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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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Damien2812 GAD Questions..
  • replies: 6

Hi all Just wondering if anyone with GAD has had any problems with GAD affecting them in everything they do in daily life such as in relationships, work or doubting if you can learn or do something etc.. How have you gone by managing this in your lif... View more

Hi all Just wondering if anyone with GAD has had any problems with GAD affecting them in everything they do in daily life such as in relationships, work or doubting if you can learn or do something etc.. How have you gone by managing this in your life so far?

_allovertheplace Bad anxiety day
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I haven’t posted here for a number of years but here I am today. I don’t want to burden those around me so I thought I would put my feelings here almost like a journal. I’m 31, diagnosed depression and generalised anxiety, medicated and previ... View more

Hi all, I haven’t posted here for a number of years but here I am today. I don’t want to burden those around me so I thought I would put my feelings here almost like a journal. I’m 31, diagnosed depression and generalised anxiety, medicated and previously seen psychs etc. I also have a psych degree so I know all about CBT and other therapies and use them for myself very often. My mental health is an everyday battle and for whatever reason, today I am feeling all sorts of dread. Super irritable and annoyed with everyone, generally anxious and low. I have my first covid vax dose in 2 days time and I’m one of the last people I know being vaxxed. Not from a lack of trying, as I wanted desperately to go somewhere local and was just impossible for the longest time. So I think I have a fear of being left out of socialising with my loved ones until I have the second dose and I’m worried about what it’ll do to my mental state. I realise I’m a bit all over the place with this post and I don’t know what I expect people to say. I just needed to get it out

Rubygirlx 25 and don't have 1 close friend - social anxiety
  • replies: 2

Is it normal to be 25 and not have any close friends? I have always been an outsider ever since high school and the older I get the worse it has become. It's so hard for me to talk to people and connect with them. I automatically feel that whatever I... View more

Is it normal to be 25 and not have any close friends? I have always been an outsider ever since high school and the older I get the worse it has become. It's so hard for me to talk to people and connect with them. I automatically feel that whatever I am saying is just stupid and then I just end up tripping on my words, it's so embarrassing. I find it so hard to fit in with a new group and just find myself staying quiet. I have an extroverted boyfriend and he is great but sometimes it just makes me sad when I see him and all his groups of friends. I get sad because I think I never have felt that loved and support by a group of people. any tips or ideas on how to overcome this?

Maxy333 Hating self
  • replies: 21

I'm suffering from terrable guilt and shame that makes me self loathing , my hatered for myself is depressing me. I'm not to sure how to turn this around.

I'm suffering from terrable guilt and shame that makes me self loathing , my hatered for myself is depressing me. I'm not to sure how to turn this around.

Tugboat Health Anxiety again!
  • replies: 10

Hi it’s me again! I have been suffering health anxiety on and off for over 30 years. Currently going through a rough patch again and waiting to have an ultrasound. My anxiety is very high at the moment and my mind will not slow down thinking all nega... View more

Hi it’s me again! I have been suffering health anxiety on and off for over 30 years. Currently going through a rough patch again and waiting to have an ultrasound. My anxiety is very high at the moment and my mind will not slow down thinking all negative thoughts. My mornings are the worst time and as the day goes on it eases only a little. I am extremely teary and cannot eat as I feel sick. I am struggling going to work and just doing normal every day things.

Geralt_of_Rivia Constant health Anxiety tips/videos/advice
  • replies: 3

Hey guys, I’ve battled anxiety and health anxiety for a long time. I felt like a couple of years ago I regained control and now it’s back worse than ever. It’s fatigued me to the point where I just want to stay in bed, I’m exhausted by 3/4pm. My eyes... View more

Hey guys, I’ve battled anxiety and health anxiety for a long time. I felt like a couple of years ago I regained control and now it’s back worse than ever. It’s fatigued me to the point where I just want to stay in bed, I’m exhausted by 3/4pm. My eyes are bloodshot and sore when I wake up, does this happen to anyone else? And constant headaches and fatigue? Also I rarely actually have an increase in heart rate, does this mean it could be other factors than anxiety? Or does this happen to others also? I guess I’m just looking to hear some advice, maybe even writing this out has some therapeutic benefits. I’m just exhausted and can’t seem to lift my mood and it’s been this way for a while now. Lockdown doesn’t help either. Any calming videos or reassuring talks to watch on YouTube would be amazing if anyone had recommendations also. Appreciate any help so much Thanks

SpookyScooter Debilitating Health Anxiety
  • replies: 12

Hi, I’ve been a long time reader of the forums - it helps me to feel like I’m not alone ☺️ Background My dad died in hospital in 2017. We were on our way to see him, as we got the call that he was declining. I was the first one to enter his room and ... View more

Hi, I’ve been a long time reader of the forums - it helps me to feel like I’m not alone ☺️ Background My dad died in hospital in 2017. We were on our way to see him, as we got the call that he was declining. I was the first one to enter his room and found him deceased. The doctors and nurses hadn’t realized he had passed, so I wasn’t warned when I walked into his room. The following night, after getting home, I went into shock from seeing him deceased the day before. I had my first violent intrusive thought and it terrified me. At 2am, I bundled my child into the car and drove myself to emergency, because I thought I was going to lose my mind. They gave me Valium and sent me home. Luckily I had a wonderful therapist and over the next 2yrs I worked with her on my anxiety and intrusive thoughts. I was on medication for about a year, but weaned off and used the tools my therapist gave me to manage the anxiety and panic attacks. Current issue I am now suffering from health anxiety. Tonight, the sensations are overwhelming. I have a fear of suffocating and not being able to breathe. My throat feels tight and my nose feels blocked. These sensations have been building over several weeks and present themselves as my ultimate fear - suffocating. I am beside myself tonight. I’m on the verge of calling an ambulance, fearing I’m having an allergic reaction (I don’t have any allergies). Logically, I know it’s my anxiety that’s giving me these sensations. Im just so exhausted from constantly checking my symptoms and reassuring myself. Im emotionally wrecked I don’t want to go back on medication. I have a medication that I can take occasionally to ease my anxiety symptoms, but alas, my health anxiety is scared of taking any type of meds, even though I’ve used them before. I feel like I am running a constant marathon, I’m so tired of this fear of something happening to me 🥺

Wanti Burnout and returning to work. Heart palpitations
  • replies: 2

I have worked in the community development I sector for the same company for the past 12 years. I hold a senior position And over the past two years have started to be quite depressed. A few things came to a head a few weeks ago which lead to me taki... View more

I have worked in the community development I sector for the same company for the past 12 years. I hold a senior position And over the past two years have started to be quite depressed. A few things came to a head a few weeks ago which lead to me taking two weeks stress leave. Today was my first day back and I have had heart palpitations again throughout the day. My colleague/manager did not ask how I am going. Despite telling the directors I am burnt out and need to take leave however despite saying this verbally about five times they still haven’t listened I am committed to the company and people I work for however the toll is now too much. I am the main breadwinner of the family and my husband has been depressed for close to 9 months and has not worked. My kids are doing ok but need a present mum which I am not I am short tempered and over it all I know I have to leave but how? I feel trapped. I feel like I can’t keep this up but I have to

anxiousqueen Symptomatic 24/7
  • replies: 6

Hi all! I'm new to this space and am really struggling in life lately, so i thought I'd dive straight into sharing a bit of something tonight! The past 2 months have been intense for me medically. I am anaemic, i am in chronic pain and i am currently... View more

Hi all! I'm new to this space and am really struggling in life lately, so i thought I'd dive straight into sharing a bit of something tonight! The past 2 months have been intense for me medically. I am anaemic, i am in chronic pain and i am currently awaiting a diagnosis for an auto immune disorder as my white blood cells are also low. This past week has hit me especially hard. My Grandma's health is on the decline and i have past trauma when it comes to such a thing -> I watched my Grandpa suffer for 6 years with ill health and then i had a pet whom took ill as well. Both are no longer with me. My response to this current situation with my Grandma has me super on edge all the time! My Mum is my Grandma's carer, so every time her phone starts ringing I expect it to be something bad!! I now can't find a way to calm down at all! I keep clenching my teeth, i am tachycardic all the time, i have digestive pains and can barely eat due to being so wound up.. in the past 2 days i keep having bad dizzy spells.. I just haven't felt like myself in the longest time overall and it scares me but this also triggers my depression to feel as i do, both in my body and my mind all the time. The fatigue i feel is so bad as i write this! I'm currently early into a work break that i allowed myself to take (i do content creating online). I just don't like doing anything when i constantly feel no good emotions. I was so long overdue for this break too. I just kept pushing but nothing was (and nothing currently is) making me feel any better. Or rather i feel like what would usually brighten me up, is just stressing me out instead! So here i am writing this as i quite honestly just feel like i need to let this out. I do see my doctor again in a week's time, so we'll see how things go from there. In the meantime (and beyond) i do hope to check back here and interact with you all on other parts of this forum too. I thank you so much in advance for taking your time to even read this post! I really appreciate it! ~ anxiousqueen

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