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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. Remember, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anxiety 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 your 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 worthwhile 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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Mindful_Momma Has anyone been successful with a Return to Work SA claim for anxiety caused by the job?
  • replies: 11

Hi everyone, Thanks for letting me post on this. I have worked for a great organization for the past 19 months. Even though the org is great, unfortunately, my role with the org is completely unique - wearing 5 different hats in a part time role. Wit... View more

Hi everyone, Thanks for letting me post on this. I have worked for a great organization for the past 19 months. Even though the org is great, unfortunately, my role with the org is completely unique - wearing 5 different hats in a part time role. Within two weeks of starting, there was a traumatic event that I have not recovered from. The role itself is extremely stressful even without having that traumatic event, and because it is so different from others, my peers and bosses are not compassionate. The bosses only see their specific role and KPIs without considering that I need to keep 5 balls in the air at any one time. They frequently schedule mandatory meetings that overlap or happen out of work hours. It seems like the only time the CEO and my main boss calls is when I am off the clock, and these end up taking an hour or so. In June, I had my first ever anxiety attack, and it happened at the job in the corporate office which is interstate. I saw a GP who diagnosed the anxiety attack caused by work, and I told my main supervisor about it and what spurred it on. I also asked for support so that I could succeed. He seemed supportive on the outside, and even agreed to pay some of the hours that I was regularly working. The following month, I attended another meeting in the corporate office and had a second anxiety attack after a consultant said to the group that if we weren't in-stride with our jobs that we were going to have physical and mental health problems and ultimately risk death from work. I had developed both anxiety and physical manifestations as a result, and I almost harmed myself accidentally during the meeting. I escalated the concerns to one of my other bosses about how my role wasn't sustainable, and she said that they had 10 people in the role over the past 12 years and that nobody was successful in the role. I escalated it again to the CEO who said that my wellbeing was the most important and that she accepted by resignation. I DIDN'T RESIGN! My main boss called an hour later and asked for my end date, and I once again said that I didn't resign. I put in a worker's compensation claim with a law firm and have since had a private investigator call me and have a psychiatric exam next week. I also am seeing a psychologist and my GP regularly. I've bee off work for the past month, and am very anxious about whether the claim will be accepted. Is there a loophole that will make this rejected?

Guest_36530256 anxiety depression
  • replies: 3

I’m willing to attend psychological counseling to address this issue.I’ve been considering counseling to better understand and manage my behaviour.

I’m willing to attend psychological counseling to address this issue.I’ve been considering counseling to better understand and manage my behaviour.

Guest_15562035 Health anxiety
  • replies: 1

I am scared of anything now could make me sick. My muscles so tend. And i am so anxious

I am scared of anything now could make me sick. My muscles so tend. And i am so anxious

Fzyy Health anxiety!
  • replies: 6

Hello, Im sure other people suffer from health anxiety and I do too, and it’s really bad. Considering my age, I’m very young but even the tiniest throb, headache, cough worries me and it’s draining me faster and worse than my own health can. It’s ext... View more

Hello, Im sure other people suffer from health anxiety and I do too, and it’s really bad. Considering my age, I’m very young but even the tiniest throb, headache, cough worries me and it’s draining me faster and worse than my own health can. It’s extremely scary and I can’t seem to find people with similar constant Symptoms that come with their anxiety, no matter how much research I do so I’m convinced it’s something bad. Which makes me feel unmotivated to do absolutely anything, I leave things to the very last minute and I can’t even keep up with basic hygiene because I feel like there’s no use, also makes me feel awful. When I do get random boosts of motivation (rarely) or feel like I can calm down, I immediately can’t anymore, I tense up or get even slightly anxious that something bad will happen after that and that’s the only reason I was allowed to be “normal” for a bit, so I leave that and force myself to feel more down and empty, But in general everything feels meaningless at the same time. If anyone feels similar I’d love for a reply!

Appletree7 Too many transitions
  • replies: 3

Hello Everyone, this is my first post. It's a lovely sunny day here. Over the last year, I have made so many transitions including shifting state. I have also had some health challenges. This has all left me with anxiety and depression. I think one o... View more

Hello Everyone, this is my first post. It's a lovely sunny day here. Over the last year, I have made so many transitions including shifting state. I have also had some health challenges. This has all left me with anxiety and depression. I think one of the main challenges i have is loneliness. My friends and family live at a distance. They have their own lives and do not want to be a burden (even though they have welcomed me to reach out anytime)

Guest_10272 Anxiety and Heart Murmur
  • replies: 5

I suffer with extreme health anxiety... And I mean extreme. Last weekend I suffered from searing chest pain, that radiated to my shoulder blade. I thought I was having a heart attack. I went to ED and had loads of tests and they all came back fine. H... View more

I suffer with extreme health anxiety... And I mean extreme. Last weekend I suffered from searing chest pain, that radiated to my shoulder blade. I thought I was having a heart attack. I went to ED and had loads of tests and they all came back fine. However I was informed I had a heart murmur. Now im 54 years old and never been told that before. My anxiety went through the roof. 8 days later I saw my GP, who listened to my chest and said yes, I had a murmur... He said it was a grade II Systolic Ejection Heart Murmur and I was referred to Cardiology. I made an appointment for an Echocardiogram ASAP, because I am supposed to go on holiday soon. I paid privately to get it abd a stress test done and my mental health is in bits... I literally cant cope. I have googled until I feel sick and now believe I have heart failure and my life is over. A 54 year old man doesn't just suddenly get a murmur unless there is something seriously wrong. I just don't know what to do or who to turn to.. I feel sick and ill everyday. I have palpitations and cant tell if it's the anxiety or murmur. This is a nightmare!

waffle_puppy My mom keeps commenting on my weight and body :(
  • replies: 3

(Thank you so much for reading this, it really means a lot to me and I don’t have anywhere else to discuss this safely) So this year, I don’t know why but my mom keeps judging me for what I eat, or even my weight. I am naturally a bit chubby, but tha... View more

(Thank you so much for reading this, it really means a lot to me and I don’t have anywhere else to discuss this safely) So this year, I don’t know why but my mom keeps judging me for what I eat, or even my weight. I am naturally a bit chubby, but that’s it. I don’t know why but today her words hit me like a brick. I felt extremely upset. Usually when she points out my weight I feel proud of who I am and grateful for the foods I get to eat. Today I had a dish I hadn’t had in a while, which was rice and chicken and due to it being a dish I like and hadn’t eaten in months, I instantly ate down roughly two small bowls which wasn’t much. I felt hungry at about 10 PM again, so I come down for another since I really missed the dish. Before I even got to eat it, my mom yelled that I’m obese and I eat too much. I am not obese, and I am just a bit chubby naturally, that’s all. I’m happy with my body as it is and appreciate all the actions it helps me do everyday. But today felt different. I felt like I was going to burst into tears because of her comment. She called me obese in front of her and I’m not obese. I don’t get why she likes to point out my weight and say I’m overweight. But today she called me obese and said that it’s my fault. I can’t help it, I’m still a teenager and I’m growing. I tend to get hungry quickly because I’m really busy drawing, playing games on my computer and talking to my friends. I also walked a lot outside today and had to give my lunch to my friend because he felt hungry. So I got more hungry today. If only my mom understood (Which I have told her about what I did today) then she wouldn’t hopefully call me obese and judge my weight. I don’t know how to feel about my body anymore. I’m grateful I’m not rib-thin but I just want to be myself. She keeps telling me that I need an hourglass torso like the other girls, and she tells me that I need to be slim, feminine and beautiful. I don’t like that at all. I’d say I’m quite a tomboy myself but I really don’t want to fit into modern standards or her standards at all. For example she tells me that I should get thinner so I should wear this dress or this skirt. I don’t like skirts and dresses and would rather wear pants, or a suit. What to do really.. I’m really tired of her commenting on my body and on what I eat, along with me not being feminine to fit into modern standards. I just want to be myself really.

Rosie Anxiety, OCD, paranoia and depression
  • replies: 3

I am a 63 years old spinster who has a few mental health problems to say the least. They include anxiety, OCD, paranoia, depression, agoraphobia, social phobia, hyper-sensitivity and suicidal thoughts to begin with. I have been isolated for decades w... View more

I am a 63 years old spinster who has a few mental health problems to say the least. They include anxiety, OCD, paranoia, depression, agoraphobia, social phobia, hyper-sensitivity and suicidal thoughts to begin with. I have been isolated for decades with no friends or contact with my family, which is my fault as I have isolated myself and I don't want to be a burden. They once told me I'm very depressing and negative which is probably true. I find it very difficult to connect with people because I mistrust them and over think everything they say to the point I am left exhausted. I'm on medication and it helps with my OCD but nothing else, and like many others, cannot afford counselling. I retired in 2019 as I had a breakdown at work due to bullying. I have no self confidence, and see myself as repulsive. I only leave my house once a week to food shop and I cover my face with a large hat and wear sunglasses and have headphones on to try and hide. I wish I knew how to enjoy life on my own but have been made to feel such shame and guilt. I'm also being bullied by my neighbours who play cruel jokes on me so I often ring Lifeline when it gets really bad. In Feburary they set off fireworks right outside my house which terrified me as the sparks landed in my front yard and roof also they like to tip my wheelie bins over. I've never bothered any of them but they are a small gang of four roughly the same age as me but unlike me they are very social. I can't remember the last time I felt safe and happy. Sorry but I'm feeling very overwhelmed with life.

Adele Ahhh life
  • replies: 1

I don’t know where to start really so I’m here. I have adhd and autism among others and I’ve recently been feeling pretty bad. My anxiety which I thought I was handling well has reared its head in another why to what I was used to so I didn’t see it ... View more

I don’t know where to start really so I’m here. I have adhd and autism among others and I’ve recently been feeling pretty bad. My anxiety which I thought I was handling well has reared its head in another why to what I was used to so I didn’t see it coming. It’s very sneaky. I know how lonely it feels and I just don’t want anyone else to feel that way.