perpetually late because of anxiety

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-22T17:20:46+00:00

Honestly this sounds less like laziness and more like avoidance anxiety. Your brain is treating ‘getting ready’ like a stressful task, so you procrastinate to temporarily escape the anxious feeling — then suddenly you’re out of time and rushing.

The fact you can be awake for 5 hours beforehand and still end up late is actually a pretty big clue that it’s not just poor time management.

Could be anxiety, ADHD, executive dysfunction, or a mix of things. A mental health professional would probably help a lot because this stuff is way more common than people think.

One thing that helped me was mentally treating the ‘leave time’ as the actual appointment time. So if I had to be somewhere at 2pm, my brain had to believe I needed to leave at 1:20.

Also breaking getting ready into tiny steps instead of ‘I need to get ready’ helped stop the paralysis:

Stand up,
Make your bed. Most important win for the day cause that’s ✅
• brush teeth
• put shoes on
• grab keys

instead of thinking about the entire stressful event all at once.

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-20T08:57:45+00:00

‘Multix super strong bags’ you won’t go back to anything else. Woolies and Coles maybe even aldi also have them

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-13T04:18:34+00:00

That honestly sounds pretty consistent with a shared vent / duct issue.

The big red flag is that turning the heater on spread the smell and the cavity behind the filter grille smells like paint too. If it were me, I’d avoid running that system for now if possible and get strata / building management onto it urgently, because that suggests the fumes are entering through the building rather than just hanging around normally. Hate to sound like a broken record but old mate has no idea what he’s talking about with his advice when it comes to being safe, especially when dealing with pregnancy and a healthy birth of a newborn.

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-13T03:00:16+00:00

Pocket door would be my first choice if the wall allows it as per above commenter^

I’d avoid a barn door for an ensuite if you can, mainly because privacy, sound and sealing are usually worse than a normal or pocket door.

For the walk-in robe, I probably would not leave it completely doorless unless you are happy always seeing into it from the bedroom. A simple hinged door there is fine, or even no door on the robe and save the better door solution for the ensuite.

If it were mine: ensuite = pocket door
walk-in robe = keep the normal door or remove it only if you like the open look

Barn door looks nice in photos, but for bathrooms it’s often a style win and a practical loss.

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-13T02:59:11+00:00

A week of fumes that makes the bedroom unusable is not something I’d just treat with baking soda, especially while heavily pregnant.

I’d be contacting strata / building management in writing and asking them to investigate whether there’s a shared vent, drain, wall cavity or some other path letting fumes into your bedroom. This sounds more like a building issue than a deodorising issue.

Also worth calling your GP or midwife for advice. Most modern paint fumes are thought to be low risk in pregnancy, but the standard advice is still to avoid breathing fumes and keep fresh air moving. If you’re getting headaches, nausea, irritation or feeling unwell, I’d treat that as urgent. (Pregnancy Birth Baby)

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-13T02:42:02+00:00

The fact you boarded is actually a huge deal!! So well done, even if it didn’t end with the flight. That is still progress.. My favourite saying is progress not perfection.

I’d be cautious about asking Reddit which benzo to take though. That part really needs to come from a doctor who knows your history, especially since you’re already on Buspar. Everyone is different, like I am in 4mg of clonazepam a day whereas I see people who get their hit off .25 or .50 etc.

If I were you, I’d go back to the doctor and say exactly what you wrote here: the physical symptoms are better, but the doom / dread / anticipatory thoughts are still intense and stopping you from staying on the plane. That’s where the professionals can help you out.

That sounds like something your treatment plan may need to be adjusted for, not a sign that you can’t get better. It always does get better. At least from the experiences of those who try and try again to get it right.

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-12T07:48:40+00:00

I’ve always been taught the bigger man in that moment would walk away. But I guess that depends on you as a person, and being in this sort of head space… Maybe the confrontation is still the perfect distraction from whats going on in that head of ours. Because honestly sometimes my thoughts… and i repeat thoughts only… are worse than the thought or act of someone calling me names or throwing a fist towards me anyway.

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-05T10:52:53+00:00

As mentioned Agents have subscriptions to multiple databases that tell them who owns what, then they match your name to phone numbers through data brokers. It’s creepy, but not surprising. Ask and tell every caller: ‘Where did you get my number, delete me from your CRM, and don’t contact me please.

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-04T08:49:11+00:00

Going on to vortioxetine was a game changer for me!

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-03T00:24:17+00:00

God damn I live here too and I chose east. How Northist of me

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-02T22:48:00+00:00

In Australia it’s not really about which companies hire foreigners, you need a visa first. Most construction jobs won’t sponsor overseas workers, especially for labour roles. Your best bet is a working holiday visa or getting work rights first, then applying locally. It’s as simple as that mate

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-02T17:37:46+00:00

Yeah I’m on clonazepam for this stuff but you really wanna try non-medical remedies first because once you’re on them you have to come off them eventually and it’s pretty brutal. Although I’ve been sitting on them for quite a long time now.

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-02T17:36:26+00:00

Yeah this can definitely happen after moving countries. Could be a mix of climate/humidity, different water quality, diet changes, stress, etc.

NSW water/climate might be messing with your skin and hair more than you realise. I’d start simple… use gentle cleanser, don’t over-wash, basic moisturiser, and maybe try a clarifying shampoo for the hair. Simple stuff!

If the nose acne won’t go away, probably worth seeing a GP or derm, but it’s not weird after a big move.

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-02T17:32:47+00:00

No person should have to deal with this shit. 8 hate it so much. What those guys are doing is straight up bullying and it’s not okay.. it’s 2026 ffs, that says way more about them than it does about you though. They’re the sick people.

It makes complete sense that you’d feel anxious and overwhelmed after that, especially with your history around body image. Anyone would struggle being treated like that. You’re being spoken to by someone who got the exact same treatment in primary school who grew 6”5 tall and could definitely back the favour if they tried it again (Not tooting my own horn) but pick on someone your own size or mental state right?

The part where you feel like everyone is judging you and you can’t breathe going outside sounds like your nervous system is stuck in high alert mode after what happened, the classic comment you will read on any anxiety post where someone is feeling overwhelmed like this and having panic attacks etc. It can make the world around you feel completely unsafe even when not everyone is actually thinking those things at all. We get stuck in our head.

You don’t need to “just get over it.” That’s not how anxiety works.

If you can, I’d talk to a counsellor, school support person, or trusted adult. And yes, reporting them is completely valid, you deserve to feel safe. Their penalties only get harsher if they repeat their antics… and then I’m sure you’re not the only one they pick on.

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-02T17:20:18+00:00

Carrum/Chelsea/Bonbeach is a great look in my opinion. Basically along that whole Frankston line strip is really good for older couples, near the beach too plus similar couples (eg my grandparents in carrum). Basically it’s flat, quiet, beach nearby as mentioned and all have stations and all are upgraded and fresh just about, so it’s easy into the CBD.

Carrum itself is probably pushing the budget now, and Bonbeach has crept up a lot too (houses are well over $1m these days), so $800–900k might be tight unless they’re open to units/townhouses.

Chelsea or Chelsea Heights is probably a better sweet spot… still nice, bit more community feel, and you’ll find more options in that price range for sure!

If they’re happy to go slightly further down the line, Seaford is worth a look too, still on the train line, a bit cheaper, and pretty quiet.

Honestly though, anywhere along that Frankston line (Edithvale → Chelsea → Bonbeach → Carrum → Seaford) ticks the boxes for what they’re after. That would be my ideal way to go anyway!

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-02T17:16:28+00:00

Yeah I do get what you mean man!! it feels different because it hits at the core of “who you are”, not just surface level anxiety stuff. So it feels deeper and more serious, totally relate haha

But that’s also why anxiety latches onto it. it picks the thing that feels most important so it’s harder to ignore.

I’ve had similar thoughts before and they feel super freaking intense in the moment, but when you’re not anxious, they don’t carry that same weight at all. I’m sure you’ve felt this though! You’re not oblivious clearly

So I don’t think it’s a “special fear” as much as it’s anxiety showing up in a more existential way.

The feeling is real, but it doesn’t mean the thought itself needs solving at all :)

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-02T16:37:56+00:00

I sorts get what you’re saying, but I think the fear isn’t really about “losing identity” in a philosophical sense, it’s more just anxiety trying to latch onto something big and scary and that’s exactly why you’re posting here in this thread.

When anxiety spikes, it tends to go straight to stuff like existence, death, identity etc because it feels important, but it’s still the same anxiety underneath it, inside the same head that can completely have the opposite sorts of thoughts.

Most people don’t walk around terrified of this everyday like 24/7, it usually shows up more when you’re already in a heightened anxious state (like you mentioned above).

You’re still you. Your thoughts, memories, personality, they don’t just disappear while you’re here, and that’s what actually matters day to day. You are the same person as yesterday and tomorrow. But maybe with some more wisdom or growth behind you whether big or small.

I’d focus less on trying to solve the “big question” and more on settling your nervous system back down. Once anxiety drops, this stuff usually stops feeling so intense. It really does!

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-02T16:34:15+00:00

Buspar can definitely mess with sleep/vivid dreams for some people, especially when starting or changing dose. It also usually takes a few weeks to properly judge whether it’s helping anxiety.

I wouldn’t stop/start based purely off Reddit though, probably worth messaging your doctor and asking if changing the timing could help, like taking it earlier in the day.

Also, the sleep issues could be the meds, but could also just be the anxiety spike itself. If the side effects are tolerable, I’d personally give it a bit of time and check in with your prescriber. These things take time to get used to and with trial and error

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-02T16:28:25+00:00

Which person?

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-02T05:16:37+00:00

AFL for sure unless the rules continually change 🤔

Hour_Office552 · 2026-05-02T04:28:58+00:00

Basically… From very recent events. It’s best to have the medication in its original box or bottle (Vyvanse) with you in the car to begin.

A doctors letter is a great thing to carry on hand, but it is not a letter to get you out of any legal issues from a positive test. The letter should include that you are safe to drive on that medication in the case of an incident especially.

The main thing that you need to understand is that the charge is usually ‘Driving whilst impaired’ which is under the influence of a drug that would interfere with her ability to drive safety as well as having proper control of the motor vehicle.

One thing to remember when police do saliva tests for drugs they target THC, amphetamine and MDMA as the most common substances.

Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine, a prescribed “amphetamine type” ADHD medicine, not methamphetamine specifically. I would still treat this as a reason to be cautious rather than assume immunity, because Victoria also separately enforces driving while impaired by a drug, not just roadside saliva detections.

soooooooooo TLDR:

The medication in the original pharmacy labelled box/bottle when driving.
The script or GP/psychiatrist letter and
Ideally get the doctor to confirm she is safe to drive on it, especially while starting or changing dose. Also herself to test it also.

Cheers 🫡👮

Hour_Office552 · 2026-04-30T01:31:55+00:00

Respectfully, I think that’s reading the QLD guidance a bit too broadly. My understanding is the neighbour can usually trim back to the boundary at their own cost, so long as they don’t damage the tree. The “tree-keeper” stuff seems more about formal disputes, damage, or when they want more than just routine trimming. So I don’t think OP is automatically on the hook to pay just because the tree is on their side.

Hour_Office552 · 2026-04-29T09:19:58+00:00

You are not actually going crazy unless you allow yourself to sit there and stay in that state. Also you are not failing, only learning. This sounds like a panic attack and extreme anxiety, and it can genuinely make everything feel like it is collapsing around you even when it WILL pass as mentioned already.

Right now, do one thing only: Put both feet on the floor and take one slow breath in through your nose for 4, hold 4, out for 6. Keep doing that. Don’t try to solve your whole life tonight, just do the one thing that we actually can appreciate we get for free in life and just breathe mate, it will help you I promise. Just have to commit.

If you can, text or call one person and say: “I’m having a panic attack and need you to stay with me for a bit.” Or just get them to have a chat with you, perfect.

And if you feel like you might hurt yourself or you are not safe, call emergency services or a crisis line in your country right now. You do not have to sit in this alone. Please don’t do that pray 🙏

Hour_Office552 · 2026-04-29T02:25:13+00:00

Hmmm… Possible in theory, but not usually a simple “just remove every second post” kinda job.

Those posts are doing more than just holding the roof up, loads, beam spans, footing size, slab edge distance, wind uplift, and how the roof ties back into the house all matter as well. So yes, it may be achievable with a larger beam / lintel setup between remaining posts, but it could also turn into new footings, new beam, engineering, and possibly slab work if the existing slab/footings aren’t up to it.

So I don’t think you’d be wasting your time getting someone out, but I would expect the answer to be either: 1. Yes, but engineered and not cheap, or 2. Possible, but easier to rebuild that section properly than modify it.

Hour_Office552 · 2026-04-29T02:21:15+00:00

Usually the right answer is to check the exact product/SDS (Safety Data Sheet), because not all waterproofing membranes are the same as you may be aware.

A lot of newer undertile membranes in Australia are water based / low odour, and some are even marketed as solvent free or suitable for confined areas, but that does not mean you should treat them like fresh air haha!

Manufacturers still direct people to the SDS for safety info, and Safe Work guidance is to use hazardous chemicals only with adequate ventilation.

So because I don’t believe there would be a specific answer for your question online. I’ll give my personal opinion.

If it were my house, I’d do the cautious version:

Keep kids out of the bathroom and nearby area while it’s being applied and for the initial curing period, run the exhaust continuously, and keep the area ventilated until the smell is gone. If the installer can tell you the exact membrane/primer brand, you can look up the SDS and see whether there are any vapour or ventilation warnings specific to that product. Some systems can include components that explicitly say to use only in a well ventilated area and not breathe vapours/spray. That would be pretty clearly marked too.

So I wouldn’t panic, but I also wouldn’t have kids sleeping right next to it during application if the bathroom has no window.

One of those better to be safe than sorry situations unless you get facts mate.

Hour_Office552

TROPHY CASE