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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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Aabb Anxiety without panic attacks?
  • replies: 6

Do I have anxiety if I dont have panic attacks? Or at least not in the chest tightening sense. I feel weight on my shoulders and chest. It's not smothering more like a burden. I'm self obsessed and tend to believe that people dont like me or that I'm... View more

Do I have anxiety if I dont have panic attacks? Or at least not in the chest tightening sense. I feel weight on my shoulders and chest. It's not smothering more like a burden. I'm self obsessed and tend to believe that people dont like me or that I'm doing something wrong. Or that people treat me differently because they dont like me. I always act confident outside of the home or in front of the kids. But to myself or my husband I let the sadness out. Right now I feel trapped and numb at the same time. I hate my house is a mess, my cars a mess but I dont do anything about it. I'm numb. I cant. What a bad excuse and I hate myself for it. I just want to be on my own, wallow a bit but I cant. I have a family. They need me to be strong. But the weight is constantly there. Sometimes I'm happy, the confidences is real and I have so many ideas and plans I'm a whole person again. Not whatever this thing is I become before I can claw my way out. What's wrong with me?

Mayla Feeling like no one cares abour your emotions. Asking you 'how is your mental state?'
  • replies: 6

Lately my anxiety has turned into rage. Some people around me i have had relationship problems with for years and they turn around to me and tell me its all in my head. That i need to go see someone. I know for a fact its not in my head. Everyonr aro... View more

Lately my anxiety has turned into rage. Some people around me i have had relationship problems with for years and they turn around to me and tell me its all in my head. That i need to go see someone. I know for a fact its not in my head. Everyonr around me has seen how this person treats me. But apparently im the bad guy because i confront the situation? Its turned my anxiety into rage. I scream. And i feel physical pain inside me that i know if i release out i will hurt someone. So the littke things now annoy me. Rage takes over but i burry it deep. And now i overthink and make up scenarios in my mind bc i cant talk to anyone about this because its not important to anyone around me. I'm selfish now to feel this way. Why is it that when i express my emotions no one cares? And when i dont express anything still no one cares? Its crazy. I havd no idea what to do

Chippy1759 Feeling very unstable at the moment
  • replies: 1

Hi all. Where to begin? I have no idea. My mental illness has finally end a beautiful relationship with the most awesome person. It finally happened! I’ve always been over hyper and often the other pole, depressed. But in the last few months I’ve bec... View more

Hi all. Where to begin? I have no idea. My mental illness has finally end a beautiful relationship with the most awesome person. It finally happened! I’ve always been over hyper and often the other pole, depressed. But in the last few months I’ve become unhinged. I don’t mean totally mad! Just unhinged for me. Yesterday I refused to come home from work! We own (owned) a shop and worked it together. Although retail being what it is. I was working ridiculous hours often 14hrs per day. Just so you get the picture. My problem is I take on far too much and ended up exhausted and snappy! Why do I do that? I’m very upset right now so will leave it at that

Mum_of_anxious_son Anxiety response from son when in trouble at school
  • replies: 2

Hi, My 11 year old son is typically a “good kid” at home and at school - active in a range of sports, achieving well academically and generally easy to get along with. He has just had his third incident at school this year and has now been suspended ... View more

Hi, My 11 year old son is typically a “good kid” at home and at school - active in a range of sports, achieving well academically and generally easy to get along with. He has just had his third incident at school this year and has now been suspended for two days. background: he is a sport house captain at his school, had to write and application and give a speech in front of peers and get voted in. This was a big deal for him as he gets anxious being the centre of attention. He is very proud of being a house captain. he can be quick to react when frustrated incident 1 at school - playground dispute over cricket rules, physical scuffle amongst a group of boys, warned that he could lose his house captain badge. incident 2 at school - (7 weeks after first incident) bullied by another student about his size (he is small). Punched another student in the arm when she took one of his belongings and refused to return it. He had a complete meltdown and refused to go to the office (was panicked about having his house badge taken away). Ended up on in school suspension for 2 days, missed out on attending swimming carnival. incident 3 at school - (12 weeks after incident 2) has missed 3 days of school due to state level sports carnival. He has been worried about the amount of work and assessment he has to catch up on after being away. Is tired and a bit run down (end of term). Spoke to his teacher Tuesday morning to let her know he was feeling on edge (we have had a number of meetings with her around his anxieties). Spoke to teacher again on Friday morning - more specific about his concerns with assessment tasks. During the day, he called his teacher an idiot when he felt that she wasn’t helping him. Deputy called to room, son apologised to his teacher. Returned to class and kept working (had been kept in both breaks to catch up on work). During second break deputy returned to say son needed to go and work in the office for the afternoon, son refuses to go and goes into meltdown again. Is now suspended for 2 days for not following deputy’s instructions. When I asked why didn’t he just go, he said he thought he would lose his house badge. I am worried about his response when asked to go to the office - it seems like he goes in to “flight, fight or freeze” mode as he says he can’t think, his feelings just take over. I’m looking for stategies to support him when he gets into trouble so that it doesn’t blow up into something bigger than it should be.

waxlarry28 Not sure what to do anymore.
  • replies: 3

I recently have gone through a lot of anxiety and depression issues, and recently have a lot of trouble with what the internet seems to describe as ‘Harm OCD’. I feel like I’ve lost all motivation, drive, and my anxieties are eating me up because I d... View more

I recently have gone through a lot of anxiety and depression issues, and recently have a lot of trouble with what the internet seems to describe as ‘Harm OCD’. I feel like I’ve lost all motivation, drive, and my anxieties are eating me up because I don’t know what I want to do anymore. I wake up and I’m stressed and go to sleep stressed. Even though I’ve never had anger issues, never hurt anyone, lately I can’t get extremely vivid thoughts of hurting others or myself out of my head and I’ve scared myself into thinking I’m some kind of monster that’s losing my mind. I don’t fear I will hurt anyone but I’m really struggling to find a way to get through all of this, and I honestly feel lost. Does anyone have any advice or experience anything similar? I would love to know how people have dealt with these thoughts, while managing to get their motivation and hope alive again. I’m just scared that this is me now

SweetAmara Anxiety is running my academic career!
  • replies: 1

Since finishing school, seven years ago, I tried to study at university. Each time I tried to settle into a new school, my general and social anxiety would become unbearable, I'd try to keep up but I get behind and withdraw. It got to the point where... View more

Since finishing school, seven years ago, I tried to study at university. Each time I tried to settle into a new school, my general and social anxiety would become unbearable, I'd try to keep up but I get behind and withdraw. It got to the point where I couldn't leave the house and ended up studying online, at three different distance education schools. I still haven't finished. I ended up three classes short of graduating. So I gave up last year and the only thing I have to remind me is the HECS debt that highlights how I failed repeatedly at achieving my dreams. Fast-forward to this year, where my boss asked me to undertake a Diploma to further myself in my early childhood career, I agreed and was really excited about it. This year I'm also getting married, buying a house, a couple of months ago my aunt died, my foster brother has been charged with two assaults and my biological brother has distanced himself from our family. I started off strong. I was so proud of myself for doing the first assessment and getting organised. I couldn't do on campus, so I've been working and studying, they end up changing my lecturer and I didn't even know. Then I received feedback for that assessment telling me they wanted more detail and expected a higher standard as its diploma level. It broke something in me and I froze all over again. I tried my best to keep going, but with my Auntie's illness and then death, I just didn't have the energy. The school didn't contact me or provide any information about what else I should be doing. No subject list, assignment deadlines, no nothing. I honestly knew nothing about what I should be doing, I worked on the at-work task book and just kept going. Then the tutor messaged a few days ago and said that she hope I'm well, but they haven't heard from me and I'm in danger of losing my funding. I don't want to repeat old mistakes. I really want to grow. But the pressure and anxiety I feel around studying buries me. I want this lady to believe I can achieve this. I want to change. Fear of failure is destroying me. Please help!

M25t Anxiety & Depression (may trigger anxiety)
  • replies: 4

Hi all , i have suffered from depression and anxiety for many years now. I am a very introverted person, personally i refuse to leave the house unless im working or i need groceries. I honestly dont have any friends because i find it easier and i pre... View more

Hi all , i have suffered from depression and anxiety for many years now. I am a very introverted person, personally i refuse to leave the house unless im working or i need groceries. I honestly dont have any friends because i find it easier and i prefer not to have any. I have found new things about myself that have developed over the past few months which i find interesting and wondering if anyone experiences that same thing. So a few months ago i find many many things trigger my anxiety. I will give you examples, So when this trigger first happened i was sitting on my lounge watching a movie and on the corner of my eye i watch my sister spill oil all over the kitchen floor and proceed to mop it up with a DRY MOP. Why? Is exactly what i asked myself. When i saw that my anxiety got instantly triggered, i felt so angry and fustrated. I couldnt breathe , i felt like i was chocking. I had to get up, i stopped what i was doing and deep cleaned the entire house. I wanted to scream and throw things but i felt like i needed to get everything clean before i can relax. I dont have OCD but ever since this day everytime i see my house dirty especially the tiles on the floor it triggers anger and anxiety. another thing that triggers my anxiety is when a person keeps putting stress on me (i dont mean work) mostly family members. A particular family member will stress me out to the point where i will experience panic episodes, whenever i have panic episodes i deal with it myself either i will go to my room or the bathroom and try and breathe. My family doesnt know i suffer from anxiety but they do know i suffer from depression and because of my depression they try to help my it makes it worse. For example my brother will get me to do these daily tasks like read a book and write down what i learnt and that in itself triggers my anxiety and i get so angry, i know they are trying to help but at the same time they make me feel stupid especially the way they talk to me its like they talk slow on purpose and then ask me if i understand what they mean. I find also that when i am really really stressed out , sometimes i am that stressed out to the point i feel calm. Its difficult to explain. I have never posted anything like this anywhere nor spoken about my mental health. Share your story down below i would love to read and reply.

SilverJ Scared of death/suffering
  • replies: 6

I am petrified of dying. At least once a day, I end up thinking about those close to me dying, and whether they will suffer. The thought of my mother, father, siblings dying really terrifies me - It scares me to the point of tears for hours on end. I... View more

I am petrified of dying. At least once a day, I end up thinking about those close to me dying, and whether they will suffer. The thought of my mother, father, siblings dying really terrifies me - It scares me to the point of tears for hours on end. I sometimes feel the urge to check up on my mother, and I worry when she goes quiet. I hate seeing her upset, or unwell. I don't know what I'd do without her, I don't want her to feel pain or suffering. I am scared of myself dying - I worry about what it feels like, when will it happen. I worry so much about leaving people on this earth, and not being able to see them ever again. I understand some of these views are unrealistic, I understand it probably sounds like absolute nonsense - But I need help, I cant accept death and I cry every single day about it. My nan is very sick at the moment - And the issue is I am so scared of losing her, that I seem to be pretending it isn't happening. I cannot fathom the idea of not existing anymore. I cant be there for people, or see them anymore. Please is anyone can share any similar feelings - or offer any support or coping methods it would be really appreicated. I really don't know what else to do anymore and its slowly becoming worse.

45987 Rejected by people in class, don't know how to cope
  • replies: 1

I don't have a formal diagnosis but every counsellor I've spoken to recently have suggested social anxiety and I'm waiting on a return call after a Headspace consultation about 3 weeks ago(My mum said they're probably not going to get back to me beca... View more

I don't have a formal diagnosis but every counsellor I've spoken to recently have suggested social anxiety and I'm waiting on a return call after a Headspace consultation about 3 weeks ago(My mum said they're probably not going to get back to me because they won't think I have important enough issues, can anyone with experience with Headspace confirm this?). So I'm doing an intensive 2 week subject at university (I need to do this subject to graduate on time), and today was the first day. It's a very social/discussion based class which I thought would be a good way to push out of my comfort zone and improve since it's hard to get a counsellor help (The university counselor I first saw referred me to Headspace as it was long term stuff). Before the tutorial these two people seated near me were talking about why they were doing this particular subject, so I tried to join the conversation and literally got rejected (I repeated what I thought was said and then asked what they were talking about and basically got shut down and then ignored, then when the tutor got everyone to introduce themself and say why they were doing the subject they literally said exactly what I asked about). Then we were split into groups based on seating arrangements and I feel I tried to contribute but was shut out of the conversation. Then the tutor walked past and asked me the group conclusion which I didn't know and is now going to give me a bad participation mark. Also, all the teaching staff and past reviews mention you makes friends there so I feel there's extra pressure that I know I'm already going to fail at. I absolutely cannot drop this subject as I'm trying to get into different course and just need to finish this (also dropped a subject in the past due to social fears due to a certain person doing it, and I really regretted it later). But now I just feel terrible and unmotivated... I don't know how I'm going to go back into that class after already being rejected and seen as someone who doesn't participate by the tutor. Any suggestions? Would moving seats help? I feel like I can never start/try to join a conversation again. I have no idea what I did wrong.

Butterfingers12 New mum looking for advice!
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I've recently become a mum to a beautiful healthy baby. I have always had anxiety but since having a baby, my anxiety has become alot worse, resulting in panic attacks and isolation. I am constantly in fear and feel like home is the only safe... View more

Hi all, I've recently become a mum to a beautiful healthy baby. I have always had anxiety but since having a baby, my anxiety has become alot worse, resulting in panic attacks and isolation. I am constantly in fear and feel like home is the only safe place for my child. I'm afraid of sickness, injury, car accidents etc. happening if I leave the house. I don't want this to affect my child because I want her to experience life to the fullest but I cannot get out of my own head with these thoughts. I am waiting to see a psychologist but in the mean time, I really need some tips to shake these feelings and some support as I don't have many people I feel I can talk to about this. Thanks for reading!