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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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Petal22 OCD and asking for the help you need
  • replies: 19

Hi everyone, I wanted to start this thread in the hope it helps someone to feel they can ask for help in regards to their OCD... When you have OCD it can feel like a very overwhelming scary place to live in.. We have intrusive thoughts that can seem ... View more

Hi everyone, I wanted to start this thread in the hope it helps someone to feel they can ask for help in regards to their OCD... When you have OCD it can feel like a very overwhelming scary place to live in.. We have intrusive thoughts that can seem taboo to the sufferer to talk about with someone you know let alone a health professional who we don’t know.. We have the thoughts of “ what is this person going to think of me for having these thoughts “...... so some people suffer in silence instead of reaching out to a professional.... OCD is a condition that is very treatable..... our health professionals can help us..... You can learn to get on top of your OCD.... with the help of professionals.... many people have this condition... choose to ask for help.... if you think you have OCD talk to a health professional about it.... try to be as honest as you can about the thoughts you are having so a clear diagnosis can be made, try not to hide the thoughts.... if we try to hide them OCD can be missed in the diagnosis and it can be be brushed aside as just anxiety.... so be as open as you can so you can receive the correct treatment.... OCD has a name, for me it was intrusive thoughts that seemed irrational but felt very real...... the anxiety with OCD is very intense..... there is help out there available for OCD you don’t have to live with it... learn how to beat it with treatment because you CAN! Life can be great after OCD! Just be brave and ask for help.... im here if anyone wants to chat

Kim_F Lost
  • replies: 1

I am lost, I have 4 beautiful children. I am separated.

I am lost, I have 4 beautiful children. I am separated.

TheLastSlice_ofBread Conversation
  • replies: 7

Life Does everyone feel like this? The amazing highs the frightening lows, The constant questioning What is everyone else thinking? Does everyone replay each conversation over and over again? Is it normal to think about what they said and did not say... View more

Life Does everyone feel like this? The amazing highs the frightening lows, The constant questioning What is everyone else thinking? Does everyone replay each conversation over and over again? Is it normal to think about what they said and did not say and how people will respond or what they don’t do in response? ‘Stop worrying’ And ‘you do you ‘ Is what I often get told But how? How does someone not think of more?

Dove20 Did COVID make anyone else realise how fragile the human life is?
  • replies: 28

COVID made me realize how fragile we are... it has now given me a new form of anxiety... anxiety about losing loved ones. Does anyone else feel this way?

COVID made me realize how fragile we are... it has now given me a new form of anxiety... anxiety about losing loved ones. Does anyone else feel this way?

Bubbaloo For as long as I can remember
  • replies: 3

I remember laying in bed as a teenager,crying because of the war they were talking about on TV,my parents fighting etc. I was NEVER good enough for my mother. She would play mind games with me. She never believed a word I said, I was always the liar ... View more

I remember laying in bed as a teenager,crying because of the war they were talking about on TV,my parents fighting etc. I was NEVER good enough for my mother. She would play mind games with me. She never believed a word I said, I was always the liar even though I always told the truth. She pitted me against my father time and again. She had done it again when my grandmother died. She also made sure he has no relationship with his sister (who had just lost her husband at that time). She is toxic. I have never had any self confidence because of this. I actually saw a counsellor many years ago and she asked why I was there when my mother clearly needed the help. I escaped the wrath of mother by leaving home with my bf who eventually became my husband. He too was abusive and toxic. I found the courage to pack up my kids and leave him after 12 years. I became my own person. I went to work in service station and was involved in an armed hold up. It left me with alot of anxiety issues. I very rarely go out. I work from home. It drives my partner nuts. The drs I see out west don't ask questions they think your just looking for drugs. I want to feel normal. I want to be able to enjoy what they take for granted... freedom without fear.

BradDad Afraid of being looked at when standing face to face
  • replies: 3

I've recently returned to work and it has put some old fears of mine back in the spotlight. I have social anxiety and panic attacks. Most of the time I find this manageable but returning to work has been hard. Interacting over zoom was a lot less con... View more

I've recently returned to work and it has put some old fears of mine back in the spotlight. I have social anxiety and panic attacks. Most of the time I find this manageable but returning to work has been hard. Interacting over zoom was a lot less confronting for me. In particular it's the incidental in-person chats where I stand opposite someone. I feel their gaze intently and my panic rises. I'm afraid that I will appear nervous (which I am) and that they will think less of me because of it. CBT has taught me to challenge that assumption but it doesn't help in the moment. I'm much more comfortable with such engagement if I am sitting however. Has anyone experienced this? Any tips/insights?

AG_ Spending large amounts of money is making me anxious
  • replies: 5

Going through some big life changes right now that involves spending large amounts of money and it makes me feel very anxious. II've always felt this way though, whenever I have to spend anything over $1000 I get really nervous. JJust wondering if an... View more

Going through some big life changes right now that involves spending large amounts of money and it makes me feel very anxious. II've always felt this way though, whenever I have to spend anything over $1000 I get really nervous. JJust wondering if anyone else gets this.

Infamous_Moustache Anxiety about people
  • replies: 1

Hello there, I wish all who come by a good day. I've been meaning to ask about something that has been on the front of my mind recently This has been with me for quite some time (around 5 years now) but has brought my attention to here as of recently... View more

Hello there, I wish all who come by a good day. I've been meaning to ask about something that has been on the front of my mind recently This has been with me for quite some time (around 5 years now) but has brought my attention to here as of recently, due to work stuff. I feel like there has been a shift of trust between people I have clarified with and people I have not yet. I cannot help but feel that the words of the person who spoke badly and untruthfully of me behind my back has caused some people to think differently of me in a negative light. I feel like they judge, watch and talk about me. It makes working pretty hard as this is all I can think of. This has been an incident for about 2 months. Setting aside specific events, is it normal for people to think this nervously all the time? Do people usually think about what other people think of them constantly? Or is there something else happening underneath what I am currently calling 'overthinking'? Thanks for your time

Titan7986 Confused, Anxious and Feel Alone
  • replies: 2

Heavy drug user, starting to hear things lately, like people talking about me when I'm in another room, and struggling to work out what's real or not, really scary place to be in. I'm really not sure on what to do, it's affecting all aspects of my li... View more

Heavy drug user, starting to hear things lately, like people talking about me when I'm in another room, and struggling to work out what's real or not, really scary place to be in. I'm really not sure on what to do, it's affecting all aspects of my life and I feel as though I've got nobody even though my friends and family are telling me the things I think I'm hearing aren't real. Any suggestions on what I should do? Thanks.

CharlieF Anxiety & food - flare-up - Desperate for tips
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I am desperately seeking advice on my longstanding anxiety & food sensitivity condition (interrelated). This has flared up recently after major life events & stress. I've had the condition for 20+ years and it's not pleasan... View more

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I am desperately seeking advice on my longstanding anxiety & food sensitivity condition (interrelated). This has flared up recently after major life events & stress. I've had the condition for 20+ years and it's not pleasant, but I have worked hard to find answers & manage it as best I can. But recent events have hit me hard & the symptoms are flaring up badly. I basically have a kind of gut or immune system reaction (expressed as anxiety & fast heartbeat) every time I eat food, but the reaction is tolerable and only lasts 1-2 hrs if I’m in good shape. The reaction is also not that bad if I avoid a handful of trigger foods - esp 'rich' foods with high amines, salicylates and natural MSG. I've tried so many things over the years - meditation & short breaks before meals, careful food selection, keeping stress low, deep breathing, digestive enzymes, cardio exercise, high doses of oregano oil in the morning to keep bad bacteria low (this is essential for me). But it’s still a burden. Lately after some stress I am struggling to eat anything without feeling sick & getting rapid heartbeat. Lately as well I seem to be reacting to Vitamin B tablets which I take daily & have found essential to maintain good energy & mood. Any tips? I am desperate. I literally can’t relax most of the time. Thank you in advance.