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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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KERLIA Driving anxiety
  • replies: 9

Hello, recently ive been feeling pressured to get my licence. I got my learners licence a while ago and seeing all my friends get their P's, they keep asking me when I'm going to get mine, im stressed. I've done a few lessons with an instructor but I... View more

Hello, recently ive been feeling pressured to get my licence. I got my learners licence a while ago and seeing all my friends get their P's, they keep asking me when I'm going to get mine, im stressed. I've done a few lessons with an instructor but I'm still so scared to drive. Im feeling pressured because my licence is about to expire and my friends are all getting their P's. Everytime I start driving, I get so scared of needing to check everything and to not crash, I keep messing up my turns and parking. Before I drive, I get this pre anxiety of just the thought of driving. I don't know if anyone can relate to this?

June_Summer Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
  • replies: 3

I feel this so intensely like the world will end because perceived or real criticism of any kind. Always thought I needed to toughen up but apparently I have anxiety and RSD. Also I feel I am never going to get the right mental health support.

I feel this so intensely like the world will end because perceived or real criticism of any kind. Always thought I needed to toughen up but apparently I have anxiety and RSD. Also I feel I am never going to get the right mental health support.

hewieth14 Spiraling - how do I cope with it
  • replies: 4

I don't really know how to explain how I'm feeling. The best way to describe it was in a stream of consciousness thing I did. "I hate being stuck in my head. Someone once explained to me that it felt like a spiral. At first, you think nothing of it; ... View more

I don't really know how to explain how I'm feeling. The best way to describe it was in a stream of consciousness thing I did. "I hate being stuck in my head. Someone once explained to me that it felt like a spiral. At first, you think nothing of it; the spiral is large and loose. But, when you start to think more about it, the tighter it becomes, until it's around your neck, strangling every emotion out of you. It is dangerous for me to think like this because once I am in it, it is impossible to climb my way out." I tend to fixate on one single word, or one single sentence and become utterly obsessed with the ideas behind it. I dance, and it had been a good 2 months out of competing in my state when a girl told me about my rival. I was on a plane trip back from an interstate competition, in which I did win - but I felt as if I didn't dance well. "He is looking strong," she notified me. I didn't feel strong. I didn't feel as if I danced well. What does strong mean? Physically strong? Technique? Is he better than me? He is, isn't he? Thousands of thoughts were buzzing through my head and I honestly couldn't think, grasp or even decipher a single one of them. And I just felt exhausted by the time I arrived home, and then for the next 2 weeks. And then it all went away when I beat him at the next competition against him - by a lot. I had wasted all of my energy on something I didn't even need to be worried about. So basically, what I am asking is: Is there any way that I can stop obsessing over small, and possibly insignificant, ideas? Are there any ways to get out of the spiral once I'm in it?

Corn_L Social anxiety, trust issue, job hunting, financial hardship
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, background info: I was first suffered from social anxiety 7 years ago. I easily get anxious when I meet people who are loud-spoken, impolite/disrespectful. I made my first post last year regarding my driving anxiety. After that stressful... View more

Hi everyone, background info: I was first suffered from social anxiety 7 years ago. I easily get anxious when I meet people who are loud-spoken, impolite/disrespectful. I made my first post last year regarding my driving anxiety. After that stressful driving test, I took a break from full-time work. I could only work from home and did some one-off online jobs. Until November 2021, I was able to get a temp job and I worked full-time till March this year. I was great in those months. I was able to have face-to-face interactions and make new friends at different occasions. However, in late March, I got scammed and lost some money. And I felt like I can't trust anyone anymore. Since then, I became really alert. As I have completed my temp job contract, some of my workmate wanna know about my future plans. I no longer felt comfortable to discuss with them.And I can't take advice from anyone. In April, I had a big argument with my partner regarding job hunting. He said I just sit at home all day, not willing to work. I said I really need a break coz I lost my confidence. In all these years struggling with anxiety, I only rely on my own savings. I have never applied for any government support nor borrowing money. I'm independent, why can't I choose to have a break and look after myself? However, maybe what my partner said was right. Even I chose to take a break, I couldn't look after myself well. In April & May, I only hid in the house. All humans made me feel anxious. Even if I needed to post something at the post office, I struggled for 2 weeks until my partner forced me to get into the car. No matter who pressed the door bell, I would not open the door. What's more embarrassing? I don't want to shower or get changed. I didn't make/answer any phone calls. Just wanted to isolate myself. Recently, when I went to a checkup (physical health), I got told that I need to have some treatment & surgery. I have completed some minor treatment few days ago which costed me a fortune. So, I told myself these days, I must get a job. Otherwise I can't afford the medical expenses (I am not Australian citizen & I don't have medicare/other support). Unfortunately, I got scammed again, on Facebook. I worked & never get paid. I really hate myself for being so stupid. Can anyone relate to me? I am hard working and I want to be independent, but I just can't find a job that suits me. I don't want to be seen as a loser/lazy person. Please give me some advise? TIA

Mad1990 Over eater
  • replies: 1

Hello Lovely people; I feel like for the most part of it I eat generally well, but when I am stressed I over eat a lot and its not normal, I can not afford and also do not have time to do counselling. I am a student and I work full time and I have a ... View more

Hello Lovely people; I feel like for the most part of it I eat generally well, but when I am stressed I over eat a lot and its not normal, I can not afford and also do not have time to do counselling. I am a student and I work full time and I have a partner and family commitments (no children tho), and I am new in my role at work, and this is also my first year of uni, and I have also moved and will probably need to move again, so there has been a lot of change and a lot worry about failing, which in itself is pretty normal. But I always deal with my stress with food. I am a stress overeater, and I am just concerned for my health and was wondering if anyone could please give me some advice or tips, would be greatly appreciated. As I feel I can not handle my stress and food and constant worry about my weight, it stressing me out and I just can't handle all the stress in my life, which then results in me thinking about past trauma events, and it just a constant cycle of eating. My habit is ruled my emotions and certain triggers, and I understand that I have to deal with my emotions first and I feel like I am trying to do that but I am addicted with pushing my emotions down with eating and its disgusting . I was just wondering if there are any one out there who deals with their emotions with food, and how they got over the addiction to food. Thank you xxx

StrayDetective I’m worried that maybe I’m a narcissist
  • replies: 12

I don’t want to self diagnose myself or anything, but for a while now I’ve seemed to do anything just to get attention. I’ve pictured myself getting sick or injured and people would be worried and pay attention to me. I know it just makes me sound se... View more

I don’t want to self diagnose myself or anything, but for a while now I’ve seemed to do anything just to get attention. I’ve pictured myself getting sick or injured and people would be worried and pay attention to me. I know it just makes me sound self obsessed, which I don’t want to be, but I can’t help thinking that maybe I am. I’ll admit I can be quite the compliment shark, seeking praise whenever I can get it. I have picked up on this recently and have tried to pay more attention to it to make sure I’m not acting all ‘high and mighty’. As for why I act the way I do, always wanting to be noticed, I’m not sure. when I was six years old my sister was born and being the only child for some time may have left it’s mark on me, but I was always very independent. I would get jealous like any sibling would, but I don’t know how that could explain this. I tend to shy away from the spotlight yet at the same time I am desperate to be noticed. I am not particularly humble and have never taken critical feedback well. Maybe I’m too prideful? I don’t know. But I honestly feel like such a self obsessed narcissist and I hate it. Whenever my friends get praise or are talking, I seem to get annoyed, like everything is a competition. I tell myself “It’s not about you!” Which I know, yet I still have the urge to jump in. I hate it.

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.

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