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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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Tim100 Upcoming surgery anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I have an elective surgery coming up next week that will benefit my lifestyle in the long term. I’m generally an anxious person but adding this on top is just taking up all my thoughts and impacting sleep and mood. I have mild panic attacks c... View more

Hi all, I have an elective surgery coming up next week that will benefit my lifestyle in the long term. I’m generally an anxious person but adding this on top is just taking up all my thoughts and impacting sleep and mood. I have mild panic attacks causing my heart racing and nausea, which I’m just struggling to keep on top of. I’ve never had surgery before so the thought of ‘going under’ just seems so foreign to me. Especially because it’s elective, I don’t need to do it and I just want to keep reminding myself of the long term benefits. I’ve spoken with my family who have had surgery for various reasons which helped and I understand it’s incredibly safe but I just can’t shake it and fear how I will be the night before/morning of the surgery.

Esme_love87 Anxiety & intrusive thoughts
  • replies: 5

Hey guys - first time poster here I’m a mum to a beautiful 3 year old girl, who I absolutely love to bits. I’m unfortunately struggling with an unbearable bout of anxiety/ depression and also getting “stuck” on disturbing intrusive thoughts which is ... View more

Hey guys - first time poster here I’m a mum to a beautiful 3 year old girl, who I absolutely love to bits. I’m unfortunately struggling with an unbearable bout of anxiety/ depression and also getting “stuck” on disturbing intrusive thoughts which is fuelling my anxiety even further. I just can’t shake it off and its making me question my sanity?! I’ve definitely obsessed over her well being in the past, constantlyyy checking if she was breathing when asleep as a baby, googling symptoms excessively etc. We co sleep and my current crazy thought is me panicking if I’ll accidentally smother or hurt her in my sleep somehow while I’m not concious? Like do something in a dream?! It sounds crazy but I’m literately too scared to fall asleep most nights as the thought seems so real in my mind. It’s petrifying and I just want to stop dwelling on these horrible thoughts. I’ve had a past issue with driving and being scared of “losing control” but I have mostly overcome that. Other than having a virus and a course of antibiotics lately I’ve been well - although I have definitely always had mild underlying anxiety which worsens in times of stress. It doesn’t help that I’m unhappy in my marriage - my husband has a horrible temper at times so he’s often a further cause of stress in my life. I usually feel like I cope with everything okay however I’m finding I’m crying everyday with the utter disgust and stress of now experiencing intrusive thoughts to this extent. I’m at a point where I’m wanting to seek help - however I’m also scared of medication as I remember experiencing intensified anxiety when taking them. Also worried that I’ll be seen as an unfit mother or even worse if I truly am an unfit mother? The thought spiral is never ending. Just feel trapped in my own head and I can’t see a way out of feeling this way - sorry for the long rant!! X

Morehope Do I have social anxiety or general anxiety
  • replies: 9

I've always had lots of close friends and never felt anxious in social settings. I always love being under the spotlight. However, 4 years ago since I have moved to another country on my own for studies, I have grown more and more introverted. I feel... View more

I've always had lots of close friends and never felt anxious in social settings. I always love being under the spotlight. However, 4 years ago since I have moved to another country on my own for studies, I have grown more and more introverted. I feel as if whenever I do small talk with someone I try too hard and end up saying the wrong things and just embarrass myself. It pains me to talk to someone new and regret it and try to get out of it. I think it makes it worse since I've found my partner in life in these 4 years and don't feel the need to talk to anyone else because I can talk to and hang out with my partner. I don't go out with the few friends I have in this new country and always make an excuse to not go out. For this reason I have absolutely no social life with my friends. I do not reply to any of my messages on my phone for at least a day just because I don't know what to say to someone I'm not in contact with on a daily basis. I am almost completely out of touch with my best friends back in my home country. I also worry about random things through out the day. What will happen when I have a baby. Will I be able to be financially stableto have a baby. I will think of this all day and will be unable to fall asleep at night. I am also worried when I'm in a car all the time that a car will hit us and I will die. My anxiety in cars has made me not get my drivers license as I'm sure I'll die once I get my licence because I will get anxious of other drivers and not be able to make the right turns because I blank out. On the days I don't have work I would rather not go out and worry about all that I need to get done but not actually do it and hence waste my free day stressing about something I haven't gotten done for months. I'm not sure if the anxiety is triggered or worsened by anything but I have had a few very traumatic events happen to me in the last 3-4 years that I still have nightmares and flash backs and sadness about. I also feel very below average. Seeing a movie or film with people working in an office upsets me as I feel ill never be able to achieve that. I feel like I am worthless to the society, do not have any creative talents to make up for my lack of critical thinking and intellect. I feel sad when I see my friends start a business and it looks good because I feel like I would never be able to recreate anything merely as nice. It's not jealousy, it's just sadness and feelings of uselessness. Do I need professional help?

Anxious247 Anxiety 24/7
  • replies: 4

Hello everyone reading. I have anxiety pretty much 24/7. I feel constantly anxious, struggle breathing, ears ringing, overwhelmed, substance abuse, constant mind heart health problems, heart racing, heart fluttering, thinking about breathing, agitate... View more

Hello everyone reading. I have anxiety pretty much 24/7. I feel constantly anxious, struggle breathing, ears ringing, overwhelmed, substance abuse, constant mind heart health problems, heart racing, heart fluttering, thinking about breathing, agitated, heart palpitations, hot, sweaty, hands and feet get red and hot. this is my life!! I have had all health tests done and nothing has come back bad. My Mum had/has bad anxiety/depression and is medicated. I don’t want to be medicated, I have previously and It made me feel disconnected and still had heart palpitations. I have young children and need to be a good parent to them, I can’t be disconnected from them. I drink way too much and know I need to stop but when I don’t drink, I’m 100% more anxious. I feel like I need alcohol to cope. please share anxiety experiences so I don’t feel alone. much love to you all xxx

bill12345 Anxiety about electricity
  • replies: 2

Hi i have anxiety and mild OCD and today i am really worried because i have my laptop charging through an ax tension cord across my floor and when i was walking on my carpet i felt like my foot was vibrating and i’m really scared now i’ve been electr... View more

Hi i have anxiety and mild OCD and today i am really worried because i have my laptop charging through an ax tension cord across my floor and when i was walking on my carpet i felt like my foot was vibrating and i’m really scared now i’ve been electrocuted, is that possible, i don’t know if my mind is making it up

Alwaysbehappy! New here! Just want to know if Anxiety is common?
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone I am dealing with my Anxiety and I am going for psychologist appointment, just wanting some advise how should I talk to an psychologist so he/she can help me better? I have panic attack and anxiety quite frequently and do not have a good ... View more

Hi everyone I am dealing with my Anxiety and I am going for psychologist appointment, just wanting some advise how should I talk to an psychologist so he/she can help me better? I have panic attack and anxiety quite frequently and do not have a good support from family.

Mavis1989 Phobia/severe anxiety related to partner getting drunk
  • replies: 5

Hi I guess I’m just seeing if anyone can relate or offer advice. I’m 31, female with female partner of 5 years and have 7month old baby daughter that is biologically hers. I have a long standing mental illness hx (GAD, MDD) and a particular phobia ar... View more

Hi I guess I’m just seeing if anyone can relate or offer advice. I’m 31, female with female partner of 5 years and have 7month old baby daughter that is biologically hers. I have a long standing mental illness hx (GAD, MDD) and a particular phobia around being around people who are drunk but it’s mostly related to being around a partner who is drunk. I’ve always felt like this and there have been points in my life that the intrusive thoughts and ruminating about it have become quite intense to the point where it seems like it was all I could think about and it was taking over my life. It’s not at that point atm but the fear of it getting out of hand is there my partner was a binge drinker when I met her and it bothered me from day dot but we stayed together despite it being something that it always causes me anxiety. When she got pregnant it was great and she only starting drinking at the start of the year after breastfeeding finished up. Long story short, I’ve recently been discharged from hospital for MH relapse and my partner has been really supportive and it has strengthened our relationship. We had a really important wedding to attend that I was bridesmaid for 2 days after leaving hospital (I pushed getting out of hospital so I could attend-my depression and anxiety is only about 30% better but I needed to be at this wedding) The wedding itself was beautiful and my partner was great to begin with. I had previously asked her to please not get too drunk-we have had multiple discussions about why I have a phobia around this issue (related to past childhood trauma) and I thought she understood the importance of respecting my boundaries especially as it was so difficult for me straight out of hospital to be there. She got extremely drunk and when I noticed how quickly she was drinking and asked her to slow down, she didn’t listen and kept going despite my obvious distress i understand it may come across controlling and I’m well aware of that but I can’t seem to change the way I feel and my partner changes into a different person when drunk, so uncaring and selfish which isn’t like her and I really needed her to be my rock this weekend and instead it was a disaster. Has anyone had similar issues in their relationship? I don’t know how to fix my relationship without either feeling like I’m trying to control my partner or accepting something that my body and mind won’t let me accept without severe mental anguish. Please help

eth93 OCD: Do you ever fully recover, or do you just learn to live with it?
  • replies: 6

I was diagnosed with OCD at a fairly young age. And have been medicated from my mid teens.. Over a decade later I have decided that I would like to come of all my medication. I have done this slowly and in regular contact with my GP. I'm now on zero ... View more

I was diagnosed with OCD at a fairly young age. And have been medicated from my mid teens.. Over a decade later I have decided that I would like to come of all my medication. I have done this slowly and in regular contact with my GP. I'm now on zero medication. Ive recently started having thoughts again about a particular OCD theme I have had in the past. Except with no obvious emotional response. Which has me questioning things. Is this me just learning to live with my OCD? Or should I genuinely be questioning things.

Romy Moving out of my parents place
  • replies: 2

I have GAD and a big trigger for me is CHANGE. This past weekend I moved out of my parents place into a small rental unit with a girl I hadn’t met before. I have said for years I never want to rent, I want to stay at home and save so I can one day bu... View more

I have GAD and a big trigger for me is CHANGE. This past weekend I moved out of my parents place into a small rental unit with a girl I hadn’t met before. I have said for years I never want to rent, I want to stay at home and save so I can one day buy my own place. After an argument with my parents one night I just randomly went online and found a rental and moved out a few weeks after. So I ended up at this rental for only 2 nights before I realised I’d made a huge mistake. I’ve spent the past 3 days crying, unable to eat much. I’m moving back to my parents place (which they are completely supportive of because they wanted me to stay at home and save in the first place). I feel so stupid for giving up after 2 nights. I’m not one to give up when my anxiety is bad, I always push through, but this situation did not feel right for me so I’m moving back home. I don’t know how to push away this feeling that I have failed and I am also worried that when I do have to move out one day I’m really going to struggle. Advice, words of reassurance or similar experiences?

Codes84 Is a complete recovery from derealization in possible?
  • replies: 4

Hey everyone. I've been suffering from symptoms of derealization since January this year. At the start I was having severe daily intrusive thoughts and thought I was losing my mind. I was getting severe anxiety as well and couldn't even go to work fo... View more

Hey everyone. I've been suffering from symptoms of derealization since January this year. At the start I was having severe daily intrusive thoughts and thought I was losing my mind. I was getting severe anxiety as well and couldn't even go to work for at least six weeks. My days consisted of sleeping and trying to stay sane. I've been put on medication and tolerated it relatively well. It's helped with the intrusive thoughts and my sleeping has gotten better. I'm back at work a few days a week and have started going back to the gym. I'm avoiding alcohol and caffeine to try and help. My anxiety has gotten better and the symptoms of derealization has reduced greatly but I'm recently I'm starting to feel them creeping back in. I'm trying to reassure myself as much as possible and do grounding techniques but I don't feel like it's working. When I'm distracted at work it's not as bad but as soon as I start thinking about it it gets worse. Has anyone completely recovered from derealization? Whether it was for only a few months or several years? Does anyone have any advice about a "complete" recovery?