have you suffered from anxiety since arriving in Australia?

[Wellers and Whitehead]

I have, in the last few months started having panic attacks, i'm putting it down to feel 'trapped'?? Trapped in many ways, physically and mentally, eg. Trapped on busy commuter trains, tapped in job i'm over qualified to do because for one reason or another can't secure another job. I have spoken to a few other colleagues at work and friends here, who also have panic attacks anxiety. One friend is a nurse, saying she worked in emergency department for a week and has never seen so many people in such a space of time suffering panic attacks, thinking they were having heart attacks.

I had to ask a woman to speak to me on the train as it was getting worse the other night when my train only went direct and didn't stop for 40 mins. She was lovely, but the girl in front, also said she was a nurse and lots of people go in with panic attacks. It surprises me how many people in Sydney are suffering panic/anxiety.

On TV last night, it said 3million people in Oz suffer from depression and anxiety. That seems alot in comparison to the amount of people in Oz. I think the'actual' figure would be higher with regards to people living rurally who may not seek help. I now know why travelling up the coast of Oz, that you see so many bill boards advertised 'beyondblue' to seek support with depression etc.

Have you started with anxiety/panic attacks since moving to Oz?

[Johndoe]

Didn't start with them, but they got exceedingly worse. For 3 yrs the only time I would leave the house, was to shop and family outings. I avoided everyone else...............no socialising at all................the thought of meeting another person would trigger an attack. Also, the thought of any new experience.............my life became ruled by familiarity...............If I wasn't familar, then it was a no-no, I just avoided anything that would be new to me.

[millymarie]

I have, in the last few months started having panic attacks, i'm putting it down to feel 'trapped'?? Trapped in many ways, physically and mentally, eg. Trapped on busy commuter trains, tapped in job i'm over qualified to do because for one reason or another can't secure another job. I have spoken to a few other colleagues at work and friends here, who also have panic attacks anxiety. One friend is a nurse, saying she worked in emergency department for a week and has never seen so many people in such a space of time suffering panic attacks, thinking they were having heart attacks.

I had to ask a woman to speak to me on the train as it was getting worse the other night when my train only went direct and didn't stop for 40 mins. She was lovely, but the girl in front, also said she was a nurse and lots of people go in with panic attacks. It surprises me how many people in Sydney are suffering panic/anxiety.

On TV last night, it said 3million people in Oz suffer from depression and anxiety. That seems alot in comparison to the amount of people in Oz. I think the'actual' figure would be higher with regards to people living rurally who may not seek help. I now know why travelling up the coast of Oz, that you see so many bill boards advertised 'beyondblue' to seek support with depression etc.

Have you started with anxiety/panic attacks since moving to Oz?

 

So sorry to hear you're struggling with this. It really resonated with me and was one of if not the reason that I returned home, or had no choice but to return home. Never before have I woken up with such a feeling of doom and panic. It was not a peaceful or healthy way to live and in the end I did not recognise the shadow if my former self. The panic and anxiety got so bad I became very scared that I was losing my mind. I hope you can get something from the doctor as I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I have been on a very low dose fluoxetine for 6 months having tried all sorts of other awful antidepressants with horrible side effects and it has really calmed my nervous system without any side effects whatsoever. Please don't struggle with it for as long as I did as anxiety compounds. Personally, I feel that if you're a sensitive person you are more than likely to pick up on 'vibes'. I found out at my citizenship ceremony that where I lived was pretty much a massacre site. I definitely felt all wrong there and had no real reason to feel such terror. X

[Petals]

Yep, suffered from them for a long long long long time, first one I had was in Tokyo so I do not think they are anything to do with where we are. They are to do with how we handle stress though. I always have some Xanax for those ones I cannot handle and a scrip lasts me a long long long time. Starts feeling dizzy and then everything passes us by and we feel like we cannot breathe. The secret to handling them is to remove yourself to somewhere quiet and then do the deep breathing, slow, put your hands on your ribs and breathe down to the bottom of the lungs slowly and you will be surprised it will stop them. The problem is we breathe shallow up in the top of out chest when we are anxious. I learned the technicque with a psychologist who had a computer programme, it showed when I was getting stressed and when I breathed so we can be in control. I have the programme but have not used it for a few years now as I know what to do. I had been to hospital many times with them before. What we do not need is people fussing around us, if they fuss we get worse, well I do.

 

Of course we need to get thoroughly checked out to see it is is actual panic disorder and not something else. The Baker Institute in Melbourne have done studies into this.

 

Its horrible and it happens to lots of people, some worse than others. Agoraphobia goes hand in hand with it so we must not let it beat us.

[Que Sera Sera]

I used to have them back in the UK. I had to travel into Central Bristol everyday which took over an hour each way. If I tried to take the car there was never anywhere to park and I'd have to go out at least once in the day to move it and try and find somewhere else which generally took up all my lunch break . I was in a job which was contantly monitored and micro managed. It involved huge concentration and it just all got to me. That and having to go to work in the dark, go home in the dark and never seeing the sun was not good fit me . Panic attacks would happen if I had to queue or sometime as I approached my workplace. They are horrible. My " cure" came from emigrating here and bring able to afford to give up work and concentrate on my family. I've now gone back to work in a completely different field ( which some may say is wasting my skills) but I'm helping others and there is very little stress and I can afford to only work part time.

[LKC]

I used to have them in the UK, but only recall having one here. Mine started after a very stressful time in my life, I had had to have surgery on my foot and was very sick from the anaesthetic, and then my dad died. This all happened in the space of about three weeks and consequently I started to suffer with depression and anxiety, including panic attacks. I still have depression on and off, I think I always will do, but the only panic attack I had in Australia was when I was going through a very stressful time again, due to our daughter being bullied and her subsequent diagnosis with ASD.

[Incata]

I've had one panic attack since I got here and it was all down to stress. My husband was away, I had a flood in the house, I had a row with my son's nursery over the standard of care they were providing, everything was going wrong and I did not know which way to turn. I was driving my kids to nursery one morning when I suddenly felt like I was drowning and I could not breathe. I told myself to hold on and take it one second at a time. I then took some slow deep breaths, counting to 5 on the way in and 5 on the way out. It took about 5 or 10 minutes to get the feeling under control but I managed it. I spent the next couple of days regularly putting aside 5 minutes to do some deep breathing. Haven't had a problem since.

[paisleylass]

Nope, had terrible anxiety attacks in UK at stressful times like when my dad died and I took redundancy and moved city all in a short space of time, and then in the run-up to moving to Brisbane with sorting the house etc, but that's all stopped since we left. The attacks were awful, I used to go really dizzy and my legs wouldn't work properly!

[Wellers and Whitehead]

Thanks for all your responses. I'm ok at dealing with stress, i'm a social worker after all, just it doesn't help when you go to new places where you know nobody and because I have epilepsy I worry in case anything happens and nobody around to help me. I'm made of strong stuff, and won't let it beat me, forcing myself to go out on a night in the dark, to vivid last night, with all the crowds etc.

The only other time I had panic attacks was when I was 13, just got epilepsy and lypodystrophy..don't know even how to spell it ha! Had fits every Friday night without fail, taken in an ambulance or police car/van, but much better now :-)

 

Mum has sent me some money to get some massages bless her!

 

During bad panic attacks I also feel like I am going mental, its awful, but doing my breathing, thinking positive thoughts etc.

 

I had a good day today, did some actual social work with a family, rather than alot of admin, which my current job is.

 

Thanks for your responses..x

[BritChickx]

I never suffered from anxiety in aus, I wasn't moved there I was on a WHV, but I had a really bad panic attack while I was there but I still don't know what caused it. In a shop aswell lol and no i don't have a fear of talking to people!

Don't know if it actually was a panic attack, I thought it was my body reacting badly to heat and dehydration but ill never know.

[Guest51810]

I never suffered from anxiety in aus, I wasn't moved there I was on a WHV, but I had a really bad panic attack while I was there but I still don't know what caused it. In a shop aswell lol and no i don't have a fear of talking to people!

Don't know if it actually was a panic attack, I thought it was my body reacting badly to heat and dehydration but ill never know.

 

Was it at the sight of the prices... Lol. Sorry i shouldnt joke, panic attack must be so scary. I get really anxious and freaked out about things but i dont think i've ever had a actual proper panic attack

[Guest]

Didn't start with them, but they got exceedingly worse. For 3 yrs the only time I would leave the house, was to shop and family outings. I avoided everyone else...............no socialising at all................the thought of meeting another person would trigger an attack. Also, the thought of any new experience.............my life became ruled by familiarity...............If I wasn't familar, then it was a no-no, I just avoided anything that would be new to me.

 

 

 

Can very strongly relate to this. My mental health nose-dived after we made the move (initially to the Gold Coast) in 2008. Out of my comfort zone of knowing my surroundings, relating to the culture, feeling comfortable with the climate etc, I was completely lost. Even when I managed to get a job I was plagued by self-doubt and my confidence and self-esteem plummeted. Alcohol became my crutch, but it also made we worse. I would try and settle my anxiety with booze only to end up teary, distraught and at my lowest point contemplating self-harm. Cutting down on the booze, and going on the meds did help, but I really shied away from social occasions. I'd use every trick in the book - illness, child-care responsibilities, jobs around the house etc in order to avoid them. When I did go to them I'd continually be on edge waiting for them to be over. Not with all my partner's friends I must add, but when it was larger gatherings where I'd have to introduce myself, I was a stilted social inadequate. What made that worse was that my OH's friends knew that I was unhappy in Australia and frequently referenced this, which brought me attention in social situations that my anxiety couldn't cope with. Someone would say "Oh, do you still hate it here then?" (often with the best intentions) and all of a sudden it would feel like all eyes were on me, followed by questions which required answering, questions you don't really want to face when your anxiety levels are already zooming upwards!

 

Nowadays, the meds largely have my anxiety under control but I still avoid social situations if I can, or at least minimise the amount of time I spend at them. Being the 'outsider' in social gatherings (i.e., the Englishman who doesn't like Australia) is never going to go away, and so the best I can do is engage in harm minimisation and spend my weekends ironing the lawn whilst my partner meets up with her social circle. :smile:

[starlight7]

Sounds scary- is it overwork do you think? Or maybe a feeling that no-one is around to bale you out or help , especially in a new country? I know that feling of having no time to complete work tasks and having so many depend on you- when I started to feel like that after 20 years in my job I resigned- nothing is worth your health is it? I took a couple of part time jobs after and gradually wound down to full retirement which has been fantastic but I guess if you are still young that isn't an option. My theory is if you seem capable, government agencies etc will load you up with tons of work- flog a willing horse, ask a busy person sort of thing. Australians are particularly bad at this.

[Johndoe]

[/b]Can very strongly relate to this. My mental health nose-dived after we made the move (initially to the Gold Coast) in 2008. Out of my comfort zone of knowing my surroundings, relating to the culture, feeling comfortable with the climate etc, I was completely lost. Even when I managed to get a job I was plagued by self-doubt and my confidence and self-esteem plummeted. Alcohol became my crutch, but it also made we worse. I would try and settle my anxiety with booze only to end up teary, distraught and at my lowest point contemplating self-harm. Cutting down on the booze, and going on the meds did help, but I really shied away from social occasions. I'd use every trick in the book - illness, child-care responsibilities, jobs around the house etc in order to avoid them. When I did go to them I'd continually be on edge waiting for them to be over. Not with all my partner's friends I must add, but when it was larger gatherings where I'd have to introduce myself, I was a stilted social inadequate. What made that worse was that my OH's friends knew that I was unhappy in Australia and frequently referenced this, which brought me attention in social situations that my anxiety couldn't cope with. Someone would say "Oh, do you still hate it here then?" (often with the best intentions) and all of a sudden it would feel like all eyes were on me, followed by questions which required answering, questions you don't really want to face when your anxiety levels are already zooming upwards!

 

Nowadays, the meds largely have my anxiety under control but I still avoid social situations if I can, or at least minimise the amount of time I spend at them. Being the 'outsider' in social gatherings (i.e., the Englishman who doesn't like Australia) is never going to go away, and so the best I can do is engage in harm minimisation and spend my weekends ironing the lawn whilst my partner meets up with her social circle. :smile:

 

Can relate to all that, particulalry with regards to the boozing...............in one area I differ...............my attacks are followed by "inertia" (lazy bugger syndrome we called it to make light) I couldn't bring myself to do even the housework, which in turn, leads to guilt and then depression.

 

My worst attack was in a shopping mal and I thought I was having a heart attack.................dropped me to my knees and I couldn't talk............never felt pain as bad in my life. They got me to my wife's hospital and gave me anginin which shifted the pain.............2 + 2 = angina but after heaps of tests and the old treadmill jobby, they pronounced me as fit as a fiddle, especially so for my age (I walked 22ks every day).................move on 3 yrs and I have a quadruple by-pass for blockages that, according to the hospital, weren't there when I had the tests previously so 2 + 2 = panic attack............it was merely coincidence that the pain subsided with the anginin...............it subsided because I was in the care of my missus and not in a noisy crowded shopping mal.

[Wellers and Whitehead]

Sounds scary- is it overwork do you think? Or maybe a feeling that no-one is around to bale you out or help , especially in a new country? I know that feling of having no time to complete work tasks and having so many depend on you- when I started to feel like that after 20 years in my job I resigned- nothing is worth your health is it? I took a couple of part time jobs after and gradually wound down to full retirement which has been fantastic but I guess if you are still young that isn't an option. My theory is if you seem capable, government agencies etc will load you up with tons of work- flog a willing horse, ask a busy person sort of thing. Australians are particularly bad at this.

 

Its not the workload, probably that I can't get a decent job in Australia, so I find that frustrating after 16 months, but that isn't the reason, won't help that I know i'm capable of much more but what to do, need to pay the bills. As a social worker, if you can't drive, even if you don't need to drive eg in a hospital

They still ask for drivers license so, I have to work in the crappy job, but I have met some fab friends.

 

I had a good day today, so fingers crossed i'm on the mend!?? :-)

[Johndoe]

Its not the workload, probably that I can't get a decent job in Australia, so I find that frustrating after 16 months, but that isn't the reason, won't help that I know i'm capable of much more but what to do, need to pay the bills. As a social worker, if you can't drive, even if you don't need to drive eg in a hospital

They still ask for drivers license so, I have to work in the crappy job, but I have met some fab friends.

 

I had a good day today, so fingers crossed i'm on the mend!?? :-)

 

Glad to hear that..........I know you've had a rough time of it, especially workwise. I hope something more suited crops up soon.

[Wellers and Whitehead]

[/b]Can very strongly relate to this. My mental health nose-dived after we made the move (initially to the Gold Coast) in 2008. Out of my comfort zone of knowing my surroundings, relating to the culture, feeling comfortable with the climate etc, I was completely lost. Even when I managed to get a job I was plagued by self-doubt and my confidence and self-esteem plummeted. Alcohol became my crutch, but it also made we worse. I would try and settle my anxiety with booze only to end up teary, distraught and at my lowest point contemplating self-harm. Cutting down on the booze, and going on the meds did help, but I really shied away from social occasions. I'd use every trick in the book - illness, child-care responsibilities, jobs around the house etc in order to avoid them. When I did go to them I'd continually be on edge waiting for them to be over. Not with all my partner's friends I must add, but when it was larger gatherings where I'd have to introduce myself, I was a stilted social inadequate. What made that worse was that my OH's friends knew that I was unhappy in Australia and frequently referenced this, which brought me attention in social situations that my anxiety couldn't cope with. Someone would say "Oh, do you still hate it here then?" (often with the best intentions) and all of a sudden it would feel like all eyes were on me, followed by questions which required answering, questions you don't really want to face when your anxiety levels are already zooming upwards!

 

Nowadays, the meds largely have my anxiety under control but I still avoid social situations if I can, or at least minimise the amount of time I spend at them. Being the 'outsider' in social gatherings (i.e., the Englishman who doesn't like Australia) is never going to go away, and so the best I can do is engage in harm minimisation and spend my weekends ironing the lawn whilst my partner meets up with her social circle. :smile:

 

Oh jeez, the brain is so bloody powerful..I have sat on the train thinking positive thoughts, distracting myself by coming on pio, Facebook etc, and...smiling...its not a good look as petiole think i'm more mental than I already am ;-) but it does help put the brain in a more positive place, even if momentarily. People said to me I should see a physiatrist and find out why i'm having them, maybe this could be an option for you if you haven't already tried it. People tell me it has worked for them.

I can see that your gf friends putting the spotlight on you would not help...awful! I find that carrying a bottle of water helps for some reason. The first one I had a few months ago, I was walking near to where I live, but took a different route, going down a track, started walkingthrough some sand dunes, all pretty until I realised I was the only person around, in the middle of sand dunes, midday, no hat, no water, phone battery dying slowly. Because of the heat and not knowing how long I would have to walk to get to safety, I ran, which made it worse, heart best racing, went dizzy, couldn't ring anybody, ...awful! Eventually, 2 men came towards me, and pointed me in the right direction, as it turned out I was so close to the beach but had no idea. I got into the sea with all my clothes on, legs shaking like a leaf! Serves me right for not getting up early to escape the sun!!

Is it not an option for you to go back to the UK? Do you think that would help?? Sending you big hugs x

[Lambethlad]

Yeah, sometimes I have this horrible nightmare that I'm back in the UK!

[Guest]

Can relate to all that, particulalry with regards to the boozing...............in one area I differ...............my attacks are followed by "inertia" (lazy bugger syndrome we called it to make light) I couldn't bring myself to do even the housework, which in turn, leads to guilt and then depression.

 

My worst attack was in a shopping mal and I thought I was having a heart attack.................dropped me to my knees and I couldn't talk............never felt pain as bad in my life. They got me to my wife's hospital and gave me anginin which shifted the pain.............2 + 2 = angina but after heaps of tests and the old treadmill jobby, they pronounced me as fit as a fiddle, especially so for my age (I walked 22ks every day).................move on 3 yrs and I have a quadruple by-pass for blockages that, according to the hospital, weren't there when I had the tests previously so 2 + 2 = panic attack............it was merely coincidence that the pain subsided with the anginin...............it subsided because I was in the care of my missus and not in a noisy crowded shopping mal.

 

I get the guilt thing too Kev. Particularly when the house is a tip. Getting it into order helps me do the same with my mind, so when I struggle for the motivation to get housework done it just compounds my stressy self-loathing. I feel for you having an attack in a shopping centre. It's always been one of my fears that it'll strike in a similarly crowded place with other shoppers rubber-necking. Very fortunate that your wife's a nurse I guess.

[debbio]

Hi Guys, its nice to see this thread...not because I am happy people are suffering from damn panic attacks, but because its nice to know that I am not alone

 

I have had panic disorder since the birth of my first Son, not had a full blown attack as such, just feel the fear if that makes sense.

 

I really worry that moving to Oz will make them worse, but I basically have them under control. I went through a period of not wanting to leave the house, but that was horrible and I decided I wasnt going down that route so I have stopped the whole avodance thing.

 

I cannot wait to move down under and as long as I have my boys and hubby with me I know I will be fine.

 

Most important thing to remember is that Panic attacks cannot harm you in any way at all. When you feel it coming on dont fight it just let it wash over you...it will pass quicker, or challange it "bring it on F****R" lol!

[HLSvictory]

I have, in the last few months started having panic attacks, i'm putting it down to feel 'trapped'?? Trapped in many ways, physically and mentally, eg. Trapped on busy commuter trains, tapped in job i'm over qualified to do because for one reason or another can't secure another job. I have spoken to a few other colleagues at work and friends here, who also have panic attacks anxiety. One friend is a nurse, saying she worked in emergency department for a week and has never seen so many people in such a space of time suffering panic attacks, thinking they were having heart attacks.

I had to ask a woman to speak to me on the train as it was getting worse the other night when my train only went direct and didn't stop for 40 mins. She was lovely, but the girl in front, also said she was a nurse and lots of people go in with panic attacks. It surprises me how many people in Sydney are suffering panic/anxiety.

On TV last night, it said 3million people in Oz suffer from depression and anxiety. That seems alot in comparison to the amount of people in Oz. I think the'actual' figure would be higher with regards to people living rurally who may not seek help. I now know why travelling up the coast of Oz, that you see so many bill boards advertised 'beyondblue' to seek support with depression etc.

Have you started with anxiety/panic attacks since moving to Oz?

 

It's interesting you mention the quote about how many people suffer in Aus - does seem high, but I was astounded when I worked in Aus at how many people (I worked with and friends) who told me they were on medication for mental illness! It wasn't the odd one either. I remember thinking 'that's why everyone thinks they're happy!'. Wonder if that figure is true. It's interesting to me.

I have had about four/five panic attacks - not nice. I feel for people who get them regularly. I don't even know what the cause of mine were - happened in about 2002/3. It was when I was in a quiet area, I'd hear the vibration from heating pipes - and that could do it (very strange) - and your heart starts racing, and this big enveloping feeling of terror and doom - like you are going to die, but you know too, that the feeling is irrational. Odd. Then they just stopped. I can't think what it was in my life what caused it.

[Phoenix16]

Wow! I can't believe I'm reading this thread, it literally describes my life since emigrating too. I feel we made the right move and I believe I'm generally happy here yet I too have suffered with panic attacks. I had panic attacks over 20 years ago, horrendous things and the term 'panic attack' to me just belittles them because they are very real and very scary and no matter how strong a person you are they can be overwhelming. Conquered them totally and funnily enough with short term beta blockers and never had another one ever although in the subsequent years had some highly stressful moments that I looked back on and felt even stronger that these times didn't bring back any panic attacks. But they started here, admittedly I was ill and had a very severe iron deficiency ( which I'm told can cause panic attacks) but once the roller coaster starts its difficult to get off even though the health issue was dealt with some time ago. I feel stressed with my job, a p/t admin role!! ts way below what I did in UK but its a 5 min commute and 5 mins to school so I stick at it but its been a culture shock working in an environment where I see workplace bullying every single day, a senior management that has total disrespect for staff, if they decide they don't like you you're gone...one of my colleagues only found out she was on the 'hit list' when the job she was doing was advertised on the website, admittedly she wasn't good at the job but there was no performance management, no opportunity to improve. She was distraught as it pays her sons school fees and the bills so she was demoted and is taking everything they throw at her and keeping her head down but they are determined to get her to quit and I've seen this a few times. I know there are employee laws but they seem to just get away with it, I've never ever worked in such an environment but as 'lowly admin' (I have been referred to as this in a team meeting I was present at!!) I fly under the radar and despite the culture I do work with a great group of girls and we have some good laughs. The other thing that causes me to have a panic attack is when I see an international call on my phone and I'm not expecting it, I start to panic I'm going to hear bad news from home that I can't deal with and most of the time I don't answer the call, that's the one I dread, the bad news call and how I will react/cope.

 

Thanks for this thread, it's reassuring to know I'm not alone yet I wish none of us were going through this and I will say on a final not that despite this I do feel very happy and don't have many regrets!!

[Wellers and Whitehead]

Wow! I can't believe I'm reading this thread, it literally describes my life since emigrating too. I feel we made the right move and I believe I'm generally happy here yet I too have suffered with panic attacks. I had panic attacks over 20 years ago, horrendous things and the term 'panic attack' to me just belittles them because they are very real and very scary and no matter how strong a person you are they can be overwhelming. Conquered them totally and funnily enough with short term beta blockers and never had another one ever although in the subsequent years had some highly stressful moments that I looked back on and felt even stronger that these times didn't bring back any panic attacks. But they started here, admittedly I was ill and had a very severe iron deficiency ( which I'm told can cause panic attacks) but once the roller coaster starts its difficult to get off even though the health issue was dealt with some time ago. I feel stressed with my job, a p/t admin role!! ts way below what I did in UK but its a 5 min commute and 5 mins to school so I stick at it but its been a culture shock working in an environment where I see workplace bullying every single day, a senior management that has total disrespect for staff, if they decide they don't like you you're gone...one of my colleagues only found out she was on the 'hit list' when the job she was doing was advertised on the website, admittedly she wasn't good at the job but there was no performance management, no opportunity to improve. She was distraught as it pays her sons school fees and the bills so she was demoted and is taking everything they throw at her and keeping her head down but they are determined to get her to quit and I've seen this a few times. I know there are employee laws but they seem to just get away with it, I've never ever worked in such an environment but as 'lowly admin' (I have been referred to as this in a team meeting I was present at!!) I fly under the radar and despite the culture I do work with a great group of girls and we have some good laughs. The other thing that causes me to have a panic attack is when I see an international call on my phone and I'm not expecting it, I start to panic I'm going to hear bad news from home that I can't deal with and most of the time I don't answer the call, that's the one I dread, the bad news call and how I will react/cope.

 

Thanks for this thread, it's reassuring to know I'm not alone yet I wish none of us were going through this and I will say on a final not that despite this I do feel very happy and don't have many regrets!!

 

Jeez, do you work where I work! Ha! Could and previously have written, much of the same stuff. I was on beta blockers 20 years ago too, thought I had migraine, turns out it was epilepsy.

I have found speaking to my Mum in the UK helps, she's pretty adorable, even though I don't consciously not ring her very often, probably sub consciously is easier not to speak. But I do now find that speaking at times of panic helps! She's has always said through my life, what is the worst that can happen? Its generally never as bad as it seems. she says don't fear the fear..that's the worst! Keep smiling! X

[Phoenix16]

Jeez, do you work where I work! Ha! Could and previously have written, much of the same stuff. I was on beta blockers 20 years ago too, thought I had migraine, turns out it was epilepsy.

I have found speaking to my Mum in the UK helps, she's pretty adorable, even though I don't consciously not ring her very often, probably sub consciously is easier not to speak. But I do now find that speaking at times of panic helps! She's has always said through my life, what is the worst that can happen? Its generally never as bad as it seems. she says don't fear the fear..that's the worst! Keep smiling! X

 

lol! Thanks for the lovely reply!! It's interesting my workplace experience isn't unique, I've often wondered if this is work life in OZ (without sounding stereotypical), I worked in Local Government in UK and I was allowed to have a different opinion and to object to things without fear of losing my job but my experience here has definitely dented my work confidence!! Saying that, we emigrated for my husbands career, I compromised and downgraded! He earns significantly more than he ever could in UK and his employers have been just superb so maybe just a bad experience in my case!

 

It sounds like you have a lovely relationship with your Mum, she sounds just fab and so lovely you can de stress with her, unfortunately I just find my UK family stressful (whilst I do love them), they still have the ability all those miles away to stress me out and make me anxious, maybe it's because of the distance!! I do yearn back to the years when it was the odd letter only, Skype and the phone add to my stress rather than relieve it!!!

[Wellers and Whitehead]

lol! Thanks for the lovely reply!! It's interesting my workplace experience isn't unique, I've often wondered if this is work life in OZ (without sounding stereotypical), I worked in Local Government in UK and I was allowed to have a different opinion and to object to things without fear of losing my job but my experience here has definitely dented my work confidence!! Saying that, we emigrated for my husbands career, I compromised and downgraded! He earns significantly more than he ever could in UK and his employers have been just superb so maybe just a bad experience in my case!

 

It sounds like you have a lovely relationship with your Mum, she sounds just fab and so lovely you can de stress with her, unfortunately I just find my UK family stressful (whilst I do love them), they still have the ability all those miles away to stress me out and make me anxious, maybe it's because of the distance!! I do yearn back to the years when it was the odd letter only, Skype and the phone add to my stress rather than relieve it!!!

 

Omg, I think you actually do work in my organisation. I'm a temp, 10 months later, so have to keep my mouth shut to a degree, but I do struggle, otherwise I could be out of work!! They take difference of opinion as negative. Oh Anycase, maybe look at why the family stress you out? Do you have a good support network in Oz, I find they really help me.

I also have lost confidence in my ability within my job, but I see so many Gen Y's getting positions they have little/no experience in, that I think, if I get a job my confidence will come back, if not they will sack me at worst! Just applying for quiet an intense social work position, papping myself with regard to having panic attacks, as with the client group I could not afford to panic, but I have to go for it. It will not beat me!! :-)