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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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Hartnell Hello - My First Post
  • replies: 1

Hi All, Over past two years I have been suffering anxiety and recently things boiled over for me again. I went through some very turbulent times with my teenage son who had some very serious drug problems which led to several physical injuries which ... View more

Hi All, Over past two years I have been suffering anxiety and recently things boiled over for me again. I went through some very turbulent times with my teenage son who had some very serious drug problems which led to several physical injuries which still impact me now. I also have an auto immune disease which will require another bout of surgery soon which I am not looking forward to. Throughout this my wife has been great but I struggle express how I feel and what I am going through which is a cause of concern for her so she gets frustrated with me at times. We are both in the same boat but I feel inadequate when seeing how well she copes with what we are going through. Suppose I am the typical Aussie bloke who struggles to talk these things out. I have a great GP who now has me on medication to help me balance out and from tipping over again. The medication has helped my sleep as was only getting a several hours a night as just lying there over thinking everything. In the past I have done work EAP which I personally found wishy washy, it might have been the counsellor (or the Aussie bloke in me) but I don’t think it really helped. I then went to a psychologist who certainly helped but I found it very confronting. My GP now wants me to see a psychologist again but don’t want to go through that just yet so thought I would try here first. Typing this out has helped and glad that I joined.

Haveachat2u Full head
  • replies: 4

Hi well I have adhd and Aspergers. I live with constant anxiety, depression, ocd, social anxiety and a few other things. I have been told why don’t you just get a psychologist or whatever. Well I work 3 casual jobs and study university part time. I d... View more

Hi well I have adhd and Aspergers. I live with constant anxiety, depression, ocd, social anxiety and a few other things. I have been told why don’t you just get a psychologist or whatever. Well I work 3 casual jobs and study university part time. I don’t get time off to see a psychologist. I was in a domestic violence situation. I left in January with the shirt on my back and two car loads of stuff. He got everything else. I was too afraid to take anything. He still tried to come after me. He hacked my accounts and I was forced to leave Facebook and I lost all my friends. I had to go to court to get my name off the lease because the realestate refused to take me off the lease even though by law they had to. I had to defend myself and do the bulk of the work myself because my caseworker only had a cert 4 in community services and had no idea what she was doing. I have been going through hell. I have had to buy new everything, start out fresh with everything! I have just finished paying back the loan that I took out to pay his bond. He made me pay for just about everything. I’m getting back on my feet. I struggle with sitting still in the classroom at university and not saying a word. I’m overwhelmed with sensory from everyone’s emotions as I am an empath. I struggle with keeping quiet. I have racing repeating thoughts constantly. The only way to stop the pain from the racing repeating thoughts is to say them out loud. There’s like this massive pressure in my brain that forces me to speak. I’m constantly putting my foot in it. Im working like 60 to 70 hours this week plus doing university. I’m struggling to get everything done. I usually work about 40 hours per week but have cancelations at work so I was offered extra work by all employers instead this week. Before I knew it I was working these hours. I’m struggling to be honest. But the week is just about over thank god! The good news is that I’m surviving after leaving my ex. Going through such a emotional trauma. I have anxiety about losing my jobs or mentally just not coping and snapping. But I still have my jobs, while I have made mistakes because I have never really worked before I was forced on Centrelink when I was 16. It has been hard leaving the safety of Centrelink. But I’m surviving and I’m earning more money then I have ever had in my life. I worked 9 hours today and I’m about to go to bed so that I can work another 9 tomorrow. I’m so exhausted. I was just getting the words out of my head.

Blair2019 First Post - Constant Anxiety
  • replies: 1

I don't what to do anymore... Psychology and even medication barely helps. I have a constant fear of death, just generally. Not on how I am going to go, just of it. I don't want to go into too much detail as it is a REALLY strong trigger even just to... View more

I don't what to do anymore... Psychology and even medication barely helps. I have a constant fear of death, just generally. Not on how I am going to go, just of it. I don't want to go into too much detail as it is a REALLY strong trigger even just to write about it. I hate this feeling of constant anxiety; it consumes me. I just want to be happy, healthy and enjoying life. I always wonder what its like to be someone who doesn't experience anxiety and to be so joyous all of the time. I am so over this anxiety... I am now having panic attacks at work, at home... anywhere. The smallest triggers could be someone's birthday and then I begin to count how many I could have left. spending time with my little boy and know that he will be without me one day, or feeling selfish to bring another life into the world and they have to experience the same fear I have. I am so completely over it and am ready to breakdown all of the time... I have supportive people around me and then others who say just get over it. When I had a level 10 panic attack and became dissociative my mother fobbed it off and didn't recognise it. I couldn't go in my room for days as I had my panic attack in there and I couldn't be in that space. I need help. I need a cure. I feel desperate.

gingerblue Social anxiety and awkwardness in the workplace
  • replies: 1

Hi forum, this is my first time posting! I'm a 40 years old male, new-ish immigrant to Australia, happily married and a father to two gorgeous young kids. My entire life I experienced difficulties in initiating connections with people, like socializi... View more

Hi forum, this is my first time posting! I'm a 40 years old male, new-ish immigrant to Australia, happily married and a father to two gorgeous young kids. My entire life I experienced difficulties in initiating connections with people, like socializing is more difficult to me than to others. I have many friends, and with them I'm "in my element", but I find it impossible to reach out to new people and initiate contact. Recently I started thinking that I may be on the highly functioning side of the spectrum. A few years ago I made an adventurous career change and placed myself in a senior role, which unfortunately resulted in 5 years of struggles, unhappiness and a shuttered self confidence (across 3 different jobs, and 2 countries). I started suffering from anxiety and stress. I only barely managed to bounce back, but finally pivoted again and landed in a job I like in a great company. However, years of struggling socially, an ongoing anxiety and a shattered self esteem led me to become very quite in the work place - I'm barely socializing, I'm avoiding meaningful conversations and people altogether, I get stressed by social interactions and generally feel like I'm spiraling down into my own cave. Whenever I do talk to people I feel like I'm boring them, because for some reason I can't just loosen up and have a laugh. I'm always talking about deep and meaningful stuff, or just blabbing away - I bore myself! But this is what comes out of me and it really bums me. I am a funny, creative person with my close friends, but it doesn't at all come out in conversations in the work place. This is taking a major toll on my career prospects and on my self esteem. For now I'm cruising, taking comfort in the fact I enjoy my work and in my great family and friends but I wish to tackle these issues head-on and not give in to them. I am a very social person - I thrive on social interactions, but don't know how to reach out to people. I'm surrounded by lovely vibrant people at work, but instead of riding the wave and joining the great athmesphere - I'm observing quietly and not able to get involved. I'm included less and less in stuff - probably because people around me assume I'm not interested in social interactions. But I am! I would love to hear some suggestions, or how you dealt with similar challenges. Thanks!

Tasguy Vitamin b
  • replies: 3

Hi all I was wondering if taking vitamin b will help with anxiety even though my vitamin b levels are in the normal range

Hi all I was wondering if taking vitamin b will help with anxiety even though my vitamin b levels are in the normal range

Shelbyshine Overwhelmed and going in circles
  • replies: 3

Over the years I am always the person who is there for others, which is fine and part of who I am. It just now I don't know where to turn. I went to see a counselor for a couple of sessions. Which helped but I dont feel that I have moved forward. I h... View more

Over the years I am always the person who is there for others, which is fine and part of who I am. It just now I don't know where to turn. I went to see a counselor for a couple of sessions. Which helped but I dont feel that I have moved forward. I had a rough time at work with a bad mngr and lots of other issues. which I dealt with well. On top of that a couple of friends and family passed then I had a major OP. Incremental stress I believe. Now, I have lost so much confidence in myself, my abilities, I don't want to go to work and keep having days off. I also carry on drinking when I have a couple, which I never used to before. Not every day and I avoid it allot. My sleep is bad and my head wont stop ticking. Concentration levels are low and I am avoiding situations and people with conflict and hardly speak up in meetings. I'm slowly becoming a shadow of my old me and I dont like it. My work has been affected as well as my motivation and I am considering telling my mngr bit don't know how or if I should. It's so different when its yourself you are giving advice to and not others. I'm scared that I am going mad and will lose my job and that people think I am not very good at my job.

Michael_E Should I tell someone
  • replies: 1

I’ve been biting and tearing at the skin inside my mouth since about 2012 and sometimes I swallow it. I also have a bad habit of of picking at the skin around my nails. Is this bad? Please don’t tell me the side effects of doing this.

I’ve been biting and tearing at the skin inside my mouth since about 2012 and sometimes I swallow it. I also have a bad habit of of picking at the skin around my nails. Is this bad? Please don’t tell me the side effects of doing this.

elderwolf Help getting a job in IT when unable to take phone calls
  • replies: 3

I love IT and am passionate for it, i have looked and so far all jobs i can find require me to make phone calls but the issue is every time i do a phone call either receive or make i have a panic attack sometimes that bad i literally freeze for 40+ m... View more

I love IT and am passionate for it, i have looked and so far all jobs i can find require me to make phone calls but the issue is every time i do a phone call either receive or make i have a panic attack sometimes that bad i literally freeze for 40+ minutes. So far no luck and i can't get government benefits so finding a job i can do is crucial for me.

eelsforever First time poster, long time sufferer
  • replies: 1

Hi All : ) I am a male in my late 30's and was diagnosed with GAD about 10 years ago though I've probably had it for about 20 years. I always wake up tired even though I get sufficient sleep. I find my short term memory is quite poor and have stopped... View more

Hi All : ) I am a male in my late 30's and was diagnosed with GAD about 10 years ago though I've probably had it for about 20 years. I always wake up tired even though I get sufficient sleep. I find my short term memory is quite poor and have stopped driving as I find it hard to concentrate. I also suffer from shyness and have been that way all my life. I've never had a girlfriend, not even a date and no social life outside of work. I think my anxiety issues started from high school where I found it increasingly harder to fit in, no longer had a good friend like I did in primary school and got picked on/bullied a lot more often. During my early 20's I was alternating between study and work but not doing much else and rarely going out. Then one day at work all the guys from my area went out for lunch however no one invited me (presumably they assumed I didn't want to go). It really hurt however it made me realise that trying to avoid people and social situations was getting me nowhere so I attempted to become more social at work. I also tried things outside of work such as taking martial arts lessons, going to the gym, dancing lessons and toastmasters. This all took place over a period of about 7 years. For about the last 4.5 years I haven't done anything. I've been dealing with joint and muscular aches and pains that make even simple things like regular household choirs difficult to do. This has made me feel quite depressed as I feel quite useless cause I can't do much. For me, the worst things is I'm constantly craving female companionship, intimacy and affection and really want to give these things to a woman but am not even able to get dates. I feel online dating is my best shot but no one will give me a chance. My inability to obtain companionship is really eating away at me and is getting worse as I get older. I know I have so much love to give but not being able to find someone to give this to is so frustrating! I have tried so many things (except medication) to try to get better inc seeing 2 different psychologists but cbt didn't seem to work for me. Now I am considering seeing an alternative medicine practitioner. Anything else that you think may help me would be greatly appreciated.

Snoopy88 Anxiety attack find it paralysing
  • replies: 3

I feel like a complete failure. I’m 31 working in the checkouts 3 days a week for 5 hours shift. So in total I work 15 hours. I get really bad anxiety attacks first week of the day back at work. So I work Friday Saturday and Sunday I usually get it o... View more

I feel like a complete failure. I’m 31 working in the checkouts 3 days a week for 5 hours shift. So in total I work 15 hours. I get really bad anxiety attacks first week of the day back at work. So I work Friday Saturday and Sunday I usually get it on Friday even when I have days off I get really bad anxiety attack I feel paralysed and can’t do much. On my off days I need to lye down and relax til the anxiety goes away. On the Friday at work I can’t focus much and I get uncomrtable body sensations and racing thoughts. I feel scared am I going to get better one day? I’m starting this new medication in July I really hope it can help me with my anxiety and eventually I can work 5 days in a week doing basic admin job that’s my dream. I even went counseling for a year it didn’t help. I saw a holistic counsellor. Now I’m going to start a session with a clinical psycologist who does CBT and ACT. I wanted to know are there others out there who work 5 days a week 8 hours shift and suffer from anxiety? Do you manage well at work? I feel like crying I just want to be normal and work more days and earn money. I’m scared in the future I’ll be homeless. At the moment I have support but my dad is getting old. I don’t know how to overcome this anxiety it’s so distressful. Any suggestions will be highly appreciated.

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