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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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Louise13 Health Anxiety!
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I am new to this forum and this is my first post. I have been reading through some posts and truly didn't realise health anxiety was a thing until I saw many people discussing how they have thoughts exactly like I do. It is really comforting ... View more

Hi all, I am new to this forum and this is my first post. I have been reading through some posts and truly didn't realise health anxiety was a thing until I saw many people discussing how they have thoughts exactly like I do. It is really comforting to know I am not the only person who stresses about any little pain that I have in my body. I have been experiencing muscle aches in my arms and legs over the last few days, and tingling sensations in these same areas. I immediately think I have some disease and my muscles are wasting away!! (something like fibromyalgia or MS??). I imagine a life with this illness and how I will cope. A big fear is that I have an illness that is incurable. I start stressing about dying young and I how I really just want to live a normal healthy life. I have to keep myself busy because as soon as I stop and have a moment to myself I start to panic, and I google everything that could be wrong with me which just sends me into a spin. I am so jealous of everyone who doesn't have to deal with this problem. It is so draining. Does anyone have any tips on how to overcome this? I am still stressed that I have a terminal illness as I am writing this. I wish all the thoughts would just go away.. Thanks

Guest_9550 My recovery story - the steps to recovery
  • replies: 3

My name is David. I’m a Scottish man in my early 40’s, and I’ve lived in Sydney Australia for the past 15 years. At the age of 33, following a period of consistent and continued stress and worry at home and in work, I developed Generalised Anxiety Di... View more

My name is David. I’m a Scottish man in my early 40’s, and I’ve lived in Sydney Australia for the past 15 years. At the age of 33, following a period of consistent and continued stress and worry at home and in work, I developed Generalised Anxiety Disorder. I didn’t just wake up one morning and have an anxiety problem - it crept up on me slowly and gradually as the worries in my life began to occupy more and more of my mind. I had a good life and considered myself to be happy – but anxiety crept in anyway. It started with some strange symptoms – and as these symptoms progressed and I began to fear the way the symptoms made me feel – the anxiety became a problem. I remained in the grips of anxiety for a number of years, which led me to unemployment, despair, hopelessness, and a trip to the emergency ward. My life and mind were consumed with trying to escape the terrifying thoughts and feelings and scary symptoms that made each day almost unbearable. Determined to find the joy in my life again, I spent time learning about my condition and how it affected my mind and body. I began to really understand why I remained trapped and why I had to approach my anxiety in a different way if I wanted to recover. By acquiring this knowledge, and using it to break my anxiety cycle, I was able to fully recover. After 5 years of suffering I was able to once again live a life that was no longer ruled by anxiety. David

Northernstar Fell down the rabbit hole. Need hope.
  • replies: 2

I’ve always been a bit anxious my whole life, but it never really interfered with my daily activity or quality of life. It was just part of me. This past year I had both kids diagnosed with chronic lifelong health conditions, tried to deal long dista... View more

I’ve always been a bit anxious my whole life, but it never really interfered with my daily activity or quality of life. It was just part of me. This past year I had both kids diagnosed with chronic lifelong health conditions, tried to deal long distance with my mother with Alzheimers, and a husband who was FIFO the past 18 months until March. I started getting chest pains, but two ER trips ruled out heart issues. Then in August, I had another episode and this time changes to ecg they said and after a subsequent day of intense pain, I ended up in the cardio ward. Angio was negative and subsequent echo negative. Never found out why the ecg was weird (leads on wrong?). They put me on medication because I mentioned my chest burning. Gastroscopy and biopsies negative, but tightness and burning continued. Nine weeks on, still dealing with GI flare ups while on double dose and topping up with Gaviscon. I see the gastroenterologist in mid November. Lost about 11kg since the end of August. Have been seeing psychologist, hypnotherapist/psychologist at MindGut Clinic, just met the psychiatrist last week who recommended a medication, which I’ve been scared to start. I’ve been doing everything I can to tone down the anxiety (exercise, Headspace, guided hypnotherapy exercises, vitamins, CBT workbooks) and some days I seem to be making okay progress and I’m impressed at my slowly growing resilience, but then something will happen (like the episode of ectopic beats on Wednesday), and panic sets in and I can’t cope. I had the start of a panic attack this morning and took a half dose of a medication my GP prescribed for the first time (it sat unused since August) but my kids didn’t get to school because I couldn’t drive. I feel so low right now, like someone flipped a switch and my previous life ended that August day and all that’s left is constant anxiety and pain. I also have no real support here except for my husband and kids. We moved to Australia nine years ago, and all of my family and friends are back in Canada. I want to move home and everyone is onboard with that but I need to get better first and that seems so far away. Thanks for reading. If anyone has been here and made it through, please feel free to share and give me a bit of hope.

kitten1509 Phone anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi, lately i've been having slight issues with calling people or answering phone calls - especially from people i dont know. I used to be able to pick up the phone through sheer mental force but now its kinda getting worse. Part of my anxiety is due ... View more

Hi, lately i've been having slight issues with calling people or answering phone calls - especially from people i dont know. I used to be able to pick up the phone through sheer mental force but now its kinda getting worse. Part of my anxiety is due to the fact that I'm having a hard time calling people when my mother would open the door and ask who i'm talking to right in the middle of a call i'm taking with someone. I just dont know how to deal with it when talking on the phone is a vital part of the job application process (interview) for quite a few employers. So, my question is - how do i deal with it, or overcome this anxiety/fear ?

Panicked87 When Panic Attacks... Attack
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I am 31 years old, happily married to my husband of 10 years, mother to a beautiful boy who’s 8, work full time in a busy successful job in management, have a dog, rescue blind kitten and 2 chickens. I have so many great things in my life tha... View more

Hi all, I am 31 years old, happily married to my husband of 10 years, mother to a beautiful boy who’s 8, work full time in a busy successful job in management, have a dog, rescue blind kitten and 2 chickens. I have so many great things in my life that I am very fortunate to have and love dearly. But I’m sitting here quietly on the couch watching tv feeling like I am having a heart attack and that this is it. This is the time I am actually having a heart attack. But I know I’m not ‘actually’ having a heart attack and that all of this is in my head. Unfortunately, the physical sensations that occur during these panic attacks feed my ‘panic’ even more - it’s a vicious cycle. The more I feel the sensations, the more I believe that the symptoms are real. The craziest part - sometimes my known trigger sets it off (I have a fear of choking and so a chunk of food can set me) but lately, there has not even been a trigger. Like right now - I’m sitting on the couch, cuddled with my son, and I just felt the blood drain from my face and now I feel overwhelmed and fearful, with my heart racing, legs shaking and irrational thoughts playing chasey in my head. But they are none the wiser. My husband and recently my Mum are aware that I suffer panic attacks almost daily and have done so for quite some time. But I try not to make a big deal of it as I don’t want to let them down. So I don’t tell them much - just enough so they know what’s going on if I get up and walk outside randomly, or feel my breath on the back of my hand to check that I can still breathe. How do I tell someone that I feel like I’m actually dying at random times of the day? That my thoughts manifest into physical symptoms which in turn, further feeds my irrational thoughts, all whilst I’m sitting at my desk typing an email. How would someone understand when they’ve never experienced what it’s life to feel that ‘dread’. I’m feeling pretty alone in my own head at the moment and not sure where to turn from here. I don’t want to go down the medication route and too scared to talk to someone professsionally. I use The Smiling Mind app, meditate, do yoga, deep breaths etc. but lately they don’t appear to work. For those who have panic attacks, how do you cope when the cycle become too much? I appreciate any advice. Thank you.

dannoh89 I feel so alone!!!!
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, I am new to this and I am anxious even about posting this but I feel I have to, posting this to somewhere where I won’t feel judged or different is a great feeling. I am going through some things at the moment where I have been with my husba... View more

Hi guys, I am new to this and I am anxious even about posting this but I feel I have to, posting this to somewhere where I won’t feel judged or different is a great feeling. I am going through some things at the moment where I have been with my husband for now 12 years and married for 6 and have 2 amazing kids which is what keeps me going, but my husband and I aren’t in a great place at the moment and my anxiety is taking over I have only just been diagnosed with Anxiety Depression and Post Natal Depression which is hard but I am getting through it Day by day, last night my husband and I didn’t even speak and I don’t want to keep pushing and pushing as I think that will push him away but we have said if things don’t change or we keep fighting that the best thing to do for the kids is to not be together anymore, this is where my anxiety kicks in and I start thinking and thinking and thinking and it is so hard to stop and I don’t know what to do, I am scared that I think this is the end but I honestly don’t want it to be, he said to me this morning to let him deal with it and get over it in his own way I feel like I need to respect that and give him the space until he is ready but my anxiety just wants to take over and keep talking, what do I do? thanks guys this means alot

Parisivashkov Sudden and Random Anxiety
  • replies: 3

I’ve always been incredibly happy and calm and have just taken things as they come, but a couple of months ago anxiety hit me hard and out of the blue. I have absolutely no reason to feel anxious and I wasn’t aware that anxiety could affect someone s... View more

I’ve always been incredibly happy and calm and have just taken things as they come, but a couple of months ago anxiety hit me hard and out of the blue. I have absolutely no reason to feel anxious and I wasn’t aware that anxiety could affect someone so suddenly and seemingly randomly, and since I have no idea what has caused it I don’t know what to do in order to try and relieve it. My symptoms have been very physical and I often feel nauseous, exhausted and out of breath to the point where I struggle to leave the house and live my life normally as I did previously. Constant headaches have also been impacting me since it’s onset. I’ve become so caught up with this whole situation that I make myself feel constantly worried that I will start feeling ill or have a panic attack during the day or during activities, which leaves me feeling sick and even more anxious. Due to me feeling so anxious all the time, I have started avoiding all opportunities where I could feel anxious or sick in public. I’m just so worried that this feeling won’t go away and I don’t know what to do. Has anyone else experienced a completely sudden and random onset of anxiety? If so, did it go away/ did your life go back to normal? Any help is greatly appreciated

ScarlettR Knowing what anxiety actually means
  • replies: 1

I used to have terrible anxiety about 4-5 years ago. Fortunately, since late 2016 I've handled it very well and can live life without too much worry. That said, there are some nights where I feel afraid of the future or of my current living condition... View more

I used to have terrible anxiety about 4-5 years ago. Fortunately, since late 2016 I've handled it very well and can live life without too much worry. That said, there are some nights where I feel afraid of the future or of my current living conditions or my family's wellbeing, and I go to bed early to get some therapeutic rest and reduce the trauma. I looked at Google's definition of anxiety: "a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome." I noted the word "uncertain". All this time, I thought I was worrying of bad things that will come to me, whether I'm expecting it or not (homelessness and death of a loved one are the most common feelings for worry for me). But maybe my thoughts of the future are not definite, but just uncertain, and I'm dwelling on my uncertainty to the point where I coated it with pseudo-truth? In fact, when something sad or terrible did happen in my life - and believe me, they were actually quite rare - I didn't get anxiety that I feel at night. In fact I recovered rather quickly and lived normal. I know everyone has a different life story and reason for their anxieties, so I'm trying to pinpoint an aspect of anxiety that everyone can relate to and overcome, or at least realise the feeling of uncertainty is only daydreaming.

Tiffany1 How to stop comparing self to others?
  • replies: 28

Howdy everybody! I'm not currently going through an episode, so I'm feeling pretty upbeat right now, but I just want to make sure depressed me in the future is prepared a bit better. Sometimes I get this terrible thought process happening where it se... View more

Howdy everybody! I'm not currently going through an episode, so I'm feeling pretty upbeat right now, but I just want to make sure depressed me in the future is prepared a bit better. Sometimes I get this terrible thought process happening where it seems like everyone is getting on with their lives and achieving things and being successful and becoming better people. And my mind tells me that I've achieved nothing. The negative self talk is quite bad when I go on facebook and I see everyone graduating with prestigious degrees and getting jobs, so I avoid fb now and I'm a lot happier. I went to an academically selective high school so it seems like most of the people I knew then are now highly respectable and employable people. It makes me remarkably jealous. When I graduated high school, I figured I wanted to pursue my dream to become an independent creative, and I thought since I was kinda smart and work really hard, I could make it. So I went to university and took a degree in the creative arts instead of the recommended business/law/science/accounting/engineering degree. Now classes have finished, and I do have fellow artists who've got jobs lined up or are working for studios now, but I'm not one of them. I had a tough time in university, at first I was really happy that I finally got to do creative stuff, but the head teacher was a real bully toward me and other students. He refused to speak to certain students because he didn't like their art, belittled other teachers and students behind their backs, and he'd push whom he considered talented artists so that they'd be getting no sleep. His emotional abuse made me relapse into deeply depressive episodes and I started hating creating stuff. I can't share my art online now, and sometimes I just destroy my work because the voices in my head get so loud. I haven't even started looking for creative work even though I have pieces I can show studios. I'm looking for a day job situation too, but it gets me down when I look at receptionist ads because I'm not even qualified for those and I spent so long trying to become a creative it seems like a waste to become a full time paper pusher. I feel like university was a waste and a huge mental struggle. I regret pursuing my dream. And I'm constantly comparing myself to more successful people. I know I have depression and anxiety to some degree. I just want to be happy with myself and what I've achieved? How do I focus on the good, and what good is there?

EllieC The dreaded “networking” event
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, I’m attending a conference at the moment for members of my profession. I’m absolutely loving all the presentations and learning so much so I’m glad to be here, but I’m finding it really quite hard to feel comfortable during breaks when we’re... View more

Hi guys, I’m attending a conference at the moment for members of my profession. I’m absolutely loving all the presentations and learning so much so I’m glad to be here, but I’m finding it really quite hard to feel comfortable during breaks when we’re supposed to mingle and “network” - a word that sends chills through socially anxious people like myself. I’m too shy to talk to people, then I worry that I’m being too weird because I’m not talking. There are some people here that I’ve met at previous events but every time I’ve spotted them they’re already having a conversation with someone else so I don’t want to interrupt Does anyone have tips on how to be a little more confident and forward in speaking to people... or even just to be more comfortable with standing on my own? (I’d take that over feeling like everyone thinks I’m a friendless leper!) If I can reflect, it seems to me like as my anxiety improves I start being able to do things I couldn’t have done five years ago - like going to this conference! - but that presents new challenges, and it makes me wonder if I’m actually improving or whether I’m just transferring my anxiety to new things?