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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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Gordon112 Now im straight but scared i am in denial
  • replies: 3

Hey, so my entire life I have not only been certain I have been confident that I am straight, and I know that for certain deep down I am straight. But since the start of the school year I have been terrified that I am slowly turning gay, or that I ha... View more

Hey, so my entire life I have not only been certain I have been confident that I am straight, and I know that for certain deep down I am straight. But since the start of the school year I have been terrified that I am slowly turning gay, or that I have and am in denial. When this fear started it began with a massive bout of anxiety that slowly began to manifest itself in the form of intrusive thoughts. I have not only never had crushes on the same sex (I should clarify that I am male) and I have found the thought of being in a same sex relationship does not only sit well with me, It doesnt feel right at all. Fast forward a few weeks the thoughts have died down but I am afraid that I may have subconsciously accepted these thoughts as myself and that I am only in denial. This has left me freaking out to the point that I have developed what I can only describe as compulsions (looking at pictures of shirtless men vs naked women and seeing if I have a reaction down in my pants, picturing the images in my head to see if I enjoy them, watching gay porn to see if I have an reaction). I should also clarify that it doesnt feel like questioning, it only feels like intense to mild anxiety. I have also considered the possibility of having undiagnosed OCD because I have also had intrusive thoughts and anixety in the past about having undiagnosed Bowel cancer even though there was no evidence I had it, and have also had a bad panic attack last year involving a gory scene I had seen that made me terrified of leaving my house. I should again clarify that I have known my sexuality since I began puberty (halfway through year 4, very early bloomer at age 9). I havent really had any reason to doubt my sexuality because I have never had a crush on the same sex and any experimentation I did during early high school with gay porn also didnt fit right with me. I also wouldnt call this anxiety internalised homophobia because while I know im straight and homosexuality doesnt really sit with me, I understand that love is love (my sister is bisexual herself). I just dont want to be gay.

AgavePlant Can’t go to school because of Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi, For about 6 Years now I’ve been experiencing school related anxiety and panic attacks. I’m really unhappy at my current school, there’s lots of academic pressure and it’s a huge high school so I often feel very isolated and like nobody could unde... View more

Hi, For about 6 Years now I’ve been experiencing school related anxiety and panic attacks. I’m really unhappy at my current school, there’s lots of academic pressure and it’s a huge high school so I often feel very isolated and like nobody could understand, I have trouble making conversation, I feel very awkward in social situations and tend to avoid them. I tried trialling at a different school but I still felt isolated and was largely ignored. I’m considering homeschooling and I wanted advice to see if that might be a better option or if there are other alternative schooling options?

Stussylee PLEASE - Finding it hard to maintain employment
  • replies: 7

For the life of me I need support. I have a problem wherein land these jobs and then I just chuck in the towel. I just don't rock up , why? I don't know I am trying to get to the bottom of it. Find out how to live a life where I am not self sabotagin... View more

For the life of me I need support. I have a problem wherein land these jobs and then I just chuck in the towel. I just don't rock up , why? I don't know I am trying to get to the bottom of it. Find out how to live a life where I am not self sabotaging myself.

kned Antenatal anxiety
  • replies: 5

Thought I'd reach out on here to see if there are any mums (or dads) who have experience antenatal anxiety? I'm nearly 33 weeks and I think I can finally admit that I have some antenatal anxiety. I will talk to my Dr at the next checkup but I was hop... View more

Thought I'd reach out on here to see if there are any mums (or dads) who have experience antenatal anxiety? I'm nearly 33 weeks and I think I can finally admit that I have some antenatal anxiety. I will talk to my Dr at the next checkup but I was hoping others may be able to share their experience. What helped you get through the pregnancy? Did it go away after the baby was born? Do you have any online resources or books or apps you can recommend? This is my 3rd baby and I did have a bit of anxiety with the last 2 but not nearly this bad. Thanks

Scintilla Old "friend"
  • replies: 2

Hello! I'm not exactly new here, but it's been a while since I first posted here last year, and I would appreciate it if someone could help with my situation. I've graduated from high school and life's been good so far, I've reconnected with my old f... View more

Hello! I'm not exactly new here, but it's been a while since I first posted here last year, and I would appreciate it if someone could help with my situation. I've graduated from high school and life's been good so far, I've reconnected with my old friends despite my busy schedule. This week, I have free time and think that reconnecting with an old high school friend would be a good idea this weekend. My friend, "F", very kind and overall nice friend, but the thing is she's too nice. She told me that she can go hang out with me this weekend. But then, she mentioned her friend "D" and she said she would like to go together another time. And between me and D, let's say that we're not in the best terms, and every time someone mentioned her name, I have a sudden feeling of panic and fear and I feel like I'm suffocating. I don't know if I'm being anxious, just dramatic, or overreacting, but back in middle school, D always clinging to me and... let's say she manipulated me through her words. In middle school days, she hated the girls from other class and wouldn't allow me to interact them, hell, even when I only greeted the girls with a wave of hand, she slapped my hand and told me if I talk to them, she would never talk to me ever. D had done pretty bad things to me; "borrowing" my money just to buy phone data, told me I was heartless when I decided to go to different extracurricular club than her, breaching my privacy by seeing through my chats between me and my family and friends, seeing my diary, teasing about my "crush" on a boy that I wasn't interest that I deemed to be a good person, and many more. She even made an upperclassman confronting me because I take her "joke" badly when in reality it hurts me and I don't want to be joked about my non-existent crush. Overall, she trapped me. I once talked about my problem with D to my teacher, and apparently D got a wind of it and things got worse. It's a miracle I've survived two years of middle school with her presence around before I moved away and never get "triggered" of her name. Now I'm back, and it's been a while that I've heard her name, and now I'm getting flashbacks and horrible memories. I'm scared. I thought I'm over with her, but her name gives me those flashbacks again and I couldn't help it. It makes me anxious. I don't want to see her. What should I do? What should I say to F that I don't want D in my life anymore? Scintilla.

Aliceshea Work Conversation
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone this is my first time posting. I’ve been struggling with anxiety and depression for some time now. I’ve recently started antidepressants medication. im concerned about work. I’m considering having a conversation with my manager about what... View more

Hi everyone this is my first time posting. I’ve been struggling with anxiety and depression for some time now. I’ve recently started antidepressants medication. im concerned about work. I’m considering having a conversation with my manager about what to do with work. Although I don’t know if I should wait and see how I cope with the medication or if it is worth having the conversation. I’m wondering if anyone one here has had this kind of experience? i also was wondering what kind of things to say or how to start the conversation? thanks everyone Alice

Totaldeano Health anxiety physical symptoms
  • replies: 2

Hi all first time poster. I had a panic attack apparently 2 years ago had the tingling all over numbness burning sensations and of course I went to the ER and followed job with go MRI of brain all clear but my anxiety spiraled out of control took me ... View more

Hi all first time poster. I had a panic attack apparently 2 years ago had the tingling all over numbness burning sensations and of course I went to the ER and followed job with go MRI of brain all clear but my anxiety spiraled out of control took me months to get back to normal with phcs mental health plan. But I have over the last couple months have had another hit. With different systems started after I had both my bottom wisdom teeth out. Sore neck left front like pressure saw jaw (I know I grind) but the worst is there is this feeling of a lump in my throat. Had blood test done 2 separate doctors can eat and drink without swallow without pain or difficulty but I just can not let it go sometimes I just try to cough it up lol. My sister had the same lump in the throat feeling for 12 months and it was anxiety. So why can I not let it go Thanks I am on meds and a mental health plan

Strawdog Anxiety
  • replies: 6

Well here we are... never thought ild be on forum re this topic. Pretty much 20yrs anxiety free then out of the blue a full blown panic attack in the middle of a conference (200+ people). Extremely debilitating and scary.. not sure what brought it on... View more

Well here we are... never thought ild be on forum re this topic. Pretty much 20yrs anxiety free then out of the blue a full blown panic attack in the middle of a conference (200+ people). Extremely debilitating and scary.. not sure what brought it on but had two back to back. 44 yr old male father of 3.. how did i get here?? Manage to compose myself enough to leave the room... been difficult two weeks since. Recurring attacks in staff meetings, client visits... its been horrible. So... where to from here? Anxiety feeds on anxiety so you start to worry about what might occur and that in turn hightens your anxiety. 20ys of public transport... attack on a crouded train WTF!! Anyway... i feel like sh*te, cant tell anyone and you live in a state of fogg/ stress making it difficult to function at timed. Curious to know if im not alone with this... and how to regain myself after a poor month if anxiety. Thanks

Bubble202 Not sure if I am the only one...
  • replies: 1

Hi All, just looking to see if anyone else can relate or has found ways to help through similar times. I have always struggled with OCD as a child and with age I managed to get a good grasp on it, but of late I have noticed tiny bits of it sneaking b... View more

Hi All, just looking to see if anyone else can relate or has found ways to help through similar times. I have always struggled with OCD as a child and with age I managed to get a good grasp on it, but of late I have noticed tiny bits of it sneaking back in. I am very type a, and feel like I am always worrying about SOMETHING. What that thing is just depends on my biggest “fear” at the time. Sometimes I’m anxious I will lose my job, or I will get sick, or someone I love will get sick or die. I am constantly imagining a world of worst case scenarios and this probably doesn’t make sense but it makes me feel almost too scared to be happy. whenever something good happens, almost immediately something that I am worried about sneaks in and I’m back to be worried. Sometimes this makes me unproductive - and almost too scared to do anything. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and my heart is racing and I few like I’ve been awake for hours, other times I’m so tired all I want to do is sleep. I often also feel like I am a “little” sick, almost as if I am getting sick but very rarely do. This then gives me anxiety as well. Can anyone share similar experiences and let me know what has helped? Thanks

Julie3392 First day at work, felt very anxious
  • replies: 6

Hey everyone, So I just finished my first day at work, and I’m feeling very overwhelmed and anxious. I can’t help but feel like I was more of a burden to the company, and I’m not sure I can handle working there long term. I was hoping to work for at ... View more

Hey everyone, So I just finished my first day at work, and I’m feeling very overwhelmed and anxious. I can’t help but feel like I was more of a burden to the company, and I’m not sure I can handle working there long term. I was hoping to work for at least a year, for the experience and also for my resume. But I’m afraid I can’t control my anxiety, or that it will get worse. I know it’s only the first day, but I’m afraid my fears and anxiety are getting to me.