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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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kippytalk I’m okay with my Trichotillomania
  • replies: 2

I have severe anxiety/stress challenges while also living with bi-polar disorder and Trichotillomania. My Trichotillomania started with plucking my eyebrows then eyelashes - and only over plucked one of my eyebrows and thankfully stopped my plucking ... View more

I have severe anxiety/stress challenges while also living with bi-polar disorder and Trichotillomania. My Trichotillomania started with plucking my eyebrows then eyelashes - and only over plucked one of my eyebrows and thankfully stopped my plucking my eyelashes soon after beginning. But now I’ve turned to a ‘safer’ option of plucking a patch of hair on my leg. I find this area safer as theres less room for error, people wont notice it, and i can shave my legs and any strange leg hair patterns go with it. I’m aware that this is not a good habit, and the logical part of my brain tells me not to do it. But the sense of relief I get from doing it does seem helpful, and it provides somewhat a level of comfort and anxiety relief that allows me to go back to what i was doing. But I have at times been consumed for hours by this which doesn’t feel good. Part of me thinks ‘This isn’t so bad of a habit.’ because of the ‘reward’ ie sense of relief… but the other part of me knows this could potentially get worse or spiral out of control. I need some good advice based on experience and facts that will help me before its possibly too late. Will this get worse or am I feeding my addiction ‘safely’?

BrumBrum Health Anxiety Sucks!
  • replies: 3

I've been pretty level headed, but since my son was born a lot of my self-care time disappeared, combined with my professional life getting very busy, I've been finding stress beginning to add up in a way it never had before. 2022 took this up a whol... View more

I've been pretty level headed, but since my son was born a lot of my self-care time disappeared, combined with my professional life getting very busy, I've been finding stress beginning to add up in a way it never had before. 2022 took this up a whole other notch, I started with gallbladder removal, then mid year I went blind in one eye thanks to optic neuritis, which is perhaps the most stressful experience of my life. After all that I ended up having my appendix out in October. Long story short all the ingredients were there, but having a doctor tell me last week my vision loss was permanent. No recovery, plus not knowing why it even happened in the first place, and doctors thinking it's likely to re-occur, and potentially in both eyes... it just hit me really hard. Since Christmas Eve I have been experiencing panic attacks for the first time in my life. Up to several times a day. I've booked my GP ASAP but I'm just finding it really difficult. I KNOW my brain is doing excessive fight or flight, but it's incredibly difficult to try and calm myself or distract myself when the reminder of my anxiety is right there every second that I open my eyes. I think I'm at the point now where medication is likely to do a world of good because I am finding it challenging to function at work and for my family I am just constantly tired and irritable. I fall asleep and stay asleep OK, but wake up feeling like I haven't slept at all. I just can't believe how quickly this degenerated from being pretty manageable, to bowling me over. Logically I know it's not the end of the world. Logically I know so many people have such bigger problems and my life is pretty good overall. Logically I know I have one good eye and otherwise healthy and lots to appreciate in life, but my stupid brain just won't let me relax. Even when I'm not fixating on my eye, I find myself anticipating the next health crisis or bad thing that's going to happen. Even just reading back what I wrote, I feel like I am whining. After 12 months of endless health problems, setbacks and stress... I just want to feel normal again. I wish I'd known that 2021 was the last time I'd ever be "me" again. I suppose I should end with a question;Tips for tackling anxiety triggered by what is right in front of your eyes in every waking moment?

Jodielianne Rolling waves of anxiety
  • replies: 2

I’ve had a chronic health condition which caused pain since 2019. I have seen some one specialist but each day it’s a complex issue so I have no real diagnosis Judy a lot of pain. This sort of pain set of panic attacks in me. They don’t go away I whi... View more

I’ve had a chronic health condition which caused pain since 2019. I have seen some one specialist but each day it’s a complex issue so I have no real diagnosis Judy a lot of pain. This sort of pain set of panic attacks in me. They don’t go away I white knuckle life until I resort to anti anxiety meds. Doing physiotherapy. Practicing DARE, in line to see a psychiatrist. Then the anxiety drops and im left with a depression in actually hurts. I know the anxiety is caused by chronic anxiety pain. Apparently if you suffer chronic pain for longer than three months it changes the way your mind thinks . Anyway no meaning to this story just my life changing s horrible.!

River_15 No longer friends but still hurt and angry
  • replies: 1

Two of my close friends got into a fight a couple of months ago and the one that got angry about the particular situation vented to me about it and bought up everything from the past that the other friend supposedly did to wrong her. She refused to t... View more

Two of my close friends got into a fight a couple of months ago and the one that got angry about the particular situation vented to me about it and bought up everything from the past that the other friend supposedly did to wrong her. She refused to talk to the other party or even tell the other party why she was angry even though the other party tried multiple times to reach out and apologise. Because of this I became wary of that friend. I felt like I couldn't trust her character if she can't even be an adult and instead played childish games like ignoring the other girl and walking away when she would try to talk to her. I felt like it was a matter of time before something I did would also anger her and she would decided not to talk to me anymore. We all do competitive sports and in a recent meeting, someone was being treated very unfairly. After the meeting the club president called and was investigating. I was honest about the situation and how I was not comfortable with someone getting yelled at and treated so badly. My friend tried not to answer because I think she felt that person deserved what was happening to her. I suspect (although I'll never know) that she might have thought I thew her and everyone else in that meeting under the bus. Ever since that day 2 weeks ago, she just stopped messaging me and when I messaged her, she'd just give curt one word replies. When i see her in person she just walks right past me. Although I am hurt, I realised that she's not the kind of person I want in my life. So I am relieved that we are no longer friends but I can't help but also feel so angry that she wouldn't even find out my side of the story before deciding not to talk to me and side with the people at the meeting. People who are not as much of a friend to her as I was! And I can't help but to resent that I have done so much for her as a friend and over one situation she decides to no longer talk to me. I'm also feeling so awkward because I pretty much still have to see her every weekend at club events. I feel self conscious like I have done something wrong! When I haven't and I don't know why. I still want to go to the club events and I refuse forgo something I love and enjoy just because she's going to be there. But I can't help but feel a bit of anxiety every time think I might see her again. Is this something that I will just overcome with time?

Jaybird77 Professional help
  • replies: 6

I don’t know where else to seek help from so I have come here. After many years of living in my own hell inside my own head I finally went to my gp to seek help to see a psychiatrist. He gave me a referral and wrote down what he thinks is wrong with ... View more

I don’t know where else to seek help from so I have come here. After many years of living in my own hell inside my own head I finally went to my gp to seek help to see a psychiatrist. He gave me a referral and wrote down what he thinks is wrong with me. But when I started looking into finding one I never in my life realised it’s not so easy to get one. I need to have one that will do only video calls or phone calls as I don’t leave the house and have agoraphobia. How on earth do people afford to get help with the cost of these psychiatrists? I may not be able to get help now and that was my last hope of staying on this earth. $250 to $300 for a hour is not the kind of money I have. So I may have to for go seeking help and I know I’m getting to the point of no return been on this earth and ide rather just leave. I have Medicare but even with that it’s still more then i can afford. I am at such a loss now and feel so alone in this and am starting to feel there is no other way out but to just leave . How do people on very low incomes afford to get help to keep them living ?

Servent Gut health ruined due to stress
  • replies: 3

My stress and anxiety causes a lot of digestive problems and discomfort.The worst part is I am getting sharp crampy pains around my stomach and bowels.It's like a gas trap...I do a lot of burps trying to relax but still sometimes get these disturbing... View more

My stress and anxiety causes a lot of digestive problems and discomfort.The worst part is I am getting sharp crampy pains around my stomach and bowels.It's like a gas trap...I do a lot of burps trying to relax but still sometimes get these disturbing intense pains.

Freind Bullying at work
  • replies: 3

Hi any tips on how to deal with being bullied at work? Powerless and can not do anything and not wanting to do processes. Thanks

Hi any tips on how to deal with being bullied at work? Powerless and can not do anything and not wanting to do processes. Thanks

MelBouza Adult ADHD
  • replies: 5

My brother in law was diagnosed with adult ADHD last year. The main issue we are having with him is his anger. Whenever a conversation doesn't go the way he wishes, or something happens that annoys him he will fly off the handle. He is also very self... View more

My brother in law was diagnosed with adult ADHD last year. The main issue we are having with him is his anger. Whenever a conversation doesn't go the way he wishes, or something happens that annoys him he will fly off the handle. He is also very self-centred and will constantly talk about his issues for hours. We try and offer advise that he regularly rejects and if we try and move the conversation away from him then he loses his temper. We've tried ignoring the outbursts, confronting the outbursts, talking it through, -- but no matter what we do he seems to not feel like we are doing enough. We've suggested he seek pyschological help, and maybe even consider family counselling so we can all get on the same page. But its like he's refusing to take responsibility and that its all what we are doing wrong. Does anyone have any hints/tips/help for dealing with this scenario?

RMB113 Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone and thankyou for having me in the forum. I live in rural NSW and my daughter has been having trouble with Anxiety attacks around a historical assault case, and there happens to be a boy at school who has become a trigger to her memories. ... View more

Hi everyone and thankyou for having me in the forum. I live in rural NSW and my daughter has been having trouble with Anxiety attacks around a historical assault case, and there happens to be a boy at school who has become a trigger to her memories. She hasn't been able to attend school and now the school have decided she cant attend until she gets her Anxiety around this issue in check as she is disturbing the other kids. Well have our local health professionals involved but things don't seem to be getting anywhere. She is only 11 and a half and everywhere i contact has told me they don't deal with kids this age and to refer her back to them when she is 12. Can anyone tell me or suggest where i can go or who i can talk to around getting her some support. I just don't know how to help her or where to turn to next.

Tilsa Should I quit my job?
  • replies: 3

I am a 43 year old female. I work in a hospitality job, doing Front of house, and the chef has got a huge grudge against me. He glared and gives me dirty looks. Looks of disgust. He will not talk to me only to the other people working there. If he do... View more

I am a 43 year old female. I work in a hospitality job, doing Front of house, and the chef has got a huge grudge against me. He glared and gives me dirty looks. Looks of disgust. He will not talk to me only to the other people working there. If he does have to talk to me he yells at me. I work at the other restaurant, where his daughter is the chef, and she treats me like I am a person who doesn’t know what I am doing. She questions every single order I put through, tells me I made a mistake when I didn’t because it had been what the customer ordered. She is also not in Front of House, she is the chef. I have been there for over a year and this treatment started about 5 mths ago. About a week ago I was asked why I am a lesbian, which I am not. I told them that I’m not but it shouldn’t matter either way. The next day one of the other male chefs took his shirt off and asked me to give him a massage. Should I leave this work environment? I need the money, is the reason why I’m still there.

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