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
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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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Blaire The news of attack of woman being dragged out of bed this morning literally happened my own mum
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The news this morning of attack where woman had that happen too her was similar too me but my mum did it worse. I tried too grab the doona it’s made me feel anxious as ever and all she got was a bump on the head and decided too make out like I was th... View more

The news this morning of attack where woman had that happen too her was similar too me but my mum did it worse. I tried too grab the doona it’s made me feel anxious as ever and all she got was a bump on the head and decided too make out like I was the one in the wrong anytime im happy with a man she has done this always her and my own violent brother used too bash me up and I never have had the guts too say anything till I let the counsellor know this morning and I dunno what my brother would do he is labelled a sociopath by my old pyschiatrist and I know my kids had to stop her long time ago and now I have new one im not letting him anywhere new house I can’t wait till police finally do something about her and him my brkther and lock her up she has already been the cause of me going on start safely within momentum and it shouldn’t have even been allowed too ever hsve me back there they have totally failed me in that sense i can’t wait she is out of my life for good she didn’t even know my blood type it’s ridiculous i emailed the hospital and had too tell them some really personal stuff cause i know I hope they lock up a previous support worker for her letting her husband anywhere near me. ive told a female constable but they can’t even arrest a woman who attacked me they reckon no video footage and no witnesses the ambulance saw the people there one was stabbed trying too get in ambulance and one man homeless who saved my life I asked for one too come they said no it was a total let down ive got security supporting me in shopping centres and hospitals a woman in hospital told me too fukoff too my face and then another trying too send me home on a bus another night i dunno why they treat me like this now im on medication cause stupid lack of knowledge my severe odeama im allergic too certain things i dunno where some workers come from i was recommended for any health job I wanted in health industry when I was a dental nurse im glad im gunna just stick with volunteer and then my license and plan my future wiyh my man cause the police and hospital nurses and some drs have let me down all I can rely on lately is fracture clinic security gaurds and thats about it and knowing my man’s mums a disability worker so im always safe wiyh her atleast some stupid care company I have decided it would be great idea not too listen too me and have a restraining order put on the idiot care worker and husband long time ago I hope they rot in hell along with my mum who beats me and my brother thats only people I truly hope rot in hell and I find it hard too hate but thats a 3 perfect trifecta of evil

Blaire Violent attack from woman leaving me terrified
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Hey so I have adhd im outgoing and energetic as ever and nice as ever I usually get along with most of society but like one night when I was trying too get past all these people a woman got angry about everything I did she wouldnt leave me alone the ... View more

Hey so I have adhd im outgoing and energetic as ever and nice as ever I usually get along with most of society but like one night when I was trying too get past all these people a woman got angry about everything I did she wouldnt leave me alone the guy who helped me got injured I was left with worst broken arm ever, i was thrown and he saved my life just in time she found me like I thought at hospital I ended up emotionally a mess and in mental ward im embarressed about it but I’m now just scared I have security gaurds in shops watch me as I go too bathroom it’s so nice I wish I could have one with me everytime I go somewhere like if I had the money I’d have my sons entire footy team wearing security uniforms and wearing tasers and big bats just incase I told them and showed them photos I adore those boys im in a moon boot too

Horrendous_Hexapod Politics Are Overwhelming Me
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I genuinely feel as though I wasn't designed to handle everything that's happening. I hate talking about politics, I hate thinking about it, yet for some reason I force myself to hyper fixate on it. For the last few years, it feels like not a week ha... View more

I genuinely feel as though I wasn't designed to handle everything that's happening. I hate talking about politics, I hate thinking about it, yet for some reason I force myself to hyper fixate on it. For the last few years, it feels like not a week has gone by where I haven't worried about something political. In a lot of ways, it's starting to feel like politics are designed to trap people like me in this never ending cycle of fear and anxiety, where they constantly guilt me for forming opinions against them.This constant fighting between both sides of the political spectrum is starting to weigh down on me heavily. It just feels like, no matter what I think, no matter who I interact with, in some way it's always gonna be wrong. I keep being bombarded with these articles about how the side of the political spectrum is the reason we have so many problems in our current world. How we're all miserable, mentally unstable, unintelligent, spoiled, out of touch people that have no empathy for others that isn't purely performative. Some of this stuff is just people's opinions, sure, but other articles use surveys and studies to support what they are saying. Of course, as this is a hyper fixation of mine, I force myself to slog through as many of these as possible, sometimes finding that these sources either, don't fully support the claims being made, or outright contradict different sources. I honestly don't know which sources are accurate and which aren't, but for some reason I'm always hyper critical of sources that don't cause me anxiety, but then when one does it feels like I subconsciously have to believe it. I can't even choose not to read them, because if I do, I guilt myself into thinking that I'm being wilfully ignorant for not wanting to slog through another article on why [INSERT POLITICAL IDEOLOGY HERE] are a bunch of miserable, whiney narcissists. It feels like I can't have any opinion about anything without worrying that it's wrong or immoral, or that any deviation from what is supposed to be the "proper path" for a person is guaranteed misery. I'm sick of debating my political positions to myself, of searching up my opinions to check whether or not some study says they're accurate or not. I'm sick of being talked down to about happiness, purpose in life, free will, and compassion by people self righteous, supposedly well adjusted people who talk with a tone that make it seem like they're mere seconds away from strangling their neighbour's dog.

UpsiideDown Taking to oneself
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I wasn't able to find what I was looking for. My ex bf up for a number of days once Started talking to himself but not how people usually talk to themselves He was using two different tones I felt like when it happened the atmosphere changed and the ... View more

I wasn't able to find what I was looking for. My ex bf up for a number of days once Started talking to himself but not how people usually talk to themselves He was using two different tones I felt like when it happened the atmosphere changed and the conversation he was having was intrusive to the point where he was like fighting against himself saying he wouldn't harm me and the other toned voice was saying otherwise. It seemed like he was really fighting against himself. He the started saying other stuff and I figured its best I leave. When i came back he explained he couldn't control himself and he didnt know what was happening. It's been a few months since his done that but there has been a few times where he goes of the rails and I look in his eyes and It looks like no one is there. What and is there something I could do for him. What would you call talking in two different tones.

EmiJ 33F and being a coward has ruined my chances
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In this day and age its not hard to feel like if you haven't got things and yourself sorted out by your 30s then you have absolutely no hope whatsoever. It makes it harder when you are such a coward that when you do get an opportunity you run like a ... View more

In this day and age its not hard to feel like if you haven't got things and yourself sorted out by your 30s then you have absolutely no hope whatsoever. It makes it harder when you are such a coward that when you do get an opportunity you run like a bunny who just heard a stick snap. Since I was 26 it all seemed to go to heck for me I have had more jobs then anyone should be proud of but even if it's something I enjoy the minute I feel judged, scared or inferior that's it I run for the hills. Then when I do have a job I'm that selfish unreliable one who can only see my anxiety and not how me constantly calling in sick affects others. I don't sleep without nightmares or crazy dreams that I don't even know how my brain manages to come up with such madness. I have no doubt that it might be because day and night I have every single mistake and regret chasing me like a damn serial killer from one of those films. No surprise that I have now burned more bridges then I can bare and just feel like I should give up. I have tried taking responsibility and owning up to my faults but unfortunately that doesn't create a time machine that would help me erase any of this. I also wonder if its sometimes me trying to turn myself into a different kind of victim by self blaming and that perhaps it might be a whole different kind of coping mechanism. All in all I am tired of the failing and the embarrassment and I honestly do not see any point in trying anymore.

Numb Just Humiliated Myself
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Hello there I suffer from depression, anxiety and very low self esteem. Worst part, I never seem to be able to learn from past mistakes. I stood up for myself this morning, and was torn down by others. The thing is, I know in my heart and by their pr... View more

Hello there I suffer from depression, anxiety and very low self esteem. Worst part, I never seem to be able to learn from past mistakes. I stood up for myself this morning, and was torn down by others. The thing is, I know in my heart and by their previous actions, I needed to protect myself. So I spoke up, politely, with respect but to the point. I was instantly met with opposition, I stood my ground, but self doubt flooded over me. I was unable to continue my (rightly so) defence, and retreated. I am so upset, confused and why the heck, can't I flick off unjust negativity! I always doubt, loathe, second guess and question my perception of reality. Absorbing needless humiliation. I am actually crying whilst typing this.

Guest_07705316 struggling with dread when doing uni everyday
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I have anxiety, depression and agoraphobia that I’ve been dealing with since I was 19. I only started seeing a therapist now (I’m 26) but this has affected all aspects of my life since I’ve never had a passion. I did get a Bachelor’s in a random fiel... View more

I have anxiety, depression and agoraphobia that I’ve been dealing with since I was 19. I only started seeing a therapist now (I’m 26) but this has affected all aspects of my life since I’ve never had a passion. I did get a Bachelor’s in a random field just to appease my parents but have never worked and now can’t work even though I want to. So I decided to get a Master’s in Speech Pathology for a stable profession and since there are lots of opportunities…but I underestimated how intense the content, clinical expectations and assignments are and now I’m having breakdowns everyday, can’t sleep, can’t eat and dread waking up in the morning because I don’t want to do this anymore. I want to push through because if I drop out…well I’ll just go back to being a bum. I have no other career alternative/option if I do quit. This was the one thing me and my family were banking on. Does anyone know what to do? Everyone around me tells me to keep pushing cos I’m only in week 2.

jemma09 Pets are unwell - causing my mental health to decline
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Hi everyone, I hope you’re being kind to yourself today I haven’t been here in a bit, but I’m having some struggles so wanted to pop back in. 2/3 of my pets are unwell at present. I have a dog that is not herself due to a leg injury. She has been ref... View more

Hi everyone, I hope you’re being kind to yourself today I haven’t been here in a bit, but I’m having some struggles so wanted to pop back in. 2/3 of my pets are unwell at present. I have a dog that is not herself due to a leg injury. She has been refusing to drink water and appears depressed.My cat has just been diagnosed with an unknown brain disease because she’s started having seizures (it’s only been me seeing the seizures and they’re scary as heck!). At present she has a great quality of life, and so far is normal between her seizures. We also try our best to support them like keeping the house with soft zones for the cat, and giving flavoured water to help the dog.However - it is the unknown of what will happen or how/when their conditions will progress that has impacted me.Especially because they both appear normal most of the time… but there’s hidden diseases in the background. I have an anxiety disorder and OCD. Lovely combination of course! So this leads to be me becoming obsessive, constantly checking, constant intrusive thoughts and therefore it is becoming difficult to live normal life (eating enough, drinking enough, being able to sleep). I do recognise we need to provide support to our pets that are unwell, but it is very upsetting seeing them suffer with illnesses especially when they are your companions. I have family members who are nonchalant about it and say ‘it’s the new normal’ and we shall just continue on. But when you have mental health conditions, it doesn’t work that way. I keep thinking - I better cancel all my future travel just in case, I better start preparing for their deaths, I better not go to my classes anymore, I should quit my job to care for them. But this is extreme, I know that. But these thoughts keep coming in my mind. I have surveillance cameras set up in the home to monitor the pets and watch out for any issues. But I end up watching them 24/7 even when I’m home. I don’t want to leave them alone. I keep researching their illnesses. I keep thinking they will have a new health emergency or they will suddenly die any second so I’m constantly searching for new symptoms and signs. "When will the next thing happen?"My brain jumps to extremes and my emotions and baseline feel very unstable. I have taken a day off of work today to rest up and try to have a normal relaxing day. I’ve booked into a GP tomorrow to get a new referral for therapy and also will try to see a psychiatrist. I’ve never wanted to take medications before but because it’s impacting my wellbeing I am considering that an option also. if anyone has any extra advice, that would be much appreciated. thank you so much for reading 🫂

Catlady3999 Partner of Crime
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Recently my now ex partner committed a serious crime and i feel like i lost everything ive had to change jobs and even then I feel like people know.my closest friends turned out me I feel like I have nothing left, I don’t know what to do I feel like ... View more

Recently my now ex partner committed a serious crime and i feel like i lost everything ive had to change jobs and even then I feel like people know.my closest friends turned out me I feel like I have nothing left, I don’t know what to do I feel like everyone I speak to secretly hates me It just feels like everytime i start to make some progress in moving on, another person turns on me I’m just struggling because I’ve done nothing wrong and I’ve tried to do the right thing but no one seems to believe me and trust me anymorei feel so alone, everyday is riddled with the anxiety of someone hating me for something I didnt do