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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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MareeB2007 Need to get better for my kids...
  • replies: 4

Hi all. I am new to the BB website and really need your help advice and support. I have had terrible anxiety for the past 12 months. I am having at least weekly panic attacks and I am just so tired of this. I have has mild anxiety attacks over the ye... View more

Hi all. I am new to the BB website and really need your help advice and support. I have had terrible anxiety for the past 12 months. I am having at least weekly panic attacks and I am just so tired of this. I have has mild anxiety attacks over the years but these have been related to a stressful life event and have resolved on their own. This time it is not going away and is getting worse. Feel like I am going crazy and it is really starting to affect my family. My two little girls said they are tied of me being sick all the time. Nearly broke my heart. I have really bad physical symptoms including; feeling dizzy unsteady lightheaded diarrhoea shaking foggy-head tired nausea and more. The drunk/dizzy feeling is the worst! Does anybody else get that? At moment I am still functioning and manage to put my "game face" on most days and just get on with life and work as best i can. But i feel like i am getting to the end of my tether and just want to curl in to a ball. But i have to get better for my kids. My young teen confessed to me that she thinks she may have anxiety. I was completely floored. How can I help her when I am so caught up in my own illness. Have i caused her to be anxious. Probably. Kids model their parents behaviour - but i thought i was keeping my illness hidden from her. Now i am failing as a mum too. Hubby is trying to be supportive but he doesn't really know how to help. So far i have tried relaxation apps and breathing techniques which do helpa little in the short term...but i am on a general steady decline. My situation is also a little difficult because i feel like i can't get professional help. I am a doctor so i feel like i should be able to help myself. I am to embarrassed to see another doctor for help. I know that is irrational but it's how i feel. Such a failure that i cant heal myself this time. Anyway thanks for reading this long winded post. Hope to get some help and some understanding from this online community. Hope wherever you are you are doing okay and getting better or coping as best you can. Any advice welcome and I am here if anybody needs to share their story. It may help. xo

gloria10 Social Anxiety Tips
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I was hoping for some help with social anxiety issues. My psychiatrist has been encouraging me to get out and try more activities and I have been doing well, however, I'm hitting a bit of a block with one thing I want to try. I enjoy singing ... View more

Hi all, I was hoping for some help with social anxiety issues. My psychiatrist has been encouraging me to get out and try more activities and I have been doing well, however, I'm hitting a bit of a block with one thing I want to try. I enjoy singing and tried one choir, but found it too overwhelming with the amount of activities they attend; with my schedule coming up I knew it wouldn't fit. There is another group that I have said I will go to next Tuesday, but doubt has hit me hard. It's like, I'm not sure if it's right or if I'll like it so I think it's better not going at all. I think I always worry about having to make a commitment as I find it hard to break a commitment down the track. Does anyone else struggle with this? If so, how have you overcome it? I appreciate any advice. My social anxiety has been holding me back for a while now. Sorry if it doesn't make sense, I can give more detail if needed.

PD_Perhaps Panic Disorder...does anybody else have a different sequence of events when they have a panic attack?
  • replies: 5

I have always questioned the modality or symptoms associated with the onset of a panic attack. It doesn't follow the common variety described in all the text books. I get a rise in anxiety, then a "zap" on the forehead that creeps across my scalp, th... View more

I have always questioned the modality or symptoms associated with the onset of a panic attack. It doesn't follow the common variety described in all the text books. I get a rise in anxiety, then a "zap" on the forehead that creeps across my scalp, then I goo into panic mode, but without the hyperventilation or racing heart and all the other descriptions. I do get a racing heart after some time and get pretty shaken up...but it feels more like a seizure first. I have had an EEG many years ago but it come up negative. I know it's not that precise anyway. Does anyone else experience their panic attacks like this?

Mares73 In full flight mode-Anxiety is ruining my life
  • replies: 6

Hi all Where to start? Background -As I've mentioned in Depression thread I'm dealing with a lot right now. Husband with acute leukemia, 2 kids & the one who is 10yrs is diagnosed with anxiety & depression relating to uncertainty of his Dad being aro... View more

Hi all Where to start? Background -As I've mentioned in Depression thread I'm dealing with a lot right now. Husband with acute leukemia, 2 kids & the one who is 10yrs is diagnosed with anxiety & depression relating to uncertainty of his Dad being around. I'm also involved in case against Catholic church for serial abuse as a child. Like many I grew up in a house of horrors. Anyway I'm on meds for depression & I've always been predisposed to anxiety. But the last week it's got so debilitating I can hardly breathe when I wake up, my mind is overwhelmed by racing thoughts, I feel physically I'll & I'm immobilized. I can barely leave the house unless it's desperate. I spend all day trying to calm down but days are now wiped out by severe anxiety & I'm afraid I don't seem to be able to control it. I've tried meditation & breathing but the state I'm in it just becomes another anxiety issue. My life is literally spent trying to deal with anxiety everyday. I wake up anxious, am on edge & high alert at the simplest sound. It's like I'm ready to fly out the Window. It's destroying me that everyday is another day of being driven by fear. Why can't I stop this destroying my life? It starts first thing in morning & I can't wait for bedtime as my days are such a struggle & there's no joy or other feelings. If I have to do something I cope on pure adrenaline. Otherwise I waste the days because the anxiety is so severe I can't even distract myself. I've asked myself what has triggered this but simply the thought of another day fighting this is causing fear. I am completely overwhelmed that I have to be there for my husband & kids so I try so hard to be normal around them but it's getting harder. I also know that in the past anxiety has preceded depression. I'd do anything to not be a complete nervous wreck. I just don't know how to stop it when it's this severe. And I've told my psych & GP & they just say I've got a lot to deal with. But I can't bare to keep living like this. It's all consuming all day everyday. I just want it to ease up. Has anyone else experienced anxiety so severe you can barely make it through the day? My body is rigid with anxiety, I literally feel sick & my mind is racing to the point I don't feel I'm living but rather existing with a massive problem that's affecting every area of my life.

Maltezmoose Through the Fire back into the Fire
  • replies: 1

Hi my names Allan and I'm 26 and have been diagnosed with health/social anxiety along with panic disorderit happened a year ago I had my first panic attack, I was dizzy, lightheaded, fealt nauseas and like I was going to colapse. I'd been dealing wit... View more

Hi my names Allan and I'm 26 and have been diagnosed with health/social anxiety along with panic disorderit happened a year ago I had my first panic attack, I was dizzy, lightheaded, fealt nauseas and like I was going to colapse. I'd been dealing with anxiety for maybe 5-6 years beforehand but never had any major physical syptoms. my battle then began with medication which made me feel better at first but I didn't realise the addictive nature they came with. I would feel so sick coming off the tablet like I was going through withdrawals between each and every tablet. I eventually got myself off the tablets and didn't touch them for around 4 months. My anxiety was still there but was at a contrable level.then 2 months ago I had another dizzy turn and went straght back to the medication thinking I'll only take off a tablet to take the edge off. I am now back on 3 a day and feeling worse than ever. Feels like all that hard as been erased. I have had these syptoms off and on and to varying degree of severity over the past year.dizznessnaseua/ feeling sicklightheaded / weaknesstension headaches( not serve)chest pain/ bad intigestensweating and chillssexual probelmsAgitation and mood swingsfatigueneck and shoulder pain/discomfort i have had blood tests run about 4 times which has always came back all good, have had an ultrasound and barium swallow and all was clean and have had an ecg which came back completely normal. after I got off the medicationI felt I could at least function during the day and could start to live normal, but as I write this today in lying in bed and even the thought of going to the kitchen is making me anxious. has any had a similar experience with medication or just these types of anxiety syptoms?thanks so much

Simona Anxiety - scared of society/how to function?/how does one 'work'?/communicate? history of psychosis
  • replies: 14

I will start by saying that I am 42 with 3 children and a defacto of 13 years. I will also say that I have been very fortunate to date that I had not 'had' to work so therefore have been doing the housewife role and am alone through the day in the si... View more

I will start by saying that I am 42 with 3 children and a defacto of 13 years. I will also say that I have been very fortunate to date that I had not 'had' to work so therefore have been doing the housewife role and am alone through the day in the silence (i don't like noise except bird noise) except when I have to go collect mail or do Safeway. This is okay. The Jehovas visit sometimes and give me more stuff to read (I'm not into religion myself but I feel sorry for them. What brings me here is that I am getting kind of bored. I feel I should do something like paid work but people are scary. Mostly adults because children are fine and much more fun to be around plus they say it how it is. But how does one start? Between the ages of 17 to 25 I was sick with schizophrenia so i have no proper work history. I was mostly supported by my parents and boyfriends . When i did work it was in the adult sector and i was told that that doesn't count as work experience so there are huge gaps in my old resume. Should i just make up stuff and fill it in like colouring book? I don't know what to do. In one way i feel ready to join society but in another way.... Partner just wants me to be happy. I think perhaps if i am functioning normally/counting out the right change and not hurting myself or anyone maybe it's ok - i will be ok to work in normal job but i do admit when i get angry i can loose control easily like with the Iphone tracking device. I drove over it and then i felt really smug because i killed it. Now for me; this is normal ok. As is talking to bees which my mother argues is not the same as talking to the family dog or seeing faces on the bathroom wall while i shower. Lastly i want to say i don't take pills unless I'm in agony because i don't trust pharma for myself. For family members it's different. Also after having been put on stuff earlier it killed all my creative verve. It was like being emotionally castrated.

Leisa1 I have a happy life but am constantly anxious and worried
  • replies: 3

Hi my name is Leisa,I have been living with anxiety for 17 years. Myfirst panic attack was after our 10 week old daughter Holly died. I have been struggling ever since. I have been married for nearly 22 years and have a 21 year old daughter. I have a... View more

Hi my name is Leisa,I have been living with anxiety for 17 years. Myfirst panic attack was after our 10 week old daughter Holly died. I have been struggling ever since. I have been married for nearly 22 years and have a 21 year old daughter. I have a happy life but I am constantly anxious and worried. I am struggling at the moment and feel that I am really upsetting my husband and daughter. I am so tired of feeling this way. I went to my local doctor last week and she said to me if I didn't change I would loose my husband.

ontheborder Time slows down
  • replies: 3

Sometimes time slows down and when it does it's like torcher, there is nothing but me and my anxiety. I've tried colouring, painting, ice (the frozen kind), exersize, music, shower, nintendo, cooking, mindfulness, cleaning and a few other things. Not... View more

Sometimes time slows down and when it does it's like torcher, there is nothing but me and my anxiety. I've tried colouring, painting, ice (the frozen kind), exersize, music, shower, nintendo, cooking, mindfulness, cleaning and a few other things. Nothing is helping, there is just so much time to fill. I have tried ringing psych befor and speaking with my clinician but they don't seam to take me seriously and it hasn't helped yet. I want so much for this to stop. I need sugestions of ways to fill time, I'm running out of ideas. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Nuggsie Anxiety and Depression Starting Up Again
  • replies: 2

Hello fellow beyond blue peeps, Well I've been struggling for the last 5 years with depression and anxiety. I seem to go up a down every few months but I haven't been coping so well for the last month. Work is extremely stressful and unhappy, I have ... View more

Hello fellow beyond blue peeps, Well I've been struggling for the last 5 years with depression and anxiety. I seem to go up a down every few months but I haven't been coping so well for the last month. Work is extremely stressful and unhappy, I have had several incidents were I have felt bullied by my supervisor over the last month. Now I keep getting those waves of anxiety that go over your body and make me you feel sick and hot. I don't want to be at work anymore, this is not a happy place for me anymore, I can't sleep, I can hardly eat, all I think about is work all the time and how much I hate it. I've been here for 8 years so it makes it hard to leave when you have to give 5 weeks notice but it's affecting my mental health. I feel desperate, unhappy and just want to crawl under a rock. I'm on the max dosage for my antidepressants, I also take a tricyclic antidepressant and a neurological pain blocker (suffer from chronic pain as well), I've had to start taking my benzo's again to help with the anxiety. I don't think I can make it through another med change. I was nearly admitted to the pysch ward against my will in November last year because of the last med change made me loopy. I don't want to have to do it again. I live in a regional area so its normally a 6 week wait to see a psychiatrist or psychologist. Thanks for listening Nuggsie

nootnoot Starting to feel depressed again
  • replies: 3

For the last 2 weeks I have started to feel depressed and anxious again. This is because I am having problems with my boyfriend. Things were going really well for us (or so I thought) up until I got back from my trip in Melbourne which was about 3 we... View more

For the last 2 weeks I have started to feel depressed and anxious again. This is because I am having problems with my boyfriend. Things were going really well for us (or so I thought) up until I got back from my trip in Melbourne which was about 3 weeks ago. I wanted him to come over to mine so we could talk about how our relationship was going but he seemed down that day and felt like he was letting me down in our relationship so he decided to break up with me. Ever since then I have been trying to help him. I know he loves me but he is scared that continuing a relationship with me will get in the way of his music. I don't want to go into too much detail about it right now but basically I feel like my heart is breaking. Things were so good between us and I keep thinking about all our happy times together and how I wish it was still the same. I don't know what happened and it's hard to find the time to talk to him since he is often busy with work or his band. I haven't been eating much or at all the past 2 weeks and I have lost about 3 kilos. I will be starving but the smell or even taste of the food makes me want to be sick. I can barely sleep and need to take something so I can sleep and block out my loud thinking mind. I am mentally exhausted and want to sleep all the time but I can't sleep because of all the thinking I do. I also don't want to go back on medication again. I don't know what to do any more.beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.