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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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JoJo70 help with day to day coping skills
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm new here and hoping to receive some good workable advise. I'm a 50 year old woman who has up until recently managed to play cool and hide in front of my anxiety and depression, until a few months ago i dropped my 'bundle' at a GP visit . I ha... View more

Hi, I'm new here and hoping to receive some good workable advise. I'm a 50 year old woman who has up until recently managed to play cool and hide in front of my anxiety and depression, until a few months ago i dropped my 'bundle' at a GP visit . I have been receiving help but.....I'm missing something See life has to go on. I cant seem to be able to manage myself in public / work very well. I tend to be overcome by a wave of panic/ fear (something new to me) when I cant cope with something or a situation. Afterword when i reflect it seems easy to say walk away, but I kind of freeze. Does anyone have any tips for me to learn to manage to cope better? Thanks in advance

Bulus Shabbaz Guilt complex, always thinking everything is my fault.
  • replies: 4

One of the things that causes me much anxiety is this guilt complex I have. I have this overarching sense of guilt about everything, even implausible things. A small example of this is if say, my housemate comes along and says they can not find their... View more

One of the things that causes me much anxiety is this guilt complex I have. I have this overarching sense of guilt about everything, even implausible things. A small example of this is if say, my housemate comes along and says they can not find their keys, my first reaction is to check my pockets and then go into my bedroom, I will feel like I must have taken them, even though I know I haven't. Another example of this is if someone is sick I will feel like it is my fault they are sick, even when I know that is irrational. When the news came out that the POTUS and his wife have COVID-19, I felt like me saying I hope he gets COVID might have caused them to contract the virus. Then I realised that is silly. I sometimes have anxiety attacks where I come up with thoughts that I have done something really horrible in the past and I will ring random people to ask them questions about some kind of event that I think has happened, and get frustrated when the person says that as far as they are aware that thing never happened.

maccaz Health anxiety - any tips
  • replies: 6

So I have had severe health anxiety my whole life, but really ramped up since I had my daughter 16 months ago. I have spent the majority of this year in a bad panic about various diseases (really far fetched) and just had a specialist appointment whi... View more

So I have had severe health anxiety my whole life, but really ramped up since I had my daughter 16 months ago. I have spent the majority of this year in a bad panic about various diseases (really far fetched) and just had a specialist appointment which confirmed I definitely do not have any of those diseases. My wife is getting fed up, and I was so hopeful that having the specialist confirmation would ease my mind, but I literally don't feel any better, just the thoughts are "what if they're wrong". I've been through soo many GPs and specialists etc all to be told im perfectly fine and it is somatic/mental health issues causing my repeat hypochondria. Does anyone have any advice? Anyone been in the same boat and had any luck managing it? Really at my wits end here..

Nervous_Nell Situational anxiety
  • replies: 1

In 2016 I felt the creep of what was later diagnosed as Generalized anxiety disorder cover my entire body. It was BAD. Poor sleep, weight loss, dry retching, catastrophising, poor concentration, terrified I was going mad. My GP started me on medicati... View more

In 2016 I felt the creep of what was later diagnosed as Generalized anxiety disorder cover my entire body. It was BAD. Poor sleep, weight loss, dry retching, catastrophising, poor concentration, terrified I was going mad. My GP started me on medication and I attended counselling and slowly I started to feel normal again. The it happened again around the same time the following year. Not quite as violently this time but I felt I was back to square one. 2018 was a good year as it didnt happen. I had about a week of feeling pretty low and that was it. 2019 around the same time and it was back! Not as bad as 2016, but worse than 2017. I coped with counselling and an increase in medications. By now I knew the nature of the beast and that I had to do whatever I needed to do to cope until it resolved. This year I had a couple of days where I thought it was going to come back, but then I was ok. Now though, there has been a change in my youngest sons life and I realize that I have probably had Situational anxiety all along because it is back. What scares me is that a lot of the counselling focuses on whether you have control over a situation or not or trying to remove triggers from your life. I can't remove the trigger and I have no control over the situation so I find it hard to think I can beat this again. I am using all my usual coping methods but worry that these aren't working. Anyone else have similar situation?

b-rad727 Anxiety over a fear of throwing up?
  • replies: 5

Hey all, I've had this problem for maybe 3 years, although it seems to have gotten worse. It has its peaks and lows but it is extremely inconsistent. The issue is, eating (or even if I don't eat) before going into a public space in which there is no ... View more

Hey all, I've had this problem for maybe 3 years, although it seems to have gotten worse. It has its peaks and lows but it is extremely inconsistent. The issue is, eating (or even if I don't eat) before going into a public space in which there is no escape, eg going on a long bus trip, going for a haircut, going to work ect. In these situations I feel as I loose control of the digestion of food, and that my stomach starts working in the opposite direction (sending food or whatever up) causing panic which in-turn increases the severity. This is a huge issue when I have to be at a specific place at a specific time, because I hate being late for work ect, but it is only minor if I am on no particular schedule. It makes it extremely hard to eat in public (at restaurants ect) and socialise and commit to things (ie if a manager asks me to work, and as soon as I agree the anxiety and nausea show up, if I just show up it will be only minor). The worst part is that it is unpredictable, and scenarios or techniques I use which seem to help it sometimes seem to work; don't work (eg, before getting on a bus to go drinking at a friends house, before getting on said bus it is quite bad, but generally when I get on the bus I goes away, but last time this didn't happen, even with breathing techniques and listening to music). When this anxiety first started, I could eat 30 mins before doing the things listed above, but now even if I don't eat I have this fear. I believe when I learned I can feel nausea and gag as if I'm about to vomit even if I haven't eaten for a while, or anything at all created this monster. Any advice? I took some sessions with a therapist a while ago, it didn't help that much. Thanks in advance! I'll add anything if I've missed it. I've been meaning to make this post for weeks.

Whatsinaname Been a long couple of months
  • replies: 27

Hi again everyone, I'm having a pretty rough time tonight, but if I'm honest I've been struggling for close to 2 months. I quick background is ive had anxiety offically for about 10 years or so, I see a psych on and off and am on anti depressants. I ... View more

Hi again everyone, I'm having a pretty rough time tonight, but if I'm honest I've been struggling for close to 2 months. I quick background is ive had anxiety offically for about 10 years or so, I see a psych on and off and am on anti depressants. I live in regional vic, so lock down isn't helping, plus we are building a house and expecting our second child. Just to put some pressure on! A fear ive always had is ill lose my job for one reason or another and now with my wife off work and taking on a lot of debt its compounding. I know most of my triggers and I generally just avoid them and of i am triggered I can bounce back relatively quick. I had a server panic attack close to 2 months ago and am yet to bouncw back. I have small triggers that ruin my day, like today. My psychologist has suggested I talk to my GP and and psychiatrist to potentially increase my dosage during this stressful time and look into if I have OCD. Ironically enough the idea of another diagnosis and increasing meds is making me.anxious, but I'm keen to get on top of this for my son, my unborn child, my wife and also myself. Thanks for reading, I just needed a rant.

Valky Health Anxiety is ruining my life!
  • replies: 8

Hello, I have just signed up for this group! thought i'd talk about my struggles maybe someone can give me some in sight. Ever since I can remember ive had this huuuge fear of death. I am terrified to die to the point where 10 years ago it was making... View more

Hello, I have just signed up for this group! thought i'd talk about my struggles maybe someone can give me some in sight. Ever since I can remember ive had this huuuge fear of death. I am terrified to die to the point where 10 years ago it was making me have suicidal thoughts. 10 years later im still her thankfully, lived through the death of my pop and father in a span of a year. I always think that there is something wrong with me from skin cancer, to cancer caused by heartburn, cervical cancer, colon / bowel cancer every ache and pain oh must be cancer .. have a headache must be a brain tumor (thats is what my dad died of). I am 34 years old currently and have been suffering from this since I have been 20. And i feel its getting worse I just dont know how to deal with it. My partner is getting annoyed im always worried about my health, my mother doesnt like me talking about this kind of stuff with her and I dont really have any friends I can confide in. I have been putting off going to the doctor as I am terrified they will confirm what I am worried about. Is there anything I can do to alleviate this? Do I need to get medication or go see a physiologist? Can someone overcome health anxiety, i just want to live my life without a giant cloud hovering me all the time! Thanks for reading my story, i know i'm not alone in this.

Lone Up and down anxiety - managing work
  • replies: 3

I have really been struggling with anxiety lately and rely on medication to get me through most days. I start the day with a panic attack and the mornings are generally worse than the evening. Due to my anxiety I have lost confidence in my ability to... View more

I have really been struggling with anxiety lately and rely on medication to get me through most days. I start the day with a panic attack and the mornings are generally worse than the evening. Due to my anxiety I have lost confidence in my ability to do my job even though I work hard because I always think the worst. I have two part time jobs and and so this has made everything incredibly challenging. Does anyone have an tips in managing work and anxiety

Phil99 Anxiety and sleep is destroying me
  • replies: 1

Hi all , I’m new here . ive had anxiety for a while Now but usually keep it under control with a few bad days here and there. My main problem usually is sleeping, especially when I have to get up early. My job is mainly afternoon work so this usually... View more

Hi all , I’m new here . ive had anxiety for a while Now but usually keep it under control with a few bad days here and there. My main problem usually is sleeping, especially when I have to get up early. My job is mainly afternoon work so this usually Isn’t a problem. Recently I got a promotion that required me to do early morning work and my anxiety blew up to the point I pulled out of the promotion because I wasn’t sleeping. i went back to my afternoon work and everything was going ok until I was involved in a traumatic incident. im now not sleeping anytime, the anxiety around sleep is killing me . I’m laying awake all night worrying about my job and the fact I’m not sleeping at all. I’ve been off work for over a week and the dr said I need more time off. I’ve got butterflies in my stomach all day . im getting professional help but just needed to post somewhere and talk. I feel like there is no way out here and it’s never going to end .

yvngxblud Anxiety - I’m not so good at writing, so here’s the best I could do. ✍🏻
  • replies: 1

Hi, so this is my first time posting and I see it’s about anxiety so I want to tell you how it feels for me to me. My anxiety makes me feel like I’m trapped inside my mind, I wanna say things but yet can’t, I just want to be free. I cannot see my fri... View more

Hi, so this is my first time posting and I see it’s about anxiety so I want to tell you how it feels for me to me. My anxiety makes me feel like I’m trapped inside my mind, I wanna say things but yet can’t, I just want to be free. I cannot see my friends, which causes everyone to get up and leaves I cannot drive to the small shops down the road nor walk up a main road of a smaller town to an ATM just to get money out. And whenever I go to reach my handout... all that I’m left with is a mindful of self-doubt. Don't get me wrong I have other conditions, but anxiety is that one that I cannot learn to deal with. It’s subconscious, it’s never ending in my head, even when I know that I am safe, no matter what place. I’ve shed tears sitting in a car surrounded by pretty sparking trees covered in amazing glowing lights. I cried because I wanted to be normal, I wanted win, I’m sick of having these fights with my anxiety, but I never win. I wanted to get out and look at these beautiful things but I couldn’t, it was crowded and I felt so left out within. I wish I could explain my anxiety to people who either can cope fine, or do not have it. as it’s not something I can shake, I am not weak, I am quite thick-skinned but anxiety is a disorder unlike my mother would tell me, alongside my other disorders. But I look at her constantly with tears in my eyes, see she knows her and my father brought out one of my other disorders but all that they expect me to do is take their orders. Not realising they’ve ruined their child, not taking the time to educate themselves. Not only is it ME that suffers from this, but also Borderline Personality. I need help to cope, but it’s nowhere I can find. - Anxiety is not pretty nor is it fun, I cannot take phone calls, I cannot work jobs around lots of people. I can’t do normal things. If anyone has been in this situation, I feel for you; as I’m still unsure what I can do.