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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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Missberri Work anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hello, I've been struggling for a long time with anxiety at work. I've had social anxiety all my life and I've had periods where it improves but a lot of the time I just feel constantly anxious. For my current job I pretty much work from home everyda... View more

Hello, I've been struggling for a long time with anxiety at work. I've had social anxiety all my life and I've had periods where it improves but a lot of the time I just feel constantly anxious. For my current job I pretty much work from home everyday. I've been at this job for about 4 years. Working from home has been helpful with managing anxiety but I also feel like it has made my social anxiety worse. I hate virtual meetings and I always feel on display when I talk in them so a lot of the time I just dont talk. My team is constantly trying to get us to do team building catch ups and ice breakers and things and I just feel like I've had enough. Its exhausting me mentally and I feel like I cant escape it. It sounds so stupid because I dont even go into the office and barely have to deal with people, but I just prefer doing my work without constant chatter on teams and constant meetings to catch up on this and that and play forced games and talk about myself and stuff like that. I feel like wfh has made me more anti social. But theres no point going to the office because pretty much no one goes. I want to get a new job so bad. Not only because of this but because im so sick of my job. It has been repetitive for 4 years and im at a point where im just having no growth at all. But I keep getting rejected for my applications because the employment market is tough right now. I also dont know if a new job is going to fix how im feeling. I feel like my team is starting to get sick of me being in the background and theyre starting to dislike me. I wish I knew how to improve my situation or just leave im just not enjoying it anymore and I'm so tired of it.

Kyle Trying to move on from drug induced psychosis and deal with constant and never ending anxiety
  • replies: 3

So I had undiagnosed drug induced psychosis. Pretty horrific episodes and memories from when I was 18 to 19.Now being nearly 2 years clean and staying away from everyone I knew in that lifestyle. I still feel like I am mentally there. This is where t... View more

So I had undiagnosed drug induced psychosis. Pretty horrific episodes and memories from when I was 18 to 19.Now being nearly 2 years clean and staying away from everyone I knew in that lifestyle. I still feel like I am mentally there. This is where the anxiety starts. As soon as I leave the house I am super aware I am outside I am in the world and believe I am some main character of some sort that everyone is looking at, and that everyone knows who I am and who I use to be. I don’t know if it’s still there from when I was a teen and I thought I was the coolest and most tough kid in the world or what. I don’t get it, I don’t get why I always feel and believe like I am a “criminal” of some sorts, and I think people in that world are “noticing me”. Saying this kind of makes me realise it could be me trying to overcompensate for how I actually am. But also unsure if it’s got anything to do with psychosis.The anxiety has taken a toll I am at the stage where I’m angry with feeling this way all the time but also too tired to be angry and too upset I think. I’m just pretty tired with feeling like this. Anxiety has always been with me since I was young.Even driving, I genuinely believe every car driving past is looking at me, and if I go to the shops, same thing, which after asking chat gpt, which described it as being in a flight fight freeze response, which I think I am in the freeze as soon as I leave the house. I just stare off straight, but am looking at everything I can except I’m still looking straight.I don’t know what to do about this as am pretty sure counselling is not for me, and medication is something I definitely would not try.

Tormented Fear of asbestos fibres on clothes
  • replies: 2

I am currently suffering from severe ocd mainly relating to asbestos. I currently fear that asbestos is everywhere, especially following the mulch contamination in NSW. Ironically I was recently triggered by seeing what I thought was asbestos on the ... View more

I am currently suffering from severe ocd mainly relating to asbestos. I currently fear that asbestos is everywhere, especially following the mulch contamination in NSW. Ironically I was recently triggered by seeing what I thought was asbestos on the ground on my way to an appointment with a psychologist regarding this issue and my extreme. I am ashamed to say that when I returned home this triggered me to strip off all of my clothing as well as my shoes in the garage and double bag them and throw them in the bin. I also removed the car mat but forgot to throw it out as well. Because of my anxiety I have developed a fear of washing my families clothes and can often was the same load over and over again. My mother recently came to my place and offered to take the washing and do it for me. Because she walked out of the house via the garage and near the car mat and some laundry of the laundry was spilling over the laundry basket, my immediate thought was that the mat has now contaminated all the clothes and my daughters sheets. My mum told me not to worry that she would put disinfectant in the was, but I am convinced that washing them once will not be enough. I am so scared and paralysed with fear. Im so ashamed and feel so responsible for everyone’s safety. What do I do??

windywillow Anxiety - social, gad, financial stress just idk lols
  • replies: 2

Heyy, I'm new here. Thank you for having me. Honestly, everyone is so brave sharing. Anxiety is the worst sometimes. Extremely debilitating. I have been dealing with GAD and Social Anxiety for a very long time. I try to reframe it as a visiting frien... View more

Heyy, I'm new here. Thank you for having me. Honestly, everyone is so brave sharing. Anxiety is the worst sometimes. Extremely debilitating. I have been dealing with GAD and Social Anxiety for a very long time. I try to reframe it as a visiting friend.. Sometimes helpful, other times awful as hell. I just wanted to get off my chest that today has been a very up and down day I've been a walking panic attack, but I'm calming down slowly. I hope everyone's day has been kind to them. I've been dealing with ongoing financial stress and hardship. It really erodes at your sense of safety in the world, but i'm chipping away at it day by day. Talking about it is so hard as it brings up a lot of shame.Not sure what I need... probably the vent is enough, but I just hope everyone is well, I'm sorry about anything you're going through and you are strong (Even when you're falling apart)

Guest_22500827 Sexual Harrassment at Workplace
  • replies: 2

Lately i have experienced sexual harrassment at workplace. It's been under investigation for a month now. I am still working with the offender and everytime i see him and be around him, it makes me sick and my nerves are trembling inside. I am being ... View more

Lately i have experienced sexual harrassment at workplace. It's been under investigation for a month now. I am still working with the offender and everytime i see him and be around him, it makes me sick and my nerves are trembling inside. I am being offered to work in a different location until the investigation is finalized. However, i was thinking, why i am the one to be re located, why not the offender. They said they haven't informed the offender that i have made a complain about him. This made me feel like they are protecting him and not me. They are not sure what to tell him if they ask him to move to a different center. This is giving me so much stress and anxiety. I couldn't focus on my job, sometimes i freeze and couldn't remember what i was doing. Is there anybody here who can shed light and share their experience with me. Am i over thinking or over reacting, coming from someone who's experience sexual harrassment in the past. My entire body aches just by thought of going to work, seeing this person freely walking around in front me, no remorse whatsoever. As if he's not done anything to offend and humiliate his colleague. Such an unfair world.

Huntrix Struggling to go to work because of panic attacks
  • replies: 4

Hi there, I've been struggling alot with my mental health. I've currently been off work for 4 weeks from weaning off one anti-anxiety medication to another. I've now just was successful to go back to work for one day this week. Which I was so happy a... View more

Hi there, I've been struggling alot with my mental health. I've currently been off work for 4 weeks from weaning off one anti-anxiety medication to another. I've now just was successful to go back to work for one day this week. Which I was so happy and excited about. But the following days the panic attacks that ive been experiencing have come back again. I am currently seeing a therapist and we are trying breathing techniques but these panic attacks have coming from work that i used to have anxiety for. Now im at a job I really like and im still facing the same anxiety. Its extremely difficult for me and I feel incredibly lost. These panic attacks start in the morning before work and last untill I call out sick for the day. Im terrified of losing my job as every job has a limit and ive been fired before because of these panic episodes. I've been on this new medication for 2 weeks now and I really hoped it was going to be my saving grace. I've been generally happier and able to move around more which is why i started putting in the steps to go back to work. But now im scared that everything is going to repeat itself again and im going to be back at square one. There is alot of pressure for me to work as both my husband and I are paying the bills. Because ive had this time off he has been covering my half and he has informed me that we wont be able to afford doing so if this keeps happening. Which is understandable as I should be working. But when im in this state of panic I dont think of anything other than the fear its creating. Once its over the amount of guilt that I feel is overwhelming to the point where it makes me incredibly depressed. I dont know what to do anymore I feel lost.

Guest_24291915 Anxiety and me
  • replies: 1

I have been living with anxiety for as long as i can remember. It comes and goes. I sometimes wonder if i should accept that it is just part of me. I am anxious about family at the moment. What are some thoughts others have on dealing with anxiety an... View more

I have been living with anxiety for as long as i can remember. It comes and goes. I sometimes wonder if i should accept that it is just part of me. I am anxious about family at the moment. What are some thoughts others have on dealing with anxiety and why is it that it keeps occuring? Thanks

PsychedelicFur Car accident & lost my job
  • replies: 4

Hello folks, After finishing my Bachelor’s degree, I landed what I thought was my dream job. I moved three hours away to regional Victoria, excited to begin my career in the field I’d always wanted. But the reality was different. I worked 40 hours a ... View more

Hello folks, After finishing my Bachelor’s degree, I landed what I thought was my dream job. I moved three hours away to regional Victoria, excited to begin my career in the field I’d always wanted. But the reality was different. I worked 40 hours a week, pushed myself to exhaustion, and quickly burnt out. My boss told me my work wasn’t good enough. When I broke down in tears, he told me to “grow up” because “this is the real world.” At just 22, with no real mentoring, I was expected to know everything straight out of uni. I gave the job everything I had, taking every piece of criticism to heart, until I eventually burned myself out completely. Despite that, I was constantly told my efforts weren’t enough, and my boss made it clear that termination was always hanging over me. A few weeks before I was let go, I was in a car accident. After a microsleep behind the wheel, I hit a reflector, overcorrected, and rolled my car. I was trapped upside down for an hour and a half until the SES cut me out. When my workplace found out, not a single person sent a card, flowers, or even asked if I was okay. Only one colleague checked in—and that was because they were surprised I wasn’t at work that day, even after I’d told them I needed a week off to recover. I felt invisible. Feeling like I failed. I moved three hours away, in regional Victoria for this job. And now I am back on unemployment benefits, feeling my Autistic burnout. And I'm so physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted.

Guest_47687442 Anxiety from work and life in general
  • replies: 2

Hey all, new to the Beyond Blue forums but i thought it would be good to check in and share my current situation. Everything was going smoothly for a number of years at work and in life and then a new management team came along and they want all out ... View more

Hey all, new to the Beyond Blue forums but i thought it would be good to check in and share my current situation. Everything was going smoothly for a number of years at work and in life and then a new management team came along and they want all out all change in the organisation and they've started the process with lack of warning or communication. Its hard to process and think about, having a steady job, paying off the mortgage and looking after elder family members and then suddenly your workplace wants to go through drastic change. Honestly, not sure what to do and its creating anxiety for me as it may mean looking for other roles and/or moving elsewhere.

Guest_93711820 Anxiety is overwhelming me
  • replies: 4

Hi have struggled with anxiety my whole life. In the last 12 months I lost both my parents. I have been working night shift to get away from the stresses of my job as a disability support worker in A supported Independent Living House. I am now about... View more

Hi have struggled with anxiety my whole life. In the last 12 months I lost both my parents. I have been working night shift to get away from the stresses of my job as a disability support worker in A supported Independent Living House. I am now about to go back to day shift, a lot of the regular staff are on holidays. My anxiety levels are through the roof, in particular about a dental appointment I have to take one of my clients to. I am considering taking leave so I dont have to do it. My client can become very loud and non compliant at appointments. I am so ashamed of the way I feel as I have done this job for 30 years.

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