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

Lets_try Never ends
  • replies: 2

I just can't deal with people face to face I have been stuck in my house for about 10 years now since I was 22, I am 31or 32 I don't remember. The only reason I leave is to do shopping and I just grab whatever and rush back. I think it is because I h... View more

I just can't deal with people face to face I have been stuck in my house for about 10 years now since I was 22, I am 31or 32 I don't remember. The only reason I leave is to do shopping and I just grab whatever and rush back. I think it is because I hate myself just everything about me my looks my thinking. I mean if I can't stand myself why should anyone else have to. I was bullied my whole school life for my looks heh I guess it worked now I am nothing

JamesR Cant sleep or eat, and i feel like i cant reach out for help
  • replies: 1

I havent slept in 55 hours and i haven't eaten in 63 hours, my family is away at the moment and im home alone, and everytime my mum calls me she asks if im ok and i cant handle telling her that im not, and i lie, which leads to me breaking down even ... View more

I havent slept in 55 hours and i haven't eaten in 63 hours, my family is away at the moment and im home alone, and everytime my mum calls me she asks if im ok and i cant handle telling her that im not, and i lie, which leads to me breaking down even worse. I don't know what to do about this

Mendel Morning Anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, I am just reaching out for advice on how people handle their morning anxiety. One of the worst things is going to bed feeling pretty good and relaxed, and then waking up in the morning with that knot in the stomach feeling anxious for no... View more

Hi everyone, I am just reaching out for advice on how people handle their morning anxiety. One of the worst things is going to bed feeling pretty good and relaxed, and then waking up in the morning with that knot in the stomach feeling anxious for no particular reason. It is frustrating, and it interferes with the mood at the very start of the day. Cheers, Mendel

Jennaa Social anxiety/ meeting new people/ keeping jobs
  • replies: 1

I have a constant anxiety that is there weather I’m meeting up people I’ve met before or meeting new people for the first time I’m so crippling with fear about what they’ll think of me or how I look that I just won’t go or if I do try to I won’t make... View more

I have a constant anxiety that is there weather I’m meeting up people I’ve met before or meeting new people for the first time I’m so crippling with fear about what they’ll think of me or how I look that I just won’t go or if I do try to I won’t make it there because I’ll feel to sick or start hyperventilating I have no idea what I can do to help this. it’s the same with jobs if I get a new job I’m scared that I’m not learning everything properly & that I’m an annoyance for asking about anything it doesn’t matter how many times people tell me it’s ok to ask questions I just can’t. im so sick of having all this in my head I need help in how to fix it any help would be so appreciated because I really don’t know what to do or how to help myself

_ravenclaw_poe Worsened anxiety due to recent news stories
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Hey guys, i don’t know if this is the best place to put this but I don’t know what else to do. This month has been really hard. Thankfully, I have not been directly affected by the fires nor by this new virus. However, as I have OCD with massive fear... View more

Hey guys, i don’t know if this is the best place to put this but I don’t know what else to do. This month has been really hard. Thankfully, I have not been directly affected by the fires nor by this new virus. However, as I have OCD with massive fears surrounding illness/germs and danger to my family, my anxiety has been the worst it’s ever been. im too scared to leave the house and too scared to sleep at night, leaving me to sleep all day instead. I’m just so scared all the time and I don’t know what to do. I start uni soon so I need to get better. I feel like the only thing that will solve this is for the virus to be cured but idk if/when that will happen. any advice? Anyone experiencing the same or similar thing? thanks xx

Mumsy3 Social anxiety, thought of leaving the house is terrifying
  • replies: 5

I have been dealing with anxiety on/off for the past ten years, most of those Unmedicated. Last week I had a panic attack at a relatives party and since then my anxiety is ridiculous. I took myself off to the doctor 5 days ago and he prescribed me me... View more

I have been dealing with anxiety on/off for the past ten years, most of those Unmedicated. Last week I had a panic attack at a relatives party and since then my anxiety is ridiculous. I took myself off to the doctor 5 days ago and he prescribed me medication. I’m finding everyday I’m feeling better but I’ve just been staying home and resting as the dr said my body is still recovering from the panic attack. My digestive system is anxious and knotted. I’m hungry but the thought of eating makes me nervous. I’ve taken a week off work just to gather myself. Today I ventured out, just with my teen daughter to a shop she wanted to look at and the supermarket. And that’s when the anxiety kicked in big time. I couldn’t get out of there quick enough but forced myself to stay and try and deal with how I was feeling. I’m exhausted now:(. I’ve noticed the side effects of the medication are slowly getting better, I don’t feel as lightheaded as I did initially. How has everyone else coped with this medication? I have had an attack like this in the past so I know I will get through it but I’m such on overthinker. I imagine in my head that I have every sickness possible, check my pulse every few minutes and my blood pressure all the time (it’s stable) .

tpman Reducing my medication always makes me anxious
  • replies: 4

hi... its not rebound from meds anxiety, its just anxiety I create in my own head. Because you see I have such a horrible history from anti-depressant withdrawal and also really really bad memories from a severe bout of depression a cpl years ago whi... View more

hi... its not rebound from meds anxiety, its just anxiety I create in my own head. Because you see I have such a horrible history from anti-depressant withdrawal and also really really bad memories from a severe bout of depression a cpl years ago which led to me being sectioned. I have improved soo much when I think about how bad I was, but I am having sleep issues and have had them for some time now which is really affecting my overall recovery.. So on the advice of my treating psych we are trying do lower the dose (slowly of course). I already have a ton of anticipatory anxiety just at the thought of changing my doses even though its so small. I guess I just want to know if its ok to take things slowly during this period. I have a history of avoidance behavior when I feel anxious which as we all know is a big no no, and I feel I am going to do some avoidance (social mainly) during the change in doses. I mean is it ok to avoid a little bit and just slowly build my courage up again ? I guess thats what I want to no .. Anyways, wish me luck team ! Anxiety sux =(

Sunshine981991 Anxiety hard to cope
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I’m finding it really hard to go no contact with my abusive mum, it is heart breaking my heart but she has always been very nasty and makes me feel awful about myself so I feel it is the best decision to never talk to her again but I don’t know how t... View more

I’m finding it really hard to go no contact with my abusive mum, it is heart breaking my heart but she has always been very nasty and makes me feel awful about myself so I feel it is the best decision to never talk to her again but I don’t know how to cope with that. Feeling extremely anxious, sad and mixed emotions. Does anyone have any suggestions to get through this and to cope? Feeling isolated and like no one of my friends understands as their mother would never do what mine has. Getting constant anxiety every day and don’t know how to calm down as I left home very recently, Thank you

lmath56 I'm so lonely :(
  • replies: 3

Hello, this is my first time posting. I am not feeling too well at the moment. It is a long weekend and I am not enjoying it. I don't like normal weekends as it is, because I don't have any friends. I moved to a new city by myself about 9 months ago ... View more

Hello, this is my first time posting. I am not feeling too well at the moment. It is a long weekend and I am not enjoying it. I don't like normal weekends as it is, because I don't have any friends. I moved to a new city by myself about 9 months ago and I didn't realise that I would find it so difficult to make friends. I haven't made a single friend. Yesterday I went for a bike ride, but today I did nothing except sit on my phone, walk to the kitchen and look in the fridge, and then go back to my phone. I spent a lot of the day trying to find something to do, but I couldn't find anything I wanted to do. I don't really have a hobby. I try to think about something that I would like to do and nothing comes to mind at all. I still have tomorrow before work. I don't really enjoy my job at the moment. But it keeps me busy. I'm so bored and lonely. I feel like it is making me not think straight sometimes. I don't know what to do. I have been seeing a psychologist, and I am on medication. But I am still so lonely. The thought of going out and meeting people scares me, but I am fine talking to people at work. I can go to a store or make a phone call just fine. I don't understand. I don't want to be lonely anymore. I want some friends, but I'm scared. I don't understand what of.

Missberri How to make new friends
  • replies: 4

Hi there, I'm posting as I'm feeling kind of lonely at the moment. Last year was a super busy year for me and somehow that has lead me to losing a lot of friends. I spent the whole year working and studying and not making as much time for people as I... View more

Hi there, I'm posting as I'm feeling kind of lonely at the moment. Last year was a super busy year for me and somehow that has lead me to losing a lot of friends. I spent the whole year working and studying and not making as much time for people as I used to because I felt I didn't have the capacity to do so with the heavy load of priorities. While I thought my friends would understand, they've almost completely stopped inviting me to things and some have even started ignoring my texts. It's not like I never saw anyone at all. If I ever had a break from studies or a day where I had the time to make it I would, but I guess it hasn't been enough and now I'm feeling pretty upset and kind of like a mess. I've been on my break from studies since December and while I thought this would be my chance to finally see them a lot more none of them have really bothered to reach out to me, I'm constantly seeing them post things they're all doing together on social media and when I reach out to them it's almost like they're not interested. Anyway, instead of dwelling on all this I've realised it's time to move on. I've been there for a lot of these friends so many times for many years and if they can't be supportive of me trying to achieve my goals in life and work towards my future then I just don't want to bother anymore. I'm not going to jeopardise my studies to get drunk every weekend and I want to work so I can save for my own house. It's not as if I don't turn up when it's important I'm always there for birthdays and I'm always there as soon as I have the time to be there. I guess at this point I'm just hurt. So I guess I'm just wondering how do people even make new friends? I've never been good at this kind of thing. I have pretty bad social anxiety and I'm terrible at just going up and talking to people. I just feel really silly like I don't even know what to say if I walk up to someone and I just find the hardest thing to be going out and meeting new people. Then if I did that how would I maintain the connection with people and actually become friends? I'm terrible at this. My new years resolution this year was actually to try and be more social as I gave myself such a heavy load last year. It wasn't that fun and I really want to enjoy myself this year so I want to improve my social life and make time for people. I don't want to feel lonely and down in the dumps this year. Any advice would be so appreciated!