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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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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.

WorriedFather 16 y.o. boy housebound with anxiety - help needed
  • replies: 7

Hi Everyone, I'm writing this in the hope that I might be able to get some advice from a parent out there who may have experienced a similar problem with their child. In the middle of 2018 my son (let's call him Jay) at the end of 1st term school hol... View more

Hi Everyone, I'm writing this in the hope that I might be able to get some advice from a parent out there who may have experienced a similar problem with their child. In the middle of 2018 my son (let's call him Jay) at the end of 1st term school holidays was "feeling sick in the stomach" and was unable to go to school for a few days. That didn't strike us as abnormal at that point. At the end of second term school holidays the same thing happened - he felt sick in the tummy, couldn't go to school. This time however he was off for a couple of weeks. He managed to get back there for a day or two but that was it. At that point we were thinking he had some kind of stomach issue. Jay had a large group of friends, all good kids, he was happy, socialising all the time. We took him to the GP, had blood tests done, this test, that test but nothing came back as being a problem. We then took him to see a gastroenterologist, he had a gastroscopy procedure which showed he had a mild hiatal hernia but nothing which should have prevented him from going to school. A couple of months had passed by this stage and Jay had not really been back to school since the holidays. School work was being done at home but he was becoming increasingly resistant to leaving the house to go places. He started having mild panic attacks, feeling sick in the stomach at shopping centres and restaurants. We took him to see a psychiatrist who diagnosed Jay with anxiety. Jay refused to believe this was the case as there was nothing bothering him. He was prescribed anxiety meds but they really didn't help. The psych sessions yielded nothing of any real value. Jay really didn't have anything to say about his feelings because from his perspective there wasn't a problem in that area. We'd now gotten to the end of the year and he hadn't been back to school and was doing all schoolwork from home with parental guidance. He went and saw another psych over the summer but again it didn't help. So now here we are in March 2019. Jay barely leaves the house now and is doing VCE via distance education. He isn't depressed. He is for the most part a happy kid. He's chatty, makes good eye contact, involves himself in conversations at the dinner table etc. He does spend most of his time in his room though. I'm hoping there's someone out there who has had a similar exp with their child. Any advice you could give would be appreciated. We are desperate to get our son's life back Thanks

Courage11 is distant education the answer to managing anxiety?
  • replies: 3

Hi I need advice pls. My daughter has started high school this year and is struggling with anxiety she is 12. She has a previous OCD diagnosis (3 years ago) . Our problem is anxiety around attending school. She is insistent on doing high school by di... View more

Hi I need advice pls. My daughter has started high school this year and is struggling with anxiety she is 12. She has a previous OCD diagnosis (3 years ago) . Our problem is anxiety around attending school. She is insistent on doing high school by distant education. I am worried her anxiety will manifest in other ways. Her GP says bad idea, her psychologist says bad idea, her dad (we are divorced) says she should be allowed to choose and do it. I have told her I will be on board if a professional thinks that's the best option for her academically, socially and emotionally. Is there any one in a similar situation or is there anyone who can offer me advice, please and thank you.