Vent/need advice

[Ellie23451]

Hey, I’m writing this at 5 am after being awake since 4. I seriously woke up feeling like something was really not right and I’ve felt anxious ever since. My legs and arms feel filled with adrenaline and I feel like my heart is in my throat. I have no idea how to deal with my anxiety, I don’t know if I even have legit anxiety to be honest! I don’t want to tell any of my friends because I know they’ll just say “same” or look at me funny like I want the attention. My family has a history of depression and anxiety, my grandma, aunties, mum, dad and brother have struggled with it. Last year after my best friend left with barely a warning I went and spoke to a community worker or someone who studied something and I never ever want to go there again.. She gave me zero advice and just pissed me off to be 100% honest 🤭 I’m the youngest child in my family and my parents are divorced, my siblings have moved away and mum just has so much work all the time and I don’t want to put her through my whole phase where I was just mentally occupied like last year again.. I have this friend and she’s got a heart of gold but she doesn’t understand how I feel and I can explain it to her because she’ll just talk about how much she can relate, you know? She’s one of those types that just has to have something wrong all the time?? She once said “omg maybe I have anxiety” I really want to talk to someone, but I never want to see that community worker again 🤭

[white knight]

Hi Ellie, welcome

I had anxiety, it might have taken me a long time to get rid of it but I did and life is great again.

Firstly, community workers are not GP's, BB community champions like myself aren't psychiatrists and so on so we must at all times remember that certain people we are in contact with have their set roles and we as champs for example don't waver from that into areas we are not qualified.

That community worker has left you with a bad experience. Please understand that other will leave you feeling otherwise.

1. Anxiety is a serious condition and your family members have got it/had it. Best to tackle it with all you can muster right now. Firstly return to your GP and take his/her recommendations.
2. Readjust your lifestyle
3. Reconsider all aspects of your life like work, environment etc

The best advice I can give you is in the following threads. Just read the first post if you like. Repost in those threads or here. Use google

Topic: how I eliminated anxiety- beyondblue

Topic: they just wont understand, why?- beyondblue

Topic: seeking the origins of anxiety- beyondblue

Topic: the balance of your life- beyondblue

Topic: what life can be like at the end of the tunnel- beyondblue

all the best

tony WK

[Mischiefthecat16]

I just wanted to reply that you are not alone in your anxiety. I have had it since |I was a child now i am 47 and got "diagnosed" in 2004 with panic disorder with depression, now adhd and PTSD from 1997 from a car accident. |the way through is to persist with all sorts of help. YOur doctor is the first point of call. fine the right one for you, he/she has to be understanding and supportive and believe you otherwise you are wasting your time. Read as many books as you can about anxiety. I have a list I can give you. I go to an anxiety support group once a month they gave me a list of books that are helpful. Medication is important too but you have to take it as prescribed. Excercise is important, just doing yoga and walking helps me a LOT!!! I also do meditation , journaling and drawing. Talk to people that you trust and get out of the house. Find a hobby, I volunteer to get out of the house. I don't work anymore because of my anxiety is debilitating. Don't give up on yourself. \never give up.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hey Ellie23451,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for joining us!

Even if it is at 5am! Gosh that's early!

I'm sorry that you're struggling with anxiety. It sounds like you're kind of caught in wanting to get help but the help you got wasn't helpful! and then wanting to talk to people but then not really having a good support team to talk to! Bit of a rock and a hard place.

Tony / whiteknight hit the nail on the head with the comment about community workers. Often community workers will study things like community work (like case management and what not) but won't have any study or experience in counselling or anxiety. Psychologists and counsellors on the other hand are trained in anxiety, and therapies/techniques to help you learn to manage it.

This is also why the GP has been suggested - because then they can refer you on (or Headspace if you're under 25 years). That way you can be more likely to find someone who won't piss you off and can actually help! Is this something you're open to?

Hope this helps!

P.S. By the way - if you do see someone and they aren't helping, call them out on it! That's exactly what they're there for. This can happen with psychologists too; they might not know that they're not being helpful 🙂