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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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53217 Intrusive thoughts and brain fuzz!
  • replies: 8

I've really struggled to get through today. Now I usually deal with negative intrusive thoughts daily. Simple stuff like you're not good enough, you're not smart enough, something bad will happen if you go for that walk, so on and so on but today I c... View more

I've really struggled to get through today. Now I usually deal with negative intrusive thoughts daily. Simple stuff like you're not good enough, you're not smart enough, something bad will happen if you go for that walk, so on and so on but today I couldn't shake the thoughts. They just kept piling on and my more hectic dangerous intrusive thoughts jumped on board too (swerve infrojt of that car or truck) causing what I can only label as a mental break down 🤷‍ my brain felt funny, I couldn't focus, I was scared and had a full blown panic attack. how do people cope with intrusive thoughts? Is there a way to put a stop to it or do you have to wait the whole thing out? Afterwards I am so physically and mentally exhausted. How can I stop the every day ojes too because they are stopping me from doing even the most basic of tasks like getting a job or doing study. Im really feeling lost atm. Im a mother to 3 kids and a wife.

JoH1991 Burning head from anxiety?
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I found out I had anxiety in 2016 after going through my first relationship breakup. I was highly stressed in my job as a school teacher and suffered panic attacks weekly. The main symptoms then were chest pain. A few years have passed and th... View more

Hi all, I found out I had anxiety in 2016 after going through my first relationship breakup. I was highly stressed in my job as a school teacher and suffered panic attacks weekly. The main symptoms then were chest pain. A few years have passed and the have managed to keep my anxiety under control and with minimal symptoms in the background. After the year of Covid, full time work as a school teacher (wanted to change careers 4 years ago), a relationship break down with avo and dv and abuse, I have now developed a burning brain symptom. I was on a gut healing protocol and felt the anxiety flared after antibiotics and then slowly trying to reintroduce probiotics. Crazy how much the gut and brain are linked. I have had debilitating burning pain for the last week and feel overheated and have taken myself to er to be told it’s just anxiety. Man anxiety sucks. This much pain and they offer 2 tablets of panadol. I had a full blown full body panic attack yesterday too. Am taking a benzodiazepine and it works a little but last night I was wired and even the medication couldn’t calm me down. Going to check myself into a mental health clinic and get on proper medication as this is becoming too much to handle. Now I know why people take their own lives sadly as the symptoms do become unbearable. When will I get through this and be healed I feel I do so much for my health. I eat well as I’m a coeliac and lactose intolerant, I do yoga, swim, gym, meditate, acupuncture, Chiro, massage, listen to music and podcasts, I don’t socialise too much and don’t drink. What else can I do?

Rach93 Physical symptoms
  • replies: 6

Hi, im new here as I’ve just started to experience anxiety.. tonight it has came and then gone & it’s back again and the physical symptoms are getting to me because I keep thinking I’m having a heart attack.. is there anyone who experiences a burning... View more

Hi, im new here as I’ve just started to experience anxiety.. tonight it has came and then gone & it’s back again and the physical symptoms are getting to me because I keep thinking I’m having a heart attack.. is there anyone who experiences a burning sensation in there chest and a tight feeling also feels tight on my neck and throat sometimes.. & sharp pain across my chest in certain sports I can’t stop thinking about it and it’s making it worse.. plus I’m so tired and can’t sleep because I feel my heart skip a beat so I got up and freaked out..

Milly_Amelia_101 Anxiety surrounding Death.
  • replies: 2

Hi there, I'm extremely new to this place but I decided to join because I needed some help. I have an extremely bad reaction to the thought of death and it's something I need help with. When this anxiety attack hits I start crying and say “no no no n... View more

Hi there, I'm extremely new to this place but I decided to join because I needed some help. I have an extremely bad reaction to the thought of death and it's something I need help with. When this anxiety attack hits I start crying and say “no no no no” over and over again and my body shakes. I've been using certain candle scents to deep my anxiety down while I also do reading and write. Just stuff my school counselor told me to do before I graduated. But my anxiety hit before about this topic and I haven't had an attack like this for the past 4 years. I have no idea what to do or say or any way to help it. I'm hoping someone out there understands or knows a tactic? If so, please spare some advice. Thank you.

Frogga Smart watches and anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hi all, Curious if this has happened to anyone else?... Always been a stress head but haven't had a panic attack for years 2 weeks ago feeling fine, feeling a bit proud I have stuck to healthy eating and trying for 3 workouts a week before I get to o... View more

Hi all, Curious if this has happened to anyone else?... Always been a stress head but haven't had a panic attack for years 2 weeks ago feeling fine, feeling a bit proud I have stuck to healthy eating and trying for 3 workouts a week before I get to old to start.. My husband and I buy smart watches and I test mine out With a workout, take note of heart rates..fine Next day at work check heart rate and its low then high And I panic, check again and again and decide must have something Wrong and end up at emergency thinking I had a heart attack. All clear but they think I had a panic attack and now I'm too scared To work out in case I do have a heart attack and I have tried not to look At my heart rate.. damn it all.. now I feel useless as I'm going To go backwards health and fitness wise.

cleo122 Anxiety and Alcohol
  • replies: 1

Hi, Wondering if anyone can relate to me. About 12 months ago my father passed and I was with him for 3 months, I was heartbroken. My private doctor put me on SSRI for the first time in my life and they worked very well. However I noticed I had a gre... View more

Hi, Wondering if anyone can relate to me. About 12 months ago my father passed and I was with him for 3 months, I was heartbroken. My private doctor put me on SSRI for the first time in my life and they worked very well. However I noticed I had a greater urge to drink. I drank daily due to the grief and other things. This went on and on until lately I just started nudging a 3rd bottle and mind you I woke with no hangover which is why I could back it up (which isn't me normally). I had a big weekend and decided not to drink monday night, instead I woke to having the sweats, bad dreams and headache. I just knew i was having alcohol withdrawls, it freaked me out. I haven't drunk for 4 days now and don't have an urge as I have become aware of this link and also that I was headed for trouble. Anyway experienced this on SSRI and alcohol and did I have withdrawls? Thanks in advance.

adz2332 Drinking and Anxiety
  • replies: 7

Hi all, I currently take SSRI medication for my anxiety and depression. Since going on it a few years ago it has been great and ive had great results. Im in my mid 30s My only problem is when i drink the next days are horrific. ive read its normally ... View more

Hi all, I currently take SSRI medication for my anxiety and depression. Since going on it a few years ago it has been great and ive had great results. Im in my mid 30s My only problem is when i drink the next days are horrific. ive read its normally 24 hours where things can go bad, but mine last (all be it the effects get less and less) for around 3 or so days. I rarely drink now if at all , for these reasons. But sometimes one thing leads to another and now even a couple gets me the same way as if i had a big night. The obvious is to not drink, and thats what i try to do. But its just very hard some times when your caught up in the moment and having fun. Just really struggling with it and why it happens and for so long.

chociloni I think I might have OCD
  • replies: 16

It has always been said that I have anxiety (earlier in life I was diagnosed with having an anxiety disorder). However as I am getting older I find I am having these funny control patterns. I need to plan order of events, times / dates...and need to ... View more

It has always been said that I have anxiety (earlier in life I was diagnosed with having an anxiety disorder). However as I am getting older I find I am having these funny control patterns. I need to plan order of events, times / dates...and need to do things straight away as soon as I think of them. Eg, if I am at work and find I need to make a call about something I want to organise I become anxious if I can't do it straight away, and have this feeling I am going to miss out on the only opportunity to make this call. I do silly things like having to check that my front door is locked properly 3 times before I leave the house, even when I can see I locked it properly. I worry that randomly the oven has been left on when it clearly hasn't. I also need to check my car door a few times to see if it's locked properly when I can see the first time it's locked. I fear if I don't do these checking things there will be some kind of 'explosion' or catastrophe. I also often randomly worry that I will lose my job or my lease will be ended abruptly for no reason. For example I fear strange things like if my lease runs out, before it's renewed in that short interim period I will lose my job and become destitute. Like if I lose one thing, all of the rest of my life will come crushing down - like something is punishing me. I also now struggle with driving on the freeway, the merging of changing lanes overwhelms me and at times I've felt I'm bordering on having a panic attack. 5 years ago this never happened to me. Having said all of this this stuff doesn't take over my whole life, I still get by and can work through this stuff, I just find it really odd. This funny control stuff is probably about 10% of my life. I currently see a psychologist, however I don't feel she is the right fit for this kindof stuff. Is this more the kindof thing you'd see a psychiatrist for? Looking for help and answers. I find it very difficult to just move with the flow of life.

TB83 Anxious & lost
  • replies: 10

Hi there, I’ve suffered anxiety all of my life, but the past month it has gotten out of control. I have seen my dr and my meds increased and am seeing a psychologist. Sometimes I just need to hear it from people that know what it feels like, that I w... View more

Hi there, I’ve suffered anxiety all of my life, but the past month it has gotten out of control. I have seen my dr and my meds increased and am seeing a psychologist. Sometimes I just need to hear it from people that know what it feels like, that I will get through this, and I will feel myself again. It’s not always easy to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Will I get through this? Will I be ok again? I really need hope that life will be sunny once again. Thank you

chriscollected Just wanting to reach out to like-minded people
  • replies: 4

Hey guys. A recent member that’s decided to make the jump to join the beyondblue forums about just venting about things that i’ve been building up for far too long. I apologise but I guess this was more of a call-out for any likeminded people that ar... View more

Hey guys. A recent member that’s decided to make the jump to join the beyondblue forums about just venting about things that i’ve been building up for far too long. I apologise but I guess this was more of a call-out for any likeminded people that are in a similar mindset or maybe anyone that’s been through a similar situation and can provide some insights to build a more positive mentality. Over the course of about 6-12 months, i’ve begun to feel lost and lonely throughout my daily life. My partner is living a great life, great job, has a vast range of supportive and humble friends that all love her dearly. She’s been streaming on Twitch for 6 months beginning during the peak of the covid pandemic. To relieve stress and anxiety. I respect what she’s done and has been doing a great job with it. After a few months, I decided to make the decision to follow in the same path with streaming. This was the start of feeling sad and alone all the time. I wanted to reach out to people and place myself on an online platform where I knew I wouldn’t feel as alone as I were. Doing this though had caused multiple panic attacks with my anxiety flaring up about being on camera, speaking out loud and “performing” for viewers. I started to feel as though if streaming were to cause more anxiety with little to no increase in feeling less alone, I decided to pull the plug and end it. I tried to take the plunge and join my partners circle of streaming friends to bond and connect with new people. Coming out of my comfort zone with new people is a really hard thing for me, yet I’ve felt nothing but resistance and that the group would have little to no care if I just decided to disappear. Though streaming is still something I want to push through... I’m now stuck in a rut where my self-confidence and self-esteem is at an all time low and my anxiety, stress and loneliness is at it’s peak. It’s beginning to make every day become a blur and a waste. It really makes me question what am I actually achieving for myself right now? I just don’t like where my headspace is and wanted to reach out to anyone/anything before it got worse. If anyone reads this. Thank you.