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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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Kbchib I hate myself
  • replies: 3

Hello, I am 28 years old, married to an unimaginably wonderful man, mother to absolute perfection - twice. I work part time at a job I enjoy, have amazing in-laws and live in a beautiful home in a small town filled with kind and welcoming people. At ... View more

Hello, I am 28 years old, married to an unimaginably wonderful man, mother to absolute perfection - twice. I work part time at a job I enjoy, have amazing in-laws and live in a beautiful home in a small town filled with kind and welcoming people. At surface level my life is perfect. However despite all of this, I hold a deep sadness inside. Oftentimes it never shows but when it does it can range anywhere from being down momentarily to prolonged melancholy, and seems uncontrollable. I don't know when or why or how badly it will occur. I have never spoken to a professional, but I believe multiple traumas from my childhood and adolescence have manifested into a deep-seated hatred for myself. I have absolutely no self-esteem. I am extremely introverted and suffer greatly from social anxiety; so much so that since moving interstate 2.5 years ago I have not made even 1 friend. My husband and his family are very well known in this town, so I have consistently met new, lovely people, but I cannot bring myself to attend social gatherings or attempt to make friends. I constantly make excuses to stay home. Just tonight I cancelled plans to celebrate our wedding anniversary, because I was too scared to go out in public and be seen. I am terrified that people won't like me. More than this fear though, I am terrified that I will project my insecurities onto my children and cause damage to them in some way, and I am terrified that my issues will ruin my marriage or hurt my husband. I hate being this way but I truly dont know how to change. I am open to any and all suggestions you may have. Thank you for reading.

Linda06 How to live and accept life with situational anxiety
  • replies: 2

I recently learnt to accept and sit with my anxiety recently instead of always fighting it. I suffer from situational anxiety of which due to the recent conditions of 2020 - my anxiety has had a field day with it. Even though I get professional help,... View more

I recently learnt to accept and sit with my anxiety recently instead of always fighting it. I suffer from situational anxiety of which due to the recent conditions of 2020 - my anxiety has had a field day with it. Even though I get professional help, meditate etc my friends said that they are worried for me because I am always anxious which has now got me in a head spin because I had finally accepted myself with anxiety and had decided to sit with it instead of always fighting it. But with my friends and peers always judging me in that way I am now finding it hard to accept my anxietyy, just be me, know i am not always going to be perfect and have kind of gone backwards. Has anyone else experienced this? What are some tips for going forward and accepting a life full of situational anxiety. Also getting nervous at the thought of always dealing with these painful anxiety events. Cheers

kettlebell Constant feel of sadness
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I am new to this forum. I guess I really want to share my feelings. Lately for the past 2 weeks I have been feeling sad all the time without any exact reason. I was so easily irritated yesterday by little things and ended up burst out crying ... View more

Hi all, I am new to this forum. I guess I really want to share my feelings. Lately for the past 2 weeks I have been feeling sad all the time without any exact reason. I was so easily irritated yesterday by little things and ended up burst out crying and couldn't calm myself down. I used to love reading a good novel and watching TV shows for leisure but recently I cannot sit still to read through the chapter or raise interest in watching the show I like. And I find cooking or even getting into shower has became an effort. It is like suddenly there is no purpose in things I do and I don't want to anything because I know I am not good at it. There are a lot of big things on my list like going on an overseas travel, moving house, planning a baby and changing my career, but I am so lost and tired and worried about not able to succeed. Especially with COVID, things have changed drastically and might not return to normal in short period of time. And I always feel like I am running out of time. I have been having bad headaches especially after work and I can sometimes feel my heart pounding very hard and pain in my chest. On some nights I lie on my bed feeling tired but I couldn't fall asleep for hours. I worked for retail but ever since this pandemic I was allocated to a completely different role by my company. I am grateful that I did not lose my job but at the same time I do not enjoy what I am doing and I am not good at it at all. Lately I feel dreadful having to work but I still have to make a living so I cannot just leave my job. I am also worried that my negative attitude will impact other team members and they will blame me or hate me for it. I have been working from home for the past 2 months. Occasional I would go out to buy groceries or a walk in the neighborhood. Still, being stuck in the house every single hour is suffocating and I am always anxious about the next day. It feels like nothing is working in my life. My provider is not able to fix my NBN for 3 weeks now. My rangehood and stovetop are having issues. My partner thinks I am always upset or angry cause of my facial expression. Customers have been yelling and swearing at me. Last Tuesday I found shattered glass bottle pieces all over my driveway. I am not angry but very sad and hopeless and tired. I don't know what to do or how to cheer myself up anymore. It took me a lot of courage to write this post to be honest, if you have any negative feedback for me please don't reply at all. Thank you

Trx91 New
  • replies: 5

Hey, my name's Rob I am 28.. I don't know if I'm posting in the right place but I just really need help. I just am constantly feeling like I'm so worthless and everything I do is wrong. I'm such a waste of space and I don't know what to do. I have do... View more

Hey, my name's Rob I am 28.. I don't know if I'm posting in the right place but I just really need help. I just am constantly feeling like I'm so worthless and everything I do is wrong. I'm such a waste of space and I don't know what to do. I have done the things everyone tells me to do I am visiting doctors and psychiatrists and taking medication but I feel like it isn't helping and I don't know what to do anymore. It seems like when I talk to my family they care for the first few minutes and then they just expect me to be over it. I don't really have many friends to speak to and I'm just really really really struggling. I am not depressed specifically but I am really sad and scared all the time and I don't know what to do I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to post but I just don't know what to do.. I'm so scared and in pain all the time.

Goingmad Anxiety and bp
  • replies: 2

Hello fellow members have any of you ever thought that all this anxiety is damaging your heart and your life will be shortened because of this illness or have you asked your GP about it I'm sure it's not doing our heart any good which makes me feel e... View more

Hello fellow members have any of you ever thought that all this anxiety is damaging your heart and your life will be shortened because of this illness or have you asked your GP about it I'm sure it's not doing our heart any good which makes me feel even more anxious

Vegangirl91 Physical symptoms of anxiety - "drunkenness" feeling
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone Recently been feeling anxious in general all the time. Had one panic attack at night. I've had the symptoms of nausea, tingling, head jolts, palpitations, dry mouth, loss of appetite etc but just wondering if anyone has ever had a feeling... View more

Hi everyone Recently been feeling anxious in general all the time. Had one panic attack at night. I've had the symptoms of nausea, tingling, head jolts, palpitations, dry mouth, loss of appetite etc but just wondering if anyone has ever had a feeling of like loss of mental focus and sharpness? I am usually very sharp, and on the ball - organised, motivated and thinking 100%. But my mental mind has recently felt like spaced out or drunk. But I am able to do everything else fine. Can anyone relate? Did it go away? Please help x

Samyol The Best Treatment For Emetophobia
  • replies: 2

G'day, my name's Samuel, I'm 18 and I suffer from GAD, depression, a phobia of vomiting and panic attacks that are a direct result of said phobia. I remember almost anytime I've experienced either myself or another person vomiting, I wouldn't go as f... View more

G'day, my name's Samuel, I'm 18 and I suffer from GAD, depression, a phobia of vomiting and panic attacks that are a direct result of said phobia. I remember almost anytime I've experienced either myself or another person vomiting, I wouldn't go as far as saying that it has traumatised me, but these are events I cannot forget as they terrify me. I've dealt with emetophobia since my early teens and whilst my anxiety and depression are being treated, this intense fear of vomiting is causing the most damage to me emotionally. I don't go one day without my stomach acting up and instantly throwing me into fear of vomiting which in turn begins to make me feel even more sick; such as globus sensation kicking in and my stomach beginning to "drop" in a sense. I feel as though, if I can destroy this phobia at it's core; my general lifestyle will improve dramatically. I'll be able to eat and drink in public or at anothers house without the fear of food poisoning. I'll be able to maintain a proper job and be reliable as I won't be scared of feeling sick. I just would really like to know what is generally my best course of action, perhaps anyone with experience could put in a word or two, thank you!

Fawkes1 OCD and Unusual Physical Symptoms
  • replies: 3

NOTE: This post deals with sexual obsessions/compulsions. I should also say that I am a male between the ages of 25-35. Hi there, I have had severe OCD for over 15 years. I have received ongoing treatment for the past 7 years in the form of medicatio... View more

NOTE: This post deals with sexual obsessions/compulsions. I should also say that I am a male between the ages of 25-35. Hi there, I have had severe OCD for over 15 years. I have received ongoing treatment for the past 7 years in the form of medication, CBT, and ERP. My obsessions involve anything that feels slightly wrong/incorrect/imperfect: unlucky numbers, touching something in the "wrong" way, checking, coincidences, surprises, repetitive body movements and tics, unwanted thoughts, contamination, etc. Anything that reinforces a lack of control or certainty. Because my triggers are so wide-ranging, they can occur any time, anywhere, and without the slightest warning. As such, I am racked with constant and extreme anxiety and fear. You will all be familiar with how distressing this feels. My main OCD fear is around masturbation, and a fear of being "caught in the act". This fear has crippled me for well over a decade, and it pretty much rules my life. The "unusual physical symptoms" to which the title of this thread refer are the sensations I get in my body from the aforementioned triggers, which cause me to use masturbation as a compulsion, as it is the only thing that relieves those sensations. So what are those sensations? Well, as an example, a couple of nights ago I clenched my bottom in the "wrong" way. Immediately, my genitals started burning, and my bottom tightened. This is what happens when I get triggered. I have always referred to it as "the burning feeling", but it is really a mix of burning and arousal. It is absolute agony. It feels as if my genitals have been lit on fire. At its worst, it affects my ability to walk. The only way to get rid of the feeling is through masturbation (although that itself has to go "right", which is a whole other story). I have no physical problem. The burning feeling is purely an expression of anxiety, and its relationship to masturbation is magical thinking. My treatment therefore involves resisting the urge to masturbate. The cruelty of my OCD is that masturbation is my biggest fear, but also the only thing that relieves my absolutely crippling physical symptoms. I would estimate that I probably spend about half of my time in physical discomfort, much of it extreme. The other half is spent in fear. Has anyone else had similar experiences? It is such a difficult thing to talk about, but I am really at my wits' end. Any help would be hugely appreciated, and please feel free to ask any questions.

WhereDoIBegin Struggling. Hopelessness.
  • replies: 13

Hello, I would like to start by saying that I am already seeing a psychiatrist. I think I have always had some issues. Never truly happy. My biggest issue is that I am always in my head - always making up false outcomes & worrying about the worst cas... View more

Hello, I would like to start by saying that I am already seeing a psychiatrist. I think I have always had some issues. Never truly happy. My biggest issue is that I am always in my head - always making up false outcomes & worrying about the worst case scenarios. Anxiety. I got with someone at a young age. We were happy. I have always been a good person, never abusive, always caring & thoughtful. We have 3 kids. After 10+ years, she left me for another man. I was broken. For my 3 children, I immediately seeked help. I spoke to friends, I saw a therapist. I met a girl. I started to feel better. I started to feel much better - However looking back now, I think it had a lot to do with the "Honeymoon period". After sometime, I began becoming jealous. Overprotective. I was scared to be heartbroken again. Let me be clear - I don't think at any point I was a'crazy' boyfriend. I didn't yell or get angry, I didn't tell her she couldn't do things. I was needed constant reassurance. I would get in my own head, and when it got a lot, I would sit her down and explain to her how I was feeling. She was always so supportive. She 'understood' because of everything I had been through. However it seems my issues have become to much for her, and she left me last night. She said it wasn't me, the issue is that she has her hands full with a small child that has issues of his own, and her 'cup is almost full' already. She sent me a message afterward to say she was sorry and I am the kindest, sweetest man etc. But this just made me feel worse. I feel trapped because I lost her because of my problems that I can't stop. I feel as though I just want to be someone else. I hate myself. I hate who I've become. I also have MAJOR issues with the man that my X is seeing. I can't stand it. Just any thought of him being there with the kids kills me. Is he abusing them? No. Is he a bad influence? Not that I can tell. He seems great with them. But again, I am jealous. Life is not fair. Why should a decision by my X make me lose time with my children? Why should it mean that the man she left me for gets to spend quality time with my kids? Why should it mean he gets to have first experiences with them? That I feel low all the time? That I'm overly jealous, protective & scared? I just feel like my mentality is ruined and I just can't do anything to help it. I am at my wits end. Exhausted. I'm done. I'm having some really messed up thoughts at the moment. I feel so hopeless. Please help.

oliver12345 Social Anxiety/ Depression.
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I m new to this forum community. I have been struggling quite alot with anxiety. i tend to relieve myself that this is normal and its just part of life to deal with these. But i somehow continue to get into the same situation whenever i met o... View more

Hi all, I m new to this forum community. I have been struggling quite alot with anxiety. i tend to relieve myself that this is normal and its just part of life to deal with these. But i somehow continue to get into the same situation whenever i met one of stressors. I overthink quite often, i devalue myself. I feel like I am being in a loop and i been trying to get out of it but i could not. Yesterday duing a legal phone consultation, i totally lost track of what the legal counsellor was saying i keep telling her to repeat only to find myself unable to understand. I felt bad for the lawyer and doubted myself of my competence and usefulness during and after my consultation and wondered if i was actually stupid. I self diagnose myself. I always tend to avoid situations that stresses me. I hate that part of me. I also find myself hard to connect with people and made a close relationship with them. I have social anxiety. I always seem to remember mostly the negative emotions of my life rather than the positive ones. I tried to see the psychologist and also seem to be in avoidant behaviour. I question myself of my values. I coop myself up inside my room to play games and watch movies thinking its normal tht Im a just an introvert.I loved being like this and a part of me hates this and tells me to be more socially engaging and active. The thing is im not good in coversations and put myself in a weird position when i talk with someone. I felt awkward around people and worried the other person will see me in the same way. Then i reassure myself you are just overthking it and the other person is probably not going to see me the way i expected. This is wht my close friend and family told. But i just cant seem to change that cycle. Then sometimes i hated myself for being a person I was. This led me to think of what could be possibly wrong with me and then it jus go away when I watche movies played games or sometimes cries in front my sister. But it comes back whenever i met with a stressor. I cant seem to find a way out of this cycle. I been trying to find a way but i feel like it is getting worse.I was wondering if anyone had faced and ovrercome issues similar to mine. Thank you

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