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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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amr2611 Anxiety and fixating
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, just wanted to see if anyone else experiences the same anxieties I have always struggled with. Basically I have severe anxiety over losing things like photos especially through data loss on my phone. It’s at the point where I have panic ... View more

Hi everyone, just wanted to see if anyone else experiences the same anxieties I have always struggled with. Basically I have severe anxiety over losing things like photos especially through data loss on my phone. It’s at the point where I have panic attacks just thinking about having all my photos disappear, or feel sick if I don’t have all my stuff in the one place on my laptop. The last 2 days I have been fixating on trying to get all my phone pics (almost 4,000 over 3 years) onto my laptop, and have been struggling to do so due to issues with my computer. We finally got most of them to load but I had been obsessing for hours and hours on end and refused to do any uni work until I had it sorted. I’m still feeling very uneasy thinking about the dramas I’ve had. I feel like this kind of fixating is taking over my life and I’m feeling really drained. I don’t know how to stop myself from obsessing over small things, but I feel as though I cannot move onto the next thing if what I’m working on isn’t done 100% right. The phone photos are just an example of this behaviour. I would like to know how others deal with accepting certain things for how they are and focusing on more important things in life? This is a very unhealthy obsession and fixation :((

em415 5 year break up & my anxiety is not the same?
  • replies: 1

So 2 weeks ago me(F23) and my boyfriend(M30) broke up from a 5 year relationship. We had a rocky 6 months prior and after many attempts on working things out and discussing ways to get us back to normal we ended up breaking up as that was "the best t... View more

So 2 weeks ago me(F23) and my boyfriend(M30) broke up from a 5 year relationship. We had a rocky 6 months prior and after many attempts on working things out and discussing ways to get us back to normal we ended up breaking up as that was "the best thing right now". I had been on a new medication for 5 months prior to all this, but before if we were having a fight or talking about our relationship I would always end up having an anxiety attack or at least crying as I have just always been emotional. But the day we talked and ended things I was just blank, I somehow managed to say everything I felt which is usually hidden behind me crying or avoiding tough questions. So the situation now is, I have noticed that I seem alright (considering) during the day and night even when talking to people about our break up i seem to be fine, but as soon as I accidentally miss a dose of my Anxiety Medication I crumbled into a blubbering mess, all i want to do is call him and get him back because he is still my best friend... and yes I do miss him but I know this is the right move too. So how can I be sure that me on anxiety medication is the true way I feel? It sounds strange but does the Medication have the power to change the way you feel or think about a person? Ps. I am booked in next week to see my GP and maybe change medication but wanted to see if anyone else had had the same thing.

OllieB Just needed to vent
  • replies: 7

So I'm having a bit of a bad week I haven't built up the courage to leave my house this week and of course avoiding stuff doesn't actually fix it and makes me feel worse. The worst part is I still don't understand why, how or when this became a reali... View more

So I'm having a bit of a bad week I haven't built up the courage to leave my house this week and of course avoiding stuff doesn't actually fix it and makes me feel worse. The worst part is I still don't understand why, how or when this became a reality for me. I don't know I just needed somewhere to put this in words thanks for being there guys, ollieB

Anxious_expat Anxiety impacting relationship with partner
  • replies: 3

Hi all, New user here. Recently diagnosed by my GP as suffering from anxiety. I'm not on medication but have just started seeing a psychologist. I'm engaged to be married and very much in love with my partner. We have a great relationship and he has ... View more

Hi all, New user here. Recently diagnosed by my GP as suffering from anxiety. I'm not on medication but have just started seeing a psychologist. I'm engaged to be married and very much in love with my partner. We have a great relationship and he has been very supportive overall the past few months. I know that he is starting to struggle with coping with my anxiety though. I get obsessive anxiety about things that seem very insignificant and trivial to him. I know that he can't understand it as he has never experienced it himself. My anxiety has been very bad the last few days and last night he said that a conversation I had over the weekend with him when I was in the middle of an anxiety episode and very upset sounded "borderline psychotic". I know that he didn't mean to hurt me but I feel so hurt by this comment. I spoke to him about it later but he was defensive (it was late at night and I know he was tired). So went to bed on a fight, causing me more anxiety. I want him to understand that I haven't chosen to feel like this, that I know that my level of anxiety isn't normal, but however hard this situation is for him it is much harder for me (sorry if that sounds selfish). Not sure really what I am looking for out of this post, but I guess I'm wondering if anyone has any helpful words to offer. Because we are due to be married I think I am possibly over-analysing his comment and wondering well if we can't cope with this problem how are we going to cope with other problems throughout our marriage. Thanks.

BJ1989 First Post - Advice welcome!
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, this is my first post. It's going to be a long rambling mess, I know that! I think that I've always struggled with anxiety and a little depression. I was diagnosed at uni and tried some counselling but I just didn't gel with anyone. I di... View more

Hi everyone, this is my first post. It's going to be a long rambling mess, I know that! I think that I've always struggled with anxiety and a little depression. I was diagnosed at uni and tried some counselling but I just didn't gel with anyone. I did some research and I managed to find some techniques that helped me manage. These techniques don't seem to be working anymore. I have a management position in a pretty fast paced industry and my performance is slipping. I doubt my abilities and am far less resilient when things go wrong. I have a history of being my own worst critic - but I know that my productivity has dipped, my concentration levels are terrible and I doubt my decision-making. I am writing this off the back of a bit of a sudden outburst in front of my PC. I just burst into tears, a total sobbing mess. I don't think a panic attack, No pain or anything like that. Dizziness, ill-feeling in the gut, and just sudden uncontrollable crying. I now work from home due to a change in circumstances and as my work product is largely digital, it works, so I'm lucky nobody saw. I have been struggling for the past few weeks, progressively getting worse but I actually managed a decent night's sleep and felt OK when I woke, but then I lost it out of nowhere. I consider myself self-aware and capable. I know the next step is to speak to a GP, but I don't have one. So, I started going into research overdrive trying to find someone and am overwhelmed. I feel like now I am ready and I want to make it happen immediately and take the day off and just bite the bullet. But with a day full of meetings and already half way done- how do I explain that? Do I fess-up? Do I just reason 'personal circumstances' and log back in for meetings only? But then how do I explain that to the team I look after? After the 'episode' a little while I go I just feel exhausted and beaten. My head is spinning. I'm worried there will be a work incident/emergency and I won't be able to manage it. I know there are people in a greater crisis than me and I feel awful I'm taking up space here, but I just don't even know how to verbalise to anyone outside of this. So, sorry for the vent.

Laurila Feeling defeated
  • replies: 4

Hi there, This is my first post as I am a new member here. I'm reaching out for support as I feel like I've come to a dead end and I don't know what to do next. I've struggled with anxiety for my entire life. I've tried medication but I didn't like h... View more

Hi there, This is my first post as I am a new member here. I'm reaching out for support as I feel like I've come to a dead end and I don't know what to do next. I've struggled with anxiety for my entire life. I've tried medication but I didn't like how it made me feel numb, so eventually I came off when I felt ready. I see a psychologist on a regular basis and have been for quite some time. I try and exercise a few times a week, I've even joined a soccer team. I eat relatively healthy as I notice when I eat unhealthy I feel more anxious and down. I meditate, although I could do this more regularly. I have a supportive family and an amazing partner who understands and does what he can to support me when I need it. I am 27 and I guess I've put so much time and effort into managing my anxiety that to have it resurface again and again...it becomes exhausting. At the moment I have a career that is very demanding and I know it triggers my anxiety but I can't leave it because of finanacal reasons and because I would feel like a complete and utter failure if I did leave. I worked so hard to get into this career and I'm finally there. Now that I'm there, I struggle on a daily basis to regulate my emotions and be present. At work, my mind fly's so fast all day and I don't usually get breaks. It leaves me feeling so emotionally drained. I then feel I have little to give to my partner and to my friends and family because all of my energy goes into work. As a result of the ongoing stress and anxiety I have started to become numb. This scares me. I am usually a very caring person, but because I feel so depleted of energy, I feel I have nothing left in my tank to give. I'm getting sick in a regular basis because of the stress too. The stress is turning me into someone I don't like. My usual strategies are not working. If you have experienced something similar to me I would love to hear from you!!

Bee71 High functioning anxiety in nursing just crippling, please help
  • replies: 8

Gathering the courage to write this and seek help has taken me over a year. I am a new grad registered nurse (RN). I changed careers to fulfill a lifelong dream and graduated with most units marked as high distinction. The scope of practice and respo... View more

Gathering the courage to write this and seek help has taken me over a year. I am a new grad registered nurse (RN). I changed careers to fulfill a lifelong dream and graduated with most units marked as high distinction. The scope of practice and responsibilities of an RN are huge, and as a student during pracs I started to develop anxiety, manifested as dizzy spells, nausea, sweats, shortness of breath, insomnia and tachycardia, which was relieved by deep breathing, aromatherapy, exercise (whenever possible) and attempts at meditation. Unfortunately my anxiety is getting worse and my attempts at controlling it are failing. I just got a new job and my induction week was nothing short of horrendous. I felt overwhelmed resulting in being unable to remember simple instructions given 5 minutes prior!, and becoming “blank” when performing routine procedures. My behaviour was so obvious, I needed constant prompting from my colleague. Next week I will be on my own and I am already thinking that I will not cope. Nursing positions for grads are highly competitive this days and I wax extremely lucky to get a job. The funny thing is that people that meet me think I am calm, collected, capable and knowledgable... no one really knows the hell I am going through. I confided to my GP my symptoms over a year ago and she suggested that I possibly had “high functioning anxiety”, she sent me to a psychologist whom to be honest wasn’t helpful...after asking for my symptoms she gave me some internet printouts from Google about mindfulness. I haven’t taken any anxiolytics or antidepressants just yet but I am at breaking point and will consider anything. I have made another GP app. I would like some advice from the community about this issue. Thank you in advance. 🤯

Phoebe23 I need help. Fear of change.
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm a 19 year old female who has extreme anxiety to change. I find myself in a new situation and by the end of it I find myself leaving them and feeling so much happier as I let fear overcome me. It's gotten to the point where I'm currently apply... View more

Hi, I'm a 19 year old female who has extreme anxiety to change. I find myself in a new situation and by the end of it I find myself leaving them and feeling so much happier as I let fear overcome me. It's gotten to the point where I'm currently applying for a course and I'm just so scared and have so much anxiety surrounding it. I'm scared I won't like the course even though I do enjoy the foundations of it. I'm scared i'm not good enough, that i'll fail or i don't belong in this career industry that i've decided to go into. I know its going to change my current life routines and it something that i cant help but stress over. I recently quit a second job that I only had just started as I hated every aspect of it but the stress with having to tell everyone that just consumes me. Now this course im starting I have to tell my current boss about it, they still don't know i've left my second job and are unaware of this new course im starting. But I need to tell them as I start in 2 weeks and need to give notice about my availability. Basically I just have so much fear with new opportunities and commitments and I think i lack the strength and courage to fully commit to something. I take the easy way out instead of sucking it up and pushing through. How can I change my mindset and develop confidence in myself, because my lack of confidence in myself is extremely clouding my judgement and creating unnecessary fear in my everyday life. thanks so much in advance

Clarissa26 Family
  • replies: 4

Hi I am going through my some big moves in my life. And I sometimes feel that my family doesn’t support me. I know they are trying but I’m really struggling with it all.

Hi I am going through my some big moves in my life. And I sometimes feel that my family doesn’t support me. I know they are trying but I’m really struggling with it all.

Tori_nawec I really need advice. It’s all too much.
  • replies: 44

It’s a long read.. but I’d appreciate anyone’s help. Two months ago, while at work, all of a sudden I felt so short of breath, my chest/shoulders were tight and my head was spinning. no history of mental illness or really no clue what an anxiety symp... View more

It’s a long read.. but I’d appreciate anyone’s help. Two months ago, while at work, all of a sudden I felt so short of breath, my chest/shoulders were tight and my head was spinning. no history of mental illness or really no clue what an anxiety symptoms were, i thought i was dying. I left work immediately to try and sleep it off. It didn’t get any better, so off I went to the doctor with extremely high heart rate, and I couldn’t breathe. Emergency Room it was for me. I had two ecg’s, blood tests, chest X-ray, and left with discharge papers saying “Anxiety reaction” .. the first month was HORRIBLE. I laid in bed 24 hrs a day. I hardly ate. (Lost 10kgs) I was too fragile/scared to even walk down my stairs. It’s the worst thing I’ve been through being in constant fear if something will happen to you. i saw a psychologist. currently 3 sessions in. She is helping me to come to terms with it all. But my symptoms are very on and off and it’s so hard to deal with. My main symptom that started all of this, was my shortness of breath and something I really can’t get over, in two months, my breathing is the same, and tbh it’s becoming normal to me to not be able to breathe I genuinely feel like my shortness of breath gives me anxiety, and I almost get anxious about getting anxiety symptoms. Sounds a little dumb. I went back to work today for three hours. It was a STRUGGLE. And has taken me all day to feel semi ok. My coping mechanism is literally to lay in bed. Im trying to eat and sleep better, exercise more, but I just feel so OVERWHELMED when I’m around people. Like everything is going so fast around me but I’m just, there. The shops, work, around a lot of family at a time, I just wanna go home. (I live alone) I just want to know if anyone has a similar story with their feelings and symptoms : - shortness of breath/ tight chest when trying to inhale deep. It’s resulted in me having pain under my left collarbone/shoulder when I take a deep breath anytime now cos I feel like I’m trying to do it all the time but I can’t help it. I just have the urge.. my breathing is the main issue for my anxious feelings!! I feel like I want to break my collarbones just to get a deep breath sometimes. (calm breathing just doesn’t do it for me?) - dizziness, blurry eyes, dry eyes, headaches, unmotivated, tired all the time, denial, feeling like something is medically wrong still. Can’t concentrate. I’ve also been thinking about medicine.. Maybe it’ll help me get through the day.

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