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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_00234230 Suicidal thoughts
  • replies: 4

For about a month and a half I have been in a depression and anxiety hole that I can't seem to get out of, the constant depression and intrusive thoughts are taxing and I don't see how I can maintain this. My depression and anxiety make my IBS sympto... View more

For about a month and a half I have been in a depression and anxiety hole that I can't seem to get out of, the constant depression and intrusive thoughts are taxing and I don't see how I can maintain this. My depression and anxiety make my IBS symptoms worse which gets me deeper into the hole and then they play on each other. Most days I am waking up sad and going asleep sad, I actually look forward to going to bed so I don't have to feel anything. I just broke down to my partner and told her all this and how suicide keeps creeping into my mind. My GP and therapist are away until mid January. I keep saying to myself let's just get through today but how many times is that going to work.

Mario_Sonic My Ongoing Fear
  • replies: 13

Hey guys, Liam here. I just wanted to talk about something that has deeply affected me for a long time now and that something...is my fear of losing my family...Basically, from when I was born to when I was 13, I was a youthful, happy person...but wh... View more

Hey guys, Liam here. I just wanted to talk about something that has deeply affected me for a long time now and that something...is my fear of losing my family...Basically, from when I was born to when I was 13, I was a youthful, happy person...but when I was 14, so this was in September 2019, my Nan had a fall and broke her arm. This was something I didn't see, but I was there when it happened...I had my two cousins with me at the time, boy and girl and my girl cousin actually witnessed Nan fall which deeply traumatized her...anyways...point is, after this incident, in 2020, I lost my Grandpa and my Nan's best friend five months apart from each other so in the months of July and Februrary...then in 2021, as a couple of you may know, my dear friend was murdered in September of that year...these three deaths all mean something to me because they've given me this belief that I'm going to lose my family and if I do lose them, the only option I'll have left is to end my life because I can't live without my family...especially my Nan and Pop...they're not just a part of my life, they are my life and they're a part of me...I love my Nan and Pop and all the rest of my family dearly...my fear has gotten so bad that I've started having nightmares about losing them all, seeing them all dead, me being beaten up by my enemies, and me being killed in an electric chair ever since Nan's fall...I guess that's why I feel like I need a girl I can talk to so I'll never be alone... *Crying* -Liam

Jessica_Cloud Struggling after stopping SNRI - how long will this go on?
  • replies: 4

I was on antidepressants for over 2 decades and tapered off slowly and successfully. I’m F 59. It’s been just over 3 months since stopping SNRIs and I’m experiencing awful symptoms of anxiety, dread, irritability, negative thoughts, and suicidality. ... View more

I was on antidepressants for over 2 decades and tapered off slowly and successfully. I’m F 59. It’s been just over 3 months since stopping SNRIs and I’m experiencing awful symptoms of anxiety, dread, irritability, negative thoughts, and suicidality. I didn’t experience these symptoms prior to starting meds. I started with some other natural medication but I’m not convinced it’s helping. I do a lot of self care eg exercise, eating well, sleep hygiene, etc. How long will these symptoms last? Is my brain just wrecked forever and going back on medication is the solution?

Hayden Feels too overwhelming
  • replies: 2

I’m living through healing at the moment. A week ago I made a plan to end my life. Since then I have been on meds, off from work, seeing a therapist and trying day by day to improve. It’s a long journey and I have found mornings my challenge. I feel ... View more

I’m living through healing at the moment. A week ago I made a plan to end my life. Since then I have been on meds, off from work, seeing a therapist and trying day by day to improve. It’s a long journey and I have found mornings my challenge. I feel like the day full of responsibilities hit me all at once. I’m still not eating due to the anxiety and possibly meds. It’s like running on pure adrenaline at times. I wake at 3/4am and just lay there quieting the intrinsic thought in my head. I have improved since a week ago and know that it takes time, especially with medication to take effect, but I thought again of suicide this morning. It’s like every step forward I tell myself it’s two steps back for even considering it. I keep going.

ChilliDog At war with myself
  • replies: 1

I almost lost my job 6 months ago, and since then I've been really struggling with waves of grief and despair that will seemingly come from nowhere. After I almost lost my job, it was followed by a month of intense anxiety and paranoia, which I have ... View more

I almost lost my job 6 months ago, and since then I've been really struggling with waves of grief and despair that will seemingly come from nowhere. After I almost lost my job, it was followed by a month of intense anxiety and paranoia, which I have since moved past, but now I just feel empty and numb most of the time when I'm not being hit with a wave of grief. I find it extremely hard to be excited about anything now, and am constantly fighting back the urge to spend money to make myself feel better. It's exhausting. Most of the time it manifests itself in a panic feeling that I have forgotten about something important or something I wanted to do, and no matter how hard I focus or try to remember, nothing comes to me. This happens almost daily, and usually multiple times a day. Anytime I think about anything to do with money, or anything that would take a decent amount of effort, I immediately get stressed and overwhelmed. I just don't know what to do, and I haven't felt normal for a while.

Sal2645 No friends
  • replies: 2

Earlier this year I lost pretty much all of my friends. They all collectively just stopped talking to me. I knew this was going to happen eventually cause I’ve always had a feeling they didn’t like me. I know my anxiety put me in this situation and I... View more

Earlier this year I lost pretty much all of my friends. They all collectively just stopped talking to me. I knew this was going to happen eventually cause I’ve always had a feeling they didn’t like me. I know my anxiety put me in this situation and I drove them away by overthinking every little interaction but I also thought that maybe I was just overreacting and they did see me as a friend. Though I guess I was mistaken and they never did like me. It hurts even more that nothing really happened, like I didn’t do anything and they aren’t angry at me or hate me they just don’t like me. I swear there is something innate about my personality or general presence that drives people away, It takes a lot for people to want to be around me, im scared I’ll never make a new friend ever again. It’s just kinda confirmed what I’ve always thought about myself that I’m inherently unlikable and boring. I’ve made like 2 friends at uni but now they are pretty much the only other people in my life and I haven’t even known them for that long and I feel like they also just see me as like a placeholder and not a real friend, just because time and time again I loose friends because I don’t know they seem to get bored of me or something. I just can’t do it anymore, I don’t know how to talk to people and everyone else has their own friends so even if I somehow manage to get to the point of being friendly with them they’ll probably never see me as a real friend. Its getting harder and harder to pretend I’m not struggling with it and also hiding the fact I’m lonely and friendless to my family. It’s just so violently embarrassing cause all my siblings have lots of friends and are really popular and I have just never been. I needed to get a passport and I didn’t have anyone to be a reference I needed my mum to ask one of her friends. Like how embarrassing. It’s killing me and now it’s just like they know I’m at home all the time and literally never go anywhere with anyone especially with holidays coming up like I guarantee I’ll be alone in the house and everyone else will be out for new years like every year. like even before when I technically had friends I was still lonely but at least I could pretend to my family, but now that I literally have no one it’s like a massive slap in the face. If I told y family directly they would just make fun of me it’s not like they would be worried or anything. I truly see no way out of this

Me2121 Scared of ending up alone
  • replies: 2

I can't stop worrying about ending up alone. I'm 34 and have severe anxiety. Lately I can't stop worrying about what's going to happen to me once my parents pass away. I have no children or partner. It's constantly on my mind. I've tried telling myse... View more

I can't stop worrying about ending up alone. I'm 34 and have severe anxiety. Lately I can't stop worrying about what's going to happen to me once my parents pass away. I have no children or partner. It's constantly on my mind. I've tried telling myself I'll be OK but it doesn't help. I've tried challenging thoughts etc. Nothing seems to help.

Shark Feeling scared
  • replies: 3

Why do i feel like this? I was having a good start to the day. Now i am shacky heart beat racing nearly in tears dry mouth and now do not want to leave the house

Why do i feel like this? I was having a good start to the day. Now i am shacky heart beat racing nearly in tears dry mouth and now do not want to leave the house

Warren2103 Which way is up?
  • replies: 1

I’m a 49-year-old gay guy who feels like he’s hit a dead end in life. I work in corporate risk management, and honestly, it’s completely unfulfilling. I’ve spent almost 20 years in the corporate world and I’ve never really enjoyed it. As I’ve gotten ... View more

I’m a 49-year-old gay guy who feels like he’s hit a dead end in life. I work in corporate risk management, and honestly, it’s completely unfulfilling. I’ve spent almost 20 years in the corporate world and I’ve never really enjoyed it. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become increasingly disengaged, not just from work, but from a lot of things in life. I’ve let my health slide, I’m overweight (not huge, but definitely heavier than I should be), and I’m constantly tired. I feel frustrated because I have no idea how to get out of this cycle. I want to leave the corporate world, but I have absolutely no idea what I’d be good at or where to even begin. I don’t even have anything I could really call a passion either. I was diagnosed with mild depression and anxiety before COVID, and lately I’ve wondered if I might also have some form of ADHD. I’ve always struggled to learn new things quickly, stay focused, and stay organised. Those issues have made my work life very challenging at times, and work has always been a major trigger for my anxiety, especially when I feel like I’m drowning. Right now, I don’t know where to start, who to talk to, or how to figure out my next move. What I do know is that I don’t want to be in the same place in another 20 years. If anyone has gone through this and come out the other end, I’d love to know your storyor get some advice. Thank you.