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

Daniel_83 Struggling with turning 40 soon - life feels like an endless struggle at times
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I'm not sure if this should be posted under anxiety or depression, but i've decided anxiety probably better characterises what I'm feeling everyday because depression is too strong a word. It's not my first time in these forums. 2-3 years ago... View more

Hi all, I'm not sure if this should be posted under anxiety or depression, but i've decided anxiety probably better characterises what I'm feeling everyday because depression is too strong a word. It's not my first time in these forums. 2-3 years ago I was struggling with an immature spouse, career change, migration stress, job burnout and financial worries. I'm happy to report that I'm way past most of these issues. I've transitioned to a much better job, fully settled in here and reaching the peak of my career under a very appreciative boss. I no longer worry that much about money (i lead a very thrifty lifestyle) and I'm nearly past the trauma of the past 3-4 jobs that had me completely burned out and mired in depression. My spouse is no longer the wilful and immature person she once was and she is sharing more of the responsibilities of running the household now. But WOW! blink of an eye and I've almost blazed past my thirties and heading into my 40s very soon. It seems like the last 9 years I have just been moving from one crisis to another, and even though we are now well settled in, I feel like a big part of my life has been spent managing crises (or character moulding if I want to be optimistic). I am moving into probably what is the peak of my career, but each day my thoughts are all about retiring early and doing something I actually like doing. I'm not sure if that is the depression speaking or is it just middle age talking, but i no longer have that fire in the belly, and climbing the corporate ladder is really all about just making more money so I could retire earlier. I am very scared to think about my forties, and then fifties! It seems just yesterday I was still a young and immature twenty-something. I shudder to think about raising kids, but I'm VERY NEAR the age where I either have to make that decision or forever hold my peace. I know many of us probably felt the same about moving into the forties. How do you guys deal with it?

Ash111 Imposter syndrome
  • replies: 9

Hi BB forum, I'm currently working on a big project at work which is much more technical than anything I've ever done. I'm feeling so inadequate. The thought of going to work tomorrow makes me feel sick. I'm so scared of failing or having conversatio... View more

Hi BB forum, I'm currently working on a big project at work which is much more technical than anything I've ever done. I'm feeling so inadequate. The thought of going to work tomorrow makes me feel sick. I'm so scared of failing or having conversations and not knowing the answer to questions. I'm dreading the next few months of this ☹

Sarahbelle Anxiety and Covid 19
  • replies: 278

Hi. I am extremely anxious about the current covid pandemic. Feel as though it is living in my brain but my body feels the symptoms. It causes me such panic and terror and all consuming Trying to challenge my thinking but ver hard. Any one else feel ... View more

Hi. I am extremely anxious about the current covid pandemic. Feel as though it is living in my brain but my body feels the symptoms. It causes me such panic and terror and all consuming Trying to challenge my thinking but ver hard. Any one else feel this. Any advice appreciated. Thankyou.

JennaD back again.
  • replies: 10

hi all I’m 3 weeks into taking my medication again 2 weeks on one dose and 1 week on a higher does. I felt for a little bit that it was working I stopped crying everyday had energy to do things like my nails which I enjoy doing. but the past few days... View more

hi all I’m 3 weeks into taking my medication again 2 weeks on one dose and 1 week on a higher does. I felt for a little bit that it was working I stopped crying everyday had energy to do things like my nails which I enjoy doing. but the past few days have just been crap honestly. ive only had one panic attack since which was just before, I got hot and my heart started beating fast and I just broke down I honestly just can’t handle the panic attacks, I’m still waiting to see someone I’m still at that point where I feel there’s something wrong with me like cancer I feel like I live most days in constant anxiety. I feel my tablets are making me shaky and dizzy and just out of it some days when I was first put on tablets I was pregnant so I wasn’t getting the full effect of the tablet but now I am I spoke to a pharmacist yesterday who said it shouldn’t hightend my anxiety but I feel it does I know taking a new dose will give me side affects as it has to get into my system again but the only main ones I have are feeling sick and the dizziness and of course heightend anxiety. I know everyone’s different but just wanted to hear your guys story’s about panic disorders and how you guys deal with it. I know I still have at least another 3 weeks till my tablets should start working properly I just feel it’s taking forever and having to go threw all this again because I stopped my tablets when I shouldn’t have, I know I’ll get threw this just wish it would go faster.

ZacR Excessively Sympathetic
  • replies: 7

Hi. I'm trying to read more about and research about a certain tendency I have. It's the tendency to sympathize with what others are experiencing but then multiply it and feel their pain 10x stronger than normal [sympathic responses]. The basis for t... View more

Hi. I'm trying to read more about and research about a certain tendency I have. It's the tendency to sympathize with what others are experiencing but then multiply it and feel their pain 10x stronger than normal [sympathic responses]. The basis for trying to feel the pain more powerfully is the popular notion that no one cannot truly know another's pain so I just make it bigger and hope I get close. The problem is that this habit interferes with my life and impairs my ability to focus on what I'm doing - work, communication, recreation, other everyday activities - and causes intense emotional pain and can last hours. Still worse I've come to realise that I sympathize with myself and/or others in imaginary/possible future situations (so now imagine sympathizing with not one, but multiple individuals of a day-dream at 10x intensity). Seeking professional advice is on my to do list but reading and researching about this is higher on my list. I can't, however, seem to condense the habit into a searchable expression/term. I'm posting here in the hope of know if there are existing simpler names or ways of describing this or if (even better!) you have been fortunate enough to come across an article describing something similar.

QuietMostofthetime Did I screw things up?
  • replies: 4

So I had a job interview last week for a call center job and it was going pretty well, the person was complimenting my resume for what I have done, etc. I told them that I have anxiety and social anxiety and that this role is very much out of my comf... View more

So I had a job interview last week for a call center job and it was going pretty well, the person was complimenting my resume for what I have done, etc. I told them that I have anxiety and social anxiety and that this role is very much out of my comfort zone in terms of speaking on the phone for extended periods of time, they said "everybody has anxiety" which raised a few flags for me. Then rather suddenly I was pushed the question, that they are offering me the job and they wanted me to start in two days. I had other things that I had to do before then and I was overthinking about everything else when I had to process what they asked me. and because I didn't reply in the way they wanted for the response of a yes or a no with excitement, they instantly changed to a shocked disappointed expression, they then proceeded to give me 24 hours to think about it and didn't seem happy. Feeling guilty and compelled I wrote an email and said that I would accept the role. I then received a phone call which started out telling me that they were disappointed with my response. It made me feel guilty and like I did something so bad. After a while, I again accepted the job. Fast forward to today, I was supposed to go there in the morning however I felt this extreme pressure and guiltiness from how they made me feel for being myself, and I ended up emailing them and telling them that I couldn't come in because of my anxiety. They responded with an email saying that they hope I get the help I need and to contact them when I can, with the best for my future. I just feel like they don't like me and I feel like I would always feel this pressure if I was working under them.

mcc any type of help at all please.
  • replies: 9

I am 23 years old and I have suffered from Anxiety for as long as I can remember (around 10 years) but I have been on and off medication for a few years and fairly recently found myself back on it. I guess for the past couple of years I haven't reall... View more

I am 23 years old and I have suffered from Anxiety for as long as I can remember (around 10 years) but I have been on and off medication for a few years and fairly recently found myself back on it. I guess for the past couple of years I haven't really given myself a good looking at and just brushed all my feelings as “Anxiety” but I have become more aware of how I have been feeling and it is definitely worse than that. I am definitely going through a state of depression but I have been researching my mental health and the way I act and all signs are leading towards Borderline Personality Disorder. I know I’m not the professional and tests coming back online are not to be taken as a diagnosis but I am just going off how I am truly feeling. Things like I struggle with relationships and are always doubting or worried about them, I can get overly angry at the drop of a hat and overreact, I have constant paranoia about every possible thing, I like one thing one day and then no interest the next, I dont want to go and do things that I used to, I'm increasingly insecure in how I look, I have impulsive behaviours like randomly spending lots of money and also a bit of alcohol consumption which has lead to me giving it up, I am nervous, sad and scared 95% of the time and I have this constant feeling of emptiness which in past I just put all of this under the explanation of Anxiety. There is times where I have this feeling that I am actually not even myself. I don’t really know how to explain that part but it's scary and it's just all too much. I'd say I havent been myself for a few years and told myself its anxiety but only over the past 4 or so months it has gotten to a point where I feel worthless and helpless and I cant even tell you why this has all come about. I am just like this. I went and visited a counsellor for the first time today and I got pretty emotional but also couldn't 100% express how I am feeling. I just need any tips at all to help me get through to next week when I see them again. Sorry if this isn't the right way to do this or silly but only new to this forum and I am just at a point where I need any tips or help possible.

CelestialFire Chronic Anxiety - Stroke?
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone...This is my first time posting or doing anything like this so..stick with me... I have chronic and acute anxiety, meaning I can't do even small things like shower without having a full blown panic attack. Unfortunately of course this al... View more

Hey everyone...This is my first time posting or doing anything like this so..stick with me... I have chronic and acute anxiety, meaning I can't do even small things like shower without having a full blown panic attack. Unfortunately of course this also bring along all the other lovely anxiety symptoms, and that amazing thing your brain does when it decides you're going to die. Recently, for about the past week or two, I've been having some really scary feelings in my head. I have rung the 13Health number to ask about it, and have stopped myself from calling 000 many times...basically I have this insane pressure at the front of my head, and yet also have this feeling like..my brain is empty? And not emotionally but physically. Things got really bad when I went to the gym for the first time in a very long time...I struggled the whole time, and when I got home my head just felt heavy, and I was very wobbly and my brain just felt...wrong and my face felt heavy too The sensation did calm down, which leads me to believe it was some kind of anxiety driven thing, but I keep having these symptoms and of course the first thing that pops into my head is a stroke... I'm really scared, and I don't feel very supported right now so you guys are all I have... Has anyone ever had anything similar? Are these symptoms just because my body and brain are getting tired of all the panic attacks and stress I deal with? Am I going to die?... I'm sitting right now awake in bed because as usual I can't sleep, and I have a pressure running from temple to temple... Also (I'm sorry this is so long) but after the even at the gym I am terrified of going back, but I want to so badly...I'm so disappointed that I can't do the most basic things and I just want to be healthy...how can I get over a fear of exercising when the heart rate increase you get from it just makes me panic.... I appreciate any help or advice...I just don't want to feel so alone and scared anymore, I'm so suck and tired of living this way... thank you x

Baylee Anxiety and therapy
  • replies: 4

I feel too anxious to see a GP about my anxiety, to go to a counsellor and get help. It’s just a cycle of having breakdowns and then feeling somewhat okay and confident and not thinking I need to see someone about my mental health, then having anothe... View more

I feel too anxious to see a GP about my anxiety, to go to a counsellor and get help. It’s just a cycle of having breakdowns and then feeling somewhat okay and confident and not thinking I need to see someone about my mental health, then having another break down and panic attack. Any tips?

R-claire Anxiety with career and being unsure
  • replies: 18

I ah e always been an extremely driven and motivated person when it comes to my career. Ive come from retail management and over the past 2 years left retail due to covid and got in DES I was there for 9 months then a role come up in recruiting. I ha... View more

I ah e always been an extremely driven and motivated person when it comes to my career. Ive come from retail management and over the past 2 years left retail due to covid and got in DES I was there for 9 months then a role come up in recruiting. I have been there for 2 months but due to my mental health being so incredibly bad I am wanting to move to the GC to mend my soul and find me again (I have family there and friends) I use to be scared but now it’s exciting. However I don’t want to leave my job and start again. I’m 26 and my resume looks so bad like I can’t hold a job I’m so lost and having panic attacks. Any advice?!