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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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Jo_maree Feeling stuck
  • replies: 1

Hi there I have been on an SSRI for 14 years, my gp has recently changed me to a SRNI I have terrible anxiety panic disorder with depression. My depression is a little better but now my panic and anxiety is at an all time high again. I can’t drive on... View more

Hi there I have been on an SSRI for 14 years, my gp has recently changed me to a SRNI I have terrible anxiety panic disorder with depression. My depression is a little better but now my panic and anxiety is at an all time high again. I can’t drive on freeways or fly in a plane and I hibernate in my room. I’m wasting my life and I’m so scared and not sure what to do? I don’t think I’ll get over this or even learn to manage it. I’m not sure how? I would love to be able to do things but am too terrified and it’s very costing me happiness and peace. My family need me and I want to feel joy.

Solique Feeling Overwhelmed
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone, Before I begin this thread I’ll quickly give a brief background of who I am: I am a 20-something year old female. I obtained my Bachelor in Counselling in 2016 and have a loving partner and family. I suffer with social anxiety, deperson... View more

Hey everyone, Before I begin this thread I’ll quickly give a brief background of who I am: I am a 20-something year old female. I obtained my Bachelor in Counselling in 2016 and have a loving partner and family. I suffer with social anxiety, depersonalisation, depression and BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder). I have also been diagnosed as infertile. Since leaving my previous casual job, I have been searching for something in the stream of my bachelor certificate (counselling, social work, case managing etc.) but I have failed to find any work because of my anxiety (and the lack of experience apparently). My anxiety is worsening and right now, I don’t even know if I can commit to a job. A career seems far-fetched for me at the moment (thanks anxiety). To be fair, I have never really been career-focused. I have always wanted to be a stay at home mum (partly blaming my anxiety but it is also something I’ve always wanted) but as I mentioned previously, I have been diagnosed as infertile and the possibility of children anytime soon is unlikely (waiting for an appointment with my OBGYN to discuss IVF). I am feeling extremely overwhelmed by every thing. In a nutshell, life is always about either a career or having a family, right? But I can’t achieve either of these. So, what am I really worth? I feel like I don’t have a place here on Earth and that I am a pathetic excuse for a human being. I’ve tried to get into volunteering but unfortunately I can’t find anything of interest just yet. I’ve tried to keep up with my interests outside of work (writing, photography) but I lose interest very fast. I’m feeling extremely overwhelmed. I don’t really know what to do.

anxiousdragon Anxiety, OCD intrusive thoughts chaos
  • replies: 2

Hi, hopefully someone can help shed some light. I’ve recently entered the hell of chronic anxiety and OCD intrusive thoughts after 2.5 years of bliss. My OCD intrusive thoughts are centred around my family, which I moved back in with after coming bac... View more

Hi, hopefully someone can help shed some light. I’ve recently entered the hell of chronic anxiety and OCD intrusive thoughts after 2.5 years of bliss. My OCD intrusive thoughts are centred around my family, which I moved back in with after coming back from overseas. Naturally, my anxiety has been working overtime since then. I’ve had none stop anxiety and panic for about three weeks now with no signs of slowing down. My sleep is terrible, I either sleep all day and night or wake up every hour. I wake up feeling unreal, like I’m confused where I am and if what’s around me is real. When I think of things to try and make me happy like my past two years or events my mind spins thinking did that happen? Is that even real? Do those people exist? And I start to panic again. My stomach is constantly upset.. always running to the bathroom. My dreams almost dart around my head and wake me up and I’m confused if they are real or fake. I’m so tired, tingling in my hands and feet and head all the time. I am just so lost right now, I’m at that point where I’m scared I’ll never escape this and live a normal life even though I have previously. Does anyone else experience this? Or has experienced this and overcame it. Its always a battle - beating the anxiety or the OCD thoughts first. Because they feed eachother I feel.

Pureison I'm always scared of talking to people and confronting them.
  • replies: 9

Hi there, I'm new here and I just thought I'd give this a go because I'm hoping that someone can give me advice. I guess I want to talk about is, I'm never been the one to be very confident, I'm always shy and nervous and not really showing my true s... View more

Hi there, I'm new here and I just thought I'd give this a go because I'm hoping that someone can give me advice. I guess I want to talk about is, I'm never been the one to be very confident, I'm always shy and nervous and not really showing my true self until I have known the person long enough to do that. It makes me really sad because there is so much I want to do like get a job in retail, but it makes me so scared and nervous because I have to work with customers and new people. I see so many friends who can do it so easily, and they just make it seem so natural for them. But for me, it takes me a long time because all I want to do is just hide from them and hope that I don't have to speak to them because I am worried they might judge me or make a rude remark. I am also not very good at confronting people or talking over the phone and speaking clearly, which makes working in retail difficult as that's part of the job. I just wish I was more confident and gain good customer skills without being scared. Another thing too is that getting a job requires to work independently, while I can do that some of the time, most times I just feel like I need someone to tell me what to do or how I should do it because I get scared and stressed if I don't know what I'm doing and no one is there to help... I'm in my 20s and I haven't had a job or been able to do the things I want to because I'm so nervous or scared when it comes to people or talking to people. Has anyone else been through this? What things have you guys tried to help you through it?

Moses C. Saying cognitive statments in a safe place?
  • replies: 3

Does this work? I thought it's best to say rational statements when you are in a provoking situation in order to diffuse it. I LITERALLY don't understand how will saying them off-situation help...PLEASE someone explain, really curious to know... View more

Does this work? I thought it's best to say rational statements when you are in a provoking situation in order to diffuse it. I LITERALLY don't understand how will saying them off-situation help...PLEASE someone explain, really curious to know...

Harpoon Giving up alcohol and the symptoms of anxiety which followed.
  • replies: 10

After many years of moderate to heavy drinking I decided to take a 28 day challenge from a book I purchased and give up alcohol for 28 days. And then reintroduce alcohol on a lower scale after 28 days. However one week into this coincided with a medi... View more

After many years of moderate to heavy drinking I decided to take a 28 day challenge from a book I purchased and give up alcohol for 28 days. And then reintroduce alcohol on a lower scale after 28 days. However one week into this coincided with a medical procedure which was already planned. This procedure would have me sedated and was a internal inspection of my bladder. I guess you know what that means. Well what was already a scary idea with all those nurses and me being exposed whilst sedated became a nightmare when I suffered and continue to suffer anxiety. I now learn that anxiety is also a symptom of giving up alcohol. So this has exploded into something that has occupied my mind ever since- anxiety from the operation and anxiety from giving up alcohol which is a physical thing. I feel like crying and going into a foetal position seeing myself imaging myself exposed on the operating table. After some research and some 10days alcohol free I learnt that there is some treatment for anxiety after going cold turkey with stopping alcohol. So seeing GP tomorrow. But days since the operation have been a nightmare, and just want the anxiety and thoughts to stop. The lesson here is that heavy long term drinkers who stop drinking should consult their GP. And if others have experienced similar symptoms would be interesting.

eth93 I think I'm dying.
  • replies: 6

I honestly do. And I'm an absolute mess. I've suffered from what my GP calls phantom pains many times before. These are physical pains/sensations that usually occur with somewhat obsessive thoughts of dying. I've had 'headaches' that have last 6 mont... View more

I honestly do. And I'm an absolute mess. I've suffered from what my GP calls phantom pains many times before. These are physical pains/sensations that usually occur with somewhat obsessive thoughts of dying. I've had 'headaches' that have last 6 months or more at a time. Lower back pain. Pain in my groin. Sensations of being cold all the time during summer. Tingling fingers. Collar bone pain. These have all lasted longer then a couple of months at a time. Usually a constant pain that gets worse when I'm not occupied. These all occur with thoughts of generally having that particular type of cancer. Each and every time I generally see my GP for the same old routine. Blood tests. MRI scans. CT scans. XRays. Ultrasounds. Whichever is recommended online as the best method of diagnosis. And my GP always comes to the same conclusion. Its all in my head. But I'm so scared that this time is different. I have had a slight pain/burning sensation on my right side of my abdomen, for the past two months. I also have extended periods of nausea, and sometimes what feels like acid reflux. So I have come to the conclusion that I have either stomach cancer or bowl cancer. Once again I've had many blood tests. A CT scan, and a ultrasound. All have come back negative. And my GP has once again suggested that this is all just phantom pain. But I honestly don't think so. I can be having a good day with my head and the pain will not be there. Then all of a sudden the next day the pain is there. Surely if it is all in my head. The pain should not be there when I'm not thinking about it. So why can I be having a good day, yet still be having the pain. I would love to have a colonoscopy/endoscopy. But I just can't afford to. And they are really the only sure way of telling. I'm only 26. Diagnosed with OCD and clinical depression.

SleepyTiger Is anxiety and fatigue in cahoots?
  • replies: 3

I find that often when I do something that is important to me that isn't a physical task I get really tired and if I don't stop and do something mindless I will fall asleep at my desk and have done so before. When I'm doing the task I don't feel that... View more

I find that often when I do something that is important to me that isn't a physical task I get really tired and if I don't stop and do something mindless I will fall asleep at my desk and have done so before. When I'm doing the task I don't feel that anxious. Sometimes I get moments where I do if I ruminate on a negative thought but I usually just let it go. For example I have been following some video tutorials for what I want to be a career change but as good as they are I just can't concentrate for long and I'll start yawning. I should mention that I have trouble sleeping and rarely get a restorative nights sleep however I wonder if I need to fix the anxiety to fix the sleep issue? I don't even know how bad anxiety is for me. How do I work out how anxious I am? Could it be that I'm so used to it that I'm not even really aware of it anymore?

jessrobb Anxiety and finding the strength to help your self
  • replies: 2

I find it funny how I'm doing a social work course and want to help people but I can't help my self. Me and my friends in my course have this joke we can help others and give great advice but when it comes to our own lives the great advice just can't... View more

I find it funny how I'm doing a social work course and want to help people but I can't help my self. Me and my friends in my course have this joke we can help others and give great advice but when it comes to our own lives the great advice just can't work full stop, it's like it's only good advice if it's given to someone else, and not your self. My problem is when it all gets too much and thing pile up, I just can't tell the people around me I need help (mum &dad). I mean I can talk to one or two people but even when I do talk to them and I tell my self I'm going to tell the people around me I need help, I just can't. It's like I know I need to ask for help but for some odd reason can't.

Bo11 Can’t feel my body
  • replies: 1

I can’t stop panicking about not feeling my body. I know I get like this during a panic attack but even when I’m calm I feel like I’m not experiencing my body like everyone else. I know that no one can feel their bones or organs but it freaks me out.... View more

I can’t stop panicking about not feeling my body. I know I get like this during a panic attack but even when I’m calm I feel like I’m not experiencing my body like everyone else. I know that no one can feel their bones or organs but it freaks me out. It’s like if I look at my arm I can’t feel the shape of it and only feel it if I stretch it out. Same with my legs. I can’t fee my toes unless I move them. I don’t know how to get passed this. I don’t know how to continue life not feeling my body parts. Please help