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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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pinkwren Dealing with extreme self-doubt and anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hey there I haven't been on here in a while, but I just needed a place to vent and maybe reach out to anyone who is or has experienced something similar. I'm 16 years old and in year 11 at school, where it is about a term before I submit my first lot... View more

Hey there I haven't been on here in a while, but I just needed a place to vent and maybe reach out to anyone who is or has experienced something similar. I'm 16 years old and in year 11 at school, where it is about a term before I submit my first lot of assessment that will contribute to my ATAR next year. I have dealt with pretty severe anxiety since I was young, and lately I've been feeling that the self-doubt I have about my school work and future is becoming unbearable. I'm really anxious about my grades at school as I want to do well and please my family and not fall short of both the expectations they have for me and the expectations I have for myself. I do pretty well at school, getting straight A's, but I'm so anxious about failing and not getting the ATAR I want and need to get into the course I want to do at university (Veterinary Science Honours, ATAR 99). I'm becoming super anxious about studying and completing assignments where I'm sometimes finding it hard to sleep at night, and I'm anxious if I'm not studying or doing my schoolwork. I'm scared to finish year 11 and get my results back for the year and hear the award recipients for our school awards night as I'm afraid of not receiving an academic prize like I normally would for the fear that the people around me will think that I am stupid and didn't work hard enough. I'm becoming reluctant to tell my parents my grades too (even though they are not bad) because I'm also scared that they will think I'm not as smart as my sister and that I am dumb. I'm even more scared to finish year 12 and see what my ATAR is. I'm terrified of not receiving the required ATAR (99) I need and not getting into university (even though I know there are other pathways) because I feel that it will make me look like a failure to my friends and family. I'm scared of how I will react to my ATAR if it's not good enough, specifically, I'm scared I will take my own life if it's not good enough. I know this sound so dramatic and so stuck up and petty, but I just needed to get all that out. Thank you for reading if you got this far xx pw

BeeKay Anxiety and stress causing aggression at work.
  • replies: 4

Hello everyone. New here, so here goes... I'm a young woman working full time in a healthcare sector. Recently I have been struggling under the demands of my employer to reach unrealistic high targets, and being an essential worker during this pandem... View more

Hello everyone. New here, so here goes... I'm a young woman working full time in a healthcare sector. Recently I have been struggling under the demands of my employer to reach unrealistic high targets, and being an essential worker during this pandemic. I have been experiencing conflict with colleagues and management which has further exacerbated my anxiety and depression, and my 'imposter syndrome'. I have difficulty expressing my stress and frustration at work, and often don't realise when I am communicating aggressively or my body language is conveying a negative message. I am described by almost everyone who meets me as a kind, warm, shy, and caring person, with the best laugh in the office lol. I don't intentionally mean to come across aggressive and its probably more anxiety driven. However I have recently received feedback from management that I have been aggressive towards them and they feel I have attacked them on several occasions. I've been questioning myself, am I aggressive?, or are they possibly misinterpreting what I am trying to convey. I guess I don't like to think of myself as the kind of person who is aggressive towards others, I'm struggling with that concept, part of me want's to go and apologise and admit to everything because I don't like the feeling of conflict, and part of me is thinking if I did say something, it would always be with the best of intentions, and it was what I felt appropriate at the time. Either way it isn't sitting right with me, I've noticed myself toggling between feeling angry towards management, and then shame towards myself, and its this constant tug of war in my mind. Am I really that person?. And I think maybe because I'm currently experiencing burnout- to the point where I called lifeline for the first time ever at 3AM this morning due to feeling overwhelmed and having anxiety attacks- that I might even be unintentionally externalising this stress and anxiety through aggression. I have sought out mental health support through my organisations EAP and also see a psychologist external to the organisation as well. I want to address my behaviour, and change for the better, but not sure if I'm being too critical of myself. I'm wondering if anyone else on here has experienced something similar. How did you deal with the anxiety, guilt or shame when coming to terms with a behaviour that you aren't proud of? how do you deal with receiving negative/constructive criticism?. Thanks for reading! Beekay.

co0kiedoughh Finding work after graduation
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I am currently in my final semester of my masters for accounting, with no extracurriculars nor much experience and I feel hopeless. I have social anxiety issues which also lead me to have poor social/communication skills and have low sel... View more

Hi everyone, I am currently in my final semester of my masters for accounting, with no extracurriculars nor much experience and I feel hopeless. I have social anxiety issues which also lead me to have poor social/communication skills and have low self esteem. I never really had the courage to attend any career fairs or networking events nor volunteer. I was planning to bring up some courage to start working on this this year but with the current circumstances.... (I live my parents who are 60+ with poor health). I am 27 y.o. yet only have ‘2 years of retail experience’ ... which I really wouldn’t consider as experience as it’s my mum’s business which has already closed down. I’ve applied for some internship programs during the first year of my masters degree, but wasn’t successful. I was able to get one interview but I got far too nervous during the interview I stuffed it up. For our uni’s internship program I was able to reach the ‘assessment centre’ stage. However, I completely freaked out during the presentation and wasn’t able to make it through. I am completely lost and I’m not sure what to do at this point....? I haven’t gone to a counsellor because I don’t want my parent to find out about this (they have my Medicare card and would ask where I go..since I don’t have any friends). I am no longer eligible for internships, not enough experience for a graduate program...and I am hopeless at interviews. I really don’t know what to do at this point in time...?

Sandonz Fantasy Gone Wrong
  • replies: 8

Story of my life,.self inflicted fantasies, about someone from my past. Someone who I was cheating with while I was living with my partner at the time. I was only 22. I feel very guilty now as I was so wrong. A lot of the details I cant even remember... View more

Story of my life,.self inflicted fantasies, about someone from my past. Someone who I was cheating with while I was living with my partner at the time. I was only 22. I feel very guilty now as I was so wrong. A lot of the details I cant even remember. At first it was just a matter of fantasising about happy memories, and what might have been. Now it has become a matter of obsessive thoughts. A year ago I took it too far, found contact details and made phone contact after 40 years, it started well and deteriated. I became obsessed with meeting up with him.The actual meeting went reasonably well ..My hubby took me to see him but doesnt know the full story. Then 2 months later another phone call which in my opinion started ok and then deteriated. Mainly because I started talking about my guilt from the past. So now my mind constantly goes over and over the conversations .. what I should have said and what I could have said. Its been 6 months since last contact. He has never contacted me, but has been friendly and kind the 3 times I have spoken to him. We are both married to other people for more than 35 years. and to complicate it even further, both men know each other through business, not as close friends but they also have friends in common through their industry. My hubby has no idea how tormented my mind is. I am constantly analysing each conversation, and knowing I stuffed it totally. All I wanted from this renewed contact was friendship. But he has moved on with wife family etc., and rightly so. He did say a few confusing things in first conversation that totally had me confused and misread the situation, leading me to talk too much and raise the past, which I shouldnt have done so I feel that he was partly at fault for me saying some of the things I did. My mind just swings from one scenario to another, wondering if he thinks Im crazy.. which I most likely am. Now I just want to forget the whole thing I want the unwanted thoughts to stop, I want my guilt to stop over what I did then, and I want my secrets from my husband to stop. I cant tell him, but if I could stop the thoughts I would be happier person, and then I could re connect with my hubby , who is a good man, and loyal to me always. Ive googled everything I can, read a lot of self help books, seeing a psychologist, on meds to help with OCD. In total this has been going on for approx 14 months. Any perspective on this would be greatly appreciated.

Jessten Struggling to support others
  • replies: 7

I received a phone call yesterday asking me to pick up friends children as my friend was in hospital. I agreed to having them overnight but then got a phone call today saying they are keeping her in longer and she needs me to look after them longer. ... View more

I received a phone call yesterday asking me to pick up friends children as my friend was in hospital. I agreed to having them overnight but then got a phone call today saying they are keeping her in longer and she needs me to look after them longer. I dont know if the fact I'm not 100% myself or what it is exactly but I feel like I'm struggling to staying strong and keep it together this time. Has anyone else ever been in a similar situation and how did U cope with it? I feel guilty even thinking this way

emgrass Relationship anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I have severe depression, BPD and anxiety. I have been seeing a guy for a while now, and I have realised I have anxious attachment disorder, largely due to childhood trauma. Whenever he doesn't/hasn't messaged me for a day or more, I get se... View more

Hi there, I have severe depression, BPD and anxiety. I have been seeing a guy for a while now, and I have realised I have anxious attachment disorder, largely due to childhood trauma. Whenever he doesn't/hasn't messaged me for a day or more, I get severely triggered to the point I feel debilitated and all I can do is sleep. When he goes out with his friends, I'm constantly panicked/worried that he is going to find someone more attractive than me and that I'm going to lose him. I feel like I have prioritised him over everything in my life, even above my own needs. Does anyone have any advice?

ChloeR Social Anxiety - Please help i'm losing friends.
  • replies: 3

i'm needing help on ways to deal with social anxiety asap, i've always had anxiety, but since the start of this year, i've noticed its starting to get a tight grip of me. i get so anxious when even my closest friend who i've known for years & who i l... View more

i'm needing help on ways to deal with social anxiety asap, i've always had anxiety, but since the start of this year, i've noticed its starting to get a tight grip of me. i get so anxious when even my closest friend who i've known for years & who i live with asks me to go to the shops with her because im scared or that im going to be to awkward. i've also noticed none of my last remaining friends ask me to hang out anymore. but deep down i know i'm the one to blame for as i usually pull out last minute or say im "too busy" when really im at home in my bed avoiding conversation. ive also notice im starting to get my words jumbled up or my sentences are slurred. im trying so hard to push myself to be more social with friends but i find it so damn hard and i can slowly see the friendships/relationships i have with people disintegrate in front of me. please help .

Virgo6 Anxiety and friendships
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone. I live with my best friend and she doesn’t understand my anxiety. I have explained it to her many times. Anytime I get into a panic and try and seek support from her she invalidates me because I have such a good, stable life at the momen... View more

Hi everyone. I live with my best friend and she doesn’t understand my anxiety. I have explained it to her many times. Anytime I get into a panic and try and seek support from her she invalidates me because I have such a good, stable life at the moment. Which I know that, but anxiety doesn’t discriminate haha. In a recent panic attack when I went to seek her support she told me I was being dumb and has now compared it to a toddler throwing a tantrum over not getting a lollipop. I love her to bits but don’t know how to deal with this as it is upsetting me. Any help as to whether I’m being ridiculous for being upset or any advice would be greatly appreciated. thank you x

Mhe 10 months postpartum with Overwhelming thoughts
  • replies: 3

I am overly thinking of everything. A lot of housechores, pressure, looking after my son and I am about to go back to work, . I dont know how to stop thinking that I am becoming emotional, angry,

I am overly thinking of everything. A lot of housechores, pressure, looking after my son and I am about to go back to work, . I dont know how to stop thinking that I am becoming emotional, angry,

Nini9900 Navigating anxiety in a relationship
  • replies: 3

Ive been with my partner for 6.5 years. I have been an anxious person my whole life, but it was 2 years ago that I had my first panic attack, which spiralled into a period of really bad anxiety. When I first was going through this, my partner pretty ... View more

Ive been with my partner for 6.5 years. I have been an anxious person my whole life, but it was 2 years ago that I had my first panic attack, which spiralled into a period of really bad anxiety. When I first was going through this, my partner pretty much rolled his eyes and was like get over it - he never had experienced it and therefore didn’t understand it. He also had his own serious health issues to focus on (he has Crohn’s disease). Through his health journey with his Crohn he too felt anxiety and could finally see it from my perspective. Fast forward two years and he is in a much better and spot and so am I. I haven’t had a panic attack for about two years and have been able to successfully manage my daily anxiety. However yesterday I had a moment which put me on the verge of a panic attack (I managed to calm myself down). Whilst my partner was actually good in that moment, later that night he was acting whack and I found out he was on edge because I was anxious. We then moved on as I was feeling better today. I have been anxious this past week and yesterday it just came out. Whilst I was feeling better today I was a bit preoccupied and more anxious than usual and was focusing on health stuff today. My partner got annoyed and then I confronted him and asked what was up - he told me that I just need to get over it, that I’m choosing to be anxious and choosing to fixate on things which make me anxious. I replied and said I’ve actually been great lately and haven’t had an episode like that in a long time and he replied with you always say it never happens, or it’s only this once, but is that actually true...It’s like you’re back to where you were two years ago! (He said this in a tone of annoyance). He also said that I make my life harder than what it should be by being so anxious. He then proceeded to call me miserable after I got upset from what he said to me. This really hurt me, because he always Says that I want you to feel comfortable with talking to me about being anxious, anxiety etc and then I do and he is responding with this. I understand it can be frustrating, but also I don’t think those words or that attitude is particularly helpful. I realise that the thinking isn’t logical, I’m aware of when I start to get anxious - I’ve been dealing with it long enough!! I need some help / advice on how to navigate this. I feel like my anxiety is annoying him and I’m becoming a burden.

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