longer see my psychologist and I believed I was ready to continue on without therapy. My triggers for anxiety are missing my boyfriend (he goes offshore for work) and drinking too much alcohol. For the past 3 years I have been in a long distance relationship and only now have I moved so we can be together. He is away at the moment and for the first 2 weeks I was fine and happy and had my anxiety under control but after a night out with friends I triggered my anxiety and have been stuck in repetitive thoughts for the past week. I always revisit the past when I get anxious and try to figure out where and when I could've done something wrong, I worry myself sick that I could've cheated on my boyfriend or lied about something and I go round in circles until I seek reassurance which only gives short term relief and creates a long term problem of not trusting myself. Why do I always fall for this trick? Over time i have started to question myself about past events that never bothered me before and I can see that each time I give in to these thoughts means the next time will only be more irrational. I don't think my medication helps with any of this either, at first I thought it did but since my anxiety fully returned this year (after a peaceful year last year) i don't see how the medication has helped as my fears only seem to be getting worse.

ErinGrace OCD
  • replies: 7

Hi. I have terrible anxiety about my kids getting sick with any sort of gastro. I worry that I will get it. I can't look after them when they're sick. I have to ask a relative to come over or my husband has to stay home. I hide in the bedroom, or hav... View more

Hi. I have terrible anxiety about my kids getting sick with any sort of gastro. I worry that I will get it. I can't look after them when they're sick. I have to ask a relative to come over or my husband has to stay home. I hide in the bedroom, or have to leave the house. I get physical symptoms - heart palpitations and diarrhoea. Even when they're feeling better, I can't hug or kiss them. I desperately want to clean the whole house, but I'm unable to touch anything. I wash my hands constantly. I want to wash my clothes if they even touch me. I count the days until I reach a time when I think it's unlikely I (or any of the kids who are still well) will get sick anymore. I worry when the kids go to school that they'll come home sick. I hate it when they go to play centres or to parties because I'm scared they'll get sick. I think about it every single day. I go to sleep worrying that they'll be sick in the night (even when they're perfectly well) and wake up thinking about it. It's utterly debilitating and I don't know how to stop it. I don't enjoy anything because I'm so worried. It feels like no one can possibly understand how debilitating it is. I can't imagine that it can ever get better. I'm so tired. I can't concentrate on anything. Thanks for listening.

Wandmaker Do I have anxiety?
  • replies: 1

I have been reading lot;s of the forum posts and finally feel like I can register and post this question. I don't feel like an anxious person. I just feel tired, so very tired. I toss and turn till the wee hours of the morning, thinking about every l... View more

I have been reading lot;s of the forum posts and finally feel like I can register and post this question. I don't feel like an anxious person. I just feel tired, so very tired. I toss and turn till the wee hours of the morning, thinking about every little thing, which becomes every big thing. The thing is none of it is real. I lay there trying to lull myself off and my mind wanders to a nice beach, our next coast holiday, which turns into a ludicrous shark attack scene, and all other possible things that could go wrong and I panic. Then I get up and have a drink of water, toilet and try again and it happens again, new thing, new ludicrous scene, new unfounded panic over something that hasn’t happened, and isn’t likely to happen. Until eventually I fall asleep. Apart from being tired daily life doesn't make me feel anxious is anyway. Is this what anxiety is or do I just have an over active imagination? And how do I shut it off? Do I actually need help and who do I talk to about it? I know I need sleep...

His_Goose Introduction of me - Anxiety ridden
  • replies: 1

Hello all, I've never used an online forum before, so am a little unsure of its outcome. I'm 24, a Youth worker, married and of lately my anxiety has become worse. My Dr weened me off one medication over 7 days and has gradually put me on another. Pr... View more

Hello all, I've never used an online forum before, so am a little unsure of its outcome. I'm 24, a Youth worker, married and of lately my anxiety has become worse. My Dr weened me off one medication over 7 days and has gradually put me on another. Presumably going up again on November 11th. I understand this transition may exacerbate my symptoms. But I am missing so much work as a result, I am our sole income earner so am scared I'm stressing my husband who has bipolar type 1. While they are incredibly understanding I'm scared of losing my job which I love. I'm scared of leaving for work.. for any obligation really. But not for things which I am not obliged. It is so contradictory I wonder if I'm just lazy & don't know it. I feel numb, I'm always irritable, my heart is always racing, I feel worthless and hate myself. So I try to hide away from the world. I try CBT techniques. Nothing works. I see a private psychologist on 17/11. A previous counselor said I didn't need help as I had learned all available self help tools during my psychology degree. I dont know what to do, I feel lIke I have success at my finger tips but I'm drowning within my own mind. I'm scared of letting everyone down. So I just continue to hide.

battlingbigdog my screwed up life
  • replies: 5

I'm just starting to come to terms with a lot of mistakes ive made in my life. Ivebeen avoiding anything in my life for as long as I can remember. I feel like a little kid still. Worried about getting in trouble and offending people. I recently quit ... View more

I'm just starting to come to terms with a lot of mistakes ive made in my life. Ivebeen avoiding anything in my life for as long as I can remember. I feel like a little kid still. Worried about getting in trouble and offending people. I recently quit my job as a youth worker after 5 years when I got to the point that everything was crashing down around me. I'd avoided the dentist because I was afraid of the reaction I would get to having neglected myself so much to the point where my teeth rotted out of my head. I hadn't done tax return in 4 years. I was over weight and withdrew from any social situation I could. I'd put on a brave face for a bucks night or somewhere I could get pissed but that was it. I was smoking weed to escape and developed a pokie addiction. I look at what I've done over the last few years of my life and don't see a single good thi?g I've done for my self. When I left my job I Got over 5000 bucks in unused leave and thought right. Time to get my life in order. I've been three weeks off the weed. I've had a heap of fillings done and have spoken to a Dr about my mental health. But then my car breaks down. I finally bite the bullet about my tax and end up with a $6000 bill. I start exercising and end up with fluid on the knee and Can hardly walk. And now I need to find a job but I look at my self and think who would employ a bloke like me. I've been told my whole life how smart I am and how I can do anything I want. School was easy. But I feel like I've never been independent. And once I left that environment I'd known for so long I fell apart. I've become withdrawn. And this Has been getting worse and worse for ten years. But When I've spoken to friends and family they tell me that's not how u come across. U seem so confident. I've had good jobs and never been fired but I feel like I'm not good enough for this or that now. I keep getting jobs suggested to me by friends and I'm shocked to think that they could think I'd be able to do it. I'm nearly broke after spending the majority of my payout on my teeth and bond for a new place as I'm moving town to get away from some of my less then positive social circle. I don't really know what I'm posting this for except to get it out. I guess I'm just scared of what happens next. And reading back it's pretty obvious avoiding things isn't helping. I can see that the avoidance has caused most of my problems but it's been my default move my whole life and I just wanna hear that it can change.

Lookingforpeace Describe your anxiety
  • replies: 28

It took me a long time to realise I had anxiety because my anxiety doesn't necessarily manifest itself in panic attacks. I would describe my anxiety more like an intense dread. how would you describe yours?

It took me a long time to realise I had anxiety because my anxiety doesn't necessarily manifest itself in panic attacks. I would describe my anxiety more like an intense dread. how would you describe yours?

Shrinkingviolet I can't sleep
  • replies: 6

I am stressed. I am panicked. And I am angry at myself for being like this. I feel so stupid right now. I am laying in bed worrying about having to go out to dinner with friends tomorrow night. I am going over all of the things in my head that might ... View more

I am stressed. I am panicked. And I am angry at myself for being like this. I feel so stupid right now. I am laying in bed worrying about having to go out to dinner with friends tomorrow night. I am going over all of the things in my head that might go wrong tomorrow. Like; What if I turn up and I'm too dressy? What if I turn up and I'm not dressy enough? Should I ask everyone what they are wearing? I don't want them to know that my outfit choice is worrying me. What if I bump in to someone that I haven't seen in a while and they ask me what I have been doing with myself? Do I tell them honestly and say that I have just been battling through every day to stop the darkness of depression swallow me up whole? Or do I spare them the awkwardness and lie? What if I bump in to people I haven't seen in a while and I have to see the shock on their faces when they see how much weight I have gained? What if my friends try to take photos with me for their social media accounts? What if I disappoint my friends and I am boring and flat and they just want to get away from me? I am so mentally and physically exhausted but I can't stop myself from spiralling. How do I get these thoughts out of my head and allow myself to relax and sleep?

Charlie27 Does anyone else wonder about dying?
  • replies: 3

Hi does anyone else worry bout dying I can't seem to shake the feeling of being lost wondering if today is my last day I worry bout wat will happen to family and pets if I'm no longer here I'm scared about dying I'm scared about everything I've recen... View more

Hi does anyone else worry bout dying I can't seem to shake the feeling of being lost wondering if today is my last day I worry bout wat will happen to family and pets if I'm no longer here I'm scared about dying I'm scared about everything I've recently had people die unexpectedly one heart attack while driving another through diabetes and a close friend to cancer 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.

Louise15 Feeling overwhelmed and hopeless
  • replies: 2

Hi This is my first post on BB. I have been doing some research on this site over the last few days; and have realised that I have social anxiety as well as depression. The social anxiety/ phobia has been happening since my teens, and I never recogni... View more

Hi This is my first post on BB. I have been doing some research on this site over the last few days; and have realised that I have social anxiety as well as depression. The social anxiety/ phobia has been happening since my teens, and I never recognised the symptoms until reading the information on this site. It's like a light bulb has literally gone on! I avoid social situations whenever I can, I never go to parties and I have had lots of moments where my face becomes hot, very red and sweaty. I thought at the time it was happening frequently that it was due to rosacea (a skin condition). I can remember in high school and Uni, when I have had to stand up in front of the class and give a speech, I would end up with a migraine, due to the stress of being the centre of attention. If I'm forced to socialise, I either sit quietly, hoping no one will single me out, or I have wine (enough to not care). My hb gets annoyed with me when I don't want to socialise, which just makes the feelings I have worse. I initially had PND, and I have been taking antidepressants for about 14 years, I have managed to wean my medication down, with the hope of not having to take it at all. I'm feeling very flat, and really just can't see a 'light' at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for reading

GSP Can't stop the anxiety
  • replies: 1

I've landed a job interstate and am going through the process of finding a rental, organizing a removalist, and doing small renovations to our existing house in order to rent it out. I am not getting much sleep at night because I constantly have this... View more

I've landed a job interstate and am going through the process of finding a rental, organizing a removalist, and doing small renovations to our existing house in order to rent it out. I am not getting much sleep at night because I constantly have this sick feeling that everything isn't going to work out for whatever reason, and I'll be left feeling helpless. My husband has had to leave his job and will look for work straight away when we move interstate. The new job itself doesn't really worry me (not consciously anyway), just the physical move itself I think. I have lived in this state my whole life and moving into the unknown scares the s**t out of me, especially since I don't have full control over the outcome....yes I'm a control freak. Has anyone else gone through this? I'd love to hear your experiences. I feel like I'm suffocating.