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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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Supalonely83 What is wrong with me...Anxiety anxious argghhhh 🤦🏻‍♀️
  • replies: 2

Where do I begin? I have no idea where I can start with what’s going on in my head. I’m feeling so overwhelmed with this inner rage that wants to escape from me. Not in violent way. I feel myself losing control. A simpleton could see that he is no go... View more

Where do I begin? I have no idea where I can start with what’s going on in my head. I’m feeling so overwhelmed with this inner rage that wants to escape from me. Not in violent way. I feel myself losing control. A simpleton could see that he is no good for me. Or is it me...yes it’s me.

Jason42 I think I suffer Social Anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi all. Im very new to this so here is my background - Im a 34 year old male, and for about the past five years I feet that I may have social anxiety. Any social event where there will be some people I don't know going, I stress about it for weeks be... View more

Hi all. Im very new to this so here is my background - Im a 34 year old male, and for about the past five years I feet that I may have social anxiety. Any social event where there will be some people I don't know going, I stress about it for weeks beforehand. I constantly check the invite list to see who I do know and who I don't, planning who I might be able to talk to and who of my friends is going so that I can go with so I don't arrive alone. If the number of people I don't know outweigh the amount of people I do know, I will just make an excuse and not go. I usually brush these feelings off as just being shy. However, about twice a year my extended family (aunties, uncles cousins etc.) meet up for a Christmas-eve lunch or other special occasions, which for the past five years I have stopped going to out of fear of .... I have no idea what. As our family don't see each other that much I only really know them on a surface level, and don't feel too comfortable around them. This weekend my dad has a retirement party with the whole family, which I have told everyone I can't go as im sick (obviously im fine). After me missing the last family event (my aunties wedding) my mum has pretty much indirectly told me that if I miss one more event that im pretty much no longer welcome to those events anymore. To me, thats all I want as I no longer have to feel worried about it weeks before hand. However, I can tell it has upset my mum as all she wants is the whole family to be together. I have never told anyone how I feel, or even admitted to myself that I may have a problem, but after this weekend and seeing how upset I made my mum, I decided to take the first step. I considered phoning a doctor yesterday but the thought of picking up a phone and calling someone scares the hell out of me. Has anyone else had similar situations like this? And what were your first steps towards healing. Sorry in advance if this was long-winded

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

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