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Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

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BeyondBlue Hi! Check out this post if you're not sure how to start
  • replies: 0

Hi there and welcome to the Anxiety section of the Forums First of all, thank you so much for joining us here. We think it’s amazing that you’ve taken this step to getting support and learning from this Community. You are very welcome here and we are... View more

Hi there and welcome to the Anxiety section of the Forums First of all, thank you so much for joining us here. We think it’s amazing that you’ve taken this step to getting support and learning from this Community. You are very welcome here and we are really interested in what you might want to add to these conversations. We get it, having anxiety makes it hard to share in a public place. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety in some form in their lives. This might be in social settings, at work, or just in the day to day. You don’t need a diagnosis to post here. If it feels like the right spot for you post, go right ahead! We know that feeling anxious can make it hard to reach out so we want you to know that getting this far is amazing and a great start. A few tips for getting the most out of this section: Get involved when you can! Posting and replying is the heartbeat of this community and you DO have something worthile to share (when you’re ready ) Every experience is different. There is no competition here. We know how challenging anxiety can be and how it comes in all shapes and sizes. What you are experiencing will be respected and supported here. Trust yourself! You are the expert in your experience. This community works because people like you share what has worked for you. Thank you for getting involved and taking a look. We can’t wait to hear from you! Beyond Blue

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JimBob33 Coping with an anxious child
  • replies: 8

I have a young daughter (6) who struggles with severe anxiety. It’s gradually getting worse, and I feel like we all walk on eggshells every day. We don’t get through a day without at least one meltdown. I started therapy mid year to help me cope (par... View more

I have a young daughter (6) who struggles with severe anxiety. It’s gradually getting worse, and I feel like we all walk on eggshells every day. We don’t get through a day without at least one meltdown. I started therapy mid year to help me cope (particularly in my responses to her when she is melting down), in addition to her seeing a psychologist. Unfortunately she hasn’t had many sessions due to psychologist being sick or needing to reschedule, so I don’t think we’ve seen much benefit there. I don’t know what I’m after… maybe just to vent? Or strategies to help? I’m just so exhausted. Every day is such a battle… to get dressed, to leave the house, to try and enjoy a family activity. The list is endless. Her anxiety also manifests as physical symptoms and she constantly complains of being hurt/feeling sore/wanting medicine to make her feel better. She has no other diagnosis except anxiety. There are definitely sensory issues, but the health professionals we’ve seen have only given the anxiety diagnosis with various elements thrown into the mix. I feel sorry for our eldest, who is also dealing with this. He misses out on fun activities because of how she is, though we do try and do a lot of 1:1 with him as well. He’s also a very sensitive kid, so when she’s melting down and hysterical, it definitely affects him negatively. She panics about everything. It used to be limited to a few select issues, but it’s progressing out to almost anything. Commencing school this year was possibly the worst period of our lives, and I genuinely don’t know how we survived. She was doing well once in a routine etc, but now school has ended, her anxiety has peaked. School holidays should be relaxing and fun, except ours are filled with meltdowns, hysteria and tension. I guess I’m just feeling overwhelmed. Exhausted. Angry that this is our situation. Devastated I can’t do anything to help. Frustrated. Depleted. The list goes on! I’m not sure where to go from here. I will resume seeing my own psychologist who is lovely, and we do seek help from those around us when we need… but it doesn’t change the reality of how tough this current situation is.

Cybert Feeling Broken
  • replies: 1

First time here and first time in my life I have felt the way I do at the moment. I am just wondering though what people do when the help options open to them are small and ultimately can't help solve the situation. I am middle aged and always had to... View more

First time here and first time in my life I have felt the way I do at the moment. I am just wondering though what people do when the help options open to them are small and ultimately can't help solve the situation. I am middle aged and always had to care for my mum since I was 16 years of age, she is a perfectly functioning adult but NCD (Narcisist) to the core and has manipulated my life to a point where I have no friends or indeed anyone left in my life. I am 100% isolated and alone and at her mercy. She is a very nasty woman but for some reason I just feel compelled to keep looking out for her. Everyone says set boundaries, but if you have ever dealt with a person like this you know that can be almost impossible. I now have major anxiety and depression going on from both home and work issues where once I mentioned I cared for an elderly person they work turned on me and tried to get me to resign. They are still pushing me to get out which is just adding to the stresses. I have an elderly dog who is my world who is also getting sick and I am constantly (like 24/7) watching him as he is about all I have left. I am just at that point of wanting to walk away from it all and start a new life. But I know I will take guilt with me that I am unsure I could live with and even then I have no idea how I would afford to start again and be safe. So back to the question. Does anyone know who you turn to for help on the basics to just get through another day at a time?

Xyz-12_ Anxiety due to hair loss
  • replies: 2

I am a 33 year old international student ( presently on student visa ) who has just graduated from university. I have alopecia which was diagnosed by doctor long time back . My hair has been thinning and loosing density since 2014. I have been taking... View more

I am a 33 year old international student ( presently on student visa ) who has just graduated from university. I have alopecia which was diagnosed by doctor long time back . My hair has been thinning and loosing density since 2014. I have been taking some treatments like minoxidil, taking medicine, using hair serums .Due to failure of such treatment, I am having stress and anxiety. Many people especially my relatives and friends comment on my hair loss . This makes me depressed. The only treatment left is putting a wig , but I feel that if wig falls off in public, or somebody notices it , then what will I say.This stresses me out. I do not want to go bald also. Please advise any psychological treatment or therapy for the anxiety . recommend a treatment which is not too costly.

lincolnh I feel like I’m sleep walking through life
  • replies: 5

AIA if this story doesn’t make much sense, I’m not great at communicating how I’m feeling. I’m a 24 year old male with a decent paying corporate job, but my life consists of nothing but feelings of emptiness. I have faced social anxiety, general anxi... View more

AIA if this story doesn’t make much sense, I’m not great at communicating how I’m feeling. I’m a 24 year old male with a decent paying corporate job, but my life consists of nothing but feelings of emptiness. I have faced social anxiety, general anxiety, depression etc since I was about 16 which I’ve come to accept over the years. I’ve never really been a social person, I love having friends, however I’ve never liked making friends. My only 2 friends(who I’ve known since school) I’ve started to grow apart from over the past couple of months. One of them has stopped talking in our group chat and has started hanging out with work colleagues a lot more. I’ve let a lot of friendships die over the years because I’ve always had these 2 who I’ve done everything with. If I lose my friendship with them, I’ll literally have no one. I have no ability to make friends either at work or outside of work. My mother always asks me why I don’t do anything on weekends and why I never go out and do anything, and I always say that my other 2 mates are busy. It’s because I have no social circle. I feel like life is about experiences rather than money making, and i feel like I have no one to share my life with due to my incompetence at making friends. I always feel like a total loser because while other people are out their making memories, I’m stuck with my own company. I know I can’t keep living like this.

Brokenhearted Where to start on a journey to healing?
  • replies: 4

Background info - I have pretty severe GAD. I didn’t realize just how bad, or how much it has affected every aspect of my life, until my beloved (ex)husband of over 20 years had a breakdown of his own because he was so unhappy. He left in January, an... View more

Background info - I have pretty severe GAD. I didn’t realize just how bad, or how much it has affected every aspect of my life, until my beloved (ex)husband of over 20 years had a breakdown of his own because he was so unhappy. He left in January, and I only recently found out he’s been seeing someone since March. Apparently he was too scared to tell me as he was worried I would completely fall apart. Which I am. The only thing getting me through was the hope it was temporary, and we could reconcile.So this is where I am now. Completely unravelling with anxiety off the charts.Add in some panic disorder, social anxiety and a touch a ocd, being in my head is not fun. I have to somehow navigate my way through a life without him. All the ways he covered for me the past 20 years. Making the phone calls, paying the bills. These things terrify me.We have to sell the house and there will be all the things I need to do without his guidance.I am 52 and never lived without another adult. Now it’s just me, my youngest kid and a dog.I have been on meds for the past 4 years, but I don’t know if they’ve actually helped at all. I just assumed they were, so I’ve made an appointment with my GP to review. I have been seeing a psychologist on and off this year, but it’s just talk therapy, and I don’t think talking for 50 minutes a fortnight is going to fix me. So what do I do? I need to get well enough to re-enter the workforce. I haven’t had a proper job for 10 years.I am so overwhelmed. Do I look at inpatient programs? What is likely to help me?

Amaree15 Infidelity- how to cope
  • replies: 6

Today I've just found out my partner of 5 years has sought s3xual relief from an escort by form of erotic massage.I have so many mixed feelings and am struggling to process the why.He tells me he loves me.. how can someone say that but do what they'v... View more

Today I've just found out my partner of 5 years has sought s3xual relief from an escort by form of erotic massage.I have so many mixed feelings and am struggling to process the why.He tells me he loves me.. how can someone say that but do what they've done.I feel ashamed, embarrassed, that I've done something to make him do it, why am I not good enough. I can't stop the tears, I feel physically Ill, I am already struggling with mild depression and now I have to deal with this.Where do I start, what do I do?

Guest_25939418 Nausea & anxiety
  • replies: 2

Does anyone else out there suffer from nausea and anxiety together?I get overwhelmed with nausea and that leads to anxiety

Does anyone else out there suffer from nausea and anxiety together?I get overwhelmed with nausea and that leads to anxiety

tina House mate and Landlord exteamly bad drama
  • replies: 1

Hi my name's Tina I am stuck in a horrible Share house due to Rental crisis.My Landlord is extremely rud,Sexuast and ignores women.also one of my House mate he is very very loud between 9pmand 3am I am really struggling with this.I have tried mention... View more

Hi my name's Tina I am stuck in a horrible Share house due to Rental crisis.My Landlord is extremely rud,Sexuast and ignores women.also one of my House mate he is very very loud between 9pmand 3am I am really struggling with this.I have tried mentioning to close the kitchen door because of noise he seems to ignore me.i have lost alot of sleep due to this he also bangs to the walli share

MoodedOut Letting others down
  • replies: 1

Just wanted to share something, I had a pretty horrible anxiety attack today. I wanted to try out a new food place and I took my parents along, but it didn't seem like they really enjoyed it. Now I just feel really selfish for making others try somet... View more

Just wanted to share something, I had a pretty horrible anxiety attack today. I wanted to try out a new food place and I took my parents along, but it didn't seem like they really enjoyed it. Now I just feel really selfish for making others try something that only I want to. I feel like I should have taken them to a place they were used to. I know my parents still emjoyed going out and going there and part of this is my anxiety but it's always hard to go through these kind of things for me

Sal2645 Anxiety driving friends away
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone. I’m writing because I’m struggling a lot at the moment with my friendships. I’ve always put a lot of pressure on myself to behave a certain way so that people will like me because I often get stuck in thought patterns that I’m inherently... View more

Hi everyone. I’m writing because I’m struggling a lot at the moment with my friendships. I’ve always put a lot of pressure on myself to behave a certain way so that people will like me because I often get stuck in thought patterns that I’m inherently unlikeable and no one wants to be around me so I really have to make an effort to be tolerable to be around. This is something I’ve dealt with my whole life so it’s nothing new and I know I’m just overthinking. But lately my friends have been doing things without me and not inviting places which just is my worst fear and means that my overthinking has become a reality. Its my fault because I’m constantly worried about how I’m acting and assume that no one wants to talk to me so I rarely reach out to people first. I’m always over analysing everything I do and people’s reactions so I’m probably not that present in the moment and look like I’m not enjoying myself. This means that because I’m worried about bringing the mood down and being boring, that I actually am ruining the mood because I just don’t engage. Obviously this would drive my friends away and it’s just hard because it solidifies the fact that I think I’m insufferable to be around because now im not apart of anything anymore.Before I could kinda pretend to be normal but now because I’m getting invited less and less, there is more pressure in my head when I’m with my friends because I’m trying to make them like me again, but obviously that just makes it worse cause I’m more anxious than normal. I just feel like I’ve done this to myself and have no idea how to fix it.