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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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Ando Anxiety day to day.
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone. I am new here and very grateful to be able to connect with people with similar mental health issues. I have diagnosed anxiety, diagnosed PTSD and depression. I’m on medication snd see a psychiatrist and have just started seeing a psychol... View more

Hi everyone. I am new here and very grateful to be able to connect with people with similar mental health issues. I have diagnosed anxiety, diagnosed PTSD and depression. I’m on medication snd see a psychiatrist and have just started seeing a psychologist who is going to help me process some of the trauma. I guess I just wanted to say hi. To let you know that I work full time at a “high level” job. No one would really know how I am. I keep it hidden. So well. I’m supposed to be going to see the James Blunt concert tonight. But I won’t go. I just pull out of going everywhere unless someone is relying on me, then I try hard to go. But if it’s just me, I just don’t go. I also think I’ll take tomorrow off because my anxiety has been horrendous this weekend. I have the Sunday afternoon anxiety thing already and it is only 6.30am. I hope you can all have a calm day and have some joy.

Guest_10046 I Need Help With Health Anxiety
  • replies: 3

13.11.20249:43pm I need help with health anxiety. I have been struggling with health anxiety for about 7-8 years since I was 11 I am now 18. I have a fear of being sick or feeling sick more like. I have a fear of throwing up and it is majorly impacti... View more

13.11.20249:43pm I need help with health anxiety. I have been struggling with health anxiety for about 7-8 years since I was 11 I am now 18. I have a fear of being sick or feeling sick more like. I have a fear of throwing up and it is majorly impacting my daily, everyday routine and my whole life at this point! I am reaching out on this platform to try and get some advice or some instructions to how to reach out for help. I am embarrassed, I have major panic attacks, lose lots of weight and I am constantly anxious. I have been to a therapist before she moved to a different department. I went to Headspace, I only had one session, so I didn't even get to unpack much. I haven't told anyone the real reason why I have panic attacks. Because I have found it a really embarrassing reason. I want to know how to get CBT (Cognitive Behavorial Training), I need some advice (any advice is helpful), on how to reach out for help. I have done a lot of research, and the internet tells me to book an appointment with my local GP and they can refer me to a therapist. Looking forward to hearing from someone soon!Thank you, stay safe, take care!Charlimay04

Ranga-1 Student Teacher Struggling on Internship
  • replies: 5

I'm doing my internship (secondary). I have had a few lessons go really bad (and I mean REALLY bad) on me and the mentor and supervising teachers have told me they're not happy with the standard I'm teaching at and they won't sign off my internship i... View more

I'm doing my internship (secondary). I have had a few lessons go really bad (and I mean REALLY bad) on me and the mentor and supervising teachers have told me they're not happy with the standard I'm teaching at and they won't sign off my internship if they don't feel I'm ready. I'm so scared and upset. I completed a prac earlier this year and it went well. I was offered work from it. Now everything's going down the gurgler. Also, I work in home care. I didn't realise I had been rostered to work this morning (Saturday - they know I am not available through the week at the moment). I have been so wrapped up in internship that I didn't check my roster app - and I'm generally not rostered on Saturdays. I got a call from on-call to see where I was. I had a shock and said I would get to the client's house straight away - which I did. Given I'm normally a reliable employee, I don't think there will be any repercussions. It just added to my general anxiety. I hate this so much.

Guest_87363593 Anxiety
  • replies: 1

I have so much anxiety I have decided to let go of my boyfriend he has mental health issues and I can’t deal with the abuse any longer it’s so hard for me but I have to do this.

I have so much anxiety I have decided to let go of my boyfriend he has mental health issues and I can’t deal with the abuse any longer it’s so hard for me but I have to do this.

SilvaLady Disappearing
  • replies: 4

Is it normal wanting to disappear? I live with my brother and sister-in-law and I feel like I don’t want to live with them anymore. But I’m not able to, as I’m suffering from early stages of alzheimers. I recently been diagnosed with this condition. ... View more

Is it normal wanting to disappear? I live with my brother and sister-in-law and I feel like I don’t want to live with them anymore. But I’m not able to, as I’m suffering from early stages of alzheimers. I recently been diagnosed with this condition. It can be a bit hard at times, especially when I can’t cope with this

Spph Needing support.
  • replies: 2

Hi, I have suffered with anxiety over many years and normally I try to tackle it alone but now I admit to needing support. I'm glad of this forum and I think I will seek out counselling.

Hi, I have suffered with anxiety over many years and normally I try to tackle it alone but now I admit to needing support. I'm glad of this forum and I think I will seek out counselling.

JS9595 Severe health anxiety - scared I have lupus
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone I am so glad to have found this forum. I’m 31 yr old mum to two little kids and I suffer from severe health anxiety. It all started a few years ago when I was misdiagnosed with breast cancer. It was the scariest time of my life and I stil... View more

Hi everyone I am so glad to have found this forum. I’m 31 yr old mum to two little kids and I suffer from severe health anxiety. It all started a few years ago when I was misdiagnosed with breast cancer. It was the scariest time of my life and I still can recall the stress like it was yesterday! recently I’ve been feeling a bit off, dizzy etc so I went to the doctor to get my iron checked (I do occasionally have low iron) but everything came back fine.. except my ANA came back positive (and a pretty high positive at that). The doctor said that we will have to explore it further with more blood tests, but I can’t do those for another three months. She mentioned they would be looking for lupus.. once I heard that I FREAKED OUT. I have been crying and googling non stop about lupus, and all the complications that come with it. I’m scared I’m going to die and convinced myself I have it. I feel like my mental health and stress level is back where it was when I experienced the cancer misdiagnosis. I can’t sleep, I can’t focus on my kids and I am convinced I will die. I went back to speak to my doctor and she said that she was while I did have a positive ANA result, it does not confirm I do have lupus or even an autoimmune disease, but I have to wait the 3 months before the next blood test to rule it out. that made me feel a bit better but only for a short amount of time. I am back to googling, scanning my body for ANY and ALL signs of lupus. It’s making me crazy. I’m scared it’s attacking my brain, lungs and heart and I’ll have a heart attack! I am not sure what to do, or who to speak to. I just want to know I am ok for my kids. Any advice, support or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated. much love!

Olliepop My brother gives me anxitey!
  • replies: 24

My brother, middle child, is very pushy and narcissistic.He always thinks he is right, he always is so judgmental on people, hes rude, he doesn't listen, when we all reach our breaking points, then he pipes down a little bit.I blame my mother, for ne... View more

My brother, middle child, is very pushy and narcissistic.He always thinks he is right, he always is so judgmental on people, hes rude, he doesn't listen, when we all reach our breaking points, then he pipes down a little bit.I blame my mother, for never allowing my father to punish him and learn discipline at a young age like my older brother did. She forever covers for him, till this day.I find the more i avoid him, and a situation he is in the better. We do work together, which isnt easy, but avoiding him throughout the day i have learn how to manage.I have realized, anything that changes in my life, he over involves himself and sometimes i cant help but feel i have to start defending myself when he starts commenting, or asking too many questions.Recently, my husband left his job, which he was very unhappy in.My husband continues to provide, in his own ways, i just don't inform everyone on what he does, which to me is perfectly fine, and its none of anyones business. Were happy. We both have an income. There is nothing to talk about.My husband purchased me a brand new car, and recently sold my current. My husband is a thinker, if the new car is coming soon, why wait to sell the current when we can manage together getting to and from places, have the funds ready to lay into the new car when its time.My brother starts commenting, why sell the car before the new one?.. how can you both get around blah blah blah. If we manage, its none of your business. My husband has told my brother he left the previous job, but my brother still asks me acting dumb, and when i get on the defense explaining why things were done, he doesnt reply and ignores me.. in which i stated, you shouldn't judge situations when you dont know first hand how people feel. he snaps back with im not judging but that happens in all workplaces, it happens here, i even do it. For him to hear himself, i dont respond. and then i think he realized what he was saying then goes on pretending he hasn't made me react, so now IM the one who is upset and hes moved on acting all cool. I find the more i try to voice my opinion to make my brother back off, the worse it gets, but its also not okay NOT voicing my opinion too. My brother is easily jealous of situations, who has the better house, who has the better car, and when people move in silence, and he doesnt know whats going on, i believe he doesnt like that.Some advice on how to handle him please!Annoyed sister.

PokemonFan Power Games At Work
  • replies: 1

I work in a detached, open office where the workforce is divided into different groups but open office. This separation has created silos and communication barriers whilst forcing everyone who is a lower level to listen to everything. I took this low... View more

I work in a detached, open office where the workforce is divided into different groups but open office. This separation has created silos and communication barriers whilst forcing everyone who is a lower level to listen to everything. I took this low-level easy job to finish my degree, which I am nearing completion of. To manage the workload between full-time work and part-time study, I have adopted a growth mindset, believing that maintaining a positive attitude towards learning is key to staying motivated. Unfortunately, my positive attitude failed me, resulting in a 45-minute panic attack.Since I started this job, my manager has gone on maternity leave, and both the director and two support managers have quit. We currently have an acting manager for my department, but she is quite unpleasant.She frequently makes disparaging comments about people. These comments are so petty that no one will believe me unless they see her ugly side. Recently, she made hurtful remarks about our manager, who is on maternity leave. She suggested that a mother without family support would struggle to return to work and implied that she shouldn't come back because it is not possible to have a baby and be a manager. She also said that she does not want to give up her acting position, and if the maternity manager returns, she will have to watch her back.Her behaviour has caused many conflicts among the lower-level staff, yet she seems to please the senior management. Whenever she starts speaking, I try to find an excuse to leave and avoid her. This situation is impacting my growth mindset and causing me fear. She always talks down to me and treats me with disrespect. I want to quit, but I struggle to find time to job hunt between my studies.I'm looking forward to the school holidays to begin my search for a new job. Do you have any tips on how to ignore her?

Steve23 Something needs to change
  • replies: 6

Hi There, If you’re reading this I hope you’re ok. I’ve had issues with sleeping since I was 18. I’m now almost 29. For the past year I’ve been in my worst sleep cycle ever. I started reading about sleep deprivation and the effects on the body of not... View more

Hi There, If you’re reading this I hope you’re ok. I’ve had issues with sleeping since I was 18. I’m now almost 29. For the past year I’ve been in my worst sleep cycle ever. I started reading about sleep deprivation and the effects on the body of not getting enough sleep. Without going too far into it, I know it’s not good and 10 years of sleep deprivation cannot be reversed and I know my lifespan is shortened significantly because of it (when I say sleep deprivation I get less than 20 hrs sleep per week, and not all of that is quality sleep either). I try to physically exhaust myself by running in the middle of the night or early morning, going to 24hr gyms. I work so hard at the office each day, alienating myself from colleagues and not taking breaks because I just want to completely exhaust myself so I can fall asleep that night. None of this has worked. I can take 2 sleeping pills and 2 melatonins and not get a single second of sleep. I’m beginning to think that it’s nothing to do with my body. But my mind. Here are some of the reasons why I think this: 1) Whenever I get my blood pressure tested, it is always through the roof. I even had to take a blood pressure machine home for a month and I eventually worked out that when I really try to calm down and breathe I can actually reduce my reading. But does this mean when I am not totally focussed on being calm, I am constantly stressed and in high blood pressure? 2) I feel like 24/7 I am always shaking. My chest feels tight. My breath is shaky. My hands are not steady. I’m thinking negative or worrying thoughts and rarely thinking positively. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, what can be done? I’m at a complete loss and I am so tired. thanks, Steve

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