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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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whyismylifesomessedup old
  • replies: 2

I have struggled a lot recently. I have an obsession with seeking reassurance, needing to know that something bad isn't going to happen - for example, earlier in the year, I became fixated with the idea of what happens after we die and constantly see... View more

I have struggled a lot recently. I have an obsession with seeking reassurance, needing to know that something bad isn't going to happen - for example, earlier in the year, I became fixated with the idea of what happens after we die and constantly seeking reassurance from people that it isn't the end, et cetera. I also like to keep things perfect - e.g., dented my brand new MacBook Pro 5 or so months ago and have been unable to get it out of my head. I also am obsessed with looking perfect/hate any blemishes on myself. Is this possibly obsessive compulsive disorder?

Willo123 Given up on trying
  • replies: 10

I’m 21 years old have have been struggling with serious anxiety disorder. Im happy in my life when I’m in my comfort zone. I have recently started a new job and that is making me feel extremely anxious. Im about to give up on it because I can’t feel ... View more

I’m 21 years old have have been struggling with serious anxiety disorder. Im happy in my life when I’m in my comfort zone. I have recently started a new job and that is making me feel extremely anxious. Im about to give up on it because I can’t feel like this anymore. I need this feeling to be over, so I just have to go back to working for my parents on the farm even tho it’s not my dream. But I can’t do my dream job because this anxiety is too much. The medication doesn’t feel like it works anymore. I wish I could be normal.

245AM WOMEN: Stress/Anxiety affecting menstruation
  • replies: 4

Has anyone experienced a very late period due to intense weeks/months of stress and anxiety or a traumatic experience? I've been to my doctor and am definitely not pregnant, and she believes it's mostly stress related so we have discussed some techni... View more

Has anyone experienced a very late period due to intense weeks/months of stress and anxiety or a traumatic experience? I've been to my doctor and am definitely not pregnant, and she believes it's mostly stress related so we have discussed some techniques and practices I can use in order to lower stress and control spiral thinking - and most importantly stop focusing on my period being late. I was just wondering if anyone out there has ever experienced this? If you were late due to stress, how late?

Fillicks Possible anxiety??
  • replies: 6

Hi im not too sure how to articulate all of this accurately but I may (possibly??) Have anxiety. I’m just going to list a bit off the top of my head. I don’t want to see a GP or school counsellor or anything as i’m scared that I’ll be wasting their t... View more

Hi im not too sure how to articulate all of this accurately but I may (possibly??) Have anxiety. I’m just going to list a bit off the top of my head. I don’t want to see a GP or school counsellor or anything as i’m scared that I’ll be wasting their time and then they’ll hate me forever. basically, I can’t catch buses, everytime I try I feel sick to the stomach and my chest feels tight, I always miss buses as I’m afraid to signal drivers in case there’s too many people and I get kicked off. I wake up really early (3-4ish) in a cold sweat if I have to catch a bus the day after. Idk I just generally sweat a lot whenever I get on a bus/go to work or school. This has caused me to walk over an hour to get home (on multiple occasions) rather than catching public buses. I have the same feelings (tight chest and nausea) throughout school and in literally any situation that I’m alone. I overthink e v e r y t h i n g to the point that my mum laughs at me, i guess it could be funny but it just makes me so angry at myself. I’m so scared of other people?? I just avoid leaving my house unless it’s absolutely necessary, whenever I go out I can feel everyone judging me and it’s just so terrifying. I don’t like talking to other people because I get really nervous and start to ramble and I can feel their annoyance which makes me even more nervous because I know they don’t like me. I get claustrophobic In crowds of people, i get panicky and can’t breathe right. On the way to work the nausea is a lot more intense, I try to distract myself with music but the feeling is constant. I cant talk to managers at work without tearing up bc I’m so scared of what they’ll think of me, (I don’t want them to think I’m weird or anything) i always rehearse everything I need to say regardless of the situation, and I spend so much time worrying about what I’m going to say or do that my fear of doing it just builds and then suddenly I’m breathing really fast and the tightness has increased and I get this rush of cold. this is all so incredibly frustrating, i try to get over my fear and act like a “normal teenager “ but I Just can’t do it. I don’t know why I can’t just do a simple task like asking a teacher a question (still building up the courage for that though) or making small talk to a classmate without sweating and rehearsing everything over and over again... im not sure if these are symptoms of anxiety or if I’m just being dramatic about everything lol

BballJ Overthinking and Highly sensitive
  • replies: 3

Hi all, Some of you may know me from the forums, I haven’t been on for quite some time. Quick background is that I suffer from anxiety and depression. Self confidence is a major thing I am working on at the moment. one question I wanted to raise to t... View more

Hi all, Some of you may know me from the forums, I haven’t been on for quite some time. Quick background is that I suffer from anxiety and depression. Self confidence is a major thing I am working on at the moment. one question I wanted to raise to the forum was about overthinking and being highly sensitive. I am a chronic overthinker which I know is attached to my anxiety. I have the tendency to always think the worst in situations but mainly it comes down to my partner. Problem is every single thing she does that I deem “out of the ordinary” to be wrong, I am constantly questioning her on it which she has bought to my attention is starting to annoy her. If she doesn’t reply to my messages in time, I think the worst and think she is angry at me (classic anxiety move) until she responds to then I question why she took so long to reply even though I know the answer, I for some reason need the clarity. Another example would be if she simply had a tone that wasn’t happy, I would ask what’s wrong over and over again, she would be fine but it’s like I need to know if it’s something I’ve done wrong or something wrong in her life. It’s this silly constant need for reassurance. I’ve never been like this in a relationship before. I am not a big person for change and when things change in my world I cannot handle it. I know my partner hasn’t done anything wrong but my need to constantly question her is starting to annoy her and definitely annoying me. another thing is, she will happily stay home and watch a movie where as, I cannot do that and would rather be messaging or talking to her, so when she can do that and I cannot, I sit there and question why am I so dependant on her. She doesn’t deserve that pressure, no one does. We talk morning, lunch and after work then after she gets into bed usually each night. I understand this is a problem and it’s why I am seeking help from anyone who has been in a similar situation before and how they have been helped? thanks in advance, J

Col82 Is it all in my head ?
  • replies: 2

Hi all I’m new here I’m not sure where to start where to start so here’s a little background . About four weeks ago I started getting pins and needles in my hands and feet this then went to a feeling that my left hand wasn’t working properly still ha... View more

Hi all I’m new here I’m not sure where to start where to start so here’s a little background . About four weeks ago I started getting pins and needles in my hands and feet this then went to a feeling that my left hand wasn’t working properly still had all my strength but just felt clumsy and not working right.I had a lot of shoulder arm and neck pain to so I went to my doctors who has done various tests .. i’ve had spine MRI blood tests CT scan on my brain everything is comeback clear. I now have similar symptoms in my right arm and have had burning and itching and tingling over various parts of my body . In the past I have suffered with thinking that there’s been things wrong with me and then worrying myself sick only to make it worse .So my doctor is under the impression that this is probably stress or anxiety related I have two young kids and I’m going out of my mind with worry that is something more serious like MS or MND .My Dr has given me tablets for nerve pain and anxiety.I have to see in the neurologist in a week and a half I’ve already looked on Google and made my situation a whole lot worse so I’m staying off dr Google now . I’ve never spoke to anyone about this or even admitted that I probably overthink things and make my situation worse I know the mind is a powerful thing but I just keep thinking surely it can’t make me feel like this .

allan07 Existential Thoughts and DP/DR.
  • replies: 2

For the last 5 Months I have experienced Existential Thoughts as well a sense of detachment from the world. Stressful/Anxious situations bring on this sensation as well when i have existential thoughts. These thoughts differ but are generally unanswe... View more

For the last 5 Months I have experienced Existential Thoughts as well a sense of detachment from the world. Stressful/Anxious situations bring on this sensation as well when i have existential thoughts. These thoughts differ but are generally unanswerable and intrusive. For example, How are we even here? What is the purpose of Life? Is Space endless? When i used to have these thoughts i was intrigued and astounded by the questions, yet nowadays it terrifies me. Making me feel great Angst and hopelessness. As well as these feelings it brings on a sense of derealiztion whereby the world feels like a dream world. This includes not Recognising myself in the mirror, a sense of disorientation and not feeling grounded, Questioning everything and imagining myself in situations of distress. Its as if my mind decides to put me into a state of anxiousness even in carefree situations like sitting watching TV. I have been trying Mindfulness techniques including breathing exercises, Meditation, and Yoga. And i have been doing everything i possibly can to alleviate these symptoms yet it feels as though i'm in a vicious cycle, that is spiralling out of control. When i was younger i experienced similar feelings of derelization and Anxiety in certain situations such as school assembly's, plane flights, heights, tunnels. Yet this only occurred during the experience and disappeared once i was out of those situations or i calmed myself down. Yet in my current state of mind, it is more generalised and obsessive in nature and takes up a lot of my daily thinking. I learnt to deal with my anxiety when i was younger through understanding it, facing the anxious situations and making it seem more normal. Yet my current situation is a whole new beast. Just wondering whether anyone else has experienced this, and can relate? Has any tips ideas for coping? Or can share successful inspiring stories to assist in helping myself and others battling.

becca_k Really Bad Health Anxiety Please Help Me
  • replies: 7

Hi My name is Rebecca... Last year i went through horrible anxiety and depression which was brought on by birth control pills. The symptoms i experienced were tingling in arms and legs, dizziness, heart palpitations, weakness in arms and legs, shortn... View more

Hi My name is Rebecca... Last year i went through horrible anxiety and depression which was brought on by birth control pills. The symptoms i experienced were tingling in arms and legs, dizziness, heart palpitations, weakness in arms and legs, shortness of breath, headaches, stiff neck, loss of appetite and muscle twitching. I was so scared that i was dying that i went to emergency nearly 3 times a week for 3 months. I was being reassured by doctors that i was fine but i still get anxious about my symptoms and feel like i have ms, als or that i am having a stroke. My Health anxiety is completely ruining my life. I am so scared that i am going die, i hate this feeling and i keep having body aches because of my anxiety. I am suffering and i have been on antidepressants and have seen psychologists, counsellors, neurologist and to no avail. I feel lost and worried that i will never ever be back to normal. I have started feeling depressed because of this. I really hate myself and i think i am so ugly inside and out. Please someone tell me i am not alone. I feel so, so overwhelmed and crippled. Even as i am writing this i cannot stop crying and i'm only 20 but i feel like i'm 80. I go uni and i work but i hate going because of my symptoms. I have no quality of life. I cannot afford a psychologist or psychiatrist anymore. I don't know what to do. I keep praying and trying to meditate. I am so worried that i am going to be left disabled. please someone help me...

dare12 I Don't think I can live like this.
  • replies: 3

Hey, so like I wake up in the morning and my brain instantly goes to thoughts of existential dread and what not which more often than not leads into a panic attack, and this cycle repeats through the day. Its often brought on by anxiety just about ge... View more

Hey, so like I wake up in the morning and my brain instantly goes to thoughts of existential dread and what not which more often than not leads into a panic attack, and this cycle repeats through the day. Its often brought on by anxiety just about general life like school and stuff but when it hits its this great panic that forces me to scream and run, like a fight or flight instinct. I couldn't tell you why this is but its getting to the point where I can't actually function and I'm not sure there's an answer to my problem. Sorry for the ramble complain.

Fording What's wrong with me - is it anxiety?
  • replies: 1

So for a while now I've been in a state of constant worry about everything in life, but to a point where it is no longer rational. Every day I fear that something random will happen which throw me off balance and upset any plans that I might have in ... View more

So for a while now I've been in a state of constant worry about everything in life, but to a point where it is no longer rational. Every day I fear that something random will happen which throw me off balance and upset any plans that I might have in my life - both things that are in my control and things that are not. I worry that my car will suddenly break down and I'll have to shell out a huge amount of money to fix it, and I won't be able to get to work for instance, and they'll think of me as a bad employee, and I'll never again get a job, etc. I worry that my computer will stop working and I won't be able to do any uni assignments, and I'll fail and drop out, and anything I've previously done is all moot. I worry that my 'friends', such as they are, are saying bad things behind my back and secretly hate me, and that I'll never get a GF or any close friends. Every time I go out, I'm worried that I dropped an important card or document somewhere, and that someone will pick it up and find out stuff about me, and that it'll all spiral out of control from there, etc. I can't even bring myself to make any plans more than a few days in advance, as I fear that something will come up to disrupt my schedule and that in the end, it'll all have been for nothing - maybe I'll get sick, or people will cancel, or the weather will turn bad and so on. This is where it's begun to affect my everyday life, as I struggle to bring myself to take any risks, or make commitments, or try anything new for fear of all the possible ways that it might be wrong. Now not only are my fears themselves exaggerated, but they are all things that one can bounce back from. And yet it continues to pervade my everyday life. I understand that everyone has stresses in their lives (and relatively speaking, mine are not that bad), but I can't help but worry and fret about everything. I don't know whether this qualifies as anxiety but it's something I really need to address, even though I haven't told anyone yet. Where can I go from here? Any advice is much appreciated.