Hello Hello

[chatnoir]

Hi,

I'm a female in my 20's, living in Hove. I've suffered from panic attacks, anxiety and agoraphobia for about two years now following a traumatic event. This is the first time that I've ever joined a support group but I feel it would be helpful to me as I'm beginning to feel sort of bitter towards people who don't suffer from anxiety.

I try not to talk about it much and, in fact, most of my friends and family don't know that I suffer from it. I try to make up excuses for a lot of the things that I don't do. It gets very tiring! I am able to work part-time and can still leave to house but I find everyday a struggle... constantly battling with it all and fighting off intrusive thoughts. I can't enter a supermarket or medium/large shop of any sort, can't cope with train stations/airports, can't ride buses etc. Then there's all the anxiety about everything else. I currently take beta-blockers and the occasional Vallium in an emergancy.

It would be really nice to meet some people who understand. I plan to come to one of your meets the next time you hold one at the Sanctuary Cafe as it's very close to me.

Well I think that's all I can say for now! Nice to meet you all. 

Charley.

[Noisy]

Hi Charley, Welcome to the forum!

We're all pretty open about our 'issues' so it might be a welcome relief and I look forward to meeting you whenever you can make it. You've probably read elsewhere on the forum that we're meeting at the Robin Hood pub tomorrow due to the Sanctuary's refurbishment. Actually, I'm looking forward to the refurb since the chairs were violatingly uncomfortable!

Best wishes,
Martin.

[Ludo]

Heya Charley,

Welcome to BAF! I'm also Hove based, I've only lived there since January but I'm loving it so far!

I think most of us gravitate to this forum at times of distress when we feel unable to cope with our anxiety etc anymore, when we begin to find that all our old coping mechanisms are starting to feel somewhat unsatisfactory. This discovery is more positive than it sounds, because this is sometimes the "nudge" that we need to begin to reach out to others and start to open-up about our social difficulties, I know I've been in this position recently, and let me tell you the opportunity to be honest with people I trust about my social anxieties has been amazing! It's not easy and is an on-going process, but it's a really great learning curve for me, and a great relief to discover other people who feel the same way, especially because I've soldiered on alone with my worries for many years without asking for help, and feeling too ashamed to make myself vulnerable enough to admit the way I felt.

I hope that you feel able to make it to one of the meetings, it isn't easy to take that first step, but be assured that you will get a warm welcome in the company of some really empathic people.
Look forward to seeing you!

Ludo

x

[chatnoir]

Thank you for the warm welcome 

I've been reading through some of the posts on this forum and it's such a relief to read about some of the things I experience coming first hand from people who experience them. I have just realised that this is the first time I have ever done that!

[stresspuppy]

Hi Chatnoir and welcome to the forum, just wanted to say hi and congratulate you on your use of the forum

I've been reading through some of the posts on this forum

The forum can be quiet at times but there is a wealth of good advice and others shared experiences in older posts and therefore worth exploring and maybe even reviving previous threads