I thought I was normal...

Lisa1990 · ‎11-07-2017

Hey guys,

im new to this group. It's hard writing this because even I'm having anxiety in doing so. Thinking... is it going to benefit me? What if it doesn't? What if someone I know sees this post? I recently got diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Along with that I have a lot of health issues so I mainly thought it was normal to feel down, worry about daily tasks, over think everything, cleaning obsessively and making sure everything is in it's place. i honestly thought I'm organised and it's good to be this way. Writing lists for my fortnightly budget and checking my lists and bank account a lot. The hard thing is feeling like such a burden to your partner all the time and not knowing why to feel like this.. and having arguments because you feel frustrated and physically exhausted. I really hope this website can help. It has so far. Thanks for reading

Guest_9809 · ‎11-07-2017

Hi Lisa, and thanks for overcoming your anxious thoughts enough to bravely introduce yourself to us. Welcome!

I really hope that the advice and understanding support you are likely to get from the members here, is of benefit to you. Often it is helpful simply to know you are not alone and that others understand what you are going through and care. Its generally also very good for us to 'unload' our worries and concerns by writing here. Self expression is a form of therapy in itself. I agree that when I first come here, I too worried about whether someone reading would recognise me. But please know that the Forums are a safe and secure place, and are moderated to ensure your anonymity. Just be careful yourself not to disclose any personal details which may allow someone you know to identify you. If you slip up anytime, the moderators will step in to rescue you. (-:

I suffer from PTSD and OCD which both come under the Anxiety umbrella, so can sympathise with what you are going through when it comes to anxiety and also depression. As you have only recently been diagnosed, can I ask if you have been referred to a psych as yet? If you havent then I would definitely discuss with your GP about putting you on a Mental Health Care Plan. It will entitle you to up to 10 Medicare subsidised visits with a psych per year. A psych will help you to understand more about anxiety and depression and to develop ways that you can manage and overcome it.

Any formal therapy that you eventually undertake can be very well assisted by the support and understanding that you are likely to receive here on the Forums.

Please have a look through some of the other Anxiety and Depression threads, and feel free to respond to any existing threads. There are also many other topics, ie Staying Well, Long Term Support, etc.

If you would like to interact with other members a little more, I would also suggest you get involved in some of the BB Social Zone threads. They are a bit of fun and games including a chill out Cafe, and are designed to allow you to connect with others in an informal setting.

And since you are newly diagnosed, take a read of the many helpful resources that this Website provide under "The Facts" header above.

Thankyou for joining us, and I look forward to seeing you around the Forums.

Taurus

geoff · ‎11-07-2017

hello Lisa, firstly another great reply by Taurus.
I presume you aren't using your correct name and there are so many people suffering from the same symptoms, so it would be very difficult for anyone to know that it's you posting, and your first post you are doubtful whether you should post it or not, especially after you've edited it, maybe deleted it and then thought that it should have been sent, so you could feel even more worried, but now it's been done and welcome to the site.
One thing that sticks out is that you are suffering from OCD, both Taurus and I both have it and know how controlling it will be to alter your life.
It's happens by having extreme anxiety, whereas other people also have anxiety but are fortunate enough not to have it, but what I really would like you to do is click onto 'Get Support' and scroll down to 'Publications to download' or you could email BB and they will send it out to you, in this booklet there is a section on OCD which I hope your partner can read to try and understand this illness.
If you also google 'OCD/Intrusive thoughts' there is an enormous section which you can read because what you are doing falls exactly into the symptoms of OCD, and you aren't doing anything wrong, please let me assure you.
There is medication which is meant to help with your habits/rituals and which I take, but it doesn't completely stop them, as I still do them, but have learnt over the 57 years from having it that I now hide them whenever I'm doing them so no one knows.
Please get back to us. Geoff.