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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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Hopelesslee Barking dog, arrogant neighbours
  • replies: 5

I’m currently living in a house which is totally surrounded by colour bond fencing due to housing sub division and as a result, noise is amplified to an unimaginable degree.The neighbours have a German Shepherd dog. Over the past year I have done eve... View more

I’m currently living in a house which is totally surrounded by colour bond fencing due to housing sub division and as a result, noise is amplified to an unimaginable degree.The neighbours have a German Shepherd dog. Over the past year I have done everything the council recommended but to no avail, in fact the last encounter was the appointed dog catcher speaking extremely rudely and blowing me off. He closed the case without giving me the opportunity to explain that I have had extremely ill health over the past 14 months. I’m at a point where I feel suicide is the only way to make anyone take notice of my desperation. In the last month, I did make an attempt but once again.. nothing was or has been done. The Police, Animal Welfare and RSPCA don’t want to know. I am not in a financial situation to move and have no family or friends. I’ve cried more than many oceans of tears and feel there is no solution. I’ve had so much advice but at the end of the day, I’m the one living with the noise. I guess dying is what it will take to make maybe one person realise what it’s like to live in hell on earth.

CakeFace Feeling crazy
  • replies: 6

Hi, I don't know if anyone else has this at the moment but is anyone else just feeling really overwhelmed & stressed out with all the changes after COVID? I was mostly fine throughout lockdowns but this year my anxiety has been at its worst where I d... View more

Hi, I don't know if anyone else has this at the moment but is anyone else just feeling really overwhelmed & stressed out with all the changes after COVID? I was mostly fine throughout lockdowns but this year my anxiety has been at its worst where I don't even like leaving the house now as it is so stressful. Some examples, how every time you go grocery shopping half the stuff you need isn't available (especially if it is on special). The rising cost of everything & how it is blamed on COVID or inflation (it cost me almost $20 to post a card overseas for an old relatives birthday!). Another is so many things wanting personal details that I just don't want to give and give me great anxiety to do so. (Example 1 My hairdresser using a third party booking system that needs your card details to confirm bookings now even though you pay in store & not through the third party. Example 2 My real estate wanting to take pictures of my furniture set up in my home as part of rental inspections now, I understand pics of the walls, floors and ceilings but my bookcase with personal photos?! I just feel like everyone else seems so ok with these changes and personal invasions but I'm not and everyone looks at me like I'm crazy for not wanting to participate. Help? 🤯

Mike33 Anxiety and depression and boredom
  • replies: 3

Hi my name is Mikei left work 5 years ago due to my anxiety and depression. I am 67 years old. I have had anxiety and depression for over 50 years. About 2 months ago I felt the illness re-emerge. I cannot work out if it is the illness plus boredom. ... View more

Hi my name is Mikei left work 5 years ago due to my anxiety and depression. I am 67 years old. I have had anxiety and depression for over 50 years. About 2 months ago I felt the illness re-emerge. I cannot work out if it is the illness plus boredom. As I spend most of the day at home. I get terrible headaches and spend about 2-3 hours in bed as it is the only place that eases the headache. Any remedies or ideas would be appreciated.

Baileysmells My social anxiety is making University really tough for me
  • replies: 4

I’ve been on campus for 13 now, I admit I kinda had the mindset of being a loner and just finishing the work. But it turns out my classes require a lot more than that of me. I just looked at tomorrows lecture guideline and there’s going to be an in-c... View more

I’ve been on campus for 13 now, I admit I kinda had the mindset of being a loner and just finishing the work. But it turns out my classes require a lot more than that of me. I just looked at tomorrows lecture guideline and there’s going to be an in-class debate where we get into a group and act as someone from this pre-determined hypothetical situation. Then present results from that to the class. We are also beginning our first assessment which is a group work assignment, we have to figure out the groups and begin planning/exchange information. I am absolutely terrified of those. It feels like it’s going to be a lot of pressure. The people at the table I happened to sit at already seem disinterested in me and talk amongst themselves, I don’t know how I’m going to be grouped up. Wether the people I get with don’t want me there or make an awkward mess of myself during it.

abb01 I hate Year 12
  • replies: 7

I'm in Year 12 this year, it feels like the year just started, but suddenly the end of the year is approaching so fast. Part of me is so scared to be an adult, but I don't even have time to focus on that part of me, or on the part of me that's excite... View more

I'm in Year 12 this year, it feels like the year just started, but suddenly the end of the year is approaching so fast. Part of me is so scared to be an adult, but I don't even have time to focus on that part of me, or on the part of me that's excited. I'm just so overwhelmed with school work all the time. I've been feeling this stress all through high school, especially during quarantine, but these last few months, it's been especially bad. I remember, in Year 9, I had it all planned out, I was so sure I'd have a part time job by the time I was 16, I was going to get great grades, and my life would be do much fun. But I'm almost an adult now, and STILL haven't had my first job. Or my first anything, tbh. Covid's messed everything up. And I just feel so stressed, and so angry sometimes, and I know that there's all these ways to be happier and healthier, and all I've got to do is do them, but I just can't get the motivation somehow. Whenever I feel stressed, I do things to myself that I hate, and I feel way to embarrassed to ever tell anyone about. Either that, or I binge eat tons of food after not eating for days. But somehow, when I do that, my mum always finds out, and she gets so mad at me. But I'm always already feeling mad enough at myself. After doing any of these things, I just hate myself so much, more than I've ever hated anyone in my life. What's worse is I know that there's heaps of simple ways for me to help myself, like just by just stopping doing the things I do to myself. And I know that I'm just so lazy and stupid for not helping myself, after all these years. But part of me also feels like I don't even deserve to get better, I don't deserve to be happy. I just hate myself so much, I hate everything about me, I hate the way I look, and act, and think. I just see so many perfect ppl around me, living perfect lives, and I'm not even trying to be pretty or successful, coming on this chat is the best I've done for myself in ages, but I guess it's better than nothing. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Lostworrier82 Cardiac anxiety 😟
  • replies: 20

Hi all, I’m new here and after reading a lot of peoples posts it gave me courage to share mine. I’m suffering badly with cardiac anxiety. I had a full check up with the cardiologist back in 2020, everything was clear, had no calcium in arteries so th... View more

Hi all, I’m new here and after reading a lot of peoples posts it gave me courage to share mine. I’m suffering badly with cardiac anxiety. I had a full check up with the cardiologist back in 2020, everything was clear, had no calcium in arteries so the pain in my chest and arm was left unknown. Over time it went away. I have two small children so life went on. But over the last month I have been suffering intermittent chest pain, left shoulder blade and a throbbing pain in my left arm. I also get sharp pain in my jaw but mainly around my teeth section. As I type my arm is throbbing on and off. You visit google to check your symptoms and as a long time health anxiety person is a massive no no but I did it anyway and of course it comes up heart attack warning signs. I think I got myself into such a stage tonight I really thought I was having one and I started crying and hugging my children. But after a bit I calmed down and it went away. But came back in an hour or so. I’ve told my GP about my symptoms and I’m getting full bloods done tomorrow but she thinks it could be bad reflux. Sigh. It’s just hard. I’m so scared of Something Happening and leaving my kids which makes me more down. I could do with loosing some weight and need to lower my cholesterol a bit but I stress going for a walk if I get arm or chest pain. How can you convince yourself these thoughts are just in your head? Has anyone had this experience before? Thank you for letting me vent.

BobbyOz Failed uni due to panic attacks
  • replies: 7

I was doing really well in all my uni courses but since I couldn't do the exams due to anxiety I got no marks and I've failed and am now in massive debt and have to do it all again. What should I do?

I was doing really well in all my uni courses but since I couldn't do the exams due to anxiety I got no marks and I've failed and am now in massive debt and have to do it all again. What should I do?

Giggyy intense spiral from university rejection
  • replies: 4

hi so I have struggled with anxiety and almost crippling self-doubt which has prevented me from doing a lot of things but I decided to put in an application for university early entry, the course had quite low standards and I thought I might get it..... View more

hi so I have struggled with anxiety and almost crippling self-doubt which has prevented me from doing a lot of things but I decided to put in an application for university early entry, the course had quite low standards and I thought I might get it... I didn't. My self-doubt has spiralled out of control because I really thought this was something I could do, now I've convinced myself that I can't do anything and it's hard to get out of this panic/catastrophizing mind. How can I deal with this and try and take control of my future? it's almost time for me to apply to more unis and figure out my life but I'm so panicked that ill be rejected from everything and ill be a failure, I haven't even looked at the pages for any other courses or even jobs because I'm so scared of more rejection any advice is appreciated thx

car10001 when is it time to leave jobs and what can you do to hang on a bit longer
  • replies: 5

hi not sure where to put this but want to ask following and hope someone can listen. because the place that am working at is for sale have decided to call it when it sells or the owners 60th whichever comes first because have goals that am wishing to... View more

hi not sure where to put this but want to ask following and hope someone can listen. because the place that am working at is for sale have decided to call it when it sells or the owners 60th whichever comes first because have goals that am wishing to follow at some point and starting to get a bit tired of the hospitality work and always working when events are on and missing out on so much because of it and feel that after 13 years its time to start planning the next move and think its better to plan at some point while you may be able to hang on just a bit longer. by the time the shop sells itll probably be 15 years in service and after that long and giving up your life its time to get out. what am wanting to do next is electrical test and tag and add antennas and emergency lights inspection and should be enough to get consistent 2-3 days a week work, plus may be able to take a few second hand things to sell at markets once in while as well. am looking into testers and need something for now just to get started but dont have much to spend to start off with so wondered wether basic one would be ok for now and upgrade later or should you try get the one you want from the start and is there a way to laybuy it online without afterpay like you would in a shop where the laybuy just gets cancelled if you dont or cant pay and money minus the laybuy fee gets returned to you. being in hospitality is wearing you down because you work every weekend and every events and every holidays and you just want to go to some events and/or meet people but cant because youre always working and it wears you down and am tired and had enough and have goals and want to follow them while am still able to. the food industry work is already hard work and has gotten harder in last couple years and will probably never be same plus it isnt meant to be a forever thing but instead be a stop gap for uni students or to just have a job while you work towards what you want. what could you do to try and hang on a bit longer until you can get out. you dont always have to leave on bad terms, sometimes you have goals that you want to reach

Rose.8 Feel like I’m not doing enough with my life
  • replies: 7

I am 21 still live at home, currently enrolled at university and I work a casual job, I’m doing 14 hours of class a week not including the time it takes to do my assignment, sometimes I freelance photography work for extra money… I help my parents wi... View more

I am 21 still live at home, currently enrolled at university and I work a casual job, I’m doing 14 hours of class a week not including the time it takes to do my assignment, sometimes I freelance photography work for extra money… I help my parents with house work, grocery shopping ect, I’m basically the only one that cleans the house….. I also work around 12 hours at my casual job which is not a lot compared to some people, but that’s where I stress, I feel like I’m not doing enough? People I work with seem to always be picking up shifts wherever they can whereas I say no when I’m asked to come in last minute. I don’t say no all the time but when I do I feel so so guilty even if I actually have 5 assignments due and I can’t work or I’m out with friends. I know I could say yes but I feel like I get burnt out so quickly….. am I just being lazy? Do I need to stop having a sook and just work? I’ve been asked to work tonight and I don’t want too….. I need to prepare for class tomorrow, do assignments and I also need to find an internship for uni. anyone else get an overwhelming amount of guilt saying no? I hope this makes sense, I don’t want to come across as a privileged sook who still lives with parents and doesn’t want to do anything with her life….