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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
  • 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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KFPDW Confused and need a second opinion
  • replies: 13

There's something I have been wondering, if you know someone is in need of help or is going through a hard time but they are horrible to you and don't listen and give you a hard time, should you still do what you can to help? Because what they are do... View more

There's something I have been wondering, if you know someone is in need of help or is going through a hard time but they are horrible to you and don't listen and give you a hard time, should you still do what you can to help? Because what they are doing to you isn't ok. It's something I have been wondering about for some time. Going off past experiences and see it happen to others and in media. I'm confused by what I see in media. I see character being a difficult situation, trying to fix things but is so headstrong and doesn't listen when someone offers help and is trying to be kind. They act horrible towards the person who is just trying to be nice. And no one calls this character out for his actions. I get they are in a terrible situation but that doesn't make it ok to be horrible to others. Especially if they mean well.

judaft struggling with anxiety
  • replies: 8

i've been fighting with my own brain for a long time now and its getting so exhausting. i recently dropped out of school because it was making me miserable and i thought i would be happier but my overthinking and stress has gotten the best of me. i'v... View more

i've been fighting with my own brain for a long time now and its getting so exhausting. i recently dropped out of school because it was making me miserable and i thought i would be happier but my overthinking and stress has gotten the best of me. i've been feeling like such a failure, and i have this serious issue where i compare myself to everyone my age. i turned 17 a few days ago and i feel like i've wasted all of 14-16. i did bad in school, i was lazy and i regret it all so bad i wish i could go back and redo everything. being 17 makes me feel old, i always thought i'd be so cool as a teenager but i dont have any friends and i just feel like such a loser. then i look online and i see all these successful teenagers and kids and i don't understand how they're my age and even younger than me and they already have fame, success, and they already found their purpose and what to do with their lives. i get so obsessed and jealous and wish it was me, i wish so bad that i could go back to being 13-14 and focused on what i would love to do instead of being lazy and glued to my phone. i get so obsessed over these thoughts and they never leave my mind and i get so angry with my past self ugh. and now i feel like its all too late for me, especially because i feel like 17 is so old now. i know im still young but my brain just convinces me that im too old and its too late for me to pursue anything, and i wish i could have found what i love to do earlier on and been good at it ugh. it just makes me so upset and angry and i feel stupid. i just wanna reverse time and try again. no matter what anybody says i just keep going back to these thoughts and its the worst. it causes me so much stress and i dont know how to just be normal. i regret so much and i know im gonna regret worrying so much about all of this in the future but i dont know how to make it stop.

Hopeful021 I’m new here and only starting to take the first steps..
  • replies: 5

Hi all This is new for me… I’m only just starting to accept I may have anxiety. It seems to be triggered at work. I quite like my job and work with good people so I don’t know why I feel this way. I started to recognise it when I knew k had to speak ... View more

Hi all This is new for me… I’m only just starting to accept I may have anxiety. It seems to be triggered at work. I quite like my job and work with good people so I don’t know why I feel this way. I started to recognise it when I knew k had to speak publicly. The build up would cause me so much stress and then over a year ago I had my first panic attack while public speaking. I lost my vision and my voice. It was horrible but eventually I just admitted to the crowd what was happening. I then had a year off on maternity leave and didn’t think much more about it. I went back to work recently and now I struggle to even talk in any pre planed situations. Even if it’s just me and my close work team. Today my boss asked me to attend a very high level meeting and present. I haven't stopped feeling sick since and literally can’t stop thinking about it. I have kept my feelings hidden as based on previous experiences of people know I feel like this it makes my anxiety worse as I think people are watching me more closely and analysing me. It sounds so minor but I’m worried that it’s going to take over. Im worries I will have to leave my job.. Im just posting here to see if anyone else experiences this? Thank you

Kits Spiralling down again
  • replies: 3

Hi my names Kits and I've had anxiety/panic attacks since I was 15 (2000). For the most part I'd learned to control it and enjoy life. But over the years big emotional experiences seem to trigger my anxiety. For instance my partner dumped me (2016) a... View more

Hi my names Kits and I've had anxiety/panic attacks since I was 15 (2000). For the most part I'd learned to control it and enjoy life. But over the years big emotional experiences seem to trigger my anxiety. For instance my partner dumped me (2016) and I was waking up each morning to an attack and found it difficult to function. I worked afternoon shift at the time so had time in the morning to process my thoughts better and try to get into the right mindset for work. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. But I managed to move on and now I'm happily married and life is better. Until now....we had to put our 14yr old cat and 15yr old dog down in the space of about two weeks apart and we were devastated. So of course, anxiety decided to kick in and I feel like I'm 15 again. I'm now at a different job that requires me to get up at 4.30 in the morning, which is definitely not helping my attacks, I have no time to process and become frozen in fear. I realised I needed help and have spoken to my boss but I fear there's only so many absent days before they have had enough, which is fair, I like to consider myself reliable but at the moment I feel like I've let everyone down. I can't get into a psychologist until July so what am I meant to do till then? Tell my boss ill see you in a month? My partner is worried about me and I feel like a shit wife because I'm adding to the stress and I'm not working. I don't know what to do. I asked my boss about switching to afternoon shift to see if it might help ease it but with my attendance record it probly wont be accepted. I don't feel normal and I hate it, I feel so ashamed that I'm not strong enough to handle the simple task of going to work everyday. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I needed to let it out somewhere.

Willy943 First time being pulled over
  • replies: 4

This week has been pretty terrible for me, I've struggled with depressive thoughts and anxiety for a few years now and I thought I was finally starting to feel better these past few weeks up untill the start of this week. It's been pretty terrible fo... View more

This week has been pretty terrible for me, I've struggled with depressive thoughts and anxiety for a few years now and I thought I was finally starting to feel better these past few weeks up untill the start of this week. It's been pretty terrible for me but it's all kind of come to a head today while I was at school and I had a bit of a breakdown, I was able to calm my self down before work but it didn't last long because I was pulled over during my shift for the first time since getting my licence. Ive been feeling like I don't really have a lot going for me at the moment including family and especially social and academic life. I also kind of feel like I don't really have anything to be proud of except my car and being able to drive whenever I want. It's honestly been one of the only positive aspects of my life in a really long time and it's one of the things keeping me going. Also I had just bought a very cheap second car just for delivering so I could save on fuel. For context, I'm a delivery driver for a pizza restaurant. Today when I was taking a delivery I was pulled over for the first time into a booze bus and was breathalysed, I was really nervous because I've never done anything like this before and it was nearly done until one of the officers pointed out I had Google maps open on my phone. I never touch my phone whilst I'm driving and I only ever set the address before taking the car out of park and it pretty much stays in the phone holder all night. He said I was fined $550 and had 4 demerit points taken. Ive just spent the last of my savings buying this second car and I won't be able to afford the fine unless I sell it. But if I do that I'll lose my job. I can't use my personal car for deliveries since it's a bit abnoxious and not really a great image for the restaurant since it's a big 4wd. If I sell the second car to pay for the fine I'll be left with no money and no job I also won't be able to work on the only good thing in my life because I'm getting it ready to put onto club plates so I need a few things for it and I can't afford the parts. I'm really scared because I love the people I work with and if I lose my licence I won't even be able to drive it either I also might have to end up selling it because I won't be able to cover the cost of rego and insurance. I'm worried I'm going to lose the only good thing I have. It all kind of feels like the icing on the cake of a really really really shitty week and I haven't stopped crying.

HiddenDragon26 Crying at random times with no trigger/reason.
  • replies: 6

I am 21 yrs old and i was diagnosed with Social Phobia and Separation Anxiety when i was in Yr7. I have handled my anxiety pretty well since leaving high school, i might get a a little anxious at times for various reasons (crowds, talking in front of... View more

I am 21 yrs old and i was diagnosed with Social Phobia and Separation Anxiety when i was in Yr7. I have handled my anxiety pretty well since leaving high school, i might get a a little anxious at times for various reasons (crowds, talking in front of people, loud music etc). I was diagnosed with depression when i was 16 and got help from a phycologist, i feel a lot better with my depression since then that it is not a big issue for me now. The last week, i started to cry for unknown reasons, i was not sure if it was my anxiety starting up again. I have just started university and got a new job which i have been at for almost 3 months now. I took 3 weeks off work for family time and the crying started the night before going back to work. I then cried the following 2 days (the weekend) with working (when i woke up to head to work, i was fine). That week was okay, no tears, no feeling on edge, i felt okay and normal. This week has come and the same thing happened, i was crying the day before work (both days) and i thought that when i finished my 2 shifts, that the week would be okay. It is now Tuesday and i cried Monday night and i have cried today too. I am not sure what is causing it, i have a pit in my stomach full of nervousness ( i went shopping today and felt sick), i have been physically sick from crying, nauseous, having trembling, racing heart, cloudy thoughts. I think the first shift back was anxiety but now i'm not sure if its a mix of anxiety and something else, i'm just confused on what is causing it. I was not sure if it was my iron levels being low. I appreciate any tips on how to manage this crying.

Bennyboy10 Dizziness,can't focus and bad memory.
  • replies: 5

Hi Everyone I have felt with health anxiety for a number of years now but in recent years have had it mostly under control. How ever recently I have started to feel slightly dizzy or tipsy feeling and my memory and eyes feel out of focus. I think it ... View more

Hi Everyone I have felt with health anxiety for a number of years now but in recent years have had it mostly under control. How ever recently I have started to feel slightly dizzy or tipsy feeling and my memory and eyes feel out of focus. I think it is from my anxiety because it comes and goes depending on how aware I am feeling physically. Has anyone had experience with this feeling as it is really affecting my work and life in general.

Shelly_S I am not sure whether I am alright.
  • replies: 4

I have cried every day without any trigger since I was in primary school. I probably have a good memory so I clearly memory details of probably every bad thing. I hate myself oftentimes. I do not know who I am. I cannot control myself being sad or ev... View more

I have cried every day without any trigger since I was in primary school. I probably have a good memory so I clearly memory details of probably every bad thing. I hate myself oftentimes. I do not know who I am. I cannot control myself being sad or even happy. I always feel more stressed and overwhelmed after feeling happy. But, people say that I am a happy person. I even cannot do simple things well but I am keen to do them well. I always hear my voice in my mind telling me a lot of tragedies. Sorry.

Quo could i have anxiety or am i overreacting
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm not sure where to put this exactly or what to do, but I'm not sure what else to go or do. I don't mean to self-diagnose myself but I'm just not sure what to do. I've been feeling quite bad for the past few years, I've had times where I don't ... View more

Hi, I'm not sure where to put this exactly or what to do, but I'm not sure what else to go or do. I don't mean to self-diagnose myself but I'm just not sure what to do. I've been feeling quite bad for the past few years, I've had times where I don't have the motivation to get up or had such intense fear I'll purposefully not go to certain events (e.g. birthdays, bad lessons, etc.) because I have the feeling something bad will happen if I go, no one will want me there, or other such thoughts which make me feel nauseous, vomiting, and sick. I've had times where I've felt so bad over messing up something simple, like baking a cake, that'll send me into spirals where I'm laying on the floor and hurting myself. My head will swarm with thoughts and I feel lost and confused. I've had issues sleeping due to these thoughts, problems paying attention and as such my grades have been falling. I went to a therapist two years ago, she told me I was pre-disposed to depression due to some traumatic events I've had in my past, and that what I do is known as 'catastrophizing'. However, she is unable to diagnose anything as this therapist was like a free one and they don't have proper training or qualifications or something. After a bit, she let me go as I was showing signs of improvement. I didn't tell her some of the thoughts I've had before, however. I was doing quite good for a bit, but then I got worse. Often when I have a melt down I'll begin shaking, my teeth will chatter a lot, and so will my body. I don't feel like I can pay attention to anything. I'll feel constantly exhausted, like simple actions can take an effort, and I feel like I'm just dumb. I'm just overreacting, proper anxiety is much worse and I should just deal with it. I'm tired, and I'm wondering whether GAD could be an explanation for what I'm feeling. I'll feel even worse as my family will often leave me when I'm having these moments. Sometimes they'll be supportive and let me stay home from school, or events, but whenever they leave the house whilst I'm having these moments, or yell at me for overreacting, I'll feel awful. It sucks because my mother also has anxiety, but she used to dismiss mine. Recently she's wondered if I could have it, but it still feels like she doesn't really understand and she'll still laugh at me as I'm having these meltdowns and crying. It sucks, I hate it. I have been wondering whether I have GAD.

Sea_Turtle Overthinking, feeling misunderstood and worried about where this is heading.
  • replies: 6

The last few days haven’t been good, I’ve been starting to get the same sort of feelings that I used to get when I was really unwell. I haven’t seemed to be able to have gotten anything done and I feel so guilty. I always feel guilty. For context I h... View more

The last few days haven’t been good, I’ve been starting to get the same sort of feelings that I used to get when I was really unwell. I haven’t seemed to be able to have gotten anything done and I feel so guilty. I always feel guilty. For context I have OCD, an ED and have had depression. I have also been noticing more and more of late that I find some things hard that others don’t seem to like remembering passwords, or chores I told myself I would do, or something someone told me yesterday. Currently I can’t actually remember if one of my sisters birthday is the 11th or the 12th. I should know that my family means everything to me . The truth is I’ve always found those things hard. But have blamed it on the other problems. All of this with my other struggles have made me worry that I’m going backwards, That there might be more things wrong with me and that I just don’t know how to figure myself out. I saw my doctor today, I probably overthought it and all but I started crying when I was in with her. I didn’t know how to explain so I tried to tell her that have been feeling low today and I just can’t. She said that this is a bad day, everyone has bad days, we don’t always walk around feeling great. That this is normal. And of course the classic this is a safe place. I tried to explain and said that of late I just can’t get it together. She said I am getting it together. I think I had some sort of anxiety attack afterwards. I don’t know how you know if you have actually had one and I wouldn’t want to say so for those who actually have them but maybe it’s a breakdown I don’t know they have happened before I know that. trying to drive home I pulled over and started crying hysterically, gasping for air, felt like I was choking, I started to shake my breath sounded horrible I tried but I couldn’t slow it down if any5hing it made it faster. I don’t want this to be normal, I don’t want the way I think and feel right now to be normal. I’m scared I’m falling of the tracks. I have an appointment that I organised with a psychologist, but it’s still awhile away, and I’m worried she won’t understand me.