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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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Michael_Br Anxiety caused by Guilt
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone this is my first time posting on this forum. I've had on and off bouts of anxiety as a result of a poor decision I made regarding a friend and their ex-partner. They had been broken up for several months and it just happened and they both... View more

Hi everyone this is my first time posting on this forum. I've had on and off bouts of anxiety as a result of a poor decision I made regarding a friend and their ex-partner. They had been broken up for several months and it just happened and they both have new partners etc. I haven't seen my friend for about 6 months and am incredibly worried that they will never speak to me again after what happened. I'm not speaking to the ex and am also seeing someone myself but am just worried as I'll likely be seeing them over summer etc and don't know whether to tell them i'm terribly sorry for what I did and it was a stupid mistake at a party. My anxiety is nothing major but every time I see my friend in my social media feeds etc it comes back and I'm scared of going out to places where our social groups might mix. Has anyone been through this situation and should I just come out and tell the truth despite me and the girl swearing not to tell anyone? I'm scared she has told all her friends too. Thanks for any help

Andre_P Kinda over it
  • replies: 19

People may remember me. The guy that spent 3 agonising months trying to acquire a house. to be brief I’m doing slightly better but I still am fighting with myself everyday - with ocd and I am still not even close to be in a position to find work. I h... View more

People may remember me. The guy that spent 3 agonising months trying to acquire a house. to be brief I’m doing slightly better but I still am fighting with myself everyday - with ocd and I am still not even close to be in a position to find work. I have managed to suppress the fear I have to a point, but I am doing sh*t loads of avoidance, more time consuming rituals and in general just not happy with where I want to be. My sleeping patterns are very poor too, always going to be wired and waking up tired. This whole this is actually depressing me too. im waiting on an appointment with my specialist (urologist) so that I can tackle my fear head on and do exposure therapy with ritual rejections/resistance. Unfortunately this will take time and now Centrelink are not accepting any more of my certificates. I have also booked an app with a psychiatrist now to get a full diagnosis. Since Centrelink have left me no choice I am going to be applying did the disability support pension. As I also have a physical disability with my shorter leg and back pain too which I will add on it. I don’t plan to be on this forever but I need some help. Any tips on applying for dsp. this is not ultimately what I wanted but my condition definitely isn’t temporarily at this point of time. I hate the system and I’m feeling really down. I just want to be like I used to be 2 years ago - happy and normal

R4even First timer: Stressing about my future and body image
  • replies: 5

Hey, this is my first time ever making anything like this so I don't know what to really say, nor do I know if I'm doing this right... So a little about myself is I am a very anxious person and I hide it around others, and I find it hard to express m... View more

Hey, this is my first time ever making anything like this so I don't know what to really say, nor do I know if I'm doing this right... So a little about myself is I am a very anxious person and I hide it around others, and I find it hard to express myself, the only way I really express myself is through my art which I've been doing for as long as I can remember.. uhh. I always doubt myself but I've been trying hard not to do that as of late but I've currently hit an all-time low. Its exam season for me so I've been a bit stressed about them since it's my future I'm working towards, and I always worry about failing. I always tend to get really anxious around these times, but especially when I have my time. I overthink constantly which has led to me losing friends, and important people, and it's quite miserable. I just made this account so I could express myself a little because I've just been out of the shower and have thought too much. I really want to change for the better so I think venting online is going to be a start to that since I don't vent to anyone normally. I don't like my body, nor myself and I want to change for the better, so that's why I'm on here for a chat. I think that's it.. thank you guys for listening to me I suppose.

WorryWombat No Support At Work
  • replies: 2

I’ve lived with depression and anxiety for a long time, and I was bought up to internalise my issues and worries. As a result, I’m not the kind of person to make a fuss when something bothers me. I struggle with negative self talk, panic and worthles... View more

I’ve lived with depression and anxiety for a long time, and I was bought up to internalise my issues and worries. As a result, I’m not the kind of person to make a fuss when something bothers me. I struggle with negative self talk, panic and worthlessness a lot, but I manage to mask it well enough at work. Recently I was really struggling to manage my workload, wasn’t feeling valued within my team, and wasn’t feeling mentally stable. It took a lot of strength for me to speak out and I told my Team Leader I was struggling. I ended up having a panic attack and felt really embarrassed. My Team Leader told me to go away and think about ways which he could help me. In the state I was in I couldn’t think straight and I felt like I was left to overthink everything. Everything felt meaningless and I can barely remember anything he said to me. This happened a couple of months ago, and he hasn’t checked in on me since. Today we had a meeting to discuss my goals for this year. I thought this was going to be a positive and constructive meeting. I was wrong... My Team Leader told me I was immature, not professional and that he never wanted me to be emotional at work again. He said I would never get promoted if I kept acting the way I did. I tried to explain my mental illness to him but he said he didn’t want to know. He just wants to know when it impacts my work performance. I feel so stuck and like I’m not being heard. Is there any way to make my Team Leader understand? Or should I stay quiet and pretend to be fine?

TheGrinchWearingAMask I think I may be suffering with OCD, and if so how do I help myself?
  • replies: 5

Hey all, I haven't been on this website for a while (as I lost my account). Over the past two years I feel as if though I cam constantly struggling with my own thoughts and my actions to relieve them. I'm not sure if its OCD, but I think it's the clo... View more

Hey all, I haven't been on this website for a while (as I lost my account). Over the past two years I feel as if though I cam constantly struggling with my own thoughts and my actions to relieve them. I'm not sure if its OCD, but I think it's the closest thing to what I've been going through. 1.) It started with me constantly checking the doors, windows, switches and stove/oven due to my worries something bad was to happen if I didn't. I put off going to bed for hours because I get so anxious about checking the house because I know that I will take forever to do so, and it makes me feel even more worried. I have the habit counting to ten around 3-4 times when pulling on the door handle to check its shut, when I check switches and dials I repeat "off" until it feels right. 2.) I have to blow 100 kisses minimum to my family when they leave the house in car otherwise I believe something will happen to them. I once again count in tens to get to 100.q 3.) I can't turn off the lights in my room or go to sleep (meaning closing my eyes to go to sleep) when my color-changing LED light in my room is red, otherwise bas things may happen in my sleep. 4.) All water droplets from the shower when I turn it off must hit my body otherwise something bad may happen to my family. 5.) I have to check social media to see that I havent posted anything accidentally around 10 times per day and I can't send off emails before I've completely checked over them around 10 times and/or gotten someone to check over it too. These are the obvious things I can think of at the moment, as I am tired and typing on my phone (so my spelling probably isnt the best). I just feel frustrated that my thoughts often hold me back from doing activities or going to see friends and such. If anyone has some advice to reduce these actions even if they arent OCD I would be extremely grateful. Thank you

Thomas00 This dread is the worst I've felt
  • replies: 5

I'm a first year nursing student. Next week I have my first nursing placement at a hospital. I have always succeeded in all my assessments and exams. But...the thought of placement next week is making me feel physically and emotionally ill. I've live... View more

I'm a first year nursing student. Next week I have my first nursing placement at a hospital. I have always succeeded in all my assessments and exams. But...the thought of placement next week is making me feel physically and emotionally ill. I've lived with anticipatory anxiety my whole life, as long as I can remember. This is just the worst I have ever felt. I was feeling nervous about placement months ago, now it's just really ramped up. I cant concentrate in my part time job, I don't want to do anything or interact with anyone. I can't think about other than "what if this happens or what if that happens". It's been so bad that I felt like I just want to chuck the degree in all together and just go back to what I know...sitting in front of a computer in an office job. Any have any tips for me? I guess I'll just push through like I've done with everything else in my life. It's just I feel like I'm on the brink of another panic attack.

cakeboss Over thinking with anxiety panic
  • replies: 2

Hi recently ive had some stress in my life .im under a gp counciler and psychtrist already before this happened .i dont handle stress well ive spoken to the drs and counciler.Im trying mindfullness ,started back walking in the pool .does anyone have ... View more

Hi recently ive had some stress in my life .im under a gp counciler and psychtrist already before this happened .i dont handle stress well ive spoken to the drs and counciler.Im trying mindfullness ,started back walking in the pool .does anyone have any tips on staying in the moment when the panic attack comes on .im trying to keep active and busy and doing all the things i can .whats ways others cope with there stress on top of there anxiety panic disorder .mornings are the worst for me with anxiety .i know its life and ive got to go through it any advice on relaxation be appreciated.

Emmzy89 Needing help with my anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi I am needing advice on how to manage my anxiety it is all over the place when I get worked up I can’t seem to calm down what has worked for you I have tried lots and nothing really works please help me I don’t know what to d anymore

Hi I am needing advice on how to manage my anxiety it is all over the place when I get worked up I can’t seem to calm down what has worked for you I have tried lots and nothing really works please help me I don’t know what to d anymore

Bellsie1 Anxiety caused by others
  • replies: 5

I was in a fight recently and it was awful. I'm still having panic attacks three months after and I don't know what to do. I don't feel safe anywhere. help.

I was in a fight recently and it was awful. I'm still having panic attacks three months after and I don't know what to do. I don't feel safe anywhere. help.

Matrimony Acrophobia at work
  • replies: 1

Hello I thought I'd post here because I need a bit of guidance on how to possibly solve a problem I have with dear of heights at work. Recently I have started a new job in agriculture which sometimes requires me to work at high places to take reading... View more

Hello I thought I'd post here because I need a bit of guidance on how to possibly solve a problem I have with dear of heights at work. Recently I have started a new job in agriculture which sometimes requires me to work at high places to take readings for grain levels in silos. The problem is once I am at a certain heights my body starts to panic, I start to heath heavily and the further I go up I start to shake uncontrollably. This is very frustrating for me because I want to do my best at my new job and do as asked by my supervisor and leading hand but the more I try and force myself to do this the more my body rejects being high up. Is there anything I can do to try and get use to this? My supervisor is pretty leanient about me working at Heights because she also has the same problem. I have been open about this to my work colleagues but I need some advice about how to possibly "get use" to this fear without triggering a panic attack. If anybody has some advice or has been in a similar situation at work I'd love to hear about how you over came it. Cheers.