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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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_Kez_ Intrusive thoughts or something else?
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone. Frequent reader but this is my first post I have suffered with anxiety and depression on and off since I was a teenager. This got noticeable worse after the birth of my first child when I was diagnosed with PND and have been on ad's sinc... View more

Hi everyone. Frequent reader but this is my first post I have suffered with anxiety and depression on and off since I was a teenager. This got noticeable worse after the birth of my first child when I was diagnosed with PND and have been on ad's since (with a 12 month break to have my 2nd child). All in all, I feel pretty great at the moment. BUT there's 1 thing that's happened since I was 14 (I vividly remember the first night it started) and I'm not even sure how to describe it. I sometimes have thoughts pop in to my head, out of nowhere. They aren't violent towards people but often can be to do with breaking or throwing things. I remember the first one I was watching tv in the loungeroom and the image I got was me pushing it over on to the floor. I wasn't feeling anxious at that moment but I had started having anxiety attacks about a month before that so you can imagine I was quite traumatised by this. I also seem to react to things other people just find funny or silly - for instance this morning I was reading a joke email about someone curling up in the foetal position and screaming (just to freak people out basically) and that made me feel something really negative. Just sadness I think, almost with a bit of guilt or embarrassment or something? I have the same reaction reading about something wasteful, like in situations where food or something is wasteful as part of a joke? It's a bit hard to explain, but again I have quite a strong emotional reaction. I've never really looked in to this before and have tried googling but it's a bit hard to get in to good search terms, the best I came up with was intrusive thoughts but they don't quite seem to fit from what I've read (since they aren't always particularly violent). Has anyone else experienced this and might have a better name or description? Thanks so much!

Guest_3712 I need help please!
  • replies: 21

Hi friends, I haven't posted for a while as like others have mentioned I wasn't sure if coming on here was triggering a lot of my anxiety however,I have been looking everyday and checking in on everyone and sending lots of positive vibes and electron... View more

Hi friends, I haven't posted for a while as like others have mentioned I wasn't sure if coming on here was triggering a lot of my anxiety however,I have been looking everyday and checking in on everyone and sending lots of positive vibes and electronic hugs. I guess it's a bit rich to come on here now and ask for help when I haven't contributed in a long time- I have had a fairly major setback over the last few weeks and I am struggling to keep my head above water. My psych has seen me twice in 2 weeks and we have also spoke on the phone. I have been keeping a diary of my alcohol consumption ( as he was concerned about the increase) and I also added what I thought were my triggers. The main theme was my reaction to events I have no control over- most common was news re any suicides and/ or child abuse. I guess it became obvious to me that I was taking on these events as if they were happening to me or someone close to me. How can I change my behaviour for these people from manic and self destructive to the genuine compassion I feel and then move on. I know there are many chapters of my life that have not been closed properly, and chances are never will be but I cannot continue taking on the raw grief of the world's victims- it's eating me up inside. Does anyone else do this? I really need some help . Stressless

Twig How much do I tell my family?
  • replies: 1

I have been dealing with social anxiety for as long as I can remember, but I am finding it harder and harder to hide it. Oddly, I am fine around strangers, but it is my extended family and close friends which cause my symptoms. I avoid contact with m... View more

I have been dealing with social anxiety for as long as I can remember, but I am finding it harder and harder to hide it. Oddly, I am fine around strangers, but it is my extended family and close friends which cause my symptoms. I avoid contact with my family and the threat of an unavoidable get together can cause a panic attack. My husband is really trying to be supportive, but he is getting pretty tired of making excuses for me and gets pretty frustrated with my 'I just can't' reasoning. This is making me pull back from him and feel like I am burdening him with my problem. Similarly my two sister in laws ask me for coffee but I fob them off. So my question is, how much can I involve my family in my journey with anxiety without burdening them, or alienating them? And how can I get across just how much I want to see them but that my body just physically won't let it happen.

Zygote Hi
  • replies: 1

Hello,I have really awful anxiety. I think it started as a kid, I don't remember ever not having it. It has dominated my life, affected my relationships, my education, my work life. I grew up in a family with 11 children and just my mum. She was a go... View more

Hello,I have really awful anxiety. I think it started as a kid, I don't remember ever not having it. It has dominated my life, affected my relationships, my education, my work life. I grew up in a family with 11 children and just my mum. She was a good mum but we had a really crazy step dad who used to beat my mum up. She would run away from him when he was at work or in the middle of the night, so we were always moving and fearful of him finding us. Because we moved so much I got beaten up a lot at school and had to hide in the library or back of the school at recess and lunch. Most of my brothers and sisters have anxiety and depression too. Most of my brothers and sisters have anxiety and depression too. My oldest sister died by suicide. She suffered from depression. I didn't feel sad about that at all, I had no feelings about it which is odd but it is what it is.I joined up today because I'm at a loss as to what to do. Last year I broke up with my wife and started living in my vehicle. I had just lost my job, my life was falling apart, I had reached the point where it felt like a million different problems were crushing me an unmanageable mess. Right now I'm a complete failure at everything, I can't do anything, I can't find a way out of this enormous hole. I have a ball of fear, stress, sadness, anxiety, tension in my chest. It makes me tired, dreadfully so. I have severe and constant insomnia, sometimes I'm unable to sleep for days, other times I sleep for days. I can't even tell people the truth, my doctor or anyone. You can't even tell people the truth or they'll schedule you and put you in a mental institution for gods sake. I'm angry. I managed to get an appointment with a psychiatrist, she gave me a medical certificate for 3 months, with the idea of allowing me some times to relax, I'm on Newstart allowance which means I have to look for work however I can't even go outside some days and other days I'm so tired from not enough sleep that I feel physically sick. I have some really strong sleeping pills but they make me even more tired.I'm waiting to be seen by the Anxiety Clinic but they have a huge waiting list I guess because its been months since they accepted me. Today I had my payments suspended for the 8th time in 16 weeks. Centrelink keeps booking me appointments, despite having 2 medical certificates and when I don't turn up because of my anxiety and depression they cut me off. Its not that I don't want to turn up its that I can't physically and mentally go there. I panic and awefulise for a week before an appointment. I can't go into the reception area without sweating, shaking, feeling like the whole place is boring their eyes into me. I feel afraid and so self conscious.Last time I went despite that and ended up humiliating myself in front of the entire place. I was so frustrated and anxious I started crying. I'm a big guy, 41 and I was crying in front of all those people, kids, women, teens. It was the most humiliating thing.I asked them why I can't attend, due to my illness, over the telephone but they said they have nothing to accommodate my illness. One of the ladies was really nice and kept calling me sweetie, I think she felt sorry for me but it seems really wrong for this to be happening.I'm wondering if anyone knows what I can do, the last time I rang the participation team they basically told me 'turn up or no money' regardless of my illness. I can't turn up and I have no money, no food, I'm on antidepressants which I have another weeks supply of but once that runs out the withdrawals will be pure hell.I need some advice. Thank you for reading if you read this far.

An_Li New here - Agoraphobic - Help
  • replies: 1

Hi, this is my first post. I wanted to connect with other sufferers of panic attacks with or without agoraphobia (I have agoraphobia)I'm in my 30's and a mum of 2 and have had anxiety issues since I was 20. I have recovered many times (to an extent, ... View more

Hi, this is my first post. I wanted to connect with other sufferers of panic attacks with or without agoraphobia (I have agoraphobia)I'm in my 30's and a mum of 2 and have had anxiety issues since I was 20. I have recovered many times (to an extent, obviously not fully), I have tried medications over the years (though not for a long time) and have done cbt and other such therapies in the past. This stint of agoraphobia has lasted over 2 years now and it's taking it's toll on me, I'm finding it very difficult to overcome the agoraphobia this time around. I'm very very lonely, frustrated and desperately want to recover, I need to for my kids.I have a psychiatrist I see on Skype occasionally and I have a pscychologist willing to work with me although I haven't called him yet to organise an appointment (a very common theme) I was also offered a place in a clinic outreach program, but couldn't even get through the initial consultation. I get panic attacks being in a room with people and the anticipation of these appointment was overwhelming, even being in my home I just couldn't face it. I've put myself in the 'too hard basket' although my psychiatrist hasn't given up on me. I think I'm just scared of failing, sick of facing it, the last time I recovered from agoraphobia I didn't think I would ever be here again and when I did fall back into it, it completely shattered my confidence. And it was sooooooo hard recovering from agoraphobia, like it literally took me years, and knowing how hard it's going to be and the thought of falling back into it so easily. I think I've just given up Anyway, I'm rambling I'd love to connect with anyone out there who gets what I'm thinking and going through.

CaptainCab I want to be ME all the time!
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I find myself acting different around different people, the better I know them the more comfortable I am to be who I really am but if I don't know someone too well or on a professional level I feel the need to be more serious, respectful... View more

Hi everyone, I find myself acting different around different people, the better I know them the more comfortable I am to be who I really am but if I don't know someone too well or on a professional level I feel the need to be more serious, respectful and concerned with what people think of me. I struggle in large groups to socialise and at times if my personal life mixes with my professional life I am caught in the middle and feel very uncomfortable and respond by being nervous and sweaty. If some people I don't know don't get my sense of humour or give me the cold shoulder I automatically freak out and feel like a turtle going back into it's shell, I have always respected anyone I have met and I can't help but worry what people think of me. How can I be ME all the time? and feel comfortable in doing so. Thank you in advance everyone

Fuzzy80 New to the Group but not New to aniexty!
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone , I'm new to this forum. I've suffered from anxiety from a young age. And it has been a trigger on and off for years . So over it. Is there a way to truly ever overcome it , like forever?

Hi everyone , I'm new to this forum. I've suffered from anxiety from a young age. And it has been a trigger on and off for years . So over it. Is there a way to truly ever overcome it , like forever?

leo232 Does it ever stop?
  • replies: 5

I'm proud of myself for how far I've come in regards to battling anxiety. I am tenacious and I wont ever give up...but they always said it would get easier. That I'd learn to live with it. but its not easier, I'm just stronger. I just want a break. I... View more

I'm proud of myself for how far I've come in regards to battling anxiety. I am tenacious and I wont ever give up...but they always said it would get easier. That I'd learn to live with it. but its not easier, I'm just stronger. I just want a break. I just want one day, just one, where I can relax. Where I can put my feet up and say "ahh what a lovely relaxing day". But i can't. I can't relax. It's so draining. I have no energy, no peace, no sleep, I cant' eat because I'm constantly nauseous, I can't be in social settings without using every bit of my energy to keep me from throwing up. I can't get on buses or trains and yet I can't pass my driving test because I get horrible test anxiety. I have no job because every time i get one I end up having a massive panic attack in the backroom and then Im told I need to take some "personal time". Im sleep deprived, bored, house ridden and broke. I just want it to stop. just ONE day then i promise I'll keep going. Like I always have, just let me have one day. I feel like there's no one else in the world who knows this, but there has to be. Is there anyone that can tell me theyve been here and eventually you get your day of rest?!

Riss Anxiety and dating
  • replies: 3

Hi every one I hsve had anxiety for years now and im on meds for it. I got out of a relationship that tough me appart about 4 years ago and have just started to curiously date a guy again. And my Anxiety about it all is so high im going to distroy th... View more

Hi every one I hsve had anxiety for years now and im on meds for it. I got out of a relationship that tough me appart about 4 years ago and have just started to curiously date a guy again. And my Anxiety about it all is so high im going to distroy the relationship befoe it starts. Hes very ill atm. And has gon quieton me , and though I know he is unwell the fact I have heard nothing from him is making me feel terrible. Has any one ells had this kind of problem before with anxiety and a new relationship???

Mel... The Vicious Cycle
  • replies: 3

Where do I start...? I have depression, anxiety and PTSD. I have been on anti depressants for approx. 5 years now and have had to change them once before. The process was treacherous; dizziness, withdrawals, fevers. I couldn't go to work. I haven't h... View more

Where do I start...? I have depression, anxiety and PTSD. I have been on anti depressants for approx. 5 years now and have had to change them once before. The process was treacherous; dizziness, withdrawals, fevers. I couldn't go to work. I haven't had a panic attack in years until this week. They seem to last for days. I cant eat properly due to the nausea, I feel like I am constantly shaking. Perfectly rational situations make me a sobbing mess and I cant seem to get out of my head. I get anxious that I might have a panic attack which then causes a panic attack and I can't tell if it was because I was actually anxious or not - the vicious cycle. Im seeing a uni counsellor and my doctor, they both seem to think my medication has stopped working. This upsets me as I felt like I was getting better and now I feel like I am back where I started. I don't want to have to go through the process of changing my medication again and I don't understand why they just stop working. Im so tired, I just want to feel normal. I just want my normal life back.