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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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Lostsomewhere Need to overcome this
  • replies: 5

Hello everyone, I went through severe and suicidal depression in 2016. The main reason behind this was my toxic work environment and my boss who'd made my life very miserable. I used to be under immense stress all the time until everything went out o... View more

Hello everyone, I went through severe and suicidal depression in 2016. The main reason behind this was my toxic work environment and my boss who'd made my life very miserable. I used to be under immense stress all the time until everything went out of control when I developed some other health issues related to it. Back then I used to be overseas and I left my job. Now I'm in Australia and still I get a different sort of anxiety when it comes to applying for jobs. I feel like as if I'm the biggest loser/failure. I even went to a therapist and she was helpful but not that much. I need to overcome this on my own and I'm badly stuck. I talked to a professional related to the industry I used to work in and he told me that I should create a Linkedin profile as he has found it very useful. I have created my profile there but I need to fill in details. I still get flashbacks of my abusive boss and people find it very hard to believe that I'm still getting flashbacks. When I joined Linkedin, it connected me to my previous employer's page and it ruined my mood. Now I how do I overcome this? I so badly need to get out of it. Sometimes I get thoughts of quitting but other days, I'm very motivated but it only lasts for a short time. Kind regards, LS

anotherpuglover Anxiety? I don’t know what’s going on
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I posted a few days back saying I was feeling very depressed and crying all the time for no apparent reason. I have started to feel extremely anxious about going to work, this morning was the second time I had a panic attack in the last few d... View more

Hi all, I posted a few days back saying I was feeling very depressed and crying all the time for no apparent reason. I have started to feel extremely anxious about going to work, this morning was the second time I had a panic attack in the last few days before going. I don’t dislike my job, I want to go to keep my mind busy but I just stress about going so much. I am not entirely sure what I am fearful about, whether it’s the occasional rude customer, being away from the comfort of my home for so long or whether it’s about feeling as though I will break down in tears. I have so many emotions going on at the moment and I can’t explain why I’m feeling like this.

Booklover17 Struggling - anxiety and ptsd
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, I have been struggling for about 2 weeks now and just wanted to share it with someone. I hurt my back badly dancing and now I am scared to dance. Dancing was one of my favourite things to do. At the moment, I am not looking forward to an... View more

Hi everyone, I have been struggling for about 2 weeks now and just wanted to share it with someone. I hurt my back badly dancing and now I am scared to dance. Dancing was one of my favourite things to do. At the moment, I am not looking forward to anything. My psych says it’s ptsd but I am in between appointments at the moment. I also have anxiety Has anyone else been in a similar situation?

steph1331 I can’t take much more.
  • replies: 2

Hubby is depressed, angry, miserable, erratic behaviour, no patience. He is on meds (changed meds as first one wasn’t effective). I am anxious for various past reasons but now even more so having to deal with hubby’s behaviour. I feel I can’t take mu... View more

Hubby is depressed, angry, miserable, erratic behaviour, no patience. He is on meds (changed meds as first one wasn’t effective). I am anxious for various past reasons but now even more so having to deal with hubby’s behaviour. I feel I can’t take much more as I am constantly feeling anxious especially as I don’t know what mood he will be in next. Hubby has had enough of work, his boss complains a lot either -not enough work, too much work, & more, & hubby takes it to heart & personal. He used to love his job up until a few weeks ago. Our family & friends know of hubby’s depression so they are supportive of him when they are around. I hate to sound selfish, but other than one friend of mine, no one cares about how I feel. They are quick to give me advice on how to be -such as “he needs to do something he loves”, one saying to me, “don’t sweat the small stuff, you’re always on to him”, which made me feel as though it’s my fault he is depressed. They have no idea what living with him is like. I cry a lot, I’m anxious a lot, I try & be happy & positive however that changes when something doesn’t go hubby’s way & he gets angry & loses his temper, even for small stuff, He is not violent towards us, but he swears a lot & throws or slams things when he is angry, which causes stress on & tension (we have an adult son & teenage daughter at home). It effects me deeply & I think of splitting from him. I do love him & care about him & I don’t particularly want to break up, but our relationship is on his terms & I’m not happy. There‘s little affection, we‘ve talked about it & he says he will try harder & it will get better, & we’ll be alright. I‘be got to the point I don’t want to touch him as I‘ve been rejected so many times, I resent him, I’m too scared to talk to him as he doesn’t like what he hears & gets angry & says I don’t understand. It seems like it’s always about him & his depression. We have gone to couples therapy & he has seen the same psychologist prior for his depression (on my advice) but every time we‘re there she reverts back to his childhood & how it has effected him etc. & quite frankly I’m over hearing it. I‘ve had many days off work due to my anxiety, I don’t know what to do. I can’t live on edge, as that is what its like when he’s around. We just can’t tell what mood he’ll be in next. It’s not healthy to feel like you have butterflies squirming around in your chest most of the time. I don’t know how much more I can take of feeling like this.

Anto77 First Post - Work anxiety at a new level, wanting to quit.
  • replies: 6

Hey all, This is my first post so bare with me. I'll try keep this brief. I was diagnosed with GAD, episodes of panic and some social phobia in 2004, probably due largely to issues surrounding my sexuality. I've kinda gotten on top of it all over the... View more

Hey all, This is my first post so bare with me. I'll try keep this brief. I was diagnosed with GAD, episodes of panic and some social phobia in 2004, probably due largely to issues surrounding my sexuality. I've kinda gotten on top of it all over the years, including accepting my sexuality. My GAD though has recently flared up... badly. I've always been rather sensitive and lacking confidence especially in work situations, mostly stemming from leaving school and going straight to work in the family business (a restaurant) and not really growing as a person and employee. I knew if I made mistakes or didn't know something I wouldn't have to care or worry so much etc... I did it for 17 years because it was comfortable but I knew I needed to make a change and finally plucked the courage to leave my hometown and start a new job in a new city just over 5 years ago. I stayed in hospitality as it was all I knew and even though I went from team member to manager at the store I worked in I had really begun to hate hospitality and wanted out but not knowing how. My friend then said to me there was a job in Disability at a place he used to work in and so he applied for me. I only said yes as I thought there was no way I'd get the job with no experience but low and behold I kept finding myself move forward in the application process and I did a stellar interview and got a call that I got the job?! I was kinda proud but at the same time absolutely mortified! You see I really lack confidence at work, I'm so anxious most of the time, any mistakes even trivial ones will make me feel horrible and I will not stop thinking about them, I then lose all confidence. When I work with people who are super confident and know their role well I become a mess (always been like this) and get so anxious to not appear stupid or make mistakes that I inevitably do. I'm sick of this as I feel I can not get comfortable in this new job (5 months on), I'm always thinking about the mistakes I make or might make and how I will appear to my colleagues and bosses. I want to quit and go find something less challenging but at the same time this job pays well and is, aside from the anxiety, rewarding. I'm not a quitter but this anxiety is crippling me and I'm not sure what to do. I make absent minded mistakes because my head is so congested. I want to run but I don't know where to as I can't go back to hospitality, I hate it, and the thought of starting a new job again is just as daunting. Help!

Happy2anxious Am i a sufferer ?
  • replies: 3

I have always been the life of the party..... I have always held so much responsibility... i had my second child who is now one and 3 months ago i had what i thought was a heart attack, heart palpitations to the point i nearly called an ambulance... ... View more

I have always been the life of the party..... I have always held so much responsibility... i had my second child who is now one and 3 months ago i had what i thought was a heart attack, heart palpitations to the point i nearly called an ambulance... i was convinced i was having a heart attack and i was going to die... i had suffered quiet a bad virus before.... Went to a doctor said it was most likely SVT the way the heart pumps blood from one chamber to another.... but for 3 days later tight chest sometimes short of breath... so three days later i had worked myself up so bad and convinced myself that there is something wrong with my heart i headed to ER (always previously been fit and healthy - but carrying baby weight) Went to ER they had me on an ECG for 5 hours - all clear Chest X-ray - all clear blood test - all clear heart rate - all clear.... i have had another two episodes mostly at night when i get to bed and the house is calm.... i think constantly about what if i die with two young children what will my family do - then that upsets me... what if i lose my parents - what will i do - what will happen to my two businesses.... It is slowly all bringing me down... is this anxiety talking rather than something medical...? Surely anxiety can't cause heart palpitations to the point of feeling like you will pass out >? Or can it do all of these things to my body - sometimes constant dull ache right side of chest but no pain anywhere else... I zone out sometimes where i look through people when they are talking to me - like i can't concentrate? So confused? Has anyone suffered similar symptoms ? I am a VERY BUSY mum of two children and am the director of two businesses and I am a real estate agent working long hours.... ? I feel i am about to break..?

aly158 Health anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi ppl I’m new to this. Having suffered anxiety for years it was always controllable until last November when physical symptoms put me in hospital as I was so paranoid it was something more sinister. Since then I’ve had regular psychologist appointme... View more

Hi ppl I’m new to this. Having suffered anxiety for years it was always controllable until last November when physical symptoms put me in hospital as I was so paranoid it was something more sinister. Since then I’ve had regular psychologist appointments and really try to have downtime. It is a daily struggle. I am trying my best not to be medicated at this point as I fear being addicted. I have health anxiety which I think stems from losing my mum as a child to cancer. Since then (and especially as a parent), I worry all the time about illness and my kids being motherless. Also, as we age we see more ppl get sick and friends or family pass ... it is life yes ; and my logical mind knows this but it still is so hard to fight the sensations this bloody anxiety gives . Mine isn’t racing heart rate like others have. It is more a detached feeling in the head and a sense of pressure but no pain. I had an MRI because I was so scared it was more but it was fine. My anxiety of course still questions that . #dailystruggle

Clear82 Anxiety after a break up
  • replies: 2

Heya My bf recently broke up with me and now I’m waking up every morning around 5am in a panic attack and have anxiety throughout the day. I’m not coping with the anxiety and wish I could just be sad without having to deal with anxiety as well. I fee... View more

Heya My bf recently broke up with me and now I’m waking up every morning around 5am in a panic attack and have anxiety throughout the day. I’m not coping with the anxiety and wish I could just be sad without having to deal with anxiety as well. I feel like it won’t ever go away too.

PamelaR Health anxiety - What is it?
  • replies: 1

I've noticed a lot of posts concerned with health anxiety. It left me wondering - what is it exactly. The following is from the website of the Centre of Clinical Interventions at the Western Australian Uni. Pls don't use it to diagnose yourself. Go t... View more

I've noticed a lot of posts concerned with health anxiety. It left me wondering - what is it exactly. The following is from the website of the Centre of Clinical Interventions at the Western Australian Uni. Pls don't use it to diagnose yourself. Go to the drs for a proper diagnosis, treatment or the provision of advice. Sometimes one may notice sensations or changes in their bodies and wonders if it's is a serious medical problem. One may take steps to relieve their worries & concerns. This concerns is normal. However, when health worry is continual or the answers to symptoms is impacting you negatively then it may be problematic. Anxiety happens when we think something bad might or will happen. It's a normal survival instinct and helpful in real-life threatening events. However, sometimes an anxiety response maybe due to a perceived threat. E.g. one may experience anxiety walking down a poorly lit road because one thinks there is potential danger. The reality may be there is no danger, but one’s anxiety is triggered because one believes there is danger. Health anxiety is the experience of believing one’s health is threatened, which consequently triggers an anxiety response. Studies show some common health related fears include having or developing cancer, Alzheimer, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, a mental illness, or that you may have a heart attack. Not everyone thinks about specific problems though, your fears could be more general, in that you simply think that something is “not quite right”. In other situations, health anxiety may be the fear for others. E.g. a parent may notice their child is frequently tired and becomes worried their child has leukaemia, or a person who notices their partner is coughing a lot may begin to worry they have lung cancer. Mild forms of health anxiety can affect us all from time to time. Who hasn’t been concerned when waiting for some test results to come back, or had some worrisome thoughts about a new lump or bump that we have noticed? Mild health anxiety become a problem when they become: excessive out of proportion to the likelihood of an actual and serious medical problem persistent despite negative test results and/or reassurance from your health practitioner lead to excessive checking, reassurance seeking (e.g., from doctors, family or friends), or avoidance (e.g., of check-ups, doctors, health-related information) cause significant distress, or impair your ability to go about your life.

2_Double_O Could I have anxiety?
  • replies: 1

Hi, I recently made an account because I really want to know what's going on and what I can do about it. I don't know if I have anxiety or if I'm just overreacting. I've always been an anxious person but recently I've noticed that it's started seriou... View more

Hi, I recently made an account because I really want to know what's going on and what I can do about it. I don't know if I have anxiety or if I'm just overreacting. I've always been an anxious person but recently I've noticed that it's started seriously affecting me. I get really worried about the most ridiculous things and work myself up to the point where I can feel my heart pumping and my chest feels tight, I haven't experienced a panic attack though. My worrying is also impacting my sleep as I find I rethink my day and all the awkward, embarrassing or bad moments in it at night. However, I find it incredibly hard to talk about this to anyone, whether it be my parents, friends or even my schools counsellor who I've recently started talking to. I've always struggled with voicing my feelings and I'm not quite sure if I can bring myself to straight up tell someone face to face. But I do want help. I want to be able to sort my feelings out because it's all really confusing and I'm honestly not sure what to do anymore. I'm afraid to tell my parents because I'm scared they'll think I'm overreacting or seeking attention and I also don't think I want to be that vulnerable around anyone close to me. I know that my school counsellor knows that something is up because of the way she looks at me and the questions she asks but I can't bring myself to straight up tell her. Deep down I think I know that my parents care for me and will understand and try and get me the help I need but my worries keep getting the better of me and stop me from telling them. I have sat with my mum and gone to tell her multiple times but I always change my mind before I do it and make up an excuse. I'm sick of not knowing what to do but even I'm not sure what's really happening to me so I don't know how to explain it to someone else.

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