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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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Mordred 23 YO - Can't leave the house, don't know where to start.
  • replies: 2

Hello, I'll try to keep this short. I am 23 YO male and I have been suffering from severe social anxiety and OCD for at least 6 years now and it has only gotten worse. Enough is enough I need to get help but I don't even know where to begin and if I ... View more

Hello, I'll try to keep this short. I am 23 YO male and I have been suffering from severe social anxiety and OCD for at least 6 years now and it has only gotten worse. Enough is enough I need to get help but I don't even know where to begin and if I can even bring myself to do it. I'm wasting away. the SAD in particular has only worsened as I've let it decay my brain for this long. I can count on probably 2 hands the number of times I've left the house in the last few years and I've only left it twice in 2024. Last Christmas I had to go into the Sydney CBD for a Christmas dinner and there were only about 15 people there total ( 7 of which were family) but I couldn't take it so I just had a panic attack and cried by myself like a baby on the balcony the whole time. I am 23 and have never gone to a party, can't drive and never have, never had a girlfriend, I can't even look at people in the eyes or go to the mailbox without being paranoid, and when someone knocks on the door, I hide. It's at the point where I'd probably rather die than leave the house to go to the hospital if I had a medical emergency or something. I have no consistent income and have never worked because I can't leave the house and im in a semi rural area, so i'm isolated. I rely on my family for most things which is selfish and kills me inside. I was making okay money trading crypto earlier this year, but since September or so, that hasn't been going well. My immediate family knows my situation and my extended family definitely suspects it but I don't talk with them much. My mother has been asking me for help for years but I always chicken out. OCD has also gotten worse. For example, I meticulously brush my teeth for 20+ minutes and take screenshots of the timer app to make sure on my phone. I also shower for ridiculous amount of time, to get rid of "contamination". The real kicker is false memory OCD which is torturing. For example, I'll obsess for hours and stress that I poured vodka in my tea???? and that I swear i could taste it. I also have to do a holy cross gesture over the toilet seat to make sure it isn't contaminated and to check each point of it. I could go on and on. So yeah, where do I even begin? I can't talk to people on the phone either and I feel like bringing a family member to an appointment at my age is embarrassing. I'm also obsessively worrying that a doctor will just say im "faking" and dismiss me, but in reality I should've been heavily medicated years ago.

Guest_32500613 What can I do I'm at my witts end
  • replies: 1

Hi all, never thought this would happen to me but I'm defenetly going through noise anxiety I have nonidea why and way it is so sudden, I have new neighbours who are constantly playing music the bass is annoying and stuck in my head all the time even... View more

Hi all, never thought this would happen to me but I'm defenetly going through noise anxiety I have nonidea why and way it is so sudden, I have new neighbours who are constantly playing music the bass is annoying and stuck in my head all the time even when when it's not playing i can still hear it in my head, I have an issue now we're every noise I hear from there side makes me think it's the music playing on and on and on, Unfortunately I had to have the local visit them at 3am in morning to ask to have the music turned down I'm pretty sure that just made it worse,I have contacted the environmental protection agencie aswell but they don't deal with this issue, I have to contact my local council grrrr It all started a month ago when I came home from.hospital after being sick pheunomnia, I have to get up for work daily at 5am they are constantly playing bassy music wich can be heard all through my house I am renting and Unfortunately just resigned our lease for another 12 months so it ant move until then, I am literally getting home from work sitting on my couch with headphones on trying to relax and that's all I can hear all the time, they are defenetly not the type to approach with this issue, what have others done that could help I have tried everything I'm even dealing with it right now it makes me nervous and sick.and I keep wondering when it's going to start or stop it's on my mind at work aswell it's affecting my life making my wife and I very unhappy it use to be nice and quite everything was fine and now this I hate it it's driving me mad, tomorrow I will be contacting the land lord for there property to see if they can help, gee I wish people would have a bit of consideration for others, thanks all

spookedoutsum struggling with anxiety leading up to driving test
  • replies: 4

I've recently turned 21, and I have been on a long, strenuous driving journey. I have always been petrified to get behind the wheel and it took me an extremely long time to finally make the jump, yet this year I began doing driving lessons. It was on... View more

I've recently turned 21, and I have been on a long, strenuous driving journey. I have always been petrified to get behind the wheel and it took me an extremely long time to finally make the jump, yet this year I began doing driving lessons. It was one of the hardest things I've ever forced myself to do, and for someone who is extremely anxious in all areas of my life it proved to be a challenge. However, six months later brings us to now - and in about 2 days I have my driving test. I have been trying to control my nerves and anxiety, but it seems impossible. I have rationalised with myself - telling myself that it doesn't matter if i fail, there are plenty of other chances to simply just keep trying. Despite this i am still freaking out!I have never sat the test before so I have no idea what it is like, and that is extremely daunting for me. I'm scared of the examiner, the routes, not being able to follow directions properly, making mistakes. Every part of me wants to just run the other way but I know it's an essential step forwards in my life and I have worked very hard to get here. I really just don't know what to expect. I hope at the very least I can pull myself together somewhat, and don't let the nerves take over me. I don't want to fail simply because I was an anxiety-riddled mess.

Prawn Happy but so scared
  • replies: 2

My husband and i have been going through fertility treatment the past few months. We have had an ectopic pregnancy just before and 2 years ago we had a miscarriage. Since then i have been diagnosed with PCOS and am now on medication for it. I lost 12... View more

My husband and i have been going through fertility treatment the past few months. We have had an ectopic pregnancy just before and 2 years ago we had a miscarriage. Since then i have been diagnosed with PCOS and am now on medication for it. I lost 12kgs. I have been eating all healthy and stuff for the past year or so. On wednesday the clinic called to say im pregnant im so happy. Ive been having moments of excitement and then pure fear. Last night i couldnt sleep and almost felt like i was drowning i am so scared that this fear is my body trying to tell me something. Im so scared its going to happen again. On wednesday my bloods looked good. Im going for new bloods each week to check but im so scared. I want this so badly.

Ando Anxiety day to day.
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone. I am new here and very grateful to be able to connect with people with similar mental health issues. I have diagnosed anxiety, diagnosed PTSD and depression. I’m on medication snd see a psychiatrist and have just started seeing a psychol... View more

Hi everyone. I am new here and very grateful to be able to connect with people with similar mental health issues. I have diagnosed anxiety, diagnosed PTSD and depression. I’m on medication snd see a psychiatrist and have just started seeing a psychologist who is going to help me process some of the trauma. I guess I just wanted to say hi. To let you know that I work full time at a “high level” job. No one would really know how I am. I keep it hidden. So well. I’m supposed to be going to see the James Blunt concert tonight. But I won’t go. I just pull out of going everywhere unless someone is relying on me, then I try hard to go. But if it’s just me, I just don’t go. I also think I’ll take tomorrow off because my anxiety has been horrendous this weekend. I have the Sunday afternoon anxiety thing already and it is only 6.30am. I hope you can all have a calm day and have some joy.

Rascally Am I paranoid or very aware?
  • replies: 2

I feel someone is contributing to a lot of trouble in my circumstances. (I have a very poor health) this person works at a hospital & once boasted she could access any file. Her motive seems to be an obsession with my sister, with whom I was very clo... View more

I feel someone is contributing to a lot of trouble in my circumstances. (I have a very poor health) this person works at a hospital & once boasted she could access any file. Her motive seems to be an obsession with my sister, with whom I was very close to. She has stolen from me & given those things to my sister. Once she worked at at a law firm. I received a letter, demanding I give my sister money. I took it to that same law firm & they had no knowledge of it. This woman once told me she wished she had my family instead of her own. There have been many lies & manipulation for the last 20 years. My siblings do not interact with me at all. Even after I tried many times to meet with them, this person was always there & humiliated in front of my siblings. Do to my continual health issues, I feel she is interfering somehow. Things don't make sense. I really don't know what to do anymore. My family were a very close unit, we did everything together. "Character assassination" comes to mind, yet if so how do I deal with that?. I now live in total isolation, Acquaintances have approached me on a few occasions discussing how much trouble she caused in their lives. At times I'm fearful, a car was parked when I put my bin out. The young man was on the phone & said " yeah, here lights came on, she's here" I really do wish it was paranoia, but my gut instinct tells me otherwise. I have no proof & am a nervous wreck. If I do see her, she gets no reaction from me... none... what hurts are my siblings, celebrating birthdays, Xmas all getting together. Close relatives have passed & no one told me.. I don't get it. I was always there for them, we laughed & played all the way into our 30s. This is devastating me & because of the thievery, lies & betrayal, I can't move on.. I have no one

Guest_10046 I Need Help With Health Anxiety
  • replies: 3

13.11.20249:43pm I need help with health anxiety. I have been struggling with health anxiety for about 7-8 years since I was 11 I am now 18. I have a fear of being sick or feeling sick more like. I have a fear of throwing up and it is majorly impacti... View more

13.11.20249:43pm I need help with health anxiety. I have been struggling with health anxiety for about 7-8 years since I was 11 I am now 18. I have a fear of being sick or feeling sick more like. I have a fear of throwing up and it is majorly impacting my daily, everyday routine and my whole life at this point! I am reaching out on this platform to try and get some advice or some instructions to how to reach out for help. I am embarrassed, I have major panic attacks, lose lots of weight and I am constantly anxious. I have been to a therapist before she moved to a different department. I went to Headspace, I only had one session, so I didn't even get to unpack much. I haven't told anyone the real reason why I have panic attacks. Because I have found it a really embarrassing reason. I want to know how to get CBT (Cognitive Behavorial Training), I need some advice (any advice is helpful), on how to reach out for help. I have done a lot of research, and the internet tells me to book an appointment with my local GP and they can refer me to a therapist. Looking forward to hearing from someone soon!Thank you, stay safe, take care!Charlimay04

Ranga-1 Student Teacher Struggling on Internship
  • replies: 5

I'm doing my internship (secondary). I have had a few lessons go really bad (and I mean REALLY bad) on me and the mentor and supervising teachers have told me they're not happy with the standard I'm teaching at and they won't sign off my internship i... View more

I'm doing my internship (secondary). I have had a few lessons go really bad (and I mean REALLY bad) on me and the mentor and supervising teachers have told me they're not happy with the standard I'm teaching at and they won't sign off my internship if they don't feel I'm ready. I'm so scared and upset. I completed a prac earlier this year and it went well. I was offered work from it. Now everything's going down the gurgler. Also, I work in home care. I didn't realise I had been rostered to work this morning (Saturday - they know I am not available through the week at the moment). I have been so wrapped up in internship that I didn't check my roster app - and I'm generally not rostered on Saturdays. I got a call from on-call to see where I was. I had a shock and said I would get to the client's house straight away - which I did. Given I'm normally a reliable employee, I don't think there will be any repercussions. It just added to my general anxiety. I hate this so much.

Guest_87363593 Anxiety
  • replies: 1

I have so much anxiety I have decided to let go of my boyfriend he has mental health issues and I can’t deal with the abuse any longer it’s so hard for me but I have to do this.

I have so much anxiety I have decided to let go of my boyfriend he has mental health issues and I can’t deal with the abuse any longer it’s so hard for me but I have to do this.

SilvaLady Disappearing
  • replies: 4

Is it normal wanting to disappear? I live with my brother and sister-in-law and I feel like I don’t want to live with them anymore. But I’m not able to, as I’m suffering from early stages of alzheimers. I recently been diagnosed with this condition. ... View more

Is it normal wanting to disappear? I live with my brother and sister-in-law and I feel like I don’t want to live with them anymore. But I’m not able to, as I’m suffering from early stages of alzheimers. I recently been diagnosed with this condition. It can be a bit hard at times, especially when I can’t cope with this