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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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CourtneyJ I have an irrational and crippling fear of... checking my mail
  • replies: 12

No this not the start of a joke. I am a GAD sufferer who is absolutely terrified of checking my mail. The last time I checked my mail (late September) I had a GIANT fine waiting for me. Now I'm too scared to check it again. This isn't the first time ... View more

No this not the start of a joke. I am a GAD sufferer who is absolutely terrified of checking my mail. The last time I checked my mail (late September) I had a GIANT fine waiting for me. Now I'm too scared to check it again. This isn't the first time I've had this reaction. A few years ago I got notice saying there was a letter/package waiting for me at the post office. I FREAKED out and assumed the worst. My top choices were fine from the tax department, fine from speeding or running a red light or someone serving me legal papers because they're suing me. Now all my bills are delivered my email (I think) and I have no reason to believe there's another fine or "bad news" waiting for me. The really horribly thing is that if there is a fine/bill in the mail the longer it goes without being paid the more expensive it'll probably get. I know I have to get past the fear and just do it. But even the thought of approaching my mail box makes me feel violently ill.

Guest_0784 Phobia Of Mozzies
  • replies: 1

Well, it started with the Zika virus outbreak a few years ago. There was a map showing that Papua New Guinea had gotten the Zika virus. This was a time when my anxiety was starting and rapidly growing. So I thought that it was coming to Australia, an... View more

Well, it started with the Zika virus outbreak a few years ago. There was a map showing that Papua New Guinea had gotten the Zika virus. This was a time when my anxiety was starting and rapidly growing. So I thought that it was coming to Australia, and I did not want anybody to have the Zika virus of course! And then it just stayed with me after that, even though I knew that there was no diseases with mozzies here right now. This phobia started to head on over to Bees, Waps's, Fly's, Moths, Fruitfly's, and more! Because Bee's and Wasp's really do hurt you. And Fly's Moths, and Fruitfly's are very hard to identify between them and a Mozzie. It is impossible to deal with right now because Mozzies are EVERYWHERE! And they make me terrified! Just thinking about them scares me! And some make fun of me or hate me because of my phobia. I hope that there is something or someone around that can fix this phobia, even though that I get help. THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP THIS PHOBIA!!!!!!!

Guest_7878 does anyone else have "obsessive rumination OCD"?
  • replies: 10

hey there.. i recently went to my psychiatrist who mentioned that i could have something called "obsessionality" (which seems not to be a real word but thats what she said so anyway) which is basically the O in OCD. my mum did a lot of research on it... View more

hey there.. i recently went to my psychiatrist who mentioned that i could have something called "obsessionality" (which seems not to be a real word but thats what she said so anyway) which is basically the O in OCD. my mum did a lot of research on it and found different kinds of OCD like "pure O OCD" or "obsessive rumination disorder" i dont know if those are the real terms but anyway. they seemed to fit a lot with what im going through (rumination more than pure O) and i was wondering if anyone else is dealing with something similar because it's not very widely known or talked about... love you all

Mendel Scared my anxiety symptoms isn’t anxiety.
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone, About a month ago I suddenly became lightheaded while sitting down, watching a show, and that triggered a minor panic attack. Thought I was going to die etc. Since then I have been suffering from constant headaches, nausea, dizziness and... View more

Hi everyone, About a month ago I suddenly became lightheaded while sitting down, watching a show, and that triggered a minor panic attack. Thought I was going to die etc. Since then I have been suffering from constant headaches, nausea, dizziness and blurry vision. Each day is the same. I was on medication to try and calm everything down but the symptoms still persisted, now I’m off that. I got a CT scan to rule out anything to do with the brain. That was clear. But I’m just so concerned all the time it could be something else. Recently I was sitting down and got up quite quickly. I got extremely dizzy which I knew was quite normal, but it put me into a panic as I couldn’t shake the dizziness and blurry vision. I’m now concerned it might be an issue with blood pressure. It’s beginning to affect day to day life, and it’s just that constant fear that it might be something more serious that the doctor hasn’t figured out yet. Can anyone else relate? Cheers

Ghostsinmyhead Relationship anxiety
  • replies: 11

Hey guys - first time poster here & really struggling these last few days with anxiety. Ive been having daily breakdowns and its really getting to me. My partner has been noticing this & suggested that I talk to someone, so here I am. Ive been in a r... View more

Hey guys - first time poster here & really struggling these last few days with anxiety. Ive been having daily breakdowns and its really getting to me. My partner has been noticing this & suggested that I talk to someone, so here I am. Ive been in a relationship with my partner for about 18 months or so, we did distance for a while, and we just recently moved in together. I have suffered with relationship anxiety since the beginning but I was better at hiding it/ it was never this prominent, but now more than ever I find it ruining my days and scared it will ruin my relationship if I don't learn to manage it. My partner has always been the conversation starter in our relationship... the fact is I feel boring, I feel like I have no contribution to the conversation, I don't feel sassy, exciting, or confident. On top of this, I find myself constantly seeking reassurance from my partner. I feel like I'm constantly wanting to dig deeper with my partner to reveal the truth - they don't like me. They always reassure me, but deep down I have this gut feeling that things won't last and I can't shake the feeling. I don't openly pester them asking questions like "do you still want me?" but rather I deep deeper in conversations asking "what did you mean by that" etc. My partner admits my moods are my worst attribute, because I tend to pick fights about stupid things. For an example, I noticed a necklace on the bedside table that I gave to them (it was a big symbol of love at the time) and I was offended they weren't wearing it for a brief period of time, so I went quiet and didn't talk. When they prompted me, I brought it up and it started a fight. turns out, they don't remember taking it off and apologised and they still wear it everyday. It seems crazy but that's just one example of how I try to read into tiny details and prove to myself that they don't want me I don't know what im trying to achieve when I do this, because in the end I'm the one who suffers. I just want to be that exciting, sassy, confident gal I was at the beginning of the relationship - more care free and a person that I believe is loveable. I have spoken to my partner about my moods & my anxiety and they are supportive but at the end of the day I honestly believe no amount of talking with them will help me or our relationship, I feel I need to turn to others for support. Are there more of you out there like this? If so, how do you cope and make your days better & brighter? Thanks for reading

Houston07 Newly recognised anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hello, I am a university graduate and I am about to go into my masters degree. I have had recent anxiety to the point I am unable to sleep, control my thoughts and I just want to cry and try and fix my problems then and there. I am unable to relax un... View more

Hello, I am a university graduate and I am about to go into my masters degree. I have had recent anxiety to the point I am unable to sleep, control my thoughts and I just want to cry and try and fix my problems then and there. I am unable to relax until the problems I am dreading are over and that can be assignments that are due in up to 8 weeks away. I am feeling very sick and ill and I dread EVERYTHING. I have had alot go on in my family with members becoming very sick and hospitalized, my house is a mad house and I am unable to go to anyone I suffer from oesophageal reflux, meaning I get heartburn on a regular basis. I am not enjoying life at all and I am wondering if anyone has any good tips in being able to control my thoughts and learn how to be in the moment. Houston07

SxZ Gut Issues and Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hey guys, Over the last month and a half, I've been experiencing a lot of digestive related symptoms preceded by an emotional event and bouts of bad anxiety over a period of a month. Basically everything from constant belching, lower abdominal cramps... View more

Hey guys, Over the last month and a half, I've been experiencing a lot of digestive related symptoms preceded by an emotional event and bouts of bad anxiety over a period of a month. Basically everything from constant belching, lower abdominal cramps, gas, constipation, upper abdominal discomfort (particularly when pressure's applied), feeling of fullness etc. I never realized how much I took for granted our most basic functions-to see how disconcerting it is to be effected by digestive issues everyday and how it can negatively impact your overall physical/mental well being. I know it's not the most comfortable topic to discuss but I understand digestive issues are a common albeit troubling symptom of anxiety that many people struggle with. I just wanted to know if any others have had recurring gut issues related to anxiety and if you'd care to share your experiences. Thank you.

Andy999 Anxiety/panic attacks
  • replies: 3

so lately I’ve been experiencing a lot of weird kind of feelings or sensations, usually once or twice a day. It’s usually like a dizziness feeling, it feels like I can’t really think straight and things around me become really overwhelming, I feel ex... View more

so lately I’ve been experiencing a lot of weird kind of feelings or sensations, usually once or twice a day. It’s usually like a dizziness feeling, it feels like I can’t really think straight and things around me become really overwhelming, I feel extremely flustered and uncomfortable, sometimes it can feel kind of like I’m detached? If that makes any sense. Anyway It usually comes from no where! I don’t recall being overly anxious before it starts but yeh I don’t know, I don’t freak out anymore because it happens so often but it’s really impacting my quality of life and can be so unbearable. So today I get home after one of those little moment and I’m Feeling abit clearer and a couple hours later I noticed I was feeling a little shallow breathed, I had this butterfly feeling in my stomach and like this massive adrenaline boost, became really restless and those other symptoms I explained before come to, racing thoughts aswell. Tried not to overreact and keep my calm and take some deep breathes, was really hard to do I decided to try meditate to calm down, This may have helped a little but not heaps, I called my mum after to have a chat about it, Havnt felt anything like that in a while, was so intense! I’m assuming it was some sort of panic attack but this kind of came from no where. After a bit it subsided abit and decided to get out of the house and see a couple friends. (Such a hard decision to make) we went to get dinner and hung out abit and generally I was fine and had a good night, every now and then I was reminded by what happened before and if I felt any bit of energy I’d think oh no is it coming again, but yeh was a decent night. I got home and felt pretty relaxed jumped into bed and was okay but after a while that feeling kind of kicked in again I took some deep breaths and tried to slow down, it wasn’t as intense but was making it hard for me to get to sleep, with this come all those racing thoughts and worst case scenarios but I try to play them all down and not overthink them, but yeh it was really uncomfortable, I ended up jumping out of bed, feeling full of adrenaline. It was probably in my head this time but I felt so shaken up by it I’m so on guard now.

Rigour Health anxiety - how to deal with the fear
  • replies: 8

Hi BB, I've recently started having significant anxiety around my health. Nothing specific, but the minute i notice something out of order be i have a panic response, be it tight chest, heart racing, or most recent and really stupid to say out loud b... View more

Hi BB, I've recently started having significant anxiety around my health. Nothing specific, but the minute i notice something out of order be i have a panic response, be it tight chest, heart racing, or most recent and really stupid to say out loud but "my right arm feels funny". I have had 2 sessions with a psychologist and she helped me identify the symptoms of a panic attack as my belief of what they were was much more dramatic than the reality. Unfortunately her solution was just that you have to let it happen and try not to be afraid. She explained the symptoms as a biological response to perceived fear, and most of them caused by poor breathing. While this was helpful i was not really gelling on a person to person level with her, so I have had my first session with someone else recommended by a colleague who I managed to connect with and can hopefully see me long term (she has to check her availability). She was the first person to draw a possible connection between my health anxiety and deeper underlying issues which I believe to be true - it's no coincidence this all started after a very lonely Christmas amongst all my very happy and successful family. One thing I know - there is no quick fix for this, it's going to take time, effort and commitment on my part. I want to get better, and I will not give up. But there are times, like what happened last night and this morning with my stupid arm thing, where I just get so afraid. Rationally i know the symptoms I am noticing are not serious, they are amplified because I am hyper aware and then hyper focused, and ultimately also just trigger my anxiety symptoms. My rational brain tries so hard to tell me this, but sometimes deep down I just cannot shake the terrible fear. Not of dying, or pain, or anything real, I think it's just the fear that I am out of control, and don't know what is happening. This turned a bit rambling, but I was wondering if anyone here has had similar experiences with health anxiety. Was there any trick, or mental game, or just anything you found success with in the moment to help shake that fear and get your rational mind to win through? Other than crying in a corner for 20 minutes which I am super good at but probably not the best for my day to day work life

Nyny94 OCD stopping me
  • replies: 4

My OCD is suddenly stopping me from doing things I never even thought would be an issue before . I've recently organized with my Dr for professional psychiatric help , but lately my OCD/anxiety is out of control. Lately I can't even do something simp... View more

My OCD is suddenly stopping me from doing things I never even thought would be an issue before . I've recently organized with my Dr for professional psychiatric help , but lately my OCD/anxiety is out of control. Lately I can't even do something simple like get my eyebrows waxed because I'm worried I'll get some kind of disease or they aren't going to be clean enough, it's nothing to do with the places around me as I have no problem with other ethnicities I just get scared that the hygiene standards may not be good, or that I'll contract some kind of blood borne disease. Looking up internet horror stories doesn't help. I can't seem to get a handle on my OCD and it's stopping me doing my normal things