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

Josh112 Discontinuation Withdrawals - I just need to chat
  • replies: 3

So since about September last year I started on antidepressant medication. Was starting to feel relatively well and the side effect of weight gain from the drug made me decide I wanted to move away from it and try to live 'sober' again. So my psychia... View more

So since about September last year I started on antidepressant medication. Was starting to feel relatively well and the side effect of weight gain from the drug made me decide I wanted to move away from it and try to live 'sober' again. So my psychiatrist agreed and we made a plan to taper. I believe I tapered much much too fast. I went from feeling fine to then starting to feel anxiety creeping in again over the course of the week. Random crying spells, intrusive thoughts and general badness. Day 7 since stopping medication. Started to feel very anxious. Appetite shot to bits. Day 8 anxious again, little sleep. Not a lot of food. Day 9 very anxious and a pretty average sleep again. Had to take sleeping medication to take the edge off. It worked well and I actually was able to eat dinner. Day 10 was much the same's built up to the point where during the day I'm so sweaty, anxious and out of my mind that I avoid going out and shower a few times a day and become reduced to tears by the consistent anxiousness. Today(Day 11) Seemed like a relatively good start to the day, didn't cry too much or feel too out of place. Was feeling a bit numb in the head, sweaty and not great. Went to lunch, started to go downhill after that. I managed to eat some sushi and some food during the day, struggled to keep it down. Anxiety grew more intense throughout the afternoon and I took sleeping medication to see if that would help. Not the greatest at the moment, some friends and my girlfriend are going out to dinner and I'm not in any shape to be considered good company. Just gonna stay home and watch the footy (thank god its back on). I am wondering if anyone has had similar experience with Antidepressant Discontinuation withdrawals. I'm at day 11 now since stopping the medication and it's absolutely hell on earth. I am determined to try and ride this out in the hopes of it becoming better soon. Family members (Sister and Father) think I should just return to a very low dosage to help me sleep and hopefully curb some of the symptoms.

Cybertron121 Bullying and harassment at workplace
  • replies: 5

So, it feels like I am being constantly bullied and harassed at my workplace. I have had moment of panic attacks and actual shocks as well where it felt like I was electrocuted because of the subtle ways I was bullied. I did not realize earlier as I ... View more

So, it feels like I am being constantly bullied and harassed at my workplace. I have had moment of panic attacks and actual shocks as well where it felt like I was electrocuted because of the subtle ways I was bullied. I did not realize earlier as I thought it was just a phase but it seems to be getting worse and worse. In addition, management told me that the situation I was in was "Damned if I do and Damned if I don't" and I have been told that twice which I perceived as a threat from my management and my previous team leader used words like "Sink or Swim" I have been ridiculed and bullied as a gay person indirectly by the staff members because I am not in a relationship and I refuse to go into one because if I can't make myself happy then how can I expect to make the love of my life happy? Furthermore, management has advised me that I am letting the team down and nowhere have I ever raised this issue with my team leader because I don't know how they would respond and I am scared. The company I work is notorious for micromanaging it's workers and working them to the point of pure insanity by not giving them enough time between calls and I feel I am being used like a punching bag as well. What should I do?

distelfink Physical symptoms of (health)Anxiety. (Lady issues)
  • replies: 3

So, awhile ago I had symptoms with my breasts, where I was so hung up on the thought that I had breast cancer. (Purely because I had an ache which turned out to be completely normal... I'm due for a pap smear, and anyway, I had been focusing on the t... View more

So, awhile ago I had symptoms with my breasts, where I was so hung up on the thought that I had breast cancer. (Purely because I had an ache which turned out to be completely normal... I'm due for a pap smear, and anyway, I had been focusing on the thought and I said to myself to not think about it as much as I was because I knew that my brain would manifest pains. Anyway, so wouldn't you believe it... Here I am again. I got PMS symptoms and suddenly, that meant I had cervical cancer. I got a random itch and of course, I googled. Then, I had a pain on the undie line where my thigh meets the side of the groin... Again, googled. (Idiot) and then since then, all I am feeling is random senations in my groin, abdomen etc. I have gas and as the gas and bloating is building, it hurts, obviously. Then my thighs get tired when walking up ramps or stairs and of course, I went to, yep, cancer or something else. Just like last time, if I'm distracted I have no symptoms. When I feel the "pain"... It would only be a level 1 or 2, it's not even anything bad, but in my head, if a body was normal, it wouldn't hurt or have ANY sensation. I clean for a living so I'm up and down steps, vacuuming and using a heavy blower every day, so my shoulders are sore, but I know that's related to work. I KNOW I have to see a doctor, I'll be seeing one soon but the second someone says "see your doc for a mind ease" I read "you're dying, see a doctor" But why can't it all just go away? How can I stop my brain from LOOKING for the pain when it's distracted? I wake up fine, I look for sensations, I find it, it gets worse and it's a.vicious cycle

Kmart96 Sleep troubles
  • replies: 6

I’m having trouble getting to sleep due to my massive anxiety problems. I suffer severely from health anxiety and always think I have a serious illness. I struggle to get to sleep as I’m worried that I won’t wake up again and I don’t know how to get ... View more

I’m having trouble getting to sleep due to my massive anxiety problems. I suffer severely from health anxiety and always think I have a serious illness. I struggle to get to sleep as I’m worried that I won’t wake up again and I don’t know how to get out of that cycle. I’m losing sleep over this anxiety and it’s cause actual health problems in my day to day life. Was hoping someone has gone through this themselves or could point me in the direction of a solution of some sort.

Kerrence Twice Exceptional child
  • replies: 1

Hi all I am new to these forums and am looking for, well I’m not sure what I’m looking for. I have a 6 year who is insanely intelligent, but also has anxiety and probably adhd. I have changed his school recently to get more support for their giftedne... View more

Hi all I am new to these forums and am looking for, well I’m not sure what I’m looking for. I have a 6 year who is insanely intelligent, but also has anxiety and probably adhd. I have changed his school recently to get more support for their giftedness , but his anxiety has been extreme with the change and he struggling to make friends and he begs to go back to his old school. His teacher and councillor have talked to me this week about getting him tested for giftedness, but also adhd and anxiety. He is only 6, I am really worried about having him diagnosed with a mental health and behaviour issue that will stay with him. His father was and is similar in characteristics and he is very much against testing or support and believes he should be left alone to be a child. Has anyone else had experience with a gifted child with a disability/anxiety?

Sophie_S Struggling SO SO much!
  • replies: 3

Hey all, I’ve posted in here once before.. I’m still servely suffering from anxiety. It has taken a lot of unwanted physical symptoms on my body.. still is, everytime I start to feel better everything just comes flooding back! As I said above I have ... View more

Hey all, I’ve posted in here once before.. I’m still servely suffering from anxiety. It has taken a lot of unwanted physical symptoms on my body.. still is, everytime I start to feel better everything just comes flooding back! As I said above I have been diognosed with very server anxiety and a dash of depression.. I have been medicated for it but after 8 weeks on the tablets I haven’t noticed one bit of change. My partner started back at work today after 5 months off because I couldn’t cope without him.. today was very HARD! It’s so hard to explain how I’m feeling, it’s surrounding death, so many fears.. leaving my family, never seeing my kids again, what happens after death. Honestly it feels like I’m mourning my own death that actually has happened. I struggle falling asleep (I’m okay once I fall asleep) I have panic attack, you name it. I’ve been admitted 5 times to hospital in the last 3 months.. I’ve seen a psychologist one but he’s only there for 1 day a week so it’s hard to get into him. PLEASE HELP ME!! I’m so lost!

Guest_2496 can't relax
  • replies: 12

Hi all I'm close to 60 and have dealt with anxiety on and off for a long time. On and off because there are days, weeks, months without it but for now it's back and I'm struggling to get it under control again. I've been seeing a psychologist for abo... View more

Hi all I'm close to 60 and have dealt with anxiety on and off for a long time. On and off because there are days, weeks, months without it but for now it's back and I'm struggling to get it under control again. I've been seeing a psychologist for about two months (this time) and I think it will help but all that dragging up everything that went wrong in your life is not fun! Really want to get to some strategies to get the anxiety under control and to keep it there but I know we have to go through the get-to-know you first. And having dealt with it so long I'm worried that none of the strategies work - it never goes away?! A lot of life events have happened in the last few years and since stopping work 2 years ago I haven't been able to really get on top of this. To add to the state of general anxiety, like others here I have health anxiety. At the moment I'm very overweight, unfit and always worried I'm going to have a heart attack. I'm working on the weight and fitness but of course it takes time. anyway...there's more but that's enough for now! have been finding reading the threads helpful so thanks to all of you out there for sharing and encouraging each other.

Clarissa26 Mornings
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone I find the mornings the hardest, I wake up feeling sick or thinking over stuff. It makes it hard to start the day. I feel sad.

Hi everyone I find the mornings the hardest, I wake up feeling sick or thinking over stuff. It makes it hard to start the day. I feel sad.

aidavrich Lonely
  • replies: 4

I'm not sure if this is the right thread for this but anyway. I more or less just wanted to voice my thoughts and see if someone could help me on this matter because I feel stuck. For the past few years or so I've been a very lonely person, I don't h... View more

I'm not sure if this is the right thread for this but anyway. I more or less just wanted to voice my thoughts and see if someone could help me on this matter because I feel stuck. For the past few years or so I've been a very lonely person, I don't have anyone to talk to at all and the last time someone messaged me on any kind of social media is around six weeks ago and I just want people to talk to. The thing is, I suck at conversation so that's probably part of the reason no one wants to talk to me. I honestly just feel like the odd one out and I wasn't expecting my teenage years to be like this, and I'm almost 16. I never have anyone to talk to on social media or anyone to hang out with, partly because I dont like doing stuff with people. I see all these kids at on their phones constantly talking to people with notifications probably blowing up their phone, I've never experienced that and probably never will, which honestly sucks so much. This is probably also I bit silly of a thing to say but everyone I know has at least over 300 followers all the way up to like 3,000 and here I am with 106 followers. I used to have around 200 but I noticed it started to go down because people were just losing interest in me. I'm not surprised either because I never post anything because I'm insecure about myself and think I would get judged, even when I do, I get no comments and barely any likes. I just honestly don't know how to get out of this situation, I'm just so lonely and wish I had people to talk to.

CrazyGecko89 Struggling with anxiety and stress.
  • replies: 5

After trying to help a friend deal with depression they've suddenly stopped talking and even blocked contact. Since they live alone I don't know if their ok or if the situation is temporary and they need some time alone. Unfortunately all the second ... View more

After trying to help a friend deal with depression they've suddenly stopped talking and even blocked contact. Since they live alone I don't know if their ok or if the situation is temporary and they need some time alone. Unfortunately all the second guessing has caused my anxiety and stress to hit hard. I've spent the last few days feeling sick, fatigued both emotionally and physically it makes day to day activities a struggle. I've tried distracting myself with varying success but the two questions of are they ok? and is the block temporary? keeps resurfacing making things draining.