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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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BabySteps Contemplating the Meaning
  • replies: 7

For me, I can't Find the Meaning In Life, When you're a Introverted Beta Geek Celibate Male at 26! Without having Interest or Entry Work History and wanting more than a Casual Future Only having,11 Month's In something you didn't want before the Fort... View more

For me, I can't Find the Meaning In Life, When you're a Introverted Beta Geek Celibate Male at 26! Without having Interest or Entry Work History and wanting more than a Casual Future Only having,11 Month's In something you didn't want before the Fortnight was Finished with Not wanting University, and the Standardnised Bachelor Degree Or TAFE, Unless I did a Cert IV Nutrition or not that, with only If It was a Proximity TAFE Campus with 120 Work Placement and Concession Cost's Also being Soft, and Gentle, and Kinder and not A Fighter, Just a Lover, Like Michael Jackson without Touching more than my Problem's - Hehe? Being Shy, because your Dad was a Personality, Generation and Nationality that you couldn't tolerate And being beneath Alpha or Social Strength Men Not being able to Follow Creativity, because you don't want Fame and Paganism and tolerating Society, before or After Yes or No, and more other Reason's beyond that, and why did I mention a Creative Rare Dream, because their Real for someone, I would never Say It Isn't possible for other's, I am Listing this aspect because Creativity Is a Pathway that Ia A Future for some people, For me It's what I Generally Like and Love, but If your not wanting Success, Beyond Talent and Money not Fame, Than I don't know what other Direction Is for me, I wouldn't want a Creative Degree, It's Just $40k or Less Salary for 3 - 4 Year Bachelor to match a Casual Median Entry Wage, Plus Paying back, $30k or $50k, - After $46k Earning's I don't want Trade's and Physical Labour Construction Job's I don't even want Free Lance because you get Stagnant and your Working from Home, making Less than $45k, and your Isolated from Society and lose Social Skill's

Italianstalion New to this / anxiety/depression/bipolar...
  • replies: 6

Hi, First time posting here, this is a pretty big step in itself for me due to my stubborn proud nature. I am 30 years of age a father to 3 beautiful kids with a very loving attentive wife, a great career with family all around me. This brings me to ... View more

Hi, First time posting here, this is a pretty big step in itself for me due to my stubborn proud nature. I am 30 years of age a father to 3 beautiful kids with a very loving attentive wife, a great career with family all around me. This brings me to wonder why I am having these feelings as I feel there is nothing to trigger these things that I am going through.. I am very stubborn and for years I have pushed aside the fact that the things I feel are obviously not normal, as I feel I'm the rock/the man of the house I felt the need to push aside these feelings. Any here goes.. I feel sad one minute, the next happy, the next angry. My emotions seem to be all over the place to the point I can't control how I feel any more even when doing the things I otherwise used to enjoy such as fishing ect. I get anxious over small minute things such as dealing with people from day to day ie. Customers at work. I can't stand crowds, I can't think straight most times, I can never concentrate on anything for long, my thought patterns are all over the place my mind races, I find it hard to switch off at any given moment. For example just yesterday my wife gave me the day off I got rained out at work and I just sat on my bum all day doing nothing yet in my mind I couldn't relax I couldn't switch off, thinking about work, the kids, things I should be doing.. You can even say quite overthinking all these things. Some days I find myself some days so mentally and physically exhausted despite really not having a full on day at work. I really appreciate anyone taking the time to tell me 1. I'm not alone and 2. Can I get better? Im just really mentally exhausted from pushing it all aside and pretending I'm OK. I already feel better getting all of this off my chest, I appreciate anyone's feed back.

Ellie_Dee Health anxiety stress
  • replies: 3

Hi, I’ve struggled on and off with health anxiety for years and, once I identified it as health anxiety (after having numerous tests for every medical issue I could think of) have been able to manage it quite well. I’m currently 33 weeks pregnant and... View more

Hi, I’ve struggled on and off with health anxiety for years and, once I identified it as health anxiety (after having numerous tests for every medical issue I could think of) have been able to manage it quite well. I’m currently 33 weeks pregnant and idk maybe the hormonal changes are making it flare up again but I’ve been struggling a lot more the last few weeks. It’s culminated in the last two days - I had breakfast at a restaurant yesterday which included foraged mushrooms, and I’ve convinced myself that they picked a death cap and it was in my breakfast, and that I’ve already got liver damage and I’ll die and there’s nothing I can do about it. It was a reputable restaurant that I’ve eaten at many times before with no issues, and the risk is super super low, but I can’t turn my brain off. I know I shouldn’t google - but I did, and it says symptoms appear within 6-24 hours or later and involve nausea/vomiting/diarrhoea/abdominal pains, and I’ve been having nausea and abdo pain but it’s mild and if I’m honest it’s probably caused by the anxiety!!! has anyone else ever convinced themselves of something like this? What techniques did you use to turn the negative thoughts off? Logically I know the risk is minimal but I’m terrified!!

SmileySocks Anxiety wins
  • replies: 3

I have debilitating social anxiety and for a couple of years I have been trying to manage it and get out more e.t.c. This pandemic has broken me though and I can't take anymore. How am I supposed to manage social anxiety when we're constantly being r... View more

I have debilitating social anxiety and for a couple of years I have been trying to manage it and get out more e.t.c. This pandemic has broken me though and I can't take anymore. How am I supposed to manage social anxiety when we're constantly being restricted and told not to be social?! It almost feels like it may as well be illegal to socialise. I must say before I go on, I'm not an antivaxer, I'm not against wearing masks and I understand why we have these restrictions and lockdowns and all the rest. But... I feel like we're never going to get out of this and I can't live like this, forever locked up and restricted. For some reason, I don't know why but wearing masks makes me even more anxious than I already am and I can't do it anymore. I think it could be because no one can hear what each other is saying and for me to speak up/louder heightens my anxiety. Lets say we all or the majority of us get vaccinated and the restrictions are gone, great! Then it mutates into a new, deadlier strain that we're not protected against and back come the restrictions and lockdowns everytime there is a case. What is the point of the vaccine if we still have to be locked in at home, wear masks anytime we leave the house and can't go anywhere even in our own country or town?? We won't die from covid which is fantastic but I feel like I may as well be dead, this is not living. I used to make myself leave the house to do my shopping and whatever else, either with my Mum or my assistance dog. I knew staying home wasn't going to be good for my anxiety but at first it was great, a relief from having to try and be more social. Now, I feel like I'm fighting an uphill battle, that all the work I did on myself has gone to waste and I'm just too tired and fed up so I give up. I'm getting groceries e.t.c delivered, I'm looking for a way out of my toxic environment job so I can work from home. I'll still walk my dog and take him to doggy daycare as he shouldn't suffer and be trapped at home just because I am but that will be it. I know the less I leave the house, the harder it will become and the more unwell I will become but I don't care anymore. I can't survive an anti social new normal while trying to manage social anxiety. If it wasn't for my dog I wouldn't be here, this world isn't worth living in anymore. So the anxiety wins, I'm too tired to manage it anymore and don't see the point.

Rainbow97 So alone
  • replies: 4

I think the worst part is feeling so alone . Whenever I try to book a psychologist apptment there is always a few weeks wait . And when I try to book one it means that I need it . The lack of support for mental health is so debilitating at times

I think the worst part is feeling so alone . Whenever I try to book a psychologist apptment there is always a few weeks wait . And when I try to book one it means that I need it . The lack of support for mental health is so debilitating at times

Myles5 Social / constant generalised anxiety taking over my life
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, I am wondering if anyone can relate with me, been really suffering lately. feel like I’m the only person in the world who could be going through this 28 yo male. Been suffering pretty badly with constant anxiety for around 5 years which all ... View more

Hi guys, I am wondering if anyone can relate with me, been really suffering lately. feel like I’m the only person in the world who could be going through this 28 yo male. Been suffering pretty badly with constant anxiety for around 5 years which all started after taking a lot of drugs at a party. But I believe it goes back further to when I was younger, with my traumatic childhood and my dad taking his own life when I was 15 I have tried pretty much every treatment since, the only thing that’s really made a difference is a good diet and joining the gym. but what seems to be getting worse lately is the social anxiety side of things. Getting to the point where I can barely speak to my own family and only feel comfortable when in my home. It’s really killing me and holding me back in life. It’s hard to explain, but whenever I’m in social situations I feel like everyone is watching and judging me for looking stupid/ on edge. My list of friends is going down big time and it’s impossible to go out and meet people/ talk to females its really upsetting because I used to be really out there when I was younger, now I can’t even put a sentence together when someone’s around. Whats triggered it a lot for me lately is seeing a lot of my close friends getting married/ having kids while I’m an anxious mess. guess what I’m asking is has anyone experienced similar issues and maybe got through it? If so what helped you. Really appreciate anyone taking the time to reply. thanks, Myles

April30 What to do when you're having a panic attack
  • replies: 6

Hey, Can anyone please tell me what can help when you're having a panic attack? I don't know what to do cause I usually just try and distract myself with other things but that hasn't been working anymore cause it's getting worse and I just don't know... View more

Hey, Can anyone please tell me what can help when you're having a panic attack? I don't know what to do cause I usually just try and distract myself with other things but that hasn't been working anymore cause it's getting worse and I just don't know what to do cause I get so freaked out for no real reason and my chest gets so tight and I just want to run away, but obviously in most circumstances I can't just run so I just have to like wait til it passes, but sometimes that takes aaaaages. And I hate feeling so alone with it like I want to reach out to a friend when it's really bad but I'm always too scared I'll sound like an idiot and what if they just judge me an think I'm a wuss. I have one friend I sometimes tell but I'm too scared to go to him too often about it cause I'm worried he'll get sick of me and my anxiety and depression.. But yeah, any tips for how to try make it better please let me know Cheers

greatoutdoors123 Lonely
  • replies: 3

Hi guys. I am really struggling with loneliness at the moment. I live interstate and moved here 2 years ago in my own for work. Because of covid I don’t get to visit home very often now. I’ve always been really proud of the fact I can live away from ... View more

Hi guys. I am really struggling with loneliness at the moment. I live interstate and moved here 2 years ago in my own for work. Because of covid I don’t get to visit home very often now. I’ve always been really proud of the fact I can live away from home and do fine but lately I haven’t been doing fine. I feel ashamed and embarrassed that I don’t have a group of friends here (I have accumulated friends but it’s not a whole ‘team’ so to speak). I spend a lot of time alone and each weekend if one of my few friends is busy then I spend more time alone. I’m embarrassed by this and feel like I’m wasting my youth in a way. Lately it’s getting a bit much and I have been very teary. Can anyone relate?

Gandalf123 help with these waves please
  • replies: 2

Hi, I think I've been having situational anxiety for many weeks now. Not sure when it will clear up but I'm trying to cope best I can. The big thing is these damn waves. Just when I think I'm making progress, these strong waves of stress/anxiety come... View more

Hi, I think I've been having situational anxiety for many weeks now. Not sure when it will clear up but I'm trying to cope best I can. The big thing is these damn waves. Just when I think I'm making progress, these strong waves of stress/anxiety come back. Many times they are overwhelming. Feel like crying. How can I deal with these waves please? anyone.

Rowantrek Employment Troubles
  • replies: 1

Hi all, So I live with a fairly nasty dose of GAD intertwined with a panic disorder (fun right?). I graduated high school in 2019 and spent late 2019 and early 2020 working in Live Events Industry. Due to Covid, I haven't had any regular work since t... View more

Hi all, So I live with a fairly nasty dose of GAD intertwined with a panic disorder (fun right?). I graduated high school in 2019 and spent late 2019 and early 2020 working in Live Events Industry. Due to Covid, I haven't had any regular work since then. I can happily say that I am reaching a point in my treatment where I need to re-enter the workforce, but I have had some troubles with that. Whenever, I apply for a position, I get very stressed and anxious, about being trapped/committed to working with a company, regular hours, etc. Most of the previous year I have spent at home watching TV or Gaming, to keep myself entertained. On top of this, I have a couple of promising opportunities of full time work with some really understanding and caring employers, in an industry I enjoy and have a passion for. This bring another level of stress of the mere thought of having full time work. If anyone would have any advice on how to adapt to this situation, I would appreciate it greatly. Cheers, Rowan

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