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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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Lena123 Social Anxiety worse for specific events
  • replies: 2

I have suffered anxiety for many years and take an anti-depressant, which helps a lot. I suffer from social anxiety all the time, but can generally cope. What has prompted me to join up and make this post is that I have been invited to a hens night a... View more

I have suffered anxiety for many years and take an anti-depressant, which helps a lot. I suffer from social anxiety all the time, but can generally cope. What has prompted me to join up and make this post is that I have been invited to a hens night and from the moment I was invited I have felt anxious, stressed and had a headache. It's a fancy dress theme. I'm not especially close to the bride to be and dislike hen's nights to start with. I feel that I should just decline the invitation, knowing that the stress will end. This occurs whenever I'm invited to a big event, especially when i can't attend with my husband. What do others with social anxiety do in situations like this? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks.

lisalovesbacon OCD and intrusive thoughts.. help please!
  • replies: 5

I find that my thoughts are either a fear of disease (sometimes I fear AIDS, cancer (mostly skin cancer), heart disease, etc. And then I get the fears of hurting my close loved ones which is absolute torture, my current one is hurting my partner and ... View more

I find that my thoughts are either a fear of disease (sometimes I fear AIDS, cancer (mostly skin cancer), heart disease, etc. And then I get the fears of hurting my close loved ones which is absolute torture, my current one is hurting my partner and this is the one I can't stand the most. I' m scared these thoughts mean it will actually happen.I was going really well for a long time and a bout of stress due to giving up my dog brought out the harming ones again, I can barely sleep or eat while I'm like this. Sad part is, I'm just about to embark on a holiday and I don't think I'll enjoy it. What I keep repeating to myself is that I have gotten past these thoughts before, and I WILL do it again. Nothing is going to control my life but me.I'm currently not on medication, but I'm starting to think it might be a good idea. Thanks for reading.SIMILAR THREADSOCD and Intrusive ThoughtsHelp with intrusive thoughts caused by OCDIntrusive thoughts and imagesAnxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts help!Intrusive thoughts

HelenM Advice on Sleep
  • replies: 1

I know that somewhere on this site is a section on sleep but I can't find it. I possibly know the right stuff. I'll tell you what I do : I go to bed and get up at the same time. I don't drink caffeine or alcohol in the evening. I usually have some wa... View more

I know that somewhere on this site is a section on sleep but I can't find it. I possibly know the right stuff. I'll tell you what I do : I go to bed and get up at the same time. I don't drink caffeine or alcohol in the evening. I usually have some warm milk which can help. I don't read or watch anything that can disturb me. I manage to relax in bed and I don't get up as that makes me worse. I should go for a walk before bed. The thing is, my sleeplessness is no longer anxiety related but seems to be based on nothing. I'm 54 and wonder if it's connected to the menopause. I take the odd sleeping tablet but our Drs won't prescribe them too much. Anyway, any advice would be welcome. Thanks, Helen

JoJo_B Feeling Stuck and Anxious
  • replies: 2

Hi thereI have been at home for the past two weeks with one more week to go and I have constant anxiety about the state of the house I rent on my own. I am meant to be studying but I just cant. I can't even do housework/gardening, can barely bring my... View more

Hi thereI have been at home for the past two weeks with one more week to go and I have constant anxiety about the state of the house I rent on my own. I am meant to be studying but I just cant. I can't even do housework/gardening, can barely bring myself to get dressed, eat, let alone shower. I have lived here over ten years with ex-husband, child and dog who are now no longer with me. I am the last one standing in this house. I can't leave. The house is literally falling apart room by room, peeling paint, carpet falling apart, you name it. I pay exorbitant rent to live here and I can't bear waking up each morning to see all the peeling paint and shabbiness. My landlord doesn't do any upkeep on this place, yet I am afraid that when I can finally afford to leave that he will take me to court for the peeling paint and condition of the carpet and everything else that is wrong.This place hasn't been painted in 15 years, I know it is wear and tear but I am afraid others will see how I have been living and I am so ashamed. My boss told me in February last year that I lived in a crappy house after coming to knock on my door one time and before that comment I had accepted where I lived (even though I was anxious about it) because I could keep the family dog who was an in/outdoor (before passing away). Since my boss said that I have had major anxiety and feel so stuck. I don't invite anyone to my house ever because I am so ashamed. I cannot afford to move as I am trying to rebuild my life after divorce and raising my child (who is now an adult) on my own who has now moved out. My rent is half my income. When I get anxious and think about everything that is wrong about this place, my compulsion is to think about ways that I can fix it or pay for someone to come in to fix it, but I can't do that either because you need permission and I always feel anxious when dealing with the LL as he tells me that I need to repair things which are his responsibility. I am in an abusive situation that I can't get out of. He is scary and intimidating and reminds me of my marriage. I feel like I am stuck in this situation because it is what I am used to. The humiliation and shame. I read case law after case law all day on 1 January regarding tenancies and I amfreaking out and can't think of anything else. I have tried positive affirmations, tapping and downloading apps. Please give me some advice. This has taken over all my life. What do I do?

dee122 Is this possible?
  • replies: 2

Hi i have this terrible fear that I have become pregnant from using the same toilet/bathroom as my sister's boyfriend. he woke up during the night to use the toilet and then about half an hour later I used the same toilet. I had to do a number two. A... View more

Hi i have this terrible fear that I have become pregnant from using the same toilet/bathroom as my sister's boyfriend. he woke up during the night to use the toilet and then about half an hour later I used the same toilet. I had to do a number two. Afterwards, I wiped my bottom. I then had a terrible thought that this could cause me to become pregnant. What if he had just had intercourse and I touched some left over semen/sperm that may have been on the toilet door handle, the toilet paper or another surface nearby. Is this possible? This anxiety consumes me...it affects my day to day life, it's all I can think about. It has been going on for a few years now...I take pregnancy tests daily. I don't know what to do. Has anyone been in a similar situation or experienced anything like this??

Pandapie93 Feel like I can't do anything right.
  • replies: 23

Hi all... I'm new to BB and pretty nervous about posting this, but I can't cope anymore on my own. I can't cope telling people close to me of my anxiety and depression, I feel like I've let them down some how and that I'm being judged. I've been stru... View more

Hi all... I'm new to BB and pretty nervous about posting this, but I can't cope anymore on my own. I can't cope telling people close to me of my anxiety and depression, I feel like I've let them down some how and that I'm being judged. I've been struggling with depression and anxiety for about 9 years now and only came to terms with it on the last couple of months as my anxiety attacks have become so severe. I live in a mental world of hell where I feel like a constant failure... I worry about every word I say and every move I make, worried I'll upset someone or be judged for my words or actions. I find it hard to sleep from worry and when I do I have nightmares. When I have anxiety attacks I feel physically sick to my stomach and get sharp pains in my chest and head... I get muscle cramps and want to burst into tears and run as far away as I can... I have an amazing life, so many amazing people in my life and I love my job, why can't I just stop worrying and be happy? What's wrong with me??!!! hate this disease, it's ruining my life and so many others. please, I beg of any hints or tips on how I can overcome this. - Panda

HelenM Worry chews at my mind
  • replies: 5

One of my biggest enemies with my mental health is worry. I have always been pessimistic and it played a massive part in my mental illness over the years. I am waiting to go on a Mindfulness course but that won't be till late Spring. So not helpful n... View more

One of my biggest enemies with my mental health is worry. I have always been pessimistic and it played a massive part in my mental illness over the years. I am waiting to go on a Mindfulness course but that won't be till late Spring. So not helpful now. My brother's son has leukaemia. He was diagnosed in January and I think it played a part in my mood dropping then. Things went well and he went into remission. However recently it came back. Fortunately he is only 30 and fit and so could handle the aggressive chemo they gave. He then got an infection which has thankfully cleared and it'll be a few weeks before they can say if he's in remission again. Then they want to do a bone marrow transplant - his siblings don't match but it seems that on the European donor list they'll find him a match reasonably okay. All this was fine in my head. Today I rang my brother and he also mentioned the possibility of his son not going in remission. He is coping well but obviously worried though he was not trying to worry me. Although things going wrong are always possible I cope by not asking about them or not allowing myself to 'know' .Now I can't stop worrying about my nephew. I try to reassure myself and certainly his youth is in his favour as well as the very good treatment that is available and apparently improving all the time. I try to distract myself but find it hard. It's a double problem for me: the worry I feel and also the possibility that it will pull me down. My sister tells me that to worry is pointless and that we have to be their for him. She's right but I am unable to switch worry off. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks, Helen

Bluegirl2014 scared of bad things happening in the world and terrorism
  • replies: 6

Hi, this is my first post here. I have suffered from anxiety and depression for ten years, to varying degrees. One theme that keeps reoccurring for me is the fear of something bad happening in the world or to me, my family (particularly my children) ... View more

Hi, this is my first post here. I have suffered from anxiety and depression for ten years, to varying degrees. One theme that keeps reoccurring for me is the fear of something bad happening in the world or to me, my family (particularly my children) and my loved ones. With the terrorism occurring, natural disasters. and wars the world is becoming even scarier, I worry that my children will be unsafe at school and their school will be the target of a shooter or terrorist. I worry when my family is at large community events something bad will happen. I worry that something will happen to me and they will be left sad, scared and alone. How can I live a normal life and how can I support my children to live a happy, productive life when I live in constant fear? Do other people get scared like this? I feel the only safe place is at home, I don't understand why people want to hurt other people.

anxiety223 PTSD, anxiety and no support
  • replies: 4

have you ever gone through a difficult phase with no support? I have a boyfriend of 2.5y ears and every time I am struggling, he finds it overwhelming and has trouble coping. My biggest anxiety trigger is the thought of him leaving me. i need some su... View more

have you ever gone through a difficult phase with no support? I have a boyfriend of 2.5y ears and every time I am struggling, he finds it overwhelming and has trouble coping. My biggest anxiety trigger is the thought of him leaving me. i need some support. i have no family of close friends here. have booking in to see a psyc. but i can't even talk to my man, he is "always right", once he has his mind up there is no changing it. what can i say to him? i need his support so badlybeyondblue'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.

Matty85 Anxiety and Insomnia, need some help
  • replies: 3

Hi, my name is Matt and this is my first post. I have suffered from anxiety and depression since my late teens, I am in my late 20's now. My anxiety tends to come and go and generally I manage it fairly well, however, ever few years I have what I wou... View more

Hi, my name is Matt and this is my first post. I have suffered from anxiety and depression since my late teens, I am in my late 20's now. My anxiety tends to come and go and generally I manage it fairly well, however, ever few years I have what I would call a major episode that hangs around for weeks or a few months. Usually I concentrate on one particular thing and constantly have thoughts about how it will never leave, and then I have anxiety about being stuck in that particular headspace for the rest of my life. This also causes me to become depressed. About a month ago after a big night of drinking I had a large anxiety episode. (Im not a big drinker these days, but at times when I am doing really well and in a good headspace, I find myself drinking more and partying hard, which usually brings on the anxiety episodes). Whilst trying to get to sleep I had a rather large anxiety attack about not getting to sleep. Since then I have had mild to strong anxiety whenever I think about sleep and whether or not I will fall asleep at night. When trying to go to sleep I tend to find myself dozing off and I become self aware that I am falling asleep and instantly wake myself up. This can happen a few times as Im trying to get off to sleep, and each time it happens my anxiety increases. As my anxiety increases I begin to stress that I wont fall asleep and I will be a mess for work the next day. I also get anxious that the next night I will have the same battle again, and again for the rest of my life. Whilst doing my day to day work or socialising I also become aware of my anxiety and start to stress about whether I will sleep that night. I went and spoke to my Dr about this and she has put me back on an antidepressant which I have taken in the past. She also prescribed me some sleeping tablets to help me get my sleep pattern back. I started on the antidepressant about a month ago and I feel it is slowly starting to kick in. I have taken the sleeping tablet a few times that I have needed to doze off so I will be right for work the next day, however, I am reluctant to take them regularly as I don't want to be dependant on pills to sleep. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced similar symptoms and could offer any tips or insight into moving past this battle I am having. I am about to go on an overseas holiday in a week and don't want to be stressing about sleep instead of enjoying myself. SIMILAR THREADS Anxiety after night out drinking? Anxiety and drinking alcohol Drinking anxiety Anxiety and alcohol equals despair Anxiety, depression and alcohol