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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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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.

Sunny_side Length of anxiety period after anxiety attack/trigger.
  • replies: 8

Hello I am curious about others experience with how long anxiety stays after being triggered / anxiety attack or panic attack. For me after a trigger, I find it very difficult to let the trigger go. This results in me working myself up to having an a... View more

Hello I am curious about others experience with how long anxiety stays after being triggered / anxiety attack or panic attack. For me after a trigger, I find it very difficult to let the trigger go. This results in me working myself up to having an anxiety attack or a panic attack. I will then experience high anxiety for the next 3-4 days where things are a struggle. I seem to bargain with my mind to try find anything to make myself feel better to no avail. Early morning wake ups, physical symptoms of anxiety, mind racing and blurry at the same time. I apply some strategies that help a little. During this time the mornings are the worst and it slowly eases(not all the time) as the day goes on. But never anxious free. I then seem to come down from the peak of anxiety and then have less anxiety for a few days - usually up to a week and a half. Where I will replay/ rehash the trigger and feel very uneasy when my mind goes down that route again. During this time I am very very sensitive to any of my triggers and am on high alert. This makes me very tired and nervous. Physical symptoms subside a bit. Usually by 3-4 weeks I am getting back to myself. But still sensitive. now you know about my unwelcome friend, anxiety - who has an extended stay every few months. Thanks, sunny

shane70 Hi
  • replies: 2

I have suffered from anxiety and minor depression for about 20 years, always just keeping these up and down emotions under control. Now 51, I feel it is getting harder to control and seems at times to consume my life, again, some moments are worse th... View more

I have suffered from anxiety and minor depression for about 20 years, always just keeping these up and down emotions under control. Now 51, I feel it is getting harder to control and seems at times to consume my life, again, some moments are worse than others. One moment you are on top and can cope, the next there are too many things to manage. These waves of emotion cripple my ability to sometimes function, to the point where I just want to sleep and not get out of bed. Anxiety brings so much fear when trying to perform day to day work tasks. This is the first time I have reached out like this as I have got it in my head over the years you should just deal with it, but now I realise that doesn't work, joining this community and posting here is a first step for me. I know this is a long journey but I hope in time I will find ways to better manage these problems.

pixie798 Fresh out of high school - anxiety about the future
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I’m new to online forums here so am a little nervous to post this, but recently i have seen a new doctor and she has said she thinks i have anxiety, and referred me to a psychologist. the psychologist wasn’t taking new clients, so i’ve h... View more

Hi everyone, I’m new to online forums here so am a little nervous to post this, but recently i have seen a new doctor and she has said she thinks i have anxiety, and referred me to a psychologist. the psychologist wasn’t taking new clients, so i’ve had to wait longer for another doctors appointment so i could get a new referral for a different psychologist, which has been hard waiting because i feel so desperate and need to see someone (hence why i’ve come on here). i’m sorry for anyone reading this, you may be thinking i’m off on a weird and unnecessary tangent and life story, but the truth is i feel so lost in my life right now and just need some way to put it out there and talk to other people about it (who aren’t my mum and boyfriend). i graduated from high school in 2020 and started uni in 2021 but i didn’t think the course was for me and i have since deferred until next year, but the anxiety i am left with now of not knowing what lies ahead of me in my career is terrifying and i am anxious about it everyday. i also worry about the fact that i hate my job already. i used to work at woolworths while i was at school, quit during the peak of coronavirus and have now gone back to working in a supermarket. and i wanted a job for so long after being unemployed but now i have a job i don’t want one. which makes me feel horrible, because i want to work, i want to earn money, i want to contribute to society, but still i just don’t want to be there. i feel like the most ungrateful person in the world and yet at the same time i am so grateful for everything i have. i feel so conflicted with my thoughts, and this brings me so much anxiety. going to work everyday brings me so much anxiety, and even on my days off i get anxious i’m going to get asked to work! i also dream of working on social media as an “influencer” i guess you could call it, which so many people don’t see as a real job, but social media has such a big impact on people daily, and i would love to work on a worldwide scale helping women gain confidence in themselves and start a brand of my own, but i’m scared this goal is too much, and i’m worried people i used to go to school with may judge me and make fun of me for this. and even then i wouldn’t know where to start! i also need to choose a new course for uni next year. this is such a long and probably unnecessary post, but i guess i’m just hoping one of you may have felt the same in the past or feel this way too. i just feel lost, and scared.

Jcob5839 OCD dealing with past trauma
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone I’m Jacob and I’m an 18 year old who has been dealing with pretty severe OCD for most of my life and about two years ago I developed a strong fear and obsession of injuring myself to the point of paralysis and that has been one of my most... View more

Hi everyone I’m Jacob and I’m an 18 year old who has been dealing with pretty severe OCD for most of my life and about two years ago I developed a strong fear and obsession of injuring myself to the point of paralysis and that has been one of my most challenging obsessions since that point. About five years when I was still and early teenager my friends decided we would go jump of some rocks at our local beach (dumb idea I know) and at one point I jumped of a rock around three metres high and my leg just scraped past a big rock and at the time I was pretty shook up about it because in early hit it but I got over it quickly. But after developing this obsession with paralysis I would think about every now and again and get severe anxiety about what if I was a little closer to the left and landed on and paralysed myself. But recently I have thought about this almost everyday and it’s really affecting me I know this is irrational because I’m fine now and I have been since the incident but my OCD needs me to search for an irrational sense of certainty. Does anyone have any tips for getting over past events that you obsess about because I’m starting to struggle thanks, Jacob