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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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KKR [Does it get easier?] 3 weeks after my first ever panic attack - medication, therapy and confiding in colleagues and loved ones
  • replies: 1

3 weeks ago I was sitting on my bed working away on my laptop preparing for an upcoming event. My partner arrived home and asked me how my day was..I began explaining my day was not unlike any other when all of the sudden I began hyperventilating unc... View more

3 weeks ago I was sitting on my bed working away on my laptop preparing for an upcoming event. My partner arrived home and asked me how my day was..I began explaining my day was not unlike any other when all of the sudden I began hyperventilating uncontrollably. I became disorientated and found myself crawling across the bedroom floor reaching for a wall in hopes of finding a sense of stability somehow. I was terrified and trying to ask my partner to call the ambulance but I couldn't get the words out. I simply couldn't speak. I genuinely believed I was having a stroke or minor heart attack. After some minutes, my breathing began to normalise and I was able to get to the bathroom to throw back 2 benzodiazepine tablets. I climbed into bed, pulled the covers up and laid awake the entire night staring around the room. I found this particularly frightening as i've never been able to keep my eyes open after having 1 tablet, let alone 2. I knew something wasn't right. I went to the GP the following day and after clearing my physical examination, he explained he was quiet sure what i'd experienced was a panic attack and that it was possible I may experience another in the future. I've since been administered anti-depressants and have started seeing a psychotherapist once a week. Needless to say, I have never felt less like myself than what I do right now. At the moment I don't feel as though anyone in my life seems to fully comprehend how scared, alone and spaced out i'm feeling on a daily basis. Maybe someone here may understand when I say...I feel equal parts of wanting to be cuddled and reassured and equal parts of wanting to be completely isolated from the world. I haven't been the same since the panic attack, since starting this medication and since telling colleagues and friends whats really going on with me. It's all happened so fast and although I've been the one to take the initiative and seek support, I do feel as though i'm losing control of my identity in a way. Please someone tell me this journey get's easier.

IndianaDreaming Anxiety, panic attacks and living with a phobia
  • replies: 5

Hi, I am new to the community here and would like to share my experience with anxiety and phobia. I have suffered anxiety for many years now and was referred to three years ago by a GP to a psychologist for Social Anxiety and General Anxiety. I went ... View more

Hi, I am new to the community here and would like to share my experience with anxiety and phobia. I have suffered anxiety for many years now and was referred to three years ago by a GP to a psychologist for Social Anxiety and General Anxiety. I went to one session and never went back. The truth is, I couldn't even bring myself to tell my GP what was the true cause of my anxiety and suffering. I have a debilitating phobia of throwing up, and this year (almost three years later) after having my phobia more or less under control, I relapsed back into phobia and reached a point where I lost weight due to fear of eating, in fear that it would lead to me being sick. I know that my fear is irrational but it just feels so real. I always get comments from friends and family about my eating habits, I generally stick to bland foods (bread, biscuits, bananas, pasta) and trying new foods is a nightmare for me. I was overseas a few months ago when my phobia reached its peak effect - I was having at least two panic attacks a day, unable to eat any meals and sticking to biscuits or bananas which are my safe foods. My family could not understand my behaviour and panic attacks because I still can't bring myself to tell my friends and family the true nature of this phobia as it is so embarrassing. I have made a lot of progress in the past few months, though I still avoid going to restaurants/eating in public as much as possible. I look at other people and wonder how they can go about their day not worrying about what may happen if they eat. The past few weeks were great, I was eating at least two meals a day (not in public) which was a significant improvement for me. But now during exam period, anxiety has yet again taken over me completely, I'm sometimes unable to do any study for hours as I wait for my panic attacks to pass. I also was told a story that triggered me on the weekend which threw most of my eating improvements out the window as I have now reverted back to old habits and skipping meals in fear I will be sick. My fear is so strong that even being told a story about someone being violently sick or hearing someone say the word can make me revert back to my skipping meals and avoiding danger food habits.. I'd love to have the courage to tell my family and friends about what is really causing my debilitating anxiety, and seek help from a doctor, but it's too embarrassing. I want to seek the help I need but I'm worried that I'll never find the right treatment.

SaltPep Newbie - looking to feel more independent when unwell
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, This is my first post. I’ve decided to join to use this forum to give me another tool for support without relying so heavily on my key supports (husband and sister who are both wonderful). Being overly-dependent on them when I am unwell ... View more

Hi everyone, This is my first post. I’ve decided to join to use this forum to give me another tool for support without relying so heavily on my key supports (husband and sister who are both wonderful). Being overly-dependent on them when I am unwell has become somewhat of a habit - to the point of needing one of them with me nearly 24/7, or at the very least having them “on call” constantly. This of course leaves me feeling petrified of being unable to handle it should they be unavailable, and lowers my sense of independence. I have a great psychiatrist (who helped me identify the above) and psychologist, and have just completed a couple of weeks in hospital to stabilise my anxiety and OCD and transition medications. I’ve never been to hospital for this before (aside from a short admission at age 11 to get my initial diagnosis) and was terrified. But I settled and felt really good for a lot of it, and benefitted well from the structure. Of course, now I am out, I’m terrified too. But I think that’s normal. Today is my first day at home without my husband, so dealing with my anxiety on my own, and it’s been up and down. And so I found myself here. As part of my OCD/anxiety I am prone to “reassurance seeking”, so I think I need to be careful with how I use this forum to make sure I don’t end up using it for that purpose. Any tips from people who feel they have a good balance on this would be very welcome - I don’t want to replace one unhealthy coping mechanism with another! Thanks

Barnzey87 Anxiety - going back to work
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, So I've had a pretty rough 7-9 weeks. I've been going to my doctor each week trying and testing new things. I had a major anxiety episode 2 years ago so I've gone through this before. However my last doctor appointment he told me, there... View more

Hey everyone, So I've had a pretty rough 7-9 weeks. I've been going to my doctor each week trying and testing new things. I had a major anxiety episode 2 years ago so I've gone through this before. However my last doctor appointment he told me, there isn't much he can do and i just need to force myself back into life. Now i haven't been sitting at home all the time, i went out every now and then to the shops and my friends house but i always had trouble. I have one week till i go back to work, and my new tablet will hopefully kick in more after the 12 days ive been taking it. however ive been having new symptoms (since last time) and i just want to know if others have gone through it. I'm really scared about going back, i just don't think its a smart move. So currently im only getting 5-6 hours asleep a night, which isn't normal for me. When i wake up im always in uncomfortable stomach pain and it takes like 4-5 hours before i seem to be able to do normal things around the house. (i just lay and watch tv) Little things always seem give me a little anxiety attack, like car reeving outside, someone knocking on the door. When i go out, im always in uncomfortable pain , and sometimes it gets the better off me and i just want to drive back home. I'm only eating one small meal a day which i think is causing one of my other main problems. When i seem to exert myself, 30mins later i need to lay down to catch my breath. I just don't have the energy. Now for the moment i can manage at home, but I'm still hoping the tablet kicks in more soon. But does anyone else have these type of symptoms with anxiety? Its a lot to take in and very draining. Its effecting my relationship as I'm always sad, and just want to lay down/relax.

Matho61 Anxiety, I’m losing control ATM
  • replies: 5

I am having out of control episodes with my anxiety that I’ve never experienced before in my life. Even had to leave work the other day as I thought I was going to collapse and needed to take a few days off. I’ve always had some form of anxiety as it... View more

I am having out of control episodes with my anxiety that I’ve never experienced before in my life. Even had to leave work the other day as I thought I was going to collapse and needed to take a few days off. I’ve always had some form of anxiety as it runs in our family but the last 2 weeks I’ve been having attacks that are the worse ever in my life. Effecting my sleep, feeling sick, headaches. Even now I’m in bed where I should be relaxing and asleep but I’m stressing about work, the wedding I have to attend to next week and just the day ahead of me. I feel like I’m going to completely lose it. It’s the worse feeling ever, give me two broken legs any day. Has anyone here ever been that out of control bad and thought you were going to explode in your mind?

Louise117 Work and Anxiety
  • replies: 3

I suffer from long term generalized anxiety but at the moment am experiencing extreme anxiety related to work. I am finding it hard to return and am currently taking unpaid leave. Can anyone suggest fresh career options that might suit someone with a... View more

I suffer from long term generalized anxiety but at the moment am experiencing extreme anxiety related to work. I am finding it hard to return and am currently taking unpaid leave. Can anyone suggest fresh career options that might suit someone with anxiety problems. I work in aged care atm and have also worked in an office. Anything with a small team structure would be the kind of thing I have in mind.

greenlabrador23 Looking for a wingman
  • replies: 1

I'm going through so far what has been a really rough year for me. I've been able to hold it together thus far but I don't know how much i have left in me to go on.I already feel so isolated and alone as my friends are in a different city. All i want... View more

I'm going through so far what has been a really rough year for me. I've been able to hold it together thus far but I don't know how much i have left in me to go on.I already feel so isolated and alone as my friends are in a different city. All i want is someone to talk to as it's been very long since i've had buddy to talk things through. I read about a wingman, and it doesn't actually provides a form for me to fill out to get in contact with someone so i thought i ask here in this forum.

Romy Paranoid about mental illness
  • replies: 5

I have anxiety issues, and I tend to overthink A LOT! Does anyone else with anxiety find that they often overthink and get paranoid about developing another mental illness. For example, when I was learning about schizophrenia at university, I was sca... View more

I have anxiety issues, and I tend to overthink A LOT! Does anyone else with anxiety find that they often overthink and get paranoid about developing another mental illness. For example, when I was learning about schizophrenia at university, I was scared I would get it. My whole life I have been skinny, I could eat whatever I wanted and not put on weight. I've noticed the last couple of months that I'm not as skinny as I used to be (since getting in a long-term relationship - HA!). I'm not fat or overweight, I know that, but I am taking more care to eat healthy and try to eat less crappy food. The point I am getting to is, I'm now paranoid that I mat develop an eating disorder. My friend was just diagnosed with bulimia so it's on my mind a lot, and I also am doing a mental health placement for uni where there are eating disorder patients. I have not significantly reduced what I've been eating, have just been trying healthier options. I have not purged in any way, and I do not plan to. However, tonight I looked up how many calories I should be eating per day and I added up all the calories I normally consume (which was a normal amount), and now I'm concerned that I'm showing obsessive food behaviour by doing this. Does anyone else get this idea in their head that they may develop a mental illness? I'm not disgusted with my body, I just want to make sure I take care of my body cause I obviously now can't eat whatever I want like I used to.

Chickenhead Anxiety slowly escalating
  • replies: 3

So I'm not sure I really have anything to ask, I just am feeling anxious and I'm not sure how to deal with it right now. I usually talk to my husband, but it's partly him I'm worrying about. I'm now full term so will have a baby anytime in the next 3... View more

So I'm not sure I really have anything to ask, I just am feeling anxious and I'm not sure how to deal with it right now. I usually talk to my husband, but it's partly him I'm worrying about. I'm now full term so will have a baby anytime in the next 3 weeks. I'm trying really hard not to stress about the birth. Hubby is having health issues and has been told if he degenerates at all he's to go straight to the ER. He's seen the GP who has given a referral but he won't be seen for probably a few months. Meanwhile our toddler is happy as anything but we've just agreed she will stay with my parents during the labour. She's never had time away from us and hasn't spent much time with her grandparents, so I'm concerned she won't cope. I trust my parents will take good care of her, my husband is uncomfortable because he doesn't trust his mother and I think is projecting that onto my parents. But what option do we have?? There's really no one else who could take her. But I'm sorry he feels that way, and it's weighing on my mind. I spent Thursday in hospital being monitored for pre-eclampsia, but I honestly believe most of my symptoms are anxiety related. Blood pressure, headache, nausea... So, as I started with, I'm not really sure what I'm asking, I guess it's just about sharing where I'm at.

Sunday1991 Catastrophic and irrational thoughts
  • replies: 6

Oh boy.. Where do I begin. So I've had anxiety for years but at least I have managed to function. At the moment however that is not the case or if I am trying to get on with my day it is extremely uncomfortable and stressful. So I have a bit of every... View more

Oh boy.. Where do I begin. So I've had anxiety for years but at least I have managed to function. At the moment however that is not the case or if I am trying to get on with my day it is extremely uncomfortable and stressful. So I have a bit of everything: depression, anxiety, ocd and possibly adhd. All these together make like so hard. You know the common way to think about someone with OCD is the are afraid of germs.. Well I'm am the opposite of this. I am so terrified I am going to pass on germs and some kind of infection onto somebody even though I know I am super hygienic and clean I am. I live in an apartment and my occupation is cleaning so every time I a touch door knob, button for an elevator, recyle and rubbish bin I always wipe it over with water and a fresh cloth to ease the anxiety of making someone sick. With my cleaning I now always wear gloves even if they aren't necessary because I honestly believe my hands are contaminated and could make someone sick. I guess my biggest fear is making someone ill so this is why I have these thoughts and behaviors. Also if I touch certain things with my bare hands for example: a spoon in the draw, I then start to believe ALL the cutlery, tea towels, other untelsils and draws are now contaminated so then J grab all the utensils, put them in the dishwasher (so I'm also waisting water and money) put some gloves on, grab paper towel and spray and I start sterilising the draws. It takes up a lot of my time and I get so irritated, my fight or flight spirals, I feel so depressed, so stressed and I cry a lot.. Like a lot.. I am aware and acknowledge this is serious irrational thinking and it's all apart of anxiety but to be rational, be calm and not let the anxiety take over is the hard part. Anxiety is all I know and i seriously want that to change more than anything. Would love to hear some feedback. Much Regards Sunday