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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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Weaponsofmassdisstortion I prefer it the other way
  • replies: 6

I am not really sure if this belongs on here. But here goes; I went to two different libraries over the space of a month. I had to get some printing done. The first one was a trial. I got told off for not wearing a proper surgical mask. I had to use ... View more

I am not really sure if this belongs on here. But here goes; I went to two different libraries over the space of a month. I had to get some printing done. The first one was a trial. I got told off for not wearing a proper surgical mask. I had to use a qr code screening app. The app however wasn't ready yet. So, I had to use one of the staff's cards and put money on it. I also had to sanitise my hands three different times. The second library was so accommodating. I had never printed from there before. They took me through all the steps. My God, it was so weird. I thought I had stepped into an episode of the twilight zone. Like why are you being so nice to me? Does anyone else have this problem? Like you does it surprise you when people are actually nice to you? and you don't know how to react?

contrarymary Coronary artery disease (CAD) anyone have any advice for someone just been diagnosed
  • replies: 1

After going backwards and forwards to GP and emergency and cardiologist I have been diagnosed with CAD which has been a shock i have been given a diet plan and told to come back in 12 months and if I experience chest pain go to ER does anyone else he... View more

After going backwards and forwards to GP and emergency and cardiologist I have been diagnosed with CAD which has been a shock i have been given a diet plan and told to come back in 12 months and if I experience chest pain go to ER does anyone else here have CAD and can they offer advice on living with it day to day. My local hospital runs are cardiac rehabilitation clinic but due to covid it's not operating. as you can imagine my stress and anxiety levels are at a all time high

Christie123 I am very lost
  • replies: 2

I am starting Uni this year in a degree I don’t want to do.I am lying to myself because I need to do something. I need to be able to give a good answer when they ask me what I am want to do now. I have no idea what I want to do so I am just doing thi... View more

I am starting Uni this year in a degree I don’t want to do.I am lying to myself because I need to do something. I need to be able to give a good answer when they ask me what I am want to do now. I have no idea what I want to do so I am just doing this to give them an answer. I look over the course work and cry, I drive past the campus and I feel sick because I know how much rides on this. I can’t just not do anything, that would make me more pathetic than I am right now. I have been looking for a job for the last 7 months and I’ve sent out and given hundreds of resumes but still no callbacks. I gotten rejected so many times and re did my resume so many times and get nothing sticks. I even went and did a course to make myself seem more employable and no luck. I got called for two interviews Yesterday, woke up with a burning fever but smashed a couple panadols and went to it. Thought I did well in the first one but didn’t get it and I read the wrong time for the second one so I missed it entirely. I read 5:30 what it actually said was 3:45. Why am I such an idiot? I don’t have any skills, or interesting things about me that make me employable or just enjoyable to be around. I worked at a shitty job for 2 years getting underpaid and I was fired. I just got out of high school and it seems like everyone has their life together and mine if just yuck. It’s a bit dramatic but U need to let this out. I know if I tell my parents they’ll either turn it in me and make me feel like shit or get weird. If I tell my friends they’ll make fun of me and I usually I’d want to laugh but I don’t know how to tell them that this isn’t something I want to laugh about. I see my sister being isolated and I try to stand up for her but there is only so much I can do. I’m just lost . I don’t know who I am. I am good at nothing, I am not charasmatic, creative or good with people. I’m not smart or strong I’m just going with the flow until it blows up in my face. I hate it

contrarymary Why can't I accept what the test results say and get more anxious
  • replies: 2

About 11 years ago I had a problem with my heart which had stemmed from an infection after surgery. i have had no problems since have a raft of tests each year and cardiologist says it was a one off why can't I accept this every time I feel hot or ge... View more

About 11 years ago I had a problem with my heart which had stemmed from an infection after surgery. i have had no problems since have a raft of tests each year and cardiologist says it was a one off why can't I accept this every time I feel hot or get a pain in my arm I rush of to ED or GP they do the usual heart tests and of course find nothing and say it's stress related or muscular i get very stressed and anxious as I think it's something and pace the floor and can't relax which doesn't help. This morning I had a Telehealth with GP says all blood tests from last week are fine, ECG is fine yet I am lying here stressed thinking I have something wrong. any ideas on how to overcome this it's impacting on family life

LilSpark Recent Anxiety Diagnosis- no advice offered, pls share advice and tips :)
  • replies: 9

Hi There, I recently found out that I have a chronic anxiety disorder. over a year ago I went to my doctor with chest pains and after all sorts of tests was told “you’re not having a heart attack so at least you can stop worrying about that now”. I w... View more

Hi There, I recently found out that I have a chronic anxiety disorder. over a year ago I went to my doctor with chest pains and after all sorts of tests was told “you’re not having a heart attack so at least you can stop worrying about that now”. I was so embarrassed for seemingly wasting everyone’s time and ended up convinced it was all in my head. then a few weeks ago I went to see a doctor for first time since being told I had “no heart issues” about an injury to my foot. to qualify for Medicare assistance for physio the doctor said I needed to have 2 chronic illnesses to qualify for 5 subsidised sessions. she then went through my history and said I can see you were diagnosed with chronic anxiety last year... was I?! I was never told that was what all my symptoms ended up being. so the past few weeks I have thought a lot about my everyday and it’s like finally everything makes sense. im not going crazy, I’m not a hypochondriac! so I would love some advice while I’m waiting on finally getting some support on how to cope when attacks happen. ive come to realise every time I’m having hot flushes, feel sick, chest pains, palpitations and actually vomiting it’s because I’ve worked myself up worrying about something. how do you control the physical symptoms? For me being sick is the worst one because it’s effecting my job. For example today I missed an entire meeting because I couldn’t stop vomiting after panicking I was going to be late. all advice welcome - thank you xo

Schweepy My husband just decided to leave to work on his mental health
  • replies: 6

I have been with my husband for 6 years, he suffers from anxiety issues and now potentially depression. I have always supported and loved him throughout these years and tried to help him seek assistance as I couldn't keep being the only one he talked... View more

I have been with my husband for 6 years, he suffers from anxiety issues and now potentially depression. I have always supported and loved him throughout these years and tried to help him seek assistance as I couldn't keep being the only one he talked to and not a mental health professional. In those years, he talked so much about how he loved me, how I was the one, how I was his purpose in his life, how he didn't know what love was until we met. But last week, he just decided he needed to be alone. He said he didn't want to think about anyone else's feelings right now and just told me the morning after a huge fight that he was moving out and going to live with a friend. This came out of nowhere and he never ever indicated to me that he would leave and he has gone from 0 to 100 in no time and already started talking about the division of assets and only wanting to talk about that. He refuses to tell me why he is doing this, if this is temporary or not, and just only wants to talk about the "division of assets". He is acting so callous and cold, a side of him I have never seen directed towards me before. I had suggested couples counselling a few weeks ago as I felt I needed to know the best ways for us to communicate as his anxiety issues were really flaring up and making him so negative and pessimistic. We only just celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary by spending a few days away, he later told me he saw that as a 2 and a half hour drive to walk on the beach and have lunch, when we did so much more and were there to celebrate this occasion. His parents have been so loving and supportive throughout the years and are so shocked and confused as to why this is happening. Unfortunately, they are in England and can't come over so are stuck trying to get through to him but he refuses to talk about emotions. They have told me I have their full support and love, and always will. But he just keeps bulldozing me down and being the main driving force behind separating. I do not want to separate and wanted to try couples counseling, he refuses to even try even though only Wednesday (the day before the argument) he was very much on board. In the process of him trying to seek mental health help, he has completely destroyed mine and is only talking to me like I am a stranger. I want answers and he has not given me a reason why he is doing this and throwing away a loving 6 year relationship. I just don't know what to do.

JeanD Constantly scared
  • replies: 2

Hi All, How do/does everyone deal or manage the constant feeling of being scared with their anxiety? My specific scenario is work related (a work incident triggered my anxiety) and now I'm constantly feeling scared I'm not good enough at my job, or t... View more

Hi All, How do/does everyone deal or manage the constant feeling of being scared with their anxiety? My specific scenario is work related (a work incident triggered my anxiety) and now I'm constantly feeling scared I'm not good enough at my job, or things will escalate and it'll be thought of/seen as my fault (real or perceived). I feel like I'm in constant fear of what my senior exec will think of and/or do to me as a result. And the more I can't shake this fear feeling the more I feel like my anxiety gets worse. Thanks.

JJ89 Work worries
  • replies: 2

My previous employer didn’t get the contract to continue this year. I work with you Aboriginal people in a high school. Love what I do. There is a new organisation taking over the contract. I have been offered to work with them. But as lower duties t... View more

My previous employer didn’t get the contract to continue this year. I work with you Aboriginal people in a high school. Love what I do. There is a new organisation taking over the contract. I have been offered to work with them. But as lower duties than I was previously on as wanted by the principal. I feel extremely hurt that she doesn’t want me back as my previous role. She is very toxic and wants things her way or no way. I hate interacting with her. She has yelled and screamed at me for doing what my employee asked me to do but she didn’t agree with it. She even yelled at my bosses boss during this time. I had never been spoken to like that in the workplace. I was in such shock when it was happening I just froze. She hasn’t reached out since then over a week ago. The mew role will be a fair chunk less than what I was on. I will be the only one in this team (3) as no one as wanted to stay. So I know I’ll be doing my old role jobs while I’m the only one there but on a lower pay. And I don’t know how the principal will be. I’m not sure if she’s trying to push me out or what. I’m not sleeping. I’ve got anxiety and am starting to isolate myself away from the world because I am so lost with what to do. Do I go to job with decent pay but can’t grow in with a horrible enforcer . Or do I move on and try new things. Looking at going back to tafe to finish a cert I started years ago. Only 3 units left and work in a causal job. I’m just so worried about bills. And not being able to live securely if I don’t have that higher income. I haven’t stopped crying because I don’t know where to start. Please help with some advice or things I may not have thought of

OnlyHuman Job Interviews and anxiety disorder
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could offer some advice on how they cope with job interviews as someone with anxiety or panic disorder. I have been failing interviews for the last 3 years because I blank out due to nerves/anxiety and it is making i... View more

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could offer some advice on how they cope with job interviews as someone with anxiety or panic disorder. I have been failing interviews for the last 3 years because I blank out due to nerves/anxiety and it is making it extremely difficult for me to get decent work. This consequently doesn't help with my overall low mood and can sometimes trigger a depressive episode. I am seeing a psychologist but visits are infrequent and my progress slow. Thank you in advance for reading this post :')

Codes84 Anxiety and derealization
  • replies: 2

Hey guys, for the past four weeks I've been suffering badly from constant extreme anxiety and feelings of disassociation from reality. I've been waking up panicking everyday and have feelings all day that the world isn't real. The first few days were... View more

Hey guys, for the past four weeks I've been suffering badly from constant extreme anxiety and feelings of disassociation from reality. I've been waking up panicking everyday and have feelings all day that the world isn't real. The first few days were a living nightmare where I was having intrusive thoughts about self harm when I was trying to sleep. I went to the doctor a few days after it started and got put on antidepressants, which took a few days to kick in and start working, although they have helped to take the edge off but I'm still having feelings of disassociation from waking up until I sleep. I've had depression for a long time and could still cope and go about my daily life and function but now all of a sudden this has happened and I feel like I cant do anything. I feel extreme panic when I go out in society. At the cinema or even waiting in line gives me bad heart palpitations and I feel like I'm going to die. My psychologist suggested I start trying meditation which I started last night but in all honesty has made me feel even worse. I've also been having Nystagmus (eyes dart side to side) lately and feelings of vertigo. I'm extremely worried that I will be like this for the rest of my life. What should I do? Has anyone else been through this and come out the other side?