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

All discussions

Harry91 Taking my first steps to receive help
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Hi everyone, I've just recently decided that I can't keep sweeping my mental health issues under the rug and need to start taking action for a better quality of life. I have always found my anxiety and depression to be manageable and know that there ... View more

Hi everyone, I've just recently decided that I can't keep sweeping my mental health issues under the rug and need to start taking action for a better quality of life. I have always found my anxiety and depression to be manageable and know that there are people out there in a far more severe struggle then I, which is why I had held off but now Im more curious about my health rather then feeling as though I should ignore it or just wait until tomorrow when hopefully it has calmed down and I'm back to "normal". The factor that has made me want to seek help is that I am just constantly feeling deflated, losing interest for things I have loved more then anything, low self esteem and a negative mental dialogue. What were the first steps everyone has taken once deciding to seek help and do you have any advice? Should I just book an appointment with a psychologist who seems like I would gel with? I often spent more time worrying about others and ignoring my own mental health or creating excuses and unjustified reasons why I may feel the way I do. I'm now finally in a headspace where I'm really excited to get help and see where it can lead me. Please, if you feel like it share your stories with me or any advice you would give someone who is taking the next step in improving their mental health and wellbeing. thanks

Rose3 Anxious to go on holidays?
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Hi All This is my first post here on BB forums, so apologies if this thread has already been started elsewhere. I just wondered if any others here suffer from anxiety when planning on going on a holiday, even if for just a few nights. This time, last... View more

Hi All This is my first post here on BB forums, so apologies if this thread has already been started elsewhere. I just wondered if any others here suffer from anxiety when planning on going on a holiday, even if for just a few nights. This time, last year I remember when I was planning my 5 weeks overseas holiday with friend whom I had never travelled with before, I got very anxious as the weeks approached the date to leave. I had no idea what to take with me or pack, as I hadn't travelled in years. The panic became more obvious as the departure date approached that I wondered if I could even manage to get on the plane. It was not the flight I was worried about, just the thought of being away for 5 weeks. Thankfully I did, and my nervousness/anxiety reduce as the days abroad settled in and we had a wonderful holiday. I'm planning another short break in June just interstate, with another friend, and I'm again feeling anxious about going. Does anyone have same problem, and if so, what do you do to help prevent the anxiety. Cheers Sue

Young_famof4 Anxiety affecting my marriage and my kids
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Hi all. I am a first time poster on here and need help. I have severe anxiety to the point that my wife isn’t happy with me and told me last night that “your not the man I married anymore” wich as you could imagine tore me apart. I had a bad day on T... View more

Hi all. I am a first time poster on here and need help. I have severe anxiety to the point that my wife isn’t happy with me and told me last night that “your not the man I married anymore” wich as you could imagine tore me apart. I had a bad day on Thursday when looking after my kids, 2yrs and a 5month old, after a point of my 2yr old being 2, pushing boundaries and seeing what he can get away with and my daughter crying for a good solid couple hours I was to the point of near no return. I have never, nore ever will be violent towards my family in anyway but my anxiety builds and builds and it’s time I reached out. What can I do to help my famiky

Farmboy28 Anxiety in relationships
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Hi I'm 28 years old and I've recently been diagnosed with severe stress and anxiety disorder aswell as panic attacks. Let me first start by saying that my biggest problem is is over estimate everything and it causes me to get stressed and that from w... View more

Hi I'm 28 years old and I've recently been diagnosed with severe stress and anxiety disorder aswell as panic attacks. Let me first start by saying that my biggest problem is is over estimate everything and it causes me to get stressed and that from where I can't trust my partner if she's doing something wrong or not if she's going away so I was wondering how to people come over their anxiety in relationships any help would be much appreciated.

ThelmaLo POCD - worried Ive done something inappropriate - any mums that can relate??
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I've recently been diagnosed with 'pure O' OCD which seems to go through different themes. Since my daughter was born it's focused around her I'm constantly worried Ive done something inappropriate, and with therapy I've managed to get some separatio... View more

I've recently been diagnosed with 'pure O' OCD which seems to go through different themes. Since my daughter was born it's focused around her I'm constantly worried Ive done something inappropriate, and with therapy I've managed to get some separation from some of these thoughts and realise they are rediculous (like worried I cleaned nappy area too thoroughly) But one thing I can't get past is this. I had a horrible thought that I somehow touched her wrong and didn't remember and the more I thought about the more I was convincing myself I had. I ended up deciding if I had then it would be obvious so I checked and all was of course normal so that thought no longer plagued me. But then I looked again 2 more times... There was nothing sexual about it at all and I didn't touch her but now I feel like I've done something wrong.... The thought that I could have done something inappropriate to my baby girl is breaking me I love her more than anything in this world. I'm avoiding baths and nappy changes now because of it. (my husband is super supportive thankfully)

ImLost HELP: Anxiety+Panic Attacks+Depression - Work+study+Life
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October last year I was officially diagnosed with: Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks and Depression. Over the last few months I have been handed from place to place. One said "We can't help you." I am still trying to find a psychologist that I can go t... View more

October last year I was officially diagnosed with: Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks and Depression. Over the last few months I have been handed from place to place. One said "We can't help you." I am still trying to find a psychologist that I can go to as my current isn't working out. I'm on my 4th medication *fingers crossed*. I am hoping I am not alone in this situation. I am starting to feel like a burden on my family (currently living with), my partner and friends. I am currently having to take a few months off work due to it being a large trigger. Even thinking about heading into work sends me spiralling down. I also study part-time which I have not attended in weeks due to not feeling up to it. I've managed to keep up with the work online hoping to finish the course as I am interested in the topics. I'm hoping someone has had a similar experience. After talking with my partner and family + doctor and Psychologist I have been thinking about leaving my work to spend some time to work on my health. I really would like to get myself at a level where I could go to UNI and complete a degree in something I really enjoy. I'm scare about how to do this, my workplace is like gossip central. From the moment I walk in I feel like they all watch me like hawks. I don't think many of them understand what I'm going through and think it's like a cold that will "Go away soon" and I'll be back to normal. Does anyone else feel like they are missing parts of them selves? I always loved photography, reading books and doing arts and crafts but I feel like all my creativity is gone. I have a hard time sitting still long enough to enjoy a book or trying to create pictures that I imagine. I know I need help but every time I try I either feel like a burden or I get passed around a system that doesn't know what to do with me.

nikooo health anxiety
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hiya! the last week my anxiety has been through the roof with so many new symptoms that it’s scary. like: sharp pains in arms and legs, migraines, stomach pain, sore teeth and brain zaps. it’s a little all too much that i’m starting to think it’s not... View more

hiya! the last week my anxiety has been through the roof with so many new symptoms that it’s scary. like: sharp pains in arms and legs, migraines, stomach pain, sore teeth and brain zaps. it’s a little all too much that i’m starting to think it’s not my anxiety.

Luketheanxious Fear of cancer,
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Greetings everyone, my name is Luke. i have been battling GAD for quite sometime now and have recently started medication, it’s working wonders. im a chemistry student and an explosives engineer, recently I was doing a daily examination of my testicl... View more

Greetings everyone, my name is Luke. i have been battling GAD for quite sometime now and have recently started medication, it’s working wonders. im a chemistry student and an explosives engineer, recently I was doing a daily examination of my testicles when I noticed a lump. It was about the size of a peppercorn and didn’t hurt. I was born with an un decsended testicle and it’s been a problem my whole life, I learned that I would be at a greater risk of cancer etc. anyeah, I left it for a few days and checked agai, sure enough it was still there, I’ve booked an appointment to see an endocrinologist ASAP but in the mean time I’m severely distressed. as far as cancer goes, how bad is testicular cancer? Could it be a cyst? Thank you all for reading, any support is appreciated

Jobby24 Anxious Thoughts
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After suffering with Anxiety for 5 years, I finally started meds and have been on them for 1 week. I realise they don’t start working for a few weeks. My problem is at the moment - I take a perceived issue and snowball it in my mind to this huge big ... View more

After suffering with Anxiety for 5 years, I finally started meds and have been on them for 1 week. I realise they don’t start working for a few weeks. My problem is at the moment - I take a perceived issue and snowball it in my mind to this huge big “my life as I know it will end” thing. When I get stuck on something like this it’s all I can think about - I wake up in the middle of the night and just keep building it up bigger and bigger. I remind myself that hardly anything I ever worry about actually happens but that doesn’t help because what if this is the first big thing that does happen and my life (I love my life with my family) will be over and I will be devastated? I can’t seem to budge the feelings for a few days and then they diminish but never go away completely and I might be reminded of them in a vague way and then all those anxious feelings I felt come flooding back. I get worried that my gut instinct is all out of whack - I don’t know what feelings to trust and what ones not too. Each thing I worry about seems very huge and important and worthy of my thoughts. I’m not even sure I’m making sense. I try to practice mindfulness but I can’t always make it work. Any advice? Also unsure if the meds will help this? Thank you for reading this!

T95 Quit Job
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Hi, For the last 2 months I have been working at a new job. During this time my anxiety has been the worst it's even been. I've had so many panic attacks which I've never had before. The people at this job are nice, the work load is a lot and stressf... View more

Hi, For the last 2 months I have been working at a new job. During this time my anxiety has been the worst it's even been. I've had so many panic attacks which I've never had before. The people at this job are nice, the work load is a lot and stressful. I ended up wanting to quit a month ago but thought maybe I was being hard on myself and just needed to settle in. My anxiety for worse since then and the thought of going back makes me wants to crumble into 1000 pieces. I saw my doctor yesterday and she put me on a "low" does anxiety medication. However, today I have no appetite and a migraine. Has anyone else experienced this? I also decided to quit my job. My partner wasn't very supportive of this decision as I don't have a job to go to until I find one. I've always stuck jobs out and always had one before I've left but this time I just couldn't and I feel like a failure. Now we have to live off my partners income and it's just going to tear us apart.