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

All discussions

Yurchenko Hi
  • replies: 2

I'm new to the forum and am struggling with anxiety atm. Just started a new job - not sure I can manage almost full time hours as I've never worked full time before due to health. I'm highly anxious over the thought of it all. Currently on anxiety me... View more

I'm new to the forum and am struggling with anxiety atm. Just started a new job - not sure I can manage almost full time hours as I've never worked full time before due to health. I'm highly anxious over the thought of it all. Currently on anxiety medication and as of today the Dr has increased my dose, I've organised a mental health plan but the symptoms of anxiety are crippling me at the moment. I've made a total work change - loved my old job but boss was crazy so I had to get out. Now working for a large company which has it's positives but after falling ill and ending up in hospital (after just 1 shift) I can tell I'm not going to get any help in reducing hrs etc. I was told at job interview it would be minimum 24hrs a week but more likely 30ish which is great however it's 37-37.5hr so far. I know it takes time to settle in and I really do want to give it a chance but the physical symptoms are not helping me! I'm also on medication for gastritis (inflamed stomach lining) which is causing side effects including fatigue. I can't not work - it's only me with a mortgage to pay. I had 3months between jobs trying to find work so used up a fair bit of my savings.

KFPDW OCD STRESSES
  • replies: 10

I've been told that I'm way too hard on myself by lots of people. I can't help it I feel like this is hardwired into me. Like I should be able to get even little things right the first time round. I shouldn't be getting annoyed every time I fail or m... View more

I've been told that I'm way too hard on myself by lots of people. I can't help it I feel like this is hardwired into me. Like I should be able to get even little things right the first time round. I shouldn't be getting annoyed every time I fail or mess up or can't get things right. I feel like this can be applied to a lot of things in my life that if I don't get something right the first time or perfect even, I get really upset and angry at myself automatically. It's not easy feeling this way like I got to get things right all the time. It's so hard. I feel like it’s hardwired into my brain since forever. If I can’t get something right the first time then doesn’t matter how many tries I make afterwards or find ways to improve to get better, the fact remains I feel like I should have had it the first time and there’s no reason why I shouldn’t. Especially when it’s something I know how to do well. It’s like this friction that I just can’t do it or look at whatever I do because it’s just there. That I failed at something I should be able to do. It feels frustrating and my brain locks on this ongoing cycle that won’t stop. The OCD stresses can get really annoying. I feel like they are invisible barriers that prevent me from enjoying things in life. Like there’s this special edition book I got for my birthday last year from my Mum and I really treasure it. It’s a huge heavy volume. Only a few days after I got it, in my haste to put it away when we had guests coming to the house, One of the pages got caught as I was closing it and there’s this sort of 2 vertical creases on the front page. And no matter how much I try to smooth it out, I won’t go away. It doesn’t stop me from reading the book and it’s not like it’s water damage or anything like that. But it’s sucks to know that it’s there, it can’t be fixed in anyway I know who because it bends both ways and it happened a few days after I got it. It’s a special book and I didn’t want that sort of thing to happen, at least so soon. And I feel like I can’t read it because it happened. I’ve been told that creases and worn pages show how much a book is loved and what not. But I feel like the creases is something that could have been easily avoided and I’m annoyed at myself that it happened. This is the sort of hell I live with in my head that won’t go away.

Jay_Tee22 Health Anxiety & Anxiety Weight Loss
  • replies: 2

Hi team, Hope everyone is well. I have a two part question: 1. Health anxiety - Has anyone here dealt specifically with health anxiety/hypochondria and have you successfully overcome it? It is consuming so much of my life so would love to know if peo... View more

Hi team, Hope everyone is well. I have a two part question: 1. Health anxiety - Has anyone here dealt specifically with health anxiety/hypochondria and have you successfully overcome it? It is consuming so much of my life so would love to know if people have overcome it? 2. Have you found anxiety causes you weight loss? Even if it is just a kg or so, have you found being in a constant anxious/stressed mind you will suffer weight loss - Sometimes you feel you are eating enough but overall if you tracked calories you probably are not. Thanks in advance

joezep Unsure
  • replies: 4

Not sure about the process but will try and describe my queries...not even sure if this is the right area to post?...where to begin...i have just officially reached age pension status and this should be the best years of my life but for the last few ... View more

Not sure about the process but will try and describe my queries...not even sure if this is the right area to post?...where to begin...i have just officially reached age pension status and this should be the best years of my life but for the last few years i have been suffering from a type of anxiety, GAD as diagnosed by a couple of doctors, have tried different medications, psychologist, psychiatrist, but all to no avail..it is as bad today if not worse than when first diagnosed, my symptoms are quite simple as it relates to every aspect of my life, from brushing teeth , cooking shopping...all these things just overwhelm me which causes loss of breath, i am at a loss to try and find some sort of solution so any help wpold be appreciated...

Tim1982 Can anyone help?
  • replies: 9

Hi all. does anyone else get like weird feelings on one side of there head and it seems to never go away? When I say it never goes away, sometimes it feels like it does and then comes back. The sensation is like tension on one side of my head? Someti... View more

Hi all. does anyone else get like weird feelings on one side of there head and it seems to never go away? When I say it never goes away, sometimes it feels like it does and then comes back. The sensation is like tension on one side of my head? Sometimes feels cold in a spot and also feel like numbness. I've been so scared it's something serious but the doctors have told me I don't need a scan because they're sure it's anxiety and stress. I googled and the worse results appeared and it's been getting worried. Yesterday I felt it disappeared for about 10mins or so and then it came back. A couple of other times it's gone but only briefly and then returns. I feel like it's gotten worse after I googled. I'm constantly fixated/focused on it. I just want to know if anyone has the same sensations? ... It's quite a scary feeling. This is started 3/4 weeks ago... I got blocked ears and developed a ringing and turns out of have fluid behind my ear which can cause these sensations but the doctor has put it down to also Anxiety/stress. I've also been to emergency and 2 other doctors before that and they said the sensation is normal.

Shesaleo Failure as a parent
  • replies: 1

I feel like I have failed. Yes I'm strict with my daughter and I know I have to let her make her own mistakes but she has made a lot already and she's only 13. I think she is acting out because she doesn't get to go roaming the streets with her frien... View more

I feel like I have failed. Yes I'm strict with my daughter and I know I have to let her make her own mistakes but she has made a lot already and she's only 13. I think she is acting out because she doesn't get to go roaming the streets with her friends or have boys over. She has done things at 12/13 that I didn't do until I was like 16. And she doesn't care. It breaks my heart that I have lost my girl.

Andrea75 Frequent Panic Attacks
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Hi, I have been suffering panic attacks for close to 30 years. I have been on one medication for about 25 years. Even though I still get Panic Attacks they aren’t as severe. But lately they have been getting very bad again. I spoke to my Doctor about... View more

Hi, I have been suffering panic attacks for close to 30 years. I have been on one medication for about 25 years. Even though I still get Panic Attacks they aren’t as severe. But lately they have been getting very bad again. I spoke to my Doctor about them and she prescribed a new medication. I filled the prescription on 1st December and have already used 35 of the 50 tablets in two months. When I have been having a panic attack I quite often take the tablets and find it is not working that well for me. I have Camomile tea and rescue remedy. I’m starting to feel nothing is going to help me. Has anyone got any suggestions? I don’t want to take the new medication as regularly as I have as it can be addictive. Please help

naralle How to deal with my Anxiety?
  • replies: 8

I have been having a lot of trouble with my Anxiety, I don't know how to deal with I need help.

I have been having a lot of trouble with my Anxiety, I don't know how to deal with I need help.

JMaclaren OCD, Anxiety and Asbestos
  • replies: 3

Hi. While I feel very sad that others on this forum experience the same abject terror I am going through about asbestos, it is helpful to know I am not alone. And EMF is another terror. For some reason, over the past month I have been going through t... View more

Hi. While I feel very sad that others on this forum experience the same abject terror I am going through about asbestos, it is helpful to know I am not alone. And EMF is another terror. For some reason, over the past month I have been going through the worst anxiety I have ever experienced. If I manage to come to terms with one angst, OCD serves me up another - it is the gift that keeps on giving, despite me having started on meds (only a week ago), seeing GP and psychologist, and doing hypnotherapy. I am wearing myself out by constantly trying to find solutions often on Google (yep, I know it is bad), only to have another take its place. And my family cannot understand what I am going through. My latest anxiety relates to my teenager putting up the Christmas tree and decorations with a friend while I wasn’t at home. About 10 of the ornaments were old ones from my mother-in-law’s estate - I had kept them as keepsakes and we have put them on the tree or mantlepiece for the past 5 years. Good old Google tells me that pure asbestos was used on old Christmas decorations and trees often as fake snow. So even though I don’t recall any specifically looking likely they have fake snow, my anxiety is now in free fall. Especially as my teenager is so precious to me. Now I am faced with trying to locate and isolate the ornaments that are worrying me to get them tested. If they are, it probably means tossing out all the other decorations and the tree as well. Then I have to deal with the possibility of future fallout for both the teenager and the friend. Any constructive comments much appreciated.

JMaclaren How do you avoid the compulsion?
  • replies: 1

Hi So how do I go about helping myself to stop continually going on Google to reassure (and sometimes terrify) myself about asbestos presence and potential for exposure? And just because I am hypervigilant and catastrophising, how do I tone my anxiet... View more

Hi So how do I go about helping myself to stop continually going on Google to reassure (and sometimes terrify) myself about asbestos presence and potential for exposure? And just because I am hypervigilant and catastrophising, how do I tone my anxiety down to what someone without OCD/anxiety might take, including having items tested for asbestos? The uncertainty and lack of control is making the panic attacks so horrible