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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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kay-lea anxiety is controlling me
  • replies: 3

I have suffered anxiety for quiet some time now, I have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and OCD. Every day I suffer with breathing difficulties, constant fear of what people are thinking of me, never feel good enough etc... I have this one pe... View more

I have suffered anxiety for quiet some time now, I have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and OCD. Every day I suffer with breathing difficulties, constant fear of what people are thinking of me, never feel good enough etc... I have this one person who is doing nothing but making my life a misery everytime I start to feel better they say something else.first my appearance then my career and now my relationship. I am on a mental health plan seeing a councilor once a forte night and on medication daily. All I want to do is move away from where I am living. But its not that simple. I am in constant worry everyday without fail paranoid of who and when people are talking about me. I cannot go into town alone I feel like everyone hates me and is staring at me. It is just getting worse. I just want to be happy again I want to be me. Thanks for letting me vent.

Thesunshineyears New here- Not sure if I should even be posting
  • replies: 2

Hi I am not really sure if there is anything wrong with me or if I belong here but I feel quite alone and I don't know what exactly is wrong or how to start getting better. I feel quite anxious all the time and quite numb. I don't have any motivation... View more

Hi I am not really sure if there is anything wrong with me or if I belong here but I feel quite alone and I don't know what exactly is wrong or how to start getting better. I feel quite anxious all the time and quite numb. I don't have any motivation anymore and it sounds like a cliche but I feel so lost and empty. I never used to feel like this. But over the last few months it has continued to build up until I had what I think was a panic attack last night. I couldn't breath, felt very faint and tight in my chest and couldn't focus or move. I was supposed to be at a party with friends and being in that social situation made me feel like I was on the outside looking in and I didnt belong anymore. I don't know where to start feeling right again but getting out of bed is getting harder and I cant talk about this with anyone in my life. Being sad doesnt feel like a good enough excuse to demand attention and feels a little silly and dramatic.

jodes76 anxiety very high
  • replies: 1

Lately my anxiety is getting worse. I'm not coping with things very well. Have lost my licence for twelve months, which is very hard to deal with. My daughter is getting harder to control. My nerves are so bad I'm back on medication. I use smoking as... View more

Lately my anxiety is getting worse. I'm not coping with things very well. Have lost my licence for twelve months, which is very hard to deal with. My daughter is getting harder to control. My nerves are so bad I'm back on medication. I use smoking as a stress relief. I'm stuck with what to do. I'm still very depressed as well. Today I self harmed for the first time in ages. Feel like I've lost control. I really don't know how to get out of this dark phase 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. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

H_McCabe Anxiety attacks when emotionally intimate
  • replies: 2

Hello, I'm a 24 year old female and for the last month whenever my boyfriend is affectionate or expresses happiness about our relationship I find myself having panic attacks. The panic attacks involve shortness of breathe and nausea. We've been toget... View more

Hello, I'm a 24 year old female and for the last month whenever my boyfriend is affectionate or expresses happiness about our relationship I find myself having panic attacks. The panic attacks involve shortness of breathe and nausea. We've been together for a year without any issues, if anything he's been more attentive and affectionate than usual. I am very much in love with him don't want the relationship to end but the anxiety has become overwhelming to the point I feel like I can't function properly. I think the panic attacks are due to the fact my last relationship ended very poorly. When I broke up with my previous boyfriend he threatened to kill himself multiple times and constantly text and call telling me I've ruined his life. Since then whenever someone shows me affection romantically I find myself panicking at the thought that I could hurt someone like that again. I don't want to lose him but the idea that I'm particularly responsible for another persons happiness terrifies me. I was wondering if anyone has experienced something like this before and what they did to cope and allow themselves to be able accept intimacy from others? Also I'm generally an anxious person anyway and often get social anxiety. thanks

cody75 self medicating to eleviate my anxiety.....
  • replies: 2

Hiya everyone!Gee this is a real first for me.....being brutally honest to people whom I don't know but I think that fact in itself kinda makes it easier to talk. I spent a couple of hours last night reading through the posts on here and I was blown ... View more

Hiya everyone!Gee this is a real first for me.....being brutally honest to people whom I don't know but I think that fact in itself kinda makes it easier to talk. I spent a couple of hours last night reading through the posts on here and I was blown away as to how each story I read made sense to me and I realised I'm not alone in the feelings/symptoms I have.At the moment I'm using a range of different drugs to mask the awful anxiety I have every day and night. The problem of course occurring when the drugs run out and I am left to cope with the fallout. I hate this pattern my life has formed, and I'm over beating myself up for inevitably going back to using when I have money again : (. I feel like I'm stuck on this stupid ferris wheel that won't stop going around. My self esteem feels so battered, probably due to a few different happenings in my life. I have gone done the counselling avenue a few times but never had real success, probably because I've only ever had male counsellors and I haven't been able to click with them.I've always had an addiction issue....if it's not booze it's speed....if it's not speed it's heroin. The only drug I haven't been addicted to is pot! Keeping in mind I have 2 beautiful young sons to keep up with, they are a big factor in my feeling guilty about my drug abuse. I just can't keep this up anymore but am scared to be totally straight and dealing with my anxiety. I will sign off cos to be honest I actually feel emotionally drained just from typing this post. I don't speak to anyone really about my anxiety, I just assume it's my problem and no one would understand. But reading stories on here has given me an inkling of hope in facing my problems without having to be "out" of it as such. You guys are amazing in your honesty, it felt good to feel I was among people who had similar stuff going on.Anyone have a magic wand? Lol..........Is there anyone out there self-medicating like myself? Would love to hear from you : )

thedam My story and continued support
  • replies: 1

Hi this is the first time I have visited this forum and I have only read a few things but so far I can only have a positive outlook on this community.Anyway my story so far is I am a 24 year old male Australian/Italian. I was born and raised in Victo... View more

Hi this is the first time I have visited this forum and I have only read a few things but so far I can only have a positive outlook on this community.Anyway my story so far is I am a 24 year old male Australian/Italian. I was born and raised in Victoria I had a pretty normal upbringing as far as I can tell. I was a bit of a class clown in school. Always doing something to make people laugh or smile. I never really cared for my grades, I always thought life would be an easy ride. Boy was I wrong.At the age of 15 I was told I had an anxiety disorder and given several methods to control it. They didn't work and I quickly turned to alcohol as a means of remedying the issue. By the time I turned 18 I was a heavy alcoholic and avid marijuana user. I was getting bad chest pains and found out I have erosive gastritis so my drinking quickly ended and my marijuana use went up. I ended up dropping out of school and getting an apprenticeship as a carpenter.The marijuana eventually lead to harder drugs like speed and ecstasy. It was fun at the time my close friends from school were doing it I had just got my license so being away from home for a few days was nothing out of the ordinary. Things quickly changed for me, my closest friends from school could see the drugs were taking control, I lost my job as a carpenter and had another 8-9 but couldn't hold them down. I started seeing my friends less and less cause they didn't like what I had become I blamed them because I was high on drugs and thought I was king and I couldn't do anything wrong.I would have been around 20 when I started to realize what am I doing here, I was lucky if I was home 1 night a week, I was staying on peoples couches I hardly new! I looked like I was zombie, all my friends from school refused to speak to me... I had nothing and no one. Or so I thought..I came home one night my Mum barely recognized me and I broke down and fell to floor crying begging for help! She sat down on the floor and put her arms around me and I still remember that glimpse of hope from Mum's touch.After a tough 6 months I was clean I had a new girlfriend a few new friends, a great job that would be a career had I stuck to it. I was seeing my GP and a Psychologist regularly, everything was going fantastic! My girlfriend and I decided we should move in together. After a day of looking we got a house to rent and within the week we were living together. I then found out she would use drugs on occasion, this eventually lead to me using again and yes abusing them... After what seemed a short month me and my girlfriend had broken up I was back at Mum and Dads and using prescription pills as well as meth-amphetamine on a daily basis..I had lost my job, I was on the doll I had fallen back in with my old "Druggo mates" I would do whatever I had to, to satisfy my daily cravings. Looking back now I cannot believe some of the things I am capable of. That lifestyle went on till 2 weeks before my 23rd birthday I had received a big payment from family for my birthday, so I went and spent the money on drugs.I went into a drug induced psychosis, whilst this went on I physically attacked my brother, luckily I didn't harm him and he was able to hold me till police and an ambulance arrived.I woke up 4 days later in hospital, unaware to how I got there why I was there or what the hell had happened to the last few days... I was released later that day into the care of my Mum. I was so ashamed and upset at what I had done that I went and for the first time attempted to take my life... I was found by an elderly gentlemen and he phoned an ambulance and had it not been for him I may not be here, I have not met him if I did I would be forever in his debt so if your reading this thank you for giving me another opportunity!It has been 16 months since I have used hard drugs (I still use marijuana as a relaxant), I am in an apprenticeship and just about to go 2nd year (YAY!) But lately I have started to realize the only people I associate with are my work mates and my family. I have no friends outside of my home and my workplace. And I don't know how to make friends? My doctor's say join local sporting clubs and hobbie clubs but its easier said than done I am not much of a sportsman and the hobbies I have had aren't exactly what you find people having a club for. Before drugs I just had friend that were there from when I was a kid.

Scotty2013 Overthinking.
  • replies: 1

We all do it, trying to figure out the best ways Naturally to combat it...Self medicating just isn't helping thanks

We all do it, trying to figure out the best ways Naturally to combat it...Self medicating just isn't helping thanks

fuschia 30+ anxious++ binge drinker ruining her good life!!
  • replies: 5

I'm a 37 year old female. I'm fairly attractive (whilst I have put on weight in the last few years) and have a lovely home and garden I take pride in. I have a professional job, and work around doctors, health professionals and even physcologists and... View more

I'm a 37 year old female. I'm fairly attractive (whilst I have put on weight in the last few years) and have a lovely home and garden I take pride in. I have a professional job, and work around doctors, health professionals and even physcologists and if you asked them they would all say I have a good head on my shoulders and that's the way I try so hard to keep it. I work hard and get the job done with mostly moderate anxiety I try very hard to mask so long as I don't have to engage in too much personal conversation or heavens above attend a staff meeting (where the walls close in on me). None of them know I am a binge drinker outside of work who gets herself so drunk she often puts herself in seriously dangerous situations, been sexually assaulted, injured myself, taken illicit drugs, gone home with and travelled in cars with strangers, got kicked out of pubs and mostly offend people, all whilst planning a wedding to my loving, caring, supportive, patient fiancée and succeeding at a job I really love. I have had severe anxiety ALL MY LIFE and started medication at the age of 17. I've tried them all. I attempted suicide for the first time a month ago whilst I was drunk. Whilst I am far from religious I swear someone must have been looking over me as I have no idea how I survived. When anxiety get's to me and I can't settle it, or eating doesn't help, I'll drink until I vomit or pass out. My 14 year old son has unfortunately witnessed some of it though I hide it as much as I can and try to have my splurges when his at his dad's (now living there 4 nights a week). I have done extensive physcotherapy in previous years including cognitive therapy so I am very mindful of what is going on but can't seem to stop it. Anxiety is hereditary for me, and unfortunately my son was diagnosed at the age of 10 when he became suicidal himself. I guess I have come to this forum to feel like I'm not the only one and to try and work through some of the guilt I feel for the things I have done in the past which are simply outrageous and uncharacteristic of me. I'm avoiding social situations like the plaque and I have my wedding next year. I have pushed away any close friends I have as I prefer to have acquaintances and work colleagues which I can keep at a distance as I consider myself a massive introvert (except when I'm drinking). I can see how much I am hurting my fiancée by my behavior and my son and I no longer want to hurt or punish myself anymore but I simply do not know where to go from 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. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Amyy_93 Anxiety and over thinking?
  • replies: 11

I suffer from bad anxiety, and when I get anxious I tend to over think situations. I am a negative person and always see the bad in things. I am also a very insecure person, especially about my relationship. I get anxious about the silliest things, d... View more

I suffer from bad anxiety, and when I get anxious I tend to over think situations. I am a negative person and always see the bad in things. I am also a very insecure person, especially about my relationship. I get anxious about the silliest things, driving, when my boyfriend goes somewhere without me, and lots of other things. My relationship is suffering because of me, my anxiety kicks in and I worry about things when I have no reason to, for example if he goes to hang out with a mate I always get anxious and then over think and over analyze the situation thinking 'what if hes cheating? what if hes only pretending to love me? what if he doesn't really want to be with me and hasn't left me because he feels sorry for me?' And when I get anxious about these things I always question him and it just causes a fight. He is very supportive and tells me everyday how much he loves me, he is still with me despite all the shit I have put him through. Every little thing he does makes me anxious, in fact a lot of things in my life does. I always lash out and start arguments and make things worse, especially when I am tired. I live with my boyfriend and I have no friends where we live so it's hard to escape, I have made him my world, the only thing in my world and have become obsessed, and that bothers me but I can't seem to fix it. I also suffer depression and have had thoughts about killing myself, never would I actually do it, but I think about it. I just want to get better, what are the steps I need to take in order to become happier and anxiety free, so I can concentrate on fixing my relationship before it's too late and I ruin it completely.

_Kez_ Intrusive thoughts or something else?
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone. Frequent reader but this is my first post I have suffered with anxiety and depression on and off since I was a teenager. This got noticeable worse after the birth of my first child when I was diagnosed with PND and have been on ad's sinc... View more

Hi everyone. Frequent reader but this is my first post I have suffered with anxiety and depression on and off since I was a teenager. This got noticeable worse after the birth of my first child when I was diagnosed with PND and have been on ad's since (with a 12 month break to have my 2nd child). All in all, I feel pretty great at the moment. BUT there's 1 thing that's happened since I was 14 (I vividly remember the first night it started) and I'm not even sure how to describe it. I sometimes have thoughts pop in to my head, out of nowhere. They aren't violent towards people but often can be to do with breaking or throwing things. I remember the first one I was watching tv in the loungeroom and the image I got was me pushing it over on to the floor. I wasn't feeling anxious at that moment but I had started having anxiety attacks about a month before that so you can imagine I was quite traumatised by this. I also seem to react to things other people just find funny or silly - for instance this morning I was reading a joke email about someone curling up in the foetal position and screaming (just to freak people out basically) and that made me feel something really negative. Just sadness I think, almost with a bit of guilt or embarrassment or something? I have the same reaction reading about something wasteful, like in situations where food or something is wasteful as part of a joke? It's a bit hard to explain, but again I have quite a strong emotional reaction. I've never really looked in to this before and have tried googling but it's a bit hard to get in to good search terms, the best I came up with was intrusive thoughts but they don't quite seem to fit from what I've read (since they aren't always particularly violent). Has anyone else experienced this and might have a better name or description? Thanks so much!