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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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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 ?

Aggy Just want to say hi: diagnosed with agoraphobia
  • replies: 63

Hi everyone. I just signed up and wanted to say hi to all. I started med treatment from my doc last week for severe anxiety and today was diagnosed with agoraphobia. I'm a middle aged guy with no friends or family so it's great to have somewhere to c... View more

Hi everyone. I just signed up and wanted to say hi to all. I started med treatment from my doc last week for severe anxiety and today was diagnosed with agoraphobia. I'm a middle aged guy with no friends or family so it's great to have somewhere to come and compare notes. You all seem very nice and supportive of each other. That makes me feel better already and think I will like it here. That's my first post, so look after yourselves and I'm looking forward to making a friend or two. -aggy

Dreamcatcher Anxiety over Illness
  • replies: 5

Not quite sure how to begin this! Well here goes! I am a 33 year old mother of one beautiful baby girl and happily married so my anxiety is not stemming from either. This all began 4 years ago when I battled an illness and was quite un well and was s... View more

Not quite sure how to begin this! Well here goes! I am a 33 year old mother of one beautiful baby girl and happily married so my anxiety is not stemming from either. This all began 4 years ago when I battled an illness and was quite un well and was sure that I was going to die! I recovered but now every time I have a stomach ache, my mind runs away and the little voice in my head that I like to call the accuser tells me it's stomach cancer. Or if I have a head ache it's a tumor I am sure you get the drift I try my best not to give in to these fears and stop googling my symptoms as this only makes things worse. At the moment I am really anxious as I am waiting on ultra sound results I wish I didn't always think the worst I hate to burden my husband with my constant health worries and have no close girl friends that I can talk too. I work in a fast paced enviroment part-time so that I can be with my daughter. I am not sure how to get over the anxiety and dont want to take medication, I would appreciated any ones thoughts?

Optimist_Prime What works for you to escape your moment of anxiety?
  • replies: 5

Hello It is hard for me to admit to myself that my anxiety is unhealthy and that it has reached a point where I am no longer in control. But I think I'm finally ready to stop denying the problem (again). Would some of you lovely, sharing people discu... View more

Hello It is hard for me to admit to myself that my anxiety is unhealthy and that it has reached a point where I am no longer in control. But I think I'm finally ready to stop denying the problem (again). Would some of you lovely, sharing people discuss what has truly helped you in the moment to overcome your anxiety? Is it simply "being strict with yourself" and forcing thoughts to be more positive? Or have you found other things helpful? I am not open to medication (health reasons, long story). And I have sought professional help before but did not find it healing longterm. I find my anxiety/ depression goes in waves. Sometimes I can get on top of it for years and then a number of stressful occurrences finally push me back over the edge to the same anxiety and negative thoughts.

sw A whole new world..
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone I am new here & reasonably new to the extreme anxiety experience. Ive suffered bought's of depression in the past but after a recent trauma I am living with anxiety and not enjoying the experience at all of course. One of the most difficu... View more

Hi everyone I am new here & reasonably new to the extreme anxiety experience. Ive suffered bought's of depression in the past but after a recent trauma I am living with anxiety and not enjoying the experience at all of course. One of the most difficult symptoms I find is the insomnia..When I am having a bad day, like today, Ill be lucky to get to sleep until the early hours of the morning. Its a vicious cycle and feels so hopeless at times. This week I almost had an anxiety attack in a work meeting when a person triggered a memory of the recent trauma I referred to. It was a hellish experience and I hope its not the start of further deterioration. I am on medication that is taken at night and meant to help me sleep but only works on good days...Went off the sleeping tablets as I do not want to become reliant. Thankful to have the opportunity to share a part of my story with my peers & hear your feedback

Overthinker Feeling lost and alone.
  • replies: 18

Hi i am 29, i have been struggling with myself for a few months now. I have 3 children, a partner who works away in Western australia 8 days on and 6 days off. I am not the bright bubbly happy fun loving girl i use to be. I am constantly over thinkin... View more

Hi i am 29, i have been struggling with myself for a few months now. I have 3 children, a partner who works away in Western australia 8 days on and 6 days off. I am not the bright bubbly happy fun loving girl i use to be. I am constantly over thinking things creating stupid senarios in my head. I am always worrying about things i shouldn't be and worrying about what people think and have to say about me. My biggest issue at the moment, is that my partner who works away has a female friend who he has known for 5 years now and has dinner with her maybe 3 times a year, they do talk through fb messenger as do me and him while he is at work. But my biggest concern is that after their dinner catch up last night she put on his fb that they must do it more often as its been to long. I keep thinking she is trying to come between me and him. As she knows that things havent been great with him and i of late. I keep feeling like i am not good enough for him anymore, he has assured me that he doesn't see her as anything but a friend but obviously she has other ideas. I feel like my whole world is falling down around me and i can't pick myself back up. Thats all happening and my kids wont listen to me or do what they are told to do. I have no motivation to do anything but sit around and cry and over think things Everytime my partner is on Fb messenger when he is at work i keep thinking he is talking to his female friend. He doesnt talk to me very much at all. Today i had a breakdown i couldnt stop crying i actually thought to myself that i dont want to be here anymore. Its so hard i dont feel i have any support i dont feel like anyone understands me. I feel so alone and not wanted. But im just too scared to tell anyone. I know im not well at all and want to get back to my normal self, i know this takes time but at the moment i just dont want to be here. 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.

Liz71 No reason
  • replies: 5

Saturday night at home, nothing happening, no dramas, no fights, nothing confrontational & my guts are churning with anxiety. Why? Hubby's cooking a BBQ, going to struggle to eat it....doing my breathing, comes back the second I stop. I'm an intellig... View more

Saturday night at home, nothing happening, no dramas, no fights, nothing confrontational & my guts are churning with anxiety. Why? Hubby's cooking a BBQ, going to struggle to eat it....doing my breathing, comes back the second I stop. I'm an intelligent & successful person, why can't I control this? So frustrating & irrational.