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
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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

JaneC76 Ever been so anxious you can't eat?
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Normally I binge eat to control my feelings. But now I can only eat very small amounts; 2 crackers, a bite of apple etc. My throat feels like it's closing up. "Luckily" I'm overweight so not in any danger.

Normally I binge eat to control my feelings. But now I can only eat very small amounts; 2 crackers, a bite of apple etc. My throat feels like it's closing up. "Luckily" I'm overweight so not in any danger.

strawberryqueen OCD around drinking and not remembering parts of my night
  • replies: 4

Hi there, I wake up the day after drinking heavily ( sometimes not remembering parts of the night) feeling guilty and ashamed wondering what I did and said. I start to think of worst case scenario's and create situations in my head which creates doub... View more

Hi there, I wake up the day after drinking heavily ( sometimes not remembering parts of the night) feeling guilty and ashamed wondering what I did and said. I start to think of worst case scenario's and create situations in my head which creates doubt and worry all day long. I hate feeling like this as I know I would never do anything bad to ruin my relationship with my boyfriend or close friends. I love my boyfriend so much, however my OCD comes into play and I start to overthink and worry about all sorts of things that I could have done or said. I trust myself to not do anything to potentially ruin my relationships. However, my OCD overtakes my mind and creates horrible anxiety. I also have to double check things when leaving the house as I think i haven't done it e.g. turning off the stove. I am seeking professional help to sort my anxiety and OCD out. Please tell me these feelings are completely normal and I am not going insane. Thanks

E_elizabeth Relationship anxiety
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I really need help or advice. My partner and I have broken up 3 times (we have a child together) and now I’m constantly worried that it will happen again. We have been through so many bad things together that’s probably half the reason I feel this wa... View more

I really need help or advice. My partner and I have broken up 3 times (we have a child together) and now I’m constantly worried that it will happen again. We have been through so many bad things together that’s probably half the reason I feel this way but I’m having anxiety to the point I can’t eat. I’m worried things are going to go bad for us again and whenever I ask him to reassure me he won’t. I’m afraid I’m going to make this bad for us. I’ve started taking medication and I’ve joined the gym but nothing so far can take the worries away.

laz360 Working with Crippling Anxiety
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Hi all, I have terrible anxiety and at the start of the year I got my first job but quit after one shift and I found it was too much for me and too overwhelming. I have finally worked up the courage to apply for another job and got it. I have worked ... View more

Hi all, I have terrible anxiety and at the start of the year I got my first job but quit after one shift and I found it was too much for me and too overwhelming. I have finally worked up the courage to apply for another job and got it. I have worked one shift and have been crying for three days straight after it. I haven’t eaten in days and can barely sleep and when I do the moment I wake up I am filled with dread and can hardly bring myself to get out of bed. It doesn’t help that my family isn’t being supportive and they tell me that I don’t have it bad and there are people out there worse than me so I should suck it up, and they are threatening that if I don’t keep the job they will no longer look after or support me in any way. I was seeing a psychologist earlier in the year but stopped cause I didn’t have the money for it. I really just don’t know what to do. Every time I think about work i have a panic attack and want to quit but I also can’t help but feel if I can’t do this job then I’m never going to be able to do any, but I know I have to work but I genuinley feel like I can’t and I just don’t know what to do with myself. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

LesDave This has helped me with anxiety
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Not sure if you are allowed to post links, so instead I will suggest you look for this yourself. It more or less backs up a few of the things that are tips on this forum. When I feel anxiety creeping back into my life I use this technique to keep it ... View more

Not sure if you are allowed to post links, so instead I will suggest you look for this yourself. It more or less backs up a few of the things that are tips on this forum. When I feel anxiety creeping back into my life I use this technique to keep it under control. Search YouTube for 10 steps to improve your memory by London Real. While the focus is on improving memory, the step where they talking about 'killing ANTs (automatic negative thoughts)' is similar to what you will see elsewhere about acceptance and commitment therapy. In this case, they say all this negativity that creates ANXIETY has a detrimental affect on your health, as your body does not know the difference between real threats or fears, or perceived threats or fears. So to LOOK AFTER YOURSELF you need to get rid of the negative thoughts. If you are having trouble learning how to do this, search for some assistance on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Gossips Lost and can’t control myself
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I’m new to this and I don’t really know where to start. iv been dealing with myself for a good few years now, I’m only young but lately it just seems to have become too much. Everything I’m doing doesn’t feel like enough, I feel I push those around m... View more

I’m new to this and I don’t really know where to start. iv been dealing with myself for a good few years now, I’m only young but lately it just seems to have become too much. Everything I’m doing doesn’t feel like enough, I feel I push those around me away that I truly care about and want to share my life with. Iv shut down, I feel nothing and I’m all I can feel is emptiness. its affected my job, myself, my partner and I love my partner with everything I am. Doing this for her and for us to be happy again is the only way I can write this post. I’m not used to opening up, I can’t do it to other people. I’m hoping that doing it anonymously online might help. But I’m terrified if I don’t find myself again, I’m going to lose everything around me I care about.. life has been black, and all I want is the light back in my life. I want to be happy.

corolla struggling with anxiety day by day
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name is adam online name corolla and I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and I have been seeing a psycologist 4 times already and it has been helping me but the last 3 weeks I have been having trouble trying to get to sleep at night and... View more

name is adam online name corolla and I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and I have been seeing a psycologist 4 times already and it has been helping me but the last 3 weeks I have been having trouble trying to get to sleep at night and then when I am asleep I have trouble trying to wake up in the morning so I have been missing out on heaps of work o I haven't been getting paid because I have no sick leave left I had a full week of feeling great about 4 weeks ago but since then I have felt worse and I don't know why I am on anti depressents but they always keep me drowsy and not seem to be working has anyone else been going through the same effects as I am

binschnady Strange uneasiness when waking sometimes
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Hi I don't know if this is even the right place, but I don't really know how to explain this. But lately, about once a fortnight, not too bad, I've been waking up with this weird feeling almost of incompleteness I guess. But not like having not done ... View more

Hi I don't know if this is even the right place, but I don't really know how to explain this. But lately, about once a fortnight, not too bad, I've been waking up with this weird feeling almost of incompleteness I guess. But not like having not done something; it will be a group or numbers, or a group of people, usually 6ish, and of that group everything is fine, but then usually its 2 of them are just wrong for some reason, and this is usually with a weird unrelated picture as well with something where things just aren't working. This weird feeling overcomes me and it's of unease I'd probably say and I can't get to sleep because this incompleted kind of thing just keeps giving me this weird uneasiness. Sometimes it will be complete, say the 2 people are finally enjoying whatever they're doing, but then it just happens again. Being a Christian, I'll read my Bible and pray and it tends to let me go to sleep, but up until then it just worries me weirdly. I'm sorry about how confused this is but it just seems to not make any sense. Ben

john321 Dealing with anxiety
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Hi everyone, I'm off to see a counsellor in a couple of weeks. I wanted help with some techniques for dealing with some of my anxious habits. I tend to project my anxieties in my conversation. Being meta, this forum is that projection as well. All my... View more

Hi everyone, I'm off to see a counsellor in a couple of weeks. I wanted help with some techniques for dealing with some of my anxious habits. I tend to project my anxieties in my conversation. Being meta, this forum is that projection as well. All my conversations seem to revolve around an issue I'm having (which are never ending being an overthinker). I want to stop this. I'm always serious in conversations. I can't remember the last time I laughed heartily. I find conversation without a good deep/meaningful topic rather boring. But I'm also embarassed to laugh like people are judging me if I laugh. As though laughter is a sign of stupidity. (I know its me, how do I overcome it?) I find talking with family and friends have limits. No one really listens, they just react with a basic answer that tends to make me feel guilt like I'm complaining. While I concede I am on the negative side (positives seem to remain unsaid), I am usually observing a situation and trying to decide if its right for me. Then I ask advice to validate my direction. One example of an issue I'm having is I'm a guy bisexual, which is confusing as it is (my parents prefer I be either gay or straight). I like this girl who is amazing in so many ways, perfect for me and likes me for me. I find I can't seem to have conversation deep enough with her for me. When I ask her opinion on something, I never really get one. So when I talk about her with people, I come off as a villian for the most part, complaining but to me its just observing and trying to figure out if she is right for me or not. I focus on the negatives. Any advice? I find I'm extremely frustrated lately. I live with my family still and sick of the seemingly never ending guilt trips or manipulations. Alot of demanding things be done in their timeframe but not mine. I am trying to have boundaries to help this. But I also don't know how to relax. When I relax I start thinking and the thinking then becomes a loop. Constantly figuring out an endless puzzle. Its much worse on weekends and my self control weakens. (I eat way too much sugar and chocolate as a vice). I am trying to attach action to a thought but then I find I don't follow through with the action (when the self control weakens) so the thinking occurs that I have to do this or that. Mindfulness doesn't quite work for me. Any advice? I dont want to be stuck on this hedonic treadmill of anxiety and dissatisfaction.I surpass one issue then another one creates itself.