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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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Nyny94 New Phobias unwelcomed Guests
  • replies: 4

Recently my anxiety has welcomed a new phobia, we recently moved to a new place and after seeing cockroach droppings I decided to wipe all the benches down with Pineoclean wipes. BUT then over the past few days I started having this strange paranoid ... View more

Recently my anxiety has welcomed a new phobia, we recently moved to a new place and after seeing cockroach droppings I decided to wipe all the benches down with Pineoclean wipes. BUT then over the past few days I started having this strange paranoid thoughts and anxieties around chemicles. Wiping the benches down with vinegar helped but then my partner used a pineoclean wipe on the tap in the kitchen and despite spraying it with vinegar and water I'm terrified the residue will get into the water because I used the vinegar spray on it, it's making me too scared to use the tap or water. It annoys my partner but to me it's a very real fear, I realize it is probably irrational but I can't help but still panic and avoid using the water.

GregtheEgg Christmas party regrets and anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I had my work Christmas on Friday night.We had dinner at a restaurant which was fine, I moderated what I said and drank and felt like I keep it all together. However I met some friends out at the pub afterward and got trashed. Not only was I ... View more

Hi all, I had my work Christmas on Friday night.We had dinner at a restaurant which was fine, I moderated what I said and drank and felt like I keep it all together. However I met some friends out at the pub afterward and got trashed. Not only was I incredibly drunk, my friend offered me a ritalin which I took. I then proceeded to get trashed. Then, most unfortunately, half of my colleagues turned up at that pub. Luckily not my bosses but still. I made an absolute foo of myself. The parts I remember are so awful, and there is a lot that I don't. We now have a break and will be back at work in January. I'm starting to feel incredibly anxious about going back because of my behaviour. I can't even think about without feeling ill. I'm so embarrassed by what I did and what I might have said to people I spend a lot of time with. I know I made really bad decisions but I'm just feeling so anxious I don't know what to do.

Simonecs89 I want to know I’m not alone
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, my name is Simone, I’m a single mum of three and struggling with my anxiety. This is my first post here, a doctor I saw the other day recommended this website so I thought I’d check it out. I’ve struggled with anxiety my entire life, and... View more

Hi everyone, my name is Simone, I’m a single mum of three and struggling with my anxiety. This is my first post here, a doctor I saw the other day recommended this website so I thought I’d check it out. I’ve struggled with anxiety my entire life, and I just turned 30 and it’s the worst it’s ever been. It’s got to the point where I’m feeling it almost every moment I’m awake. I’m struggling with doing basic things like walking to school and shopping. It’s bad when I’m waiting for things, like when my kids are doing their extra curricular activities and I’m waiting for them to finish. It’s like I feel trapped and that I have to sit in my anxiety. I still do things most of the time but the fear and that feeling of running back home where it’s safer is the hardest thing to feel. I’m feeling anxiety in my home too but I feel safer to feel it here. I don’t know what is causing my anxiety. I want to talk about these symptoms I feel and I want to know that I’m not alone. Because I feel that nobody would ever understand how I’m feeling. I look around and it seems that everyone is carefree and able to go about their lives without this debilitating condition. My heart races (the doctor said it’s my pulse?) and I feel like I can’t take a full breath in. Sometimes I’ll yawn just so I can take that breath. It’s like something is stopping me getting that deep breath. My breathing just isn’t normal. I have a fear of passing out (I’ve never passed out before) because I feel lightheaded and off from these symptoms. When I am out sometimes I have to rush home because I’m so scared and I feel like I’m going to fall over. Currently my chest is tight. Nothing helps this fear and I’ve turned to drinking to ease these feelings. I struggle alone with anxiety and got off medication 10 years ago when I had my son. He helped me so much. I have a fear of the dentist and he told me to go to the dr to get anxiety medication. The doctor treated me as if I was a junkie, but I was just seeking help. This has reconfirmed how I feel with doctors and why I never sought help. I saw a dr last week because I was so bad but it will be a process and I don’t have high hopes for receiving the help I need. I just want to feel that I’m not alone and there are other people who feel this. I hate that it’s stealing my days away and ruining beautiful moments. I just want to be me again and to stop feeling so controlled by anxiety.

ruruibby Panic attacks while asleep???
  • replies: 1

Hey guys so last night something happened to me and it has left me feeling shaken up all day! I was having a dream, I was sitting in my backyard with some people I don’t know and I had a dog. This dog came and sat beside me on the bench and put its h... View more

Hey guys so last night something happened to me and it has left me feeling shaken up all day! I was having a dream, I was sitting in my backyard with some people I don’t know and I had a dog. This dog came and sat beside me on the bench and put its head on my lap, all of a sudden this horrible feeling came over me, like someone was sucking the breath out of me, or like I was being possessed as they say. It’s hard to explain, I didn’t feel like I was suffocating but the sensation was horrible... it woke me up and the feeling was there like it never happened in the dream it was actually happening! All of a sudden that wave of fear came over me and I really did think that I was dying, I was scared and that heavy horrible feeling I get in my chest came, I was shaken and I didn’t know what to do or where to go.... has anyone ever experienced night time panic attacks? Does this sound like what this could be?

Jarred28 GAD
  • replies: 4

Have been diagnosed with GAD since May of this year and it’s been horrible. Having a lot of trouble just getting to sleep and when I do I wake up about 2 hours later panicking and have the same trouble falling back asleep. This has been leading to me... View more

Have been diagnosed with GAD since May of this year and it’s been horrible. Having a lot of trouble just getting to sleep and when I do I wake up about 2 hours later panicking and have the same trouble falling back asleep. This has been leading to me being fatigued all the time and it’s been extremely difficult to go on with everyday activities. Any pointers would be appreciated.

Flowergirl99 Anxiety, depression and insomnia
  • replies: 2

Hello, I'm not really sure how to start this. I guess I've had anxiety and depression for years now. But lately the last couple months it's all been way worse. At work no matter how hard I try. Or how many extra hours I put in (I start early, stay la... View more

Hello, I'm not really sure how to start this. I guess I've had anxiety and depression for years now. But lately the last couple months it's all been way worse. At work no matter how hard I try. Or how many extra hours I put in (I start early, stay late and come in on my days off) I still seem to be getting told I'm not good enough. I haven't been able to go out with friends without having a mental break down and bursting into tears. My boyfriend is understanding and tries to help and listen but I just get frustrated ad he doesn't quite understand. My parents try to help but always seem to just say don't think about it. I was seeing a therapist but it all got too expensive. I find I'm only getting like 4 or 5 hours sleep and just seem to be really hard and negative on myself. I've gained weight as eating is like a comfort. I feel like I have no future as I'm not overly smart and don't have any real interest. I don't really have any friends either. I'm just not sure what to do at this point to get out of this slunpt. And how to be more positive and confident in myself. If anyone has any tips I would appriciate it.

calmseeker Physical illness or anxiety?
  • replies: 13

Hi, Got my knickers in a twist trying to work out if my symptoms are anxiety or something else, and google just scares me when I seek clarification! Tried speaking with GP about symptoms and instead of relief I have found myself even more frustrated.... View more

Hi, Got my knickers in a twist trying to work out if my symptoms are anxiety or something else, and google just scares me when I seek clarification! Tried speaking with GP about symptoms and instead of relief I have found myself even more frustrated. Ocular migraines, dizziness, nausea, forgetfulness, insomnia, headaches, numbness, panic. Anxiety? Something else? Trying to get some answers so I can get some relief but I am feeling a little let down by my doc (nice guy). At least after three years of suffering these symptoms he sent me for an MRI. Feeling a little overwhelmed today I guess....

Truetomyself I am just exhausted and lost
  • replies: 5

Hi I really appreciate anyone who takes the time to help and read. I have been struggling with anxiety and depression over a long period of my life and I am in my mid 30's. I have been thinking about a few things and I really don't know how to go abo... View more

Hi I really appreciate anyone who takes the time to help and read. I have been struggling with anxiety and depression over a long period of my life and I am in my mid 30's. I have been thinking about a few things and I really don't know how to go about it so I turn to here. My experiences have been positive. I have had 2 break downs and the one thing that really gets to me as I get older are feeling the tremors, especially in my hands. I can just have days where I am so shaky and have no idea what to do with my hands. Today I sat and just grasped them together. My whole body can get shaky at times. There is no p panic attack. It just trembled. It is frustrating and tiring. If you have any ideas please let me know and I would so appreciate any tips. Also there have been more bad then good days the last few weeks. I am just not myself. I know my job ended and I did fall down but I got back up considering how I usually am. But I am starting to wonder and get frustrated with the roller coaster of anxiety and depression. I am up and down. I am starting with a new psychiatrist in the new year and am seeing a counsellor as psychologists just didn't help . My family has a really bad genetic pre disposition for major depression and anxiety at an extreme level. I just don't know or want to have to deal with this forever, but I think I will. I know there are ways to help and I have tried so many. I know medications have to be changed as the body gets use to them and I just wonder when this will all be over with. I don't know why so many people suffer with this and it seems to not look like improving. The stigma is still there and it is frustrating. Even if I see a new GP as I have I feel like I am proving myself not to be another pill popping junkie. I hate proving and explaining myself. Having depression and anxiety is a job. I am hoping to start work in the new year and pick up my study again. Because you have to have that piece of paper to show you can do it. I have a degree but I want to move into a new field but it seems my mental illness gets in the way. I have tried mindfulness, exercise, using phone lines, attending group sessions and the list goes on. I am not trying to be negative but I just don't want to be stuck with this forever or stuck full stop. For Christmas I would just want my present to be my anxiety and depression to go away. Thank you for reading and helping. I truly appreciate it.

Maq Can I hurt others during panic attack
  • replies: 7

So, I had a couple of panic attacks this year. These are triggered and isolated to my interactions with my husband. This close to Christmas, my GP is on leave and I don't want to see another GP. My counsellor can't see me until next week. Last night ... View more

So, I had a couple of panic attacks this year. These are triggered and isolated to my interactions with my husband. This close to Christmas, my GP is on leave and I don't want to see another GP. My counsellor can't see me until next week. Last night I had another panic attack. But was able to control my symptoms and look after my toddler for three hours as my husband went to play soccer. On his return, he expressed that he is worried about his and the toddler's safety and doesn't want to leave the child alone with me. For me this is the biggest insult. I wi follow-up with the medical professionals - can anyone here tell me if I can physically hurt my loved ones during or after a panic attack. Does it effect my ability to be a mother?

Bella_93 Dealing with anxiety triggers
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, When I had a breakdown back in August 2018, my brain created a scenario up in my head to cover the fact that my anxiety was going through the roof about family members causing trouble. Now this trigger to my breakdown is what keeps my a... View more

Hey everyone, When I had a breakdown back in August 2018, my brain created a scenario up in my head to cover the fact that my anxiety was going through the roof about family members causing trouble. Now this trigger to my breakdown is what keeps my anxiety occuring even though I know its not real. Any tips on how to deal with this? Muchly appreciated!