Anxiety

Catching public transport makes me anxious, leaving the house makes me anxious

replies: 4

I am a wheelchair user, I have been physically assaulted multiple times on trains by strangers. (Four assaults in the last 2 months alone.) That gave me anxiety, and now I take an SSRI. But even with the SSRI, I feel scared and anxious to leave the h... View more

I am a wheelchair user, I have been physically assaulted multiple times on trains by strangers. (Four assaults in the last 2 months alone.) That gave me anxiety, and now I take an SSRI. But even with the SSRI, I feel scared and anxious to leave the house/catch trains. I tell myself "the person who assaulted me was just one person, most people aren't like that", but then I get assaulted by different strangers again and again and again, a different person each time. I am not doing anything at all to provoke the assaults except being a wheelchair user. It's gotten to the point that I am cancelling medical appointments rather than take the train.

Anxiety about Driving

replies: 5

For as long as I can remember I have had an aversion to driving a car. I used to pray that my driving instructor wouldn't turn up when I was a teenager and I eventually went to university without passing my test and then didn't think about it again f... View more

For as long as I can remember I have had an aversion to driving a car. I used to pray that my driving instructor wouldn't turn up when I was a teenager and I eventually went to university without passing my test and then didn't think about it again for 5 years. Then I needed a driving licence for work... cue being in a constant state of anxiety for months while I did an intensive course and failing the test 3 times because I was shaking so much I couldn't use the clutch. When I passed I thought that would be the end of it and when I went out on my own I would get some confidence. But this was not the case. Everytime I get in a car my legs start shaking and I feel myself panicing. I have only managed to get more than 5 mins from my house once and do everything possible to get out of driving at work. I keep thinking that maybe if I just keep going out even for really short drives it will get better but it just seems to make it worse. I drove for 30mins at work recently and haven't even been able to get in a work car since. I feel so stupid because its such a simple task that everyone does everyday. I dont even know where to start getting help, none of my friends understand they just think im being a drama queen about it. Its on my mind constantly and I even have dreams about driving. Has anyone else experienced this kind of irrational fear and managed to get over it? It just feels like its an impossible task. Feels good to talk about it though and already feels like a small weight has been lifted

Food phobia help needed

replies: 7

Hi all I have GAD ,PTSD , agrophobia and suffer panic attacks which I all find really hard to deal with everyday but on top of all that I have now got a phobia of food and not sure how to deal with. It all started because I was very obese weighing 14... View more

Hi all I have GAD ,PTSD , agrophobia and suffer panic attacks which I all find really hard to deal with everyday but on top of all that I have now got a phobia of food and not sure how to deal with. It all started because I was very obese weighing 140kg and need to lose weight because I use to comfort eat when my anxiety got really bad . I was doing really well at got down to 110kg in a year. But then my weight just stayed the same for 2 months and I got upset . So I then started watching what I ate and counting my calories and by doing that I was cutting out a lot of food and was only eating about 1000 calories a day but I got tired and weak which then made my anxiety so bad that I was having panic attacks everyday and they were really bad and lasted for 1-2 hours and the only ended because I got so exhausted I ended up falling asleep. So since then every time I tried to eat my throat would tighten and then bring on another panic attack, so now I'm really scared to eat . I'm only managing to eat about 300-400 calories a day and I have lost 24kg in just 2 months so I now weigh 86kg and I'm scared that I'm going to get to 65kg and still not being able to eat properly but still be losing weight because I'm losing 3-4kg a week . I was wonder if anyone could give me some advice on how to eat again . Because I've been stuck at home for 8 months now so not eating on top of that is really starting to get to me Thankyou for any help

Should we tell others we have an anxiety problem?

replies: 11

Is it best to keep our mental health challenges to ourselves - or just be upfront with a carefully chosen few? The relatively rare (thank goodness) times I have to cancel plans, or late in beginning projects (procrastinating) saying No to requests et... View more

Is it best to keep our mental health challenges to ourselves - or just be upfront with a carefully chosen few? The relatively rare (thank goodness) times I have to cancel plans, or late in beginning projects (procrastinating) saying No to requests etc...I wish I could simply tell the truth and say "I have an anxiety disorder"...or "I have big problems with anxiety that overcome me sometimes" or similar. Wouldn't that sound like I am "making excuses"?. People would find it hard to believe because I am so good at putting on a false, breezy, "together" switched on, capable, coping, good listener facade....the one OTHERS confide their problems to. I tried a couple of times, something simple, not making a big deal of it or anything - like "I have a problem with anxiety" or "I have an anxiety disorder" I think I said. Responses included "Ah, you just worry too much" and another asked re anxiety disorder "What's that?" I've also had in the past "It's about time you got your life together- what have YOU got to worry about?".......obviously we have to keep it a big secret!!! I would be interested to hear if anyone else has had similar responses, or do the majority of us just keep our mouths shut?

Driving Fear

replies: 2

Hi, my name is Barby. Approximately 6 months ago I had a panic attack whilst driving. Since then I have had another 2 attacks. Its always along the same stretch of road. Its got to the point that I feel anxious just getting into the car for the fear ... View more

Hi, my name is Barby. Approximately 6 months ago I had a panic attack whilst driving. Since then I have had another 2 attacks. Its always along the same stretch of road. Its got to the point that I feel anxious just getting into the car for the fear of it happening again. Has this happened to anyone else out there? I would love to hear some feedback and any suggestions that can help me would be appreciated. I want to point out that I have never been involved in a car accident or had anything happen to me whilst driving, so I am at a loss to understand why this is happening to me.

Scared and alone

replies: 1

Hi everyone33 yr old mum of 3This is my first time posting here. I was diagnosed back in April this year with Anxiety and Depression after a very frightening panic attack. It all started just after my mum (who was visiting from interstate) and I had ... View more

Hi everyone33 yr old mum of 3This is my first time posting here. I was diagnosed back in April this year with Anxiety and Depression after a very frightening panic attack. It all started just after my mum (who was visiting from interstate) and I had just finished doing the housework for the day. She'd gone off for a shower and I sat down with my kids playing with Lego. I started to feel slightly unwell and my left arm started to go numb and my finger had a tingle in the end. I'm a bigger person and have recently started to worry about my weight and dying. So instantly I thought I was having a heart attack. My mum come back in and I was starting to sweat and panic I told her I was not feeling so good and I think I'm going to have a heart attack, she initially laughed at me and kept getting ready. I went off for a shower, the whole time in the shower my chest started to feel extremely tight and felt like an elephant was sitting on it. By this time my breathing had become quiet fast from the panic and I asked my mum to take me to the emergency room. Once I got there I was rushed off to be put on a machine, this of course made me panic even more. My blood pressure was 205/190. I literally felt like I was going to die like my heart was going to explode in my chest. Once the first ECG was done and they told me my heart was ok I started to settle down. I was kept over night just in case with 6 blood test done. They just said I'd had a panic attack and sent me on my way.Three days had passed and I still was not feeling too well, I started having bad headaches where my head would be so tight I'd cry, I felt dizzy all the time standing, sitting and even at night while in bed I spun out of control. I made a doctors appointment and was told there was nothing wrong with me. It was one of those Drs who pulls you in and pushes you out as quick as possible and charges you an arm and a leg with no answers. I decided to change Dr surgeries and found my current Dr. She listened to every word I said explained everything to me and knew what I was going through. It Did take 2 more visits for her to say you my dear have anxiety. She has put me on medication, it's started to help but now not so much so will be seeing her when she's back from holidays. I'm supposed to be seeing a psychologist but every time I go to make an appointment I have a panic attack and can't bring myself to do it. I don't know why or what I'm afraid of.

Alcohol and anxiety

replies: 5

Hi all, new here. I experience anxiety and often self medicate with alcohol which i know isnt good. It makes my anxiety worse i will wake up worried i did something i shouldnt have. It can be unbearable i go numb and feel like im not in my body i get... View more

Hi all, new here. I experience anxiety and often self medicate with alcohol which i know isnt good. It makes my anxiety worse i will wake up worried i did something i shouldnt have. It can be unbearable i go numb and feel like im not in my body i get so worried sick. Then i get so anxious i need to drink again so over this never ending cycle

Waking up Anxious in the middle of the night!

replies: 3

Hi! I'm completely new to all this forum and posting stuff. I've always had anxiety from when I can remember. I was on medication for a while then came off it and was good for 4-5 years. Recently living down stairs with my partner until we save for a... View more

Hi! I'm completely new to all this forum and posting stuff. I've always had anxiety from when I can remember. I was on medication for a while then came off it and was good for 4-5 years. Recently living down stairs with my partner until we save for a house my stress and anxiety levels are through the roof. I'm currently going to acupuncture and taking a few herbs, I thought they were working but the last couple of nights I've been waking up very anxious like I've been woken up in a fright and then concentrating on the noise I can hear up stairs and letting that worry me and not let me go back to sleep. I started taking some pain killers to help me stay asleep but I think I have gone past that point. I have a lot going on with work and study and not having my own space or home but all I want to do is stay asleep and no worry about trying to get back to sleep.

Who has read the book Dare?

replies: 4

Hi All! Got recommended to read the book called Dare. A friend said it changed her life as she doesn't get panic attacks anymore and her general anxiety has really gone down. Would hate to buy another book on anxiety without getting reviews. Thanks View more

Hi All! Got recommended to read the book called Dare. A friend said it changed her life as she doesn't get panic attacks anymore and her general anxiety has really gone down. Would hate to buy another book on anxiety without getting reviews. Thanks

Feeling Alone

replies: 5

Hello all not sure exactly how to start so will just share everything. I'm a 30 year old male comes from a unsupportive and broken family. I am single and unemployed. I used to have a large group of friends but over the past 10 years there have been ... View more

Hello all not sure exactly how to start so will just share everything. I'm a 30 year old male comes from a unsupportive and broken family. I am single and unemployed. I used to have a large group of friends but over the past 10 years there have been at least 17 weddings that some I have been invited to and others I have found out later. While they have found partners to marry I had been struggling and as a result the friendships have dissolved because they rarely take the time to hang out anymore and plus it was hard to be around them seeing how they were so happy and I was questioning myself deep inside. I have very little support from parents. One parent doesn't really care about myself and siblings and the other is not able to provide direction and encouragement due to a mental disability. Due to all this I am used to keeping to myself. When I do try to make friends it doesn't go well for me and that just makes me withdraw further away from all that and gets me down. I just don't know what to do anymore

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