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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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EmmaP Feeling a bit desperate and down...
  • replies: 2

Hi Everyone, I was hoping some of you may have some wise words out there for me. I have posted a couple of times now, but to fill you in, I have diagnosed anxiety- specifically separation anxiety and general anxiety, and depression resulting from the... View more

Hi Everyone, I was hoping some of you may have some wise words out there for me. I have posted a couple of times now, but to fill you in, I have diagnosed anxiety- specifically separation anxiety and general anxiety, and depression resulting from the anxiety. I am seeing my GP who has put me on a SNRI anti-depressant and I have been on this one for approximately a month now. I am also seeing a psychiatrist who I very much like and I have seen her twice now, and seeing her unfortunately at monthly intervals due to work (they won't let me go once a fortnight). She has given me relaxation and mindfulness techniques to do, and I try my best to eat a balanced diet and have started doing yoga at home three times a week. I found the relaxation techniques were working well for the mild anxiety. However for the past three days I have been feeling very much down, hopeless, sad, constantly anxious, unable to concentrate, exhausted, achy, and have been suffering panic attacks several times a day. My mum and I aren't very close but she has been admitted to hospital for a month due to an unexplained illness where she has lost weight to an anorexic level. She has to be tube fed for a month through a tube in her nose. Also, my girlfriend of 5 months has recently gone through a lot of stress with her housing situation which in turn has put a lot of stress on me and a huge change of our long term plans to move to Melbourne (we have had to move it forward 6 months which is scary). I am also struggling with obsessive thoughts once more and everything is seeming to make me anxious. Work is dull and my tasks seem impossible and I cannot concentrate at all! I am guilt tripping myself about feeling this way and cannot stop. I am beating myself up about me feeling down, that I shouldn't feel this way, that I'm a burden on my loved ones, that I am a hypochondriac, that I should be able to flick a switch and feel better, even though I know none of that is true deep down. I am also having obsessive thoughts about my money situation and being broke, but at the same time I desperately want to spend it to feel better (never ending cycle!!!). All I have wanted to do is buy a pet fish, even though I don't have the spare money for a set up, and my house mate is funny about the extra electricity to run the filter/heater. But I'm obsessing about it! Does anyone have any tips about how they deal with the depressive feelings, guilt and obsessive thoughts?? I'm really struggling.

Mia14 scared feeling wakes me every night
  • replies: 2

Hey my first time 52 mum of 3 beautiful kids and a new nanny diagnosed 2years ago with anxiety I find myself unable to function and I'm so tired of being scared I had such a love of life now I can't even bring myself to go to work I've been hiding ho... View more

Hey my first time 52 mum of 3 beautiful kids and a new nanny diagnosed 2years ago with anxiety I find myself unable to function and I'm so tired of being scared I had such a love of life now I can't even bring myself to go to work I've been hiding how I've been for months but can't do it anymore I'm well educated have a good job (that I can't go to ) I'm scared and just want me back I'm medicated just changed again and I'm currently taking sleep tabs for a week just get some relief from the scared feeling that wakes me every night will I ever be free of this

lilykitten Anxiety and self esteem
  • replies: 4

I seem to have panic attacks anytime I treat myself. I may be at the airport about to have a holiday, in a restaurant and a delicious meal has just been served or on a night out and I am the guest of honour....... suddenly I get very dizzy, nauseous ... View more

I seem to have panic attacks anytime I treat myself. I may be at the airport about to have a holiday, in a restaurant and a delicious meal has just been served or on a night out and I am the guest of honour....... suddenly I get very dizzy, nauseous and desperate to go to the loo. I always cope well in stressful situations so why do I get panic attacks when I should be enjoying myself. Do you think it has something to do with low self esteem?

nessy120 Please Help
  • replies: 4

So I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at the age of 14, I am now 31. I currently went to see a neurologist who suggested that I was on way to much medicine and that I should come off all of it. And so I did. I came off all of it within a 2 w... View more

So I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at the age of 14, I am now 31. I currently went to see a neurologist who suggested that I was on way to much medicine and that I should come off all of it. And so I did. I came off all of it within a 2 week period, and as I was tapering off I felt fine. UNTIL NOW..... i can't even leave my house,my anxiety id=s o bad. I am not sad or depressed just very anxious, and do not know how to handle it. Yesterday the dr added medication back to the equation but told me it takes 2-4 weeks to work. I have been out of work now for two weeks and feel like I am going crazy. I am not having any crazy thoughts its just a constant feeling of nervousness and anxiousness to the point were I am in the bathroom ever ten minutes. Someone please help me.

Girty Anxious, sad and overwhelmed by the thought of completing everyday tasks
  • replies: 5

Hi there, I'm just wondering if anybody can help/relate. I have always suffered mild anxiety but I've mostly always managed it (I've had a few panic attacks over the years) I am a teacher and am currently on holidays which I should be so excited abou... View more

Hi there, I'm just wondering if anybody can help/relate. I have always suffered mild anxiety but I've mostly always managed it (I've had a few panic attacks over the years) I am a teacher and am currently on holidays which I should be so excited about but I just feel hopeless and so anxious and sad and I just don't entirely know why. I spent most of the day crying and I just couldn't get the motivation to get up and do everyday household things I was meant to like the dishes... I caught up with a friend in the afternoon but spent all morning feeling so anxious about the stupidest things like what to wear and how much time I had and guilty at the fact that I had done none of the above households things that needed to be done etc etc... I thought of so many ways that I could to get out of it but it got too late to cancel and I sucked up the tears and went (don't know how) I enjoyed myself and was out for a few hours but I feel like I was just putting on a 'happy act' and as soon as I got in the car the bawled my eyes out to the point I nearly had a panic attack.... All of which has brought me here as I feel like this time round a good night's sleep isn't going to fix todays sad feelings... if that makes sense. I have a hard time talking to loved ones about it because I don't want to burden or worry them. My fiance has clinical depression which I worry about all the time even though he manages it and lives a happy and healthy life... My little brother also has severe anxiety/depression....I guess I just worry all the time... It's really taking its toll on me at the moment Everyday things such as cooking dinner or even just thinking what to cook, going to the supermarket, or sweeping the floors feel completely overwhelming and these things never seemed this bad......I feel like the clock is against me and there just isn't enough time in the day. I feel anxious that I'm wasting my holidays and they'll be over before I've had enough time to relax and enjoy them. I feel anxious about going back to work even though I have 2 weeks off and I love my job and my students...I just feel so selfish for complaining when I know I've got it so good... Thanks for reading

BenD Anxiety around some friends but not others?
  • replies: 2

Hi all, Just wondering if anyone else gets more anxious around some friends but not others? I just spent the week away with a bunch of uni friends and it was honestly one of the most enjoyable trips I've had. I seem to get agree with them more than s... View more

Hi all, Just wondering if anyone else gets more anxious around some friends but not others? I just spent the week away with a bunch of uni friends and it was honestly one of the most enjoyable trips I've had. I seem to get agree with them more than some of the friends that I've grown up with (not to diminish the benefit that they have made to my life though). It kinda feels like some people I'm keeping up appearances and "acting", whilst around others I'm not afraid to be myself and say what I want. Thoughts?

just_let_go Intensifying anxiety and depression.
  • replies: 6

Hi all. I'm not entirely sure what I'm hoping to achieve here. But here goes. Here's is my story. I am convinced all my problems stem from my constant worrying about things that happened in the past, every day activities, fear of what my future holds... View more

Hi all. I'm not entirely sure what I'm hoping to achieve here. But here goes. Here's is my story. I am convinced all my problems stem from my constant worrying about things that happened in the past, every day activities, fear of what my future holds and other things I have no control over and a general lack of confidence in myself. I wish I had a way to just stop thinking. Turn my brain off for a few hours. Where to begin... I suppose with my first panic attack. Things had started to get weird. I've always shown signs of anxiety and depression, but it was at a manageable point. I was growing less and less happy, not enjoying thing I usually did. I first noticed it when I was at a concert seeing my favourite band, and literally felt nothing. now a week later I caught up with some friends, and one of them had the bright idea of sharing around some dope brownies. (I do not have a drug problem before you all start asking, I have smoked it before but extremely rarely.) So anyway I had one for the hell of it. I felt good at first... Then I noticed my heart racing uncontrollably. I thought It may have been from running around (we were kicking a soccer ball around) but after sitting down it did not show any signs of slowing. The I began to panic. I said to my friend I needed to get home. He took me home and I just started freaking out. All my muscles tightened, my mouth went dry, my heart was going mental. I was over taken by a sense of uncontrollable irrational fear and I thought I was dying. It lasted 2 hours. It was the worst thing I have ever experienced. That was about to months ago. Since then my anxiety has skyrocketed. I'm slowly learning to control it, but lately the depression side of things is escalating. It's to the point where I am conscious of my mental state 24/7. Every night I got to bed fearing another panic attack. I'm always worried that it's going to keep getting worse, and it's bad enough as it is. I've started exercising more, watching what I eat, engaging in calming exercises before bed and seeing a psychiatrist. I really hope things get better soon. I don't want to live out my days feeling like this. I'm not going to give up. i wont let this beat me. I found a site called anxietynomore that is fantastic and taught me a few things about controling and embracing my anxiety (That is seriously the key, you have to embrace it, train your brain to react calmly when it strikes). But depression is proving tougher. Thanks for reading.

Shell4444 My life has gone temporarily haywire
  • replies: 2

Hi all,many things have happened to me over the past couple of years - loss of job I loved which led to a job I hated, death of a friend whom I was the only executor, listed as next of kin and her general dogsbody then facing having a much delayed kn... View more

Hi all,many things have happened to me over the past couple of years - loss of job I loved which led to a job I hated, death of a friend whom I was the only executor, listed as next of kin and her general dogsbody then facing having a much delayed knee replacement. When i was about to return to work my back started to play up and now the ceo of the organisation has decided I am not capable of driving a work vehicle even though i have clearance from 3 doctors and she has never met me. I have sailed through everything except now the ceo's actions have been the icing on the cake and have eroded my confidence to such a state I have started with anxiety attacks and today had a panic attack waiting in the doctors rooms. I thought I was going to keel over and my heart was racing so hard he gave me an ecg. How does everyone else cope in these situations. I want to resign from work, I've gone from 40+ hours per week to 7.5 hours per week, I was cutting down hours and starting work back in a job I really enjoyed but not to 7.5 hours. I am feeling like they dont think I can carry out the job anymore and this I find devastating. My husband is very supportive and does not want me to resign because he does not want me home dwelling on what is going on. I have written a "diary" to get a lot of this stuff out of my head. My doctor has started me on medication and he at long last realises what I am going through and wants to see me later in the week to discuss anxiety medication. I am also seeing a psychologist. I would really like to know I am not going mad and that I will get past this, at the moment I would like to find a nice safe place and hide for a while.thankyou,Michelle

Kgf Help! I need to justify a big life decision taken in the middle of major anxiety.
  • replies: 4

We need to move house as our landlord is developing. We were rejected for one house and I went into a tailspin. I immediately dropped our distance criterion and started looking in other suburbs out of fear of being homeless. We have just signed the l... View more

We need to move house as our landlord is developing. We were rejected for one house and I went into a tailspin. I immediately dropped our distance criterion and started looking in other suburbs out of fear of being homeless. We have just signed the lease on a property that is 15 mins drive from our daughters school and further to my husbands work. My husband agreed to it I think just to stop me being anxious. Unfortunately I am now having constant panic attacks and crying in front of the children. It is a lovely house but so far away. We are not from sydney and know nothing of the area we are moving to. My husband is away all weekend and I have no other support. Yearly to six monthly moves and social anxiety keep me mostly at home. I am experiencing waves of fear that are uncontrollable. I need reassurance please.