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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. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety 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 you 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 worthile 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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SickOfIt Last Straw
  • replies: 7

Hi Everyone, I am 40 years old and have suffered from anxiety since I was about 6 years of age. Back in the 80's no one understood anxiety so no one understood me. I have suffered through this alone due to shame. I am on medication and have seen a fe... View more

Hi Everyone, I am 40 years old and have suffered from anxiety since I was about 6 years of age. Back in the 80's no one understood anxiety so no one understood me. I have suffered through this alone due to shame. I am on medication and have seen a few psychologists. My anxiety has stopped me from soooo much. I am so sick of it ruining my life!!! I am trying to plan a wedding I don't even know I can go through with and I desperately want to have a baby without causing it harm from my panic attack episodes. I tried to slowly wean off the medication so that I could try for a healthy baby and I just couldn't do it. My anxiety has skyrocketed so I was put back on it. I've booked myself in to see another psychologist. I am at my wits end and don't know what to do anymore. Any advice would be appreciated and I would love to hear how you got through your wedding and pregnancy too. Much appreciated xx

ineedhelppls I need help socializing because of anxiety
  • replies: 4

My anxiety has gotten so much worse in the past year due to COVID 19. I haven’t socialized with new people in a really long time and recently went to a new school. I had a really hard time socializing. I couldn’t talk to anyone I got paired up with i... View more

My anxiety has gotten so much worse in the past year due to COVID 19. I haven’t socialized with new people in a really long time and recently went to a new school. I had a really hard time socializing. I couldn’t talk to anyone I got paired up with in class, and I hated myself for it. But I got close with one person and they introduced me to someone new who they knew, and now I hang out with them. At first I had a lot of trouble talking to all these new people. But then I thought it was getting better. Until I got confronted by these two people saying how I never message them back, never answer their calls, am always on my phone instead of talking to them and I never pay attention to them. One day at school during lunch I just had my earphones in as I was too scared to say anything, and wanted to have the comfort of being and they said I was rude for this. I understand how it comes across as rude but I tried to explain to them how I can’t help it, and that I never know what to say so I just do what is comfy. But I already told them this before and I was afraid they thought I was just making excuses. My anxiety is ruining everything. It is making me manipulate in situations, it is making me a terrible person. I am afraid of who I am. I feel as if I have become toxic. My friend told me they cant always be there to help me socialize and I realized that I put it too much on them when it is my own problem. I feel so terrible, but I don’t even want to resolve this conflict because yet again it feels like too much energy and I am extremely scared of it. I never have energy to do anything, I can get by but that’s it. I really need help. One of the friends even messaged me asking if I am okay, but I don’t want to reply because if I am honest with them it will seem as if I am guilt tripping. But if I don’t reply it will seem as if I am a bad person. It feels like I could throw up at any moment.

TomC HIV Anxiety / Regret Anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi, really hoping someone might be able to support me. Last year i had a little too much to drink, and did something i totally regret and am extremely embrassed about. I paid for time with a female SW. I am a married father of two, and this is the fi... View more

Hi, really hoping someone might be able to support me. Last year i had a little too much to drink, and did something i totally regret and am extremely embrassed about. I paid for time with a female SW. I am a married father of two, and this is the first time (and last) i've ever done something silly. I immediately suffered anxiety over numerous potential STD related issues. I worked with my supporters and doctors and recieved the necessary care and testing. HIV was the my concern, as my anxiety told me this is the end if positive. I waited till nearly 6 months post to have the test, was Negative. I immediately moved on from this, and started my recovery. Unfortunately i remained vigilant of the subject, and recently read an article that said a new strain of the virus had been discovered. This immediately started the anxiety pathway again. My anxiety is once again trying find ways of making me not believe the earlier negative result. I have the word and actions consitantly present in my thoughts, and once again i'm heading towards not believing anything i had done last year. Is this common, has anyone experienced this? Any advice? Many Thanks in advance

Mossman Hyper aware of automatic bodily processes
  • replies: 10

Hi, I suffer from both social anxiety and general anxiety. I have been finding that for about the last two months I have become increasingly focused and self-conscious about how I am walking when in public. It starts with me being hyper aware of ever... View more

Hi, I suffer from both social anxiety and general anxiety. I have been finding that for about the last two months I have become increasingly focused and self-conscious about how I am walking when in public. It starts with me being hyper aware of every physical sensation I feel when I am walking, particularly the actions of swinging my arms, to the point were I cannot think about anything else. I become extremely tense and awkward and I end up feeling like I am manually controlling how I swing my arms (something that should pretty much be an automatic function) This makes me worry that I am walking in a really strange way and that people will think I am weird which makes it further harder for me to stop thinking about it. I have done CBT therapy before and have found it useful for 'labelling' intrusive thoughts to create some distance and stop thinking about them. However, I am finding it much harder to stop thinking about the physical sensation of walking as I am constantly reminded of it every second as it is a physical feeling. I am wondering if anyone has felt a similar way in regards to being hyper aware of how they are walking, as well as finding it hard to stop thinking about physical bodily sensations in general. The thing is, I can usually rationalise it and understand that it really doesn't matter if I am walking weird - who cares, it doesn't define me, but it is more the lack of cognitive control in not being able to stop thinking about the physical sensation of walking. I am beginning to wonder that it may be some form of OCD. I similarly have a constant hyper awareness of my heartbeat all the time and find it very difficult to stop thinking about. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it is very tiring and makes me feel like I am dysfunctional. I have recently become quite depressed because of it. I am seeing a psych at the moment and I will bring it up with him.

Snaedis Is it wrong to feel disassociated?
  • replies: 23

Hi guys, So to make it all brief and give some back story. I am staying at home in a town and my classmates also in same town but on campus accomodation. I went into severe depression and anxiety since last year due to a guy and my friends. I decided... View more

Hi guys, So to make it all brief and give some back story. I am staying at home in a town and my classmates also in same town but on campus accomodation. I went into severe depression and anxiety since last year due to a guy and my friends. I decided to cut the guy off because it was just too much (like having anxiety attacks 2-3 times a day and unable to sleep and severe depression). Then due to my depression and anxiety my social interactions with my so called friends decreased and then I came to sudden realisation that they had all kinda just moved on like I wasn't there and made new friend groups. All this people are currently in the same town as me and some of them are nice but I just can't become very close to them. We are in lockdown so I can't see any of them but they all live together and sometimes I feel left out but now mostly I just don't give a crap about friends. IT's not just them but anyone, I feel very disassociated with everyone and don't really want to hang out with anyone, except my Mum at home. It makes me really sad that I feel like that and since I am graduating this year socialising is very important but I just dont care. Can someone tell me if this is bad or wrong to feel so disassociated? Thank you Fam xxx

KJ1972 Anxiety is turning into a crisis
  • replies: 2

I don't know where to start. I feel so silly as what has triggered my anxiety is so silly. But now I'm getting to the point where I want to hurt myself just to get through. This has come about because I was called into the office at work by my boss w... View more

I don't know where to start. I feel so silly as what has triggered my anxiety is so silly. But now I'm getting to the point where I want to hurt myself just to get through. This has come about because I was called into the office at work by my boss who respect so much and who has help me and believed in me for years. It was because I decided to go out to get a coffee with two co workers and it took longer then 15 minutes. Normally this wouldn't be an issue but I think it was the two people I went with. I work in local government and to say there is politics everywhere is an understatement. He didn't directly warn me about then but I think that is what he was meaning. Saying it could be bad for my career and perception is everything. That I need to look out for myself. I know there is issues between the two supervisors but I like both and get on with both. I also know that technically taking a break for longer then 15 minutes is wrong so I understand that I was in the wrong but everyone does it. I think my anxiety is coming from not understanding the bigger picture and not being able to talk about it. It's playing on my mind and now I just want to hurt myself to feel something else. I'm afraid I've let my boss down even though I know he won't hold it against me in fact he has probably already moved on. I also think someone deliberately mentioned it. I have no proof and I know it sounds paranoid but I do believe one person is working against me. Now I'm writing this I realise I sound crazy. I do feel better now that I have written this down but I just don't know how to stem the anxiety and put it behind me. I know Monday is a new day and work will be fine but I don't know how to clear my mind. I hate feeling like this. I feel my life is such a mess. I feel worse cause I know this is so pathetic compared to what others are going through. I feel so guilty for wasting people's time on something that is so insignificant. I am so confused. I don't want to feel like this any more.

car10001 independence
  • replies: 2

hi am eventually wanting to live more independently sooner rather than later and have own terms & not have to fit in with the persons values that you live with such as what you wear to places or be able to get to places how you want & choose where yo... View more

hi am eventually wanting to live more independently sooner rather than later and have own terms & not have to fit in with the persons values that you live with such as what you wear to places or be able to get to places how you want & choose where you stay every time there is a family function somewhere away from home & the only way to do that is live more independently & am waiting until am able to buy. & also am wanting to have people over when you want & entertain & stuff and your grandmothers family used to go to her house but she being 82 is getting too tired now & thats one reason for wanting to have a place of own to have people over. the reason as said that have found lockdowns & find quarantine or restrictions hard is because am at a age & point in live of wanting own independent space and independence and not have to fit in with the values of the person you live with & also am wanting a proper shed thats better than that garden shed thats as good as your uncles shed is and every time theres lockdowns you are stuck with the people in the current house and you just want independent space or when you have to quarantine because the place that am living at isnt big enough to seperate the chance is there of having to extend & when there is restrictions your only options to make it happen may have to close and you never know when & for how long every time it happens. the 82 year old grandmother is now getting too tired to have the afternoon tea that she used to have and its making you want your own independent space and you are just waiting your turn. am mostly happy living with current people

Mistletoe Unsure what is going on
  • replies: 2

Hi, I’m new here. I’ve recently started taking a new medication for ADHD after a recent diagnosis. I thought the medication was supposed to increase dopamine but I have been highly emotional ever since I started and don’t understand why. I’m not sure... View more

Hi, I’m new here. I’ve recently started taking a new medication for ADHD after a recent diagnosis. I thought the medication was supposed to increase dopamine but I have been highly emotional ever since I started and don’t understand why. I’m not sure if it is a coincidence or not, but I have been under a lot of stress this year (not Covid related) and my anxiety and mental health have taken a hit. But the last week has been really low. Today I was a mess and I could not get suicidal thought out of my head. I was crying uncontrollably and my husband made mention of the fact he thought the new medication was going to make me happier and that my moods bring him down. I’m snappy at my kids and I just feel like an incredible burden on everyone. my husband didn’t sign up to being with someone who is so emotional all the time. He wants someone who is happy and vibrant and laughing all the time despite his own bad moods. im tired, unmotivated, lacking severe energy, eating terribly, can’t exercise because my body won’t allow me to at the moment due to injury so I’ve put on excess weight. I hate the sight of myself in the mirror and I feel like there is no way of pulling myself out of any of it.

sparrowhawk Scared I might have an eating disorder
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone, Last year in February I got very sick with a respiratory virus which was never diagnosed. This triggered a sort of reflex in my body and I started regurgitating and vomiting food from time to time. It eventually got bad enough that I was... View more

Hi everyone, Last year in February I got very sick with a respiratory virus which was never diagnosed. This triggered a sort of reflex in my body and I started regurgitating and vomiting food from time to time. It eventually got bad enough that I wasn't keeping any food or liquid down and lost a significant amount of weight. I spent Christmas and New Year in hospital, was diagnosed with a disorder called rumination syndrome, and had a feeding tube placed - I still have it. I had so many comments about my weight loss, all of them negative and out of concern - comments like "Your clothes are falling off", "you look like an ironing board", "you look like you belong in a concentration camp", really awful things. I really disliked the comments so once I was able to stabilise my weight with the feeding tube, I made sure I maintained it. I didn't want any comments on weight gain/weight loss. Now my rumination syndrome is much better and for the past two months I haven't had any vomiting at all. But there is a lot of fear in me about eating and about weight gain, mainly coming from my real dislike of comments and wanting to avoid attention on myself. So I restrict how much I eat and prefer to favour lower-calorie foods. There was so much focus on calories when I was using tube feeding, so it's become a sort of unhealthy behaviour to count calories and make sure I'm only getting a certain amount every day. I also notice I feel guilt when I eat particular foods, or only allow myself to enjoy "unhealthy" foods in secret. When I think about all these things I'm doing, I feel really stupid because I know health is so important, I know I need to gain weight, and I know that everyone's bodies are different. I'm really scared I could have an eating disorder. I do have a psychologist I see fortnightly and she expressed concern an eating disorder could be developing. I really try to fight the behaviours and thoughts but sometimes they win and I just slide into that place of fear and self-protection. I do have anxiety about gaining weight but for me it's even more than that - I have anxiety about people's comments, because I really dislike any attention given to my appearance and just want to avoid that if my life depends on it. So I think all of this is coming from that desire to protect myself. I'm not sure if this makes sense, I'm really just looking for someone who can relate. Sending hugs to all.

MyProfile Insomnia - is calling in sick ok?
  • replies: 7

Hi, it's 5.15am and I've been trying to sleep for 7 hours. Took some medication 4 hours ago with no effect. I often get bouts of insomnia from anxiety and sometimes sleeping aids have no effect My trigger for this episode is a new job. I get extremel... View more

Hi, it's 5.15am and I've been trying to sleep for 7 hours. Took some medication 4 hours ago with no effect. I often get bouts of insomnia from anxiety and sometimes sleeping aids have no effect My trigger for this episode is a new job. I get extremely anxious about work and have veen unemployed for a year. I got offered a casual job 10 - 15 hours a week, starting next week, but the boss asked me to come in tomorrow (now today) for a few hours to familiarise myself with their shop. I am feeling like a failure already to be considering calling in sick on my first day (although not technically). I know it could add to my struggles of anxiety about the job even more, but I really can't force myself to go in, let alone drive there, with no sleep in 24+ hours. Should I be honest? Do I admit that I had a bout of insomnia from anxiety about the job? I know for a fact that it will happen again. I feel so broken and like giving up in myself. I almost want them to say "we're going to replace you" - so I can temporarily avoid working some more - but at the same time I'm terrified of how badly I am feeling about myself lately and admitting defeat.