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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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Jbitossi Anxiety and Panic disorder
  • replies: 2

Can anyone offer any advice on how to help or what I can do different. I’ve been to the hospital three times, have been medicated with so many different medications, doing CBT and nothing is helping. I constantly feel every beat of my heart, I have t... View more

Can anyone offer any advice on how to help or what I can do different. I’ve been to the hospital three times, have been medicated with so many different medications, doing CBT and nothing is helping. I constantly feel every beat of my heart, I have the think about every breath I take, just standing up makes me feel breathless and I cannot do anything that could make my heart beat even slightly faster than normal or I have a full blown panic attack. I have anxiety all day no break, of a night time when it starts to get dark it is just panic attack after panic attack with intense anxiety. I have become to scared to fall asleep because what if I stop breathing in my sleep. I to have had every test, X-rays, ecos, blood tests, traces. I am healthy apparently. After I get a new test and I am healthy my anxiety will be manageable for a day or a few hours until my brain convinced me they missed something or it’s something else. The only thing that has helped me was a benzodiazepine at the hospital, but the doctors don’t like prescribing that and I’m made feel like a bad person for asking for it, like I am just looking for drugs. I was a smoker a pouch every 2 days, drank alcohol every day and used recreational drugs maybe 2 times a year for the past 3 years. I now cannot even take Panadol, I only drink water because I’m scared of caffeine making my anxiety worse, I stopped smoking cold turkey because of the intense anxiety and panic of the thought of dying. This has taken over my entire life. I’ve started to have panic attacks at work, I am a support worker so I cannot leave work and I almost have so many times just ran out of work or thought of calling an ambulance. It’s ruining my life and I don’t know what to do. I was medicated but I start to feel worse physically and get heart palpitations and extremely depressed on anxiety/depression medication. I feel I am putting in the work and getting no where and I’m convinced I’m dying and the doctors just don’t know it because how could this just be anxiety. A simple knock on my door at home is enough to send me into a panic attack. I cannot even answer my phone anymore. I told my mental health worker I needed to go to hospital and I was told they wouldn’t take me and laughed at because apparently they just don’t have the beds. I don’t want to die, I’m scared of dying, but I just want this to stop. If I am dying can it just hurry up. I’m tired.

PhiPhi18 Feeling of being watched
  • replies: 2

over the past 5 months I had this feeling of someone watching me in my home, mainly at night time occasionally during the day, I hear noises all the time of footsteps in the roof but nobody is up there. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t sleep ev... View more

over the past 5 months I had this feeling of someone watching me in my home, mainly at night time occasionally during the day, I hear noises all the time of footsteps in the roof but nobody is up there. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t sleep even a wink on some nights. It was only happening at my home but has begun to happen when I sleep over at my boyfriends house to where I feel like someone is watching me through the window. Does anyone else have any similar experiences and know why this is happening? Thank you

jack0194 Does anyone here have a fear of driving? (Amaxophobia)
  • replies: 4

Hi, I should explain my post. So when I was in the lead up to getting my licence 8 years ago I was freaking out about it and didn't want to get it. and would come up with all these crazy ideas like I would over accelerate and crash. But since getting... View more

Hi, I should explain my post. So when I was in the lead up to getting my licence 8 years ago I was freaking out about it and didn't want to get it. and would come up with all these crazy ideas like I would over accelerate and crash. But since getting my license that hasn't happened and to be honest I love driving to an extent. The only things I still have crazy fears over are: Driving somewhere and not knowing where I'm going Heavy traffic and Highways At the moment I only ever drive to end from work and hardly anywhere else. and it's only 2 mins from home. And to be honest It's now getting really annoying. I'm probably going to be working in a job soon where I need to travel a lot further than 2 minutes. I've been thinking up of this theory that if you use positive thinking whenever you're going to drive long distances you should be able to calm a lot of anxiety? Would this work? Thanks.

Nick_Elixir Lack of Motivation
  • replies: 2

Because of my social anxiety disorder, I always procrastinate and have no motivation or have panic attacks when looking for jobs or apply for ones that I do find. I have been participating in employment mentoring sessions to help me with this, but I ... View more

Because of my social anxiety disorder, I always procrastinate and have no motivation or have panic attacks when looking for jobs or apply for ones that I do find. I have been participating in employment mentoring sessions to help me with this, but I was wondering if you had any tips for me.

white knight Anxiety relief
  • replies: 2

I've started this thread to list what I think, by priority and effect, was the areas that assisted me in getting relief from anxiety. I'll list links to some threads also. GP visit. The first port of call https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxie... View more

I've started this thread to list what I think, by priority and effect, was the areas that assisted me in getting relief from anxiety. I'll list links to some threads also. GP visit. The first port of call https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/signs-and-symptoms?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsLWDBhCmARIsAPSL3_3fuFpoIQT9a9tqnv5zqZ167mX1OdLxiSxyetEJmNVVVe34HXBNKFsaAopyEALw_wcB Meds and referrals. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/medication-is-a-whirlpool#qgz2SHHzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A Time out. Can include sick leave, holidays, separation from the source. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/holidays#qoVKHXHzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A Relaxation, it comes in many types. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/meditation---words-of-wisdom---it-helped-me-for-25-years#qe4ivHHzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A Removal of the source eg the person, the task, the memories or the job at work eg https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/relationship-and-family-issues/fortress-of-survival-part-3-(workplace)#qtjNLXHzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A Immediate change of environment. A walk, a visit to a quiet cafe, a comforting friend. Financial focus- budgeting, planning short, medium and long term goals, https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/depression/the-financial-world-of-snakes-and-ladders#qr4Z63HzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A Distancing of toxic persons and filtering people to protect yourself. A 3 part series- https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/relationship-and-family-issues/fortress-of-survival#qwGjz3HzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/fortress-of-survival-part-2#qr3vKXHzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/fortress-of-survival-part-3#qyLjx3HzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A Career choices. Hobbies. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/depression-distraction-and-variety#qn71W3HzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A Limit arguments https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/relationship-and-family-issues/relationship-strife-the-peace-pipe#qmzbkXHzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A Remove guilt. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/guilt-the-tormentor-#qybfIHHzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A A pet. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/personal-best/pillar/supporting-yourself/pets-and-their-impact-on-mental-health Can you add to the above to help readers? TonyWK

contrarymary Need major dental work but petrified of going to dentist
  • replies: 1

This story starts when I was 9 and I had toothache so my father took me to army dentist and he yanked the tooth out. It was one of my baby teeth then the following year I had to have 4 baby teeth out was asleep this time but can still remember the pa... View more

This story starts when I was 9 and I had toothache so my father took me to army dentist and he yanked the tooth out. It was one of my baby teeth then the following year I had to have 4 baby teeth out was asleep this time but can still remember the pain even though it was over 50 years ago. Since then i have had 3 teeth out as an adult each time with general anaesthetic as I was petrified. I need work done badly any advice on overcoming this can you still get general anaesthetic. Can a GP refer you to a public dental hospital. Anyone have a dental phobia and how did they overcome it

Marto9014 Health Anxiety- Obsessing Over MS
  • replies: 19

Hi All Having a torrid time with health anxiety. I had a medical scare about a month ago. Once given the all clear I was fine. But then a few weeks later I had tingling in my right arm and fingers. I had had this before due to a suppressed lunar nerv... View more

Hi All Having a torrid time with health anxiety. I had a medical scare about a month ago. Once given the all clear I was fine. But then a few weeks later I had tingling in my right arm and fingers. I had had this before due to a suppressed lunar nerve, and knew it was likely that. But for some reason I saw the need to ask Dr Google. Seeing MS up the top of the search results has put me into a spin. Since then I have experienced a variety of symptoms. Burning in my legs, restless right leg, numbness that has moved around in my right foot, and weakness in my right leg. My GP is convinced it’s anxiety but has referred me to a neurologist for peace of mind. I’m also so in tune to my walking pattern (read that MS can change your walking style) that I think about absolutely every step and has made my leg quite uncomfortable. I have had symptoms for about 3 weeks, and barely a minute doesn’t go past where I think of MS and how I’ll deal with it if diagnosed. Bloody annoying as I know it’s likely anxiety. Just thought I’d share my symptoms, as if there’s anyone else out there feeling the same they won’t feel as alone! Would love to hear from anyone else experiencing something similar.

Nightwing81 Feeling overwhelmed
  • replies: 10

Hi all! Woke up this morning feeling a bit overwhelmed. Knowing that my mum is going back to see the oncologist on Thursday always makes me anxious. Im also trying to drastically change my lifestyle to benefit my mental health. All this stuff makes m... View more

Hi all! Woke up this morning feeling a bit overwhelmed. Knowing that my mum is going back to see the oncologist on Thursday always makes me anxious. Im also trying to drastically change my lifestyle to benefit my mental health. All this stuff makes me anxious. I was wondering what you all do when you feel overwhelmed?

Nettyp Coping mechanisms
  • replies: 1

Hi Im at a stand still and breaking. My kids 8 and 4 are the love of my life. They are with docs due to my incarceration caused by mental health. If raised them on my own since birth. Its breaking me, im crying all the time as not seeing them as ofte... View more

Hi Im at a stand still and breaking. My kids 8 and 4 are the love of my life. They are with docs due to my incarceration caused by mental health. If raised them on my own since birth. Its breaking me, im crying all the time as not seeing them as often as i should be. Phone call time also disrupted. Iv made contact with my daughters father after 4 years, to me he is my soul mate hence why stayed single. With the docs involvement and incarceration and a lot of emotions iv caused issues with him, now things are rocky. Every time someone asks how i am i break. A mother today whent to her daughters wedding i heard on the train. I broke as i want to marry my soul mate but fear iv ruined things Im a mess

Peace2021 Perceptions and unkindness: GAD and me
  • replies: 2

I am posting for the first time. I have managed(suffered?!) GAD for years and have worked through it time after time. I know I have to continuously manage it and sometimes it rears it’s ugly head without me even knowing! It’s only when people get fru... View more

I am posting for the first time. I have managed(suffered?!) GAD for years and have worked through it time after time. I know I have to continuously manage it and sometimes it rears it’s ugly head without me even knowing! It’s only when people get frustrated with me that I have to remember to get control of it again. Family members cry out ‘You don’t listen!!’ ‘You don’t remember anything!’ ‘Hellooo!!’ As a senior executive, I am also fed up with it all at work. I love my job but feel as though this constant roller coaster will ruin everything. I’ve been deep in depression off and on over the years and don’t want to go there again but geez, how do you tell people what you’re experiencing when the family has these expectations of you and at work the perception is (or has to be) you’re all over it. Life is making me anxious. People can be cruel and it is a constant battle. Anyone else ever feel like just giving up your dreams and admitting defeat over anxiety?