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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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Social_phobe Does anyone else suffer from social anxiety or am i alone in this?
  • replies: 6

Hi, I used to be confident and very bold, a very good people person, all my life until about 4 years ago. After 6 months of drug abuse, I developed anxiety. I had never felt it before and wasn't sure what it was until I saught help. (stopped the drug... View more

Hi, I used to be confident and very bold, a very good people person, all my life until about 4 years ago. After 6 months of drug abuse, I developed anxiety. I had never felt it before and wasn't sure what it was until I saught help. (stopped the drugs also) Shortly after that, it turned into social anxiety, which is even worse to me. I look around and cant find anyone that has my problem, it has effected my life in so many ways! I hate confrontation, I hate eating in front of people, my hands shake, I hate sitting with one person in the quiet, I hate social gatherings, I can barely hold a conversation with anyone, I can barely breath, I get extremely nervous when it comes to the opposite sex, I have performance anxiety and when people watch me do anything with my hands I get nervous and shaky and also when I pay with my card I get shaky and when I drink I struggle to put a cup to my mouth if im around someone, I even hate writing in front of people! In every circumstance I have the fear of embarrassment, like if a seat makes a funny noise I nearly have a panic attack and if I do anything embarrassing I have to really talk myself out of a panic attack! I even get anxious when other people do embarrassing things! It's completely horrible! How can I survive! I cant handle it anymore and I have no self esteem and or confidence which shows, and I don't know what to do! I have tried everything, counselling, psychiatrists, anti-anxiety medications, anxiety group therapy, it feels like I have exhausted all my options! is there anyone out there suffering the same thing? is there anyone that has ever recovered?

Mkay One step at a time..
  • replies: 3

Fear of rejection. Being alone. Failure. Being forgotten. Being disliked. Anxious. This is my brain ticking over, while on the outside I am the ice queen, my cool exterior giving nothing away. I'm naturally a quiet person, yet growing up I always enj... View more

Fear of rejection. Being alone. Failure. Being forgotten. Being disliked. Anxious. This is my brain ticking over, while on the outside I am the ice queen, my cool exterior giving nothing away. I'm naturally a quiet person, yet growing up I always enjoyed being the centre of attention, dancing on stage, making a fool of myself to make people laugh. But over the past 6 years I've been slowly withdrawing, scared to interact in groups, that what I might say could offend someone or be misunderstood. I've withdrawn so much that I feel like I have very few friends. I came to recognise this two years ago. A year later I finally did something about it. I've been to see a psychologist who confirmed what deep down I already knew. I thought that would be enough, that I would start to get better. No change. So I started medication. It's been 8 months and I felt great, most of the time. But yet I still don't get out there, make new friends. When I think about that, I fall into a suffocating depression. It lasts for a few days, then I start to feel ok again. Writing this I know I can answer most of my own questions. I need to get out there, be motivated, try new things. One step at a time, right? But where do I start? Where do I go? How do I make small talk? How do I meet new people and make friends without forcing myself on them? Desperate to get to the next level...

Bulletin_Board_Archive anxiety and dizzyness
  • replies: 5

Originally posted by: Candice on 31 December 2011I have had anxiety for the past year, it started of with stomach upsets, but now I just seem to get the feeling of dizzyness constantly. I havent fainted - yet, but I have come close many times. Almost... View more

Originally posted by: Candice on 31 December 2011I have had anxiety for the past year, it started of with stomach upsets, but now I just seem to get the feeling of dizzyness constantly. I havent fainted - yet, but I have come close many times. Almost for the whole day I feel lightheaded and cant think, as if I have taken a benzodiazepine but I havent. Is this common with anxiety? Or am I going crazy?

YourNervousGeek Went to Bed and Cried. Constantly worried and embarrased.
  • replies: 2

Today I fell into bed, broke down into tears. I'm a 20 year old male, university student in my final year of my degree, having a growing disinterest towards the degree itself, and an unclear career path, have never been able to successfully find even... View more

Today I fell into bed, broke down into tears. I'm a 20 year old male, university student in my final year of my degree, having a growing disinterest towards the degree itself, and an unclear career path, have never been able to successfully find even a simple casual job, because of my social inabilities. I've realized the only reason I'm still doing the degree now, is to get the degree, which is really upsetting to me, cause I've been quite ambitious in the past, but year by year have lost that ambition, losing interest, and realizing small fish in a big pond with better fish than me. This breakdown was caused by those thoughts and my talk to the my class tutor in front of classmates today. The talk was sort of a explanation of a required major project for my final year, and it made me realize my disinterest even more, but also the fact that I get paranoid over situations and get incredibly embarrassed about them. These memories often pop up randomly and just tires me out, as I haven't been sleeping well. My talk with the tutor, like with most of my public speaking situations, caused me to mix my sentences, slur my words and have moments of random silence, trying to think of what to say next. I find this incredibly embarrassing and constantly think back towards it. I know this should probably be in the university thread or something, and that I should talk to university counselors, but I just don't feel comfortable with talking to strangers about this and that I have always had these sorts of experiences. I just get incredibly nervous around new people. I've had these sorts of breakdowns before but it was in concern family matters. My situation is far more extensive, but it was today that I realized I should speak out about it in some form or another. Till now I come to realize I may have an anxiety issue and a social interaction disorder.

Eleyne I don't know what to do anymore
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm 18 years old and have been suffering from depression and anxiety for the past couple of years. Only two weeks ago I was diagnosed with mild OCD and bipolar. These are affecting my life to a huge degree and I just don't know how to cope. There... View more

Hi, I'm 18 years old and have been suffering from depression and anxiety for the past couple of years. Only two weeks ago I was diagnosed with mild OCD and bipolar. These are affecting my life to a huge degree and I just don't know how to cope. There have been so many times when I have just wanted to commit suicide but for some reason I never do. Last night I was talking to my boyfriend and I was happy. Not 2 minutes later I was basically crying because I thought I was a worthless piece of crap and a waste of life. These mood changes happen probably 5-10 times a day and I can't stand it anymore. Why can't the pain and the voices go away? Why me?

Louie Not sure how to begin
  • replies: 1

Have only just registered here on Beyondblue. I have a son with high functioning Autism & adhd, Life for him is tough at the best of times, As a parent you only want the best for your children. But what happens when your best is not enough? when ever... View more

Have only just registered here on Beyondblue. I have a son with high functioning Autism & adhd, Life for him is tough at the best of times, As a parent you only want the best for your children. But what happens when your best is not enough? when everything you try to do fails? It is difficult to stay positive and keep up with expectations of school and friendships. I don't sleep well. I am anxious almost always. Worrying what people think of us when you are out and about and your child is acting up and everyone staring and judging you. Parents not encouraging relationships with your child, and avoiding you because you don't fit in. Obviously I need change in my life, I want things to be better, I am hoping joining this website is the start of a new beginning of getting my life back and gaining new perspective for brighter days

Kandipants Admitting I have anxiety is depressing
  • replies: 3

This is the second time I have tried to write this, as my husband came into the room the first time and I quickly shut down the page as I felt embarrassed to admit there's a problem. I know in myself that I experience anxiety all the time with consta... View more

This is the second time I have tried to write this, as my husband came into the room the first time and I quickly shut down the page as I felt embarrassed to admit there's a problem. I know in myself that I experience anxiety all the time with constant fear of failure, worry of embarrassment for no good reason. But am finding it hard to admit because it again feels like I can't even get it right! Seriously! I feel as if I tell people that I have trouble controlling my own head, nobody would take anything I say or do seriously. Even now, as I write, I worry that I am not making sense and that I am putting myself out the to be judged. i feel crazy sometimes, in that I know I have an anxiety problem but don't want to address it for fear of... Outcome. I have feelings of fear and worthlessness at the idea of having anxiety, I think maybe because of societies views on mental illness, I don't want to be seen as 'mentally ill' . The idea of depression is depressing! how do other people go, first in admitting to yourself that there is a problem, but then to others? I know I should see my gp, but I don't even know what to say to him about it, then if I do go, then I have to tell my husband why, it feels easier just to keep pretending I'm not affected. Does anyone else have these crazy confused ideologies too?

Chloe123 Unsure of what to do.
  • replies: 2

Recently I have felt as though I am not in control of anything in my life. I have recently finished uni and I have to make some big decisions, such as finding a new job, where will I live etc and I am feeling alot of pressure from everyone.. I am not... View more

Recently I have felt as though I am not in control of anything in my life. I have recently finished uni and I have to make some big decisions, such as finding a new job, where will I live etc and I am feeling alot of pressure from everyone.. I am not sleeping and I continually am feeling anxious and my immune system is down meaning I am also getting sick alot. On top of this I am always tired, and I am starting to become obsessive with an ex who keeps coming in and out of my life who sometimes treats me perfectly and then other times treats me horribly. I don't know what to do and I don't have a regular GP or anyone that I can really talk to about this. I also don't want to go on medication but I just want to stop feeling continually anxious all the time.

Harriette What should I do?
  • replies: 1

I have trust issues and I am nervous around people due to my friends bulling me for being a little bit quirky at my old school last year and it still haunts me. I cry when I'm meant to be sleeping some I'm having trouble coping. I went to a therapist... View more

I have trust issues and I am nervous around people due to my friends bulling me for being a little bit quirky at my old school last year and it still haunts me. I cry when I'm meant to be sleeping some I'm having trouble coping. I went to a therapist a few times but my Mum thought I was fixed so she stopped taking me. I would really like to go back or do something to help me but I'm really scared to ask my Mum. She's really nice and would never hurt me, I'm just scared. Should I ask her or should I find some other way to feel better?

Darkatoms Anxiety in a box
  • replies: 1

It is a strange thing anxiety. It's like living in a box. Inside the box you are trapped with your thoroughly and they make your body do strange, unerring things. It's as if your the only one there. People around you just don't see any of it. The box... View more

It is a strange thing anxiety. It's like living in a box. Inside the box you are trapped with your thoroughly and they make your body do strange, unerring things. It's as if your the only one there. People around you just don't see any of it. The box is dark but you can still do everything you need to. But it's just not nice and the outlook looks grim. Outside the box is a different. Non of this can be seen. You about your day and every one sees a hard working confident person. Some how the box has magic and every makes you look good. I've had anxiety in for a few years now. And this is my take on it. It really gets to me but it is hard to find help you need. Like I should have been a sleep 3hr a go. But sleeping tablets don't work.