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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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Guest_5608 Low Tolerance for Stress
  • replies: 5

Hi There BB Folks, I have suffered from Anxiety and Depression for 15 years now, in earlier years (before I got help) I could still some what function, had two jobs, manage a social life and graduate university. In the last two years there has been a... View more

Hi There BB Folks, I have suffered from Anxiety and Depression for 15 years now, in earlier years (before I got help) I could still some what function, had two jobs, manage a social life and graduate university. In the last two years there has been a huge shift and I just can't do anything but the bare basics anymore. I have been also increasingly become more social isolated due to friends getting married, and barely seeing anyone, plus trying to hold on to a toxic job so I can pay for weekly pyscholgist sessions and an ongoing chromic medical condition. I guess what I'm saying is although I have struggled with Anxiety and Depression along time why now am I not coping anymore? I have recently reached a point where I easily crack, for example, I started crying and screaming in public a few weeks ago because one of my only few friends bailed out on me by phone for a planned catch up, I was a nervous wreck after this, and took me hours of being at home to recover, this worries me as my emotional regulation is gone compared to a few years ago. I just worry about myself as everything feels like survival. Also, my pyscholgist fees are rising so I will no longer be able to afford weekly sessions anymore. Any advise would be wonderful.

cocolemon Anxiety and Loss of Confidence
  • replies: 5

Hi. I’m a 21 year old masters student and recently my mental health has just gone downhill. I caught covid about a month ago and have been suffering from long term symptoms including fatigue and brain fog, which is impacting my studies, sleep, appeti... View more

Hi. I’m a 21 year old masters student and recently my mental health has just gone downhill. I caught covid about a month ago and have been suffering from long term symptoms including fatigue and brain fog, which is impacting my studies, sleep, appetite and general well-being. I’ve just completely lost my confidence and I feel so utterly overwhelmed by everything I just don’t know what to do. I went to see a psychologist the other day and I don’t know if it helped because they said they “couldn’t help me with strategies for my anxiety”, so now I’m just confused and feeling a bit let down. I feel like I’m in a vicious cycle and I don’t know how to get out. If anyone has any advice I’d really appreciate it - like any strategies for dealing with anxiety or sleep. Thanks.

moviefreak Worrying For The Sake of Worrying
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I am a 22 year old guy and have anxiety surprise surprise in this day and age haha. I have been seeing a psychologist since I was 16 because during this time I felt I needed one. I was bullied a lot in high school for having scars from a... View more

Hi everyone, I am a 22 year old guy and have anxiety surprise surprise in this day and age haha. I have been seeing a psychologist since I was 16 because during this time I felt I needed one. I was bullied a lot in high school for having scars from a cleft lip I used to have as well as my cultural background which was Irish (typical). Everyday it would happen and I would be so nervous about going to school and seeing them there knowing I would be judged. One particular guy would always argue my point and he would make me so nervous that I would overthink my comebacks and sometimes end up saying things that didn't make sense. I was heavily embarrassed by this. This went on for most of my high school years until around year 11 and 12 when I mustered up the courage to find new friends. I would come into school everyday feeling so worried and anxious for being judged. I would go down a rabbit hole of worrying. That was almost 5 years ago and think I have realised this is where part of my anxiety has come from and perhaps also being super anxious when I was young when going into operating theatres to have multiple surgeries due to having a cleft lip back then. These days I still have that state of mind I had during high school when I would go down a rabbit hole of worrying. How I would describe is it like having a bully inside of you that won't shut up. Whatever self talk I use there is always something that comes up to counter that argument. I hate it so much and I don't know why I can't help do it. I have taken new medication recently which I think has helped in some parts but I end up just going down a rabbit hole of worrying about the medication and wondering if it's helping? I have successful days where I am pleased for having great interactions with people and pat myself on the back for it but then I start wondering can I keep up these good interactions? When will there be a day when things start going bad? During Covid last year I ended up talking to someone online I met at a bar with friends. I really liked her but when we went on a date the chemistry wasn't there and we agreed to not see each other after that and then I started going down hill for months after that. I thought I should go off my medication but that made things even worse. I hated that period so much and was probably one of my darkest periods in my life. I worry something like this could happen again.

Not_Batman Who am I?
  • replies: 48

My father died when i was 10, and so was raised with 2 other sibblings by mum. We grew up in some form of poverty, so didnt have the same oportunities as my fellow classmates. Very quick background, i know. It wasnt until i was in my 20s where i real... View more

My father died when i was 10, and so was raised with 2 other sibblings by mum. We grew up in some form of poverty, so didnt have the same oportunities as my fellow classmates. Very quick background, i know. It wasnt until i was in my 20s where i realised a lot and despised as much about my childhood. All seemed to be going well until the panic atacks started when i went to uni in my mid 20s. These subsided after a short while, then flared ip when i had both my children and reflecting on not having a father growing up, which pains me imensely to this day. After having a very difficult and demanding period at work i fell in a hole, and was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and quickly got put onto medication (which has helped with the Anx&dep) Reflecting on my past, and my present, i have come to the conclusion that i have no idea who i am. How do i put my past behind me, how i settle my nerves, How do i find me? so many questions.

BobbyOz Anxiety attacks daily
  • replies: 3

Hello, I’m currently dealing with a problem for 2 years that every time I put food in my mouth I gag and feel like throwing up, I’m NOT trying to lose weight, but I’ve gone down from 60kgs which was a healthy weight for 172cm to 48kgs which is severe... View more

Hello, I’m currently dealing with a problem for 2 years that every time I put food in my mouth I gag and feel like throwing up, I’m NOT trying to lose weight, but I’ve gone down from 60kgs which was a healthy weight for 172cm to 48kgs which is severely underweight. I am not sure how to stop the gag reflex and this is affecting other areas of my life as I can’t do much physical activity. Does anyone know how to stop the nausea when the food enters my mouth? I also suffer from panic attacks mostly agoraphobia and social anxiety. Every time I go outside or talk to someone on the phone I get a panic attack, I have no idea how to stop them or what to do. I try breathing and grounding, but they never seem to work. I’m on medication but I don’t know if it helps the anxiety. I do not have many friends and I always get rejected by women too. What should I do?

PA2074 Anxiety of having a third baby
  • replies: 7

Hi, Apologies I posted in the wrong thread prior. I saw a couple of people have posted about a year ago on the same topic, and hoping others are out there. I have a lot of anxiety about a third child. This has been a decision I have battled withe for... View more

Hi, Apologies I posted in the wrong thread prior. I saw a couple of people have posted about a year ago on the same topic, and hoping others are out there. I have a lot of anxiety about a third child. This has been a decision I have battled withe for 2 years. I am 39yrs and haven't helped myself by putting a time pressure on myself (well biological clocks kind of make that unavoidable). I have always said if I have a third, I would want to give birth before i am 40. This has given me 2 months left of trying. For the last 2 years I have choked up at seeing families of 3, of friends have round 3. I've always thought I wanted three, and i think my heart probably says that, however my practical and logical side of the brain kicks in every month around ovulation and freaks out at the extra responsibility, cost, entertaining the third which would have a 4yr age gap to the 2nd, sleepless nights, minimal time off with my husband, less travel and holidays, the juggle etc etc. I incessantly go to a bad place in my head every time ovulation comes around, and then at other times in the month, I feel great and want to go ahead and have a 3rd. This process has been so damaging that I have actually made choices I come to regret in the past, and we try again, and then I freak out again. I understand this absolutely isn't normal ,i just can't break the cycle. Seeking help has a very long wait list, finally due to see someone early July. I have just tested positive again on a pregnancy test after being convinced having a 3rd is right, and now I am back in the same damaging mental cycle. I am absolutely torn wether to stay pregnant, knowing this is the last time as I will soon be 40. Has anyone been in this horrible place before? Where you just can't get the clarity, the heart and the head are at totally opposite spectrums. I was just getting in to a good place post grieving the past trauma and that having only 2 is a fantastic choice. I have a successful career, and the bread winner of the family at present, which places extra pressure on having a 3rd and returning to work. I think how on earth will I juggle full time, school hours etc. My husband is 4 days and doesn't have too much flexibility. As you can see, I jump straight to the practical challenges. I wish there was an amazing psychic who can look in to the future and tell me everything will be OK, and what the right thing to do is. Thank you for reading this far!

AnxiousSara Induced facial twitching
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, I’ve recently noticed that I can induce rapid twitching in my face through the slightest movements - very slightly scrunching my nose, putting my bottom teeth behind my top ones, shutting my eyes just a tiny bit tighter than when I sleep etc... View more

Hi guys, I’ve recently noticed that I can induce rapid twitching in my face through the slightest movements - very slightly scrunching my nose, putting my bottom teeth behind my top ones, shutting my eyes just a tiny bit tighter than when I sleep etc. I even got my tongue twitching by just pushing it out my mouth a tad. The twitches/tremors come on very quickly in these positions. I’m freaking out a bit but I have severe medical anxiety due to some traumatic events in my past. Can anyone else induce these sorts of tremors with such ease? Is it an anxiety symptom? I should add I have recently been told by a neuro that I have a mild essential tremor in my hand or possibly enhanced psychogenic action tremor. Thanks so much!!

Helenmaree46 Dizziness daily
  • replies: 21

Hi I am wondering if anyone can help me understand what is happening to me. This last 12 months has been a difficult with lots of home conflict mainly due to us both being exhausted by our jobs, family tradgedy and limited spare time. Communication s... View more

Hi I am wondering if anyone can help me understand what is happening to me. This last 12 months has been a difficult with lots of home conflict mainly due to us both being exhausted by our jobs, family tradgedy and limited spare time. Communication started to break down some months ago. I find myself always worrying, then 2 months ago I ended up in ER with vertigo that lasted 7 hours. I was told it was inflammation in the eustachian tubes and given stemitil. A couple weeks after this I started having daily, up to 10 times a day lightheaded and dizzy feelings. I copied ok for the first week but now everytime it happens my heart pounds, my legs shake, my mouth is dry and it comes at anytime without warning. In the shops , at home, at work. I'm really feeling panicky and drained. I am scared when it happens. I wake with butterflies in my stomach and they come and go throughout the day. My heart, blood pressure have been checked and are ok. I am desperate to cope with the symptoms as I love life and doing different things. I feel this is making it so hard to relax and do the things I used to do.Thankyou for reading x

Cram72 Rejecting job opportunities due to anxiety.
  • replies: 3

I'm currently 24, unemployed and have never worked a proper job. Every time I get a call about interviews I end up ignoring them completely as I it makes me incredibly anxious. I also feel bad wasting their time since they take the time to take a loo... View more

I'm currently 24, unemployed and have never worked a proper job. Every time I get a call about interviews I end up ignoring them completely as I it makes me incredibly anxious. I also feel bad wasting their time since they take the time to take a look through my resume and are even willing to consider me as a potential employee. It's unfortunate as I think I had a proper chance at some of these jobs but it feels like my body physically can't pick up the phone and answer it. I think I've slowly been getting better at this though as it used to be that I was too afraid to answer emails but now I can do them pretty comfortably. I feel like the only way to get through this anxiety is to keep applying and slowly become more comfortable with calls and interviews but if anyone has any other suggestions I'm open to taking them.

solsticedays I got scammed today
  • replies: 4

I got scammed by a very sophisticated scammer with impeccable graphic design and an ABN selling a contact list of retailers today. It was too good to be true, and I am lucky because I work with my mother, so we discussed how 'off' it felt when she wa... View more

I got scammed by a very sophisticated scammer with impeccable graphic design and an ABN selling a contact list of retailers today. It was too good to be true, and I am lucky because I work with my mother, so we discussed how 'off' it felt when she was pressuring us with weird out of business hours deadlines. But my mother said it was my call and in the end, my desire for the data was too strong and we paid by bank transfer (the first big thing I have learned today) - NEVER pay by bank transfer. I feel sick in the stomach, I feel anxious, and I really need to talk to a counsellor or someone, but it is late and there is no one available, so I am writing my story here, in the hope that the process will give me enough validation to get to sleep. I feel really bad. And this too shall pass. It was $280 - so not a huge amount of money. It just feels 'icky' because it is a violation, I guess. And being scammed doesn't feel so good. I pledge to be looking out for the warning signs in the future. Yuck!!

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