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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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tayorange Spontaneous Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Recently something bad happened and it was really my fault. It’s been a few days and I’ve gotten somewhat better but from time to time a wave of sadness would just wash over me. I am going on holiday soon and I’m afraid i wouldn’t be able to support ... View more

Recently something bad happened and it was really my fault. It’s been a few days and I’ve gotten somewhat better but from time to time a wave of sadness would just wash over me. I am going on holiday soon and I’m afraid i wouldn’t be able to support myself. Is there anything i could do to deal with these random feelings?

anewhope Life is an utter mess - anxiety / extreme washing / low self esteem
  • replies: 1

Hey all,To say I feel like i've stuffed up my life is an understatement. I suffer from EXTREME anxiety (home bound), and after some debt that ranked up in the last few years from an over excited ADHD brain (diagnosed a few months ago) i've been left ... View more

Hey all,To say I feel like i've stuffed up my life is an understatement. I suffer from EXTREME anxiety (home bound), and after some debt that ranked up in the last few years from an over excited ADHD brain (diagnosed a few months ago) i've been left feeling very empty. I had something like 22 cars in the space of 10 years and hyper fixate on a variety of interests which sway my thoughts /decisions considerably out of the cognitive and more reactive sense. My anxiety has also started effecting me inside the house, even going to the toilet I wear gloves to go number 2's and use hand soap in baby wipes. I then wipe the back and front of my legs and feet with antiseptic wipes and even change my clothes (including socks and undies). I believe I still have great hygiene.My partner of 13 years has struggled with intimecy and this has been wearing me down, eventually I started believing it was me even though she said it isn't. Physically its non existant and I feel more like a room mate. She is my carer in a sense that she helps with my anxiety and calms me down, but this intimecy reduction started 2 years in. I love her so much and there is so much quality of living being with her that I absolutely adore her company but that makes the lack of intimacy even harder. Instigating any intimacy has become a feeling of running in a store full of glassware and the "rejection" hits so hard everytime. Its worn down my self esteem so much over the years and I feel like i'm always the "wrong place" in everyones world.I'm struggling to find my place in this world, unable to have people over due to contamination ocd (anyone that comes in needs to have a shower and new washed clothes) and I feel my only worth is providing money by working to pay the mortgage. I can't remember the last time I felt pyhsically attractive or alluring to my partners eyes. As part of this above i've felt more and more uncomfortable about my own body, and even if something was to be initiated I don't think I could manage feeling like i'm always dirty even though I always wash (I wasn't always like this). I was just wondering if anyone had any advice? In speaking with my pyhscologist she recommended to go to relationship councelling but I feel my partner would be embarassed.

Flora1002 Anticipatory Anxiety - Terrified of Something Happening
  • replies: 4

'Hi, I'm new on here. Not completely sure how this works but I'm struggling with anxiety. I'm turning 17 in a month, and I think I have sth called 'anticipatory anxiety' - that's what an online counsellor told me on HeadSpace.I'm on edge almost every... View more

'Hi, I'm new on here. Not completely sure how this works but I'm struggling with anxiety. I'm turning 17 in a month, and I think I have sth called 'anticipatory anxiety' - that's what an online counsellor told me on HeadSpace.I'm on edge almost every day and scared constantly. I'm worried that something bad might happen to me, and that thought keeps crossing my mind many times through the day. Like, when I'm out in the car with my parents, I keep having that thought and keep checking the road to 'prevent' a possible car crash, or I'm terrified of sleeping, because I'm worried something might happen to me during the night. It's an irrational fear, but I can't get rid of it, and I think it came about a few weeks ago when I realised something could happen to me at any time. I even keep doing irrational things to try and 'prevent' anything bad from happening. Like I say or don't say certain things, or put my bag or other objects in certain places or in certain positions, or don't sleep with certain blankets because they're a certain colour etc. I'm generally a calm and rational person, so this is very odd behaviour coming from me. And I know it's odd and irrational, I know the whole thing's irrational, but I just can't get rid of the anxiety. I can generally be a worrier, but it's something I can handle usually, but this is getting out of hand - it's disrupting my sleep, my eating, my general activities and my relationships and I'm just not sure what to do. I've tried anxiety apps and grounding exercises but nothing seems to help. I want to tell my parents, but I'm embarrassed and I don't want them to worry. I feel like I'm alone and no one would understand my problem, bc I haven't seen or heard of anything like it. I'm also worried about whether there's a solution or not. I'm desperate for help, but I just can't make myself tell my parents and they're pretty much the only place I could get support besides here. Anyway, I'd really appreciate any advice or support or tips or anything at all. Thank you . Cassia

MwilliamD SPECT
  • replies: 2

I am very interested in getting an SPECT scan and sending it to Amen clinic for evaluation. The trouble is the imaging centre wants a local referral. Anyone else do this?If so, how did you proceed?.I assume it will be expensive and I will have to pay... View more

I am very interested in getting an SPECT scan and sending it to Amen clinic for evaluation. The trouble is the imaging centre wants a local referral. Anyone else do this?If so, how did you proceed?.I assume it will be expensive and I will have to pay out of pocket and I am. OK with that.Any help would be appreciated

Pink grapefruit No friends - lonely
  • replies: 10

I am in late 40s and have not been able to make close friends since I moved from another country to Australia. It’s been almost ten years. I always feel I am not good enough and cannot have a confidence to start conversation with strangers. I feel wo... View more

I am in late 40s and have not been able to make close friends since I moved from another country to Australia. It’s been almost ten years. I always feel I am not good enough and cannot have a confidence to start conversation with strangers. I feel worried that I am going to be alone for the rest of my life.. could anyone, especially who are and were in the same situation, please share the tips to overcome this? I have my family but I would like to have friends to chat with or meet with.

brendaa151 Anxiety/Depression after coming off the pill?
  • replies: 5

Hi, I’m just seeing if there is anyone else out there thats going through the same thing. Im 24 years old, and have kind of always struggled with mild anxiety and random panic attacks but not that often. Basically, I starting the pill to clear up my ... View more

Hi, I’m just seeing if there is anyone else out there thats going through the same thing. Im 24 years old, and have kind of always struggled with mild anxiety and random panic attacks but not that often. Basically, I starting the pill to clear up my skin- I as on it for 3 months, but noticed my anxiety spiked and had a really bad panic attack, probably the worst of my life. So after the first pack (3 months) I thought I would stop for a month and give my body a break and see if anything changed (in regards to my anxiety) A month passed, and there was no real difference. I as still very anxious, more so than ever, and kept breaking out in these panic attacks that were so awful- So I ruled out that it was the pill because nothing changed after a month and assumed it was other factors. So I went back on the pill but another type- I lasted another two months before I could take it no more, and people suggested that it may be the pill and that only coming off it for a month to see if it was that was not long enough and just basically that the pill was not for me. So I jumped off after 2 months on it and it has been 1 month now pill free. I guess my question is, is this normal? How long does it take for your body (mental state) to regulate back to normal? Should I give it a good 2-3 solid months? Does anyone think the anxiety and panic attacks spiked because I was so up and down with the pill?? It’s almost unbearable now, because I am just so sick of the feeling. This is most definitely the worst I have ever felt. I’m constantly worrying, always break out crying, and get to a point of feeling sick because I’m so anxious. Anyone else going through this or have some advice?

gluckspilz Nearly 30 and I Feel Lost
  • replies: 2

I’m almost thirty and it’s made me realise how little I’ve achieved in my life. I thought of having a party but I don’t have anybody to invite. I’ve never dated anyone, I work in a dead-end casual job and I still live with my parents. I’m too scared ... View more

I’m almost thirty and it’s made me realise how little I’ve achieved in my life. I thought of having a party but I don’t have anybody to invite. I’ve never dated anyone, I work in a dead-end casual job and I still live with my parents. I’m too scared to drive a car and it’s getting very frustrating. I thought I would do a lot better than how it’s ended up. I feel so sorry for my parents because I’ve been such a big disappointment to them. I’m very unhappy with my life. I’ve tried to join groups this past year to make friends but it’s not really working. I don’t want to live like this for the rest of my life. I hate being so lonely and I feel like a child not an adult. Any advice would be appreciated.

TheAnxiousTinyHuman_ I dont understand..
  • replies: 1

Hey, I just wanted to come on here because I really dont know what to do anymore. I recently started working but ive stopped because its really hard to get up and get out the door due to my anxiety. I dont really know how to explain my anxiety, but i... View more

Hey, I just wanted to come on here because I really dont know what to do anymore. I recently started working but ive stopped because its really hard to get up and get out the door due to my anxiety. I dont really know how to explain my anxiety, but its gotten to the point where my anxiety makes me physically sick. My parents keep telling me I'm a disappointment because apparently I'm f****** up my life along with theirs. I get that they just want the best for me but I cant help it, my anxiety just makes me feel like absolute s*** and I just really dont know what to do, ive tried working, I really have but I just cant anymore.

Summer05 Stuck!
  • replies: 1

I’m nearly 40 years old, living with my partner of 11 years and 7 year old daughter. I have had agoraphobia and PTSD for 15 years, some days are good, some days are bad. I’ve learnt to live with this and be as independent as I can, I have my own busi... View more

I’m nearly 40 years old, living with my partner of 11 years and 7 year old daughter. I have had agoraphobia and PTSD for 15 years, some days are good, some days are bad. I’ve learnt to live with this and be as independent as I can, I have my own business and the best mother and partner I can be. I try to make their life as easy, loving and as fun as possible. Lately though, my relationship with my partner has been sour. My partners moods change very quickly. He’s been extremely stressed out at work and then comes home and talks to us like absolute crap! Then the mood will change though and he’ll be friendly like nothing has happened. It’s eating me up inside and I have moved into another room, it’s like walking on eggshells. He never wants to talk about anything, but I can see his jaw clenched most of the time and he’s angry inside. He will never open up to me. He’s actually scaring me as I have been in a domestic violence relationship before. It’s only verbal but it hurts and not like him.To be honest I’ve had enough but with the rental market being the way it is and don’t forget the agoraphobia I’m struggling to get out of here. It’s his house and he’s always made it quite clear that it is his and also told me if I ever left he would go for full custody because of my mental illness. I don’t know what to do, I feel so sad, lonely, defeated, stuck and it’s not fair on our daughter as well. Ive tried so hard but I can feel myself giving up, my stomach is constantly in knots and I’m so tired of living like this. I’m writing this to get some things off my chest but also for advice. My family mean everything to me but some days I feel like if I wasn’t here it would be easier for everyone and I don’t want those thoughts. I have no friends or family members that I can talk to either. Has anyone been in a similar situation? I desperately need advice. Thank you

Kerr1 Anger issues are going to kill me
  • replies: 4

Hi I'm 23 and completely crippled by my anger. When I get angry I can't hide it. I literally have to leave the situation I'm in otherwise I might genuinely hurt the people around me that have angered me. I'm not an unreasonable person and know that I... View more

Hi I'm 23 and completely crippled by my anger. When I get angry I can't hide it. I literally have to leave the situation I'm in otherwise I might genuinely hurt the people around me that have angered me. I'm not an unreasonable person and know that I'm a good person at heart. It really hurts me when I hurt someone I love friends and family. My anger can be vocal and physical. It feels like I'm on a spectrum of completely unhinged to slightly hinged at times. I generally get super angry over friends disrespecting me to some extent or for putting me situations that I am extremely anxious or uncomfortable in. I just want to be happy. And I can't let it go even if I know that its not worth it, that it means nothing and that I should just move on. I go from genuinely caring about that person to wanting to watch them suffer. I feel so trapped by my emotions in every facet of my life. I have sought help from so many different sources I'm not sure if breathing and mindfulness is going to cut it l. I really need help.

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