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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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meeeeeeee horrible term
  • replies: 5

im not having a good school term social wise and i just wanted to see if anyone could help or really just having someone who i can talk 2

im not having a good school term social wise and i just wanted to see if anyone could help or really just having someone who i can talk 2

Guest_48030704 Sadness
  • replies: 1

Life is so hard at the moment sadness all around hard to keep positive

Life is so hard at the moment sadness all around hard to keep positive

99isthebest Mental health retreats that are affordable?
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, Not sure if this is the right place to post this but since I suffer from extreme health anxiety and ocd I figured this would be a good place to ask people who have gone through similar things. In my search for my sanity recently I’ve fel... View more

Hi everyone, Not sure if this is the right place to post this but since I suffer from extreme health anxiety and ocd I figured this would be a good place to ask people who have gone through similar things. In my search for my sanity recently I’ve felt quite alone and just feel like walking away from work and just life in general to curl up in a ball somewhere. Then I had a thought these mental health retreats seem to allow you to do just that. But instead of being left alone with your own thoughts you’re surrounded by other people with similar issues and are given help to overcome your illness all while having a great relaxing time. Problem is of course all of this adds up, nice beach location, physiologists, accomodation, food, activities, (flights if necessary). Most places I’ve seen don’t even advertise there price and I have a feeling I know why. The ones that do advertise are quoting $5000+ My question is basically has anyone ever been to a retreat that is a reasonable price? I myself am located in Brisbane so I’m willing to drive up to 10hours to save costs on flights etc. when I mean reasonable I mean perhaps there’s one out there that has a long weekend option 2-3 days away just to relax and is under say $1000. I know that might sound crazy but I guess if there’s a place that maybe let’s you pick and choose what options you have this could maybe be doable.

Guest_25827336 Anxiety symptoms - feels like tension and nerves?
  • replies: 1

Hello - my name is Scott and I am 51 - I have GAD and Agrophobia but generally in control until last year - tried to get off medication, but after several months of horrific side effects went back on - however still suffering anxiety - my question is... View more

Hello - my name is Scott and I am 51 - I have GAD and Agrophobia but generally in control until last year - tried to get off medication, but after several months of horrific side effects went back on - however still suffering anxiety - my question is if other people feel it in the same way - for me it is a feeling of tension in my head, a little like pressure in the back of my head, like I have had way too much caffeine. I get dizzy and need to twitch sometimes to relieve the tension in the back of my head - does this sound familiar to anyone at all? Any replies appreciated. Scott...

Code05 Obsessive Cleaning - Please help!
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone! This morning I had a breakdown, the feeling of a ‘dirty’ house got the best of me. If I see a small piece of dust, toothpaste on the sink, footprint on the floor or even a smear on the kitchen sink I get an urge to fully clean by entire ... View more

Hi everyone! This morning I had a breakdown, the feeling of a ‘dirty’ house got the best of me. If I see a small piece of dust, toothpaste on the sink, footprint on the floor or even a smear on the kitchen sink I get an urge to fully clean by entire house. This morning, I tried to let it go. My husband was wanting to go out and as I was doing my hair I noticed how desperately the basin in the ensuite needed a wipe. Then I noticed the dust on the window sill, the basket of dirty washing. As I walked to the kitchen I noticed the coffee cup on the sink I’d just cleaned, then the floor the needed a vacuum. I tried to let it go, but I had a hot flush, my hands started shaking, legs feeling weak and my mind racing. I said to my husband that I couldn’t go, I needed to clean the house. Not just wanted to.. needed to. I can’t relax or enjoy life until I know my house is clean. I could tell he was annoyed, he can’t see what I see. He tells me the house is spotless and continues to leave. But I can’t, I can’t be calm and happy until the house is clean. And not just tidy, clean, not one bit of dust. Everyone comments on how clean our home is. I think this contributes to my need to uphold this reputation. please, any advice or help on this would be greatly appreciated. I haven’t seen a professional about this or received any kind of diagnosis.

JacintaMarie Depressed
  • replies: 6

Hi How are you? Sorry, I'm back & I can't get my mind off of the thought that my management at work is not good. They're okay. I think I need to leave, but I'm terrible at getting jobs. Plus too, I'm the only one who thinks our management is not doin... View more

Hi How are you? Sorry, I'm back & I can't get my mind off of the thought that my management at work is not good. They're okay. I think I need to leave, but I'm terrible at getting jobs. Plus too, I'm the only one who thinks our management is not doing a good job! My brain has given up & I don't want to have ideas, as no one likes them & they don't like change. Most people there think management are the best (I don't say anything, as it wouldn't be professional) , which makes me more lonely as I'm the only one and I feel bad & guilty. Don't get me wrong, their not bad people, just not good managers, more into the money. I'm so bad, that I've been wishing for directors or judges or lawyers to tell them what to do. I can't seem to rid my brain of this thought, to just do my work. I can't go to HR, as they can't do anything - I'm an awful awful person, for even thinking how hopeless they are - plus too, they act like their doing a wonderful job - so I'm wrong Thanks for letting me rant - and I am trying to find another job, but it's hard & than I get more depressed, because there's probably more bad management out there & so there's no point in leaving... I've been doing really great, & now... On the bright side, it was a nice day today... I understand why people get depressed at work, but also sad as management are people, but can't see the wood for the trees, that people can't talk to them, to tell the truth. I can now understand how court cases happen because of it, but that's useless as unless people want to change, they won't. But also too, in the world, there's no hope as bad management stays in organisations- no one cares.

Petal22 Postnatal Anxiety
  • replies: 10

I wanted to start this thread to bring awareness to postnatal anxiety. I think its important for people to be aware that sometimes after giving birth and during pregnancy postnatal anxiety can be experienced by the mother or father. I have a lived ex... View more

I wanted to start this thread to bring awareness to postnatal anxiety. I think its important for people to be aware that sometimes after giving birth and during pregnancy postnatal anxiety can be experienced by the mother or father. I have a lived experience of postnatal anxiety, in my experience I experienced this condition after both of my pregnancies, the second pregnancy was more sever than the first. Below I've listed some of the things I experienced while going through this condition : I always felt on edge. I didn't feel comfortable allowing the baby to be out of my sight. I found it hard to allow others to hold my baby. I was highly anxious when we were both out of the house in public. I had a fear of going out with my babies or leaving them with anyone else. I was highly anxious about people coming into the house while baby was sleeping ( incase they woke up the baby). This condition was extremely difficult to go through with a new born who I loved and cared for very much, because I felt I just couldn't relax and enjoy the time we had together because I was constantly in fear and flight mode, it was an exhausting stressful condition to have especially while caring for a baby. This anxiety is intense and it can creep up on you, the first step towards recovery is seeking help from a professional.. a good place to start is at your gp you can do a mental health plan together this will allow you to see a psychologist. In some areas there are perinatal clinics that specialise in these types of conditions a clinical psychologist and a phyciatrist sometimes run out of the same clinic. I seeked professional help for what I experienced and recovered. If you are reading this and feel that you may be suffering with this condition or know someone who may be I encourage you to seek professional help and if you know some one who may be experiencing this condition encourage them to seek professional help. Life really can get a lot better once professional help is received. Your not alone, please ask me anything if you have any questions .

Guest_32566210 Severe anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone, I haven't posted on these forums for as long as I can remember. I've been battling anxiety on and off for the last 10-15 years. For the most part it's been pretty well managed with some low level anxiety always present but life has most... View more

Hey everyone, I haven't posted on these forums for as long as I can remember. I've been battling anxiety on and off for the last 10-15 years. For the most part it's been pretty well managed with some low level anxiety always present but life has mostly been pretty good. I take a low dose of medication and have been for around 8-9 years and I guess it's been doing it's thing. I also see a therapist monthly that helps keep things in check. I'm physically active, have a good job, don't drink, don't smoke and don't do drugs. About a month ago I came out of a 6 mth quite turbulent relationship, which was my first real relationship in 7-8 years. I fell for her quite hard, she wasn't emotionally available and this led to lots of arguments, clashing and ultimately me breaking up with her as it was triggering severe anxiety for me. We tried to be friends afterwards however that quickly ran it's course as it continued to make both of us anxious and she eventually asked to break contact completely about a month ago. Since then my anxiety has been escalating significantly. Every day has been a big struggle however I've been active and functional and even gone on a few dates trying to move on and forward with my life. In the past couple of weeks my sleep has really suffered. I've been waking up between 3-4am every morning with severe anxiety symptoms and have been unable to get back to sleep so I've been forced to start my day. The anxiety continues throughout the day, slowly peeters off as the day goes on and leaves me exhausted by the late afternoon and evening. I've purposely been going to bed at around 7-8pm in order to get enough sleep to be able to function throughout the day due to the early wakeups. By far the worst symptoms are the racing thoughts and this horrible feeling in my chest that feels like someone's squeezing me tightly. It's unbearable. I've been slowly increasing my medication dose as per my GP instructions however it's been around 10 days of that and can't really feel a difference. If anything I feel I'm getting worse. Reaching out here for some love, support and hope as it's really getting to me and I'm really struggling with all of it at the moment and just want things to start to improve. Sending love.

smallwolf Changing Jobs
  • replies: 5

I am in the middle of changing jobs - going from a P/T position to a F/T one. The new job starts next week. I am actually looking forward to that. It is the handover that makes me has worrying like crazy. At the moment there is nobody to replace me. ... View more

I am in the middle of changing jobs - going from a P/T position to a F/T one. The new job starts next week. I am actually looking forward to that. It is the handover that makes me has worrying like crazy. At the moment there is nobody to replace me. And today, I was made (?) to feel bad because of lack of holidays I took in the time I was in the P/T position. That I was in the wrong. I wish that I was not feeling guilty about this. My "manager" was very testy in the meeting ... which by the way was impromptu, and because this was my last week. Anyway, sometime after the meeting was over, I was chatting with a couple of others in the "meeting" and one apologised to me, and the other told me about other things that would be on the manager's mind. None of this is any excuse I feel, and feel as though I am just the punching bad and in the wrong place at the wrong time. And then there were some other things said that made me question my worth.... I thought that if I wrote this down, things would get a little easier in my head. In reality, this is just the continuation of what is turning out to be a crappy year! And renews my cynicism about people!

Guest_05730513 Advice & support.
  • replies: 4

I am middle aged & suffered from crippling bouts of anxiety for over 5 years now. Once a very self-assured, positive thinking person to a shadow of my former self. Medication, self-help books, therapy & exercise do help, but haven't resolved this lon... View more

I am middle aged & suffered from crippling bouts of anxiety for over 5 years now. Once a very self-assured, positive thinking person to a shadow of my former self. Medication, self-help books, therapy & exercise do help, but haven't resolved this long term issue. This is impacting my relationships & all aspects of my social life. I am tired of feeling the way I do & would love some tips on what next to do. Life is too short to be feeling the way I do most days.