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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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Bones17 Feeling at a loss with my life
  • replies: 3

I recently relocated towns due to being really unhappy in my previous work as well as being unable to make meaningful connections in my outside life. I have been in my new place for just over a month and I am really enjoying my new work however, I ca... View more

I recently relocated towns due to being really unhappy in my previous work as well as being unable to make meaningful connections in my outside life. I have been in my new place for just over a month and I am really enjoying my new work however, I can't help but still feel empty inside. My anxiety levels still seem to be really high and I feel like I cannot make proper relationships with other people (no motivation to go out on a date/lack of desire to try and meet someone). I know that relationships aren't everything, however as I get older I can't help but feel I am going to be left behind. For so long my anxiety has ruled my life. It tells me I am horrible and ugly, it tells me I am unworthy and that people will judge me. I don't feel beautiful or that anyone will want to get to know the real me once they find out that I deal with this on a daily basis. I have friends that seem to care about me some of the time, but I frequently question how long they will be in my life. From previous experience people tend to leave me without warning or explanation so it's hard not to feel like I am the issue! I have tried joining a sport to find people but this has been unsuccessful in the past. As for online dating, I have been on a few dates with people but this never leads anywhere and I am at the point of just not even caring to go on the apps anymore as it feels like it will never be worth it. Have other people been able to shake this feeling? Or get past it? Or are some people just not destined to find their person? I am in the process of changing my anxiety medication to see if it will help but with that also comes its own anxiety attached to it too. Would like to hear people's thoughts and to know I am not crazy for thinking all of this? Thanks

HSPme Qualifying for disability or Centrelink options
  • replies: 5

Hi Im 25 years old and have been dealing with severe anxiety and panic attacks since young. Ive been on a number of different medications. My conditions go through phases: sometimes manageable, sometimes not. When it’s good, I can cope with going gro... View more

Hi Im 25 years old and have been dealing with severe anxiety and panic attacks since young. Ive been on a number of different medications. My conditions go through phases: sometimes manageable, sometimes not. When it’s good, I can cope with going grocery shopping and a few outings per week. This is always followed by an episode which can happen at any time. I’m currently seeing a third psychologist to better manage my situation. I am worried that this may be a lifelong condition and that I won’t be able to get and maintain a normal job. I cannot cope with full time work at this time and I’m not sure I ever will. I am just hoping for anyone else’s experience in navigating Centrelink for similar situations. I don’t want to rely on it - far from it. I would love to be ‘normal’ and this is always my goal. Thanks

Nevermind_me Word of advice from an anxious person
  • replies: 12

To all the anxiety survivours, 1. You're stronger than you think. It isn't easy battling demons in your head. In fact, it's exhausting! For 25 years of my life I've been at war with myself. Sometimes I let the demons show, other times I don't. It tak... View more

To all the anxiety survivours, 1. You're stronger than you think. It isn't easy battling demons in your head. In fact, it's exhausting! For 25 years of my life I've been at war with myself. Sometimes I let the demons show, other times I don't. It takes strength to hide something so severe and fool others into believing you're fine. Trust me! 2. Anxiety isn't your personality. It's all in your head, not something that characterises you. You're a beautiful and complex human being. Don't ever feel you aren't, just cause somedays feel harder than others. 3. Anxiety is serious and can have an effect on your whole life. Don't ever let others tell you to 'toughen up' or make you feel that your problems are insignificant. These people are the problem, not you.

Cookie60 Sleep anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi am new to this , I am struggling with anxiety bar the moment and can’t sleep more than a few hours a night , i drop off to sleep ok but way 2 hours later in a panic and then am so wound up i struggle to get back to sleep , if I take circadin (mela... View more

Hi am new to this , I am struggling with anxiety bar the moment and can’t sleep more than a few hours a night , i drop off to sleep ok but way 2 hours later in a panic and then am so wound up i struggle to get back to sleep , if I take circadin (melatonin ) I feel horrible the next day like wired , I have tried precription medication but I wake during the night and it feels like I have stopped breathing , now I am afraid I think to sleep

Purplebear Anxiety about the future
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone... I don't post a lot here. I'm more of a reader but I was wondering if anyone had any tips for the situation I'm going to mention below. So I suffer from anxiety and depression for over 10 years. It gets worse with every death in the fam... View more

Hi everyone... I don't post a lot here. I'm more of a reader but I was wondering if anyone had any tips for the situation I'm going to mention below. So I suffer from anxiety and depression for over 10 years. It gets worse with every death in the family. Late last year my grandpa who I was really close with and was a second father to me got really really sick and passed away early this year. Now I live with my grandma as my dad and uncle have passed 10 years and 4 years ago respectively. I have been with my current partner for over a year and a half. We've decided to not have kids. I believe I wouldn't cope mentally. I already have enough issue trying to sleep and manage myself. My grandma ever since my grandpa got really sick pushed me to have a baby even though I told her I don't want one. I talked to my partner about not having one. My partner already has two children from previous relationship and recently got the snip. That's fine. My concern is the amount of stress I feel when my grandma brings it up because it leaves me a quiet closed off mess and I find it hard to talk about it with others. My grandma has, for lack of a better phrase, my life "planned out" as in get married and have kids. I am very lucky to already have a house I'll be paying off. It's hard when I don't want that. It's hard because my job as a teacher lets me teach and build relationships with other peoples children and that's enough for me. My gran doesn't get it but I love her anyway as she's the only blood family I've got living with me during this coronavirus stuff and my partner who is a few towns away from me in regional Victoria. I don't want to have a child just to make my grandma happy... I don't know what to do as she doesn't approve of me not wanting kids because of my legitimate mental health concerns.

WritersBlock Treading Water
  • replies: 1

Sometimes I have good days sometimes bad. With my anxiety and depression it is sometimes 2 steps forward 5 back. I try to do things to keep it at bay, eat right, try to exercise, get sleep, medication, meditation etc...But it is always lingering...kn... View more

Sometimes I have good days sometimes bad. With my anxiety and depression it is sometimes 2 steps forward 5 back. I try to do things to keep it at bay, eat right, try to exercise, get sleep, medication, meditation etc...But it is always lingering...knocking at the door or window ready to overwhelm me at any moment. I should look at the positives...I am employed, I have a family that loves me. All that makes you feel guilty of feeling like this. Getting tired of treading on water. The tsunami of emotions make it hard to stay afloat.

BananaMuffin Medical Anxiety
  • replies: 31

I have been aware for several years that I have a crippling anxiety around medical tests, to the point where I basically don't have them done. So I was born with a genetic condition inherited from my father. The syndrome has various symptoms, all of ... View more

I have been aware for several years that I have a crippling anxiety around medical tests, to the point where I basically don't have them done. So I was born with a genetic condition inherited from my father. The syndrome has various symptoms, all of which are present at birth. His major symptom was huge trouble with his eyes from childhood , resulting in him being legally blind at around 59 yrs old. I did not have eye trouble to his extent at all. I am now 51 When I was 19, in 1988 I accompanied him to an eye specialist. Even though I did not have an appointment they put me in the chair. They saw some vascularization on my eyes and said basically quit your life you will be blind in 10 yrs. I have been to numerous eye doctors since then who have said your corneas are fine, you are no tf going tyo go blind. Probably 5 different eye doctors have said that. Well I took that 30 yr old report to an eye specialist 2 weeks ago because of some dry eye symptoms and he said your eyes have not changed , and in fact my visual acuity test was 6/5 (excellent) But the last 3 week's waiting for this appointment has been a nightmare. I can't forget that original diagnosis and I feel like maybe all these other doctors were wrong and the first diagnosis was right? I have no issues with my vision and I know it's illogical but the trauma of that diagnosis of blindness, even though I didnt believe it at the time has haunted me. I can't get rid of it I have an appointment on Monday with a dry eye specialist and waiting for this appt has caused me such severe anxiety to panic attack mode. I've been going through this this for 3 weeks since I booked it I never ever EVER book medical appts. Dental ones are fine, but anything else no way. I wil never forgive that eye specialist 32 yrs ago for what he has done to me

Sickofeverything Self Hatred
  • replies: 5

How do others cope with self hatred. I am really struggling with this at the moment

How do others cope with self hatred. I am really struggling with this at the moment

Onion_boy Anxiety & Relationships
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am struggling with anxious thoughts. I have been in a relationship for nearly 7 months. At the start it was so good I was constantly having fun. Recently though we have fought a lot more. I’m not too sure why, we have spoken about communication... View more

Hi, I am struggling with anxious thoughts. I have been in a relationship for nearly 7 months. At the start it was so good I was constantly having fun. Recently though we have fought a lot more. I’m not too sure why, we have spoken about communication and how we need to talk about how we feel to avoid this. He knows how he feels, he knows that he loves me but I’m just not too sure. My mind keeps telling me to break up with him because maybe that would be easier for us both and better for him. Whenever we talk about breaking up I just cry because part of me doesn’t want him to leave but then I don’t know why I think I want to break up with him. I have extremely low iron which I was told could be a cause. But I also do have bad anxiety. My boyfriend tells me that the thoughts I have of wanting to break up and not knowing what I want is normal and that he will always be here and that it’s his choice. I don’t want to hurt this boy because he has always been my number 1 supporter along with my parents. He is constantly there and all he wants for me to be is happy. I just want to know I’m not alone in feeling this and that it is normal for my anxiety to doubt and second guess everything.