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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. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety 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 you 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 worthile 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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Jo999 Anxiety and work situation
  • replies: 8

I have bad anxiety due to a work situation and how the workplace has treated me being bullied and then excluded from work. I was on workers compensation but they are trying to get me off it. I hate the thought of not working as I want to be productiv... View more

I have bad anxiety due to a work situation and how the workplace has treated me being bullied and then excluded from work. I was on workers compensation but they are trying to get me off it. I hate the thought of not working as I want to be productive. I don't want to apply for disability, but my anxiety is overwhelming. I've never had anxiety before this and I find it hard to sleep as the same ongoing thoughts go over and over in my head about how badly my employer has treated me. I get anxious leaving the house. Does anyone have any ideas to stop the repetitive negative thoughts? I try to distract myself and find something else to think about, but it doesn't work. Thanks.

KidJones Alright, here I go...
  • replies: 8

Hi everybody. I'm a 31yo male who has been trying to cope with on and off anxiety for around 4 years now. Not exactly loving this experience to say the least. To get down to what I want to say I'll just out right and say it. I recently was sick with ... View more

Hi everybody. I'm a 31yo male who has been trying to cope with on and off anxiety for around 4 years now. Not exactly loving this experience to say the least. To get down to what I want to say I'll just out right and say it. I recently was sick with what the doctors told me was bronchitis, taken antibiotics 3 times now and every time things got better it came back, so that kind of set my anxiety off about to the point I keep thinking it might be something else. I have on occasions get intrusive thoughts that freak me out every now and again, throwing that in there because it will become relevant in the minute. I was feeling content and recovered last night while playing PS4 when suddenly my intrusive thoughts decided to say hello! I was doing something in the game when my thoughts just went "quickly do this or mum will die" which threw me off and made me paranoid and anxious as all hell. I got tight in the chest, heart beating faster, confused, and began coughing. Was hard to sleep aswell as I was tossing and turning all night with very little sleep accomplished. Woke up and my ribs are in a little bit of pain, coughing keeps creeping in, feel like I might throw up sometimes, and feeling guilty as anything where I want to cry but can't. What is wrong with me? I'm trying to stay calm and relaxed but feel deeply regretful over that stupid intrusive thought. Wish I was normal like when I was a kid. Any feedback is appreciated, and thank you for taking time out to read my post. Very grateful.

bluenight Workplace anxiety is really bad for me at the moment
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, My anxiety has been so bad since I started a new job not long ago, I've always had bad workplace anxiety, low confidence and lack of assertiveness The job is killing me, it's overflowing into and eroding my confidence, self esteem and so... View more

Hi everyone, My anxiety has been so bad since I started a new job not long ago, I've always had bad workplace anxiety, low confidence and lack of assertiveness The job is killing me, it's overflowing into and eroding my confidence, self esteem and social anxiety in my personal life. There's a lot of talking to people and I struggle with that at the best of times and there's a lot of responsibility. I started drinking a week and a half ago and I don't drink that often nowadays. I know there's not much anyone can do really but just wanted to vent with other people who suffer the same thing.

Bulletin_Board_Archive Cancer phobia
  • replies: 28

Originally posted by: Anna on 18 February 2013Is there anyone reading this who knows what this is like or can help me? I am a 28 year old mum of two children, the youngest just a baby, and since the birth of my second, have been going through alot of... View more

Originally posted by: Anna on 18 February 2013Is there anyone reading this who knows what this is like or can help me? I am a 28 year old mum of two children, the youngest just a baby, and since the birth of my second, have been going through alot of general depression and anxiety. I've seen doctors and psychologists, and am reluctant to use medication as i'm concerned of the effects this will have on me breastfeeding. The main cause of my anxiety is a fear of cancer, which has become absolutely debilitating over the past few months. It's driving my partner mad, having effects on my oldest child, and preventing me from having social contact, as i feel unable to direct my focus to this phobia whenfriends are around (!). I have little energy for anything else in life but constantly checking my body for signs that I have cancer, and monitoring myself for any new signs. My latest fear is leukemia or some form of blood cancer, due to seven unexplained small bruises i have found on one leg, and the fact that i can feel my lymph nodes, despite being reassured by my doctor that they are within the normal size range. In the past year, i have "had": two types of breast cancer, cancer of the salivary gland, leukemia (seperate from this episode), brain tumor, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, skin cancer,bone cancer and lymphoma. They have all been talked over with gps, who have explained the symptoms with fairly non-sinister causes. Constant checking of symptoms online has fuelled alot of this in the past, but I have mananged to control this to a degree recently, to no avail. If i do check the net, I start out intending to seek reassurance, only to wind up in a complete state of panic, calling my partner at work to let him know I'm dying, and with usual panic symptoms (sweating, racing heart, numb fingers and toes, pressure headaches etc). It seems everywhere i go, everything I read, is saturated with the constant threat and reminder that cancer is out there, waiting to pounce on me. I'm so scared, as i have two children who are my reason for living, and who need me. I can't shake the image of myself lying in a bed somewhere with measured time to live. I have always been scared and confronted of death, but this is getting out of hand. The saddest part of this all is that i want to live so much, but am nott enjoying life at all for this stupid fear of dying. I'm always asking my partner for reassurance and pointing out my symptoms to him, and although he does his best to deal with it by reassuring me and reminding me off all the other times it's turned out to be nothing, it's taking it's toll on our relationship. Another niggling thought that makes the situation even harder is this: What if, in spite of all the false alarms, this time it's the real deal? I mean. how many bullets can one dodge in a lifetime. I have no family history of cancer, but figure someone has got to be the unlucky one, and I bet it's just me! Sorry for the long ramble. If anyone can relate to this, please let me know. xx

Lauraj54 Health Anxiety
  • replies: 6

I have a bump on my tongue and I’m so scared it’s cancer. Two doctors have seen it and said they don’t think it is cancer, dr google of course suggests it is. i can’t let it go. I have constant health anxiety fears

I have a bump on my tongue and I’m so scared it’s cancer. Two doctors have seen it and said they don’t think it is cancer, dr google of course suggests it is. i can’t let it go. I have constant health anxiety fears

Possuman Parents and friends
  • replies: 5

So I had a really intense exercise addiction/ anaoxia (two go hand in hand) and it is worn off on my parents. It's so weird. Since getting help and recovery I can't stand to do any exercise, I think I've done enough for one lifetime. But they're real... View more

So I had a really intense exercise addiction/ anaoxia (two go hand in hand) and it is worn off on my parents. It's so weird. Since getting help and recovery I can't stand to do any exercise, I think I've done enough for one lifetime. But they're really into weight loss and push me to exercise. Like 7 hour hikes (nope). Also they started to uses the same diet talk, talking about losing weight and being fat. It's super triggering, but also really sad that maybe my obsession with "health" has made them unhappy. Either that or I'm super sensitive to diet culture. Maybe it's been there all along and I'm just noticing it now. Honestly just wondering if anybody else has experienced this, like I see eating disorder behaviours all the time in my friends/ family and I hope it wasn't me that introduced it to them. idk

Areyn13 Anxiety From Becoming an Adult
  • replies: 4

So I'm a 24 year old man who's lived most of his life sheltered from life. I live with my parents, I've never had a job outside of working alongside my dad and ever since finishing high school I've done pretty much nothing with my life. I've always d... View more

So I'm a 24 year old man who's lived most of his life sheltered from life. I live with my parents, I've never had a job outside of working alongside my dad and ever since finishing high school I've done pretty much nothing with my life. I've always distracted myself from everything, the thought of going outside into the real world fills me with anxiety and I have such a strong fear of failure that i feel like I'll never be able to turn my life around. The thought of applying for jobs scare me, i want to get a driver's license one day but driving is also a fear i have, I've thought about maybe doing some kind of courses or working towards some kind of certifications/trade and even doing volunteer work as i think it might help push me forward and out of my comfort zone, but it's all just very daunting

pinkwren Dealing with extreme self-doubt and anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hey there I haven't been on here in a while, but I just needed a place to vent and maybe reach out to anyone who is or has experienced something similar. I'm 16 years old and in year 11 at school, where it is about a term before I submit my first lot... View more

Hey there I haven't been on here in a while, but I just needed a place to vent and maybe reach out to anyone who is or has experienced something similar. I'm 16 years old and in year 11 at school, where it is about a term before I submit my first lot of assessment that will contribute to my ATAR next year. I have dealt with pretty severe anxiety since I was young, and lately I've been feeling that the self-doubt I have about my school work and future is becoming unbearable. I'm really anxious about my grades at school as I want to do well and please my family and not fall short of both the expectations they have for me and the expectations I have for myself. I do pretty well at school, getting straight A's, but I'm so anxious about failing and not getting the ATAR I want and need to get into the course I want to do at university (Veterinary Science Honours, ATAR 99). I'm becoming super anxious about studying and completing assignments where I'm sometimes finding it hard to sleep at night, and I'm anxious if I'm not studying or doing my schoolwork. I'm scared to finish year 11 and get my results back for the year and hear the award recipients for our school awards night as I'm afraid of not receiving an academic prize like I normally would for the fear that the people around me will think that I am stupid and didn't work hard enough. I'm becoming reluctant to tell my parents my grades too (even though they are not bad) because I'm also scared that they will think I'm not as smart as my sister and that I am dumb. I'm even more scared to finish year 12 and see what my ATAR is. I'm terrified of not receiving the required ATAR (99) I need and not getting into university (even though I know there are other pathways) because I feel that it will make me look like a failure to my friends and family. I'm scared of how I will react to my ATAR if it's not good enough, specifically, I'm scared I will take my own life if it's not good enough. I know this sound so dramatic and so stuck up and petty, but I just needed to get all that out. Thank you for reading if you got this far xx pw

BeeKay Anxiety and stress causing aggression at work.
  • replies: 4

Hello everyone. New here, so here goes... I'm a young woman working full time in a healthcare sector. Recently I have been struggling under the demands of my employer to reach unrealistic high targets, and being an essential worker during this pandem... View more

Hello everyone. New here, so here goes... I'm a young woman working full time in a healthcare sector. Recently I have been struggling under the demands of my employer to reach unrealistic high targets, and being an essential worker during this pandemic. I have been experiencing conflict with colleagues and management which has further exacerbated my anxiety and depression, and my 'imposter syndrome'. I have difficulty expressing my stress and frustration at work, and often don't realise when I am communicating aggressively or my body language is conveying a negative message. I am described by almost everyone who meets me as a kind, warm, shy, and caring person, with the best laugh in the office lol. I don't intentionally mean to come across aggressive and its probably more anxiety driven. However I have recently received feedback from management that I have been aggressive towards them and they feel I have attacked them on several occasions. I've been questioning myself, am I aggressive?, or are they possibly misinterpreting what I am trying to convey. I guess I don't like to think of myself as the kind of person who is aggressive towards others, I'm struggling with that concept, part of me want's to go and apologise and admit to everything because I don't like the feeling of conflict, and part of me is thinking if I did say something, it would always be with the best of intentions, and it was what I felt appropriate at the time. Either way it isn't sitting right with me, I've noticed myself toggling between feeling angry towards management, and then shame towards myself, and its this constant tug of war in my mind. Am I really that person?. And I think maybe because I'm currently experiencing burnout- to the point where I called lifeline for the first time ever at 3AM this morning due to feeling overwhelmed and having anxiety attacks- that I might even be unintentionally externalising this stress and anxiety through aggression. I have sought out mental health support through my organisations EAP and also see a psychologist external to the organisation as well. I want to address my behaviour, and change for the better, but not sure if I'm being too critical of myself. I'm wondering if anyone else on here has experienced something similar. How did you deal with the anxiety, guilt or shame when coming to terms with a behaviour that you aren't proud of? how do you deal with receiving negative/constructive criticism?. Thanks for reading! Beekay.

co0kiedoughh Finding work after graduation
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I am currently in my final semester of my masters for accounting, with no extracurriculars nor much experience and I feel hopeless. I have social anxiety issues which also lead me to have poor social/communication skills and have low sel... View more

Hi everyone, I am currently in my final semester of my masters for accounting, with no extracurriculars nor much experience and I feel hopeless. I have social anxiety issues which also lead me to have poor social/communication skills and have low self esteem. I never really had the courage to attend any career fairs or networking events nor volunteer. I was planning to bring up some courage to start working on this this year but with the current circumstances.... (I live my parents who are 60+ with poor health). I am 27 y.o. yet only have ‘2 years of retail experience’ ... which I really wouldn’t consider as experience as it’s my mum’s business which has already closed down. I’ve applied for some internship programs during the first year of my masters degree, but wasn’t successful. I was able to get one interview but I got far too nervous during the interview I stuffed it up. For our uni’s internship program I was able to reach the ‘assessment centre’ stage. However, I completely freaked out during the presentation and wasn’t able to make it through. I am completely lost and I’m not sure what to do at this point....? I haven’t gone to a counsellor because I don’t want my parent to find out about this (they have my Medicare card and would ask where I go..since I don’t have any friends). I am no longer eligible for internships, not enough experience for a graduate program...and I am hopeless at interviews. I really don’t know what to do at this point in time...?