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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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MlSn Jobless and Worthless
  • replies: 3

Over 50 , Quit Job due to numerous panic attacks. Jobless and Worthless. Covid in VIC is making my life unbearable

Over 50 , Quit Job due to numerous panic attacks. Jobless and Worthless. Covid in VIC is making my life unbearable

Jarred28 Anxiety and heart palpitations
  • replies: 2

Hey just wondering if anyone else worries about their heart when they get palpitations. I feel like my heart is beating out of my chest and in turn this makes me worry about having a heart attack, which then in turn makes me palpitations even worse.

Hey just wondering if anyone else worries about their heart when they get palpitations. I feel like my heart is beating out of my chest and in turn this makes me worry about having a heart attack, which then in turn makes me palpitations even worse.

Fidget Can't get past the wall
  • replies: 3

To whoever is out there. A little background. I'm of the larger/curvy variety of woman. I've been to gyms on/off since my early teens. I love working out & how I feel afterwards. My current issue is I've gradually put on most, if not all, the weight ... View more

To whoever is out there. A little background. I'm of the larger/curvy variety of woman. I've been to gyms on/off since my early teens. I love working out & how I feel afterwards. My current issue is I've gradually put on most, if not all, the weight I previously lost. I have a gym membership but my anxiety stops me from going. What I mean by stops me from going is it gets to the point where I can't breath & panic sets in. I don't want another PT. It's not so much a waste of money but I don't want to spend it during the pandemic. I'm confident in my ability to organise appropriate exercises. This is my biggest issue at the moment. I'm absolutely terrified to go. I don't have anyone I can go with & I don't make friends easily. I know I need to lose the weight again as I'm feeling fat. I've managed to shut out some of my closest friends because of my depression & anxiety. It's the fear they'll see me & be shocked at how much weight I've put back on. This was a massive step for me. It's been an awful 18 months & I need to be able to get on top of things. Thank you for listening.

Jamielee88 Close to giving up
  • replies: 4

I feel like giving up most days I do not no what to do anymore I've got pass anxiety I'm bipolar too. I've pinched a c4 and c5 nerve that affects my nerve roots and left side of my body. I'm in so much Emotional and physical pain. I have a son who I ... View more

I feel like giving up most days I do not no what to do anymore I've got pass anxiety I'm bipolar too. I've pinched a c4 and c5 nerve that affects my nerve roots and left side of my body. I'm in so much Emotional and physical pain. I have a son who I can barely pick up and do things like go to the park. And activities that he likes to do because I can barely bend my neck with out pain. My husband says I'll be ok.... It feels like I'm dying and no one understands. I just wanna feel normal and to play with my boy. It breaks my heart even more that I can not do so. I don't have any friends as I have severe social anxiety. I'm so broken

Hendo100 Anxiety & depression
  • replies: 3

Hey my name is leah, I am a new member here and not too sure how it works... but I have been suffering with anxiety for a little while now but recently it has gotten worse as well as my depression and I am struggling to find ways to help me calm down... View more

Hey my name is leah, I am a new member here and not too sure how it works... but I have been suffering with anxiety for a little while now but recently it has gotten worse as well as my depression and I am struggling to find ways to help me calm down. I do suffer with panic attacks and nausea here and there, I also overthink a lot which makes it very difficult day to day and was just seeking some guidance to help me get though it. Many thanks Leah

Soraya_A Feeling like the only one with anxious+fearful thought
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm an 18 year old female struggling with GAD for 7 years. I have no social life, no drivers licence, never had a job or boyfriend, pretty much in isolation at home 24/7, don't speak to my family except for my mum but she doesn't take it seriousl... View more

Hi, I'm an 18 year old female struggling with GAD for 7 years. I have no social life, no drivers licence, never had a job or boyfriend, pretty much in isolation at home 24/7, don't speak to my family except for my mum but she doesn't take it seriously nor understands. Does anyone else experience a great deal of anxiety about the time and future? I feel stuck in a constant loop of misery and dread. Thinking about living tomorrow, the day after that and so on makes me feel extremely anxious+fearful. I get scenario images in my mind about tomorrow having to go through the whole process again about being dreadful & miserable and repeating the same routine i did yesterday. I have had this for almost 2 months now no idea where it had come from. Just feel stuck in my head can't enjoy the present moment the future is all i think about. Would like any advice or someone with similar experiences to help me with what I'm going through. I apologise if the explanation is a bit confusing. This is my first time doing something like this and I'm not that great at explaining but I hope you'll still be able to understand.

DeidreDear Have you tried Redi Calm?
  • replies: 5

I'm looking at buying redi calm which I found on the internet from america and was wandering of anyone has tried it before and what was their experience?

I'm looking at buying redi calm which I found on the internet from america and was wandering of anyone has tried it before and what was their experience?

Dove20 Worried about not being able to financially take care of my parents
  • replies: 4

Hi guys, Lately, with my dad nearing retirement, I've been developing constant anxiety about whether I will be able to financially take care of my parents whilst dealing with my own mental health issues. Both my parents were immigrants and came over ... View more

Hi guys, Lately, with my dad nearing retirement, I've been developing constant anxiety about whether I will be able to financially take care of my parents whilst dealing with my own mental health issues. Both my parents were immigrants and came over to Australia with little to no money. We are not a rich family. Right now, my dad is 62 and works a really labour intensive job travelling to many different locations a day (around 25+); he is trying his hardest to work until he can reach 66-67 so that he can qualify for age pension benefits and won’t need to worry that much about finances. However, given that it is a really labour intensive job this is unlikely. At most, I believe my dad can only work for 1-2 years more. My mum has always been a stay at home mum of 3 and is currently a stay at home caretaker of my sister's infant (childcare is too expensive to be an option). I currently work as a casual employee but with COVID it is difficult to get shifts. So, when my dad cannot physically work anymore and has to retire but doesn’t qualify for age pension benefits, it will be me and my older sister who will likely be taking care of the finances from then on. This thought has stressed me out and is one of the main thoughts that are triggering my mental health issues. In terms of my health, I've been suffering from mental health issues for a while and it has affected me and my ability to do a lot of things. This year my mental health was debilitating; my mind would not stop overthinking about my finances and responsibilities. It was so bad I started having random panic attacks, even at home when there was no trigger. I know Super is a thing, but at the current moment, my dad only has around $27,000 in his super. Arguably, this is not enough to keep afloat for a few years until he can qualify for his age pension benefits. I’ve been really worried about what’s going to happen so I decided to halt my goals, deferred my studies (in law) to find a stable job and save as much as I can before this happens. 
 However, my anxiety has made it difficult for me to commit to full-time jobs so, after deferring, I’ve been searching for a part-time job at an environment that is calm and won’t have any events or situations that can trigger me. However, this is also difficult given the current employment situation in Australia. Any advice or reassurances about our government benefits would be welcomed

AMMoverthinking Health Anxiety is ruining my life
  • replies: 47

I have always had anxiety. As a little kid I would have panic attacks if we drove across the Westgate Bridge certain it was going to break and we would plummet to our deaths. When their was a black out I was certain someone was going to break in and ... View more

I have always had anxiety. As a little kid I would have panic attacks if we drove across the Westgate Bridge certain it was going to break and we would plummet to our deaths. When their was a black out I was certain someone was going to break in and kills is etc. After having my children my anxiety ramped up. I am constantly certain I have one health disease or another and I become fixated on it and really depressed. Once I go and get it checked and get the all clear I am fine for a little while until I start to fixate on something else. I’m currently convinced I have breast cancer. I didn’t sleep. I now can’t eat and have to go to work soon and pretend everything is okay when really I just want to curl up into a ball abs cry. I finally got the courage to mention it to my doctor last year but be wasted me to see a psych. I also have social anxiety so speaking to a stranger opens a whole over can of worms for me. my biggest fear stems from leaving my children and not getting to see the grow up. So when I’m like this even seeing my children will upset me. I have a doctors apt this afternoon but my regular doctor was away so now I need to see a stranger . Plus I know she’ll probably just want to send me for an ultrasound so that’s another day or so wait for that. I do already have dense breast tissue found the last time I was convinced I had breast cancer so my boobs already feel different so I can’t even calm myself down this time. I’m just so panicked today m.

Freewhale Anxious about what people think of me with HSP
  • replies: 19

Hi there, This is my very first post since I discovered this wonderful place. Reading the threads and other people's stories really inspired me. I feel like there is hope at the end of the tunnel and that I am not alone. My story is quite typical, I ... View more

Hi there, This is my very first post since I discovered this wonderful place. Reading the threads and other people's stories really inspired me. I feel like there is hope at the end of the tunnel and that I am not alone. My story is quite typical, I am always sensitive towards other people's opinions of me since a young age. And it intensified since I started working. I also have very high expectation of myself, and these two combined have taken a toll on me from mid last year. I was put on multiple projects at the same time, in a territory I am not familiar with, I was working so hard trying make it work. However, with all the pressure and my eagerness to prove myself, it triggered my first anxiety attack. I removed myself from the projects to protect my mental health, but I felt quite shameful since then and ultimately found another job instead. The new job was great to start with, however, there were a couple of recent changes have shifted the picture completely. Since the pandemic started, I have been struggling for a bit. The constant feeling of not being viewed as a good performer has haunted me on regular basis, I also feel quite difficult to nevigate through the office politics and play the game. To change it, I've started to jog and meditate every day. I also write journals to record my feelings/achievements. And enrolled to a Mindspot online course. But the negative thoughts still hit me everyday. Does anyone else experience it? How do you manage it?