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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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Lofty2314 Breathing Difficulties / Health Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi, Going back a couple of years ago now I had a severe panic attack, the first I'd ever really had and I haven't been the same since, I've had difficulty breathing with really shallow breathing and sometimes gasp for air like I can't get the oxygen ... View more

Hi, Going back a couple of years ago now I had a severe panic attack, the first I'd ever really had and I haven't been the same since, I've had difficulty breathing with really shallow breathing and sometimes gasp for air like I can't get the oxygen down through my throat to my stomach with ease and then back up and out again, it's like I've forgotten how to breath normally and of course when it happens I freak out that somethings wrong with me and it makes it worse I panic and can't control it at all. I have been to 2/3 different GPs, been checked for a hiatus hernia, had Asthma / allergy tests, blood tests, scans, the lot yet everything has come back fine not one doctor has been overly concerned and said my results look good I'm all clear yet I am still convinced something severe is wrong with me and can't get it out of my head. Has anyone else experienced anything like this before or currently dealing with something similar? I feel so trapped and just want my breathing and life to return to normal without living in fear. I feel like medication may be the next step as I've seen a psychologist about it a while back and openly discussed it with a couple of people the doctors included and tried some natural remedies but nothing seems to fix it although I have had a couple of good patches where it's completely gone for a bit I've returned to normal and forgotten I even had the problem but it always seems to return like something is triggering it which leads me to believe it's severe anxiety. my throat feels closed over, I have difficulty swallowing food, feel uptight in the chest and uneasy/irritable constantly! Please help!

jg1996 My anxiety story (pointers needed!)
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I’m a newbie on here! Just thought I would try something new and put my story out there to try and get another solution/ some tips to manage my anxiety. It started a few months ago when I was super busy at work. I started making a few mi... View more

Hi everyone, I’m a newbie on here! Just thought I would try something new and put my story out there to try and get another solution/ some tips to manage my anxiety. It started a few months ago when I was super busy at work. I started making a few mistakes and then it would affect the end result of the job. I coped with it, but i dwelled on the thought of it and I got worse, to the point where I would panic every day on my way to work (just an FYI, I absolutely love my job and the people I work with). My manager started to get concerned and asked if I was ok and offered to take me to the doctor. I said it’s ok and I went myself that very afternoon. The doctor asked me questions and then sent me for a blood test and an ECG heart scan. The results came back and they were all perfect, not a thing wrong with me. The anxiety got worse and The doctor recommended I go see a physiologist. I have been 4 times and I feel like it isn’t working. I freaked out that bad one day that I ended off going back to the doctor and they gave me a light anti depressants. It started working and now it isn’t working anymore. It’s like they aren’t strong enough. I don’t know what to do anymore, my stomach is tight, my chest is tight, i constantly worry about everything and the worst part is I just want to give up and quit. I hate everything about what this anxiety has done to me, it’s turned me into a different person. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how I can handle this or calm myself down a bit. Thank you.

CJ1998 Health Anxiety
  • replies: 9

Hi everyone, This is my first post here, and I just wanted to see if anyone is or has experienced anything similar to what I am currently experiencing. I have always been an anxious person since childhood, especially when I have a lot going on (Juggl... View more

Hi everyone, This is my first post here, and I just wanted to see if anyone is or has experienced anything similar to what I am currently experiencing. I have always been an anxious person since childhood, especially when I have a lot going on (Juggling work and study commitments). It has never affected my ability to go about my daily activities until recently. One day I was driving to uni when I began feeling anxious which led to heart palpitations and caused me to almost pass out at the wheel. Ever since then my anxiety has spiraled out of control as I have a fear of this situation happening again. I am too afraid to drive most places as I instantly feel anxious as soon as I get behind a wheel. I also fear going anywhere in public in case these symptoms appear again. I have visited the doctors and had tests done and they have put these symptoms down to anxiety. I can't seem to get the idea out of my head that there must be another health issue causing such severe symptoms. Now it seems like everyday I am experiencing a racing heart, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and dizziness. Has anyone else experienced these types of issues? What did you do to overcome these worries? I am constantly overthinking and it is affecting my ability to go about my daily life.

TheAnxiousOne Cant catch a breath/Breathing Anxiety symptoms?
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I’ve been on meds for anxiety for just over a month now. A couple of days after I started taking the tablets I noticed how I was unable to take a deep breath when i needed it, and It would come suddenly as a wave and it would feel like someon... View more

Hi all, I’ve been on meds for anxiety for just over a month now. A couple of days after I started taking the tablets I noticed how I was unable to take a deep breath when i needed it, and It would come suddenly as a wave and it would feel like someone is pressing down on my chest and throat. Oddly enough, at times I feel like it’s coming from the abdomen traveling all the way up into my chest and then throat making it super hard to breathe. anyone else experiencing this? It’s terrifying thanks in advance

gingerlocks Anxiety is taking over my life need help coping
  • replies: 1

Hi, this is my first time doing something like this. I have been anxious as long as I can remember, it flairs up bad now and again and I have never had good coping strategies for dealing with stressful situations. I am currently waiting on Visa news ... View more

Hi, this is my first time doing something like this. I have been anxious as long as I can remember, it flairs up bad now and again and I have never had good coping strategies for dealing with stressful situations. I am currently waiting on Visa news and its only been 6 days and I am a wreck, I cant eat, I cant sleep, i feel constantly sick and the negativity is really getting to me. I cant turn to anyone for help and I dont know how to get through this waiting period I am not dealing well with life at all at the moment and Would love if someone could help me with some coping methods. Iv tried to keep busy and to breath through it but that doesnt work i am far to inside my own head and I just dont know how much longer I can deal with this

tpman Loooking for some help with anxiety relapse
  • replies: 1

Hi, I have pretty serious anxiety and depression (currently on a disability). I have been stable for the past year or so, still depressed, but anxiety and panic/agitation (the worse of the two evils) has resurfaced. There was a preety huge trigger a ... View more

Hi, I have pretty serious anxiety and depression (currently on a disability). I have been stable for the past year or so, still depressed, but anxiety and panic/agitation (the worse of the two evils) has resurfaced. There was a preety huge trigger a cpl nights ago which sent me into a high panic and agitation and I think i'm just experiencing the residule affects of that ? I guess when your anxiety and panic is under control for so long you kinda of 'forget' what it feels like, so when it comes back and hits you its really scary. I am trying to see it for what it is, a relapse due to trigger, and im hoping it will pass soon. I'm trying my best to take it really easy at the moment, which for me, is just staying in my room resting and zoning in out in an online game on my laptop. Not healthy I know, but right now its hard to do all the 'healthy things', I just feel I need some time to calm down so I'm going to be gentle with myself for a while. Feeling very fragile. Thanks for reading, and any response is welcome, just feel I needed to vent :(. It helps alot getting my thoughts out of my head, even just typing them out.

AnotherOne12 I need positive stories of people who have overcome panic disorders agoraphobia
  • replies: 2

Since March this year, I had one major panic attack and have been stuck in a loop feeling mini anxiety attacks 10 times a day. Places I used to go to now give me a feeling of anxiety. Whats worse is its accompanied by feeling off balance and dizzy. I... View more

Since March this year, I had one major panic attack and have been stuck in a loop feeling mini anxiety attacks 10 times a day. Places I used to go to now give me a feeling of anxiety. Whats worse is its accompanied by feeling off balance and dizzy. I need some serious help. I need to hear positive stories pf how to overcome this from people who have overcome this type of panic and anxiety.

Tasguy Alternative treatment
  • replies: 2

Hi wondering has anyone tried hypnotherapy or acupuncture for gad

Hi wondering has anyone tried hypnotherapy or acupuncture for gad

Shaker56 Breathing - Square Breathing
  • replies: 1

My shrink told me about Square Breathing (I’d never heard of it) & it has helped me immensely. It trains you to learn to how relax with deeper breathing. Generally do the exercises for 5 minutes 4 times a day. Even when you do get better, keep doing ... View more

My shrink told me about Square Breathing (I’d never heard of it) & it has helped me immensely. It trains you to learn to how relax with deeper breathing. Generally do the exercises for 5 minutes 4 times a day. Even when you do get better, keep doing it. YouTube has many videos explaining this method - choose one that you like. I hope it helps you too..

Lofty2314 Eating Anxiety / Swallowing difficulties
  • replies: 2

Hi, for the past 6 months if not longer I've developed and really been struggling with eating / swallowing mainly in public, now the thought of going out to a cafe or restaurant for breakfast lunch or dinner terrifies me as I worry about it before I ... View more

Hi, for the past 6 months if not longer I've developed and really been struggling with eating / swallowing mainly in public, now the thought of going out to a cafe or restaurant for breakfast lunch or dinner terrifies me as I worry about it before I get there, I get set off by everything around me and the different smells, feel nausea come on rapidly, like I'm going to be sick, I can't chew or get my food down and enjoy it like I used to be able to, I've never had issues in the past and always loved food and eating. It's really impacting me as I feel I can't go out to eat or take my girlfriend out to a nice dinner in fear of how I'll react. Feels like I've got a lump in my throat constantly like I'm all uptight and the muscles aren't relaxed nothing just flows down into my stomach like the good old days prior to this. I've also developed really shallow breathing which doesn't help and I've been checked and cleared for asthma and had bloods done for allergies etc and everything come back fine. Has anyone else experienced this and what did you do/take to overcome it? It's getting me really down and taken away a big part of my quality of life. I used to life going to the pub with my mates for a feed now it's a daunting thought, I rather just stay at home and eat in my comfort zone in case I do get that sick/can't swallow my food feeling, it's like I've forgotten how to swallow in public, I feel it must be a severe anxiety i've developed for whater reason.. If anyone can help that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.