Hello everyone

[ClicheOnlineAlias]

This is my first post and I’d like to introduce myself.

I am a 22-year-old male living near Perth, Western Australia. I am an undergrad student, unemployed and have suffered from anxiety and depression since my early adolescence.

I’ve come searching for a support group to confide in, share tips and knowledge, triumphs and failures, or simply to establish some new form of social activity.

I tow the entire anxiety/depression baggage train: low self-esteem and confidence, countless doubts, insecurities and worries, on and off again insomnia, agoraphobia, loneliness, self-loathing, high levels of introversion and self-consciousness - the whole shebang!
I’m sure many of you can relate.

It is unlikely for me to reach out to an online community, as is expected of an anxiety sufferer. However, I am encouraged by the safety of anonymity and knowing the supportive purpose of this forum. I also find it time-consuming due to my habit of over-scrutinising my writing.
(Take for example this post which took me over an hour to compose).

When I was younger I found it much easier to reach out to others through social media than in person. I have largely abandoned my old accounts and social media sites in general due to my accumulated history of social embarrassments and mistakes that I have made through them. I want to return to using the internet to communicate with people other than my small circle of close friends and I think this forum is a great place to start.

I hope to grow and learn from you all.

[geoff]

hello COA, if I am allowed to abbreviate your Avatar or username, but many people find that by talking via online to be their option, because talking on the phone may leave you to feel embarrassed to open up, and there is no worry about that because talking here is completely different.
You have time to think and say exactly what you want to say, because we don't know who you are or what you look like, unless you decide to post a picture of yourself, but many people don't want to, so it's entirely up to you.
Although your comment took over an hour to compose and then post, doesn't matter as long as you feel comfortable, and perhaps as you gain more confidence and trust with us, it my come a little bit easier for you to do.
The whole shebang you are suffering from is very common here on this site, so perhaps you could read a few posts just to make you feel welcome, and pleased that you have signed up here, and don't ever be afraid to comment on what other's have to say, and perhaps you might want to add to to the other replies. Geoff.

[White_Rose]

Dear COA

Hello and welcome. You are quite right, this is a safe place to come and talk about anxiety and depression or whatever. Happy to chat on this thread but you may want to start another thread in depression or anxiety, or staying well etc. That way you are more visible to others and will receive more replies and comments. Here in Welcome and Orientation your post can get lost among the many very easily.

I second everything Geoff has said. Looking at other posts and perhaps replying to some can be a great help.

Mary

[Croix]

Dear COA~ (yes, I'm another that has abbreviated your name)

First off, as a PTSD/depression/chronic anxiety sufferer I can understand all you say and have had/have, no doubt, the same experiences.

Second, you don't always need to 'polish' your posts to reflect everything, or to gauge the reaction of the readers.

A post can take up all 2,500 characters with great well-written detail, or can simply say I'm in a bad place

Either is as important. As a practical measure the last example does need some amplification, but if it is all the poster can manage at the time - that's ok, it will sort out.

While you've given a little about yourself you haven't mentioned any current treatment - may I ask?

Also ditching social media is probably a good move in any case -it is a horribly artificial medium full of people putting on their best faces and leaving out all the down-sides of life. Calculated to make anyone not on a high feel bad.

Looking at our threads on Anxiety & Depression, including finding tips on helping control it though others' experiences, it a pretty good way to begin - as both Mary and Geoff have said.

One other thing, mistakes made here are no hassle and have no comeback in outside life, neither do personal revelations - this place is totally anonymous. There is no need to restart elsewhere if you make a mistake or feel embarrassed on bb.

Please feel free to post as often as you'd like. As Mary mentioned a thread of your own (easy to make) in the Depression or Anxiety areas will be more fruitful.

Croix

[ClicheOnlineAlias]

Thank you all for your replies.

It was difficult to return here and read them as my instinct is to flee from interaction. I have browsed the forums before posting this introduction and I know where I would like to begin.

[White_Rose]

Thank you for making the effort and overcoming your natural instinct to run away. That takes a lot of courage. I look forward to reading your posts in other sections of the BB forum.

Mary