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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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booga im sick of being afraid of my own body
  • replies: 3

i keep getting health problems and one of my biggest fears ever is getting cancer. as far as im aware, i do not have cancer, but i cant help but worry every time i feel a slight difference in my body.im sick of being afraid all the time about it. i t... View more

i keep getting health problems and one of my biggest fears ever is getting cancer. as far as im aware, i do not have cancer, but i cant help but worry every time i feel a slight difference in my body.im sick of being afraid all the time about it. i think its ridiculous that you have to be hypervigilant about your own body because it can just randomly decide to turn against you. i wish i could be alive but without a physical body to worry about.

Hendo Suicidal thoughts
  • replies: 4

For about a month and a half I have been in a depression and anxiety hole that I can't seem to get out of, the constant depression and intrusive thoughts are taxing and I don't see how I can maintain this. My depression and anxiety make my IBS sympto... View more

For about a month and a half I have been in a depression and anxiety hole that I can't seem to get out of, the constant depression and intrusive thoughts are taxing and I don't see how I can maintain this. My depression and anxiety make my IBS symptoms worse which gets me deeper into the hole and then they play on each other. Most days I am waking up sad and going asleep sad, I actually look forward to going to bed so I don't have to feel anything. I just broke down to my partner and told her all this and how suicide keeps creeping into my mind. My GP and therapist are away until mid January. I keep saying to myself let's just get through today but how many times is that going to work.

ChilliDog At war with myself
  • replies: 1

I almost lost my job 6 months ago, and since then I've been really struggling with waves of grief and despair that will seemingly come from nowhere. After I almost lost my job, it was followed by a month of intense anxiety and paranoia, which I have ... View more

I almost lost my job 6 months ago, and since then I've been really struggling with waves of grief and despair that will seemingly come from nowhere. After I almost lost my job, it was followed by a month of intense anxiety and paranoia, which I have since moved past, but now I just feel empty and numb most of the time when I'm not being hit with a wave of grief. I find it extremely hard to be excited about anything now, and am constantly fighting back the urge to spend money to make myself feel better. It's exhausting. Most of the time it manifests itself in a panic feeling that I have forgotten about something important or something I wanted to do, and no matter how hard I focus or try to remember, nothing comes to me. This happens almost daily, and usually multiple times a day. Anytime I think about anything to do with money, or anything that would take a decent amount of effort, I immediately get stressed and overwhelmed. I just don't know what to do, and I haven't felt normal for a while.

Sal2645 No friends
  • replies: 2

Earlier this year I lost pretty much all of my friends. They all collectively just stopped talking to me. I knew this was going to happen eventually cause I’ve always had a feeling they didn’t like me. I know my anxiety put me in this situation and I... View more

Earlier this year I lost pretty much all of my friends. They all collectively just stopped talking to me. I knew this was going to happen eventually cause I’ve always had a feeling they didn’t like me. I know my anxiety put me in this situation and I drove them away by overthinking every little interaction but I also thought that maybe I was just overreacting and they did see me as a friend. Though I guess I was mistaken and they never did like me. It hurts even more that nothing really happened, like I didn’t do anything and they aren’t angry at me or hate me they just don’t like me. I swear there is something innate about my personality or general presence that drives people away, It takes a lot for people to want to be around me, im scared I’ll never make a new friend ever again. It’s just kinda confirmed what I’ve always thought about myself that I’m inherently unlikable and boring. I’ve made like 2 friends at uni but now they are pretty much the only other people in my life and I haven’t even known them for that long and I feel like they also just see me as like a placeholder and not a real friend, just because time and time again I loose friends because I don’t know they seem to get bored of me or something. I just can’t do it anymore, I don’t know how to talk to people and everyone else has their own friends so even if I somehow manage to get to the point of being friendly with them they’ll probably never see me as a real friend. Its getting harder and harder to pretend I’m not struggling with it and also hiding the fact I’m lonely and friendless to my family. It’s just so violently embarrassing cause all my siblings have lots of friends and are really popular and I have just never been. I needed to get a passport and I didn’t have anyone to be a reference I needed my mum to ask one of her friends. Like how embarrassing. It’s killing me and now it’s just like they know I’m at home all the time and literally never go anywhere with anyone especially with holidays coming up like I guarantee I’ll be alone in the house and everyone else will be out for new years like every year. like even before when I technically had friends I was still lonely but at least I could pretend to my family, but now that I literally have no one it’s like a massive slap in the face. If I told y family directly they would just make fun of me it’s not like they would be worried or anything. I truly see no way out of this

Me2121 Scared of ending up alone
  • replies: 2

I can't stop worrying about ending up alone. I'm 34 and have severe anxiety. Lately I can't stop worrying about what's going to happen to me once my parents pass away. I have no children or partner. It's constantly on my mind. I've tried telling myse... View more

I can't stop worrying about ending up alone. I'm 34 and have severe anxiety. Lately I can't stop worrying about what's going to happen to me once my parents pass away. I have no children or partner. It's constantly on my mind. I've tried telling myself I'll be OK but it doesn't help. I've tried challenging thoughts etc. Nothing seems to help.

Shark Feeling scared
  • replies: 3

Why do i feel like this? I was having a good start to the day. Now i am shacky heart beat racing nearly in tears dry mouth and now do not want to leave the house

Why do i feel like this? I was having a good start to the day. Now i am shacky heart beat racing nearly in tears dry mouth and now do not want to leave the house

Warren2103 Which way is up?
  • replies: 1

I’m a 49-year-old gay guy who feels like he’s hit a dead end in life. I work in corporate risk management, and honestly, it’s completely unfulfilling. I’ve spent almost 20 years in the corporate world and I’ve never really enjoyed it. As I’ve gotten ... View more

I’m a 49-year-old gay guy who feels like he’s hit a dead end in life. I work in corporate risk management, and honestly, it’s completely unfulfilling. I’ve spent almost 20 years in the corporate world and I’ve never really enjoyed it. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become increasingly disengaged, not just from work, but from a lot of things in life. I’ve let my health slide, I’m overweight (not huge, but definitely heavier than I should be), and I’m constantly tired. I feel frustrated because I have no idea how to get out of this cycle. I want to leave the corporate world, but I have absolutely no idea what I’d be good at or where to even begin. I don’t even have anything I could really call a passion either. I was diagnosed with mild depression and anxiety before COVID, and lately I’ve wondered if I might also have some form of ADHD. I’ve always struggled to learn new things quickly, stay focused, and stay organised. Those issues have made my work life very challenging at times, and work has always been a major trigger for my anxiety, especially when I feel like I’m drowning. Right now, I don’t know where to start, who to talk to, or how to figure out my next move. What I do know is that I don’t want to be in the same place in another 20 years. If anyone has gone through this and come out the other end, I’d love to know your storyor get some advice. Thank you.

Dana J chronic jaw pain and extreme anxiety
  • replies: 1

I’ve had jaw pain off and on for a few years. I had xrays done a few years ago and there was some minor damage due to clenching. I was referred to a specialist and the experience was kind of horrible. He was an older specialist and I left feeling lik... View more

I’ve had jaw pain off and on for a few years. I had xrays done a few years ago and there was some minor damage due to clenching. I was referred to a specialist and the experience was kind of horrible. He was an older specialist and I left feeling like he saw me as a hysterical woman type who couldn’t handle her stress and told me to get a splint and wear it during times of stress and left it at that. So I did that and it worked on and off for a while and there was even a time earlier this year that I didn’t need to wear it at all. But the last three weeks my jaw has been starting to hurt, despite wearing the splint every night. The last four days the pain has become a constant dull ache and painkillers aren’t working which is a first for me. I’m constantly thinking about the pain in my face, I’m getting on the stationary bike and trying to get my endorphins up and getting some sunshine but it’s not working. I’m now freaking out thinking I’ve done serious damage and I’m scared to sleep because I know I’m essentially attacking myself in my sleep by clenching my jaw. My GP who I trust implicitly and is very kind and understanding does not have an appointment available for more than two weeks. I’ve made an appointment with TMJ physio at the end of the week. But in the meantime I feel physically sick all the time, and hot and like I’m on the verge of a panic attack. I’m finding it difficult to eat (because I feel sick not because of the pain) and I’m so overwhelmed I’m struggling to contain it. I keep telling myself it’s going to be ok, I know that perimenopause had made my anxiety so much worse but it’s not stopping these terrible feelings and I am now feeling very helpless. I can’t switch this warning bell in my body off and it’s such a horrible feeling.

Hayden Battling nervous system
  • replies: 2

I am at the start of recovery. Yesterday I thought about ending my life. I texted my wife and informed her that I would be taking myself to the hospital. She took me instead. I had new meds prescribed. But I need to wait for previous ones to wear off... View more

I am at the start of recovery. Yesterday I thought about ending my life. I texted my wife and informed her that I would be taking myself to the hospital. She took me instead. I had new meds prescribed. But I need to wait for previous ones to wear off. Anxiety and thoughts crash into me. Feel it in my mind and body, like drug withdrawal? I know my family are supportive but I have always been the supporter. I am grateful for people in my life helping me. I am so tired now trying to stay awake so I don’t wake up a 4am when everyone is asleep and I’m alone.

crazykittyclaws being a bit dramatic about stranger danger
  • replies: 1

Hello, this is my first time posting on this forum so please bear with me!I am 17 and since the start of this year, I feel irrationally anxious going out on casual walks in my neighbour hood. It's ridiculous because I grew up there and I take the sam... View more

Hello, this is my first time posting on this forum so please bear with me!I am 17 and since the start of this year, I feel irrationally anxious going out on casual walks in my neighbour hood. It's ridiculous because I grew up there and I take the same route every time, but lately stepping outside and having cars drive by me, I get so scared I'll suddenly get yanked inside or they'll stop next to me and shove me in their boot. Dramatic I know, but whenever I feel or see a car driving up behind me, I freeze and wait for it to pass before I can continue walking. Every person I pass, I double check and mentally categorise as a potential suspect for kidnapping. Except I feel like I'm being a crazy person, because sometimes when I enter smaller streets and I see a car turn into the same road or direction I am walking on. I stop and immediately just walk back home. Normally a walk would take me half an hour, but now its been cut down to only fifteen or twenty minutes. I don't even walk around at night, its literally the middle of the day. The sun is out, everybody is out, but I just can't. I flinch at birds flying over me, or cars backing out of driveways. The thing is that my school bus stop is fifteen minutes away from my house, I have been taking the same path for two years at this point. But sometimes if I see a car or somebody my brain screams dangerous, I freeze and genuinely wonder if I should just go home. I have to literally gaslight myself by telling myself I'm a fake friend if I don't go, just so I can hop on public transport. I swear this never happened at all two years ago and it frustrates me because I can't even walk the full path I usually take, yet I want to walk further for exercise. Any advice on how to overcome this?

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