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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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Niberg Anxiety - Stomach problems ?
  • replies: 6

Hey! this year has been a year from hell for me. I’ve always had anxiety but it was under control. I feel like perhaps everything I’ve been through this year (surgery, wedding, overseas travel all within 3 months) has sort of triggered my anxiety and... View more

Hey! this year has been a year from hell for me. I’ve always had anxiety but it was under control. I feel like perhaps everything I’ve been through this year (surgery, wedding, overseas travel all within 3 months) has sort of triggered my anxiety and I can’t control it. im suffering stomach problems at the moment where I get nauseous, pain in my stomach, tender to touch my stomach, sometimes I have no appetite and other times I’m very hungry and I’m getting reflux too. Every test I’ve done at the doctors has come back normal. A few have suggested it could just be my anxiety. I started taking anti-depressants 6 days ago roughly and the symptoms have calmed down but my stomach is still tender to touch. I’m waiting for an endoscopy but even the specialist hinted it could just be anxiety related. has anyone else suffered from stomach pain and problems from anxiety? If so how long did it take for it to calm down? thank you!

Trixie_A New parent - Health anxiety.
  • replies: 6

Hi there everyone - I’m so happy to be a part of this forum. Currently feeling very alone, knowing there are others that are experiencing the same, makes me feel supported. I have never been one to feeling like I had a form of health anxiety until re... View more

Hi there everyone - I’m so happy to be a part of this forum. Currently feeling very alone, knowing there are others that are experiencing the same, makes me feel supported. I have never been one to feeling like I had a form of health anxiety until recently - 8 months after having my daughter. Now having so much to live for, I am feeling an immense pressure and pre occupation that I am going to become terminally ill. I had my first panic attack over the weekend - a hot flush up the back of my neck, numbing in the right hand side of my face, tingling in my legs (which may be nerve related) and a feeling of derealisation. Of course, I had this checked - CT and pathology came back normal but have an MRI scheduled tomorrow as well. I have since had tingling in my arms and like others have mentioned, this also feeds the fear that there is something terminally wrong with me. It’s a very stressful time. Are there any new parents experiencing the same sort of thing?

Misstots19 Bad health anxiety after having baby. HELP
  • replies: 4

Since having my daughter who is 11 months old (I don’t think this year has helped with covid either) I have had worse than usual anxiety. I was an anxious person before her birth, but this year I have found myself dealing with quite bad health anxiet... View more

Since having my daughter who is 11 months old (I don’t think this year has helped with covid either) I have had worse than usual anxiety. I was an anxious person before her birth, but this year I have found myself dealing with quite bad health anxiety in particular. I am constantly worrying about my babies, my husband and my own health, worrying about things that could happen, and that are completely irrational things to worry about, but I can’t help it. Every twinge, pain and bit of nausea I feel terrifies me, I automatically think the worst and my mind goes straight to “omg am I dying.” And “what if I have cancer” among many other thoughts and I Google..! I have been to the doctor for health issues more than ever before this year, usually everything is fine, I’ve just worked myself into this cycle of worry and focusing on symptoms that I probably make up in my own head. I know it sounds stupid and I feel really embarrassed that it has gotten to this point. I’m embarrassed to even talk to my husband, friends and family about it, I feel that nobody will understand me Have any others dealt with this after having their first baby and how did you get past it, were there any techniques that helped you get your emotions and life back on track? I know this is something I should be talking to a professional about, I just worry about how long that could take (I even feel embarrassed to tell my GP about it) and wonder if there’s anything else I can do myself in the meantime to help. I feel like I’m missing some of the most precious, joyous moments of my life due to this vicious cycle of anxiety and I really don’t want that

Rach93 Tingling sensation in legs. Hypochondria
  • replies: 3

Hi, For the past week or 2 I have been getting tingling on & off in my legs and sometimes in other parts of my body.. it comes & goes sometimes it feels like when you watch something or hear something you like and you get the chill sensation & other ... View more

Hi, For the past week or 2 I have been getting tingling on & off in my legs and sometimes in other parts of my body.. it comes & goes sometimes it feels like when you watch something or hear something you like and you get the chill sensation & other times it’s like a weird tingly sensation.. because of this I think I have turned into a Hypochondria.. I keep researching my symptom and all that comes up is that I have MS. I went to the dr and told him my concern & that I might have MS and I want to rule It out & he just laughed and went on to talk about getting bloods for vitamin levels & asked if I’m stressed. It gave me no re assurance & I have to go back for my blood tests on Tuesday & im really hoping it has something to do with vitamin deficiency or other things causing it.. I am so emotional because of how I am acting.. I cannot stop trying to look for another answer as to why this is happening trying to find something better then me potentially having MS. I am going back to my regular dr on Monday to do up a mental health plan because I have had other symptoms that have came and come and they just blamed it on anxiety - and I fear she is just going to blame it on anxiety too! I am going to push for more tests to be done.. but it’s like no matter how many test are done I still am not convinced until the third or fourth time around - then it goes away for a bit I feel ok, then weird sensations start happening and I’m worrying all over again.. it is a vicious cycle and I don’t know how to deal with this. I am feeling very depressed and want to hear from people with maybe similar symptoms or people who are dealing with being a hypochondriac. I just want to understand why this is happening to me all of a sudden.. why am I going crazy googling and scaring myself to the point I can’t even sleep and I am obsessing over every little twinge in my body.

Lehcar Separation Anxiety
  • replies: 1

I’ve suffered from separation anxiety for well of 13 years. We’ve just gone on our work break up for the year, and this means I’ll be going three weeks without seeing the person I love most. I haven’t even made it through a night and I already don’t ... View more

I’ve suffered from separation anxiety for well of 13 years. We’ve just gone on our work break up for the year, and this means I’ll be going three weeks without seeing the person I love most. I haven’t even made it through a night and I already don’t have the strength to continue. I want to throw the towel in and call it quits. I can’t sleep. I can’t go without seeing him for so long. is there any other adults here that suffer separation anxiety? And what have you done to help your symptoms?

Slippers Can I be forced out of the family home?
  • replies: 2

So, my mother has gone into fulltime respite care at the nursing home, I thought it was going to be temporary but now looks permanent, my sister and I have power of attorney over Mums affairs. My sister has been authorized and taken over Mums bank ac... View more

So, my mother has gone into fulltime respite care at the nursing home, I thought it was going to be temporary but now looks permanent, my sister and I have power of attorney over Mums affairs. My sister has been authorized and taken over Mums bank accounts. I live in the family home and my concern is whether my sister can go ahead and sell the family home without getting prior approval from Mum. I believe the house is still in Mums name. I feel my sisters have dumped Mum into the nursing home and while they have contacted her from time to time, I feel Mum has been left and forgotten. I can’t visit Mum for Christmas due to COVID-19 but I planned to leave a present for her at the reception. Does anyone have any prior knowledge, can a family member with power of attorney sell the family home from underneath a living parent? I feel that my sisters are move interested in their inheritance for the sale of the family home than their own mother. I have spoken to a friend of mine and could potentially move in with him for a while, but he goes onto a parttime pension in June 21 so I don’t know how giving him money would affect his pension

Weaponsofmassdisstortion my mind works in loops
  • replies: 2

as the title says; my mind works in loops. When I am trying to find a solution to a problem, it is brilliant because my mind just keeps attacking the problem from different angles, turning it over, until it finds a solution. However, the down side is... View more

as the title says; my mind works in loops. When I am trying to find a solution to a problem, it is brilliant because my mind just keeps attacking the problem from different angles, turning it over, until it finds a solution. However, the down side is, it can cause problems. When I encounter a problem that is outside of my control, a problem I can't do anything about. Then my mind keeps trying to find a solution. But it can't seem to find a an answer. But it keeps trying to. This causes me a lot of anxiety. Which is kind of what is happening now.

N_P I'm Very Confused
  • replies: 4

I'm 14 years old and ever since I can remember I've always had an ongoing fear of passing away (the thought of what happens after and family members dying). For the past 1-2 months, this fear has turned into something really big for me and has been i... View more

I'm 14 years old and ever since I can remember I've always had an ongoing fear of passing away (the thought of what happens after and family members dying). For the past 1-2 months, this fear has turned into something really big for me and has been interfering with my everyday life. I start having tiny episodes of something that I'm not sure what you would call it where I'm crying and shaking and freaking out and I feel like there are so many emotions and I can't contain them all and I can't describe how awful it feels. My parents think it is because of anxiety and I did take the depression and anxiety checklist and I was in the high range. I am constantly sad and when I try to distract myself I always go to the thought of "i'm going to die anyway". I'm not sure what has triggered it and I need help. please. I am going to talk to my doctor in a few days but I do not know what to do in the meantime and I cannot see my psychologist for a few weeks. Please can you give me some advice.

Anon285 Arthritis at 20
  • replies: 2

Hi there, I’ve been trying to stop thinking about the fact that I may have arthritis in my hips - I used to run and they have been flaring up over the years and the signs match up with osteo arthritis. My hips are shaped a bit differently so it hurts... View more

Hi there, I’ve been trying to stop thinking about the fact that I may have arthritis in my hips - I used to run and they have been flaring up over the years and the signs match up with osteo arthritis. My hips are shaped a bit differently so it hurts and grinds/clunks and hurt when I walk now whereas they didn’t use to. Despite seeing a physio for the past few months and doing all of the exercises I need to do, they are still sore (less pain but still things going on) and I know it could be a lot worse and I’m lucky to be able to swim and walk a bit, I suppose I’m just anxious about it getting worse (or staying the same). Maybe I could take up some new interests or something, to keep distracted. I used to be into fitness and now I’m not able to exercise as much and am also nervous about the consequences of this too... It’s end of year holidays so work and study have finished for the next couple of weeks and maybe my brain is trying to fill in all the free time. Anyway, thanks for reading this and it would be a great help if anyone knows how to ‘let go’ of or ‘stop caring’ about stuff, especially when it could be there lifelong.

Anon285 Replacing worry with hobbies/things that matter
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I’ve has this kind of issue for about 7 years now where I don’t really have hobbies or a wide range of interests because I focus in on one thing, especially something that I’m worried about. In a weird way I find it interesting trying to so... View more

Hi there, I’ve has this kind of issue for about 7 years now where I don’t really have hobbies or a wide range of interests because I focus in on one thing, especially something that I’m worried about. In a weird way I find it interesting trying to solve the things I’m worried about but really... I’d rather just be interested in other things. I don’t have friends because I can’t relate to people a lot of the time... because I spend so much time caught up in trying to improve myself or something - whether it be fitness or social skills or whatever. At the moment I’m in a tricky situation because I’m been obsessing over reversing this likely irreversible medical condition I have that is stopping me from exercising. I think about it for hours a day every day and this kind of thing tends to take over during holidays which is now. I like some creative hobbies but doing them on my own. I like to watch funny videos but can’t really chat about them. I’m on the autism spectrum as well and I want to just be interested in stuff that people tend to be focussed on and I don’t know where to begin. I watch a bit of news to stay up to date with the world. I’m just in this kind of tricky situation trying to ‘unstick’ from these obsessions. I haven’t ever met someone else in this situation before and have felt very weird because of it. I haven’t had friends for years, and I reckon it’s because of this. I’d like to finally make friends and have a genuine interest in worldly issues and I don’t know... TV shows, movies, normal things. I like to listen to music, browse the internet mainly just recommendations, compose instrumental music (not inspired by anything particularly) and watch whatever’s on at dinner time, swimming and that’s about it. I don’t fit in anywhere and I didn’t really care about this until just now, really (lol). And here I am again worrying about another thing and using up time around that... but anyway, has anyone else broken free from this sort of rut? I’d like to be more ‘out there’, and just enjoy life rather than be in ‘fixing’ mode all the time. Thank you and I really appreciate any insights people have. Has anyone else gotten out of this kind of situation before? Thanks