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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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AverageAusGuy Anxiety- waiting for my test results
  • replies: 8

Hi all, So I struggle with health related anxiety as well as generalised anxiety and depression. In fact I usually try to avoid going to the doctor at all costs (due to my anxiety) but recently I decided that I want to take better care of my health a... View more

Hi all, So I struggle with health related anxiety as well as generalised anxiety and depression. In fact I usually try to avoid going to the doctor at all costs (due to my anxiety) but recently I decided that I want to take better care of my health and get regular check ups. Recently I had a skin check and the doctor removed a tiny suspicious mole (that I didn't even realise I had) to send away for a cancer test. Now I am a wreck waiting for my results. Like alot of people who have health related anxiety my mind is immediately going to the worst case scenario. I almost wish I didn't get the check done as I have been mostly in control of my anxiety lately and I hate this feeling. My life has been great lately and my anxiety hasn't affected me at all until I had to do this test. I am sure that almost everyone who lives in Australia has had to get a mole removed and a cancer test at some point in their life. I keep telling myself that this is a normal part of life but my health anxiety keeps affecting me. I just assume that whatever can go wrong will definitely go wrong for me. If anyone has had similar experiences or tips I would be glad to hear them. Especially if it relates to waiting on health related results or skin cancer checks. Thank you.

Guest_10385 Escalating anxiety over social expectations at new job
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I started a new job a month ago. I always find work pretty stressful, especially new jobs. This time it's worse, because this follows a period of unemployment and I've had to move for the job too. As a result, I find work really tiring. ... View more

Hi everyone, I started a new job a month ago. I always find work pretty stressful, especially new jobs. This time it's worse, because this follows a period of unemployment and I've had to move for the job too. As a result, I find work really tiring. Everything is objectively going well, and my immediate team and supervisor are really nice. However, at the end of the day and especially the end of the week, I'm exhausted. The rest of the cohort who started with me (it's a grad program) always go out for Friday drinks. Sometimes I can drag myself out until 7-8pm, though I don't really drink, but at that point I become so exhausted that I can barely keep my eyes open, and feel like crying. The other people seem to stay out until after midnight, and as a result seem to be bonding better. I just feel like everyone must think I'm really unsociable, or even undedicated to my job or unambitious. There seem to be extremely high expectations of people who start in the grad program. I'm pretty intimidated by other grads who openly talk about how to become CEO, etc (and their advice usually seems to involve saying you should go out with colleagues all night every Friday). I'm too scared to intimate that that's not really my goal. I just want to find an interesting/challenging role where I can contribute and apply my skills, but I don't think I'd be good at nor enjoy managing a lot of people. Unfortunately, it's getting to the point where I am more and more anxious as Friday approaches, as I simultaneously want to find excuses not to go out, and feel bad about doing so. I keep having insomnia because I am so worried about this. I have even started cancelling most other activities outside of work, that I enjoy, to try to have more energy, but this just makes me sad. I enjoy other social activities, especially in smaller groups, so it's not that I'm a misanthrope or anything. I don't even think I really have social anxiety, though I've been diagnosed with other anxiety disorders including GAD, OCD and panic attacks (this situation seems to be setting off the GAD, but haven't had any panic attacks thankfully). I just find it stressful being around a lot of people for a long time, so by the time it's 8-9pm and I've been in the office (open-plan) and then out for drinks for 12+ continuous hours, I really can't stand it anymore. But I'm getting more and more stressed that people will perceive me negatively for not going to drinks, or always being the first to leave.

ReachOut83 Trying to move forward
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, thank you for taking the time to read my post. I have had depression and anxiety most of my life. I struggle with shyness, but at times I become very lonely. I’m trying to move forward with my life. At this point in time I am unemployed.... View more

Hi everyone, thank you for taking the time to read my post. I have had depression and anxiety most of my life. I struggle with shyness, but at times I become very lonely. I’m trying to move forward with my life. At this point in time I am unemployed. I am trying to get on top of my mental and physical health. I have multiple appointments coming up with diabetes educator, diabetes specialist and a psychiatry appointment. It’s a lonely road doing it all by myself, but I’m a survivor and I will do it! At this point in time, I have a lot of anxiety about getting back into the workforce. I was in a job where I was constantly bullied, humiliated, and threatened with dismissal almost on a daily basis. My fear is, is that it could potentially happen again. I’m a shy person. I suppose I am what you might call a people pleaser. My previous girlfriend really wanted me to take this job where I was constantly bullied everyday, so I could get her this expensive engagement ring. I have hopefully learned my lesson about sacrificing my own happiness for someone else’s isn’t worth it. A lot of the the time I get quite lonely, and will take myself out to the beach, or to a cafe somewhere. At this point in time my focus is my mental and physical health, then I will start looking for work. Hopefully in the second half of the year I can enrol myself into Tafe to do a course in metal fabrication. I got the meetup app today and found a shyness group that meet for coffee on Sundays. I still have struggles with my sleep, I am awake most of the night and sleep right though to midday. At times I struggle with suicidal thoughts and anger with all of the bullying that I have experienced. Not just in the workplace, but during my adolescence also. Hopefully after my appointment with the psychiatrist tomorrow, I can start to heal and make some positive changes in my life. Thank you for stopping by to read my thread. kind regards.

phillips__ frequent chronic overthinking about whether i've been rude or offended somebody- please help
  • replies: 3

Basically, I have a habit of going to bed and then thinking through what I did and said that day, and then getting caught up in little bits of conversation or my actions and whether they offended somebody, or made me come across as rude. I usually en... View more

Basically, I have a habit of going to bed and then thinking through what I did and said that day, and then getting caught up in little bits of conversation or my actions and whether they offended somebody, or made me come across as rude. I usually end up finding some little thing to fixate on and then obsess over whether I was out of line, and I'm tired of it. It takes a lot of energy, but I can't stop doing it until I'm sure that the other person has forgotten about it or was not offended in the first place (which are both very hard things to find out), or until I find something new to fixate on and let that fester in my brain instead. For example, last week, my teacher asked me to answer a question but addressed me by the name of one of my classmates, instead of my actual name. I stared at him for a few seconds (I remember not really knowing what to do) until my classmate (whose name was called instead of mine) told him that he had called her name instead, and then he went to check the class list and finally said the right name. At the time, I didn't think much of it, but now I'm really worried. I feel like I overreacted a lot, and now he probably thinks I'm rude. Names are important and all, but he IS a busy man and probably has to remember a ton of names, plus it's an honest mistake that everybody makes. I should've just corrected him politely and then carried on, but nO I had to stare at him, and now I've spent two hours panicking over it. I'm trying to console myself that he probably has forgotten by now, but even so, I feel like it was really rude of me to do that, and I have no way of contacting him to apologise. This happens too frequently to be healthy. Please help me out and be honest- was I rude??

Weaponsofmassdisstortion Well that's it, the support I once recieved is finished
  • replies: 2

I am now officially on my own. Cast adrift once again. As of the first of March I am no longer a member of the support group that helped me get through the lockdown. No more in depth talks. No more long emails back and forth. No more going to art gro... View more

I am now officially on my own. Cast adrift once again. As of the first of March I am no longer a member of the support group that helped me get through the lockdown. No more in depth talks. No more long emails back and forth. No more going to art group. I wish I had a time machine. I wish I could go back to about 8 years ago; When I was holding down four crappy jobs. When I was part of another support group. When I had friends who had mental health problems like me. Before the NDIS came along ruined everything. I was living in a crappy share house. I was hated by a large group of people because of vicious rumours. I was broke. I was always tired. But I didn't care. I felt as if I was where I belonged. That was a high point of my life. Back then I was almost happy.

2981Froggy Anxiety about a girl
  • replies: 2

Hi Everyone, I've been seeing a girl that i have developed feelings for, on most weekends (only when drunk) and she's been coming back to mine every time. We have a bit of fun, where she usually leaves anywhere between 5-9am. I like her and want to p... View more

Hi Everyone, I've been seeing a girl that i have developed feelings for, on most weekends (only when drunk) and she's been coming back to mine every time. We have a bit of fun, where she usually leaves anywhere between 5-9am. I like her and want to potentially take her on a date, but creating plans are hard and just never eventuate, yet we are still seeing each other on nights out. I recently found out she went on a date with a friend of mine a little after we had met (not an issue), but now i feel like she's going on dates every weekend with guys (except me). Obviously i dont know if this is true and I've been getting anxiety about her which is ruining my day to day activities. We still speak here and there during the week, but see each other when drunk. How did you guys overcome these types of situations and deal with the struggles of wanting someone, who although seeing them, hasnt confirmed they wanted you? (even though they were still seeing you and being intimate, multiple times on a weekly basis). The Anxiety levels are high and i obviously imagine the worst (that she's with/dating/kissing others), even though its probably not true. Thanks in advance

Riche Anxiety and panic attack
  • replies: 1

Hi I am 27 and 16 weeks pregnant. I used to work full time before and due to my worst first trimester I had to quit my job and stay back home. My husband works double and I am home most of the time. I get panicked waking up in the morning finding no ... View more

Hi I am 27 and 16 weeks pregnant. I used to work full time before and due to my worst first trimester I had to quit my job and stay back home. My husband works double and I am home most of the time. I get panicked waking up in the morning finding no one in the house as well couldn’t sleep with lots of headache. i don’t know what am I supposed to do. I really want to involve myself somewhere but I haven’t found anything around. I live in Perth, not much friends and family it’s me and my husband. Please help me and any suggestions are acceptable.

Atmraanedgaer Anxiety disorder symptoms
  • replies: 2

Hi Ive been suffering aniexty symptoms for more than a year now. I had it under control and then bam it came back. I'm getting the tingling sensation in my body, it feels like something is crawling under my skin sometimes. My neck and shoulders are a... View more

Hi Ive been suffering aniexty symptoms for more than a year now. I had it under control and then bam it came back. I'm getting the tingling sensation in my body, it feels like something is crawling under my skin sometimes. My neck and shoulders are always sore as I clench my teeth alot and cause pain in my jaw and neck, I'm constantly at the osteo trying to realise the pain. It also gives me headaches and blocked ears and sore teeth. I can't help clenching my teeth I don't realise I'm even doing it half the time. I'm extremely irritable and am always yelling at my children to the point I just want to scream and get in my car and drive off ( which I could never do). I'm sick of the dizziness and feeling light I'm going to faint or fall over. I'm exhausted everyday and struggle with doing normal day to day activities, even cooking dinner is such an effort and I tend to not eat healthy as I don't want to cook. My husband is unwell he is over worked and overweight and was told if he doesn't lose weight he won't have a future as he is close to getting heart disease and only has one kidney and that's not doing well. This makes it feel like my fault as I am struggling with my mental health I struggle to help him with his and providing healthy meals. I'm trying to eat better, exercise and meditate but I just struggle and getting help is too expensive and we really can't afford the psychology appts. I'm lost and feel like I'm stuck like this and it won't get better, and struggling with the aniexty symptoms is really hard. Does anyone else struggle with these symptoms and how do you cope. Please help, some days I feel like giving in to it as it's just so exhausting fighting aniexty

Benny83 Shy bladder
  • replies: 1

Im a 38 year old male and from as long as i can remember have always had trouble using public toilets fearing the urinals. I mean if i walk in and no one else is there i dont have a problem but if someone walks in and im halfway through i lock up and... View more

Im a 38 year old male and from as long as i can remember have always had trouble using public toilets fearing the urinals. I mean if i walk in and no one else is there i dont have a problem but if someone walks in and im halfway through i lock up and cant finish. So most of the time i just go straight for the stall and even then can take a good 20 seconds to start going. Its got nothing to do about being embarrassed or anything because i cant even go infront of my wife. It has stopped me doing a lot over the years because whenever we have plans to go away or leave the house im always stressed about not being able to go. Theres been many times when we have gone out for drinks and i go to go to the toilet and cant go so have to go back 5 mins later and try again. My mates always asking me to go away fishing and have a few beers out in the boat but i keep making excuses to try and avoid embarrassment because he just pees over the side of the boat. I was talking to a counselor the other day and told him about it and he said he has the same problem and said you'd be surprised how many guys tell him the same thing. Im going to be seeing him regularly now to try and get some confidence back in myself and hopefully do something about it. Ive actually lost a few friends by rejecting them all the time and has become a problem with my relationship over the years as well. Im going to do what i can to get through this. Cheers Ben

Yonderly Hi, I'm new and need help overcoming my growing anxiety
  • replies: 1

I have been diagnosed with severe anxiety in the past but I fear that it has gotten worse the more I go on with life. I feel like what triggered it unfortunately was the passing of my mum due to cancer during a time of my beginnings of 'growing up'. ... View more

I have been diagnosed with severe anxiety in the past but I fear that it has gotten worse the more I go on with life. I feel like what triggered it unfortunately was the passing of my mum due to cancer during a time of my beginnings of 'growing up'. I'm turning 20 this year but it feels like I am repeating the same year my mum passed away. I was in Year 12 and was told to focus on my studies for my future, but how was I supposed to when my future wouldn't have my mum in it? I was in denial through the whole time until her death. I didn't mean to but my depression and anxiety took the turn for the worst and I attempted one time during her journey of trying to overcome it. I was so ashamed that I couldn't face her and maybe that's why I was in denial, why would I do that when she is the one actually suffering? Part of me is saying that it's because I wanted it to be me. She was so young, she had so much goals to reach... She was the only person during the hardest times of my life that I felt comfort. It wasn't her fault but it just opened up a new fear in me, of falling in love. It's funny cause I am in a relationship with a person so understanding, patient and caring. But the thoughts linger of losing him, or he could do better than someone like me. I have so much baggage that he doesn't need to deal with. It's bad enough I have an increasing social anxiety that is affecting my relationship with my partner, family and friends. But also, I feel like I have this compulsive behaviour to do certain things cause in my mind it makes sense? (like a comfort or it will give me a 'good day tomorrow'). For example, before I sleep I always make sure I have the brightness down on my laptop, an exact number of volume (6 taps always) of the music I always need to keep the voices or thoughts away. If I don't do that I get anxious.

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