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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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anxietygirl60 Anxiety about the vaccine
  • replies: 32

I am new here and hoping for some reassurance and encouragement. For months now I have been putting off getting the covid vaccine, have cancelled and rescheduled a few times now, because my anxiety has been getting worse about it. The more I put it o... View more

I am new here and hoping for some reassurance and encouragement. For months now I have been putting off getting the covid vaccine, have cancelled and rescheduled a few times now, because my anxiety has been getting worse about it. The more I put it off, the more I keep thinking about it, the worse the anxiety gets. I really want to have the vaccine but I've let the negative noise on the internet get into my head and I keep thinking about the worse case scenario's of the side affects of it. I know that getting covid is way worse and I know that the likelihood of a bad reaction is probably quite small but my mind has built this up into such a huge thing that every time I think I'm ready to get it the anxiety kicks into overdrive and I just can't make myself physically go and get it. I have a rescheduled appointment booked for the first jab on Dec 1. and I spoke to my doctor yesterday about my anxiety and hesitancy to get it. She helped a lot but there's still some lingering doubt about it and the consequences of getting it. Because once it's been injected into my arm there's no turning back and whatever happens is going to happen. I just need some help getting over the line with it. If you have any reassuring words or experiences or even videos/articles from trustworthy sources I would really appreciate your help. Please, no one trying to talk me out of it. I want to have it I just need to get over myself to get there. Thanks in advance. (Oh, I should have mentioned that it's not just the vaccine that I have issues with. It's all new medications. I have this weird phobia - I believe it is called Pharmacophobia - where I worry that any new medication will cause me to have a bad reaction or kill me. I won't even take anxiety meds. I also worry that the medication has been tampered with and will cause me harm. I am a weirdo for sure.)

Ianna Homesick is hitting me hard
  • replies: 2

Hello everyone I’m new to Australia, an international student of a uni here. I am literally experiencing homesick…well a bit severe I guess especially at night. A bit about me, I’m living on campus in a studio apartment, everyday I feel so well outsi... View more

Hello everyone I’m new to Australia, an international student of a uni here. I am literally experiencing homesick…well a bit severe I guess especially at night. A bit about me, I’m living on campus in a studio apartment, everyday I feel so well outside walking anywhere but once I wake up in the morning or ready to sleep, I feel so lonely and anxious for nothing, the emotion just popped out I have no idea how can I deal with this issue. I have joined hall events, chatted with parents but still it can’t alleviate my problem, sigh… anyone can offer some help or tips for me please:(

car10001 finding friends similar age
  • replies: 4

hi everyone was wondering how and what is the best way to find younger friends (people your age)? dont need many friends similar age as already got plenty good ones just after a few because havent got many friends similar age to do stuff with other t... View more

hi everyone was wondering how and what is the best way to find younger friends (people your age)? dont need many friends similar age as already got plenty good ones just after a few because havent got many friends similar age to do stuff with other than 1 which is harder to catch up now because of commitments. is there still a way to meet people your age that you hang around with the way the baby boomers did back when they were that age or are we just going to have to accept times have changed and accept the way current generation does it and take chances and be careful. its looking like its going to be the only way around it all. just want some friends similar age to me to do something with now and then and am feeling left out when you see some facebook and instagram pictures of someone doing stuff with friends and you realise that you dont have the same friends. what can be done until you can change jobs and have different hours and work less weekends if at all as it seems thats when the younger generation are out doing stuff and when events happen that dont happen during week. doing the above is looking to be the only way and thinking of a way to hang on until the time is right. however am planning ahead as very unlikely to last more than the owners 60th in 4 years at latest and may be doing well to last that and it will probably take that long to come up with something and by planning ahead you got time to think about things plus you may be able to spread out the cost of any needed training and the equipment and tools. what could be done for now to find more friends your age that work during week until youre able to do something about changing to different and better hours. also if you havent got a father thatll show you how to tow vans and show you other stuff what could you do to have a chance to tow vans. car isnt rated to tow the bigger vans that family members have upgraded to and cant afford to change it yet and no ones got a van light enough. would hiring a furniture trailer to get close to the experience be only way, have towed a fully loaded 6x4 trailer loaded with concrete pots which would be nearly a tonne

Tim1982 Help. Anyone else?
  • replies: 1

Been told it's anxiety. - Head pressure on both sides of head but feels like when it goes down, it's still there. Like it never goes away. - jaw, nose, forehead, temple area feel tight. - ringing in ears - eyes feel funny, like they can't focus - ach... View more

Been told it's anxiety. - Head pressure on both sides of head but feels like when it goes down, it's still there. Like it never goes away. - jaw, nose, forehead, temple area feel tight. - ringing in ears - eyes feel funny, like they can't focus - aches in arm and legs or sometimes just one arm which feels slightly heavier and seems to stay for a day or so - sensations in feet and legs (not pins and needles) - numbness in parts of the face, back of head, sometimes neck. I keep thinking it's something serious but doctors say I'm not showing key symptoms. Can anxiety do this? I thought if it was anxiety, the feelings would all disappear eventually.

jenekay anxiety about going on school camp
  • replies: 5

hi this is my first time on beyond blue and idk how this stuff works, so please feel free to tell me if i've accidentally done something considered rude basically, school camp is in a few months but i've been really stressed about it lately. whenever... View more

hi this is my first time on beyond blue and idk how this stuff works, so please feel free to tell me if i've accidentally done something considered rude basically, school camp is in a few months but i've been really stressed about it lately. whenever someone mentions it my heartrate spikes and i feel like crying cause im so scared about going on camp. ive narrowed it down to 3 things, but im not really sure how to deal with them so if someone could share coping strategies that would be great. 1. homesick like most people, i do get homesick on camp. i had a counsellor last year because i was struggling with camp as well and together we made a booklet with little messages from my parents to cheer me up, but it didn't work that well because whenever i read it i would start crying and it would make me more homesick. preferably i can just forget about home and not have constant reminders about who's not there with me when im on camp. 2. scared of exercise? going from walking 5km a day to 20km+ for 4 days is quite a big change for me, and since i'm not the most athletic of people im worried i wont be able to keep up, and also when i get tired i get really sad and start feeling emotional? which doesn't help with the homesickness at all. 3. no friends our year level coordinator tries to separate us from our friends during school camp, because she wants us to make new friends, but as an introvert i find that very difficult. the previous years i've mostly spent the 4 days by myself trailing after the rest of the group, with just the teacher to talk to. thats basically a summary of why i really dislike camp this year, if you bothered to read this then thank you have a nice day! - Jen

Annewithan-e How to face work?
  • replies: 3

I have a job that I love.. well in part. I am secondary teacher. I teach year 11/12z I love the classroom, the kids. But I’ve been back at work over a week and I can’t face anything without tears (I generally make it somewhere to hide, masks help me ... View more

I have a job that I love.. well in part. I am secondary teacher. I teach year 11/12z I love the classroom, the kids. But I’ve been back at work over a week and I can’t face anything without tears (I generally make it somewhere to hide, masks help me escape…). I am in leadership as well and I just can’t cope. I feel like no one cares (well a small little group of close friends might, but that’s it). I feel worthless and like no one would even flinch if I quit tomorrow. I’m getting to worm and I freeze, can’t work, unless it’s something I need to do for someone else… I feel sick, I come home every day and have a migraine or massive stomach pains and cramps. It’s not sustainable like this, but I don’t know what to do. And I feel financially committed as well. I have reached out to some of my direct reports to catch up to talk but they haven’t responded.

Rosie22 Work anxiety and intrusive thoughts
  • replies: 3

I recently got promoted into a position where I am running a care program before and after school. Because the service is so small and at max accommodates 5 students there is only one educator (me) at the setting every shift. These shifts run from 7-... View more

I recently got promoted into a position where I am running a care program before and after school. Because the service is so small and at max accommodates 5 students there is only one educator (me) at the setting every shift. These shifts run from 7-9am and 3-6pm. I am alone at the school until around 8.30am (which is when teachers show up) and I am alone after 4.30pm (when teachers depart for the day). My anxiety is stemming from the hours I spend alone at the school. It is relatively rural and is in a town that lacks a police station. It is surrounded by farmland and has few houses around. This is where my anxiety comes in. Lately I have been having intrusive thoughts of an intruder coming in and harming me or the children. There is no one around that would be able to save me or hear me if I screamed. The service is too small and low budget to be able to install security cameras, alarms or other equipment. My training basically tells me to lock the doors and hide if an intruder comes. I am 21F with barely any muscle. I don't trust that I could fight anyone off. I am having extreme thoughts of dying at work or someone coming to kill me when I lock up. Everyone I talk to tells me the chances of that happening are low. I just keep thinking that its never impossible. Initially I asked my Fiancé to drive there at night and ensure I make it safely to my car. But unfortunately his work schedule and a 20 min drive isn't feasible long-term. I don't know what to do. I feel like everyone around me would be disappointed if I quit or requested another location (it's well paying). I've committed to getting married in October so it's not the smartest financial decision either. It's hard to talk about because everyone goes on and on about the low chances of it happening. I'm lost and feel so so alone.

cceee Work meeting anxiety
  • replies: 7

Hi all! First time posting here I struggle with anxiety and panic attacks related to work zoom meetings and having to talk. When I have an agenda item I’m reasonably ok because I have time to practice beforehand (and I’ll give myself time to do a qui... View more

Hi all! First time posting here I struggle with anxiety and panic attacks related to work zoom meetings and having to talk. When I have an agenda item I’m reasonably ok because I have time to practice beforehand (and I’ll give myself time to do a quick meditation before the meeting !), but today I was asked to provide an update on something unexpectedly and I fumbled over an update, forgetting to breathe due to my anxiety and barely managed to get the last few words out as I was running out of breath. I worry that people noticed and I feel embarrassed now and it causes me to ruminate, and of course, it means I’m already fearing the next time it happens. I’m not sure what to do or how to cope with this feeling of impending doom when someone mentions my name during a meeting and asks me for information. I’m totally fine when it’s a 1:1 meeting, but I hate speaking in front of large groups, even when it’s just on zoom (we are told to have our cameras on the whole time which adds to my anxiety). Has anyone been through this before and has any tips ?

rosie_rose Anxiety, Underwhelming New Employment & Body changes
  • replies: 3

This is my first post here and I guess I just wanted a space to share my thoughts and feelings. In 2020, I lost my job when the pandemic hit. It was kind of a blessing in disguise as I had developed some bad drinking habits to cope with work & stress... View more

This is my first post here and I guess I just wanted a space to share my thoughts and feelings. In 2020, I lost my job when the pandemic hit. It was kind of a blessing in disguise as I had developed some bad drinking habits to cope with work & stress & was generally unhappy. Having the time with my partner to re-calibrate was so peaceful & rejuvenating. But I knew it wasnt going to last. We had to move from the city, 5hrs away. We have been living in a small rural town since. We rent on a small property, which is nice but I mostly feel lonely and bored. I’ve been unemployed since losing my job but did get about a months work in town. Everyday I cried before and after work and felt so anxious. The town here is strange, people are poverty stricken and have a real rural mentality. I was getting leered at, the workload was underwhelming (I would have preferred busy work to manage anxiety), the staff unfriendly, I just feel like I don’t fit in here at all and the job didn’t last. I recently had to terminate a pregnancy, I struggled with the emotions and decision .My body doesn’t feel like itself yet & I’m starting a new job next week; I have four, 8hr days lined up over the next two weeks. I’m feeling so anxious and sick about it - I’m scared about my body hurting, I’m nervous to be interacting with people (I haven’t really spoken to many people in 2 years) & I’m scared I’m going to be so terrible, maybe they will think I lied about my previous experience & won’t be able to cope (though I know this is probably not going to happen in a tiny rural town). Im trying to remember the positives about it - getting out of the house, having an opportunity to communicate, having a couple days of routine, contributing to our savings, having my own money, engaging in something different… I have a lot of work related anxiety - meeting other peoples expectations about careers etc & conforming. I find work meaningless, menial and mundane. Though I admit, I’m not really an ambitious person. I love creating and being in nature - I feel safest in nature, which is why I so often isolate myself at home. This town has no opportunities, it’s really quite depressing. Most of the people are unemployed. I want to leave but my partner has a job he likes. I know I kind of need to just get over it & have a job & it’s only a couple days a week - but I feel like my mind is running wild with anxiety

Blueeyed This is a first
  • replies: 3

So I've never done this kind of thing before, but things got pretty bad for me and joining a forum was something I thought I'd at least try. I've been diagnosed with clinical depression and have pretty bad anxiety. This has been something I've dealt ... View more

So I've never done this kind of thing before, but things got pretty bad for me and joining a forum was something I thought I'd at least try. I've been diagnosed with clinical depression and have pretty bad anxiety. This has been something I've dealt with for many years but my diagnosis was within the last couple. Im 31yo male and I struggle each day in the world that is today. Im not originally from where I'm living so I know very few people. I have my family here but no friends. What I wonder is, how do people like myself, find friends in this world. Especially with bad anxiety. How do you cope and continue to live each day when you feel lonely and out of place here.