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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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Sara4 panic attacks
  • replies: 1

hey guys is a panic attack a cause for concern? should I be talking to someone about it even if I haven't had many?

hey guys is a panic attack a cause for concern? should I be talking to someone about it even if I haven't had many?

chriscollected Newly found anxiety attacks?
  • replies: 1

Hello, My name’s Chris. I have posted a couple of times on a different account in regards to depression issues, asking for guidance and support. I am truly grateful for everyone that posted on my thread before (my name was “cgp_bs”). I wanted to addr... View more

Hello, My name’s Chris. I have posted a couple of times on a different account in regards to depression issues, asking for guidance and support. I am truly grateful for everyone that posted on my thread before (my name was “cgp_bs”). I wanted to address what’s been happening recently to find out what the cause is. Over the past couple of weeks I have been dealing with frustrating panic and anxiety attacks. The first one happened back late April, 3 weeks ago where I had no clue what was going on and was rushed to hospital. I felt weak, cold, dizzy and that my heart could’ve just stopped at any moment. The reasoning behind this was I was prescribed a medication by my GP. I was taking HALF the recommended dosage. On the 4th day, I had a panic attack. I told myself I needed to eat before taking this tablet. I didn’t and went downhill from there. Ever since this moment I’ve been feeling incredibly anxious about quite a lot of things which are now starting to cause mild anxiety attacks. Things like going out to the shops, walking up an escalator to the 2nd floor of the shopping centre, thinking about going back to work, thinking about NOT going back to work, even typing this out... the list goes on and on. I’ve never had the uncomfortable feeling of anxiety only until I started taking the medication. Once we stopped the medication (immediately), I was instructed to take an alternate medication, to reduce the chance of another major panic attack. I have eased off and haven’t taken any for the past week and I’ve felt much better being off the medication but the panic is still there. I went to see a hypnotherapist which was insightful and fantastic to hell in terms of managing it but it definitely didn’t cure all and change my thoughts. I won’t lie, the thoughts haven’t changed since the past... if anything though i’m being a lot more constructive, productive and eager to tackle these attacks once and for all... but they just keep coming back. I’m on yet another waiting list for a psychologist which hopefully is on the start of June but I just want this to stop and go back to how I was before... I understand my depression came from a lack of direction and loneliness... but I want to jump head first into that and change those bad, restricting habits and get out of this mindset. Has anyone been through this before? What did you do?

unknowm315 managing anxiety
  • replies: 5

This is my first time writing in a forum, but it's the only thing I can do. There's no one I can talk to. I've aways battled with anxiety, and tried so much to control it, but nothing works. But, lately, I don't know what's happening to me, it's as i... View more

This is my first time writing in a forum, but it's the only thing I can do. There's no one I can talk to. I've aways battled with anxiety, and tried so much to control it, but nothing works. But, lately, I don't know what's happening to me, it's as if my insecurities are taking over me, and stripping away the person I once was; and my anxiety is just getting worse. Sometimes I don't even recognise the person I am anymore. I don't think I'm enough, and that I'll never be good enough.

PsychedelicFur Having trouble with anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hey there, feeling down in the dumbs at the moment. My parents are getting a divorce and the process seems messy because my mum wants more than what she has bargained for. And my dad has protested against it with his lawyer. I live with my dad so it ... View more

Hey there, feeling down in the dumbs at the moment. My parents are getting a divorce and the process seems messy because my mum wants more than what she has bargained for. And my dad has protested against it with his lawyer. I live with my dad so it has been really hard on us emotionally, financially and physically. There are so many uncertainties. And it’s taking it’s toll on us. And I don’t get along with my mum at all either which makes matters worse. She left my dad on Christmas Eve for another man. And I’m just so frustrated that she is trying to make it even more difficult for my dad. I’m having enormous trouble with my anxiety at the moment.., it has been somewhat calm for so long but now I am just reminded of the uncertainties that are happening within my life so far. I have seen my mother for who she really is just recently and quite frankly I’m sickened and shocked. It really hurts. And I’m so very confused, stressed and hurt. PF.

laurajoshua16 Health Anxiety & Cardiac Anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, I just need some reassurance or someone to reply and tell me i’m not crazy/dying. For the past 2-3 months i have experienced mild to severe pains in my chest, left side & sometimes (rarely) in my rights side, this follows with palpitatio... View more

Hi everyone, I just need some reassurance or someone to reply and tell me i’m not crazy/dying. For the past 2-3 months i have experienced mild to severe pains in my chest, left side & sometimes (rarely) in my rights side, this follows with palpitations, arm, leg, shoulder, neck pain that follows. I have been admitted to ER more times then i can count but not for around 3 weeks now since last, every time they have done an ECG, blood tests and chest X-rays and everything has always come back “clear” I just can’t seem to shake it even after being reassured it’s anxiety. It has started to fully consume my life, i am always having panic attacks that i am having a heart attack. I can’t eat, sleep, play with my kids without having a panic attack, it is completely debilitating and i feel like i am just floating through days and not living, I am ready to live my life with my kids, i can’t live like this :’( Laura

Missandrea Anxietys voices
  • replies: 10

Ive had anxiety for a few years. However lately its just been full on like to the point the voices in my head become so loud and its literally my own voices just heaps of them. And they're quite overwhelming. Does anyone else get this? How do you dea... View more

Ive had anxiety for a few years. However lately its just been full on like to the point the voices in my head become so loud and its literally my own voices just heaps of them. And they're quite overwhelming. Does anyone else get this? How do you deal with it?

Amy_P Anxiety whilst driving.
  • replies: 4

I have major anxiety when driving recently, I have been driving confidently for years now so this is out of character. I can drive more confidently on a normal day in low traffic levels but when I’m in heavy traffic in the morning especially, I end u... View more

I have major anxiety when driving recently, I have been driving confidently for years now so this is out of character. I can drive more confidently on a normal day in low traffic levels but when I’m in heavy traffic in the morning especially, I end up crying, shaking and freaking myself out. When people pull up behind me a feel like they going to hit me this morning I even swerved into another lane just because I convinced myself I was going to get hit by the car behind me. Every day I want to call in sick to work just so I don’t have to drive and about 2pm every afternoon I feel sick at the thought of driving home. I lay in bed at night and I hear screeching of tyres and a Big Bang over and over so I can’t sleep and it’s all I hear in my head when I think about cars and I cant get over it. I get general anxiety but its tolerable and doesn’t effect me unlike this situation with driving I go through daily.

Garion Is this normal? reaction to certain work situations
  • replies: 3

Hello all - first time poster! I work in IT and on occasion have faced stressful situations - security issues, human error, or just performance anxiety when having to carry out changes. I had a particularly stressful situation that cropped up on Frid... View more

Hello all - first time poster! I work in IT and on occasion have faced stressful situations - security issues, human error, or just performance anxiety when having to carry out changes. I had a particularly stressful situation that cropped up on Friday afternoon (when else) and came to the realisation that my body's reaction to this is probably abnormal, to the point where I am barely able to carry out my job - I find my mind racing out of control, my blood pressure spikes to high levels (I measured it at 155/100 and my resting heart rate was over 100) and my heart races. I get that tightness in the chest, nervous feeling, difficulty in speaking calmly, and my mind scatters all over the place. In these situations you need to be calm and think logically. The worst part is the aftermath, especially if the situation is ongoing and I am trying to sleep. Ill toss and turn, have stomach pains and get cold hands and feet. The only thing that really helps is resolving the actual IT issue itself - even then it takes many hours for the symptoms to subside. I've tried many different approaches to calm myself down (meditation, listening to music, etc...), but these only help for a few minutes. When I'm not in these situations I feel Ok, so the anxiety is not a constant thing - I just feel like my body just doesn't respond the way it should when under stress - it just goes over the top for some reason. I feel like I am ready to see a specialist, but perhaps others have experienced similar things, and I am very interested in how others dealt with it. I guess the simplest approach is just to avoid these situations, but I feel that is a huge cop out.

Flummoxed Effective OCD treatment
  • replies: 14

Hi, I'm a parent of a teen who (we think - not sure what has been officially diagnosed) has high-functioning autism spectrum, anxiety and, now, OCD. Washing hands to the point of skin irritation. I won't list other signs out of respect for her privac... View more

Hi, I'm a parent of a teen who (we think - not sure what has been officially diagnosed) has high-functioning autism spectrum, anxiety and, now, OCD. Washing hands to the point of skin irritation. I won't list other signs out of respect for her privacy but they are clear. We aren't coping well, which prompts this post, but the purpose of the post is to ask about a course of action. I don't think this is a problem that can be talked out of, either with carers or with a professional. Everything I read suggests CBT or drugs are the only proven interventions for OCD. I am not cool with drugs so I think she needs CBT. She has had a couple of telesessions with a psychologist in response to the OCD (as well as other sessions years ago, all unhelpful) but so far it's all been talk therapy. Which feels like a waste of time to me (in fact I worry it makes matters worse). There are more sessions scheduled. Should I ring the pysch and ask her to outline her intended approach? Or am I wrong in my thoughts above? (Admin, wasn't sure whether to put this here or in the carer's forum - up to you.)

QuietMostofthetime Do I have some time of anxiety or am I just a shy introvert?
  • replies: 2

Recently I have been trying to come to some sort of answer as to why I feel the way I do in certain situations. If I could summarise the way that I feel it would be categorized as follows. Scenario 1: Job interviews for me, feel like when you underta... View more

Recently I have been trying to come to some sort of answer as to why I feel the way I do in certain situations. If I could summarise the way that I feel it would be categorized as follows. Scenario 1: Job interviews for me, feel like when you undertake your driver's license test. I have a feeling like I am slowly stiffening up or only able to communicate and portray in a mostly "yep", "that's fine" type of responses depending on the type of person or whether they give off an authoritative demeanor. It's like it takes away my confidence or so I become unable to articulate and explain myself how I wish to. What am I like, well I would say that I am rather introverted, however, I can talk to someone with no issues when I get to know them better. I do feel pressure in a retail store environment and if I had to work that type of job and deal with new people every day like that I feel like I would just keep hiding in my shell. I would say this happens when I go to a new destination by myself also. The other area of my life that this can affect me in is the enrollment of further higher education. I have completed two qualifications at TAFE to challenge my doubts that I have always had about my academic abilities. However, I don't yet feel satisfied with myself. I deep down want to go to University, but I always get constant thoughts of "What if you fail a subject", "University is more expensive and your debt could add up if you fail something", "Your English level is below average, you couldn't write 3000 words. I know I have been to TAFE but I view university as 10x harder than TAFE. I suppose I don't like failing in an educational setting. I do think that If I chose to do a degree I would complete it online. So that basically how I feel.

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