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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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autumntree Newbie saying hi!
  • replies: 4

Hi There! I'm just struggling a far bit at the moment. I've had anxiety a lot of my life and usually it is somewhat manageable but about twice a year it becomes debilitating. A combination of the corona virus and a recent breakup is causing my anxiet... View more

Hi There! I'm just struggling a far bit at the moment. I've had anxiety a lot of my life and usually it is somewhat manageable but about twice a year it becomes debilitating. A combination of the corona virus and a recent breakup is causing my anxiety to flare up really badly. I want to get better this time and do everything I can to get my anxiety under control and live a mentally healthier life. So I guess I'm just reaching out to this community for some tips and to feel some hope that I can overcome this. Thank you and wishing that everyone is coping okay

NZthrower Anxiety about sexual matters
  • replies: 2

Hello everyone! What has been really bothering me quite a bit has to do with me analysing numerous attitudes surrounding sex. One common attitude is the idea of saving sex before marriage. Owing to my religious upbringing, it is a pretty deeply entre... View more

Hello everyone! What has been really bothering me quite a bit has to do with me analysing numerous attitudes surrounding sex. One common attitude is the idea of saving sex before marriage. Owing to my religious upbringing, it is a pretty deeply entrenched attitude and I have been recently questioning it. I have been asking myself what exactly is wrong with premarital sex? A common analogy I have been exposing myself to is the idea that having premarital sex with someone is like chewing a piece of gum, once you lose your virginity, you're worth less just like how a stick of gum is worth less after you chew it. This implies that entering into a relationship with someone who has already had sex before marriage is like eating a piece of gum that's been already chewed. I have been learning how this can be damaging to people, as it can prevent rape victims from speaking up or seeking help. Even when I was relatively religious, I still made an exception for rape since I understood that the victim didn't willing give up her/his virginity. This has been giving me quite a bit of stress, as two sides of me come into conflict with one another. Another problem I have been struggling with is promiscuity and porn use. I have been using porn on average once per day/two days. One common message that I have been taught is that promiscuity is bad. I also have always internally seen that casual sexual activity is shallow, lacks depth and that you ultimately don't end up forming stronger emotional bonds with your partner through such activity, just that I willingly give into my urges to watch porn. I am still trying to find out what are the circumstances that result in sex leading to a stronger emotional connection between a couple, as sex with a prostitute is still consensual, but no emotional bonds are formed, nor love expressed.

HelpsAlwaysNear96 Health Anxiety Has Taken Over My Life
  • replies: 14

Hello, I have had anxiety related to my health for nearly 4 years now, but these last 6 months or so it has gotten to the point where I’m starting to lose hope that I’ll ever overcome this and my days are being consumed with my fixations on physical ... View more

Hello, I have had anxiety related to my health for nearly 4 years now, but these last 6 months or so it has gotten to the point where I’m starting to lose hope that I’ll ever overcome this and my days are being consumed with my fixations on physical symptoms. This stops me from getting other things done and doing things that I used to enjoy. I go through phases of being concerned about varying medical emergencies and diseases or conditions. In a normal week I am at the doctors at least once, more commonly twice. I also go to lots of different doctors because I feel like if I keep returning to the same one they won’t take my seriously. I’ve spent a lot of time and money on lots of different tests for different conditions. This has included MRIs, blood tests, eye tests, monitors and more. I also spend hours googling symptoms, which always gives me a dire diagnosis which sets off even further anxiety. My heart is something that is always of concern. I check my pulse over 100 times a day and am constantly at the doctor about it. I’ve had ECG testing and the 24 hour holtier monitor, as well as general blood tests. The doctor said my monitor does show minor ectopic beats but apparently they are nothing to be worried about. Despite the doctor reassuring me, I still can’t get through a single day without thinking I’m having a heart attack. I even get other physical symptoms like shortness of breath and left arm pain. I’ve presented to the emergency department multiple times but they never find anything wrong. I have episodes of very fast heart rate multiple times a week, which I’m guessing are panic attacks, but I worry it could be a heart rhythm issue. I do see a physiologist, but even with her reassurance that anxiety can manifest itself in many physical symptoms, I can’t seem to accept this and move on. Does anyone else suffer from this kind of anxiety because I feel like I’m the only one and that I’m just crazy. Is there any advice for overcoming it? Thanks for taking the time to read my long post.

BXTC88 Can someone help me in the right direction please.
  • replies: 6

I seriously need help, I have attacks before I leave my house, while driving to places I've been before and new places, attacks while at those places which is highly embarrasing because I feel like I loose control of my bladder and bowel. And yes thi... View more

I seriously need help, I have attacks before I leave my house, while driving to places I've been before and new places, attacks while at those places which is highly embarrasing because I feel like I loose control of my bladder and bowel. And yes this is very hard to type and express what I'm going through. I can't even get to my doctor about it, I have 3 kids also which I feel is highly slack to them because being a single mum and can't get a foot out of the door. Can someone suggest a first step to help with this from home for now. I know signing up to here is a very small start.

gaz88 Autophobia, fear of being alone.
  • replies: 2

First of all, hello everybody. Around 8 years ago I stayed up at the weekend a little more than I should of using a stimulant. Young and dumb maybe. I had, what I learner later, a psychosis. Which for the rest of the night and some of the day had be ... View more

First of all, hello everybody. Around 8 years ago I stayed up at the weekend a little more than I should of using a stimulant. Young and dumb maybe. I had, what I learner later, a psychosis. Which for the rest of the night and some of the day had be intensely afraid of intruders through auditory hallucinations and my imagination amplifying it to be as bad as possible. I am embarrassed to admit this but it is necessary to explain the trigger to what I am suffering now. When I work away usually or in highrise apartment I don't seem to have any issues. It's when I stay in a house alone especially although even in bed sometimes when others are home I still get the hyper arousal at sounds outside and imagine them to be something or someone very dangerous. I am certain that this one event many years ago has programmed part of my brain to be irrationally afraid at night that something terrible might happen causing me not to sleep until very late sometimes. I know this as before the event I never really worried at all or cared to check if doors locked etc. Literally started after that and I guess I've subconsciously worked my life around it however it can be very prohibitive and I don't want to have this feeling anymore. I've been embarrassed to admit this due to what caused it and also being a man, it's not the sort of thing you like to admit. I have really just gotten to the point that I would like to do something about it even though it seems in my mind nothing will work. I have tried hypnosis once shortly after the event and several self hypnosis audio tracks but I think something else may be required. Has anybody else had this? Been treated or in treatment? I would like to hear from you. Thanks for reading.

Fallen_Angel Social anxiety
  • replies: 2

I feel like my social anxiety is so bad I can't even attend appointments. Like I don't have the balls to ask my boss for the time off. Also my GP left which means I have to see a different GP. I've been on medication for mh for 15 years (I'm 32 start... View more

I feel like my social anxiety is so bad I can't even attend appointments. Like I don't have the balls to ask my boss for the time off. Also my GP left which means I have to see a different GP. I've been on medication for mh for 15 years (I'm 32 started meds at 17) and feel like nothing works - I don't want the GP to think I'm being difficult. Most of my social anxiety is about going to work. I work in an aps6 job that involves dealing with the public, and I wake up dreaming about work and having panic attacks, feel nauseas whenever I go into the office, avoid public interaction whenever possible (which effect's my work) but I can't seem to find another job that doesn't involve public interaction. - only got this one because I was a graduate and didn't have the guts to say no. I'm at the point where I've started drinking everyday, and occasionally using illicit drugs (bought off the internet) because I feel like there's no way out. I know this is a slippery slope and really want help. Sorry for the long post.

Daisy_8 History preventing progress
  • replies: 1

I support my daughter (24yrs) who is struggling with anxiety & depression. She has suffered both physical & mental/ emotional abuse & been very unlucky in choosing ineffective ‘professional’ help. She is on medication for depression but resistant to ... View more

I support my daughter (24yrs) who is struggling with anxiety & depression. She has suffered both physical & mental/ emotional abuse & been very unlucky in choosing ineffective ‘professional’ help. She is on medication for depression but resistant to trying meds for anxiety due to the difficulty finding the ‘right’ one & not having a trusted GP. Every mental health professional she has dealt with has either been unprofessional (talking about their own problems not hers) or ineffective (focusing on the wrong issue- like pressuring her about her weight and implying she was anorexic/bulimic when she actually had a stomach ulcer). She doesn’t want to keep trying to find the right mental health help due to the pain of seeing many wrong ones. She doesn’t want to go back to the GP or search for a new one for fear of the same mistreatment. Her family on both sides have been unable to accept her mental health issues & we no longer interact with most of them because of this. Most of them do not know the full details & history & have made judgement based on her leaving school early & not finding work/ keeping a job. She has some friends but most of them are in a different city & the few here do not seem to be genuine. She has had friends in the past who ended up hurting her/using her & now feels very isolated & unworthy. Being stuck at home has not helped her mental health before the new rules. She is at present overwhelmed with anxiety & won’t leave the house at all. I had an unpleasant interaction with the police when I was out & she sees the police pull over bicyclists in front of our house- so now fears them stopping her. She has a fear of being ‘locked up’ both by police & by mental health. She has made a few suicide attempts & was detained last time without being told what was happening or why- they in fact lied to her & kept saying she could go soon. They mistreated her anxiety as aggression & were quite hostile towards her, creating a fear of going to hospital/ ambulances & even a GP in case one/ all of them say she needs to be ‘locked up’ again. All I can do is try to provide a safe place & person. We have a good relationship. I know she needs to want to take steps forward but it seems like there are walls preventing her moving forward or even sideways! I’m a bit lost & overwhelmed. I have friends that support me & I try to do things that are good for my mental health. I want to help my daughter find the same things & live a better life.

An123 Anxiety, OCD and hair pulling
  • replies: 3

Hi! When I was young my mum noticed I always had a lot of "what-ifs" flying through my head at any given time. I think it's safe to say this was the beginning of my anxiety. I believe my anxiety is genetic (my mum suffers from it, though mine is more... View more

Hi! When I was young my mum noticed I always had a lot of "what-ifs" flying through my head at any given time. I think it's safe to say this was the beginning of my anxiety. I believe my anxiety is genetic (my mum suffers from it, though mine is more severe). Due to the fact I was in denial to my anxiety and the stress was getting the better of me (with the occasional panic attack swell), I developed OCD. Then, when I was around 12 I developed trichatilamania (did I spell that right?!) Trichatilamania is compulsive hair pulling disorder. I find it very distressing to be young however having bald patches (that I manage to cover) on my head. I have been trying to stop pulling but its really hard. I feel helpless to it. I believe I used hair pulling and OCD as coping mechanisms for myself to deal with the stress without actually directly confronting it. The funny thing is, it took years of me having all these symptoms before I came to terms with it, and finally admitted to myself that I have anxiety. I don't feel like I have anyone who fully understands, and I was hoping for some stores of hope and advice if possible? Thankyou for reading.

Arig Health Anxiety
  • replies: 14

hi all, I am new to this forum and it's the first time I'm reaching out to others in my journey with health anxiety. Health anxiety has ruled my life for over 15 years. I'm currently 40 and over the years I've concocted all sorts of health issues, un... View more

hi all, I am new to this forum and it's the first time I'm reaching out to others in my journey with health anxiety. Health anxiety has ruled my life for over 15 years. I'm currently 40 and over the years I've concocted all sorts of health issues, undergone so many tests and I still walk away convinced that the medical world hasn't diagnosed me properly. Currently I'm convinced I have bowel cancer, MS and throat cancer. Its debilitating and I wanted to know if anyone has overcome this and how. I've been to 3 different psychologists over the years and 2 GP's and each have told me I don't need medication. Help!

Dally93 OCD and intrusive thoughts
  • replies: 4

Hi guys, i’ve been doing a heap of research and believe I have anxiety with OCD intrusive thoughts. What I was wondering is how do I get an official diagnoses so I can get the best possible treatment? And is there a way to find a psychologist in my c... View more

Hi guys, i’ve been doing a heap of research and believe I have anxiety with OCD intrusive thoughts. What I was wondering is how do I get an official diagnoses so I can get the best possible treatment? And is there a way to find a psychologist in my city specialising in OCD. My current psychologist is great, but doesn’t seem to have an understanding of OCD intrusive thoughts, as she thinks OCD is mostly when flickering switches etc. Was also wondering what has worked for people to overcome and cope with this. I hear CBT, ERP and medication have been helpful. thanks guys.