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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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Blue2 I'm a Newbie
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm new to all this. I feel totally unqualified to offer anybody else advice or pointers. All I can do is say I am more than happy to be involved and contribute as usefully as possible as we go along. I recently slipped into a round of insomnia, ... View more

Hi, I'm new to all this. I feel totally unqualified to offer anybody else advice or pointers. All I can do is say I am more than happy to be involved and contribute as usefully as possible as we go along. I recently slipped into a round of insomnia, causing my previously mild anxiety to escalate into a claustrophobic blanket that self perpetuated itself to the point I couldn't see a way out. Fortunately, I have a listening caring GP who gave me shirt term sedation but only if I agreed to take Therapy to find my way out of the dark tunnel I was in. Is anyone else feeling as I did? If so, please unburden yourself here and share your thoughts. It will help. We are all here for each other. Thanks for listening folks. Belle

string_cheese Medication - coping with weird feeling in face
  • replies: 4

Hi there! I have recently been on a strange journey with medication. At a low dose I find it really helpful. But recently (to cut a long story short) I have had to take a higher dose. It is only temporary but I hate it. I constantly feel like I am fl... View more

Hi there! I have recently been on a strange journey with medication. At a low dose I find it really helpful. But recently (to cut a long story short) I have had to take a higher dose. It is only temporary but I hate it. I constantly feel like I am floating in the air, falling through space, or like a ghost somehow. I am confused by simple things, and don't understand things. On top of all this, it feels like my thoughts go in loops or get cut short, and then I feel breathless. Around my eyes and my forehead feel tight. It is so unpleasant. Has anyone else had this before?

Heidi_1 Hard start to the year
  • replies: 2

hey everyone, This year hasn’t gone the way I want it to and it’s only the start, looks like I might be in for another tough one. I just feel like it’s never going to get easier to constantly fight with the battle in my head, I’m worried I might just... View more

hey everyone, This year hasn’t gone the way I want it to and it’s only the start, looks like I might be in for another tough one. I just feel like it’s never going to get easier to constantly fight with the battle in my head, I’m worried I might just give up fighting, it’s extremely tiring, it’s like I’m fighting a losing battle. People tell me it will get better and it’s not going to last forever but it certainly doesn’t feel like it.I’m exhausted and it’s so hard to get up and do things. When does things start to get better? Let’s hope the next few weeks are looking up.

NZthrower I think anxiety around gender is making me constipated
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone! I've been constipated for over a week and almost two weeks for now. I have also been constantly anxious all the time. I have been constantly worrying about my views on gender identity and how it conflicts with society, what the facts mig... View more

Hi everyone! I've been constipated for over a week and almost two weeks for now. I have also been constantly anxious all the time. I have been constantly worrying about my views on gender identity and how it conflicts with society, what the facts might be, and how I feel like I will be shamed and so on. I believe in the gender binary, but I've glimpsed briefly at scientific papers that discredit the binary and demonstrate that certain medical procedures benefit people with gender dysphoria. I also am worried and disgusted and incensed at hearing of news that some hospitals in the US are doing top surgery to minors 15-16 and over, as I feel that minors that young can't properly consent to such a life changing procedure that can potentially have negative mental health effects if any part of the process before and during the procedure goes wrong. I am aware that parental consent is required based on my limited knowledge of such procedures, but I don't think it is enough to prevent very severe mistakes. This has all caused cognitive dissonance and anxiety which I think probably contributes to my constipation, as I always feel like holding my excrement in and avoiding the toilet whenever the dissonance hits. I feel like such belies support a very narrow and conservative view on social issues, which I don't really subscribe to as I feel it to be needlessly restrictive. However, I find the binary of gender to be comforting and by extension conservative social views as I find the certainty and clarity underlying such views to be appealing, and gender identity to be very confusing to understand. I have trouble grasping with the view that a woman or man is determined by whether you identify as one, since isn't that a circular definition that has little useful meaning? I'm confused and anxious and hope you can clarify this for me, as I find uncertainty to amplify my anxiety. FYI, I'm not trans nor gender non-conforming. I'm pretty cis, but I'm just curious and don't want my take on the issue to be misinformed or hurtful.

Heidi_1 Dealing with anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, I’m new to this forum and I’m unsure on what to really say. I’ve never reached out or really talked to anyone about anxiety before. I guess I will start by saying that I’ve been struggling quite a lot lately to even do the easier tasks,... View more

Hey everyone, I’m new to this forum and I’m unsure on what to really say. I’ve never reached out or really talked to anyone about anxiety before. I guess I will start by saying that I’ve been struggling quite a lot lately to even do the easier tasks, it’s hard to get out of bed and get motivated to do things. I feel so alone and sad. It’s like everyone around me is happy and getting on in life and I’m just stuck at this one spot and can’t move, does anyone else feel like this? I thought I should come on here and reach out just to have a chat and seek help. How do I get out of this pit of aloneness and depression?

Sour-Marshmallow Need advice for social anxiety treatment
  • replies: 5

I’ve dealing with severe social anxiety for as long as I can long as I can remember. Unfortunately it’s gotten much worse in recent months which pushed me to get help from my GP since I couldn’t deal with it any longer. As I expected, he diagnosed me... View more

I’ve dealing with severe social anxiety for as long as I can long as I can remember. Unfortunately it’s gotten much worse in recent months which pushed me to get help from my GP since I couldn’t deal with it any longer. As I expected, he diagnosed me with longstanding social anxiety and referred me to a psychiatrist for further treatment. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized the current waitlist for that psychiatrist was 8 months. I called different places and the earliest appointment was May next year (I live in a small city). To make it worse those places all charge $300 for each appointment, which I’m not sure I can afford in the long term. So I was wondering if it would be possible for me to go back to my GP and ask him to prescribe me some anxiety medications until I get an appointment with a psychiatrist. I don’t want to sound like a drug seeker but I really can’t live like this anymore. Thanks.

Narlah Looking for excellent meditation apps
  • replies: 7

Hi about 3 month ago I had my first panic attack im a childcare worker and I had a panic attack with child in the work van. It happened 1 more time after that. I've been to my GP and been seeking help through a physiologist and been put on anti anxie... View more

Hi about 3 month ago I had my first panic attack im a childcare worker and I had a panic attack with child in the work van. It happened 1 more time after that. I've been to my GP and been seeking help through a physiologist and been put on anti anxiety medication. Im trying to work out what makes me anxious, we've moved house, gone casual at work but now I'm finding it hard to sit in a waiting room at a doctors or out for dinner. Im wondering if there is some Excellent apps out there that could help.

Pixie15 Anxiety and Vitamin B12 Deficiency
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I have recently was diagnosed with B12 deficiency. The doctor who diagnosed the condition suggested that it may have originated when I followed a vegan diet over a decade earlier. During the time since I had been treated for social anxiety ... View more

Hi there, I have recently was diagnosed with B12 deficiency. The doctor who diagnosed the condition suggested that it may have originated when I followed a vegan diet over a decade earlier. During the time since I had been treated for social anxiety and other conditions which appeared to explain my physical difficulties. The social anxiety seemed to make sense because I had always been socially shy especially with new situations and people. I still think it is part of the problem. But some of the things that were attributed to my anxiety were symptoms of the B12 deficiency which is apparently a very much overlooked and under diagnosed problem. My health both physical and mental has improved remarkably since getting on top of my B12 deficiency. I still trying to understand what is B12 and what is anxiety. Anyway I have benefited greatly from my participation on this forum and just wanted to share in case it may help somebody else. Thank you.

blegz Wanting to ‘go home’
  • replies: 2

Hello — I’ve been experiencing this feeling of ‘wanting to go home’ and thought I’d ask if anyone else has experienced something similar. Over the last 10 years I’ve moved around quite a lot - relocating interstate several times for work. Currently I... View more

Hello — I’ve been experiencing this feeling of ‘wanting to go home’ and thought I’d ask if anyone else has experienced something similar. Over the last 10 years I’ve moved around quite a lot - relocating interstate several times for work. Currently I’m living back at home with my parents. The pandemic brought about a lot of change—end of a long term relationship, career drop off due to lockdowns, loss of loved ones, stress and anxiety—which altered my sense of feeling centred, settled, in control of my life. Some mornings I wake up and feel comfortable but out of place and this feeling rushes through my body physically and stirs my thinking of “wanting to go home”. I’m 30, fit and healthy, but live with PTSD and ongoing anxiety/depression, which is managed through self care routines. I wondered if anyone else has experienced this feeling before and how you managed to resolve the thoughts or the tension it creates? The physical feeling of being uncomfortable usually lasts 10-15 minutes, before I can completely calm myself down. The thoughts however, linger on.

Freya1973 Sleeping problems
  • replies: 11

I want to sleep, I take a sedative to help me be calm.I am tired, but so wound up.A flood panic comes over me, I hate .I think ahead for life and wonder if I am going to be like this forever, how am I going to move on and live like this.Does anyone g... View more

I want to sleep, I take a sedative to help me be calm.I am tired, but so wound up.A flood panic comes over me, I hate .I think ahead for life and wonder if I am going to be like this forever, how am I going to move on and live like this.Does anyone get like this?