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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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GreenEgg Managing health anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hello I can’t stop wondering about and researching ADHD. I’ve never raised it with anyone because I feel guilty even thinking it, let alone mentioning to my GP or psychologist. How do you know if something is real or not, something you’ve convinced y... View more

Hello I can’t stop wondering about and researching ADHD. I’ve never raised it with anyone because I feel guilty even thinking it, let alone mentioning to my GP or psychologist. How do you know if something is real or not, something you’ve convinced yourself? I feel so guilty because although the symptoms resonate with me, I know what I’m like. I’m definitely a bit health anxious and sometimes my anxiety completely spirals, even if I have evidence to the contrary or it’s just not common sense. I feel guilty because there’s someone in my family with ADHD, and because my mother worked in a school setting with kids with learning needs and disabilities. Surely she would have noticed, or someone would have. Also I can’t help but think I’m probably just like convincing myself on the false hope that there’s an explanation and a magical fix, like being able to take medication. G

Mike_N Struggling with upcoming MRI
  • replies: 6

Gday all. 35M, and expecting to be a first time father in June, after my Wife and I trying for last couple of years. Been on a bit of health kick, as I wanted to be able to keep up with being a parent. Did have a bit of health scare last year, which ... View more

Gday all. 35M, and expecting to be a first time father in June, after my Wife and I trying for last couple of years. Been on a bit of health kick, as I wanted to be able to keep up with being a parent. Did have a bit of health scare last year, which has flared up my health anxiety. Recently, went for a routine eye check as I wear corrective lens, and referred to a Glaucoma specialist. Turns out I’m lucky enough to not have it, however the specialist recommended I do a brain / eye MRI to exclude any tumours etc. Lovely specialist, said she doubts that’s the problem but wanted to rule it out. The thing is, I’m struggling with the what if and could be scenarios. To my anxiety driven mind, it seems like that’s what the cause is. And so I’ve been delving into information on the internet and fueling that interpretation rather than thinking positively: if it was serious I would have been told to go to ER , etc etc. Just really struggling to bounce back from this darker line of thinking, but as I’m about to be a dad, have an amazing wife, I just get caught up in the bad what if scenarios. I know there’s no point in stressing about it til I’ve done it. But (and there it is) the ‘the what if’ is eating me away. Work mates have picked up on it. I’ve just sort of mentioned got a bit on the plate and leave it at that. Thanks for letting me vent.

Mallikdel Longterm health anxiety sufferer and memory issues
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I am a long time health anxiety sufferer with really bad episodes. I am 38 years old and since last couple of days am scared that I may have dementia. I forget things once in a while but last couple of days it doomed on me that I may have Ear... View more

Hi all, I am a long time health anxiety sufferer with really bad episodes. I am 38 years old and since last couple of days am scared that I may have dementia. I forget things once in a while but last couple of days it doomed on me that I may have Early onset dementia. I am very scared right now as I am in a downward spiral thinking about what will happen to my family. Poor wife is tired of my episodes. Has anyone here have had memory issues with severe anxiety? What were your symptoms? please help. Need to calm down but can’t.

seekingpeace Anxiety overload
  • replies: 2

New member, long time worrier. I amso anxious at the moment I am doing things mindlessly. Ever driven somewhere and thought, hey how did I get here? I am medicated, but have overwhelming stress that leaves me feeling extremely lonely. Anyone else cur... View more

New member, long time worrier. I amso anxious at the moment I am doing things mindlessly. Ever driven somewhere and thought, hey how did I get here? I am medicated, but have overwhelming stress that leaves me feeling extremely lonely. Anyone else currently in this situation?

AbiG Feeling lost
  • replies: 6

Hi, I only found this forum today, as I was just trying to find anything online that might help. I don’t even know what I was looking for. I’ve had serious depression & anxiety, & been medicated for around 5 years. I am having such a bad time right n... View more

Hi, I only found this forum today, as I was just trying to find anything online that might help. I don’t even know what I was looking for. I’ve had serious depression & anxiety, & been medicated for around 5 years. I am having such a bad time right now. My anxiety is through the roof, & I feel I’m spiralling. I don’t know what to do. I can’t talk to anyone as I feel everyone must be so fed up hearing about it. I spoke to my psychiatrist yesterday, but she can’t medicate me any more. I just can’t cope with anything. My daughter’s issues at school, awful school mum politics & the constant guilt of having an only child. What do you do when you can’t see a way out of feeling this way?

CourtneyJ Recovering after disruption in routine
  • replies: 1

GAD, SAD and depression sufferer for 10 years+ I've always had an unhealthy relationship with food. Recently I'd gotten into a really positive and healthy eating routine that I felt was sustainable. This is a HUGE deal for me. Then this week my fridg... View more

GAD, SAD and depression sufferer for 10 years+ I've always had an unhealthy relationship with food. Recently I'd gotten into a really positive and healthy eating routine that I felt was sustainable. This is a HUGE deal for me. Then this week my fridge died, and with it all my healthy foods. This threw my new routine out the window. It was exceptionally stressful to buy a new one (spending that much money, making sure it fit in my small apartment etc.) which even causes a panic attack at one point. Even after getting my new fridge and it fitting perfectly, I still have residual anxiety/paranoia that's interrupting my eating and sleeping. And picking back up that previous routine seems too overwhelming. Has anyone else experienced the "residual anxiety" post a panic attack or stressful event?

SK_ Stress
  • replies: 1

Any tips on how to manage the stress that comes with a full-time workload and raising two young children. I am struggling with finding a balance that works and feel like I am always either letting down my workmates or letting down my family.

Any tips on how to manage the stress that comes with a full-time workload and raising two young children. I am struggling with finding a balance that works and feel like I am always either letting down my workmates or letting down my family.

PsychedelicFur Social Media affecting my anxiety + not being active on Facebook for almost 48hrs!
  • replies: 2

I haven't been on Facebook for almost 48 hours! I was HEAVILY addicted to and reliant on Facebook, for my happiness. I would spend HOURS upon HOURS scrolling through my newsfeed. And a few days back I temporarily deactivated my profile for a variatio... View more

I haven't been on Facebook for almost 48 hours! I was HEAVILY addicted to and reliant on Facebook, for my happiness. I would spend HOURS upon HOURS scrolling through my newsfeed. And a few days back I temporarily deactivated my profile for a variation of reasons. One main reason was, I was CONSTANTLY comparing myself to others. It was not good for my self esteem or anxiety. I also would get jealous of others too. Jealousy is definitely one of my flaws, I'll be the first to admit. I don't know how long I will be off Facebook for BUT so far the days have been much more productive and fulfilling. My social media addiction was deeply affecting my sleeping pattern too. I read somewhere that IF you are NOT paying for the product then YOU ARE the product. And that overwhelms me. Not everyone should know about what I AM doing in my life. Feeling confident in my decision. A social media addiction needs to be combatted. I have been sleeping better and not really comparing myself to others. I am worthy and I don't need external validation from others, on a website. PLUS how many of your Facebook friends are REAL friends? A lot of them are just associates or acquaintances, that's what I find.

Overwhelmed-Girl Health Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hello,I am a we year old with sever anxiety, and newly diagnosed adhd and autism. I've been handling things pretty well recently up until about 3 days ago when I had a series of visits to the ER due to some NON life threatening issues, which in turn ... View more

Hello,I am a we year old with sever anxiety, and newly diagnosed adhd and autism. I've been handling things pretty well recently up until about 3 days ago when I had a series of visits to the ER due to some NON life threatening issues, which in turn left me having constant panic attacks for e days straight. It affects me and my body tremendously, makes everything worse and also makes my partner stress out too because I am in a constant state of being overwhelmed. I always get worried when I feel something that is new or unusual in my body, and it gets worse when someone gives me a reason to worry...but I always over do it. I guess I'm a hypochondriac but I just can't keep doing this. I am seeing a psychologist but have been unable to see a psychiatrist for medication yet so maybe that will help? I don't know what to do anymore.

Mccloud Anxiety from illness??
  • replies: 2

Hi guys, I've been diagnosed with Vestibular migraine roughly 2 years ago, I havnt been able to work for last 2 years due to illness. I've had alot of dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision, migraines, ringing in ears etc etc.. I've been on medication fo... View more

Hi guys, I've been diagnosed with Vestibular migraine roughly 2 years ago, I havnt been able to work for last 2 years due to illness. I've had alot of dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision, migraines, ringing in ears etc etc.. I've been on medication for this illness but I feel my anxiety is through the roof. I find myself very nervous and stressing alot about my illness even on days I feel ok. I know find it very hard to do normal day to day stuff. I hardly leave the house as I'm too scared these symptoms will come back, I constantly talk myself out of doing family things and some days even down to the shops or for a drive. Just wandering if anyone has a similar problem and or feedback on what to do, weather I need medication for anxiety. Just not sure where to start?? TIA