New to these forums

[frosty67]

Hi guys

This is my first time here...have been reading through the forums and there is some really good advice...hoping someone has experienced what I am going through

Was diagnosed with depression nearly 20 years ago but recently have wondered if its more anxiety I suffer...I know the two are co-morbid but...anyway

In the past 12 months I've lost nearly 30kgs in weight, starting eating healthier, been dating a great woman for 10 months, trying to finish my studies, moved to a different job, changed medication. All sounds pretty positive

But, in the past month or so I've been suffering terrible anxiety...my psych and I have decided its probably about my studies which I have been working really hard on trying to complete and getting minimal feedback on...hopefully that will change tomorrow. But there are things that I am not sure about...

One is that since Sunday night I've had the feeling of being unable to empty my bladder ...I also have a tingly sensation at the end of the tubes...my urine yesterday was really strong and the tingly sensation may be because of that...I'm nearly 48 and of course these things always make me think about Prostate issues...occasionally, not often, I get that feeling that when you go, you need to go straight away again but there is nothing there or a little dribble...is this Anxiety related or something else??? I feel I am tensing the muscles in the pelvic floor which I guess is related to the feelings of "holding on"

Are there other things that are common issues...like recently I've noticed that I haven't eaten a lot of meat...I've eaten cereals, dairy products and lots of salads but no meat...also drank too much coffee too and not enough water...I have also from the weekend tried to drink a cup of camomile tea before bed...

So just wondering what people think and whether I am taking 2 and 2 and making 7...

Thanks

Steve

[Neil_1]

Hi Steve

Welcome to Beyond Blue and thank you for coming here and providing your post.

I have a red-flashing light stating that all my suggestions and advice for you would be to go and see your GP as soon as possible.  It might very well be not much at all, but I say soon as possible, just so this can alleviate any possible concerns if it turns out that way.

What also I can say is that you should be damn proud of all that you’ve achieved in the past 12 months – some great goals attained there;  brilliant stuff.

But in this instance, I’d be getting along to see your GP asap.

Also, now that you’ve found us, I hope that you can stick around and if you’ve got other issues/concerns, please fire away.

Kind regards

Neil

(not a doctor)  🙂

[geoff]

dear Steve, thanks for posting your comment, and please don't worry about what you have said on here, because problems like this are always a concern for a male, as my doctor always asks me about my 'water works'.

Please go and see your doctor who will give you a script for you to have a blood test, and if you can get this test down in the morning the results will be available in the afternoon so your doctor will know.

The earlier they detect it the better it is for you.

Please let us know, as we know that you have anxiety which is totally understandable. Geoff.

[Beltane]

hi Steve, welcome to these forums. I can certainly understand your anxiety regarding your health issues. Please try to "live in the moment" a little as catatrophising over the future means we become anxious about not only what we have to deal with today, but tomorrow, next week, next month (its too much all at once!). I have a little motto when i catch myself doing that: "let future me worry about that". You see, present me attends therapy and consistently practices my coping strategies, healthy behaviours, and healthy mind-steps. So while present me may not feel ready to deal with the (possible) future- with all my therapy and work I'm sure future me will be able to- so i leave it up to future me. Besides the future I fear will happen probably wont happen anyway- any number of possibilities could ensue.

I used to obsess constantly that "i'd never have a normal life because my anxiety/ depression/ bipolar causes too many issues- i wont get married or hold down a job". But all that worry was wasted energy as I got therapy and the right medication and now I'm stable and happy, in a long term relationship looking to marriage, and well enough to work full time. So what i was worried about never even happened! Thats classic anxiety- your mind jumps to the worst possible outcome and believes that'll definitely happen. When in reality, there are a thousand outcomes, many more likely than the catatrosphe you've painted up.

Now this is much easier said than done- of course you're worried about your studies, your health, and probably you're anxious about BEING anxious (funny how that works hey). So I like to schedule "worry time"- 20 minutes each day where I allow myself to dissolve into a puddle of anxiety. I do odd little things- i sometimes take a stuffed toy (my Worry Toy) and i pour out all my worries to Worry Toy for 20 minutes. When the 20 minutes is up, Worry Toy gets put away, and I feel much lighter and much calmer- as if i have gotten all that pent up stress off my chest a little! Then when I catch myself obsessing over these worries i remind myself that I have already thought about these issues for 20 minutes and thinking about them more won't solve anything- find something distracting and enjoyable to do instead. I personally love exercise- great way to use up excess anxious energy. So is singing along to powerful loud music.

please check in with us how you go at the doctors, and work on your anxiety coping strategies 🙂