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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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44Max44 Hearing someone but not understanding them/Always having to ask people to repeat themselves
  • replies: 3

This is a problem I've had for a while now. I have pretty bad social anxiety so a lot of the time my mind is racing when talking about someone so what they say goes in one ear and out the other. I hear what they're saying but I just don't understand ... View more

This is a problem I've had for a while now. I have pretty bad social anxiety so a lot of the time my mind is racing when talking about someone so what they say goes in one ear and out the other. I hear what they're saying but I just don't understand them. I always have to ask people to repeat themselves which sucks because it makes it seem like I'm not paying attention to them when I am and makes me come off as rude. It's gotten to a point where a lot of the time I just pretend to hear what they say and nod or something and hope that's the right response. I'm not sure if this is because of a physical or mental problem. On one hand I did injure my ear drum in one ear as a kid, so I could possibly be slightly deaf in that ear. But on the other hand I also suspect I have ADHD so maybe that's causing it. Does anyone else experience this? Do you have any tips? Thank you

yellowsocks879 Driving anxiety is taking over my life
  • replies: 2

I get so extremely anxious whenever I drive. Sometimes I think that it is just a bi-product of the pandemic and not having been able to drive during lockdown. Other times I recall times where my behaviour was really edgy for something as simple as dr... View more

I get so extremely anxious whenever I drive. Sometimes I think that it is just a bi-product of the pandemic and not having been able to drive during lockdown. Other times I recall times where my behaviour was really edgy for something as simple as driving to school. e.g. obsessively checking the time, cleaning my glasses routinely and thoroughly before driving. I've tried to speak to my parents about how sick it makes me feel and they responded by telling me that I'm being stupid, childish and dramatic and that I need to suck it up. I tried again today and they responded in the same way. I had my first panic attack last year and I don't know what to do anymore. I hate feeling like this. I feel like this 'driving anxiety' has woven its way into other aspects of my life.

always1trying struggling with the idea of getting married
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone. I have recently got engaged and initially we both wanted a wedding date that is close due to our families and selves being religious, so that we can start a family. I have found since getting engaged that I am much more anxious, and doub... View more

Hi everyone. I have recently got engaged and initially we both wanted a wedding date that is close due to our families and selves being religious, so that we can start a family. I have found since getting engaged that I am much more anxious, and doubting myself over the engagement. I am unsure how to work out my thoughts and feelings on the subject as I do love him, but with only 11 months to go until the date I do not know if I should discuss about a date change. I have always doubted my abilities on having a child and getting married e.g. the major lifestyle change and how I would cope with the responsibility. My psychologist passed away last month, and Im feeling a bit isolated as to whom I should talk to about it. My fiancee just keeps saying "everything will work out - don't worry" which I feel makes me more anxious. any tips would be great. Thank you kindly

Ultimate_Worrier Anxiety in High Performers
  • replies: 3

Hi, I wanted to start a thread on this, because I find it is not something which is often covered in the resources on line. I am generally healthy, and have a very successful career, and good family life. I find I am fine 11 months of the year, and t... View more

Hi, I wanted to start a thread on this, because I find it is not something which is often covered in the resources on line. I am generally healthy, and have a very successful career, and good family life. I find I am fine 11 months of the year, and then I will get a dreadful bout of anxiety lasting for a week. I don't have full on panic attacks, but I will need to take most of the week off work, and find it almost impossible to concentrate on anything. I will feel like I'm going mad, and obsess over whether I will ever be normal again. Then it passes, and after building up some confidence, I get back on with life. I always find myself wondering whether this is just a permanent thing that will always happen, or whether my job stress brings it on, and I should try to manage that differently. Just wondering if anyone else has the same thing? Cheers

DannyG Fit for work assessment
  • replies: 38

Hello all i am in need of help. I have been having panic attacks at work recently. Today my HR department have asked me to have my GP fill out a fit for work assessment. It has particular questions that basically ask if I am able to do my job. This f... View more

Hello all i am in need of help. I have been having panic attacks at work recently. Today my HR department have asked me to have my GP fill out a fit for work assessment. It has particular questions that basically ask if I am able to do my job. This frightens me as I think it means that my employer are trying to fire me. Has anyone ever had to have one of these filled out? What did you do? What happened?

CookieFrog Nightmares about the fate of the universe...
  • replies: 8

I haven’t been properly diagnosed with anxiety but I feel like this is the right place to go for this sort of problems. I keep having nightmares about the state of the world/universe similar to AnxiousBears post. It started ages ago when I watched a ... View more

I haven’t been properly diagnosed with anxiety but I feel like this is the right place to go for this sort of problems. I keep having nightmares about the state of the world/universe similar to AnxiousBears post. It started ages ago when I watched a suggested YouTube video on what will happen to the earth in 5 billion years. I still get nightmares now! Earlier today a friends mum was telling me about asteroids that could impact earth, predictions about nuclear wars, black hole anomalies etc. I’m literally shivering. I posted this here instead of on the young people’s forum in case it was better to go here due to the fact it is fairly scary to think about. Especially for me. Does anyone have some tips because I’m actually shivering at the moment. Help...

Cee123 Helpful resources for Anxiety
  • replies: 1

For anyone looking for help on Anxiety, there are some helpful resources on the website for the Clinical Centre for Interventions here in Perth, that focus on mainly CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). I was in the Social Anxiety group at one point.... View more

For anyone looking for help on Anxiety, there are some helpful resources on the website for the Clinical Centre for Interventions here in Perth, that focus on mainly CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). I was in the Social Anxiety group at one point. Although it did help me a lot, I'm not totally cured of this. It's self help stuff. Anxiety: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Anxiety Health Anxiety: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Health-Anxiety Panic Disorder https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Panic Perfectionism/OCD https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Perfectionism Social Anxiety https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Social-Anxiety

blondguy Relative pushing Religion...HELP!
  • replies: 18

Hi Everyone (new posters too!) Ive been putting off writing this post for a long time as I am stuck...and its impacting on my mental health I have no problem with religion as I had a solid Christian upbringing when I lived in Ontario Canada when I wa... View more

Hi Everyone (new posters too!) Ive been putting off writing this post for a long time as I am stuck...and its impacting on my mental health I have no problem with religion as I had a solid Christian upbringing when I lived in Ontario Canada when I was little. For the last 4 years my sister keeps sending me texts/emails to accept Jesus Christ and I will be devoid of any further anxiety health issues if I do so This is what I have been firmly told to do.... * If I accept Jesus Christ 'I wont require my medication anymore' * I must get rid of anything in my home that is 'Evil'....music..movies...artwork that reflect any evil.. * I cant donate my copies of the Exorcist...The Omen...Friday 13th etc to charity as they have to be destroyed to prevent the devils presence * My sister wont post on the forums because I gently mentioned that Religion is a very 'Personal matter' and not a 'fix all' for mental health * Unfortunately I have had to block her from my cell as the preaching never stops This isnt a religious thread topic...Its about the impact that my 54 year old sister has on my well being. Any advice is welcome from religious or non religious people of any faith would be great! Thankyou for taking the time to read my post my kindest......Paul

Chad199992 Body Dysmorphia/Anxiety about hairline
  • replies: 1

I'm extremely insecure about my hair because of the my right side of my hairline, I had a rash few years ago and left it untreated which has made me lose some of my hair on the right side temple. The left side is compltely normal. I get really anxiou... View more

I'm extremely insecure about my hair because of the my right side of my hairline, I had a rash few years ago and left it untreated which has made me lose some of my hair on the right side temple. The left side is compltely normal. I get really anxious when i see it in mirros and can't stop looking at my hair it when i see a mirror. I'd spend hours trying to comb my hair in a way where you can't see my right hair line. The first thing i do when i wake up is look at the right side of my hair line and if it's exposed it which makes me anxious because i know others will see it too. I'd often sit there and anaylse every single hair strand along my hairline to make sure it's perfect. I've often contemplated about getting a hair transplant to fix the right side but i know it'll only make my compulsion worse. I'd spend hours looking at the mirror trying different hairstyles to see which one looks the best for me. After a while, i start sweating from the anxiety and often would have to shower and restart the whole process again. There would be days where i wouldn't think about it at all because my hair lays the way i like it and covers the right side of my hairline, on other days i would see my right hair line exposed and it would ruin my day. I'm overly obessed about my hair to the point where it dictates how i'll feel for the whole day. Can anyone share some tips that will help ? I was reading about exposure therapy, would that help?

Earthbound Maybe it's not "normal" after all...
  • replies: 2

NB the quote marks for "normal". Hi, this is my first post here. Where to begin? I've always had a high sensitivity to most things around me, including sound & noise. Late 2019, I had to move from my place of 20 years into a new house that has been s... View more

NB the quote marks for "normal". Hi, this is my first post here. Where to begin? I've always had a high sensitivity to most things around me, including sound & noise. Late 2019, I had to move from my place of 20 years into a new house that has been somewhere between a trial by fire and extended dark night of the soul. Every single button that could be pressed for me has been consistently pressed hard. eg It's on a flight path - right overhead, several per hour, early morning to late night. A neighbour across the road with his own longterm issues has been cranking extremely loud music literally any time of the day or night with zero consideration for anyone around him. He's been fined more than once, arrested and sectioned. None of this has stopped his behaviour. He's sometimes started at 3am on a weekday morning, or 6am. He likes to yell loudly to the world while this happens too. I've had a lifelong phobia of dogs. There's one that starts when I go anywhere near the back fence, so I don't. Put all that together, and it's hellish. It's part of a housing co-op and I'm not sure there's anywhere else for me to go within that. I'm in Adelaide, btw. What I've done to mitigate the sound to a large extent is get some noise cancelling headphones, which work really well, and some similar earpods for sleeping in. Again, good. Makes a huge difference. But - I resent the fact that I have to use them because I feel so uncomfortable in the area (not one I would choose to live in in any case), and also because of my sensitivity, I find myself constantly listening out for the noise, or anything that might resemble it, so there's no real respite. I was talking to someone a little while ago who has much experience in mental health and when I mentioned the "always listening out", she saw that as a red flag that I really do need to talk to someone, rather than keep enduring everything. As I say in the heading, that's what's been "normal" for me, just living with all this crap. That's fine, but the matter of expense is a concern for me. But I figured asking around here, there might be some ideas as to who / where / how, and maybe others who know about this level of sensitivity (which I don't see as any type of weakness - quite the opposite - but it sure as hell complicates things sometimes). I tend to see everything as a learning experience, but I've learned enough from this one now, thanks! Any thoughts or help very much appreciated.

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