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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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bigbrain is it anxiety or just to many stressful factors??
  • replies: 1

This morning at my son's footy match my partner came out and said i suffer from anxiety. It was then I started crying, I'm not sure exactly why, maybe I was relieved to learn that my emotional ups and downs had a purpose, finally a diagnoses? How cou... View more

This morning at my son's footy match my partner came out and said i suffer from anxiety. It was then I started crying, I'm not sure exactly why, maybe I was relieved to learn that my emotional ups and downs had a purpose, finally a diagnoses? How could I be so blind and not notice this. I searched on beyond blue website to learn about anxiety. I took the anxiety test and the score is on the low rage. The symptoms associated with anxiety I don't necessarily experience. So what is wrong with me? I am a single mum, of two boys 5 and 7 years. Apart from my sons been boisterous and have a very acquired skill for selective hearing, they have a clean bill of health. So what is wrong with me? Why do i feel under pressure? Emotionally drained?

Belinda1986 Crippling anxiety attacks
  • replies: 5

I’m 32 and I’ve suffered from anxiety since I was a child. I had really bad social anxiety in my 20s, and started getting panic attacks when I was 19 which were triggered by social situations. I had a really severe anxiety attack the middle of last y... View more

I’m 32 and I’ve suffered from anxiety since I was a child. I had really bad social anxiety in my 20s, and started getting panic attacks when I was 19 which were triggered by social situations. I had a really severe anxiety attack the middle of last yr. Even though I knew that it was an anxiety attack, I couldn’t help feeling that I was dying. Got my mum to take me to hospital, and I couldn’t sit still. They couldn’t give me anything to help. I get severe nausea, and have to pace for hrs and hrs (I cannot sit still). Some of my attacks have lasted for 24 hrs and exhaust me. I am still getting these really severe attacks even though I’m on antidepressants and seeing a psychologist. Until my attack last yr I had never told anyone about my anxiety. I could never date and up until a few months ago have never had a boyfriend. I’m really struggling to be in a relationship because I’m so used to being alone, and worry about having an anxiety attack in front of him. I have pushed myself to date and this is something I’ve always avoided in the past due to anxiety. I know I need to face the things that make me anxious but it’s so hard. i want to try going to an anxiety clinic near me if I can get in as my psychologist is doing nothing for me. We’ve just been talking but haven’t really got any strategies, or ways to challenge my thinking to stop the attacks. Really feeling very alone and don’t know what to do. I’m having an attack at the moment and just feel so desperate. Wanted to reach out and connect with other people.

Cuddlybear Mental illness in a tight knit community
  • replies: 5

Being in a small community with an mental illness can be a struggle, I have trouble fitting in and can't make new friends. I am a person that will always try to better themselves regardless of the barriers, but it seems that I fail every time I give ... View more

Being in a small community with an mental illness can be a struggle, I have trouble fitting in and can't make new friends. I am a person that will always try to better themselves regardless of the barriers, but it seems that I fail every time I give something a go. I have always struggled with keeping a job and maintaining my well being. It also feels like that there is no one that I can truly rely to help me through tough times, not even family. I tend to isolate myself, I find it helps me gain some perspective but it doesn't always work. I feel alone and am about to give up trying anymore, once again. It is hard when you don't feel accepted to achieve what you want to achieve.

Brookenicole Hangover anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hey. I have generalised anxiety disorder, I see a psych and am on antidepressants for it. when I really started struggling with anxiety I stopped drinking alcohol but last night I had a big night and now I have a hangover and such bad anxiety with it... View more

Hey. I have generalised anxiety disorder, I see a psych and am on antidepressants for it. when I really started struggling with anxiety I stopped drinking alcohol but last night I had a big night and now I have a hangover and such bad anxiety with it, I feel so overwhelmed. It’s literally crushing me right right now I’m scared of everything right now and don’t feel like I can even leave me shower floor to get help. I’m worried I’m going to hyperventilate and pass out. I don’t want to talk to anyone because I just feel like I’m being so dramatic about everything. I don’t think people will understand that at the moment I’m just anxious about being a human- not any particular event. My rational mind is saying this is so dumb get up but my whole body body feels terrified. I tried grounding and meditating and tryinf to just be in this moment but i cant concentrate right now

harro123 I don't know.
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I'm not really sure what to say on here so I'm just going to speak my mind. I've been really struggling lately with my mental health. I've always had anxiety but I've never had struggled this bad and honestly, I'm feeling really helpless... View more

Hi everyone, I'm not really sure what to say on here so I'm just going to speak my mind. I've been really struggling lately with my mental health. I've always had anxiety but I've never had struggled this bad and honestly, I'm feeling really helpless. I've always been the person my friends come and talk to if they are struggling but now I'm on the other side and I'm struggling with that thought. I also don't want to burden them with my struggles with anxiety, especially my roommate. I know it shouldn't be a problem but I just can't bring myself to tell my friends how I'm really doing at times. They know I'm dealing with anxiety and I am seeing professional help but I'm still feeling helpless. I want to talk to them but I hate the idea of them being worried about me. Also, my GP prescribed me antidepressants and I don't know if I should get a second opinion on whether or not I need to be medicated. Who should I go to about the second opinion? Thank you for taking the time to read this thread.

MissPink1 Down the rabbit hole
  • replies: 1

I am a 42 year old married woman with an adult son. I am well educated and have a professional career, a beautiful home, family and friends. I fear I am coming undone. I have had a problem relationship with drinking since I was 17 years old. My one s... View more

I am a 42 year old married woman with an adult son. I am well educated and have a professional career, a beautiful home, family and friends. I fear I am coming undone. I have had a problem relationship with drinking since I was 17 years old. My one serious attempt at sobriety ended a month ago, after I achieved 90 days. My husband and I started marriage counselling during that 90 days because, somewhat surprisingly, our problems were exacerbated by my sobriety. I have found the counselling both very difficult and helpful. Difficult because I find it so hard to talk about things (it took until the 4th session to talk about my addiction and it was excruciating) and helpful because I have lost this all consuming rage that I was starting to not be able to control and marital conflict has been markedly reduced and replaced with some tentative closeness. I also feel some relief although that is tempered with embarrassment. The problem is that, for some reason, I have been thinking about many negative things since starting counselling. My father suffers from mental illness and my childhood was defined by it and my mother's helplessness/hopelessness and focus on religion. It was predictably unpredictable - a cycle of conflict between my parents which, not infrequently, ended in minor physical violence against my mother. I am the eldest of 3 children and felt obligated to protect my siblings and, sometimes, my mother. As I got older I tried to help her take steps so she could leave, i.e. secure employment, but she seemed unable to and the church would say she had to stay anyway, so I gave up at some point and focused on finishing school and leaving. I spent my 20's and 30's been very busy. The only time I haven't had daily thoughts of suicide (no intention to commit just intrusive thoughts) is when I took an anti-depressant for about 12 months. The adverse side affects (a permeable glass wall between people and me) resulted in my stopping it. The withdrawal symptoms were terrible. I feel that I am defective and I will never be able to rectify myself. I feel worse with each passing day - sometimes I am so anxious I think I may lose the plot entirely. I don't feel able to talk about this with the counsellor because it would all be too much - how can one person be such a disaster? I know I need to get a grip on things but am unsure how to. There is no point going to my GP, because I am not taking medication and I am already in counselling. What to do?

Red_Robin Anxiety about work, me and life
  • replies: 17

This is hard to write. I feel like a failure as I write this and wonder if I will ever gain confidence to work again. Management has changed and the environment is awful. Under new management I feel targeted (as do other staff) for example I was aske... View more

This is hard to write. I feel like a failure as I write this and wonder if I will ever gain confidence to work again. Management has changed and the environment is awful. Under new management I feel targeted (as do other staff) for example I was asked by a colleague for some Panadol during work hours and was advising her of the pain relief, (she is pregnant - I was unsure what she could have). Management came straight up, stood directly beside me asking "is everything alright?" She stood there until my coworker took her choice and I continued work. What upset me is that while my actions were questioned another two colleagues were chatting (one even sitting on the others desk in plain site), and another had talked all day (she has a very loud voice) showing anyone and everyone her phone disagreement with her sister in law, continuing to do so all afternoon also. Neither of these were or are ever spoken to. One afternoon I was on lunch, and a manager yelled at me to stop gossiping and get back to work. Yesterday I was called into the office and my work was reviewed. The meeting was very formal and I was called out on errors made which I accept full responsibility for. However I am now told if I make these again I will receive a written warning. Other colleagues are making the same errors, one of which I discussed the process with recently and her response was to say she "doesn't give a shit" (same co-worker who never get in trouble). Other staff have left, saying they are glad to leave this toxic workplace. One While another has confided in me she has anxiety as a direct result from work. I am trying to apply for other work but my confidence in my own ability is gone. I am constantly nervous and trying not to make errors, and anxiety comes along and while i try to ride through the fear, shakes, nausea etc I am so scared I think I will vomit or poop myself at my desk. When I look at job sites i am so unsure of myself and my abilities I don't apply for anything for fear I am not able. The jobs I can apply for finish outside my childrens day care hours or affect my arthritis pain. I desperately need a new job and immediate confidence in myself but don't feel I am winning this battle or even "floating " through it gracefully. .I have had awful dreams all night and waking continuously. I am feeling a failure and bad example to my children.

CM97 Health Anxiety After Effects
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I have been suffering anxiety on and off most of my life. Unfortunately it has been different triggers near every time. The last one was a health scare and I was a wreck for a week. All the normal things fatigue, lack of appetite etc. Normall... View more

Hi all, I have been suffering anxiety on and off most of my life. Unfortunately it has been different triggers near every time. The last one was a health scare and I was a wreck for a week. All the normal things fatigue, lack of appetite etc. Normally once I have gotten thru it I feel quite normal. This last one I am over the hump. But my stomach is still a mess. Bloating one minute hungry next. Also I feel short of breath sometimes. But if I stop take some deep breathes it feels normal again but could happen again in 30 minutes. Is this normal? I have heard of anxiety hangover. But trying to stay away from Google. Cheers

whose_da_man88 Why anxiety/depression makes the bed so attractive?
  • replies: 1

Hi, I've searched and there are a lot of people that report they can't get out of bed - just like me. I use to have the lethargic/fatigued/insomnia etc which obviously makes you feel like you just want to continue sleeping. However these days I am sl... View more

Hi, I've searched and there are a lot of people that report they can't get out of bed - just like me. I use to have the lethargic/fatigued/insomnia etc which obviously makes you feel like you just want to continue sleeping. However these days I am sleeping OK ... like not the best but at least getting something, but when it is time to get up for the day, I'd much prefer to lay in bed even though I've been awake for a few hours really. Also during the day I would love nothing more than to jump back into bed ... I have an afternoon nap and it may last for an hour max and then I spend an hour or 2 more in bed just not wanting to get out. Why does anxiety/depression do this to you? Why does it make me crave the bed so much?

xjeansx Looking for people with the same anxiety/overthinking issues as me.
  • replies: 5

I’m posting this in hopes of connecting and relating to people who deal with the same anxiety symptoms as me, so I can feel less alone and start to understand myself a little more. i have suffered from some sort of depressive anxiety for at least 15 ... View more

I’m posting this in hopes of connecting and relating to people who deal with the same anxiety symptoms as me, so I can feel less alone and start to understand myself a little more. i have suffered from some sort of depressive anxiety for at least 15 years now. For the first 3 years I put it down to just being a moody teenager and I’ll grow out of it, then for the remaining 8-9 years I just sort of thought that everyone feels this way, life’s hard and this is how it’s always gonna be so I just gotta learn to deal with it. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I finally sought out help from a doctor and was referred to a psychotherapist. Unfortunately I don’t believe her type of therapy was what I needed and I am currently seeking new treatment and have a doctors appointment in a few days. but I wanted to just list and ramble a bit about my anxieties in hopes that I can relate to some others who may feel the same. So a lot of my anxiety stems from I think a huge lack of self confidence and esteem. And also past relationships where people have cheated and lied and treated me awfully have resulted in massive insecurity issues and a tendency to over analyse and over think literally everything. I create scenarios in my head and obsess over them, I overthink so much that I start believing and feeling as though the scenarios are real. This creates a permanent awful sinking feeling in my stomach because I know that it puts strain on my relationship, and even when my partner reassured me and gives me extra affection it still doesn’t make the feeling go away because my anxiety controls me so deeply. and in a non relationship way, my lack of confidence and esteem and belief in myself finds me feeling absolutely no motivation to better myself or progress in my dream career that I’m hoping to get into, and just in general improvement of my well being, I get so scared of failing or so sure that I won’t succeed because all I’ve ever felt is that I’m a failure, that I talk myself out of even trying in the first place. It feeds the unmotivated unwillingness inside me. I’ve never felt proud of myself because of the absence of confidence and esteem. i really want to get better, I want to change my behaviours and thoughts and I want to feel more secure in myself and with my relationship and hobbies and life goals. I am finally building up the courage to seek help. I just hope there are people who who can relate and that we can hopefully help each other through a discussion

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