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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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Lisa77 Anxiety, medication side effects
  • replies: 4

Hi, I started a new medication only 4 days ago after being on another one that gave me bad side effects so the Dr switched me over to a new one. Having a few of the side effects with this medication aswell and it's hard for me to work out if my anxie... View more

Hi, I started a new medication only 4 days ago after being on another one that gave me bad side effects so the Dr switched me over to a new one. Having a few of the side effects with this medication aswell and it's hard for me to work out if my anxiety is making the side effects worse, or they're just side effects and from the medication and I should just try and go with it. I feel like I just want it to work straight away and I don't want these side effects as they worry me as much as my anxiety does. It's just like my mind is in overdrive and I can't think straight or relax. Just a very confusing time at the moment. Sorry if this is one big ramble, just having a bad morning so far.

LonelyInAus Anxiety & paranoia or something else?
  • replies: 2

I have suffered from anxiety and depression for years and probably since I was a teenager. I'm not from Australia but have lived here for many years now, and have feel isolated and alone. I don't feel connected - even when growing up I had this sense... View more

I have suffered from anxiety and depression for years and probably since I was a teenager. I'm not from Australia but have lived here for many years now, and have feel isolated and alone. I don't feel connected - even when growing up I had this sense that no one understood me, that I wasn't 'part of the gang', that I wasn't well liked, and that I never seemed to really be a part of anything. I can't go home anymore because of circumstances here, so that's not an option, but even if I did although I would feel more connected, I would still have these feelings.Over the last few years I have started to wonder if perhaps there's another underlying issue that is causing my anxiety and depression - like ADHD? Or something else?How to I broach the subject with my GP without sounding like I am self-diagnosing or suffering from hypochondria, or whatever?

xeeshuu depress
  • replies: 2

A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

billyblack health anxiety
  • replies: 2

i have a fear of cancer and am getting all the symtoms for it and it stops me from doing everyday things and all i wanna do is sit at home.

i have a fear of cancer and am getting all the symtoms for it and it stops me from doing everyday things and all i wanna do is sit at home.

bc48 Insomnia- Can't sleep- Help
  • replies: 5

Hello everyone. I am an 18-year-old male who has recently completed Year 12. In the past couple of weeks, I have been experiencing insomnia which hasn't improved and is getting worst. On average I was getting around only around four to five hours of ... View more

Hello everyone. I am an 18-year-old male who has recently completed Year 12. In the past couple of weeks, I have been experiencing insomnia which hasn't improved and is getting worst. On average I was getting around only around four to five hours of sleep a night, I would go to bed at 11 pm, sleep at 1 am, and get up around 5 am. I believe this has been caused by my intrusive thoughts and my anxiety about the future in general. I have tried every technique to fall asleep, including meditation, mindfulness exercises, avoiding caffeine and heavy food before bed, avoiding screen time, and also drinking camomile tea. However, these have been no improvement and have had an even worst effect on me. In the past week, I am only able to get three hours of sleep and there are nights when I go sleepless. It is normal for me now to stay awake in bed until 3 or 4 am, counting sheep and doing anything I can to fall asleep. It makes it even worse when I look at the clock or googling the effects of Insomnia which terrifies me. I really miss sleeping 7-8 hours and I am so desparate to get out of this situation. Any responses will be hugely beneficial for me.

itsokayem Dealing with anxiety/health anxiety.
  • replies: 2

TLDR: my health anxiety is taking control of my life and I hate it so much. I guess I’ll start with how I’ve always had anxiety and depression really, growing up and I used to be able to deal with it the best I could, (minus a few times I tried to of... View more

TLDR: my health anxiety is taking control of my life and I hate it so much. I guess I’ll start with how I’ve always had anxiety and depression really, growing up and I used to be able to deal with it the best I could, (minus a few times I tried to off myself when I was a teen) but now I’m 23, and I’m about to move out of my family home. Things are changing and they have been for a long time; my uncle died a year ago in November, from throat cancer, I didn’t really have all that much of a connection with him but once he died it was like I couldn’t stop constantly checking my neck in case I felt a lump. I sort of moved passed it and I was okay for a while until a family friend passed away from bowel issues and then came the self checkings again. The stop-breathing-to-hear-my-heart-beatings again, I don’t think it really clicked that this was health anxiety until I started to constantly check my heart rate, kept thinking it was beating too fast or too slow. And I’ve been trying to help myself by relaxing and thinking about other things but there’s always the lingering feeling in the back of my mind of ‘what if I’m about to die?’ What if this tingling feeling that’s in my hands is a sign of a heart attack or what if the dizziness I’ve been getting is a sign of low iron that could mean I’m internally bleeding. it’s this constant thinking that I’m going to die or have a heart attack or stroke that keeps me up all night and constantly checking my pulse. I don’t like this feeling, I’ve tried upping my heart medication to what I originally started with but they just lower my heart rate even more and it scares me so much and I don’t know what to do about it. i don’t know who I’m writing this for, maybe myself, and I don’t know who can help me but I guess if anyone else is experiencing the same then now you know you’re not alone.

Nelle__09 My anxiety has gotten so bad I can no longer work
  • replies: 1

Its been a little while since I posted my first discussion and I ended up quitting my job to help my anxiety but it has now gotten to the point I am afraid to work. I took steps to try help myself I got a mental health plan, I booked in for counselli... View more

Its been a little while since I posted my first discussion and I ended up quitting my job to help my anxiety but it has now gotten to the point I am afraid to work. I took steps to try help myself I got a mental health plan, I booked in for counselling session, and I’ve been re-applying for jobs even went on medication. But I now have so much anxiety I can’t even bring myself to go to interviews. I have to work in order to have an income, I can’t get government assistance as I’m not an AUS citizen but it’s now gotten to a point I can’t work, I can’t leave my house, I can’t do anything without my anxiety controlling me. I’m just kinda stuck. If any body knows any support websites or organisations I can contact it would be a great help.

Turtle82 Overthinking, Lots Of Anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hi All, I really need some advice Since Covid Lockdowns in 2020 Been really struggling with my mental health. As I'm sure many others around the world have also I am currently prescribed medication having tried several medications previously. Tested ... View more

Hi All, I really need some advice Since Covid Lockdowns in 2020 Been really struggling with my mental health. As I'm sure many others around the world have also I am currently prescribed medication having tried several medications previously. Tested positive to covid 9 days ago and still have a cough My anxiety is so bad at the moment, worse then ever from morning until night What are your thoughts on Covid and how this impacts on mental health? My Gp said if not better in a week she would increase again. Have a psychiatrist appt tomorrow but I feel scared I'm going to be like this forever It's horrible

KFPDW Intrusive thoughts I'm facing today :(
  • replies: 3

Hi I need to talk to someone please. I'm not sure if anyone is catholic on here but I've had a intrusive thought recently that's related to my religion. It's not religion heavy but I just need to talk to someone who will understand where I am coming ... View more

Hi I need to talk to someone please. I'm not sure if anyone is catholic on here but I've had a intrusive thought recently that's related to my religion. It's not religion heavy but I just need to talk to someone who will understand where I am coming from. Please, I really need to talk to someone about this! Because it's a intrusive thought, I might be worrying about nothing but it doesn't hurt to be sure.

gloria10 Social anxiety becoming more difficult, especially with family events
  • replies: 2

Hi, I wanted to get some advice with managing social anxiety. I've had a few things on lately where anxiety gets the better of me and I just have to leave, its like I cant get out fast enough. I try to use techniques for my anxiety, but I cant seem t... View more

Hi, I wanted to get some advice with managing social anxiety. I've had a few things on lately where anxiety gets the better of me and I just have to leave, its like I cant get out fast enough. I try to use techniques for my anxiety, but I cant seem to concentrate and get overwhelmed easily. I can acknowledge i have definitely been more stressed lately due to some health issues and work, but I am trying to volunteer at the moment in order to get out and be more social. The thing is, with family, although they know I have anxiety I sometimes feel they don't really accept it as I constantly feel I'm being pushed to do more than I am comfortable with and I think there is some PTSD from past visits. They also get snappy as I'm not behaving in a way they want, even though I am at least able to leave with some dignity I have been looking online at counseling, I feel that could really help, but it isn't cheap. What techniques have you found to be helpful when it comes to managing social anxiety? I don't want it to get in the way of volunteering. After Christmas I also want to focus on my own thing a bit more too. Thanks, Gloria10

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