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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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poppy2 seeking too much reassurance??
  • replies: 1

I have this friend who has really helped me throughout my anxiety, he came into my life a couple of months ago when it started to get really bad. And even tho he has helped me with it, I was always scared of becoming reliant on telling him all my wor... View more

I have this friend who has really helped me throughout my anxiety, he came into my life a couple of months ago when it started to get really bad. And even tho he has helped me with it, I was always scared of becoming reliant on telling him all my worries etc. Well I told him this after A LOT of overthinking and we had a really good open chat like we always do. Came to the conclusion that I'm constantly seeking reassurance from him, and needing him to validate my feelings. And he said to me that maybe we should talk a bit less about this sort of stuff which I 100% agree cause I don't want him to feel like my therapist, but we agreed that we shouldn't talk about it as much but he's still going to 100% support me and will listen to me if I ever need it. And I've had a really good couple of last few days, and I've told him they've been good cause we talk pretty much everyday and he always asks how my day has been. But today had a not so good day and was crying and just sad etc, and I made myself anxious over if I reach out to him because thats what he said to but I don't want to seek reassurance from him because I haven't for a couple of days and I'm proud of me being able to validate myself, and if I talk to him about it I don't want to spiral back into feeling like I'm dependant on him for that. He's a really great friend and the last thing I want to do is stop talking to him or scare him off or make him hate me. And even if I come to him about this I'll be seeking reassurance and thats too much to ask of him. Feeling confused and anxious :///

Fearful14 Anxiety - when is avoiding a situation a valid response - am i just giving up
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone - i am a consultant and have experienced increasing anxiety when it comes to working with groups or teams. This is only part of my job. When i find that i may “win” the work i have bid for, that involves groups or teams, i start to then w... View more

Hi everyone - i am a consultant and have experienced increasing anxiety when it comes to working with groups or teams. This is only part of my job. When i find that i may “win” the work i have bid for, that involves groups or teams, i start to then wake every morning with sense of dread, sick in my stomach and the feeling of looming fear is with me all day. I start to try to flee (eg how do i get out of this work) or erratically seek other solutions (eg someone to do the work with me/co-present) but still the feelings remain. when I am doing the work, i am largely able to manage the stress/anxiety but the anticipatory aspect (which can go for weeks/months) is extremely difficult to manage and is impacting me a lot. So my question becomes, when is it “giving up” and the anxiety “winning”? Is it the right/best thing to work through the anxiety and increase our ability to manage it or are there times when we just accept it and avoid, wherever possible, the situations that trigger it? I am pressuring myself to learn through this, to be strong and successful when emotionally, all I want to do is run away and avoid ever doing this work (even though i value it and love the impact it can have for my clients). I would love to hear your insights and experiences. Thank you

Blueowl I never thought I had anxiety
  • replies: 2

But recently I've been able to count times where I was anxious about something for a day but then that feeling disappeared when I realised I was being irrational. It still pops up from time to time, where I excessively worry about something- it's hap... View more

But recently I've been able to count times where I was anxious about something for a day but then that feeling disappeared when I realised I was being irrational. It still pops up from time to time, where I excessively worry about something- it's happened three times this week alone. I got triggered today when I squeezed between a lounge couch and mattress to get to the other side and I started to worry about internal bleeding because it was a really tight squeeze across my stomach. It's been 7 hours, and now that I'm in bed my anxiety is getting worse because my stomach feels weird and hurts when I press on it- but I was full on dinner and dessert. I need reassurance that I'm just over thinking, and that there are other people like me.

Purple_Horse Job loss and anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hello, I’m very new to this community and this is my first time posting on the forums. I guess I just need to get a weight off my chest as I haven’t got many people to talk to. I‘m 29 and have been suffering from anxiety on and off pretty much since ... View more

Hello, I’m very new to this community and this is my first time posting on the forums. I guess I just need to get a weight off my chest as I haven’t got many people to talk to. I‘m 29 and have been suffering from anxiety on and off pretty much since I was a teenager. I have never sort professional help as my anxiety has stopped me from reaching out, although I came very close last year. My own mental health issues have often been eclipsed by that of family members who have actual diagnosed illnesses and so mine appear lesser. I often feel I take on their issues while mine fall by the wayside. Today I was made redundant from my workplace due to COVID-19, something I could sense coming, although it still came as a shock. For the last couple of years I have absolutely hated working there, however my fear of change and anxiety to job search stopped me from moving on. I have developed severe social anxiety over these last couple of years due to the work environment, a place that favors extroversion and confidence to actual dedicated and hard working employees. I often felt ostracized and lonely due to the social cliques that formed around me. Although I can see that this is somewhat of a blessing in disguise, I am now faced with the prospect of looking for work during this time of minimal job openings. As well as the prospect of having to navigate job interviews with my social anxiety. My anxiety levels are tittering on the very edge and I feel extremely lost and alone. I’m so hurt that I’m not valued as an employee or colleague and can’t help but feeling worthless and alone. It feels as if all the niggling suspicions in my mind have been actualized. Just looking for some advice or tips on how to move forward from this in a positive light? Thank you, PH

Unsureonlife quit job due to mental health - centrelink
  • replies: 3

hi, I'm new. I'm sure this has been asked before but can I quit my job due to mental health and be able to receive payments straight away (after claim processing for jobseeker)? I have the centrelink medical certificate. Or will I need to wait due to... View more

hi, I'm new. I'm sure this has been asked before but can I quit my job due to mental health and be able to receive payments straight away (after claim processing for jobseeker)? I have the centrelink medical certificate. Or will I need to wait due to "voluntarily ceasing my job" (even though mental health is not voluntary)? Thanks in advance.

caitlin.rose Worried about my future
  • replies: 11

Hi. This is my first time posting online about anything mental health related, so this is a bit terrifying. In October this year I will be turning 18. I've recently applied to university, got my learners license, and have been applying to jobs to try... View more

Hi. This is my first time posting online about anything mental health related, so this is a bit terrifying. In October this year I will be turning 18. I've recently applied to university, got my learners license, and have been applying to jobs to try and get my life moving. I've had severe social anxiety for as long as I can remember, and becoming an adult is somewhat scary. I have been feeling a deep urge to become independent, so while it is scary is is also exciting. One thing I'm worried about is the fact that I have no friends. I do home school after having severe anxiety attacks when I was attending school. My anxiety has stopped me from making friends, and the fact that I will be spending my 18th alone physically pains me. I've always wanted a group of friends, but I feel like my social anxiety has held me back in so many ways. I got my leaners license later than everyone else in my town (everyone got theirs as soon as they turned 16) and everyone has jobs and a big group of friends. It doesn't help that I moved here in Year 7, and the town I live in is very close-knit. Everyone knows each other, and I am an outsider. I didn't get to grow up with a group of friends due to my family travelling Australia when I was in primary school, and then in high school having to move schools because we had to move closer to my grandparents when my pop got diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Unfortunately he passed away in 2016, and the grief that I felt after he died also contributed to a growing anxiety and fear of the future. Recently I also got diagnosed with anorexia, which is also terrifying because I don't know how it is going to affect my chances at university next year. I'm feeling really lost, alone, and tired. I haven't been able to sleep, and I hate hurting the people I love. My mum is worried sick all the time and I hate the affect I have on her mental health. I wish I could take that pain away from her, she's been through a lot herself and I feel like a burden when I add to her pain. Sorry for the long post...but does anyone have any advice?

Cmgal Sleep anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hi I am writing this as I wake in a panic most days. lots of things have been going on for me lately. Lost job, home with 2 young children and struggling to cope, relationship issues (don’t love my myself yet alone my partner). Every day I exhaust my... View more

Hi I am writing this as I wake in a panic most days. lots of things have been going on for me lately. Lost job, home with 2 young children and struggling to cope, relationship issues (don’t love my myself yet alone my partner). Every day I exhaust myself trying to run from the anxiety in any way.. walking a lot and just trying to keep busy, have thought about ending it all however would never do that to my family. Life hurts right now .

jimsto hello - new to forum - need advise
  • replies: 1

I am male older then 40 years I have started to be aware that I have been depressed almost all my adult life as I have always been bullied since childhood and I have lived a life in fear. I have had jaw pain for more then 10 years now but recently I ... View more

I am male older then 40 years I have started to be aware that I have been depressed almost all my adult life as I have always been bullied since childhood and I have lived a life in fear. I have had jaw pain for more then 10 years now but recently I realised that I am straining my face muscles.The pain has increased a lot. any advise on how to relive the pain

JacintaMarie Second post anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi again This is my second post, my anxiety and negative thoughts are getting to me again and I'm so tired of having them, At work, I feel as though I annoy everyone, I constantly say the wrong thing! Writing this down makes me feel better and my hea... View more

Hi again This is my second post, my anxiety and negative thoughts are getting to me again and I'm so tired of having them, At work, I feel as though I annoy everyone, I constantly say the wrong thing! Writing this down makes me feel better and my head aches a little, thank you to all the threads, for showing that I'm not the only one. I'm not seeing a psychologist, I feel pathetic and I should be feeling grateful for what I have. I haven't had anything bad happen to me, I'm afraid people will think I'm making if up. Thank you for reading, this has made me feel better.

JacintaMarie Intrusive thoughts
  • replies: 2

Hi, I can't sleep and my brain is thinking negative thoughts again, this time it's all the stupid things I've done at work, for example even though I know what I can lift and what I can't, I keep on lifting stuff or doing things a different way (thin... View more

Hi, I can't sleep and my brain is thinking negative thoughts again, this time it's all the stupid things I've done at work, for example even though I know what I can lift and what I can't, I keep on lifting stuff or doing things a different way (things that don't have a procedure, of course) and people "go off" at me for lifting (due to osh) Then I get annoyed at myself for doing it, why, why! I try to say something positive about it but they just look at me as if I have two heads. This is what my brain is saying. No one at work seems to make any mistakes and even when I interpret something my brain seems to not get it and gets it wrong. I feel as if my common sense has gone and I can't do anything right and they think I'm stupid. And I'm being too self asorbed and this is wasting my life by worrying about it and I'm not enjoying my life or being grateful for what I have, And there are terrible things happening in the world and I'm still worrying about trivial things. Though it's 4:14am and the thoughts always come around this time. Thank you for allowing me to rant. It is frustrating, I want this to go, and when I am having an anxiety attack, I have to go through it, I can't seem to calm myself down, once I exhaust myself than I feel better and it finally leaves. Thank you

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