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Anxiety

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Chris_B Forums etiquette: give support to receive support
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newb... View more

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newbies are welcomed when they first post, and we understand that it’s a big step to post for the first time on a forum like this, especially if you aren’t feeling great. It’s important to remember, though, that these forums are a community of real people, just like you, not a one-on-one support environment like going to see your psychologist. To get the best out of being here, one of the best tips we can offer is give support to receive support. Being a good community member means: participating in different threads (not just your own), replying to people who have taken the time to reply to you (even if it’s just to say thank you), and... posting words of emotional support and encouragement when you see others who are hurting and reaching out. You don’t have to feel obliged to solve the problems of others: that’s not what we’re here for. But you can offer empathy and what you’ve learned from your own life experiences, even if it’s just a line or two, eg. “I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support and tell you I care about what is happening to you and hope life will get better soon.” Try to develop an interest in the journeys of others here on the forums. You may be surprised at how good being an active, caring member here can make you feel. For those of you who have had good experiences giving support here on the forums, please post in this thread here and let us know how it has helped you on your journey.

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veronica20 Anxiety and ADD
  • replies: 1

I think that I have ADD - I still need to discuss with a doctor but I am beginning to feel that my years - yes, years of feeling anxious and overwhelmed and not able to cope - are due to, or at least exacerbated by ADD. I don't think I ever met the c... View more

I think that I have ADD - I still need to discuss with a doctor but I am beginning to feel that my years - yes, years of feeling anxious and overwhelmed and not able to cope - are due to, or at least exacerbated by ADD. I don't think I ever met the criteria for depression and antidepressants never helped but I have certainly had anxiety. Does anyone share this experience?

whiteroses Worry about changing friendships
  • replies: 2

My husband and I have two children. Our closest friends are unable to have children and I am constantly worried our friendship has changed. Before kids we did everything together and now I feel like we have been sidelined. I don’t know why I worry so... View more

My husband and I have two children. Our closest friends are unable to have children and I am constantly worried our friendship has changed. Before kids we did everything together and now I feel like we have been sidelined. I don’t know why I worry so much about this but it makes me feel very anxious.

jellybeanshampoo Anxiety eating away at my time
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, This is my first post on Beyond Blue. I've been reading through a lot of the posts and find it almost comforting that what I'm feeling isn't isolated, and that there have been instances where people like us have gotten a good hold of the... View more

Hi everyone, This is my first post on Beyond Blue. I've been reading through a lot of the posts and find it almost comforting that what I'm feeling isn't isolated, and that there have been instances where people like us have gotten a good hold of their anxieties. I feel like my anxiety consumes any hours or minutes that I have spare in the day. I would fret and think about social situations I need to be at and it will be all that I think about. I feel like I'm living in some borrowed time, that "judgement day" (i.e. any day I feel like I can't control what happens or I know will push my comfort zones) is looming. It gets to the point where sometimes I'll just blank out and stare at the clock, counting down the hours/days until I have to do whatever it is that's triggering my anxiety. I lose any spare time I have with myself, friends, or family because it's always at the back of my mind. I hate feeling this way. It makes me feel lonely, too, because I feel like I can't talk about this situation with anyone. I can't let my friends know I'm feeling like this, and my closest sibling is so busy and lives so far away that I don't want to burden her. I'm jittery and more often than not I'm crying myself to sleep over it. I feel like my days revolve around doing the stressful thing and counting down to the next stressful thing. This anxiety has been with me since primary school but it feels so much worse now as an adult. I don't know how to control it.

Kat_Kai1067 I feel anxious for no reason...
  • replies: 13

Nearly everyday I have a panic attack and it tires my out. I have trouble sleeping because of my anxiety, I have trouble socialising because of my social anxiety. I don't know what to do anymore..

Nearly everyday I have a panic attack and it tires my out. I have trouble sleeping because of my anxiety, I have trouble socialising because of my social anxiety. I don't know what to do anymore..

HoldOnPainEnds I worry my anxiety will end my relationship - I can't stop thinking that I don't love him anymore.
  • replies: 5

I have the most spectacular, kind, loving, supportive boyfriend out there. We have been dating for over a year and it has been the happiest I've ever felt. A few days ago I woke up and thought "but what if I don't actually love him?" and all hell bro... View more

I have the most spectacular, kind, loving, supportive boyfriend out there. We have been dating for over a year and it has been the happiest I've ever felt. A few days ago I woke up and thought "but what if I don't actually love him?" and all hell broke loose. Since then I have been experiencing a near constant anxiety attack - I can't eat, I won't stop shaking and every waking moment is spent worrying about this. When I'm away from him, I worry. When I am with him, I over-analyse everything and it's getting to the point where I'm afraid to see him because I know I will most likely have a panic attack. After five days I am beginning to lose sight of all the amazing times we've spent together because all I can associate with this relationship now is intense anxiety. My anxiety has completely thrown my feelings off. I can't feel the love I had for him before Saturday, and I've even contemplated breaking up with him just to get away from these debilitating feelings. However, I know that all those feelings still exist because firstly, I wouldn't be this worried if I didn't care for him, and secondly, the thought of losing him is even worse than this anxiety - it is complete numbness. I am so scared that I am going to ruin the amazing relationship we have just because I can't see the truth under the mask of this intense anxiety. I have spoken to him about it already and he is being extremely supportive, but I find it hard to access this support he is giving me as every time I think about him or am with him the thoughts just start to plague my mind again. I have been able to manage some of the major symptoms by distracting myself, reading through websites and advice forums and attempting to challenge the negative thoughts, and I will also be seeing my psychologist in a week. However, I don't want to spend the rest of my life just pushing away these thoughts as I am so worried they will just come back. If anyone has any advice about how I can handle/get rid of these thoughts, or even personal experiences with something similar, I would be so grateful.

Amy_b1 Anxiety
  • replies: 3

I’ve been getting social anxiety lately and I feel so alone I also feel really anxious and have panic attacks I’m just not sure what to do

I’ve been getting social anxiety lately and I feel so alone I also feel really anxious and have panic attacks I’m just not sure what to do

chriscollected Can I ask for some advice/help?
  • replies: 1

Hello, Essentially, I’ve been dealing with anxiety for coming onto a month now and my counsellor had spoken about acute traumatic stress / PTSD as I know it was triggered by a situation that happened in my life, on the first day I had a panic attack.... View more

Hello, Essentially, I’ve been dealing with anxiety for coming onto a month now and my counsellor had spoken about acute traumatic stress / PTSD as I know it was triggered by a situation that happened in my life, on the first day I had a panic attack. It’s like the jar of emotions finally opened and it’s become overwhelming. So I’ve been going to an external app that provides support by speaking to a registered counsellor/psychologist. I have found it useful but also a little intimidating. Has anyone found success in these kind of apps or is 1-on-1 in person sessions the real way to go? I just recently started that as well and came out rather emotionally which I felt was a great first session (I cried twice and I NEVER cry). Another issue I’ve found is I’m stuck between falling rather anxious when I’m at home alone because my partner still needs to go to work... I’ve found I’m a lot more productive, calm and safe when I’m at my families home. These are some great scenarios that could potentially push me further by having support around me but I’m also concerned that by doing this I’m not facing my anxieties head on... A piece of me wants to go back home for a couple of weeks. I’d be closer with family, i’d be closer to work, i’d be a lot more stronger, but as I said, I’m not facing my anxiety head on... I don’t know what to do...

Petal22 OCD and asking for the help you need
  • replies: 19

Hi everyone, I wanted to start this thread in the hope it helps someone to feel they can ask for help in regards to their OCD... When you have OCD it can feel like a very overwhelming scary place to live in.. We have intrusive thoughts that can seem ... View more

Hi everyone, I wanted to start this thread in the hope it helps someone to feel they can ask for help in regards to their OCD... When you have OCD it can feel like a very overwhelming scary place to live in.. We have intrusive thoughts that can seem taboo to the sufferer to talk about with someone you know let alone a health professional who we don’t know.. We have the thoughts of “ what is this person going to think of me for having these thoughts “...... so some people suffer in silence instead of reaching out to a professional.... OCD is a condition that is very treatable..... our health professionals can help us..... You can learn to get on top of your OCD.... with the help of professionals.... many people have this condition... choose to ask for help.... if you think you have OCD talk to a health professional about it.... try to be as honest as you can about the thoughts you are having so a clear diagnosis can be made, try not to hide the thoughts.... if we try to hide them OCD can be missed in the diagnosis and it can be be brushed aside as just anxiety.... so be as open as you can so you can receive the correct treatment.... OCD has a name, for me it was intrusive thoughts that seemed irrational but felt very real...... the anxiety with OCD is very intense..... there is help out there available for OCD you don’t have to live with it... learn how to beat it with treatment because you CAN! Life can be great after OCD! Just be brave and ask for help.... im here if anyone wants to chat

Kim_F Lost
  • replies: 1

I am lost, I have 4 beautiful children. I am separated.

I am lost, I have 4 beautiful children. I am separated.

TheLastSlice_ofBread Conversation
  • replies: 7

Life Does everyone feel like this? The amazing highs the frightening lows, The constant questioning What is everyone else thinking? Does everyone replay each conversation over and over again? Is it normal to think about what they said and did not say... View more

Life Does everyone feel like this? The amazing highs the frightening lows, The constant questioning What is everyone else thinking? Does everyone replay each conversation over and over again? Is it normal to think about what they said and did not say and how people will respond or what they don’t do in response? ‘Stop worrying’ And ‘you do you ‘ Is what I often get told But how? How does someone not think of more?