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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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JustAnYtka Arachnophobia
  • replies: 4

Tw: Please don't read this if talk of spiders distresses you I couldn't find any discussions about phobias so I thought I'd make one. I have (undiagnosed) arachnophobia, and tonight for whatever reason I decided to look under my bed and boom, big bla... View more

Tw: Please don't read this if talk of spiders distresses you I couldn't find any discussions about phobias so I thought I'd make one. I have (undiagnosed) arachnophobia, and tonight for whatever reason I decided to look under my bed and boom, big black spider. I woke my mum up and she came in and removed the spider but now I'm feeling very paranoid, like there are spiders everywhere and crawling all over me. I really need to get to sleep but I can't stop thinking about spiders. I feel like as soon as I turn off my light or close my eyes that one will crawl on me or fall on me. Does anyone have any advice on how to calm my brain down? I'm currently laying under my weighted blanket and cuddling a stuffed toy which is helping enough to not be constantly looking around but I'm not able to sleep.Thanks,Bee

Katesb05 Catastrophising
  • replies: 5

Anxiety symptom catastrophising, seems 1 tiny problem ends up so big, I've made it into a huge problem in my mind that willhave 1% chance of happening, but in my head, it will definitely happen...anyone else have strategies to deal with this??

Anxiety symptom catastrophising, seems 1 tiny problem ends up so big, I've made it into a huge problem in my mind that willhave 1% chance of happening, but in my head, it will definitely happen...anyone else have strategies to deal with this??

HelloGail Helpless
  • replies: 2

I don't know where to start, I can't ring Lifeline. I rang waiting for the police to come but as I was so stressed the person listening to me grew angry with me telling me to listen! I felt he wasn't listening to me but just wanted to tell me what he... View more

I don't know where to start, I can't ring Lifeline. I rang waiting for the police to come but as I was so stressed the person listening to me grew angry with me telling me to listen! I felt he wasn't listening to me but just wanted to tell me what he thought. I could not believe I was arguing with the Lifeline person at end of the phone, I apologised when I signed off, I am just in shock this had happened, gas meter tampered with. My worries (anxiety/hurt) started last Thursday, early morning: When I stepped out from my front door at 6:30am for my regular walk, I noticed a neighbour aged 80 seated outside in his courtyard (we live in a social housing complex) rolling his tobacco cigarette as usual. Sometimes I use to wave to him if he had his head up this was before the troubles started. When I arrived back from my 6:30am walk at 7:30am my three (3) large beautiful Sunflower bushes were missing, what was left were half the stems, sliced, sticking up from the garden bed. It was that neighbour, he came out with it and said he threw them in the bin. Yesterday, 2 days later, Saturday, after arriving home from my walk, my large bird bath was gone. And tonight Sunday, as I was preparing to have a shower, I heard him outside near my bathroom. I waited until he passed on his usual walk around the complex. I eventually was ready and I turned on the shower. No hot water. Long story, at 9:30pm, Jemena Gas Company said someone had turned it off. So they guided me over the phone to turn the lever to vertical position as apparently it is supposed to be. I rang the police but they refuse to come. I rang 000 at 9:38pm and again 10:20pm to ask if they were coming but they just rang me at 12:30 after midnight telling me that it is a civil matter and that you have the gas back on now so you should be okay. I replied, yes but behaviour of this man. I am afraid of him. I forgot to mention week my windscreen on my car has a circular scratch. We have a car park for tenants only. All these things in one week. He hassles me in the garden told me to stop gardening. A lot has happened but I have no where to go, this man has scratched my car, slashed my flowers, stolen my birdbath and tonight turned off my gas meter but still the police refuse to come and speak with him. The police returned the bird bath after this tenant gave it to them. Am I left to live in fear since the police refuse to protect me. I cannot sleep tonight.

Ali75 My daughter's school refusal and my mental health
  • replies: 4

Hello, I was on here a while back, speaking about my daughter. I just need some support again. My daughter is refusing school. She did so most of last year as well. She is now flat out refusing. I am seeing a psychologist to better support myself and... View more

Hello, I was on here a while back, speaking about my daughter. I just need some support again. My daughter is refusing school. She did so most of last year as well. She is now flat out refusing. I am seeing a psychologist to better support myself and my own mental health and to support my daughter. She is starting equine therapy this week with a psychologist. I am on anti depressants but they are not working at the moment. I just feel like crying everyday. I feel like crawling into bed and sleeping and doing nothing. I know this is not good for me so will go for a walk but I am sick of feeling this way. I am not suicidal but just want to be happy again. I want her to be at school and have my life back. Has anyone else had trouble with their children refusing school and come out the other side. At the moment I have no hope she will.Thank you

Maher1903 Rushing
  • replies: 1

I rush slot and always forget where I put things

I rush slot and always forget where I put things

Itsjustnotme A few symptoms but debilitating fear
  • replies: 5

Hi,I am just not sure with my emotional brain what to take seriously and what not to. My logical brain tells me I am panicking about minor things but I don't want to be that person who ignored things and then died!I have little collections of symptom... View more

Hi,I am just not sure with my emotional brain what to take seriously and what not to. My logical brain tells me I am panicking about minor things but I don't want to be that person who ignored things and then died!I have little collections of symptoms, leg swelling, low back ache, hip ache tiredness, occasional palpitations and itching skin. I am 49 and it has been suggested that many of these things can happen in the peri-menopausal woman. However, the main problem now is the obsession that something is wrong. I can't sleep for the anxiety and fear of illness or death coming for me. It is not rational and I cannot talk myself out of it. The worse my anxiety gets, the worse my sleep is. My lovely GP pays attention and orders tests etc as things occur but to date there is nothing much to find. She thinks however that it is an unusual presentation for perimenopause. Therefore is it all in my head? How do I control this feeling of teariness and terrible emotional lability? I try to be self actualised and have read resources but has anyone experienced this? What has worked because this is just not who I am as a person and can be very distressing?

unicorn2580 Feeling Trapped
  • replies: 1

I have been in unhealthy relationship with a work colleague for 7 years that I can’t seem to get out of because of my fears of the unknown and my lack of self worth. Whenever we fight we dont talk for weeks and I get really bad anxiety. During this t... View more

I have been in unhealthy relationship with a work colleague for 7 years that I can’t seem to get out of because of my fears of the unknown and my lack of self worth. Whenever we fight we dont talk for weeks and I get really bad anxiety. During this time I try to keep my mind busy but I don’t feel like doing anything although I try to push myself ie. gym, being social, eating, sleeping.I try to keep my boundaries from him, because im always the one who reaches out, but because I can’t handle the anxiety I do end up reaching out to try sort it so I can make the feelings stop. Because we have to work closely together I have found it difficult to distance myself .I feel so obligated to work as I have a lot of responsibility with people relying on me and have so much to do. I actually like my job but I feel like I have to leave it if the relationship stops- which I don’t want to do. It feels like no matter where I turn there is something I can’t/don’t want to do because im either too scared or feel lost and I can’t stick to decisions I made. With all of that, would like to ask: - How do you manage your anxiety if you have no motivation to look after yourself? - How do you make life changes when you are too scared?- is trying to sort things out to ease feelings a good thing to do? I have been seeking counselling but thought to this forum. Thank you

chippy_ insomnia
  • replies: 9

Hi Guys New to this site, can anyone please help me I am having a lot of trouble sleeping generally getting about 2 to3 hours broken sleep per night unless i take a sleeping pill then I can get between 4 and 6 hours pretty good sleep I used sleeping ... View more

Hi Guys New to this site, can anyone please help me I am having a lot of trouble sleeping generally getting about 2 to3 hours broken sleep per night unless i take a sleeping pill then I can get between 4 and 6 hours pretty good sleep I used sleeping pills on and of for a few weeks but I don’t want to take it regularly as I hear it can be very addictive, (I had a very stressful family breakdown and court case which is where the initial insomnia started because of anxiety and depression. I am still on an antidepressant but I think the anxiety has eased a lot but my sleeping will not return. I have tried regular bed times and waking times, no coffee or coke, dark room, reading for 15 minutes before bed (after watching TV etc

Benny_21 Boss is trying to get rid of me
  • replies: 4

I've got a boss who is trying to get rid of me. I'm an apprentice 4th year. In my first 3 years I never had any issues other then some criticism which is fine. But I had just started my 4th year and my boss as been given me two written warnings in 2 ... View more

I've got a boss who is trying to get rid of me. I'm an apprentice 4th year. In my first 3 years I never had any issues other then some criticism which is fine. But I had just started my 4th year and my boss as been given me two written warnings in 2 weeks and I've never been rude to my boss and always polite and my warnings have been for poor reasons. He's said hurtful things to me and abused me on the phone if I do something he doesn't like. I never bite back at all and say okay I'm sorry and he still keeps swearing at me. I get bad anxiety now and going to work makes me feel sick, especially now I know he wants me gone. I feel myself getting depressed due to this situation.. I'm at a dead end right now and needed to let it all out. Some advice would be awesome. Thank you

...Gekota A rant about anxiety and ASD
  • replies: 2

Lately I have been doing okay, I haven’t been sh often and I’ve been feeling okay in general I guess. But I have been thinking a lot about a lot of things and it’s been getting me a bit down I guess. I’ve had multiple doctors and professionals tell m... View more

Lately I have been doing okay, I haven’t been sh often and I’ve been feeling okay in general I guess. But I have been thinking a lot about a lot of things and it’s been getting me a bit down I guess. I’ve had multiple doctors and professionals tell me they believe I am autistic and was told to get an ADOS assessment which I did but later found out that is not a very effective way to diagnose my demographic and anyone’s other then a AMAB person under the age of 9. My psychologist who I really like and am so glad I have now gave me an online assessment test for autism after I brought up my confusion after the ADOS came back inconclusive. She believed I was autistic and told me so as she is Neurodiverse herself but the test results came back confirming I am not autistic however I have many autistic traits (probably due to my anxiety) I was unsure how to feel. I don’t want to be autistic it’s not like that at all. When I first heard the suggestion of autism it didn’t make sense to me in relation to myself but after more understanding i finally thought I understand why I am the way I am. So when it turned out I’m not actually autistic I just feel really confused. I feel like an alien, that I don’t belong in this world and everyone around me is normal, I just wanted a sense of belonging. I asked my psychologist what that means for me then and what does that make me and she told me “your a really anxious little guy” it might not sound like much but it helped me a bit I guess. I know I have anxiety but why do I feel so inhuman? It doesn’t feel like that’s all that’s going on. And it’s not there’s other things but I’m just having a hard time excepting it for the past 3 years I haven’t admitted I’m depressed I’ve been diagnosed and for some reason I still can’t wrap my head around it, I don’t want to admit it because I don’t want to except it. I feel so isolated in myself and I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just want an answer to why I’m like this but no one can give me one. I just want to know myself I just want to feel like I’m not so out of place. I just want some comfort.