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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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ScarlettR Is ongoing self-pity a symptom of mental illness?
  • replies: 2

So I often feel sorry for myself, for bad things that happened to me in the past (e.g. schoolyard bullies, encountering mean people, having some body issue) and I start overthinking and start to even *whine* about my "hardships" to the point where I ... View more

So I often feel sorry for myself, for bad things that happened to me in the past (e.g. schoolyard bullies, encountering mean people, having some body issue) and I start overthinking and start to even *whine* about my "hardships" to the point where I have to let everyone know. If I do talk about it, it comes across as complaining. The thing is, I'm kind of like a child - I sometimes don't even consider that other people have had problems, too. I feel particularly sorry for myself because, for a certain period in my young life, I had no one to hang out with and I was already awkward as it was. I do have paranoid schizophrenia (more so in mood swings and false beliefs than actual hallucinations) and depression. Maybe because of this, sometimes it's really hard to realise that there are 7 billion people on this world and each one of them has problems or have suffered some hardship. Again, I'm not here to complain about feeling self-pity (ironically). I hope that this topic can be discussed and explored and maybe help others who feel similar?

alex358 Is Depression a Common Illness and how do you deal with it?
  • replies: 1

Anxiety and depression rates continue to creep upwards, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) National Health Survey: First Results, 2017–18. The survey found increased rates of mental illness in several areas: Around one in eight a... View more

Anxiety and depression rates continue to creep upwards, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) National Health Survey: First Results, 2017–18. The survey found increased rates of mental illness in several areas: Around one in eight adults (13%) experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress in 2017–18 – an increase from 11.7% (or 2.1 million adults) in 2014–15. One in five Australians (20.1%) reported a mental or behavioural condition in 2017–18 – an increase from 17.5% (four million Australians) in 2014–15. Around one in eight Australians (13.1%) had an anxiety-related condition in 2017–18 – an increase from 11.2% in 2014–15. One in 10 people (10.4%) had depression or feelings of depression in 2017–18 – an increase from 8.9% in 2014–15.

Joshua_B Intrusive thoughts.
  • replies: 13

I haven’t had intrusive thoughts for a while, but now they’re back and they’re really intense. I know that the intrusive thoughts are egodystonic and false, being the opposite of my values, ethics, principles and morals. The intrusive thoughts try to... View more

I haven’t had intrusive thoughts for a while, but now they’re back and they’re really intense. I know that the intrusive thoughts are egodystonic and false, being the opposite of my values, ethics, principles and morals. The intrusive thoughts try to confuse me and then manipulate my thought processes, and it tries to do this nonstop. My psychologist and psychiatrist have both said that it is egodystonic. I am following the advice from the professionals and trying my best to avoid reassurance and any emotional reaction to the intrusive thoughts. I’m also writing my intrusive thoughts in a journal to desensitise myself to the intrusive thoughts. Recent stresses in the household may have caused another session of intrusive thoughts to occur. I’m using the Headspace, RainRain and TheMighty apps. I am seeking as much help as possible and I am using my social network as much as I can. I am using as many analogies as I can to strategise as to how to cope with and selectively ignore the egodystonic intrusive thoughts. Is there any other strategy that I can do to ignore these intrusive thoughts successfully?

GarryX Anxious about upcoming quarantine
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I’m due to fly to HK on 31 March. I’ll need to spend more than a day on the road and 21 days in hotel quarantine. I feel anxious since I’m leaving australia after spending 18 years here. Please help me with some ways I can navigate through my... View more

Hi all, I’m due to fly to HK on 31 March. I’ll need to spend more than a day on the road and 21 days in hotel quarantine. I feel anxious since I’m leaving australia after spending 18 years here. Please help me with some ways I can navigate through my anxiety. Thanks. garry

Xenacat Tingling in hands, legs etc ?
  • replies: 17

Hi there Does anyone else experience tingling in their limbs? Not during a panic attack as such but just going about everyday things eg sitting at my desk working, washing dishes, walking etc I saw my GP but to be honest I felt dismissed - MRI and bl... View more

Hi there Does anyone else experience tingling in their limbs? Not during a panic attack as such but just going about everyday things eg sitting at my desk working, washing dishes, walking etc I saw my GP but to be honest I felt dismissed - MRI and blood tests all clear I have had anxiety on an off for many years and am on an SNRI. Thanks

QS1234 Career path for someone with social anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi, I've started my studies this year in accounting and have started to second guess if it's right for me as having social anxiety will hold me be back in this field. Should I think of changing my career pathway?

Hi, I've started my studies this year in accounting and have started to second guess if it's right for me as having social anxiety will hold me be back in this field. Should I think of changing my career pathway?

Madaleine How to cope with panic attacks
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, i just need some extra guidance on how to cope with severe panic attacks... they come and go in waves throughout a day or they might randomly happen on a random day. I need advice and strategies on how to cope with this as it’s so overwhelmi... View more

Hi guys, i just need some extra guidance on how to cope with severe panic attacks... they come and go in waves throughout a day or they might randomly happen on a random day. I need advice and strategies on how to cope with this as it’s so overwhelming and low key uncomfortable and terrifying.

alexg21 Is your Medication no more working?
  • replies: 2

“Hello! I was prescribed medication for anxiety and depression. I started the first week taking less and moved to more on week two. I’ve been taking this medication for less than a month, but I already feel so much better. I would spend about 2-3 nig... View more

“Hello! I was prescribed medication for anxiety and depression. I started the first week taking less and moved to more on week two. I’ve been taking this medication for less than a month, but I already feel so much better. I would spend about 2-3 nights a week crying from worry and stress. I also suffer from PMDD and a week before my periods I would become extremely depressed. Since I started taking medication I haven’t had any crying spells, I’m much more calm, I am able to think clearly about things instead of becoming overwhelmed with stress. I also feel way more motivated in my daily life and I actually look forward to the future instead of being scared of it. The only side effects I experienced was a little bit of nausea and feeling tired (this lasted the first two weeks, but it’s gone now.) Everyone reacts differently to medication, so don’t let the bad reviews scare you!” Share with us what worked for you. Thanks

MitchS1991 Is this Anxiety?
  • replies: 6

Hello everyone, first time to the forum and here is a bit about my situation. - I am 28, single and spend most of my time committed to work. I have prioritised work over relationships, social activities etc for the most part of ten years now. I have ... View more

Hello everyone, first time to the forum and here is a bit about my situation. - I am 28, single and spend most of my time committed to work. I have prioritised work over relationships, social activities etc for the most part of ten years now. I have never had a long term relationship. - Over the past few months, I have started worrying about the future on a daily basis, what it may bring, am i actually going to find a relationship, worrying about my parents, family members etc. I constantly feel like life is moving on, the clock is ticking down and i am just stuck watching it.I really struggle making decisions and commitment. This is down to the fear of making the wrong decision, being stuck in a situation etc. - Most nights I struggle to get a solid nights sleep, either can’t get to sleep, or wake up in the middle of the night. - More often than not have ‘butterflys in my stomach’ for no apparent reason. - Very irritable with parents and extended family members, some times don’t even want to see or spend time with them. - Over the past few months I have become to feel more sad and down, lost interest in work and hanging out with friends. - I Have never told anyone how I feel. I think this has become worse in the past few months, which may party be down to trying to help a friend who has had really bad depression after a failed marriage. I have put a brave face on and have been his sole confident and shoulder to cry on. - I have never really given any thought to how I have been feeling up until now, but it definitely seems something isn't right. - From the limited research I have done, i feel as if i am suffering from a mix of Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). I would appreciate anyones input as to my situation and what i should do moving forward. Thanks Mitchell

Redleaf OCD is getting bad again -fear of accidentally or carelessly hurting others
  • replies: 4

Hi, I’m blue and what follows reads as boring, but for me it really bad. One of my ocd problems is that I fear hurting others. I’ve had this problem on and off since I was a child. I am 65 now. Two weeks ago I decided to make chicken soup in the croc... View more

Hi, I’m blue and what follows reads as boring, but for me it really bad. One of my ocd problems is that I fear hurting others. I’ve had this problem on and off since I was a child. I am 65 now. Two weeks ago I decided to make chicken soup in the crockpot. For my husband and I, and to give to our son to take home for himself and grandson. I’ve done this before but never without ocd thoughts, and often I don’t do such things because I just can’t deal with the anxiety. Anyway, I started to make the soup. I had nearly finished preparation and put in chicken last, I thought one piece maybe, possibly, might not have looked the right colour. I went back and forth in my mind, unable to convince myself that the chicken was fine and ended up throwing it all out, and then scrubbed all the places the chicken could have, maybe, might have touched including the fridge even though chicken had been well wrapped in plastic etc.. The following week I was determined to make some stew my son likes and was able to cook it and give it to him to take home -ocd thoughts were there but I persisted. A week later I challenged myself and made the chicken soup for them once more and it was all a success too, despite ocd thoughts which are so exhausting. Yesterday I made chicken soup with all the ocd thoughts, sent son home with some, cleaned up, stacked dishwasher and put leftovers in fridge for husband. Some hours later, at quite a late hour, I went to unpack dishwasher but discovered the glass lid of crockpot had shattered into thousands of pieces. I started clean up, and while doing so I started to worry that maybe the lid had broken a little bit while in use, and I hadn’t noticed, and sent son home with soup full of shattered tempered glass. They would have eaten and gone to sleep, and I knew I shouldn’t ring them anyway as part of me knows that no, it did not happen, but other part of me was convinced they were going to die from my soup. I cleaned kitchen in places glass pieces could not have really gotten. Worrying/terrified all the time about son and grandson. it took me over 3 hours to clean it, do things repeatedly because I didn’t do it right the first time etc All last night I barely slept, had high anxiety, ended up with a dreadful migraine -I get them anyway but this one was very bad. I decided I’m done trying, won’t cook again. But, anything I do for others involves this fear of accidentally, carelessly causing them harm. I’m exhausted. thank you for reading