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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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TheLastSlice_ofBread I never said yes
  • replies: 5

I don’t feel safe I’m always bracing for the worst Knowing that it hurts Not just from being a kid But through though the experiences I have lived why did people see yes? while I silently screamed no why was i expected to be the best? when I couldn’t... View more

I don’t feel safe I’m always bracing for the worst Knowing that it hurts Not just from being a kid But through though the experiences I have lived why did people see yes? while I silently screamed no why was i expected to be the best? when I couldn’t calm for my much needed rest I feel so damn guilty for the way I feel But feeling is the only thing i have to remind me that ok I am real I’m not perfect Nor am i a defect This is just the way it is My life My journey My me

zbloom Anxiety During Dates
  • replies: 1

Hi, I was diagnosed with GAD a few years ago after my anxiety got out of control during a dating relationship - I thought she was the girl I was going to marry, but started to have real heavy doubts about the relationship (no obvious red flags, I jus... View more

Hi, I was diagnosed with GAD a few years ago after my anxiety got out of control during a dating relationship - I thought she was the girl I was going to marry, but started to have real heavy doubts about the relationship (no obvious red flags, I just started to feel different about it - and very anxious). We ended up breaking up, but this same crippling anxiety has plagued me in other relationships since then. I don't totally know how to describe the feeling, but I start to feel trapped while sitting across the table from the other person, and start to feel very avoidant. Most of the anxiety is very visceral, and not necessarily very mental. I guess my confusion is whether or not this is my intuition telling me I am not into the person, or if I am having major attachment insecurity; I don't want to run from a good thing, but I wonder if I should trust my gut. Telling myself that I just like the person as a friend can give me comfort, but it is so hard to tell what is true.

AlexDeLoser Anxiety deriving from a low form of 'ptsd'?
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone, I just wanted to post this thread in hopes that someone who has had similar experiences with this to provide tactics/solutions. I know this may sound like an insignificant thing to be anxious about, but I feel the need to mention it b... View more

Hello everyone, I just wanted to post this thread in hopes that someone who has had similar experiences with this to provide tactics/solutions. I know this may sound like an insignificant thing to be anxious about, but I feel the need to mention it because it is affecting me. I have really bad driving anxiety - more specifically, with traffic lights (when they turn yellow, and the amount of time they remain yellow). Everytime a traffic light turns yellow even within the distance where its clearly better to go, my heart just starts palpitating like crazy; I can feel it going all throughout my body including my head, and also makes me feel like i'm gasping for air and that I can't breath. Oh, and most times when a yellow light appears, I lock the breaks, which isn't safe either. I don't know if this is worth mentioning: this all pretty much started to happen the first time I locked up on a yellow light. people where looking and laughing at me. At that time, it wasn't even a lack of ability to spatially judge - it had happened because I got lost and was paying attention to the roads rather than the lights; I never had an issue with effective judgement prior to this. It's almost like I lost that ability when it happened. It's hard to 'just practice' to get rid of this mannerism, since there are serious consequences in failing. That being said, it makes trying to get rid of this anxiety really difficult. Nothing I've done (exposure therapy) has really helped me in anyway. I'm unsure of what to do. Anyways, I hope I have made sense, and that someone can help me with this matter. Thanks everyone. Happy new year! (in a few days, of course)

Romy Dating when you have generalised anxiety disorder
  • replies: 11

Hi! I've had generalised anxiety for about 7 years...I am on medication for it now which has honestly changed my life and anxiety definitely doesn't rule my whole life like it used to. However, I do find that when it comes to dating and new relations... View more

Hi! I've had generalised anxiety for about 7 years...I am on medication for it now which has honestly changed my life and anxiety definitely doesn't rule my whole life like it used to. However, I do find that when it comes to dating and new relationships, I struggle a bit with my anxiety and whilst it doesn't always take over my everyday life, it's always sort of lingering when I'm seeing someone new. I've been on a few dates here and there, but I've never been in a serious, long term relationship. I find that I'll go on a first date and I'll be nervous like any normal person, but then it's the second and third dates when my anxiety really starts to show. When I know that I actually like somebody, and I see a future with them, my anxiety is constant. I feel shaky, nauseous, tingly, I don't have as much of an appetite and many other physical effects, even if I'm not with the person..it's just always there. I know myself..I know this is normal for me, and that it's the excitement and the change of seeing someone new who I really like, but I guess I'm just wondering if other people struggle with this when they're dating somebody new and how you deal with it? There's been times when I've taken a quick-acting anxiety pill to calm down and get me through the date, but I don't want to rely on that all the time. Any tips?

mrsanxiety Borderline personality disorder & anxiety
  • replies: 10

I got diagnosed with "borderline personality disorder" about a year ago. I was wondering does anyone else suffer from this alot with anxiety? I feel like im always in my head. I have irrational fears. For example a plan coming down from the sky and p... View more

I got diagnosed with "borderline personality disorder" about a year ago. I was wondering does anyone else suffer from this alot with anxiety? I feel like im always in my head. I have irrational fears. For example a plan coming down from the sky and plowing into me. I type it and it sounds so irrational but i do feel it and do feel it Im in a quiet neighbourhood and every loud noise has me worrying, every helicopter that goes over head i freak out about. Does anyone else have this with their anxiety??

white knight Christmas anxiety and conflict
  • replies: 1

Well by now members here either had a good happy Christmas or they didn't. Upon reflection how was yours? For decades my sister and I endured Christmas's of turmoil, conflict and hidden frustration. We had one member of our family that had no idea wh... View more

Well by now members here either had a good happy Christmas or they didn't. Upon reflection how was yours? For decades my sister and I endured Christmas's of turmoil, conflict and hidden frustration. We had one member of our family that had no idea what life would be like if she just enjoyed her children and grandchildren- our mother. It was only when my sister and I reached our 50's we decided we would put in boundaries to adverse behaviour to try and protect our children from abuse and hopefully have a calm Xmas gathering. That didnt happen so 9 years ago we severed our relationship with her completely. Radical? Maybe but our Christmas gatherings without her have since been 100% comfortable and includes laughter and love. This is one example of controlling your own life. Toxic people, yes even parents, have no room in our lives now, we simply wont tolerate it. Why? Why not tolerate other people that are annoying? Well there are limits. We often discuss here about people that likely have or do have a mental illness that wont seek help. Such people in the end, we cannot help so it becomes a "do we tolerate them or do we reject them"? Rejection is a tough action but it can become so toxic that there is no other option or your life becomes a ruined state. As leader of our own little families with kids we decided to protect them and ourselves. It isnt easy knowing your parent is now elderly and we wont see again. We hear from others how she is fairing, her anger of us etc, we have to allow others to express as long as they have no demands of us. But in the end we must control our own lives and be decisive, yet I know of other families that every Xmas they have conflict. Such conflict would not occur if one party stayed away for the day. One friend has done just that, he will not attend his family gathering Xmas day to avoid the yelling and heartache. He indeed waits till the 27th to visit his parents and sister. He has never felt it was a bad move. Christmas day if not a happy day is a wasted day. It brings up old wounds. Many people would suspend the day but they feel their opposition will "win" by having the day with family, it should not be a competition, in fact, you win by being mature and taking the better stance and avoiding the meeting. So next year think hard about how you are going to spend Xmas day. If you have a mental illness think about protecting yourself from any conflict. Do you have any thoughts on this and recommendations? TonyWK

sim777 Derealization and anxiety/depression disorder, the 'scary' anxiety infliction, but it can be managed.
  • replies: 2

I've had anxiety/panic disorder/depression for over 45 years with Dearealization, I'm 59. It's a scary experience that can last for minutes, hours or months. Sadly, it is under reported in the media and the general population has no idea of how debil... View more

I've had anxiety/panic disorder/depression for over 45 years with Dearealization, I'm 59. It's a scary experience that can last for minutes, hours or months. Sadly, it is under reported in the media and the general population has no idea of how debilitating this condition is as there is no cure. I can have daily physical symptoms (Somatisation) as a juxtaposition to anxiety/panic disorder. They are debilitating and keep me socially reclusive and unable to function normally. I hear a lot of sports people talking about their story of depression, wonderful for awareness, but panic disorder and the daily physical/discomfort is not really a known issue to the public. If one has a broken arm in a sling, people will know something is wrong, no need to explain, right? With mental health, most of us put on a brave faces and a 'smile' so we don't suffer the wrath of 'you look fine'..get on with it! I was a record producer/writer of some of Australia's iconic artists. I struggled daily at the height of my humbling ARIA awarded career. I had a great psychotherapist using role play therapy as a method to live with acute panic disorder. Sometimes giving a symptom a 'name' can also reduce the anxiety about ..the anxiety! The first step for help is to talk to a GP and if they don't 'get you' another will. Mental health disorders are such an invisible infliction and family sometimes will not believe or understand how you feel. An ex partner, who was concerned about my condition at the time was once told by her brother, "give him a hard time and he'll snap out of it" - WRONG!! There are so many roads to recovery. Being kind to yourself is a good start and not worrying about what others might think. Trying to achieve 'one win per day' no matter how small is a great mantra, I know what it's like being bed bound due to horrific depression. Another, whether it be depression or anxiety is occupation of the mind, a real key. 'Acceptance' is another. Anything that takes you away from the conscious state you are presently in can work. Yes, Derealization and all the awful symptoms may return, but it's a reminder that they can and will dissipate. Congratulations to all at Beyond Blue and all the forum contributors, you are empowering other sufferers to have hope. Derealization really needs awareness, It's known as the 'scary anxiety symptom', but no one mentions it and it doesn't need to be scary.

James Terrified I’ll be the next “20 something dies of rare disease”
  • replies: 2

Hi, I’m 26, and started getting chest pains, bouts of shortness of breath, burning sensations in the middle of my chest, and some agonising sharp pains amongst my lower ribs and upper back, all rounded off with a nice persistent cough (it’s come and ... View more

Hi, I’m 26, and started getting chest pains, bouts of shortness of breath, burning sensations in the middle of my chest, and some agonising sharp pains amongst my lower ribs and upper back, all rounded off with a nice persistent cough (it’s come and gone for 3 years now). I work in agriculture in rural NSW, far from just about anything or anyone. I somehow managed to see 5 doctors in the first month, unsatisfied by each gp telling me nothing was wrong. Finally went to the ER in a massive panic one night but was duly assured I wasn’t running out of air since my blood oxygen was 100%, and ECG/triponin fine despite the awful pains I was feeling inside my chest and back. I’ve since started therapy and medication. Unfortunately, none of this seems to be helping me very much. Dr. Google has since convinced me I have lung cancer, Crohn’s disease, GERD, or asthma waiting to kill me at an inconvenient moment. My greatest fear is COPD, given the amount of dust that’s around out here, but of course a spirometery test found only “slight congestion” and certainly nothing worth worrying about. A chest specialist took a test today revealing my blood oxygen was 94% at rest, which sent me into a tailspin thinking this (otherwise benign detail...) was concrete evidence my lungs were failing and I’d suffer an awful death. I’ve been a mess all afternoon since; she assured multiple times I’ll have a long and lovely life and that I only seem to have very mild bronchial congestion which could explain all the pain and be treated easily, but every day feels like I’m going to have a painful end resulting from some unknown condition because the feelings are so real, even though I’m more or less medically fine besides what should be very unconcerning and mild congestion. Getting more tests soon (CT and bloods for chronic bronchitis, cancer, etc.) but I just feel physically awful. Can anybody offer any insight whatsoever as to what’s happening? My therapist has gone over relaxation techniques and deep breathing (doesn’t help when my chest feels like an iron band is wrapped around it), and I don’t know if my fears are justified or just silly. Not to be too annoying but I’m just constantly petrified with the pain whilst being told everything is fine. Has anyone else had similar problems/have advice for someone just starting out with anxiety? Any and all help would be immeasurably appreacited, (thankyou in advance!)

Meg_611 My intro - is this really anxiety?
  • replies: 1

Hi All, this is my first post not sure where I’m supposed to post etc. At the end of June this year I had an episode after the toilet where I stood up and felt lightheaded. I looked in the mirror and could see my pulse beating. I continued feeling di... View more

Hi All, this is my first post not sure where I’m supposed to post etc. At the end of June this year I had an episode after the toilet where I stood up and felt lightheaded. I looked in the mirror and could see my pulse beating. I continued feeling dizzy and my work took me to hospital. An ECG, cat scan of my head and neck were all clear. Since this episode I have felt lightheaded, random stabbing pains on my head, tight chest, swollen throat. But the main symptom is I can CONSTANTLY feel my heart pounding in my chest and a neck, but also sometimes in my fingertips. I’ve had a brain mri, carotid artery scan, echo stress test, thyroid ultrasound. Everything has come back clear - BUT during this process I discovered I have high chlolesterol (they suspect its genetic) and thyroid antibodies with a swollen thyroid which drs say is Hashimotos. So those unexpected diagnoses have been rather stressful. My other strange symptom is I cannot lie on my right side in bed if I do I become dizzy and feel like my heart can’t pump enough blood to my head. Sometimes when I stand up or leav over to pick something off the ground I feel like I get a build up of pressure in my head. My doctors keep saying it is anxiety - but I just don’t believe them and feel like there is physically something wrong with me somewhere. I am also wondering if anyone else as a silly habit of stressing about emptying their bladder before bedtime? I have for years and it results in my overstraining trying to make sure every drop is out - I hate myself for doing it- but my body won’t let me relax unless I do. It’s got this reason that I worry I have damage something internally which is now impacting my heart and/or blood flow. Has anyone else got this habit or tips to help me ? please it’s been 6 months straight of constant heart palpitations (forceful heartbeat- normal pulse) and i am just so sick of it

Medrit Discord Roleplay causing turmoil on my emotions
  • replies: 6

Hello all, I've been in a discord roleplay server for a while now and have gotten co-owner, it was fine for a bit until it started affecting my mental health. It started getting better when the server died and it was only me and another person rolepl... View more

Hello all, I've been in a discord roleplay server for a while now and have gotten co-owner, it was fine for a bit until it started affecting my mental health. It started getting better when the server died and it was only me and another person roleplaying. Recently a staff member came back and started to do a reset. I don't necessarily like change and this made me uncomfortable, but I endured it and pushed on. This morning I woke up and checked over the staff chat and found out that we would be resetting everything and we weren't allowed to reuse characters. I was pretty annoyed with this as I put in a lot of effort into the characters. A few of my characters got into relationships with the person I mentioned earlier and whenever I brought up leaving the server she would lose their mind and I felt bad thinking about it. During this period I developed a sort of crush on her, another person joined and made a character then afterwards got into a relationship with this person. Since I've had a crush on this person this made me jealous. It also made me feel not wanted because she would stop RPing with me to RP with him. After enduring that emotion eating and tearing me apart, the person left after not wanting to roleplay anymore. I was happy and starting to feel better since he left and we got back to RP. He came back when we began to reset the server. When he came back I began to feel worse and worse as she kept on ignoring me and our RP to speak to him. I want to just leave the server but I can't help but feel jealous that her characters will get into a relationship with his. I also can't but think that the staff team is talking behind my back. I know that if I don't leave the server then I know my mentality isn't going to get better, but it's the same if I stay. I don't know what to do or how to control these emotions let alone get rid of them or cope with them. Sorry that this was a bit long as well.

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