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

loveyourself9 Health anxiety in lockdown
  • replies: 2

I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder in 2019, my anxiety has turned into health anxiety, every physical symptom I've become afraid of. I don't know how to differentiate between normal bodily functions or if something is bad. My intrusive... View more

I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder in 2019, my anxiety has turned into health anxiety, every physical symptom I've become afraid of. I don't know how to differentiate between normal bodily functions or if something is bad. My intrusive thoughts have gotten way worse. I got the first dose of the vaccine, and hearing the side effects and all these health related things has made me have this health anxiety. This talk happens literally every day and now it's just always in my head. Recently my dad showed me a video of this guy working out and said he died in his sleep, now I'm scared to fall asleep every day. I even exercised yesterday to help reduce my anxiety, but my brain always finds a way to believe the worst case scenario will happen. I've never seen a therapist because my dad is against it. I got a mental health plan referral in 2019 which took 6 months to get back to me, and when they did my dad said I didn't need it. I was crushed. However my sister saw a therapist in 2020 which helped her a lot, it makes me want to see one more because I've been battling this alone for so long. I always say I'm okay and put on this brave face because I don't want to worry anyone or make the situation worse. Next week I'm going to try and see my university counsellor for the first time to help with my issues, because I know I really need help. It's taken a lot for me to write this and come to term with all these thoughts that stay in my head all the time. Any help or reassurance that I can live through this is appreciated, I just want to feel okay again.

Coco18-8 Big step
  • replies: 5

Hi, a bit of backstory I have had some form of anxiety surround me for the past year. So I decided to take the step and tell my mum that I think I may need to see someone. Her reaction was mild she was ok with it but it was a brief conversation. I ca... View more

Hi, a bit of backstory I have had some form of anxiety surround me for the past year. So I decided to take the step and tell my mum that I think I may need to see someone. Her reaction was mild she was ok with it but it was a brief conversation. I can’t help but feel even worse and more alone then I did before I told her. It took everything in me to tell her and now that I have I kind of regret it.I feel stupid and I feel like she thinks I’m being dramatic. I just really thought a weight would’ve been lifted of my chest yet I feel like more pressure has been placed on me.

n2k12 Wondering if anyone would like to read my back story, and shed some light into what might be going on
  • replies: 5

Hello all, i don't post here very often. I am shy, have communication difficulties, due to the fact i have autism. Today is one of my better days for functioning. so i would like to ask a question. Wondering if anyone would like to read my back story... View more

Hello all, i don't post here very often. I am shy, have communication difficulties, due to the fact i have autism. Today is one of my better days for functioning. so i would like to ask a question. Wondering if anyone would like to read my back story, and shed some light into what might be going on? I have made several txt documents, which contain parts of my childhood trauma and into adulthood. I have been wanting to share these documents with a licenced therapist / psychologist. I Have been unable to get to one, due to my financial,and issues using public transport. and i cannot drive. Its not an easy place to be in. Would anyone be interested in this? are their any professional therpaists / psychologists in these forums? i really am in need of assistance / feedback. I am lost to be honest. For those who may agree to read said documents, i caution you, their are some sensitive things in the documents that may upset some people. please, let me know and thanks!. sorry to ask here. i really do not know who else to share these with and get feedback. I have no family or friends to speak of. Getting mental health support now days is quite difficult, in my case. However, i am working on getting there, via my GP.

Metal_kitty Ruminating and obsessing about a mistake I just made.
  • replies: 15

Hi everyone I'm new. I'm extremely tenses right now. I know my jaw is locked and my shoulders and neck as well. My mind is going a million miles and hour. I cannot distract myself from analysing a mistake I've just made with my new job. MY client has... View more

Hi everyone I'm new. I'm extremely tenses right now. I know my jaw is locked and my shoulders and neck as well. My mind is going a million miles and hour. I cannot distract myself from analysing a mistake I've just made with my new job. MY client has emailed and ask questions which has lead me to recognise my mistake. I've tried to research to figure out the correct answers but am still at a loss. So I forwarded the email on to my boss and told him everything. His replied by saying he would pen me a response in the morning. I cannot figure out if he is annoyed at me or not. I've been with them a month now. Part time. I'm juggling 3 jobs as I've recently separated from my husband and had to move out of the house and now renting. I also quit my major career just before we broke up. I know I can do better then this. I just need to focus and have time to learn all the systems and processes. I want to quit 1 of my jobs but a worried about money and these trying times of covid and lockdowns. Plus I need the references for me to build a house. I'm so annoyed at myself for making this mistake. I've tried the deep breathing and sleep meditation app. I just can't let it go. I need this job. I really like this job. But I don't know what my boss is thinking. Will he fire me? Why didn't I remember that this job was different and had to look at different equipment? There are too many "why's" rattling in my head. I'm so tense. Why am I so stupid???? I really need to do better.

cacti running low on motivation and self-esteem
  • replies: 11

I am having tremendous difficulties getting over failure and unsatisfactory work results. Me being that one hardcore academic who performs poorly in every aspect of life except for academics and arts makes it easy to develop an obsession for academic... View more

I am having tremendous difficulties getting over failure and unsatisfactory work results. Me being that one hardcore academic who performs poorly in every aspect of life except for academics and arts makes it easy to develop an obsession for academic achievements. I've been failing my own standards pretty hard for the past months even though I study for hours. My social anxiety grew exponentially and my odd temper has been driving my friends away. I'm worried that I won't be able to pursue an ideal career if this carries on. I doubt my intellectual abilities every second minute. I always am apologetic towards the people around me whom I've been nasty to so I would avoid them more. I can't sleep nor eat normally. I wake up mid-night and cry in our backyard like . Nothing I do seems to satisfy me as long as my performance isn't perfect. I got another score back today and I am falling behind on ranks, used to be top of the year in chem and bio but currently I am hardly top 10. I loathe myself for having absolutely zero talent in anything besides studying, if I'm like this now what am I going to do in the near future? Am I supposed to give it all up and aim for an ordinary pathway instead because I am just mediocre? I have no one to talk to on these problems as by doing so it'd put pressure on them or in some ways sabotage their mental health. Now I'm lying down not willing to do anything useful, there's another exam coming up and I can't even bring myself to study for it, I'm just so done, it'd be easier if I just cease to exist one day. As a kid I've always dreamed of becoming a pioneer scientist but now it'd sound like a joke. Is it all inside my head or is it already too late

SP22 COVID Anxiety
  • replies: 2

I am terrified of returning to work after lockdown. It is clear how COVID is being spread. I teach and many of the students do not wear their masks or wear them under their chin. I am scared of going back to the classroom. There is nothing to support... View more

I am terrified of returning to work after lockdown. It is clear how COVID is being spread. I teach and many of the students do not wear their masks or wear them under their chin. I am scared of going back to the classroom. There is nothing to support us out there either from the AEU or anywhere else. There is auditing regarding ventilation but what about students who don't wear masks. What do we do?

Coco18-8 Social anxiety?
  • replies: 4

Hi, this my first ever thread so idk how this will go but we’ll see I guess. I am a highschool student who has been really shy most of my life, but the past year I’ve just felt a huge weight of anxiety come onto me, especially when it comes to social... View more

Hi, this my first ever thread so idk how this will go but we’ll see I guess. I am a highschool student who has been really shy most of my life, but the past year I’ve just felt a huge weight of anxiety come onto me, especially when it comes to socially interacting. I’m fine to order a meal or talk to my friends. But I have massive amounts of anxiety when I go to work, a place I’ve been at for a year. I get nauseous, “stress” rashes and hot flushes everytime I’m about to leave for it. And I guess that obviously can get exhausting for a while. I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily a loner at work but I don’t have a huge group of friends and idk it just makes me anxious for the future , like am I not capable to make more friends? I feel like this kind of sounds stupid but I’ve had anxiety or panic attacks idk which one it is before hand where I loose my breath and I’m in uncontrollable tears and have to calm myself down. But I just feel like I’m in this constant panic and I want to feel relaxed and just want to feel like it’s all going to be ok. Even typing this I’m anxious .

user9463728 still confused
  • replies: 9

I posted something on here a while ago and I'm honestly still confused. I just feel like something isn't right with me. I have no idea how to explain how I feel. I'm constantly searching around trying to find some kind of condition or something that ... View more

I posted something on here a while ago and I'm honestly still confused. I just feel like something isn't right with me. I have no idea how to explain how I feel. I'm constantly searching around trying to find some kind of condition or something that sounds like what I'm experiencing but nothing. It feels like I have a mix of a bunch of different disorders but that's not right. I feel like I've always thought of people and everything, in general, a little differently than others but it wasn't anything crazy. I've noticed, every month or so I get weirdly obsessed with something. And by weirdly obsessed I mean WEIRDLY OBSESSED. I can't stop thinking about it, whether it be a tv show, a person or even an illness. Ill do hours and hours of research and won't be able to think about anything other than it for a few days usually. However, sometimes the "obsession" lasts a few weeks or more. Last year I became obsessed with blindness. (No idea where it started. I probably saw an article on it or something.) So obsessed that I wanted to be blind. Like really badly. I was stupid and did research on how I could make it happen. I ended up staring at the sun for about ten minutes in one eye and less in the other. Told my parents I was "seeing a weird dot" in my eye so I could get it checked out. Had scans done and they asked me whether I had looked into any bright lights, of course, I said no. Was diagnosed with some other eye condition that presents similarly and to this day, I'm the only one who knows what really caused it. Not even my parents know I caused it. (cost them a shit ton of money too lol). I did it just for the attention. I got extra attention at school and loved seeing everybody's reactions to finding out I had a "rare eye condition." I pretend to be sad when my friends ask me about it but really I love their reactions and attention so much. I LOVE it. The "eye condition" reactions have mostly died down now. Everyone has forgotten it exists. Been having obsessions like this for a few years now but that's the furthest I've been with one. I've had a lot of smaller ones but still very annoying. When searching for answers I've been leaning towards the possibility of some kind of personality disorder. I saw an article talking about obsessions in borderline personality, but had only one other symptom. Even leaned towards antisocial personality disorder, as I have a few symptoms but it doesn't seem right. Any idea what this sounds like?

Santa_P How to make panic attacks go away
  • replies: 12

I’ve been experiencing what I think are panic attacks for the past few weeks. They come on without warning. I start to breath faster, struggle to breathe, start coughing to clear phelgm, burning sensation in the middle of my chest, radiates up into m... View more

I’ve been experiencing what I think are panic attacks for the past few weeks. They come on without warning. I start to breath faster, struggle to breathe, start coughing to clear phelgm, burning sensation in the middle of my chest, radiates up into my face. Feelings of fear, guilt, worry, engulf me. My main fear is that I have some issue with my heart. After the first attack, I went to the doctor, who did ECG and Blood tests. Both results showed I was OK. My problem is that although everyone has assured me that I’m OK, I still get these panic attacks. They happen several times per day, without warning. I also am worried about going to sleep at night, with the fear I will not wake up because my heart will stop. I have started a course of anxiety medication and intend to see a psychologist as soon as a can. So far, the medication does not seem to have had much effect on the panic attacks/anxiety. I have been taking the medication for 3 days. Just looking for advice on how to address the panic attacks until I can see the psychologist.

harry2222 Recent problems I’ve had
  • replies: 4

Checking in again after over a year. Far out its been up and down since. Can’t believe I’m almost 18, and the big day is the day of my first yr12 exam. How funny. Regardless, this year has been worse than most for me, and just like a lot of other peo... View more

Checking in again after over a year. Far out its been up and down since. Can’t believe I’m almost 18, and the big day is the day of my first yr12 exam. How funny. Regardless, this year has been worse than most for me, and just like a lot of other people too. But in particular, I’ve developed things over the past few months that have been detrimental to my mental health and consequently my physical health. Panic attacks. It’s honestly the worst thing I’ve ever experienced. There has been times where I suffer from these panic episodes for multiple days at a time, always at night for some strange reason, and it’s always the same symptoms every bloody time; tight chest, shallow breathing, tingling in the limbs… Awful stuff. I’ve thankfully discussed these problems with my psychologist and have been working to suppress it. But more recently I think these arising issues I’ve had, in combination with the stress and anxiety of school and not being able to see friends, has really broken me down this time. Like I think I’ve given up on school at this point, when it’s the home stretch; the time of year when yr12s are meant to be picking up the pace to smash out their exams. I’m done with it to be quite frank. I’d probably say I’m a bit of a hypochondriac, I’m always doing the research when I feel a slight alteration, creating links to diseases and all that crap for no reason. I know it’s all in my head. But what if it’s not, you know? I guess that’s the stress I’ve had quite a bit in recent times. But if anyone actually knows, every time something happens to me, I always get the fear in my heart, the tightness, the shallow breathing (pretty much ALL the time), is it some sort of heart problem? If some kind person would let me know I’d like to discuss it with my psychologist. That’s probably enough of me ranting, as I could honestly go on and on (sincere apologies to the moderators), but I appreciate whoever took the time to read this, and perhaps could relate to my situation. Just had to get things off my chest, that’s all.