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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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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.

OCD OCD
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I am a 26 year old female and I was diagnosed with OCD in year 2. Brief overview of my OCD over the years includes disturbing thoughts about having a physical illness, fear of snapping and killing someone, fear of doing something sexually i... View more

Hi there, I am a 26 year old female and I was diagnosed with OCD in year 2. Brief overview of my OCD over the years includes disturbing thoughts about having a physical illness, fear of snapping and killing someone, fear of doing something sexually inappropriate in the past, and fear of being crazy or having schizophrenia. I’ve had and still have both physical and mental compulsions to accompany these wonderful thoughts. Doing compulsions makes me feel as if I’m preventing something bad from happening. If I don’t do one, it’s not worth the anxiety so I’ve always given in. The thing that bothers me the most are thoughts that I have that tell me NOT to do things, such as don’t eat that or someone will die today, don’t say the word thanks or someone in the world will die, don’t get a tattoo or you will die etc. The result of these thoughts is usually me avoiding doing the thing as the thought of causing something to happen is unbearable. I tell myself that I didn’t want to do those things anyway, I guess to make myself feel better about being bossed around by my thoughts. My boyfriend and I dated for 3 months before making it official. During those 3 months I fooled around with a male friend. I convinced myself I had cheated and told my boyfriend. He said it wasn’t cheating and he didn’t care. However the thought I cheated didn’t leave. I obsessed about it constantly and had compulsions as well. My boyfriend and I decided to move out and then a new thought popped into my head. I had betrayed my friend (my friends ex) (I only see her at group gatherings). I wanted to get reassurance that she didn’t hate me but I couldn’t tell her as it wasn’t my business to tell and it would have caused more issues between her and my male friend. I also knew it was a compulsion and wouldn’t make me feel any better to get reassurance. So I moved out (first time with my first serious bf) and the thoughts have been as follows for months now - I don’t deserve to be in a relationship - I am going to hell for cheating - I am going to get karma for being a shit friend - This karma will involve my family dying, my future kids dying or the consequence of something shit happening in the world if I have kids - That I’m having anxiety and these thoughts because I want to break up with my boyfriend deep down - That the only way I can prevent things happening is to break up with him I am seeing a psychologist in a weeks time as I’ve finally had enough. Advice till then?

Lakeside19 Hi from a newbie
  • replies: 12

Hi there! I’m new to the forums so just wanted to say hello. I’m not really sure what I should write but I suddenly had the urge to find somewhere I could connect and chat to others who understand what I feel sometimes. I have struggled with anxiety ... View more

Hi there! I’m new to the forums so just wanted to say hello. I’m not really sure what I should write but I suddenly had the urge to find somewhere I could connect and chat to others who understand what I feel sometimes. I have struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember & am still working to find things that really help me to deal with it. I think I’m probably like many of you in that I’m finding the current situation quite a struggle. Had this happened 5 years ago I would’ve easily found things to occupy myself but with a 4 year old at home gone are the days of binge watching tv series, crafting & gaming. I’m hoping having a safe place to get the feelings out and just to have a chat (I’ve always been better at talking from behind a screen) will help a little. I look forward to finding out more about all of you

Tea444 Calming an anxious stomach at the moment
  • replies: 3

Due to the state of the world at the moment I am experiencing heightened anxiety and increased stomach pains constantly. I’m staying off social media and avoiding the news but I was just wondering what other people are doing to combat this at the mom... View more

Due to the state of the world at the moment I am experiencing heightened anxiety and increased stomach pains constantly. I’m staying off social media and avoiding the news but I was just wondering what other people are doing to combat this at the moment? Or how anxiety is presenting for you at the moment? My usual herbal tea and hot water bottle don’t seem to be working.

iconelcee Anorexia Relapse
  • replies: 2

I am a woman in her twenties who recovered from anorexia eight years ago. Although there have been times when I have felt stressed in my personal life, I have always managed to stay on top of my wellbeing and avoid relapsing following treatment for m... View more

I am a woman in her twenties who recovered from anorexia eight years ago. Although there have been times when I have felt stressed in my personal life, I have always managed to stay on top of my wellbeing and avoid relapsing following treatment for my disorder. Recently, I have noticed that my thought patterns are beginning to feel unsettling and I have increased my exercise. I had one day last week where I was unable to exercise and I felt anxiety due to this. Each time I look in the mirror I have this strong urge to lose weight and I am frightened that I am slipping back into my eating disorder. It has been so many years since I was unwell that the thought of possibly starting to experience those thoughts again makes me feel immense disappointment and stress. I was hoping to have some guidance as to what I can possibly do to prevent a relapse (or feelings of shame/controlling and obsessive thoughts around food and exercise). I do not feel comfortable confiding in my close friends of family, as I do not want to admit these feelings and inflict any unnecessary stress or disappointment onto them. Thank you in advance.

cakeboss High anxiety panic disorder setting off health anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi i was wondering if anyone else on here experiences the same feelings as me .My anxiety has been up and down and the last week i have found myself waking up with this feeling off no not this again .im on edge and anxiety just wont settle down .im o... View more

Hi i was wondering if anyone else on here experiences the same feelings as me .My anxiety has been up and down and the last week i have found myself waking up with this feeling off no not this again .im on edge and anxiety just wont settle down .im on medications and i have a gp ringing me today and my psychitrist tomorrow .there just my regular appointments .cause of the c virus there done on the phone .i would felt better being face to face but its the way it is .i had headaces no energy last week and nothing felt like would settle me down .i pulled myself together over the weekend .it starts me up as okay what if i have hight blood pressure cause i had all the symptoms of that looked up on net .then what if i have a heart attack and then oh what if its serious .i am going to start walking today i was going swimming which was keeping my anxiety down and the one thing i loved to relax to .does anyone else find themselves like this just cant settle .this c virus staying home has triggered alot of my anixety but its the way it is .i will follow up with drs tomorrow they always settle me down .im on medications to and they work but lately no

MartinaP Worrying
  • replies: 2

Hi Guys, This is very new to me. I never posted anything, on here. I do find it very hard for me to open up. I do worry about the future, if I still have a job when the coronavirus is over. I lost my mother about 18 months ago. so my father is by him... View more

Hi Guys, This is very new to me. I never posted anything, on here. I do find it very hard for me to open up. I do worry about the future, if I still have a job when the coronavirus is over. I lost my mother about 18 months ago. so my father is by himself alone, and worrying about him all the time. is he okay his he coping with everything