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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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criss Feeling really stuck, lonely and unable to decide what I want.
  • replies: 21

I've lived alone for years, had relationships on and off that didn't work. Never married. I spent a long time alone working on myself, my home, I travelled and did all I could to follow my truth, be honest with others, work hard and overcome my own i... View more

I've lived alone for years, had relationships on and off that didn't work. Never married. I spent a long time alone working on myself, my home, I travelled and did all I could to follow my truth, be honest with others, work hard and overcome my own issues at times. For the most part, outwardly I seem like I have done good. Many of those years alone I felt comfort knowing I was free to live my truth, even when I struggled I got up and kept going. I guess I believed that one day, things would fall in to place and someone would appear in my life that would complement and add that missing element. That hasn't happened. I don't worry about needing someone to live with, to offer me financial security or anything like that. I'm used to living on my own. However, the last few years I feel so very sad and empty inside. I can't even talk to friends about it because often they tell me how envious of my freedom they are and don't hear me. I look at joining groups, classes like I used too etc but nothing inspires me any more. I feel the world has changed around me, things aren't how they used to be. I do not find online meetup and social media at all fulfilling and don't participate although I have recently been tempted to a virtual other world platform simply to be able to feel like I can find connection. When I think about meeting someone new and a possible relationship I'm frozen and fearful and question myself whether I really want someone new because I don't trust whats out there. Many do not reveal themselves honestly any more. I look forward to work for the activity and friendships but my life at home feels so empty. I've been tempted to contact old flames just for the connection, but I've done that before and it always ends badly where I regret calling. I stop myself each time I think this way now for fear of making the wrong decision in reaching out as I have experienced alot of disappointment and let down in my life and do not want to feel that pain again. So, I'm stuck.I'm not sure what to do from here in my life. I'm in my mid fifties, and keeping it together barely internally. Just reaching out here for so feedback and to be heard.Thanks in advance for reading my post and sharing...

Bill Skarsgard Mental breakdown
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I’ve come here as a way to help my self. The last week or so I have not been my self. I haven’t been able to work, go out, socialise with anyone besides my partner. I’ve been crying out of the blue, mind is racing, experiencing derealisation ... View more

Hi all, I’ve come here as a way to help my self. The last week or so I have not been my self. I haven’t been able to work, go out, socialise with anyone besides my partner. I’ve been crying out of the blue, mind is racing, experiencing derealisation and paranoia, feeling as if I’m not in touch with reality. Experiencing anxiety and panic attacks, the whole shebang. I feel completely hopeless and at the same time, feeling a terrible amount of guilt due to my mental health deterioration. I am on the verge of quitting my job. Everything is too much, everyday life is too overwhelming. Has any one experienced this?, if so how did you overcome, and get on with life? I feel it is a nervous breakdown, I’ve never experienced one. I guess a build up of work stress, on top of that my father being hospitalised for months at a time in ICU.

Jane1996 Sexual Orientation Obsession
  • replies: 2

Hello, I am new to the forum and need some peer support. I was diagnosed with OCD 6 years ago about my sexual orientation and since being off medication it came back worse than ever at different times. The fear remains the same. I thought I liked men... View more

Hello, I am new to the forum and need some peer support. I was diagnosed with OCD 6 years ago about my sexual orientation and since being off medication it came back worse than ever at different times. The fear remains the same. I thought I liked men but became confused and have internally debated whether I am gay since I was 17. I had not questioned before this time, it happened suddenly when I read an article about a gay man and then I thought what if I am gay? and began to get sexual images of people. The obsession keeps grasping onto different things each time and changing, it is a living hell and has made me suicidal in the past. This time I saw a video of Jodie Foster and something caught my brains attention, maybe because she seemed to talk like a male character I had seen on some other show or something. Anyway, it felt like I was attracted to her? but also not attracted to her? it was a weird feeling like my brain had registered something masculine about her and got confused. I have been obsessing about this for hours- was it attraction/not attraction? what was it? why did this happen etc.? I realise this is reassurance seeking and I need to stop doing it but I literally cannot sleep properly until I feel some resolution to the problem. I re-watched the video more than once and the feeling was gone after checking and rechecking. Any help?

Macchiato Is it Anxiety?
  • replies: 2

Hi. I'm an 18 year old, bisexual guy and I've just moved into Australia five months ago. I'm not certain but I'm doubting that I might have anxiety.Lately, I've caught myself fidgeting alot. Although I notice that I'm fidgeting, sometimes I can stop ... View more

Hi. I'm an 18 year old, bisexual guy and I've just moved into Australia five months ago. I'm not certain but I'm doubting that I might have anxiety.Lately, I've caught myself fidgeting alot. Although I notice that I'm fidgeting, sometimes I can stop it but sometimes I can't. I'm introverted. Yet nowadays, I find myself reaching out more to people. I think I might be afraid of being alone. For instance, this morning I found out that my roommate was moving out. Tho we don't have a strong bond between us, I felt sad. The feeling stayed with me for the whole day and I couldn't focus. I usually am not this kind of person and this is new to me. I also wanna reach out to a psychologist or therapist, but I don't know how and I'm not sure if I'm brave enough for it. I'd like to know your thoughts and experience on this one. It'd mean alot to me.Thanks in advance.

99isthebest Health Anxiety about hearing damage
  • replies: 5

Hey all, So doing the usual health anxiety thing and looking for reassurance. Which I know is not a good way to help but here I am. Basically, I went to watch a video on YouTube the other night in bed as I do from time to time. And I only had one ear... View more

Hey all, So doing the usual health anxiety thing and looking for reassurance. Which I know is not a good way to help but here I am. Basically, I went to watch a video on YouTube the other night in bed as I do from time to time. And I only had one ear phone in my left ear. I didn’t realise but I had my volume turned up to the max level. At first I tried to turn it down but felt I wasn’t doing anything quick enough then ripped it out of my ear. So all in all it was probably about 5 seconds. I know no one here’s a medical expert but I guess I wonder if anyone had anything similar and found a way to overcome it. I keep trying to rationalise about it. Thing such as apple wouldn’t make the loudest volume available defeaning over a short period of time. or that I can still hear I guess it’s hard as I already have tinnitus which I know comes and goes with my anxiety as well. But my ear still feels funny. What’s anyone ever experienced something similar and how are ways you’ve dealt with it? Any help I would be very thankful. cheers.

Blue2 I'm a Newbie
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm new to all this. I feel totally unqualified to offer anybody else advice or pointers. All I can do is say I am more than happy to be involved and contribute as usefully as possible as we go along. I recently slipped into a round of insomnia, ... View more

Hi, I'm new to all this. I feel totally unqualified to offer anybody else advice or pointers. All I can do is say I am more than happy to be involved and contribute as usefully as possible as we go along. I recently slipped into a round of insomnia, causing my previously mild anxiety to escalate into a claustrophobic blanket that self perpetuated itself to the point I couldn't see a way out. Fortunately, I have a listening caring GP who gave me shirt term sedation but only if I agreed to take Therapy to find my way out of the dark tunnel I was in. Is anyone else feeling as I did? If so, please unburden yourself here and share your thoughts. It will help. We are all here for each other. Thanks for listening folks. Belle

string_cheese Medication - coping with weird feeling in face
  • replies: 4

Hi there! I have recently been on a strange journey with medication. At a low dose I find it really helpful. But recently (to cut a long story short) I have had to take a higher dose. It is only temporary but I hate it. I constantly feel like I am fl... View more

Hi there! I have recently been on a strange journey with medication. At a low dose I find it really helpful. But recently (to cut a long story short) I have had to take a higher dose. It is only temporary but I hate it. I constantly feel like I am floating in the air, falling through space, or like a ghost somehow. I am confused by simple things, and don't understand things. On top of all this, it feels like my thoughts go in loops or get cut short, and then I feel breathless. Around my eyes and my forehead feel tight. It is so unpleasant. Has anyone else had this before?

Heidi_1 Hard start to the year
  • replies: 2

hey everyone, This year hasn’t gone the way I want it to and it’s only the start, looks like I might be in for another tough one. I just feel like it’s never going to get easier to constantly fight with the battle in my head, I’m worried I might just... View more

hey everyone, This year hasn’t gone the way I want it to and it’s only the start, looks like I might be in for another tough one. I just feel like it’s never going to get easier to constantly fight with the battle in my head, I’m worried I might just give up fighting, it’s extremely tiring, it’s like I’m fighting a losing battle. People tell me it will get better and it’s not going to last forever but it certainly doesn’t feel like it.I’m exhausted and it’s so hard to get up and do things. When does things start to get better? Let’s hope the next few weeks are looking up.

NZthrower I think anxiety around gender is making me constipated
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone! I've been constipated for over a week and almost two weeks for now. I have also been constantly anxious all the time. I have been constantly worrying about my views on gender identity and how it conflicts with society, what the facts mig... View more

Hi everyone! I've been constipated for over a week and almost two weeks for now. I have also been constantly anxious all the time. I have been constantly worrying about my views on gender identity and how it conflicts with society, what the facts might be, and how I feel like I will be shamed and so on. I believe in the gender binary, but I've glimpsed briefly at scientific papers that discredit the binary and demonstrate that certain medical procedures benefit people with gender dysphoria. I also am worried and disgusted and incensed at hearing of news that some hospitals in the US are doing top surgery to minors 15-16 and over, as I feel that minors that young can't properly consent to such a life changing procedure that can potentially have negative mental health effects if any part of the process before and during the procedure goes wrong. I am aware that parental consent is required based on my limited knowledge of such procedures, but I don't think it is enough to prevent very severe mistakes. This has all caused cognitive dissonance and anxiety which I think probably contributes to my constipation, as I always feel like holding my excrement in and avoiding the toilet whenever the dissonance hits. I feel like such belies support a very narrow and conservative view on social issues, which I don't really subscribe to as I feel it to be needlessly restrictive. However, I find the binary of gender to be comforting and by extension conservative social views as I find the certainty and clarity underlying such views to be appealing, and gender identity to be very confusing to understand. I have trouble grasping with the view that a woman or man is determined by whether you identify as one, since isn't that a circular definition that has little useful meaning? I'm confused and anxious and hope you can clarify this for me, as I find uncertainty to amplify my anxiety. FYI, I'm not trans nor gender non-conforming. I'm pretty cis, but I'm just curious and don't want my take on the issue to be misinformed or hurtful.

Heidi_1 Dealing with anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, I’m new to this forum and I’m unsure on what to really say. I’ve never reached out or really talked to anyone about anxiety before. I guess I will start by saying that I’ve been struggling quite a lot lately to even do the easier tasks,... View more

Hey everyone, I’m new to this forum and I’m unsure on what to really say. I’ve never reached out or really talked to anyone about anxiety before. I guess I will start by saying that I’ve been struggling quite a lot lately to even do the easier tasks, it’s hard to get out of bed and get motivated to do things. I feel so alone and sad. It’s like everyone around me is happy and getting on in life and I’m just stuck at this one spot and can’t move, does anyone else feel like this? I thought I should come on here and reach out just to have a chat and seek help. How do I get out of this pit of aloneness and depression?

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