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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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dtak59 Does it Help to Focus on Anxiety?
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I am new to these forums and I have SA. I have noticed that every time I try to make fixing my SA a priority, it tends to make it worse. Almost all reliable sources to treating SA have all acknowledged the first step of treatment as ackn... View more

Hi everyone, I am new to these forums and I have SA. I have noticed that every time I try to make fixing my SA a priority, it tends to make it worse. Almost all reliable sources to treating SA have all acknowledged the first step of treatment as acknowledging the problem and working with it instead of trying to avoid it. However in my experience the opposite has been true. When I am given concrete specific tasks to focus on to direct my attention away from anything related to myself, I often manage to "forget" my anxiety and this leads to a temporary remission, where I can talk to almost anybody and deal with any situation with little or no anxiety. The moment there is any peace or calm in my life though, any breathing room to do any kind of thinking, the SA returns right away. Living with constant distractions can be exhilarating and freeing, but also exhausting. Basically, I have to be always living in the present and focusing on reality, otherwise the SA comes back. I feel I may be treading a dangerous and counter-productive path by not dealing with my problems directly, but at the same time, focusing on my anxiety, even if in a productive way, tends to make it worse. So, as you can see, I am pulled by two opposing paths. Does anyone have any suggestion? Thank you

adam89 Anxiety when getting sick?
  • replies: 2

Hey all, I have lived with anxiety & depression since I was 18 or so. I find it alot easier to drag myself away from negative thoughts than when I was younger (25 now). I seem to relapse whenever I notice im getting a little bit sick (cold or sore st... View more

Hey all, I have lived with anxiety & depression since I was 18 or so. I find it alot easier to drag myself away from negative thoughts than when I was younger (25 now). I seem to relapse whenever I notice im getting a little bit sick (cold or sore stomach - basic things). I'm on antibiotics for a skin infection which probably isnt helping. The one thing that often helps drag me from the constant rollercoaster that is anxiety is exercise (going for a long walk with my pooch). bt feeling a cold coming on in this weather means i cant really exercise. I really dont want to hang ot with people who don't know what I'm going through (my family is what I'm limited to) and it is made worse as I have a big get together with friends bt really don't want to drink or socialise haha. Anyone relate to this? Thanks

Anxious_Kay How do you know what parts of your personality are you and what parts are anxiety?
  • replies: 2

I only just really understood that I have anxiety and am panicking about what things I do are because of anxiety and what are just me. Any advice? My partner recently ended our relationship and of course I'm going through and thinking about what I co... View more

I only just really understood that I have anxiety and am panicking about what things I do are because of anxiety and what are just me. Any advice? My partner recently ended our relationship and of course I'm going through and thinking about what I could have done differently. I know it's not all my fault and he should have been more understanding, but I'm wondering what I did due to anxiety... For example, was worrying about why he didn't always want to be with me normal because he was withdrawing or was it anxiety? Does it matter?

NicoleP Need support but scared psychologist will see me as a failure
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone, Just after some advice. I was seeing a psychologist in 2012 and at the start of 2013 due to workplace bullying. When I was transferred to a new school in March 2013 and there was no stress, things settled and I stopped seeing him. Then a... View more

Hi everyone, Just after some advice. I was seeing a psychologist in 2012 and at the start of 2013 due to workplace bullying. When I was transferred to a new school in March 2013 and there was no stress, things settled and I stopped seeing him. Then at the end of 2013 I went back cos of some stress related issues at my local running club - saw him only once or twice. Then this year, I have had some work related stress. I went and saw him in the middle of the year and he told me that I didn't need to go back. The same issue has continued at work and I am sooooo stressed and I need some emotional support. I feel like a failure going back yet again and feel a bit like he thinks I am being ridiculous and that he is losing patience with me and therefore am very reluctant to make an appointment. So, I am stressed about work and am even more stressed about making an appointment with psychologist. Has anyone else felt this way.

ilurvesleep I think i used to have bad anxiety but then it suddenly went away will it come back?
  • replies: 2

I haven't been on here before so I don't really know what to write, sorry in advance if i do something wrong. here is a bit of my background: I have never been professionally diagnosed with anxiety or depression but for about six months of this year,... View more

I haven't been on here before so I don't really know what to write, sorry in advance if i do something wrong. here is a bit of my background: I have never been professionally diagnosed with anxiety or depression but for about six months of this year, from about the start of autumn, i started to feel really down all of the time. My memory started getting really bad and I kept on thinking that everyone was out to get me. I stopped trusting anyone, even my closest friend who is the kindest person in the world. I started having a really short temper and becoming very introverted, I was having suicidal thoughts even though I knew I would never do it. I was always tired during the day and couldn't get to sleep at night, I gained too much weight (to the point that I am now on the verge of obesity but I also quit the gym because it was too expensive so that probably contributed a lot to my weight) and finally I was never able to relax both mentally and physically. so a few weeks ago I went to the first social outing I had been to since before the 6 months, it was my favorite band performing at a concert. That night I let it all out. I was jumping up and down for 5 hours straight, yelling my lungs out and forgetting all of my self conscience thoughts. I stayed up until 5 and then slept for around 16 hours. since then I have been so happy all of the time. I can't even imagine having felt depressed before. So I was wondering if I am going to fall back into this depressive state (which was so horrible) or am I better? or is that a stupid question because mood and things in the future is really hard to predict? one last question: for those six months no one ever said anything to me or asked me if anything was wrong. for the most part i understand that I was able to "wear another person's face" so most people thought i was just always on my period and nothing more but my grades dropped considerably during the time, to the extent that i was failing most subjects (mainly because i couldn't remember anything no matter how hard i tried so i gave up on trying). so my question, is there any part of teacher education which teaches them to recognize when students are depressed? and if so are they encouraged to help the student or advise them to see a counselor? i only ask because I think it would have helped me if someone else had initiated a conversation. thanks page

lost_in_melbourne Anxiety over husbands job loss
  • replies: 1

Hi Everyone,I am here because I am having a very difficult time coping with my husbands job loss. This happened about 6 weeks ago. I am incredibly proud of how he has handled this - he's been meeting up with people, seeing recruiters etc but there's ... View more

Hi Everyone,I am here because I am having a very difficult time coping with my husbands job loss. This happened about 6 weeks ago. I am incredibly proud of how he has handled this - he's been meeting up with people, seeing recruiters etc but there's not a lot out there in his area of work at the moment. I am terrified that this is going to turn into a long term situaiton. I fear for the security of our children. I fear that he may never find another job. I fear that there is a stigma towards people who have been made redundant and that no one will hire him. I fear that our landlord will want to sell the house we are renting and we wont be able to get anything else bc we have no income. I am absolutely ruled by my fears and the constant voices in my head to the point where I am thinking of how to relieve this anguish permanently. I hate myself for being so weak. I am putting on a good mask in front of my husband and children, happy, smiling etc but its becoming harder. I've lost quite a bit of weight. No appetite, but making myself try and eat 3 times a day. Will it ever get better?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.

guest149 A story of panic and anxiety
  • replies: 3

I know some of the rules here and I think mentioning places is not allowed but please let me tell my story with no editing. I live in Albuquerque NM USA. Last year, I drove to see a friend in Fort Smith, Arkansas 728 miles door to door, my house to h... View more

I know some of the rules here and I think mentioning places is not allowed but please let me tell my story with no editing. I live in Albuquerque NM USA. Last year, I drove to see a friend in Fort Smith, Arkansas 728 miles door to door, my house to his. I drove on I-40 which passes through Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Dead center in tornado alley, the only place in the world and OKC is dead center in the path. As I drove through Oklahoma City 550 miles from my home, I saw ominous clouds. I drove about 10 miles east of OKC and had a total meltdown in my car, I truly don't think it was fear of tornadoes. I was in my car in Arkansas in the middle of a tornado in 2011, trees flying everywhere, but not a bit scared. Anyways, I pulled to the side of the road close to a truck stop, walked down a ravine, sat on a big rock, held my dog, and cried for an hour, terrified out of my mind even though the clouds had dissipated. This was the week after the Moore Oklahoma tornadoes of 2013. Moore is a suburb of OKC. It destroyed the city. Within 180 miles of my destination, I turned the car around and drove home. 1104 miles non stop. Almost 24 hours. 3 months ago, in July 2014 I drove the trip again. 728 miles to Fort Smith, Arkansas. I was dead tired. It was on a Friday. The next day, I had an anxiety meltdown again (Saturday). Packed my stuff back in my car, said goodbye and drove back to Albuquerque. They probably don't want me back thinking I must be crazy. 12 hours one way trip., over 1450 miles I drove so I could be back home and be in my "safe place". I also had the same experience in 1990 when I paid an extra thousand dollars to fly home from Washington DC. cutting a "vacation" short 1 day because of panic. When I get panic or a streak of anxiety (usually lasts about 5 days) I don't react like "text book" descriptions. I get extremely nauseous, not like stomach flu nausea, (it's hard to describe) but it is definitely nausea. I feel like I'm in a dream, detached from my body. The nausea feeds the panic, and the panic feeds the nausea. An excruciating vortex. I don't get chest tightness, tingling arms, or all the other symptoms that send people to the hospital thinking they have a heart attack. I'm just throwing this out in the universe wondering if anyone experiences this weird behavior as a reaction to panic hoping I am not a freak, alone with this. "grounding" does not help when you are this far into a meltdown. Thanks for listening (reading)

shellyt constant battle
  • replies: 4

So i have been struggling with anxiety for about 6 years now sometimes i can go months without it and other times it feels like a daily struggle. I have taken medication for the past 5 years which has helped a lot, the past couple of weeks my anxiety... View more

So i have been struggling with anxiety for about 6 years now sometimes i can go months without it and other times it feels like a daily struggle. I have taken medication for the past 5 years which has helped a lot, the past couple of weeks my anxiety has come back in full force. I constantly feel like i have something really wrong with me l am so aware of every sensation in my body and my head feels fuzzy which makes me feel 100 times worse which causes me to feel extra anxious which brings along all the other anxiety symptoms. i just want to feel free of anxiety and have a clear head. I have 3 children my youngest is 13 months old and i want to be able to enjoy my time with them but i am so scared that i have something terrible wrong with me and i might not be around and they need me does anyone else feel this way<>

Jo3 Feeling very anxious
  • replies: 2

I need some advice pls.For quite a while now I have become very anxious and depressed about doing the banking online. Especially when the accounts are in the negative. I panic a lot now when I know i need to look at the netbank and check the balances... View more

I need some advice pls.For quite a while now I have become very anxious and depressed about doing the banking online. Especially when the accounts are in the negative. I panic a lot now when I know i need to look at the netbank and check the balances. So for the past few weeks I haven't been looking so I actually have no idea of what the balances are. I just hope that when I go to the shops that I have money in the account; if not, well then I am in trouble,I can't keep doing this ie not looking at netbank but I don't know what to do. I know that hubby won't do it because i have tried so many times to show him how to log in and use net bank but he just won't.I am getting so depressed and anxious because i know that if there is no money we will have companies call us. Tonight I received an email from a company requesting that money be put into the account for them to direct debit in 2 weeks. There is no way we can have that money in our account by then.What am I going to do? I have been referred to see a social worker at the hospital where I was admitted, so I think I will have to call him tomorrow. Jo

todd1981 alcohol and anxiety
  • replies: 1

hi everyone, i experience severe GAD and also drink everyday.. when i drink my anxiety lessons and i feel better. iv tried being sober for times[ best 3 months ] but still horrible anxiety? wat do i do ?

hi everyone, i experience severe GAD and also drink everyday.. when i drink my anxiety lessons and i feel better. iv tried being sober for times[ best 3 months ] but still horrible anxiety? wat do i do ?