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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_63728101 Talk can't sleep
  • replies: 4

Hi, I need some one to talk to I always wake up at 3 am and am very alone

Hi, I need some one to talk to I always wake up at 3 am and am very alone

Guest_48930025 What does it take to stop needing anxiety & depression medication?
  • replies: 3

I've been on same medication for over 10 years; had good outcomes generally. Sometimes a curve ball of life can exacerbate my A&D - and I'm in one of those points now. So not the time to stop at the moment. But the Scrooge in me (perhaps) doesn't wan... View more

I've been on same medication for over 10 years; had good outcomes generally. Sometimes a curve ball of life can exacerbate my A&D - and I'm in one of those points now. So not the time to stop at the moment. But the Scrooge in me (perhaps) doesn't want to spend the ~$90 per month. I suppose the question here is, how many long term suffers can stop using the meds, and what are the life circumstances that eventually allow for that, if at all?

Joker_J Anxiety, Injustice, and Fear: Workplace Exploitation
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone,I’m going through one of the most emotionally exhausting phases of my life, and I don’t know how to process everything anymore. I’ve been working at a café where the owner has been underpaying, delaying wages, and manipulating staff for y... View more

Hi everyone,I’m going through one of the most emotionally exhausting phases of my life, and I don’t know how to process everything anymore. I’ve been working at a café where the owner has been underpaying, delaying wages, and manipulating staff for years. I stayed quiet for so long, just hoping things would improve. But after months of working alone, often unpaid, and being made to feel replaceable and disposable, I’m now being accused of theft — for taking money that was rightfully mine after she promised it to me.The anxiety is consuming me. She has told people I stole from her, shown footage to others, and threatened me by saying she knows where I live and my number plate. I don’t feel safe. I’m scared that if I take action, she’ll retaliate. But I also don’t want to stay silent anymore. I feel like I’m carrying a weight no one sees. I’ve been trying to stand up for myself, but the fear, shame, and anxiety are overwhelming.I don’t know if others will believe me. I don’t know if I’ll be protected as an international student. I’ve reached out to Fair Work and legal centres, but the emotional toll is something I can’t explain to them. I keep replaying what I could have done differently, and I feel stuck between wanting justice and needing peace.I’d love to hear from anyone who’s gone through something similar. How do you cope with the fear of retaliation? How do you move forward when your body feels like it’s constantly in fight-or-flight? I feel like I’m drowning and just need to be heard.Thank you for listening.

Zephyr478 Decluttering Pandora’s Box
  • replies: 2

A year ago, I lost my elderly mother. She was my “one” . It’s been hard. I have endured anxiety for decades, bouncing between trying to stretch my comfort zones and limiting agoraphobia. Now that the Estate has been concluded, I am in a position wher... View more

A year ago, I lost my elderly mother. She was my “one” . It’s been hard. I have endured anxiety for decades, bouncing between trying to stretch my comfort zones and limiting agoraphobia. Now that the Estate has been concluded, I am in a position where I have no option but to start over again. It’s freaking me out somewhat. So in an attempt to control the situation, I decided to start a big declutter. In the dumbest move ever, I thought it would be a good idea to start with the hard stuff first. I’m talking all the sentimental stuff, not only belonging to myself but also both my parents. Triple Swedish Death Cleaning, is never a good idea. ( apologies for the gallows humour). Naturally, I became overwhelmed rather quickly, but had difficulty stopping myself. After a sleepless night, I had a morning meltdown. I have reached out to friends and family asking for help. I just wanted to share on this forum with others who understand how precious it is to seek hope…

Guest_48639112 Feeling empty
  • replies: 3

For years, I have been feeling empty when I am by myself. I hate this feeling. I often try to have people around me by spending money on them, taking them out for dinners. While I am generous, I don’t want to use this behavior to cover my empty feeli... View more

For years, I have been feeling empty when I am by myself. I hate this feeling. I often try to have people around me by spending money on them, taking them out for dinners. While I am generous, I don’t want to use this behavior to cover my empty feeling. I want to feel cheered up without needing to be around people. I want to feel motivated to do things for myself. I want to live for myself, not just because I have to live and do my best for my young daughter. I am unable to leave the house if I don’t have someone with me. For instance, I force myself to go to the grocery store for groceries. I see psychologist every fortnight but I go back to the empty feeling as I walk out the counseling sessions. How can I stop this madness?

Someone-who-sleeps Struggling with life
  • replies: 2

Finding it difficult to cope these last few months and it's getting harder. I am not diagnosed with anxiety and I keep getting told to get checked for it. I'm having a lot of trouble balancing my life and don't know what to do, I'm potentially failin... View more

Finding it difficult to cope these last few months and it's getting harder. I am not diagnosed with anxiety and I keep getting told to get checked for it. I'm having a lot of trouble balancing my life and don't know what to do, I'm potentially failing a unit at University and struggling to keep up with work. I don't know what to do:(

SushiRose09 Job affecting mental health
  • replies: 3

Hi all,I am a registered nurse in my first year of practice. I am currently in ED and have been in this position for about a month and recently spent 6 months working in rehabilitation which I enjoyed . I am really struggling with the pressure and st... View more

Hi all,I am a registered nurse in my first year of practice. I am currently in ED and have been in this position for about a month and recently spent 6 months working in rehabilitation which I enjoyed . I am really struggling with the pressure and stress of working in ED and have noticed it is significantly affecting my mental health, I have been crying on the days that I am off work and having negative thoughts. I feel like a failure and really want to quit, I am only in this position until March 2026 but I feel like I cannot make it until then due to the way I feel now. I also struggle with the rotating rosters and have bad experiences with night shift such as vomiting and nausea. I am unsure what next steps to take but I have been applying to other job roles. Should I quit now?

Guest_52585678 Asbetos anxiety
  • replies: 1

Asbestos exposure anxiety - need perspective Hi,. I’ve been living in an old navy shack at a caravan park and decided to fix it up. I painted over some exposed cladding (possible asbestos) wearing full protection - respirator and suit. Later repainte... View more

Asbestos exposure anxiety - need perspective Hi,. I’ve been living in an old navy shack at a caravan park and decided to fix it up. I painted over some exposed cladding (possible asbestos) wearing full protection - respirator and suit. Later repainted and also did the soffit boards, which had some exposed fibrous material. I wore a respirator but it may not have fit properly. The next day I had blood in my spit, dry cough, sore throat, and white bumps in my throat. A week later I was hospitalized with mild linear atelectasis. I’ve moved out but I’m convinced I’m dying from asbestos exposure. The thing that confuses me is I work in a very dusty recycling plant with organic dust and crushed glass, and I never get throat infections there even without a mask. But painting a soffit board caused all this inflammation? I’m terrified and feeling hopeless. Has anyone dealt with similar health anxiety after potential asbestos exposure? I know I need to stop googling and posting about this, but I can’t shake the fear.

OldHeadNZ The differences in Mental Health Support Services across Melbourne
  • replies: 1

Hi there. My names J. I'm originally from NZ but moved here to Melbourne in 2016.From time to time I suffer manic episodes that need medication to address and resolve.I'm now currently going through my 3rd episode since moving here.The first one, I w... View more

Hi there. My names J. I'm originally from NZ but moved here to Melbourne in 2016.From time to time I suffer manic episodes that need medication to address and resolve.I'm now currently going through my 3rd episode since moving here.The first one, I was living in the City so I sought help at Alfred Hospital and they fed me, medicated me, called my Wife and even walked me to my tram stop home. From there I received the best support I've had to date. They got me through the episode and honestly just did an amazing job. 3 years later (episodes roughly happen every 3 years) I'm now living in the Outer Western Suburbs. A good 40min drive from the city.Second episode hits and I seek help like before. But that's where everything goes wrong. The Nurses/Dr's/HCA's/Lab Techs are just underfunded. Simple as that.When there's not enough staff to manage the workload mistakes happen.I was prescribed a toxic amount of Lithium as a mood stabiliser and ended up staying a night at Sunshine Hospital to get me through it. I've been diagnosed as having a Schizo Effective Disorder. A mix of bipolar and schizophrenia.Manic episodes are essentially me being super into my feelings.When I'm sad I'm super sad, when I'm happy I'm super happy.I'm talkative, I'm social, I'm ready to party essentially. I have poor impulse control with spending. My thoughts race a mile a second. I have short term memory loss. The list goes on But with the right support and medication I can get through the episode without any major hiccups. I say all this, because I feel like there's others out there like me.Whether it's bipolar or depression or psychosis or whatever As long as you have the right support, you'll get through. I'm now towards the tail end of my 3rd episode. Still living in the Western Suburbs, so still have to go through this system. And would you believe it, it's worse. A lot worse. Dr's who can even list the side effects of the medication they're prescribing. Staff turnover must be insane, because in 3 weeks I've never met the same person twice.It's always "oh hi I'm ****, it's my first day" or "o I'm just covering for ***" I signed up for the whole MyHealth record thing so I assumed my previous notes were in the system...I assumed wrong.They apparently have no record of my previous care or are unable to obtain it. So we start from scratch and hope for the best. I'm rambling now. I apologise. The point of this discussion is to hear from other people about their journey through whatever Mental Health Support System they are zoned for. Because I believe the differences in quality are ridiculous.

glrlly Work life stress
  • replies: 2

Having a really hard time with work at the moment. The anxiety and stress is taking a toll on my body to where I’m vomiting and having bad stomach issues from it. I feel like it’s consuming my life. I’ve neglected friendships and relationships, i don... View more

Having a really hard time with work at the moment. The anxiety and stress is taking a toll on my body to where I’m vomiting and having bad stomach issues from it. I feel like it’s consuming my life. I’ve neglected friendships and relationships, i don’t want to leave the house anymore. My workplace is a very tense environment to put it politely, it’s small family owned business with less than 10 people working there. My bosses are a married couple who argue and yell quiet often in front of or over my desk. I have a co worker who is also speaks down to me often and uses a nasty tone. I’ve also been told people are calling me the r word at work some reason they felt the need to tell me. I’m currently applying for other jobs but the toll of this job just seem like it’s consuming me and my life. I could really use any advice or anything really. I feel stupid for even complaining about this stuff cause i feel like im blowing it out of proportion and its not bad at all

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