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

All discussions

happy_one social anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi, im completely new to this but I would love some advice on how to cope with social anxiety. My partner cops it the most and I’m sick of doing that it’s putting a huge strain on our relationship. It happens when he goes away and then I go out with ... View more

Hi, im completely new to this but I would love some advice on how to cope with social anxiety. My partner cops it the most and I’m sick of doing that it’s putting a huge strain on our relationship. It happens when he goes away and then I go out with some of his friends girlfriends and I try to get along with them but it feels like they aren’t interested in me or I’m putting more effort in and not getting much in return and I get really anxious about this as I feel it’s getting worse and it makes me not want to go out. I want to stop burdening this on my partner and find some coping mechanisms when he isn’t around to help me get through it’s

Ember12 Dating with Anxiety
  • replies: 2

I recently started seeing someone and they matched my energy. Lately the energy has dropped but they are still talking to me. I know they are busy with other things but the last couple of days I have convinced myself that this person is bored of me, ... View more

I recently started seeing someone and they matched my energy. Lately the energy has dropped but they are still talking to me. I know they are busy with other things but the last couple of days I have convinced myself that this person is bored of me, And doesn't feel the same as they did . I worry I was too much or they find me boring or have gotten sick of me. I really like this person and other than not talking as much there aren't any signs they aren't interested, But I can't eat, can't sleep, can't stop thinking about it or going over old messages where they seemed more enthusiastic about seeing me. I have worked so hard on building my life to where I am happy and I accepted being single, Then this person came along and dating seems to be a trigger as in the past I am always ghosted or made to feel not worth dating so I now panic when I get to a point in dating and it feels horrendous waiting for a reply or text that will never come, And not being able to do anything about it. Has anyone had this feeling or know any tips or tricks that helped calm then and let them go about daily things without worrying so much?

Olijrand Panic/Anxiety Attack?
  • replies: 1

Hello, I wanted to see whether the symptoms that I've experienced especially the yesterday at work would be considered a panic attack. I have had anxiety in varying levels all of my life, but I do have good times and seem so have gone quite well late... View more

Hello, I wanted to see whether the symptoms that I've experienced especially the yesterday at work would be considered a panic attack. I have had anxiety in varying levels all of my life, but I do have good times and seem so have gone quite well lately. In fact, most areas of my life are going very well and happy at the moment. I have a bullying boss who I mostly can deal with by just getting the job done and ignoring her nastiness. I'm actually not the main one under attack, but I do tend to over think remarks and exclusions. Yesterday at work I felt nauseous, was physically sick, felt my heart rate go very rapid and felt like the room was closing in on me. I work in an open plan office, so not a small room. I had to go home. I texted my boss to let her know as she was in a meeting but she never did reply to me. I'm now thinking that was a passive aggressive move, but maybe I'm overthinking. I got home and took my blood pressure and that was raised. I felt exhausted and my stomach was upset. I had to go to bed for a while and took ages to feel calm again. I'm wondering if this was a panic attack? I'm seeing a doctor later today and I'm not going to work today. Hopefully I get this under control because I do need to work. Any advice would be most welcome.

MacaroniNoodles Not getting the help I need
  • replies: 1

Hey all, I have diagnosed general, social and performance anxiety... I have told a few people in my life and hoped for support in response, yet I feel as though I am getting them opposite. I have people telling me that "everyone has it" therefore inv... View more

Hey all, I have diagnosed general, social and performance anxiety... I have told a few people in my life and hoped for support in response, yet I feel as though I am getting them opposite. I have people telling me that "everyone has it" therefore invalidating my calls for help in times where I need it most. I had my second full blown public anxiety attack in class the other day with no one who was willing to check up on me afterwards. It sounds petty, selfish and stupid, but I feel like people who say they have a mental illness just because they got "nervous one day" take away the support and validation of those (like me) who have a genuine mental illness.

Tkmh2000 Anxiety triggering other problems - Am I alone?
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I don't experience anxiety every day, or even 'regularly', like I know others do. I have particular triggers. When they are set off however, my anxiety is debilitating and feels like a tsunami drowning every aspect of my life. One of my triggers is e... View more

I don't experience anxiety every day, or even 'regularly', like I know others do. I have particular triggers. When they are set off however, my anxiety is debilitating and feels like a tsunami drowning every aspect of my life. One of my triggers is entering into a test, project, new role etc, and feeling like I am not 100% equipped, whether that be with knowledge or specific skill sets or the right resources. During my HSC, my anxiety was terrible because I didn't study properly for the tests and thus didn't feel equipped with the right knowledge. I took medication then that virtually made me a zombie - I can scarcely recall anything from that period I was THAT out of it. Now, I am entering into a new role at work while taking on part time study. I have had a total of 5 months experience in this particular industry and the role feels beyond what I am capable of. My anxiety sparked since being offered the role and then taking it. It has magnified other issues in my life that I push aside, like trust and commitment issues, self esteem issues etc. I had bulimia about a year and a half ago, and then some years earlier in high school. I generally have a healthy mindset regarding body image and food now but what I have found is that my anxiety triggers bulimic tendencies in me. Rather than a self-image problem, vomiting seems to make me feel like I have some control in my life. Beyond that, it also serves as a distraction to what I am really stressing about. Of course, you can only vomit out what you've eaten which has sometimes led to me trying to vomit nothing, putting stress on my body. Deep down, I know that I can do this role and uni at the same time. I understand the job description and I am normally very extroverted, bubbly and conversational. I know I made it through all of these other times in my life when I felt entirely anxious and depressed. I just find that sometimes my anxiety is SO powerful and so hard to defeat. Does therapy really help? I continue to tell myself I will reach out to a professional but I never pull through. I've found a local psychologist that I think would be nice. I want the quick relief of medication but I don't want to be dependent on any drug or lose sight of who I am - that outgoing, happy girl. I think what would help is knowing someone has experienced something like this and they've gotten help or gotten through it. I feel I haven't told anyone what I am going through and so don't have anyone to relate to.

Pineapplepip Anxiety over job hunting
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I’ve been lucky in the past that jobs have come to me, so i haven’t had to deal with anxiety over job hunting (just anxiety in the rest of my life).I’ve been with my current company for 5.5 years and I’ve lost all my career self esteem during that ti... View more

I’ve been lucky in the past that jobs have come to me, so i haven’t had to deal with anxiety over job hunting (just anxiety in the rest of my life).I’ve been with my current company for 5.5 years and I’ve lost all my career self esteem during that time. I want to find something new but don’t feel like any other company or industry would want me. it comes at a time where I’m quite vulnerable, I just got my depression somewhat under control but now my anxiety is skyrocketing. Dont know what I’m asking, I’m just a bit lost

44Max44 Anxious about health
  • replies: 16

Hi guys, this is my first post on here. I've been having some issues recently that are really getting me depressed. A few days ago I turned 20, but I couldn't enjoy my birthday at all because of how anxious and depressed I was feeling. I overthink an... View more

Hi guys, this is my first post on here. I've been having some issues recently that are really getting me depressed. A few days ago I turned 20, but I couldn't enjoy my birthday at all because of how anxious and depressed I was feeling. I overthink and overanalyse everything, to the point where I get myself worried over absolutely nothing. Recently, it's been my health I worry about, for example, I will get the slightest pain or an unusual ache or something and every single thought possible will run through my head and I just get super worried that something is wrong with me. It's gotten to the point where I'm not sure if I'm actually feeling these things, or if it's all in my head and I'm just tricking myself into thinking I'm feeling these things. I've spent the last few days unable to do anything I enjoy because I'm constantly thinking about whether or not I'm healthy or not. I've gone to a GP and had tests done to see if anything is wrong, but all I feel like doing until the results come in is sleep or do literally anything else that will keep my mind at ease. Now, I feel completely fine physically, I have energy, everything's working how it should, and I'm not getting any symptoms that could be a sign for concern, but I still worry 24/7 about my health. It's almost like I have this 'gut feeling' that something is wrong with me when there probably (hopefully) isn't. I feel like the only thing that could put my mind at ease is getting a full body CT scan and tests on me just to be 100% sure I'm fine, but I know none of that is necessary. It's like my brain has already made up its mind that I have some disease so I should start writing up a bucket list, even though I've had nothing to indicate that I'm even slightly unhealthy. I'm just wondering if anybody else has anxiety like this, and how they treat/cope with it? It's already ruined my birthday and a few days after it, and it's making me super depressed. Hopefully the tests I got done come back clean and that puts my mind at ease, but until then I don't know what to do. Any advice is appreciated. Cheers guys, thanks for reading my post.

Rubear Moving out
  • replies: 1

Hi all. I am having some issues. I have had anxiety for almost my whole life but got officially diagnosed with it when I was 17. I am on medication for it, which has been great. It has really helped. Anyhoo, last year my partner of 8 years and I deci... View more

Hi all. I am having some issues. I have had anxiety for almost my whole life but got officially diagnosed with it when I was 17. I am on medication for it, which has been great. It has really helped. Anyhoo, last year my partner of 8 years and I decided to start looking at buying a house. We have never officially lived together, I am technically still living at mums but spend nearly every night at his (he lives with his dad). We found one that he absolutely loves and I like. The thing is that I have been freaking out the past few days. I haven't been eating enough, I'm crying all the time and feeling overwhelmed. My partner is very understanding and patient, however he made an offer on the house yesterday without me knowing (we had been discussing it) and it was accepted, however I told him that I didn't think I was ready to leave mums house, he is definitely ready to leave his dad's house. They aren't close like I am with my mum. His mum passed away nearly 4 years ago and since then he hasn't felt comfortable in the house. We had also discussed putting it in his name, but I didn't realise that he had thought we had decided. I don't want to be the reason he doesn't go for this house (he has saved the entire deposit) but I am seriously freaking out. I ended up having a full blown panic attack last night and throwing up. I haven't had one as bad as that in years and I know that I scared him. He also felt useless as he didn't think that he was any help to me (he did try). I really don't know what to do. I feel bad because I would like to stay with mum, but he hasn't got his mum (who was his biggest support) and at the moment I haven't been able to support him. He has worked extremely hard to save this money up and I am so proud of him, but when it comes down to it I don't think that I am ready. There is so much pressure to be excited about this step, and I know that being 26 I am staying in the nest longer than most, but all I feel is scared and upset. I am a very maternal person and have been bugging him for years about kids, but it's gotten to the point where I don't even feel like I want them anymore. This is my home and my safe space and even though we will be about a 2 minute drive from mum, everytime I think about it I end up in tears. I am seriously freaking out. I don't know what to do. I am also scared because it seems so final. That my life is changing and I am not ready yet. I really need some help and advice.

flowerpetals need help
  • replies: 4

lately ive fond that im having trouble controlling my anxiety and the smallest things send me in a spiral ive started taking my meds again to see if it helps and it does abit but not enough for me to function completly without my partner with me and ... View more

lately ive fond that im having trouble controlling my anxiety and the smallest things send me in a spiral ive started taking my meds again to see if it helps and it does abit but not enough for me to function completly without my partner with me and i still dont like taking them because of side effects but im worried that if i told my dr that they arent helpin greatly hell put me on stronger meds with stronger side effects and i dont want that especailly with a young child. i also find that unless my partner or sister is with me i cant leave the house without freaking out which is hard when ive got to walk my son to daycare and get back on my own on mondays im only just pulling it off without having major attacks. my partner is very supportive but we live with his parents who think im jus dramatising everything. my study is going okish but only cause i focus on what i can do at home but as im near the end of my course im running out of written assessments and will have to go in to do my pracs my partner can come with me but he isnt allowed past reception and ive tried to discuss it with the branch manager a few times but he continues to say that he has to stay in reception area im not sure what to do i want to finish but i need him or my siter to be with me

Tense_Sez Anxiety - Shortness Of Breath
  • replies: 12

Hi Guys, Fairly new here and can see a lot of threads on similar symptoms, but I'll share my story to let you all in on my situation and possibly find people out there who are in a similar place. Just about a year ago, I was at a concert and was tire... View more

Hi Guys, Fairly new here and can see a lot of threads on similar symptoms, but I'll share my story to let you all in on my situation and possibly find people out there who are in a similar place. Just about a year ago, I was at a concert and was tired and over worked - lots of alcohol and little sleep. I then felt a sensation of not being able to take a deep, satisfying and full breath. Being a healthy 22 year old male who regularly goes to the gym and had quite a good diet, I'd never experienced such a thing in my life and absolutely scared the hell out of me. I tried to calm down, checked my pulse, had some water but still became faint and lay down and started having tingling sensations in all my extremities. I was told that I just had a panic attack by some average looking 'medical officer' who thought he'd seen it all before (I study medicine and thought I knew more than him at the time). I was convinced it couldn't have been anxiety causing such insanely scary symptoms. I've been to a handful of doctors and had all the tests done and each one looks at me like I'm crazy, all my tests turn up normal (seems to be a common occurrence on this page), I've never actually been properly diagnosed or prescribed any drugs but have been to a psychologist. She's great but it just doesn't do anything for me. I never really catch myself thinking or worrying about things too much other than my health and have generally been relaxed most my life (or at least from my perspective), until this scare which has got me constantly thinking about my breathing. It's been a year since then and although my breathlessness has improved, I'm still plagued every day by it - and struggle to get a deep breath almost half of the day. When I breathe in, I get a super full breath and expand my chest to the point that it hurts my back, but still doesn't satisfy that feeling of a 'complete' breath. Just wondering if anyone currently/has felt like this and what people do to cope or how people have 'cured' it (might be a stretch). I know it's horrible to say but it almost eases my mind knowing there could be other people out there in the same boat as I am... Thanks Sez