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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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Panicked_Kylie New Girl
  • replies: 8

Hey, I'm new here. It's 1am, and I've been experiencing panic attacks for the last month. Tonight is particularly bad. I'm terrified, physically uncomfortable, extremely tired... its been going on all night. I feel helpless and alone. I live by mysel... View more

Hey, I'm new here. It's 1am, and I've been experiencing panic attacks for the last month. Tonight is particularly bad. I'm terrified, physically uncomfortable, extremely tired... its been going on all night. I feel helpless and alone. I live by myself, and my greatest fear is having a heart attack alone in my home- that fear is amplified 100x during a panic attack which seems to never end. I went to the hospital two weeks ago and had an ECG. Doctor assured me my heart was find. I'd like to believe him, but I don't. I think I'm a hypochondriac, which makes me too embarrassed and ashamed to seek further help. I started on escitalopram two weeks ago, but it hasn't helped. I'll be making an appointment at the doc ASAP to find out what more I can do. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I don't know how to help myself. These symptoms feel all physical, not psychological or emotional, so I feel helpless and unable to control it. I wake up from a deep sleep having a panic attack... I'm at my witts end. I joined a Facebook group for anxiety and panic sufferers, but there are so many people there, my posts get lost amongst the masses, and I tend to write entire novels... that might bore people...

Leonay How to stop the backward slide
  • replies: 6

Twelve months ago I hit crisis point with work and family and attempted suicide. I spent time in hospital followed by ongoing support from a psychologist. Everything has been improving except my work where I feel intimidated by my boss, I have no sup... View more

Twelve months ago I hit crisis point with work and family and attempted suicide. I spent time in hospital followed by ongoing support from a psychologist. Everything has been improving except my work where I feel intimidated by my boss, I have no support or understanding and I am now almost back where I started from twelve months ago. It has been a very noticeable slide over the last six months in particular. I vomit each day before work, I get so anxious I get chest pains when I see her let alone talk to her. I am working really hard with my psychologist to put strategies in place to cope but I am wondering how everyone else copes when they feel themselves sliding back down that path again. According to my psychologist I am actually showing considerably more anxiety and depression than when I attempted suicide last year but I haven't done anything. I have to admit I have had thoughts but the strategies I have developed have helped to stop myself from carrying anything out. I know that I should be doing things that make me feel good like my art but to be honest I am so exhausted each day by the time I get home I don't have the energy anymore. I just feel like such a failure because I am letting my boss bully me, I'm too scared to speak up and my mental health has taken a really big hit. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to here how you are helping yourself. I love teaching (I teach primary school) but my boss has me in such a spin. I live in a small regional area so if I speak up it could hinder my chances of other jobs. Please if you have any thoughts I would be every so appreciative. I hate feeling like this and I need a kick to help me to get myself out of this rut. Thanks and take care

Larks98 Fatigued from Anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, I've had anxiety for the last 12 months. Upon having multiple tests to rule out any serious problems. My GP has suggested that I should start exercising/training. Since being diagnosed, I have felt easily fatigued when doing exercise. Im 22 ... View more

Hi guys, I've had anxiety for the last 12 months. Upon having multiple tests to rule out any serious problems. My GP has suggested that I should start exercising/training. Since being diagnosed, I have felt easily fatigued when doing exercise. Im 22 and as a kid I always played sports as well as in highschool. Admittedly, I haven't exercised regularly for a few years now, but these days my cardio is very poor. And I get easily fatigued quickly. Any tips on how to get back to training/exercising and getting back to my usual fitness. And if anyone can relate please do so, Cheers.

agj5 Good jobs for anxious people.
  • replies: 9

Hello everyone, This is my first post here. And, I think, it is a "funny" one. I want to ask if there are any non-buzzword* jobs that still pay well? *Fast-paced, attention to detail, conflicting priorities, etc, etc, etc That is my current job. And ... View more

Hello everyone, This is my first post here. And, I think, it is a "funny" one. I want to ask if there are any non-buzzword* jobs that still pay well? *Fast-paced, attention to detail, conflicting priorities, etc, etc, etc That is my current job. And every other job I see advertised out there. I can't cope. I need a break. But I still need to earn a living. What type of jobs are suitable for an anxious person who wants to avoid the dreaded feeling that you are falling behind in your work and you are going to get in trouble every day because you are not performing to the expected standards? Something slow or normal-paced, where you are not going to be putting fires day in and day out and your work becomes a mess because you are drowning in inefficiencies and poor processes. I know that no company/job/colleague is perfect but I do hope that there is something more suitable for our mental health? Oh, and that we can still make a decent living! Looking to hear your experiences Thanks.

contrarymary Mindfulness, meditation and anxiety
  • replies: 4

I have taken advice from beyond blue help line and from my GP both have recommended mindfulness and meditation. I have been trying this for the past 2 months but It doesn't work for me. I read all the instructions and try to follow the exercises eg b... View more

I have taken advice from beyond blue help line and from my GP both have recommended mindfulness and meditation. I have been trying this for the past 2 months but It doesn't work for me. I read all the instructions and try to follow the exercises eg breathing and relaxing but I can't do it. I went also to some meditation classes followed the teachers instructions everyone else was relaxing but not me, the teacher gave me some extra instruction but no use any ideas on working it out or any suggestions for other ideas to try. my GP referred me to a councillor and they suggested mindfulness. am I the only one who doesn't understand mindfulness

Sleepless1987 Touch
  • replies: 7

I'm struggling to with my anxiety levels at the moment, I just want to crawl into bed and stay there. I am particularly having trouble with personal space, I don't even want my nieces hugging name. I adore my nieces and nephews, but even the idea of ... View more

I'm struggling to with my anxiety levels at the moment, I just want to crawl into bed and stay there. I am particularly having trouble with personal space, I don't even want my nieces hugging name. I adore my nieces and nephews, but even the idea of them hugging me is making my skin crawl. Does anyone have any tips on how to face this?

Koli_2 Gagging Phobia
  • replies: 1

Hi All, First time poster here... In the last month, I've relapsed badly with anxiety only this time it has taken the form of a fear of gagging (particularly at work). The major component of thephobia is gagging in front of colleagues in the office, ... View more

Hi All, First time poster here... In the last month, I've relapsed badly with anxiety only this time it has taken the form of a fear of gagging (particularly at work). The major component of thephobia is gagging in front of colleagues in the office, either when everyone is quietly working around me, or in direct conversation with people. Thus far (and despite all of my catastrophising), I haven't actual done either of the above, however, yesterday I came very close to doing so on several occasions. For all of my attempts at self-talk, deep breathing, etc., I feel myself increasingly at the point of it just happening (and it has happened, but not near colleagues). I'm afraid I'm losing faith in my techniques for seeing out the situation, reducing the stress and defusing the negative self-talk. I've almost convinced myself that just by thinking about it, I will make it happen. My only 'defense' at this stage appears to be applying acupressure to the palm which reduces the urge to gag and valium prescribed to me by my GP! I've just started seeing a therapist to address this issue but, unfortunately, owing to the increased demand for many such professionals post-covid, I can only see him in another two weeks. I'm kind of at a loss as to what to do now. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

amalee78 Physical sensations anxiety or something serious?
  • replies: 14

I had been congratulating myself on being so much better the last few months, now here I am again. I am totally fixated on my armpit at the moment. One day I thought one armpit looked puffier than the other. I couldn’t feel a specific lump, just an o... View more

I had been congratulating myself on being so much better the last few months, now here I am again. I am totally fixated on my armpit at the moment. One day I thought one armpit looked puffier than the other. I couldn’t feel a specific lump, just an overall puffiness type thing. Ever since then, my anxiety has just been out of control. Now I feel like sometimes I can feel a feeling - like a sore muscle, type ache in my armpit. It is not all the time, but I would feel it every day. I think maybe the feeling moves, though, sometimes it’s at the front crease of my armpit, sometimes towards the back. I don’t think it is ever actually IN my armpit (if you know what I mean) Sometimes when I can’t feel that funny ache, I look for it and wonder why it’s not there....and the worst part is I’m just not sure if sometimes it’s just in my mind. I do definitely feel it though. It’s getting to the point where I can’t look at myself in the mirror, or touch that part of my body. I’m just not sure that’s normal. My husband has looked many times and says both armpits look the same to him, and that they don’t feel different to him. Then I think to myself, if it was something fatal he wouldn’t be able to see it anyway... Surely if it was the C word the pain would be severe and constant, not coming and going? I am fixated on lymph nodes, but I have to honest, I don’t even know where they are in my armpit (are they right up in the top? Or around the edges?? Probably best not to answer anyway, it will just fuel the beast for me).....But, again, how normal is it to worry about something like that if you don’t even know where you should be worried about or what it would feel like? I just need some help. I’m sorry for the long post, but I just can’t get past this. I also just can’t keep living like this anymore. Of anyone has any words of wisdom for me I would appreciate it.

humanleague slipping away from my family
  • replies: 3

I have difficulty with big change. It brings on severe anxiety and depression. I have lived where i live for over a decade and i'm very happy here. All my friends are here, my hobbies and outlets that make me happy (and keep my anxiety & depression a... View more

I have difficulty with big change. It brings on severe anxiety and depression. I have lived where i live for over a decade and i'm very happy here. All my friends are here, my hobbies and outlets that make me happy (and keep my anxiety & depression at bay) are all here. I'm close to my parents, who are also living close by. Over the last few years my wife has been making notions that she wants to move. Recently she's been putting the hard shoulder on me even harder When we first moved here quite some time ago, we had so many hopes and dreams. It's a beautiful seaside town. We were happy and we bought our home with the intention of it being our forever home. It was a wonderful time. We had our kids here. My wife doesn't have many friends and finds it hard to make them. Her family doesn't live close by. Over time, her happiness has waned and in turn makes my kids not want to be here as well. I feel outnumbered. I know most people reading this are thinking "what a selfish jerk, it's all about you isn't it?" and that "family must always come first" and i should sacrifice everything for them. I'm willing to do that, family does come first and they deserve to be happy, but just the thought of uprooting and moving away from my very close circle of friends and all the things that i love to do is making me feel completely dead inside. Sure i could get counseling to help with the change after it's happened, but i don't know how long i will be able to keep up the facade that i'm fine & everything is okay . On the other hand, if i hold my ground & attempt to keep everyone here, there's a chance it will put strain on my Marriage and my young family will be miserable & everything will fall apart anyway. Sometimes i feel like i could just turn and walk away from my family and be happy on my own. But i know that's just my mental state completely taking over and getting the better of me. I do love my wife and family & i know that's not even thinking straight, but i do get those thoughts when i'm at my lowest So i feel like it's a no win situation at the moment. Talking it over with my wife immediately gets my stomach in knots and i feel an immeasurable amount of sorrow and despair, to the point of feeling nauseous and on the verge of a panic attack. If anyone has any advice to give,or words of comfort, or anything i would appreciate it. Even if it's just to feel better for a while.

jack0194 fear of driving Or Social Anxiety?
  • replies: 13

I'm not too sure exactly what's going on, to be honest. All I know is that sometimes I get random bouts of Anxiety either over nothing or over something really small that may have happened. Originally I used to have a more general fear of driving alt... View more

I'm not too sure exactly what's going on, to be honest. All I know is that sometimes I get random bouts of Anxiety either over nothing or over something really small that may have happened. Originally I used to have a more general fear of driving altogether. I used to think I would most likely slam my foot on the accelerator and cause an accident. But these days I find driving like riding a bike. Unless... I'm driving somewhere I've never been, I have to go in very heavy traffic or a very long distance (On a highway) Basically, since I've had my licence I've: Never been on a highway and hardly driven in very heavy traffic To be honest, the idea of driving on a high doesn't worry me that much, I feel like it's one of those things where once you have done it, it will be pretty easy to do. I worry more about driving all the way to the city for work and not getting a park. So basically what I'm getting at Is this more a social anxiety thing? Or fear of driving?

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