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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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Nervybella Do you have a security blanket? Doesn't have to be a blanket...
  • replies: 3

I'm sitting here trying to apply for jobs and feeling generally miserable, I thought of this thread idea after a phone all from my mum - offering her support and being generally lovely... Do you have a "comfort blanket" person or thing? For me its my... View more

I'm sitting here trying to apply for jobs and feeling generally miserable, I thought of this thread idea after a phone all from my mum - offering her support and being generally lovely... Do you have a "comfort blanket" person or thing? For me its my mum. I'm an only child and she really is my best friend I would have to say. When the going gets tough she just knows what to say or do to comfort me. I know I am so lucky to have her... and yet, I just can't stop my mind from going where I don't want it to go.... one day she won't be here. Then what?? The thought makes me sick to my stomach and I burst into tears. I don't have many other people on my family. Only a few friends, and I am woried I will never have a partner or children of my own.. so one day I will be all by myself. I am scared Sh*itless for that day.... how will I be able to do anything?! Anyway I guess my real question here is - does anyone else have a support person or object maybe that they did lose somehow? What did you do? How did you cope? When I get caught up in my anxiety I just can't help but go to these thoughts of my Mum dying and here I am.... all alone best Bella.

Kate_21 My life has been taken over by social anxiety
  • replies: 1

For the past two and a half years, although I've never been professionally diagnosed by a doctor, I've been suffering from what I'm pretty certain is social anxiety. This constant feeling of anxiousness, loneliness and emptiness has completely and ut... View more

For the past two and a half years, although I've never been professionally diagnosed by a doctor, I've been suffering from what I'm pretty certain is social anxiety. This constant feeling of anxiousness, loneliness and emptiness has completely and utterly consumed my life; I'm terrified of so many things regarding social situations. My fears have left me isolated and without friends, I don't want anyone acknowledging my existence and always want to be alone. I distanced myself from the only two friends I had left because I've become so dysfunctional as a person who can barely maintain friendships or conversation, and they don't deserve to deal with someone me. I can't even trust my own family with my mental health because none of them take me seriously, they think they know me better than I know myself and try to tell me how I'm feeling rather than listening to what I'm actually telling them. Social anxiety is all I have left of me; I'm less than half the person I used to be and day by day my personality is just disintegrating. I'm completely lost within myself and don't know how to escape my feelings. If there's anyone out there reading this that relates to my struggles, I am sending you nothing but unconditional love and support. Please stay strong and remember that there is always a way out of the dark tunnel. I believe in you with all of my being.

tiredgirl10 Constant anxiety :(
  • replies: 3

Hi Everyone I suffer from a terrible anxiety that leads me to feel paranoid about everything. I have been raised by a family who doesnt believe in anxiety or depression they think people needs to get over it. I have felt this way about it too until r... View more

Hi Everyone I suffer from a terrible anxiety that leads me to feel paranoid about everything. I have been raised by a family who doesnt believe in anxiety or depression they think people needs to get over it. I have felt this way about it too until recently when i started experiencing strong anxiety. I realised i have always lived with it since i was a child (i am 39 now) but never gave it any thoughts just continued my life. My husband has terrible depression at times but i never really paid attantion to it as he seem to call a bad day at work a depression as well so i kinda after a while lost sympathy for him. I feel like now i am paying for it. Bad bad anxiety comes out of the blue. Constantly panicking what if something happens to me or my children. I feel useless because i have been a stay at home mum the past 10 years. I feel nobody will want to employ me after this big gap. I really just feel not happy and i cant tell anyone about it as i have always been the tough person when it comes to controlling emotions. As i said until i started realising what i am going through and experiencing is something completly out of my control i didnt belive its possible not to have any control over our feelings. I live my life daily masking it from my husband and friends how i really feel. They see the lovely smiley person as i always but inside i am falling a part. Nobody knows how i feel and i just wanna break free from this anxious feeling and thinking i am worthless. Not sure if thats matter or not but just wanted to mention i never ever done drugs i dont drink or have any problems like this.

PilbaraMumma Feeling in control and joyous before spiralling?
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone. I've not posted on forums about this before but I was wondering if anyone had had a similar experience. I've been battling anxiety for a number of years but it has really amped up since I fell pregnant with bub number 2 and things, while... View more

Hi everyone. I've not posted on forums about this before but I was wondering if anyone had had a similar experience. I've been battling anxiety for a number of years but it has really amped up since I fell pregnant with bub number 2 and things, while improving, haven't quite been the same since. One this I have noticed is that I will have a sense of extreme happiness, joy and/or contentment and feeling in control about 12 hours before I have a meltdown. I will go from feeling on top of the world to a huge spiral out of control after a very small trigger such as an expression or comment or even just a thought I have myself. It's seems strange to me, almost like coming down from a natural high or something. Does this happen to anyone else?

Sha05 Social anxiety and our culture of forced positivity
  • replies: 1

I think i'm here because even though i have 3 good friends and a normal nuclear family, there's no one in my life i can talk to. So i'm hoping that maybe just the act of typing out my feelings will make me feel better. I'm 33 years old. I have social... View more

I think i'm here because even though i have 3 good friends and a normal nuclear family, there's no one in my life i can talk to. So i'm hoping that maybe just the act of typing out my feelings will make me feel better. I'm 33 years old. I have social anxiety and have spent my whole life not being able to get along with people and dealing with the hurt and pain from that. A few years ago i recognised that a lot of my problems with people were due to my immaturity, bad behavior and unpleasant social habits. So i did a lot of inner work and things with people have definitely improved so much. However now i'm starting to realize that people only like me better because i'm appearing positive and happy all the time. I make sure to ask about themselves, make them feel good, am supportive and just try to be a good conversationalist. I try to be like this 99% of the time however it's IMPOSSIBLE to be like this all the time. The times where i do 'slip up' and start confiding my issues because i need someone to talk to, people immediately turn away. And i'm not referring to strangers but my good friends or colleagues i'm closer to. This is so incredibly painful i can't even begin to describe the hurt. We seem to live in an awful world where positivity is so prized that forced positivity is valued above everything else. People are just expected to be super positive all the time with only good thoughts and good words. People who are very sick or disabled are only in the news if they are wonderfully positive and happy and putting out content in their vlogs or social media about how happy and strong they are. I understand that these people are inspirations for others but it contributes to the culture of stuffing everything deep down. What happened to being allowed to feel your feelings once in awhile? What happened to being able to reach out and say to your friend, "Hey i'm feeling shit today. It won't last forever but in the meantime i'd really appreciate someone to talk to"? This is so dangerous because you're basically telling someone that they should only talk to a professional about their problems. And if they can't afford it, then too bad. I understand no one likes a negative nancy but i'm not talking about someone who's negative and unpleasant all the time, i'm talking about that 1% where you just need someone to hear you out because you're going through a difficult time. I feel like even that's not allowed anymore.

Guest5643 Sleepwalking???
  • replies: 6

I just put went to remove a cd in my player and noticed it was already out and in case and a different cd was in. I know with my tbis my memorys not what it was 2 yrs ago. BUT I CAN SAY WITH 100% ASSURITY I DID NOT KNOWINGLY DO THIS! Theres onky 2 co... View more

I just put went to remove a cd in my player and noticed it was already out and in case and a different cd was in. I know with my tbis my memorys not what it was 2 yrs ago. BUT I CAN SAY WITH 100% ASSURITY I DID NOT KNOWINGLY DO THIS! Theres onky 2 conclusions. Someone has broke in and is screwing with me or im sleepwalking. I have slept walked in the past witnessed by my mum. I have incredibly vivid stressful dreams. I have regular night terrors and nightmares. Have i been blasting music during the night without realising. My dog cant tell me. I cant ask my neighbours next to me cause there rude ########. I dont think someones broke in while ive been out because my dog hasnt smelt the carpet like someones been in. Hes incredibly sensitive and very protective so he would give me a sign. I need a camera to record myself while asleep. Does anyone know where the best place is to buy a cheapish easy to use one. I hate technology so its essential its a simple record and play back. Ps i havnt been on any knew medications for a long time. The only knew thing is vitamin b12 injections over the last yr. Cheers lynne Cheers lynne

Avo I’m new! Not new to anxiety; need some support (maybe more for females)
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I’m new to this forum but not new to anxiety. I guess I suffer GAD and health anxiety. to cut a long story short, it all started for me after becoming sick on holidays. I was sick with a bug for say 10 days but after returning home had convin... View more

Hi all, I’m new to this forum but not new to anxiety. I guess I suffer GAD and health anxiety. to cut a long story short, it all started for me after becoming sick on holidays. I was sick with a bug for say 10 days but after returning home had convinced myself that I had some incurable parasite! I was still sick with nausea and diarrhoea of course but at the time I didn’t know it was due to anxiety. After much research and learning (and doctors clean bill of health) 4 months later I accepted it was due to anxiety and slowly very slowly recover began. That was about 9 years ago! I have very very vivid memories of this. Anyway there have been many ups and downs along the way but generally had been doing pretty well. 6 months ago I had a baby, with 2 other kids already life is busy. Hubby works long hours and no help from grandparents etc. stress has been building, sleep deprived to the max. to now... about 3 weeks ago I got a UTI (urinary tract infection) my rational mind, no big deal right, went to doc, positive urine test, got the antibiotics and began to feel better. This seems to have triggered something in me. I had absolutely convinced myself that I would have the UTI forever and I was completely doomed. So I knew the UTI had cleared up but my mind and anxiety I suppose had already taken over causing sensations and thoughts. Sensations like tingling ‘down there’ questioning whether I need to go to the toilet, what colour is the urine, googling, did that sting, a little but OMG OMG I’m doomed. I must say that after 3 kids I am one that goes to the toilet often so this is not unusual! i went back to the doc for reassurance had another urine test, and test for any other nasties common in females and it’s all clear (as I knew it would be) so now I’m stuck. I am so hypersensitive I am noticing everything ‘down there’ and questioning, googling etc. I have diagnosed myself with many things trust me. Prior to the UTI I never gave going to the bathroom a second thought. I’m sure we all have random sensations all the time but when we are not in a over sensitised state we don’t give the sensation a second thought. so I some help with how to manage this. Those of you familiar with recovery techniques, would know about acceptance. This is extremely difficult when it all feels so real. You just want to keep questioning things. I have gotten through this before and know it will pass but I’m just feeling a bit stuck and hopeless at the moment.

it2ly How do I make friends when everyone thinks I'm shy?
  • replies: 2

So I just moved schools and I've made two proper friends.. ish... eh.. And im trying to join their friend group.. but I have social anxiety and I come off as a super shy sensitive person. But in reality Im really really tomboyish, I am really chill a... View more

So I just moved schools and I've made two proper friends.. ish... eh.. And im trying to join their friend group.. but I have social anxiety and I come off as a super shy sensitive person. But in reality Im really really tomboyish, I am really chill and extremely loud and the muck around type and meme type yet Im terrified to show them that because yeah they are weird too but whenever I unleash a bit of my true self I get glares from some of the members in the group. And confusing looks... Its really hard to be social and loud when everyone thinks I'm super shy.. what can I do? Its just as weird when my friend knows im super weird and loud and then sees me talk to her friends in a awkward manner PLEASE HELP

kPo I work full time - currently experiencing elevated anxiety - and take illicit substances to cope with the workload
  • replies: 1

This is my first time posting - but i don't know where else to get proper advice. I work full time, live in a regional town with thousands of others but am here alone. It's the night before my 25th birthday (40 mins away), and I want to get help - Ca... View more

This is my first time posting - but i don't know where else to get proper advice. I work full time, live in a regional town with thousands of others but am here alone. It's the night before my 25th birthday (40 mins away), and I want to get help - Can I go to the hospital? I need to get off this s**t (ice) but I'm afraid I'll lose my job because I'll be unable to keep up with work demands. Up until recently I've been doing moderately well, considering what I've been putting in my body. I've somehow to managed to hold my job, but I know I'm on my last leg with them. They're aware of my anxiety issues, to some extent. But each time I have a rough patch and am unable to attend work, or I need to leave due to an overbearing situation, I'm left feeling hollow and feeling like my words are falling on deaf ears. They "understand" what I'm going through, but do nothing to help otherwise. I can't talk to my workplace about the extent of my issues, that would be highly inappropriate and would definitely get me fired. I know it's stupid - smoking ice to stay awake and do work. But I can't blame work entirely. I've known for a while that I started smoking it to cope with a relationship breakdown with my partner (same sex btw). What do I do? I am so dedicated to this job. Not many queer POC in their early 20s gets a senior corporate job. But I want to leave. Money is the main issue holding me in, but the longer I stay I feel like more and more is going to this addiction and further elevating the anxiety. They're aware to some extent of my elevated anxiety issues, but I feel they're on their last breath with me and I hate the thought of burdening others with my issues. I work with some absolutely lovely people, so know that it isn't the people I work with that triggers my anxiety... it's the constant thought of failure; of disappointing those who have given so much to me; of being viewed as "just another queer, drug addicted person of colour". I don't want to be viewed by labels, I want to be seen by the way I convey my words, by the way I express feelings to people around me, I want to connect to other people but anxiety holds me back. Methamphetamines are definitely no solution, just a bandaid into dull my brain. I don't live far from the hospital, and will head there shortly. I just want to know if other people have wound up in a similar situation.

Guest_8790 Panic attacks
  • replies: 2

This subject is not new but to me I am sick of the random moments when I panic. I don't seem to be able to stop or think before acting on actions. For instance I had to pick someone up from a location I was not sure of and they sent me a screenshot o... View more

This subject is not new but to me I am sick of the random moments when I panic. I don't seem to be able to stop or think before acting on actions. For instance I had to pick someone up from a location I was not sure of and they sent me a screenshot of location but still had issues. I then started to get angry and panicky and they kept phoning me while driving and I ended up in tears and anger. Eventually found my GPS was not on and once on, found the person. I was so exhausted and upset it took me 20 mins to calm down and they had to drive instead. Why am I so not able to change? I am heartily sick of myself... I have been seeing psychologist and mental health facility but still not changing. I feel I am fighting a losing battle.

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