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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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PsychedelicFur Anxiety for university interview tomorrow morning
  • replies: 3

Hello there, Recently - as of last week I made some university applications for a bachelor of communications/journalism. As I have almost completed my diploma for 2021 and I am thoroughly enjoying the content and want to expand my knowledge. I really... View more

Hello there, Recently - as of last week I made some university applications for a bachelor of communications/journalism. As I have almost completed my diploma for 2021 and I am thoroughly enjoying the content and want to expand my knowledge. I really have a thirst for learning. One of the higher education places I applied for has arranged an interview with me for tomorrow. I am so anxious. When I was aware of the interview late last week, on the night, I prepared my answers to the three set questions. As I want to appear punctual, responsible, organised, ethical and invested in my learning. I love learning. I thoroughly enjoy studying. I have read over my set questions hundreds and hundreds times and I am feeling confident. Just a little nervous. PF.

Banksia20 Anyone with Social Anxiety?
  • replies: 13

Hi, Anyone else here with social anxiety? I'm not a shy person but I constantly worry what people think of me or I will go over and over things I have said or done. It is exhausting! Any advice to reduce these thoughts and emotions?

Hi, Anyone else here with social anxiety? I'm not a shy person but I constantly worry what people think of me or I will go over and over things I have said or done. It is exhausting! Any advice to reduce these thoughts and emotions?

NichD Only able to sleep 3-4 hours during lockdown/everyday.. (Any Solutions?)
  • replies: 2

Hi there, I'm a male currently at the age of 22 years old, this routine happened after the lockdown started and really kick my anxiety and depression in the early of July. During the lockdown, I feel like I'm being trapped at home. I lived alone wher... View more

Hi there, I'm a male currently at the age of 22 years old, this routine happened after the lockdown started and really kick my anxiety and depression in the early of July. During the lockdown, I feel like I'm being trapped at home. I lived alone where I have no one to talk to, usually I always go out and work before lockdown happened. Now, I only spent my day at home for about 2 months where I have no one to talk to and spent my time mostly on my computer and phone. Every night when I go to bed, I just can't sleep at all I tried many things, for example, taking sleep vitamins, exercise, meditation but it not helping me out when I tried to sleep. This makes me feel so stressed out during night time when I go to bed my mind always thought "it's another night I won't be able to sleep again". Its been like a month I only able to sleep like 3-4 hours and slowly im getting weaker and sick. My body always feels really tense and extremely tired but yet every time I went to bed I always cant sleep at all. At some point I wanna take sleep medecine but Im scared of side effects. Since I cant sleep really well my anxiety and stressed getting worst by day. I always started to overthinking somethings, scared of unnecessary things, and mostly scared going to bed Does anyone have advice or solutions about this, how I can get back to sleep normally?

The_Bro WHEN 'YES YES' BECOMES 'NO NO'
  • replies: 2

Hi Everybody Learning that all of our Olympians from South Australia have to endure two lots of quarantine on return to Australia got me thinking. Here they are, enduring unimaginable sacrifices and years of training to become champions and represent... View more

Hi Everybody Learning that all of our Olympians from South Australia have to endure two lots of quarantine on return to Australia got me thinking. Here they are, enduring unimaginable sacrifices and years of training to become champions and represent our country, being tested for Covid every day in Tokyo and again when entering Australia, quarantining for 14 days on arrival, then having to go into a second 14 days in South Australia. I can't see the common sense in that. I wonder how they feel about that level of recognition? This made think about the times I have looked forward to something like picking up a new car, getting all excited, then being told delivery was running late. Or being told I had got the job I applied for after three rounds of interviews. Getting excited with anticipation, then being told there was another interview yet to pass! Or even going on a first date with a new girl, then she calls with apologies and can't make it. Even though setting another date, my level of anticipation took a blow. Just wondering how our forum members have experienced things like this happening to them where something they looked forward to was delayed, and how they handled their emotions? I found it was easy to get annoyed at the situation, or the person causing the delay - of course this didn't help! With the added job interview, after thinking about it, I used it as an opportunity to learn a bit more about the company, thought about how I could improve on previous interviews, and as a result of this, sailed through it and got the job! With the late car delivery, I cleaned out the garage to make more room for the car and was amazed by the extra room created! With the delayed date, I later learnt she had a family emergency and her delay was genuine. Our delayed date was great! Are these an example of every cloud has a silver lining? Is it better to live in the moment and not let anticipation control our emotions? Would love to hear your thoughts - has good things being delayed happened to you and how did you respond? Many thanks - The Bro

josh1245 online uni/school/work fatigue
  • replies: 4

Hey guys i hope everyone is well I've been doing online uni for a year and half and sometimes I don't know when its going to end and the the last three months have hit me hard due to the last three lockdowns Melbourne has been in. I have had depressi... View more

Hey guys i hope everyone is well I've been doing online uni for a year and half and sometimes I don't know when its going to end and the the last three months have hit me hard due to the last three lockdowns Melbourne has been in. I have had depression and anxiety for years and i just feel its just getting worse at this point. i just feel so alone sometimes as my sister and mum are at work and school and I'm doing uni online by myself and it feels really isolating even my placement is online so I'm constantly on a screen Monday and Friday and its jsut so draining. im just wondering if there any other people who can relate to this fatigue and how its making everyone feel.

LissyLou99 My son was destroyed online… and it’s me not coping
  • replies: 10

Hi friends My son, about a month ago, tried to take his own life at 17 years old as an ex girlfriend posted online that he was a sexual abuser. Of course initially our priority was to ensure he was safe and got him some help to keep him safe. Next we... View more

Hi friends My son, about a month ago, tried to take his own life at 17 years old as an ex girlfriend posted online that he was a sexual abuser. Of course initially our priority was to ensure he was safe and got him some help to keep him safe. Next we investigated the allegations and even took him to the police and asked for them to investigate it. Our reasons were 2 fold. If it was true or any basis for her allegations, then we needed our own son to be responsible for his actions. But if it was false, we want him to have a voice of reply and to have her dealt with. To at least remove the post that went to 300 of the school kids. The result was there was no basis for her post, it was posted out of jealousy to deter another female from liking my son, no charges were laid against my son, she was reprimanded and the post was removed. Unfortunately it made an awesome story for 17 years old that he goes to school with and although is still receiving a lot of help from professionals, is a risk every time he leaves the house of whether he will be able to keep himself safe. He is avoided at school as, although she keeps it off line, she verbally still spreads stories of him. The knock on effect is what this has done to our family. I can’t get it out of my mind. I turn over the events constantly. The anger is what she’s done to gain attention and to be portrayed as a “strong resilient survivor” flies in the face of every woman who has truely been assaulted. But I can’t seem to move on… i want to be the mature woman I used to be but I’m the middle of the night when I can’t sleep, the intrusive thoughts prevent a clear way through. I’m trying meditation to try to calm my mind and it does help. For a short time. I exercise every day but still doesn’t exhaust me enough. I don’t want to go to work but once I’m there, it does distract me. I’m hiding all these thoughts from my wonderful and supportive husband. I’m embarrassed that I’m not coping. He truely is CaptainSensible! But sometimes I just wish my mind would just stop.

Seekingbrighterpath Anxiety about the future
  • replies: 6

Hi Guys, I have just joined in order to seek help. I have 2 small children and all of a sudden I have started to suffer MAJOR anxiety about the future of the world. Not just normal feelings but feelings of Doom and gloom about coronavirus, AU/China U... View more

Hi Guys, I have just joined in order to seek help. I have 2 small children and all of a sudden I have started to suffer MAJOR anxiety about the future of the world. Not just normal feelings but feelings of Doom and gloom about coronavirus, AU/China US/CHina etc. What have people done to cope with this? I find myself reasoning to calm myself down but it seems to come back worse every few days to the point of major panic attacks.. why am I upset about things I can't control? Please help

Pureison I feel so anxious I want to cry
  • replies: 14

Hello there, I am 28 years old and recently received a job offer for a retail store that's opening up in my city soon. I went to meet the manager the other day, and I've already told a few of my friends that I got the job, however there's a couple of... View more

Hello there, I am 28 years old and recently received a job offer for a retail store that's opening up in my city soon. I went to meet the manager the other day, and I've already told a few of my friends that I got the job, however there's a couple of things that I'm really worried and stressed about and whenever I think about it, it makes me want to cry. The thing is, I've never had a job before due to personal reasons, and this is all so new to me, I have training in a couple of weeks time and meeting the team but I'm not sure if I can do this, and I've heard so many horror stories or stories about customer service and I don't think I'm suited for it... I'm not confident at all with meeting new people and at the moment I'm having second thoughts about this new job... I have no idea what to do. My friends all believe that it's great and I can do this but I just feel so stressed and feel like I don't think I can... I don't think I can even go to this training thing.... Does anyone have advice about this? Maybe share your experience with retail?

Kpb16 Excessive hand washing
  • replies: 2

Hi, hope all is well. I’ve been washing my hands excessively and I can spend 20-30 minutes doing so and it’s starting to hurt my legs and knees. I do need help please on how to stop. Thanks.

Hi, hope all is well. I’ve been washing my hands excessively and I can spend 20-30 minutes doing so and it’s starting to hurt my legs and knees. I do need help please on how to stop. Thanks.

I_wish_I_could_learn_by_o Don’t know how to ask for help, what I’m asking for...
  • replies: 7

Just not feeling like I can (should) reach out and ask for help. Read through some of the new posts but found it overwhelming and confusing. Not even sure WHAT I am asking for, have never really been able to ask for help, or have had unrealistic expe... View more

Just not feeling like I can (should) reach out and ask for help. Read through some of the new posts but found it overwhelming and confusing. Not even sure WHAT I am asking for, have never really been able to ask for help, or have had unrealistic expectations of what help means or looks like. Don’t want empty platitudes like “it will get better” because of course it will. A lot of anxiety exacerbated by being in lockdown and socially isolated, can’t remember how to hold a conversation, or maybe I just don’t care anymore? Now a single mum, over 40, DV situation which lost me the support of my family, intellectually disabled child, have psychologist and psychiatrist, on new meds with recent bipolar diagnoses. Anxiety, depression, maybe BPD or complex PTSD. Lost? Getting along okay. Not sure how to make connections with people and would like to learn how to converse with people and make friends and be friendly again.