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

All discussions

Moonchild 11:11 Let’s talk about the physical symptoms
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I’ve recently been having suspected panic attacks and they have been full on and getting to the point of almost constant. After an ambo call out and 2 er visits with a couple days between each one I’ve Had 3 ecgs and 2 lots of bloods all no... View more

Hi there, I’ve recently been having suspected panic attacks and they have been full on and getting to the point of almost constant. After an ambo call out and 2 er visits with a couple days between each one I’ve Had 3 ecgs and 2 lots of bloods all normal. had a gp phone appointment with another dr as mine was unavailable and they prescribed me an antidepressant and benzodiazepine. I started them both today, I’ve had just the one benzodiazepine this morning. I did still have some slight physical symptoms on the benzodiazepine each time I’ve taken it including today. About an hr ago I thought I would try to lay down as I was feeling ok. I wasn’t feeling overly anxious at that moment I was just scrolling through these forums as I find them reassuring… suddenly I was very aware of my heartbeat… in kicked the palpitations, this time they were pounding like they were the night i was in hospital, I lay there and breathed through it until they stopped then I got up and sat on the lounge. These panic attack symptoms are so new to me I don’t know what to expect and it’s scary and I still have that nagging doubt that something sinister is the cause. I was potentially a little anxious when I first took the medication as I had some slight heart racing then but these palpitations were more of a thudding in my chest and back. I have some questions about the physical symptoms. 1. Can they come on unexpectedly like that when you don’t feel particularly anxious? 2. Can they come on as a result of medication wearing off? 3. Does anyone else have a sudden physical symptom such as this and are symptoms prone to change or can you develop new ones at random times? 4. Is there such a thing as residual anxiety or panic as in if you manage to subside it at the time can it sporadically come on later? 5. I know dr google is not our friend but if you went against your better judgement and googled anyway could your mind develop these symptoms and manifest them or overthink them into reality? And lastly is it common to have panic attacks Daily and even several times a day ranging in intensity especially if you’ve just started experiencing them? Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my long winded post… I intend to ask my gp for further investigation just to make sure it is just anxiety but I’ve got to make it through the weekend before I can speak to her so i was hoping if any of you had any advice or wanted to share your experiences that may help ease my mind xx

Elizabeth CP Anxiety related to treatment and medications
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I'm not sure where I should post this. Background I broke my wrist in Jan. A few days later I went to my Gp complaining about my fingers and thumb which had not been injured yet were swelling badly and becoming numb. I believed the cast was pressing ... View more

I'm not sure where I should post this. Background I broke my wrist in Jan. A few days later I went to my Gp complaining about my fingers and thumb which had not been injured yet were swelling badly and becoming numb. I believed the cast was pressing on a nerve. My GP dismissed my concerns so it was a week later I went to ED after it became unbearable. A specialist has since confirmed that I now have nerve damage as a result of the cast with ongoing pain and loss of strength in my thumb. Lockdown has complicated things further as I can no longer see the hand therapist in person for treatment. I have changed GPs but avoid going so have not built up trust in the new one. I was prescribed one painkiller months ago but the side effects were so bad I had to stop after a few days and went without for months prefering to cope with the pain than side effects. Things became worse so I reluctantly went to the GP and was prescribed some new meds for nerve pain. I started then then googled side effects for the medication. Side effects included anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. I already suffer from depression & anxiety which then escalated after taking the medication. I don't know whether it is the medication or just me worrying about the medication. I'm now too scared to return to the GP in case he thinks I'm an idiot and non compliant. I feel I have nowhere to turn which just adds to my stress. I am a full time carer for my hsb so can't afford to not be capable of doing things

JulieS101 Anxiety non stop
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My parents had a big fight after some uncomfortable truths came out. At the time my mum said she was going to move out which stressed me out tremendously. This brought back anxiety as my parents separated when I was 13-14 which was extremely traumati... View more

My parents had a big fight after some uncomfortable truths came out. At the time my mum said she was going to move out which stressed me out tremendously. This brought back anxiety as my parents separated when I was 13-14 which was extremely traumatising as both had mental breakdowns and as a young teenager I lacked security for a bit of time. My parents sorted out the recent alteration however my anxiety is not relenting. I wake up every morning experiencing a panic attack and am constantly worrying. I am wondering if anyone has any advice on how to deal with this constant anxiety.

loveyourself9 Need help with anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi again, My anxiety has been really bad these days. My heart rate is higher than usual, and when I stand it feels like the ground is moving. I can't stop checking my heart rate and can't sleep or focus. I feel like I'm trembling constantly and my he... View more

Hi again, My anxiety has been really bad these days. My heart rate is higher than usual, and when I stand it feels like the ground is moving. I can't stop checking my heart rate and can't sleep or focus. I feel like I'm trembling constantly and my head feels like it's pulsating. Is this normal? I can't stop thinking there's something wrong with me physically and I'm scared

littlehopefulgirl Worrying about life after lockdown in Melbourne
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So it has been almost 2 months since I left 10 km from my house. Dan Andrews, yet again announces another news that will let us know what we can't and can do. I've learnt so much about myself in this lockdown about my mental health and also the quali... View more

So it has been almost 2 months since I left 10 km from my house. Dan Andrews, yet again announces another news that will let us know what we can't and can do. I've learnt so much about myself in this lockdown about my mental health and also the quality of life I want to continue to have. But the problem is, lately, since the announcement, I suddenly have this worrying voice in my head. What happens to my life before lockdown? I don't know if I have a job anymore, I don't know if I can make a positive change. I definitely don't want to live in Melbourne and i don't like my living situation at the moment. But I'm surviving. Some days I feel so stagnant and just living for the sake of being alive, other times it's ok. The lockdown has been really hard for me, I feel so convinced that this is my life, and nothing will change. I gave up so much of what i want before the lockdown and rationalize that it isn't my fault. But now i feel like I've lost hope. Does anyone feel like this? I am trying to hard to stay positive and motivated, but I feel so exhausted. My world of doing what I love is outside these 4 walls and certainly out of my 10 km. I can't work cause of the lockdown. i cant move forward with the career change that I want to pursue. I just feel so helpless. I'm tired. Am i going crazy? I certainly cant find articles or news that no one is feeling like this.

PaulJF Positive thoughts not taking away the *feeling* of anxiety. Medication?
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(My first post.) I'm wondering if this seems realistic, or if the desire for a magic-bullet cure is deranging my clarity on the issue: Sometimes I get anxious out of nowhere, sometimes a day or two after a strong coffee, and always a day or two after... View more

(My first post.) I'm wondering if this seems realistic, or if the desire for a magic-bullet cure is deranging my clarity on the issue: Sometimes I get anxious out of nowhere, sometimes a day or two after a strong coffee, and always a day or two after any booze. So I can reliably induce this awful feeling in the bottom of my chest chemically, but also it can apparently come out of nowhere. If I don't pay attention to the feeling, my thoughts are anxious thoughts, "what's going to go wrong/what if I get "found out" (even though there's nothing to find out)/what if I've not set my phone reminders correct and I miss something critical..." (etc etc... you know the drill). But if I then notice the feeling itself, and I choose to recognise this awful feeling of impending doom as a chemical imbalance in my brain, I'm able to calm myself a little and stop with the catastrophizing somewhat, but the feeling itself doesn't go away. So, if my half-baked theories are correct, a chemical imbalance in my brain is making me FEEL like there's a reason to be deeply worried, and then my thinking brain is struggling to find real world things to fit that feeling. It's not my thoughts that are creating the feeling, the feeling is engendering the thoughts. IF this is correct, then it would seem fixing the chemical imbalance with medication is a smart move (with eyes open to the side effects). And I feel like CBT and such can give me tools for dealing with the feeling, but medication might stop the feeling showing up in the first place meaning I don't even have to deal with it. Thoughts?

Glenncoco88 Chest pain
  • replies: 18

Hi everyone im just finding it weird that I’ll wake up with discomfort with chest pains. Like I’ll move my body and the top of my chest hurts. I’m guessing it’s from my anxiety as I went to the hospital to check it out and they said I’m healthy but I... View more

Hi everyone im just finding it weird that I’ll wake up with discomfort with chest pains. Like I’ll move my body and the top of my chest hurts. I’m guessing it’s from my anxiety as I went to the hospital to check it out and they said I’m healthy but I’m just finding it weird to be waking up with this pain. Any suggestions or ideas why this is being brought on when I wake up?

Melancholy Yogini One Week to go before my Vaccination
  • replies: 12

I need some advice please. Before this second wave of Covid 2.0 smacked us in the face June this year, I booked in for my Covid vaccination - recommended for me was Pfizer. I couldn't get the location I wanted so I chose the main vaccination hub at S... View more

I need some advice please. Before this second wave of Covid 2.0 smacked us in the face June this year, I booked in for my Covid vaccination - recommended for me was Pfizer. I couldn't get the location I wanted so I chose the main vaccination hub at Sydney Olympic Park thinking this would be safer and easier, and the earliest appointment time for me was August. Yesterday I read and saw how busy this vaccination hub was due to people who are just showing up as well as those who already have appointments and my anxiety has hit the roof. I practice and teach yoga so have all the tools and have been practicing as many breathing techniques as I can think of but I feel the anxiety swelling inside me. The thought of being around that many people is making me physically sick and I cannot stop shaking. I have tried to see if I can call the vaccination centre to check if I have to wait in a line like the pictures would suggest however I can't speak to the clinic directly, I need to call the main Covid hotline. My appointment is next Friday, so I would just like some advice on anything different that may have worked for anyone who is reading this that I may not have tried before. I do not drink, smoke or do drugs of any kind so I am not on any medication. I always try to heal myself naturally when possible. Thank you for any advice x

Belle002 Work An
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Hi everyone, Recently I started a new job at a local cafe in my town, and the business is only new and recently opened up. I’ve worked a lot of cafe jobs before, but never had so much anxiety working. The boss works with us and doesn’t tell me what s... View more

Hi everyone, Recently I started a new job at a local cafe in my town, and the business is only new and recently opened up. I’ve worked a lot of cafe jobs before, but never had so much anxiety working. The boss works with us and doesn’t tell me what she would like me to do or hasn’t outlined any expectations, so I go to work clueless on how the business operates. I was on till yesterday and was blamed for every wrong order when no one took time to stand their with me and show me Just needing some advice on how to tackle my next shift. Belle

Sasho Suffering From Anxiety And Depression
  • replies: 5

Hi Everyone, I am new to this forum and i have been suffering from Anxiety attacks lately and depression, i have been calling Beyond Blue almost everyday when i am felling down and depressed, the counsellor staff on the phone are amazing in supportin... View more

Hi Everyone, I am new to this forum and i have been suffering from Anxiety attacks lately and depression, i have been calling Beyond Blue almost everyday when i am felling down and depressed, the counsellor staff on the phone are amazing in supporting and advise, i am speaking to a psychologist over the phone once a week and they're getting me back on the right track slowly, it will be a tough times ahead, i am still going to work, volunteer at my local SES unit to support my local community even in what i am going through mentally, i have a great supporting family, i also use Lifeline as well when needed for support they're also amazing in supporting and i even call Beyond Blue so i can have a chat which makes me be on top of the world.