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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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Guest_245 Please Help
  • replies: 10

Please can someone give me their perspective or advice of sorts. I am 26 years old and it has only dawned on me once I turned 25 that I may be suffering from Social Anxiety. I hate it. I don't know know who to talk to about it. Today I went to put ma... View more

Please can someone give me their perspective or advice of sorts. I am 26 years old and it has only dawned on me once I turned 25 that I may be suffering from Social Anxiety. I hate it. I don't know know who to talk to about it. Today I went to put make up on which feels like such an effort and when I have it on my face, why do i feel that when people talk to me they are looking at my moustache area which gets me realllllyyy self conscious about it and then I end up getting agitated in front of the person and hate them for it because I would never do that to them. And then I am worrying because of my lack of a social life that I have missed out on dating and getting a boyfriend which gets me nervous because when I do get one, I will be thinking that this is my first boyfriend, i have never been kissed and that I am only ever going to have one boyfriend in life. I just hate this all

SwansandSharksMan Hearing voices from your past
  • replies: 2

Does anyone ever constantly hear voices from their past? I often find my mind wandering back to my childhood or my past. I hear my parents being angry or unhappy. It was very common when I was growing up. There were lots of arguments about things. Mo... View more

Does anyone ever constantly hear voices from their past? I often find my mind wandering back to my childhood or my past. I hear my parents being angry or unhappy. It was very common when I was growing up. There were lots of arguments about things. Money was a common one. My parents didn't have a lot of money and it caused lots of shouting matches.

TomC Continuing Anxiety over HIV - Tests and Results
  • replies: 3

Good Morning, I'm continuing to struggle with the anxiety over a potential HIV incident I had almost 3.5 years ago. It was a very low risk or no risk accident, but I can't seem to move on from it. I eventually went against all doctor/parents etc... r... View more

Good Morning, I'm continuing to struggle with the anxiety over a potential HIV incident I had almost 3.5 years ago. It was a very low risk or no risk accident, but I can't seem to move on from it. I eventually went against all doctor/parents etc... recommendations and answered my anxieties questions late last year and had a full test done. All negative. This helped move my anxiety for a small period, but it has returned. At the moment - I go through periods of questioning the results, looking for symptons etc... I just can't seem to move on and forget the word and the incident. I am on medication to help, but still that word is in head, and I'm struggling to deal with it every day. Is there any suggestions, help, support anyone can give. I guess deep down I believe the results, but my anxiety will not let me move on from the them. Thanks in advance

KK7 Don’t know what to do.
  • replies: 10

Hi everyone, just looking for some advice, I suffer bad health anxiety which I’m taking medication and stuff for. My doctors has told me she can’t me anymore and I need to find a new dr, I’m just wondering if there someone higher then a dr who would ... View more

Hi everyone, just looking for some advice, I suffer bad health anxiety which I’m taking medication and stuff for. My doctors has told me she can’t me anymore and I need to find a new dr, I’m just wondering if there someone higher then a dr who would help me, I’ve hurt my left shoulder, and have a bad sinus infection waiting for ENT Appointment. I also stopped doing physio as it flare my shoulder up and make me panic which is annoying because that’s what I need to do to fix the pinched nerve, it freak me out because it my left side. I guess my question is. Is there anyone higher then a dr who can help. and how does everyone else function with health anxiety ? Thanks

Chicky11 Panic attacks/ heart racing/ fear of the worst happening
  • replies: 1

Hi I’m new to all of this and would appreciate any advise. I’ve been suffering from panic attacks on and off since about two years ago when I Randomly got really sick then my vision started playing up only for me to start googling and thinking I had ... View more

Hi I’m new to all of this and would appreciate any advise. I’ve been suffering from panic attacks on and off since about two years ago when I Randomly got really sick then my vision started playing up only for me to start googling and thinking I had a brain tumour. I had so many tests done, MRI, brain scans, eyes tested several times and no one could find what was wrong with me. I feared dying and it got to me so much, I found out I have an open valve in my heart, which scares me to think I’m going to have a heart attack every time my heart races also my neurologist put me on my first antidepressant after suffering chronic headaches and neck pain which seemed to block the neck pain but after 6 weeks it started to me with my head, I stopped taking the antidepressants then found out I was pregnant. As my pregnancy progressed everything seemed to be starting to ease a little, I was a lot happier, turns out I needed glasses for my eyes even though no one could find that. I’m now 4 months postpartum, yes I did suffer the baby blues at first then a panic attack here and there, my biggest fear is the heart pulpitations and my body seems to trembling when it happens which makes me think the worst is about to happen. I struggle to sleep when this happens and feel as every time I close my eyes and just get to sleep I’m going to choke or stop breathing and wake in a panic. I do struggle with this. I recently got the merina put in and since Sunday I have been suffering panic attacks everyday, trembles at least 4 nights and during the day, lightheadedness and crying a lot, it’s getting taken out on Wednesday, one of the doctors swears it’s nothing to do with what’s happening but I think it does. I feel like I’m losing my mind right now and I just want the help to get back to my happy self for my family and my beautiful baby.

G12345 Eating and body image
  • replies: 2

I’m a lean girl but I saw my weight today I wanted to cry i feel like a large elephant. Can someone help me not fear food

I’m a lean girl but I saw my weight today I wanted to cry i feel like a large elephant. Can someone help me not fear food

SwansandSharksMan Did anyone's parents often call you stupid
  • replies: 3

When I was growing up, my parents would often call me stupid. I just seem to remember it so often. They were very angry people. They said it so much. It has affected my adult life quite a bit. I have problems making decisions. I often over think thin... View more

When I was growing up, my parents would often call me stupid. I just seem to remember it so often. They were very angry people. They said it so much. It has affected my adult life quite a bit. I have problems making decisions. I often over think things. I can still hear my parents calling me stupid.

bummed_brunette how do you deal with/overcome social anxiety?
  • replies: 3

my social anxiety has become worse during covid, being isolated and being anxious in general seems to have made me feel incredibly overwhelmed at the prospect of leaving the house, and i even feel like keeping up relationships with friends and family... View more

my social anxiety has become worse during covid, being isolated and being anxious in general seems to have made me feel incredibly overwhelmed at the prospect of leaving the house, and i even feel like keeping up relationships with friends and family a daunting task. i can tell the withdrawal is also exacerbating depression/suicidal thoughts. does anyone have any tips? meds? coping mechanisms? would love some help.

tesla88 Anxiety control
  • replies: 5

I have anxiety and panic disorder I just got transferred in my job and im having almost all day panic attacks My panic anxiety comes in form of severe nausea and to try and avoid it by creating pain such as digging fingernails into other fingrrnails ... View more

I have anxiety and panic disorder I just got transferred in my job and im having almost all day panic attacks My panic anxiety comes in form of severe nausea and to try and avoid it by creating pain such as digging fingernails into other fingrrnails and into gums I feel this provides distraction but I think it also feeds the anxiety as fighting it Do others have similar reactions?

R_A Self-confidence
  • replies: 3

Hello, I have been struggling a bit lately with catastrophising my future. I am half way through my studies and I constantly am thinking that I will never get a job or that other students are way better than me (which I know I am probably on the same... View more

Hello, I have been struggling a bit lately with catastrophising my future. I am half way through my studies and I constantly am thinking that I will never get a job or that other students are way better than me (which I know I am probably on the same level as everyone else). I have thought about alternatives to if I never get a job after uni and wonder if I will ever be able to get a house or get a job that will support me well enough. Every time my friends joke and stuff about getting married and having kids, I always just think that that is never going to happen to me and that no one would want to be with me. I also feel as though my friends are only friends with me for the sake of it and that it is just because I am there and they don't actually want to be my friend but they don't know how to cut me off. I know that these thoughts are irrational but they just flood my mind and its all I can think about and I always turn situations into negatives. Has anyone else ever thought like this, and if so how did you combat these thoughts? Thank you!