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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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obelisk84 What do you do when you feel lonely at night?
  • replies: 1

I live alone. Moved back to my home city but don't really know anyone here or at least childhood friends but I don't reach out to them because I have become more socially anxious these last few years. Every night and every weekend feels so hard to li... View more

I live alone. Moved back to my home city but don't really know anyone here or at least childhood friends but I don't reach out to them because I have become more socially anxious these last few years. Every night and every weekend feels so hard to live through because it's just me, in an apartment, nobody to talk to, nowhere to go, too afraid to be seen in public alone because I have nothing exciting to share with people. I'm not one to put myself out there because I just feel people don't have time for me or wouldn't want my company any more than a few minutes. I just need something to help live with loneliness but I have no idea what and thought maybe someone here has some ideas that would help me. Thanks.

Jade747 Feeling like i have no friends
  • replies: 8

Hi im jade im 17 and still in highschool and struggling really badly with friends. As of this year i have tried to switch friend groups since i felt my group was toxic and had always left me out - this was perfect timing as half of the group moved sc... View more

Hi im jade im 17 and still in highschool and struggling really badly with friends. As of this year i have tried to switch friend groups since i felt my group was toxic and had always left me out - this was perfect timing as half of the group moved schools and it wouldn’t be as awkward if i left. After this i sat with a group of girls for a few months but they never really included me in anything- then i moved to another group who where nice but i felt they didn’t necessarily like me- now me and another girl from that friend group have joined another group of girls at lunch. i really enjoy there company and we get along- but as of recent the group which i thought was going to include me more ( as i told them my situation of *having no Friends*) has hung out multiple times without me, i feel extremely broken and angry, often questioning myself what have i done wrong as i haven’t had a group of friends that i feel actually want to spend time with me! Im also confused as my year group has voted me sweetest person two years in a row, so what have i done to people to make them not want to hang out with me ??Im wondering if its becuase im still friends with my original group but not as close as i was before and my new group thinks im still consistently talking and hanging out with them. please give me advice as im really struggling and regularly crying about my situation - i feel extremely lonely as i see all the other people i know having fun as a teenager As i reflect on my whole time in school i realise i’ve never really had a best friend or a good friend group all i want is to be called someones best friend and be in a friend group that loves me and makes me feel happy as i only have one more year left if Highschool before we most likely go our separate ways. thank you for taking the time to read my message, i really appreciate it p.s. if you are in the same boat, you know where to find a friend

Number 86 Pushing through it
  • replies: 1

I have health anxiety and ocd and have been on medication for 1 year and 4 months and haven't had any issues and was doing really well. Over the past 3 months, I have been struggling again after a few doctor visits over my tongue as it was still dry ... View more

I have health anxiety and ocd and have been on medication for 1 year and 4 months and haven't had any issues and was doing really well. Over the past 3 months, I have been struggling again after a few doctor visits over my tongue as it was still dry after coming off medication. Long story short it turns out I have silent acid reflux. My tongue is a lot better but hadn't been 100% and my anxiety had spiralled out of control googling every possible cause and doing a lot of blood tests and second opinions from other doctors. I found some relief after seeing a counsellor and doing some CBT training. However, I am currently not sleeping and it's tiring. I heard that a lot of people had anxiety and sleep problems with proton pump inhibitors so I have started tapering off to see if there is any difference. Trying to ride this out but looking for some motivation to stop worrying and hopefully get some sleep. I took a 5mg dose of an antidepressant yesterday as I thought it may help me start to sleep again but I was wrong and anxiety was worse so I haven't continued.

Natland2023 Mrs martin
  • replies: 7

I have chronic pain ( fibromyalgia) I have been suffering terrible anxiety for around the last month and with that anxiety it flares up my chronic pain to a level that is extremely hard to deal with, I am lucky to get 2-3 hours sleep a night.

I have chronic pain ( fibromyalgia) I have been suffering terrible anxiety for around the last month and with that anxiety it flares up my chronic pain to a level that is extremely hard to deal with, I am lucky to get 2-3 hours sleep a night.

Guest_76012041 Anxiety is Ruining my life
  • replies: 3

This is just the latest incident of me letting my anxiety control me. Right now I should be overseas with my wife but instead I'm at home feeling like a piece of shit. I let my anxiety stop me from going on a plane thus breaking my wife's heart in th... View more

This is just the latest incident of me letting my anxiety control me. Right now I should be overseas with my wife but instead I'm at home feeling like a piece of shit. I let my anxiety stop me from going on a plane thus breaking my wife's heart in the process. I've let my anxiety control me for so long that it's at the point where my relationship is dying and I can't see anything but darkness and negativity. I constantly let my anxiety control my life and my decisions. I've made my world so small in the process. I don't feel like I'm living, I feel like I'm just existing with no identity or purpose. I don't know why I'm posting this, I guess it's a cry for help.

Teacher9 New puppy and anxiety
  • replies: 2

My husband and I now have a 6 and 2 year old. I love dogs yet everytime we discuss getting one and bring it home my anxiety spirals. Feeling faint, can't eat, hot sweats. My mind goes into over drive. Our last dog passed away 4 years ago and even whe... View more

My husband and I now have a 6 and 2 year old. I love dogs yet everytime we discuss getting one and bring it home my anxiety spirals. Feeling faint, can't eat, hot sweats. My mind goes into over drive. Our last dog passed away 4 years ago and even when we first got him I spiralled and put him up for sale but I must've managed to get on-top of my anxiety.We have bought 3 dogs and I've had to rehome them all to cater to my mental health. Unfortunately my husband and kids suffer from the enjoyment of a pet.I am on Sertraline for generalised anxiety and it's not bad unless there's a crisis or something big happening in my life. But it hits hard at times like this. After our last dog passed, I think nearly 12 months later we got another dog. I was physically sick with anxiety and he was rehomed after a week. Instantly I felt good. Next time my 2nd daughter was just crawling and we tried again but once again anxiety hit and I knew I couldnt cope with a dog and a baby, so rehomed. Hubby said never ever again. Fast forward and now my 6 year old begs for a dog , her sister is bigger and we picked him up yesterday. I get home and bam anxiety hits and I feel faint and hot. Overwhelming anxiety. It's not so much the dogs themselves it's me thinking too much. It's so irrational, I love dogs. Just a vent. In my mind I feel better when I say he's not locked in, if it gets too bad I can rehome him but there's a pattern happening and I hate the feeling.

CMF Dear Anxiety
  • replies: 40

At times I tell my anxiety to stop, go away, leave me alone. I thought it might be good to put it into a post. Feel free to write your own letter. Dear anxiety,I've has enough of you & you need to leave. I am a strong, confident, positive person & yo... View more

At times I tell my anxiety to stop, go away, leave me alone. I thought it might be good to put it into a post. Feel free to write your own letter. Dear anxiety,I've has enough of you & you need to leave. I am a strong, confident, positive person & you come in & try to take it away. You always pounce when I'm a little vulnerable & you just keep pick, pick, picking at me until my thoughts go round in circles. Well, you won't win. I know your game & I'm not playing.Go back into your little hole, you won't get the better of me Cmf

Spider-girl My Anxiety has been degrading my life since grade 6
  • replies: 2

Hi. If I had to express my internal thoughts in one word, the word would be afraid. I (18F) was bullied in my class when I was in grade six, when I tried telling my Teachers, Trusted Adults, and my Family none believed me nor listened to me. By the t... View more

Hi. If I had to express my internal thoughts in one word, the word would be afraid. I (18F) was bullied in my class when I was in grade six, when I tried telling my Teachers, Trusted Adults, and my Family none believed me nor listened to me. By the time my parents put me into High School, the damage was already done. I lost trust not just in kids my age but in adults and family. I'm always in fight-or-flight at any inconvenience, the moment I make a mistake or get into trouble I will break down crying like it is the end of the world, I could never talk to anyone and for years I've lost important social skills and how to communicate with people. At home isn't entirely better, I'm always overthinking things around the house, and have trouble sleeping some nights worrying about the worst-case scenarios and how to defend myself.I don't recall any time I have had validation for my Anxiety and problems. For friends at school, anytime I felt I had trust with someone and opened up about my past or current problems, they would always compare my problems with theirs, and talk about how they have it harder. Or just in general say "Oh yeah same lol" and leave nothing more. With my family, I've never felt like they even want to listen to my problems, if I'm ever worrying about something or getting overwhelmed they tell me that I'm being "Silly" or "Funny" and need to "stop worrying all the time". As if I can switch my panic off. I've been to four counsellors, but they always give the same advice that never works out for me. Meditation, long baths, exercising, paper booklets, etc... None of it's ever worked but I've had to lie that I'm getting better because that basic advice is all they can give me. I want to see a psychologist or a psychiatrist to pinpoint ways I can understand more about what I'm going through and how to help it but I don't think I can afford it, let alone really open myself up to them even if I wanted to. I guess the only reason I'm talking about this is because I don't feel like there's any other place to go. I've graduated High-school and through my relatively normal surface, I'm still the same scared little girl I was in grade six. And I don't think I can escape this.

Guest_43844093 I keep ruminating on everything that I've done wrong
  • replies: 2

Hi, thanks for reading. I'm a 26 year old student in a pretty intense postgraduate course. I had to move interstate for this course. The course is pretty small, and we do all our classes together, so we're with each other all day every day. It's very... View more

Hi, thanks for reading. I'm a 26 year old student in a pretty intense postgraduate course. I had to move interstate for this course. The course is pretty small, and we do all our classes together, so we're with each other all day every day. It's very insular. I find that people here are lot more judgemental. I don't fit in. Back home, I had lots of friends, and my mental health was pretty ok. I suffered from severe social anxiety and depression as a child/teen, but I got mostly better after years of therapy, medication, and some hospital treatment.I have managed to make some friends, but lately I get the feeling that no-one in the course likes me. I rarely get invited to things. I think that the situation had been stressful because it's taking me back to when I had really severe social anxiety back in high school. I was bullied a lot in primary school, and excluded a lot in high school, not invited to things, and I felt like no-one really like my company. Once I left high school and went to uni, I eventually made new friends who I had a lot more in common with and who liked me for me. I'm still in contact with my friends back home, but it's hard to catch up with each other with the distance.I still have two years left in this course. I'm starting to hate my life in this new city. I hate being left out by people in my course. The frustrating thing is that I don't even like most of them, I just don't like being left out. I feel like there must be something wrong with me. This has caused me to feel really anxious, which in turn has caused me to feel really depressed. I can't stop ruminating on silly social mistakes that I've made. I have a habit of accidentally blurting out stupid things and it's really embarrassing, especially in class in front of everyone. I keep thinking about all the stupid things that I've done and how everyone in my course thinks I'm a freak. I'm starting to feel like I don't deserve to be in my course. I also feel ashamed for getting unwell again, given that I was previously doing really well mentally. I'm on edge and cry all the time, especially if I make a stupid mistake, then I just think about it over and over. I'm struggling to go to the social things I do get invited to, because I'm so worried about looking stupid or people not wanting to talk to me.Does anyone have any tips for breaking the cycle of these ruminating thoughts? It's been so long that I think I've forgotten all the things that used to help me when I was younger.

HoldOnPainEnds Relationship Anxiety and rOCD
  • replies: 6

Hey everyone! A few weeks ago I came to these forums looking for help, but today I am here to offer up some advice I have learnt, just as all the kind souls who commented on my post did for me. With this thread I want to talk about what rOCD is, shar... View more

Hey everyone! A few weeks ago I came to these forums looking for help, but today I am here to offer up some advice I have learnt, just as all the kind souls who commented on my post did for me. With this thread I want to talk about what rOCD is, share my story and provide anyone else who is also in this situation with the information I wish I knew when I was going through this. After weeks of debilitating thoughts of "do I really love my boyfriend?", I stumbled across the term 'rOCD'. Relationship obsessive compulsive disorder is not recognised as an official disorder, rather it is a part of OCD. It involves intense, often anxiety-inducing thoughts about whether or not one is in the 'right' relationship (i.e. do I love them, what if I find someone else attractive, should I break up with them, etc.). It can be absolutely debilitating as although you may know that none of the thoughts are realistic, they compel you to enact certain compulsions like constantly checking how you feel around your partner and asking for repeated reassurance about the 'rightness' of your relationship. Some obsessions/compulsions of rOCD are as follows: Obsessions: - "Is this the right relationship for me?" - "Is this real love/do I feel in love?" - "Do I feel "right"?" - "Does my partner really love me?" - Other obsessions can focus on certain aspects of a partner's looks or personality, i.e. "his nose is too big!" Compulsions: - Intensely monitoring how you feel when interacting with your partner or when you see other attractive people - Comparing your relationship to those of friends, family and/or fictional characters - Consulting others and constantly asking for reassurance as to whether or not you're in the right relationship - Repeatedly breaking up with your partner to see if you feel anything - Feeling that something bad will happen if you don't find an answer to these thoughts Please note that these are just a few examples (taken from the International OCD Foundation) and you don't need to meet all of them to have this disorder! I do NOT condone self-diagnosis, but if you relate to what I have described above then I strongly recommend doing some research on the condition (either by means of Google or, if at all possible, talking to a mental health professional) as it may help make some sense of what you are going through and help set you on the path to recovery. I wish you all the best and hope you can find some solace in this thread -HOPE