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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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cakeboss anxiety panic disorder stress from applying for a dsp
  • replies: 3

Hi there not sure if we are allowed to talk about this topic at all .I have anxiety panic disorder .I am medicated and i have had this since my early teenage years .I and currently seeing a gp fortnightly ,and a psychtrist 3 monthly and a mental heal... View more

Hi there not sure if we are allowed to talk about this topic at all .I have anxiety panic disorder .I am medicated and i have had this since my early teenage years .I and currently seeing a gp fortnightly ,and a psychtrist 3 monthly and a mental health counciler monthly .I applied for a disability pension 2 half years ago .Based on the information i handed in it was rejected .I appealed the situation and due to lack of not knowing what to do and how to understand it it was rejected again .I then went to advocacy to act on behalf of me because my anxiety panic disorder i find it hard to understand it all .I scored 10 out of 10 for mental health .I cant work more than 8 hours a fortnight even that is hard with my anxiety . I recently appealed again with new letters from all the following drs specialists treating me for mental health .How can it be rejected again when letters from gp psyhcitrist and counciler all state into detail im not capable .IT has caused my anxiety panic disorder to get worse and my health has really taken fall from all of this .Is there anyone else on here that has fought tooth and nail for a dsp for severe anxiety panic disorder .

Gogitto Intrusive thoughts and Severe anxiety disorder.
  • replies: 7

Hi guys. I’m writing today to talk about the kind of intrusive thoughts I’ve been having and scared that I feel this kind of way. About 15 days ago, I had an intrusive thought about hurting a friend of mine which set off a panic attack. Now for a few... View more

Hi guys. I’m writing today to talk about the kind of intrusive thoughts I’ve been having and scared that I feel this kind of way. About 15 days ago, I had an intrusive thought about hurting a friend of mine which set off a panic attack. Now for a few weeks I actually was annoyed with this friend over a little bit of a conflict situation but I obsessed over the incident and stayed annoyed with this person because of it. I don’t want to stay obsessed over it as it is forgetten and everyone has moved on but when I got the intrusive thought, it was accomanyed by anger. I don’t want to hurt anyone and I don’t want to feel annoyed or angry at this person anymore as its in the past but it feels like my subconscious won’t let it go and I’m scared its sending me crazy. Yesterday I had the same intrusive thought attack because mum spoke to this friend on the phone and it caused me to have a mild panic attack. I spoke to this friend on the phone to try and reassure myself I would’nt hurt her and wouldn’t get angry at her and I didn’t. I’m just very very scared of this feeling as I’m a good person and I want to let go of this anger and fear as I do care for this person and I don’t want to hurt her or get mad with her. Thanks for listening.

Whatsinaname Dreams ruining your day
  • replies: 5

Hi all, As usual just looking for some comfort in the solice that I'm no alone (hopefully). Last night my brain decided it would be fun the have dreams about every mistake I've made in my life so I could wake up anxious as possible. I know that my da... View more

Hi all, As usual just looking for some comfort in the solice that I'm no alone (hopefully). Last night my brain decided it would be fun the have dreams about every mistake I've made in my life so I could wake up anxious as possible. I know that my day is ruined, as I I'll spend it in my head, and odds are the next few days ill enjoy an anxiety hang over, just in time for this long weekend. Does anyone else fall off the ledge by a simple dream? Thanks,

Soberlicious96 Full Time work - Struggling
  • replies: 7

Hi all, I'm not new to BB, in fact have been on here for almost 18 months now. Mostly trying to offer up support for others. But lately, I am feeling some stress of my own. See, very recently I started full time work, in a job that I've been in, in a... View more

Hi all, I'm not new to BB, in fact have been on here for almost 18 months now. Mostly trying to offer up support for others. But lately, I am feeling some stress of my own. See, very recently I started full time work, in a job that I've been in, in a part time capacity for more than 5 years now. I haven't actually worked full time for about 14 years or more, and since this pandemic, work has been CRAZY busy. We've had a couple of people leave in the last few months, since lock-down started, one new person start, plenty of angry customers and people just being so impatient, and wanting a 'million dollar product' for the price of a carton of milk! ..... okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating slightly there, but not by much! Funnily enough, I've coped relatively well with the pandemic itself .... which is why I didn't post in that particular area of the Beyond Blue site ..... I mean, sure I had my tough days at first, but now I'm coping with that part of life quite well. I am just feeling so stressed by the end of the say that I can feel myself grinding my teeth, and swearing more and there's tension in my neck ........ yeah, I just feel quite stressed and anxious and like I just am not keeping up with the demands of the job. And the PHONE!!! Oh my goodness, the phone just won't friggin STOP!!!!!!!!!! What really gets my goat, is the way that so many people think they are more important than everyone else. "Oh, but I buy from here all the time" they say. And I think 'Yeah, and I bet you get your milk and bread from the same supermarket every week too, but THEY don't give you a discount/special treatment/free stuff just because you are supposedly loyal to them, do they?!' I just feel like screaming at them all and saying "Grow the hell up! Get off your high horse and accept your place in the world! Stop acting like spoiled little brats who can't get their own way! And STOP BEING SO IMPATIENT!" We're all doing the best we can with what we have. Why can't that be enough though? Having said all of that, most days I do actually really enjoy my job ..... most days. But some days ..... well, what else can I say? People just annoy me sometimes. And today was one of those days. Any suggestions on how to cope better with this new level of activity in my life? And btw, I don't want to go back to part time, if that's what you are thinking of suggesting. Anyway, the floor is yours ........ thanks for reading. Mel. xo

Sun-b Chest Pain and indigestion
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I have panic disorder along with health anxiety and IBS for quite sometime now.It has gotten worse over the last 2 years due to some difficulties. i have been getting constant chest pain/tightness along with indigestion issues similar to acid... View more

Hi all, I have panic disorder along with health anxiety and IBS for quite sometime now.It has gotten worse over the last 2 years due to some difficulties. i have been getting constant chest pain/tightness along with indigestion issues similar to acid reflux minus heart burn feeling. i have been to the dr’s and had a ecg.It all checked out fine and they put back down to my anxiety and gord. I don’t believe that gord is the cause of my issue rather that the anxiety is causing the symptoms, however, often I wonder if it can be something more. I know that chest pain is quite common with anxiety but I’m wondering if anyone is facing the symptoms that I am facing? Tightness in the chest like trapped air in the chest and stomach area. Almost like air is going to cause me not to breathe which evening sends me to the restroom.The only thing that kind of gives me relief is massaging the area with pressure and sometimes a visit to the toilet. Any help or any suggestions on what have worked for others would be much appreciated. thanks.

jim4372 Feel lost and empty
  • replies: 7

Hi Im very new to this, Not sure where to start but I cant seem to find who I am and how to become happy. I struggle really hard to talk about anything to anyone including mates and my girlfriend, and I'm not comfortable talking to family or a profes... View more

Hi Im very new to this, Not sure where to start but I cant seem to find who I am and how to become happy. I struggle really hard to talk about anything to anyone including mates and my girlfriend, and I'm not comfortable talking to family or a professional. I shut out emotion because its the only way I know how to deal with stuff. I know lots of people care about me but I cant figure out how to care for myself and like me for who I am. I frequently get anxiety that Im just a joke to people and my girlfriend is cheating on me or something, Im not sure why because I know its stupid to think. I can still laugh and go out and have fun with mates but as soon as Im alone or it gets late i feel completely empty and like nothing can fix it. I have no idea what to do in life or where I am going, I feel very useless and unsuccessful in everything I do.

Randlo Need support, I feel doomed.
  • replies: 3

Hi all. It's 5am, my mind is racing and I'm in pain (literally) so here I am rambling on bb. I haven't had much sleep in weeks. Had painful boils for a week, and now multiple toothaches. All that amid worries of covid19, unemployment, and poor health... View more

Hi all. It's 5am, my mind is racing and I'm in pain (literally) so here I am rambling on bb. I haven't had much sleep in weeks. Had painful boils for a week, and now multiple toothaches. All that amid worries of covid19, unemployment, and poor health. Lost my job in March due to covid19. My wife now works 3 times a week, and will probably lose her job as well. I can no longer afford Psychiatry so I no longer medicate, now depression, anxiety, and bad memories are feeding on my psyche. I can't afford dental care either so I'm taking pain killers by the hour everyday. The lack of sleep is making me sickly. I don't see any hope that my life will ever be alleviated from this state. Worst of all is I have no friends to support me. Family and friends(aquaintances) couldn't care less.

Rosco2020 Bloating, loose bowel pain in stomach
  • replies: 3

My symptoms started mid April during the Coronavirus. I was coping well in the beginning of the virus, cooking different foods every day and cleaning etc then all of a sudden, I thought is this all there is to do? Then I got diarrhea on and off for a... View more

My symptoms started mid April during the Coronavirus. I was coping well in the beginning of the virus, cooking different foods every day and cleaning etc then all of a sudden, I thought is this all there is to do? Then I got diarrhea on and off for a few weeks, then bloating, pain in my groin area, every time I breath in, then stabbing pains like electric shocks all over my body and I mean everywhere. The latest symptom is gagging and going off my food. I don’t want to talk to my daughter or my sister or anyone for that matter. I don’t answer my phone and then they phone my husband and tell him I am not answering my phone. Drives me nuts. I just started to get my bowels back into order and then after talking to them, I had very lose bowels after talking to them. I am always fearful of what they are going to say to me. When people are well and normal they just seem to me to prattle on, to difficult to listen too. I know they are good intentioned. I wish I could cry or scream it might make me feel better. I really don’t want to do anything and I just want to stay in bed or watch tv. I think one of the problems is that we are moving into a new house we have built and I do not want to participate, because every time we move I finish up hurting myself or falling over or knocking myself. I am not young but I am usually a very vital person. I used to do 3 exercise classes a week and with the Covid19 that stopped, it used to keep me sane. Now I am only packing stuff up and moving light things into the house. I must say I have never been suicidal, I don’t drink coffee or tea, only Digest or camomile with honey. I only have the occasional sherry but at the moment, I am not drinking. I use Kombucha, water and kefir. I am getting about 6 hours sleep at night, so although it is not 8 hours, it is adequate. I know this will pass but at the moment I do not want to get up. The pain and stress in my stomach is less when I am laying down. I know I am going to have to face the day sooner or later. I have seen my GP and he suggested I see a psychologist but I said I would rather see a psychiatrist. That will not happen. I will see him again next week and get a referral to see psychologist, although I don’t believe they can help me. Psychiatrist get to the bottom of the problem. I believe writing this has made me feel that I have a voice to say how I am feeling without negative feedback. Thank you!

Hails_89 Zombie
  • replies: 4

Hey guys, shout out out to everyone posting their worries and going through a shit time at the moment. In the past week I’ve slept a total of 10 hours.... I lay awake most nights focusing on my breathing which feels really shallow then when I’m so ti... View more

Hey guys, shout out out to everyone posting their worries and going through a shit time at the moment. In the past week I’ve slept a total of 10 hours.... I lay awake most nights focusing on my breathing which feels really shallow then when I’m so tired I want to sleep I wake myself up gasping for air!! I’ve had major changes in my life and routine the last three months so it absolutely makes sense to me that I’ve relapsed back into anxiety! It is so exhausting trying to find the right help I’ve tried sleeping tests, I go to a GP, I’ve seen physiotherapists, I’ve seen psychologists, I’ve had ecg’s and heart monitors on me numerous times and everyone tells you something different. I’m feeling discouraged, I haven’t felt like this since the GP first told me it sounds like anxiety I had been so good I almost forgot I ever had it.

HappyWanderer Lost
  • replies: 5

Hi. I don't really know how to start... I live every day pretty normal in front of everyone, but inside things feel... difficult. I don't know why. I think maybe at least some of it is anxiety, but I'm not really sure if that's an accurate explanatio... View more

Hi. I don't really know how to start... I live every day pretty normal in front of everyone, but inside things feel... difficult. I don't know why. I think maybe at least some of it is anxiety, but I'm not really sure if that's an accurate explanation. I wonder about speaking to someone, but I don't know what I would tell them. I'm getting tired of feeling 'not right' so often & wonder if there is a way to feel better. I'm kind of worried if there was a 'way', what that process might look like too...