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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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44Max44 No motivation, no idea
  • replies: 9

Hi guys, it's been a while since I've made a post on here. A quick update on me is that my health anxiety is nowhere near as severe and as frequent as it used to be, although this whole Corona Virus thing has got me on edge admittedly. (I'm not sure ... View more

Hi guys, it's been a while since I've made a post on here. A quick update on me is that my health anxiety is nowhere near as severe and as frequent as it used to be, although this whole Corona Virus thing has got me on edge admittedly. (I'm not sure if this post belongs in the anxiety section, if not feel free to move it.) Anyways, this post is about motivation, or rather my severe lack of it. I've been stuck in the same spot since leaving Highschool. I haven't held down a job, I haven't studied anything, and I haven't done much of anything for a good 3+ years of my life now except sit at home. The problem is I have no clue whatsoever where to even start... and even if I did I doubt I'd have to motivation to actually do that thing... I'm stuck. I have no idea what to do with my life. I want to study, but don't know what to study, and don't want to make the wrong decision. I want to work, but my anxiety makes the jobs I'd actually be comfortable doing very few and far between. I'm seeing all my family and friends grow up around me, getting jobs, learning to drive, and actually get somewhere in life and here I am still stuck at square one. I'm sick and tired of relying on my parents when it comes to pretty much everything. I'm nearly 21 and still feel like a child in so many aspects of life. I'm losing hope for my future and fast. I used to look forward to my birthdays, but now all they do is mark another year of me doing nothing with my life. If you told me 5 years ago that my biggest challenge in life would be depression & anxiety I would have laughed in your face, but now they pretty much control everything I do and every decision I make. If there's anyone on here that has been in a similar situation, I'd very much love to hear how you got out of it. I'm really at a loss of what to do. Thank you.

Hellohello22 Death anxiety
  • replies: 6

I have been extremely worried and anxious about dying. The thought of dying. Feeling like what if it happened now? I’m 20 years old and it’s affecting daily living. I cant sleep, eat etc

I have been extremely worried and anxious about dying. The thought of dying. Feeling like what if it happened now? I’m 20 years old and it’s affecting daily living. I cant sleep, eat etc

Frosty66 Nothing seems to help!
  • replies: 13

Hi all I have spent ages trying to figure out which forum to post in; as I seem to fit most. I guess my main issue is anxiety (and depression, ptsd and ocd...). I have been off work for over a year due to an injury and in this time my life has become... View more

Hi all I have spent ages trying to figure out which forum to post in; as I seem to fit most. I guess my main issue is anxiety (and depression, ptsd and ocd...). I have been off work for over a year due to an injury and in this time my life has become a horrid cycle of isolation, loneliness, massive health anxiety issues and basically feeling I have nothing to live for. I have to live though for my child. I am in constant pain from the work injury and scheduled for surgery very soon. I put it off as long as I could due to being a single mother with no help from any quarter; being in a cast for six weeks was simply not tenable. It is now apparent the surgery is required and I will be receiving some assistance through the insurer. My child also has matured a lot since the initial injury (May 2018) and understands he will have to spend some time at his father's whilst I have the surgery; and that he will have to help me a lot more when I get home. Throughout this awful time I then developed mysterious pains in other areas of my body and I believe I suffer from health anxiety. I have been to doctors over and over about various symptoms. I have had scans and MRI's (at great expense to me) and all were clear. That was all because I was convinced I had throat cancer. I then decided I had tongue cancer; went through same regime to be told all clear. Now I have decided I have lung cancer and am just living day by day until I have the surgery for the work injury and meantime expect to have a scan to see if I am correct in the lung cancer idea. I saw a doctor last week and told her my concerns. She listened to my heart/chest and could not hear anything untoward. I did used to smoke and I told her that. She said she is not concerned that I have anything like that and she thinks it is anxiety...again. I also have pains around my liver and in my hips and I am convinced that all of my bad habits in the past have caught up with me. I used to drink and smoke a lot. Because I have suffered depression and anxiety since my earliest memories. I did not have a happy childhood and I had a major trauma at age 14 which set me off on this path of self destruction. Therefore if I do have something terminal it is my own stupid fault. I do not care about me at all I just care about my child. I have to live another 3 years to get him to adulthood. That is my only concern.

Ally95 Struggling through a rough patch
  • replies: 2

Hi, My partner of 4 years is starting his own Business, I am helping him a little financially which I am totally ok with and can afford, however I can't stop thinking about the "what if" and all the negatives that could happen. We had an argument lik... View more

Hi, My partner of 4 years is starting his own Business, I am helping him a little financially which I am totally ok with and can afford, however I can't stop thinking about the "what if" and all the negatives that could happen. We had an argument like any couple would, since then then my anxiety/panic disorder has been triggered and I am suffering with constant feelings of nervousness, panic and severe anxiety which affects me getting up in the morning and going to work. When my anxiety gets triggered, it takes a week or 2 to get back to normal. I know this is only a short term thing amd things will work out, but I fall apart when the thought of something goes wrong and won't be able to find a solution. How can I be more of a support to my partner during this time rather than becoming a broken mess myself? We are both 24 and he has high functioning autism, has struggled to pass his university course and running his business is the only way he can do his one and only passion.

44Max44 Nausea & Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi, One thing I've been struggling with consistently due to my anxiety is nausea, and it's taking a toll on my life. In the mornings, I can't eat breakfast for the life of me, I have 0 appetite whatsoever and if I try to force myself to eat something... View more

Hi, One thing I've been struggling with consistently due to my anxiety is nausea, and it's taking a toll on my life. In the mornings, I can't eat breakfast for the life of me, I have 0 appetite whatsoever and if I try to force myself to eat something I'll just get nauseous, my stomach will hurt, I'll dry heave or sometimes even vomit. I can drink stuff without a problem so I usually just have a glass of water and an Up & Go, but eating anything solid even if it's my favorite food in the world just leads to nausea which is the last thing I want to start my day off with. Not being able to eat breakfast for me isn't a major problem and I can (and have) lived with it for many years now, the main issue I want to try and get sorted is not being able to brush my teeth because it feels like my gag reflex is in overdrive. If the toothbrush goes anywhere near the back of my mouth I will get nauseated, gag, and sometimes throw up, which is super unpleasant and makes me really not want to brush my teeth and my dental hygiene has suffered a lot over the years because of it. I've found that all I can really do is floss my teeth and use mouthwash which I know isn't good enough dental hygiene but I'm at a loss of what else to do. I have to pick between having good dental hygiene or gagging several times every time I go to brush my teeth. Because of this, I only really brush my teeth when I really have to, like before going to socialize with friends or go out for dinner, etc... I'm worried that if I don't find a solution to this problem I'll be without any teeth by the age of 30... they're already in pretty bad shape now and I'm not even 21... Has anyone else experienced these issues and particularly the brushing the teeth one? If so, have you found any solution that works for you? I'd love to hear it! Thanks, guys.

Laraqua Fear of Ageing
  • replies: 5

I have a fair bit of anxiety around ageing. In some ways it's been positive in that it encourages me to make the most out of every day, but its downside is an expectation of being in a bad way by 65 (despite seeing many other healthy mid-sixties folk... View more

I have a fair bit of anxiety around ageing. In some ways it's been positive in that it encourages me to make the most out of every day, but its downside is an expectation of being in a bad way by 65 (despite seeing many other healthy mid-sixties folks) and certainly expecting to have too little superannuation (so why bother adding extra?), a bad pension and little Medicare help, if any (I'm an elder millenial and seen the whittling away of many social supports) and knowing I can't afford a house means that going into residential care will mean going to the cheapest option available that doesn't mean putting your home up. While I am the fittest I've ever been (not saying much), the most social and the most aware of how my brain works, I'm in my mid-thirties and have a real "my chance to get properly fit has been and gone" and worry that my current social networks will fritter away as I age as we'll no longer be as heavily involved in our shared hobby (which is Live Action Roleplaying, like murder mysteries but with more complex simulated events). Then there's the fact that I really need to decide if I'm going to have kids or not, and soon, as I want to be an active parent. But I also fear losing 20 years of what feels like a very limited life and semi-youth to raise them... And it's a huge additional commitment with my partner... And pregnancy may cause various health issues and permanent disabilities that will last forever.... And I will likely lose many of my current friends who due to anxieties of their own actively dislike children (namely due to their own histories as victims of bullies in school). But I need to decide soon because at 34, things will get harder as time goes on. It's just a whole morass of anxieties and I haven't had much luck with therapists as the anxiety seems to shift and morph over time and with conversation so I can never really pin it down. Does anyone else have fears / anxieties regarding ageing? Like a persistent series of worries that arise when around the elderly or hearing of issues that go on? Or just lying awake at night thinking about it? Does anything help? I know a lot of CBT techniques but I can't imagine any of them working for this. It just feels so nebulous and accurate to think of the slowly dwindling sands in my hourglass and I can almost hear the slamming doors of missed opportunities....

Monicas Does anyone else have an extreme fear of death?
  • replies: 3

Hi. I have realised that my anxiety disorder is ultimately the fear of death. Does anyone else have this fear? This could be causing your anxiety as well. For me I personally am challenging that fear of death by developing a good belief system about ... View more

Hi. I have realised that my anxiety disorder is ultimately the fear of death. Does anyone else have this fear? This could be causing your anxiety as well. For me I personally am challenging that fear of death by developing a good belief system about the after life like the many religions believe in. I also use CBD oil. It is very helpful for me. It be nice to know others are dealing with the Same thing. Let's talk

Greyhorse Is this part of anxiety or is there something else wrong
  • replies: 4

I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and its really starting to annoy me but now I find occasionally I have trouble swallowing, but I know I can if I drink water but this is really scaring me. it doesn't matter if I am eating or not eaten it just ... View more

I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and its really starting to annoy me but now I find occasionally I have trouble swallowing, but I know I can if I drink water but this is really scaring me. it doesn't matter if I am eating or not eaten it just happens and I panic real bad!!! It feels like my throat has a spasm I really feel like I am starting to go crazy now

R0llergirl Fear of impending Melanoma diagnosis is too much
  • replies: 13

Hi I’m new here and had to post as I’m at my limit with how bad my head is behaving right now and how tired I am of all this repetitive health anxiety that I have. Long story short, I’ve had or given myself chronic health anxiety on and off for over ... View more

Hi I’m new here and had to post as I’m at my limit with how bad my head is behaving right now and how tired I am of all this repetitive health anxiety that I have. Long story short, I’ve had or given myself chronic health anxiety on and off for over 10 yrs which now manifests in multiple anxieties...but right now I have worked myself up so much that I have diarrhoea, nervous tummy, scattered thoughts, etc. I went to the docs for my yearly skin scan Friday and there was one mole on my butt that he said he ‘thought’ was okay but after further inspection of the enlarged picture of it he said....’let’s take this one off as it has one if the signs it could be Melanoma which is some blue/white specs or ‘film’ through it and it’s quite large and asymmetrical. I asked him if others that looked like mine came back ok and he said yes so that was reassuring. The problem is I Googled what the symptoms are if a melanoma has spread and it said shortness of breath and a pain on the right side under the ribcage as the liver swells once it spreads to there. I literally went to the docs last week for BOTH of those things. He said the shortness of breath was anxiety and the back pain was from recently climbing ladders at work which was a new task for me so likely muscular. I am in a state now convinced I have melanoma that has spread. Please be kind I am very lost and scared in my thoughts right now x

willdo panic attacks
  • replies: 10

hi , its getting to a point were i feel a panic attack coming on by just thinking about going outside my comfort zone (shop for example). its a double edge sward im so bored at home feels like im going crazy , yet have not got the courage or motivati... View more

hi , its getting to a point were i feel a panic attack coming on by just thinking about going outside my comfort zone (shop for example). its a double edge sward im so bored at home feels like im going crazy , yet have not got the courage or motivation to do anything.