First timer: Stressing about my future and body image

[R4even]

Hey, this is my first time ever making anything like this so I don't know what to really say, nor do I know if I'm doing this right...

So a little about myself is I am a very anxious person and I hide it around others, and I find it hard to express myself, the only way I really express myself is through my art which I've been doing for as long as I can remember.. uhh. I always doubt myself but I've been trying hard not to do that as of late but I've currently hit an all-time low. Its exam season for me so I've been a bit stressed about them since it's my future I'm working towards, and I always worry about failing.

I always tend to get really anxious around these times, but especially when I have my time. I overthink constantly which has led to me losing friends, and important people, and it's quite miserable. I just made this account so I could express myself a little because I've just been out of the shower and have thought too much. I really want to change for the better so I think venting online is going to be a start to that since I don't vent to anyone normally. I don't like my body, nor myself and I want to change for the better, so that's why I'm on here for a chat.

I think that's it.. thank you guys for listening to me I suppose.

[White_Rose]

Dear R4even

Hello and welcome to the forum. Thank you for telling us your story. It can be hard the first time you post here. Many congratulations on your first post. This is a safe space to vent. Please post in as often as you wish.

Anxiety in general can be hard on people especially a persistent anxiety. You have joined a caring circle where you can talk about the things that bother you. Exams can be tough as many of us here can relate to. Are you at school or uni? I ask because universities have counsellors who listen to your doubts and anxieties while also understanding the the way universities operate.

Over thinking is something many people do and is quite normal unless it takes over your life. From your post I can see how anxious you get at exam times which is natural as you feel the results will affect your future life. That's as lot to carry, especially when you are trying to secure a good future.

Recently I have been experiencing a great deal of anxiety as it seems to come in waves. It is hard to be rational about your thoughts when the anxiety takes over your body making you doubt yourself at every turn. I have found sitting with my thoughts and allowing myself to explore what is happening to me. Is it reasonable to have these thoughts and how is it affecting me.

It probably sounds counter productive to allow your thoughts to continue but when you are in charge it can be quite illuminating. It's not easy to do this because you can become more anxious. If you can, pursue a thought to its origin and look at the why and what is happening and more importantly, how this will affect your future. Perhaps you can write down a thought and list the answers. This can be very powerful as we pay attention to one thought and explore the reasons you are having this thought.

There are several organisations you can talk to about this. Kids Helpline which is for people aged up to 25 years Look at their web site. https://www.kidshelpline.com.au/ Or phone them 24/7 on 1800 55 1800. You can also look at Mindspot on https://mindspot.org.au/ and speak with their trained staff on 1800 61 44 34 or join one of their courses. Both organisations are well worth while.

I hope that helps.

Mary

[geoff]

Hello R4even, welcome to the forums.

Isn't the shower with hot cascading water flowing down upon us, give us the time to think, positively but it's those negative thoughts that keep us under the comfort of the water where we can cry and no one can hear us.

It's now a testing time with the onlook of having to face exams and can remember those days trying to jam everything you know into every spare space in your mind, it's rather hideous.

You are not alone, perhaps all your friends are feeling the same and may explain why you feel you've lost them because it's a serious condition and have been there myself.

You need to take credit because you have decided to post to an audience who does understand how you're feeling, that requires great courage and we hope you can get back to us, as each one of us has been through our own type of depression, and this may involve so many different issues.

Take care.

Geoff.

[R4even]

Hello, White Rose (Mary),

I thank you for the advice, I will definitely try out what you had recommended to see if it'll work for me too. and I am in school so we don't have anyone there to help like Uni's do, sadly all of the people there that try to help just make things worse so I tend to like to stray away from those people. And I will definitely look into the links you have shared.

Thank you for the advice,

Raeven

[R4even]

Thank you Geoff,

I needed to hear something like that.

Thanks again

Raeven

[geoff]

Hello Raeven, if you are awake and want to talk please don't hesitate, we'd love to hear back from you.

Best wishes.

Geoff.