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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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Anne1303 Severe Work Anxiety
  • replies: 10

I have struggled with depression and anxiety on and off for years. I went off medication six months ago thinking I was feeling great, but since then have slowly gone downhill until I have totally crashed this week at work and have had to take time of... View more

I have struggled with depression and anxiety on and off for years. I went off medication six months ago thinking I was feeling great, but since then have slowly gone downhill until I have totally crashed this week at work and have had to take time off. I have extreme anxiety that I will miss something really important at work and something terrible will happen because I have missed it. I obsess over it now and found my constantly rechecking things just in case but still get into a panicked state just thinking about it. I saw my dr yday and have restarted on medication but am just so obsessed with worry that I am actually thinking about quitting my job and looking for something in a much less stressful environment , but then I worry am I just running away from my fears and will I find something to obsess and worry about in a different job anyway? Just so miserable and down and panicked .

Elda01 Anxiety/ Work
  • replies: 4

Hi. I’ve recently been really struggling with anxiety and my job has been a massive contributing factor. I’ve only been there about 4 months but the nature of the work means I deal with a lot of angry people which has made my anxiety worse. I’ve neve... View more

Hi. I’ve recently been really struggling with anxiety and my job has been a massive contributing factor. I’ve only been there about 4 months but the nature of the work means I deal with a lot of angry people which has made my anxiety worse. I’ve never seeked help for anxiety but I am at a point now where I need to and I’m going to see my GP this week. I informed work about my mental health and basically my work told me thy were suprised I’m only bring this up now and that they will talk to HR but I’ll probably need a fit to work certificate and not just a medical certificate. They were really unsupportive about the whole situation. I basically just want to know my rights, am I entitled to take a week off work and do I have to provide I fit to work certificate?

stackcats False anxiety/depression diagnoses
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I'm posting here because I'm becoming frustrated. I feel like mental health professionals are not listening to what I say, and are too keen to tell me what I'm dealing with is anxiety/depression. I have issues with focus/concentration/organis... View more

Hi all, I'm posting here because I'm becoming frustrated. I feel like mental health professionals are not listening to what I say, and are too keen to tell me what I'm dealing with is anxiety/depression. I have issues with focus/concentration/organisation and it's detrimental to my quality of life. I struggle to get things done. I know I'm not stupid, but I was unable to do well at school or go to university because doing homework/assignments/studying is almost physically impossible for me. As I get older it's become easier to manage, but I'm trying to go back to school in my 30s and running into the same concentration issues. Every time I've spoken to a professional about it, they've told me it's anxiety, that I'm scared of failing, that I'm beating myself up for not being perfect. I'm not! I've been through serious depression in my 20s and I'm out the other side now. I know I'm prone to anxiety but this is not it! This difficulty focussing doesn't just apply to studying it applies to things like cleaning, shopping, reading a book, watching my favourite TV show. I've been like this all my life. I feel like I have some kind of learning or attention or memory issue. But I feel like doctors see a 30-something female and go "anxiety/depression/self-loathing" almost reflexively. It's almost like they've decided what to say to me before I get half-way through explaining my problem. Am I just being obtuse and they're right? Or are my feelings of dismissal valid?

Health_Anxiety_Gal Daily Dizziness and Anxiety IBS
  • replies: 6

Hey everyone, Just reaching out to the community to see who else suffers with the same symptoms to know I'm not alone in this struggle. I have been struggling with IBS for a few years now and it really took a toll late last year. I started getting di... View more

Hey everyone, Just reaching out to the community to see who else suffers with the same symptoms to know I'm not alone in this struggle. I have been struggling with IBS for a few years now and it really took a toll late last year. I started getting dizzy every day and really bad headaches and neck pain. I visited my GP multiple times and was referred to many specialists to figure out what the issue was with no one being able to tell me what was causing my dizziness. During this time my IBS was so bad that I was convinced I was dying. I eventually went in for an MRI to find that I didn't have a tumour (which helped a little, but still needed to know what was causing my dizziness) and found an amazing physio who helped relieve my neck pain and eventually my dizziness. During this time anxiety was never discussed with my GP as I didn't even really know what that was or that these issues could even be related. Then one day at work I had a sip of water and was convinced I had drunk poison and was dying (I know.. sounds so ridiculous). I couldn't shake this thought from my mind and found myself having a panic attack (without knowing). I was fortunate enough that my husband knew about anxiety and managed to calm me down telling me I was having a panic attack and not dying. The next day I went to the doctor and asked for help. She put me on a mental health plan so I could see a psychologist and suggested medication. I was so hesitant to go on the medication but felt I needed some further help. Going on the medication was the best thing I ever did - my IBS completely went away. I could eat anything I wanted and enjoyed this so much. Eventually I knew I had to come off it as we are planning to have a baby in the near future. It took me months to come off the medication, a small reduction every month. I have now been off the meds for 3 weeks and boom... my dizziness is back and my IBS is too. But because my anxiety is health related I just can't seem to be able to shake the thought that it's something more serious. I know it has to be anxiety as it disappeared on medication. It's depressing trying to live my life while I feel like i'm on a rocky boat and it something makes me nauseous. I'm booked in to see my doctor, naturopath, psychologist and physio for help but wanted to know who else out there has these same symptoms??

Appleblossom Anxiety turned physical needing advice.
  • replies: 2

Hi all im 52, been in and still am in, therapy on a weekly basis. ive done CBT, on medication and know a lot about managing anxiety. but it seems I still have so far to go.. im in a place in my life that even my therapist says is extremely tough. but... View more

Hi all im 52, been in and still am in, therapy on a weekly basis. ive done CBT, on medication and know a lot about managing anxiety. but it seems I still have so far to go.. im in a place in my life that even my therapist says is extremely tough. but I desperately need help. i am suffering permanent physical pain across my diaphragm and nothing is getting rid of it. ive read all the forums on things to help with anxiety and am SO GRATEFUL for all the help. The music helped for a day then stopped working.. the breathing techniques (which I had ‘down pat’ are not touching it. my only sense of relief is medication (and I’m on the top levels) and sleeping. i run my own business and NEED this pain to stop. ive been in bed for nearly two weeks now. Like a complete cripple. this has NEVER happened to me before. i would be so very very grateful if anyone knows ideas to help. im loosing weight as I can’t eat (which is probably making things worse?) the pain is debilitating!!! 8/10 so please ANY advice would be so gratefully received thankyou for any help I appreciate everyone on here

Jessah I just want to be alone all the time
  • replies: 2

When i'm around people I'm charismatic, bubbly, funny, friendly, and I have really great conversations with people...but I don't want to. There is never a time when I actually want to hang out with people. Every time I have a choice, I choose to be a... View more

When i'm around people I'm charismatic, bubbly, funny, friendly, and I have really great conversations with people...but I don't want to. There is never a time when I actually want to hang out with people. Every time I have a choice, I choose to be alone. My partner is often on call for work, and I get so happy when he has to go off to work so I can have a couple of hours by myself, and i'm miserable when I know that time is about to end. I hate catching up with friends to hang out, but I feel like I have to. I'm a school teacher, so I go to work every day dreading my day. I actually had to stop working full time because I couldn't handle the stress, the pressure, and having to work on a team all the time. I don't call my family, who all live in a different state (I moved away so I wouldn't have to be involved in social family things), because when i have some time to do that, i just don't want to spend it in a conversation. I struggle so much when I go days without at least 5ish hours completely to myself. I don't mean in a room alone...I mean when I am home alone, and I don't see anyone or hear anyone's voice. I can't stand watching movies or tv because the constant chattering of actors drives me insane. I don't know if this is normal, but I suspect it's not. It feels normal and healthy for me, and i can cope with people sort of every second day if I have a whole day to myself in between. Sometimes when I have been bombarded with people, I will go without food because I can't bear to leave my home to go grocery shopping. I aborted twins a couple of years ago because I was afraid that if I had them and I couldn't handle having them always around, that something bad might happen. I've decided not to have kids at all because I just don't think I could handle them, and also having to socialise with other parents, and run them around and do all of that crap. It just sounds like hell to me. I don't want a family or partner at all. My partner of 14 years is leaving in February, and although I'm sad about him moving out, and the fact that we'll probably break up, I'm looking forward to having a bed to myself and a flat mate instead who I don't really have to have anything much to do with if I don't want to. I have friends, and I have deep connections with them all, but I very rarely crave their presence, and usually when I catch up with them, it's because I feel guilty for not having done so for ages. Is there something wrong with being this reclusive?

Herenorthere Anxiety: my story and a new chaper?
  • replies: 3

I had my first panic attack in my early years of high school. At the time I didn't know what it was. I thought I was dying. I went to doctor and explained I felt dizzy and got pins and needles all over my body, how I had trouble breathing, tightness ... View more

I had my first panic attack in my early years of high school. At the time I didn't know what it was. I thought I was dying. I went to doctor and explained I felt dizzy and got pins and needles all over my body, how I had trouble breathing, tightness in my chest and how my vision went black. He check my vitals and the blood test results came back fine so he concluded there was nothing wrong with me. They happened frequently after that. I was scared and confused. They happened while playing sport, swimming and evening sitting down at lunch with my friends. I kept it to myself. I quit everything that I loved for fear it would happen again. It could happen anywhere at any time. It wasn't until years later that I worked out what I was experiencing were panic attacks from a poster in the ladies toilet. I eventually worked out how to control them by distracting myself before they got too severe. These days I don't them often but I have certain triggers that bring them on such as public speaking. This has stopped me from choosing subjects that I really wanted to do at uni because they had speeches. I think the panic attacks lead to the onset of anxiety. I can't pinpoint when it started but I constantly found myself stressing over so many things and when those events pass it's like my brain goes "what is the next thing you need to stress about." I know it is completely irrational but I can't help myself. I get this pressure that builds up in the front of my head and it lingers. I have periods where I feel a wave of fear followed by shortness of breath, tightness in my chest and difficulty swallowing. I am frequently dizzy. I have never told anyone until recently. I tried to hint to my boyfriend by telling him that I am always stressed but he said I just need to learn to control it. I told him I can't. I eventually told him I think I have anxiety and I have tried to be more open with how I am feeling. He tells me he understands which really annoys me because how could he possibly understand? He convinced me to speak to a GP today who thinks I have general anxiety disorder. I need to go back but feel like I have made the first step to regaining some sort off joy and freedom back into my life. The last week especially has been tough. I haven't been able to relax. I am tired. I am drained. But now I am hopeful. I guess I am here to get this off my chest since and find people who I can relate to. Who understand what I am going through.

MaryHope Please help me to understand
  • replies: 2

Hello, This is my first time posting on any forum about this and I'm positive that I belong here- however I don't understand why I feel the way I do. I have so much to be grateful for. I have amazing children, parents, family and friends. I love my j... View more

Hello, This is my first time posting on any forum about this and I'm positive that I belong here- however I don't understand why I feel the way I do. I have so much to be grateful for. I have amazing children, parents, family and friends. I love my job, I'm financially ok. I'm a very happy person, confident, easy going, sociable- life is good. So why, oh why do I suffer these panic/anxiety attacks out of no where? Just this morning, I had cold sweats, felt shaky but still persevered and went out. Got into the car, my eyesight was a bit weird, felt light headed, almost out of body experience, tight chest (heart disease runs in my family- which makes me worry, though Ive had ecg's done and stress tests and they have come back fine) heart palpation's (one after the other) I kept on telling myself " relax, it's. panic attack" finally I got over it....but why did it happen. I was all happy this morning- no stress- just happy. I do find myself analysing some things sometimes, like if I'm late for something and I also worry that I may not wake up in the mornings and my children finding me (such an awful feeling) -Though, I don't have anxiety about being in new surroundings, or meeting new people. And I'm also at a point in my life, that I don't really care if I disappoint some people especially over trivial stupid things. I've come to realise that I don't need to keep up with the jones's anymore and I'm comfortable in my own skin and in my last seasons clothes and my Ikea couch- if you know what I mean. I get a good nights sleep, and I don't have these feelings when I'm at work. It's normally when I'm home alone or around people I love. It's weird, but I'm glad I can recognise it now- because in the past I didn't know what was going on and I thought I was honestly going to die. But at the same time- I don't know how to control it and what to do. These last 2 weeks, I have cut out sugar and have started eating better- limit coffee to one a day, drink plenty of water but still I have been having waves of panic.So scary, especially as a single parent. I'd be grateful for any words of advice. Thank you for taking the time to read my post (a bit all over the place, but my mind is racing- so much to write.)

Bluegirl2014 anxiety due to talking too much and oversharing
  • replies: 9

How do I stop myself talking too much and sometimes oversharing? When I am with other people I tend to get anxious, whether it is at work or with friends, and when I am anxious I talk way too much and when I talk too much this tends to lead me to spe... View more

How do I stop myself talking too much and sometimes oversharing? When I am with other people I tend to get anxious, whether it is at work or with friends, and when I am anxious I talk way too much and when I talk too much this tends to lead me to speaking before thinking. I don't share intimate details of my life, but I also don't stop myself from over communicating and saying things I later regret. This then leads to night panic attacks and me ruminating over everything I said and how I wish I could take it back. Does anyone have strategies to help me stop talking and oversharing?

mazzystar I made a stupid mistake and now I’m feeling sick with anxiety.
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, Yesterday I made the mistake of getting a tattoo without much thought. I have been wanting to get a tattoo for many years now but suddenly decided to get my first one yesterday (quite a large one at that, stupid I know). As beautiful as ... View more

Hi everyone, Yesterday I made the mistake of getting a tattoo without much thought. I have been wanting to get a tattoo for many years now but suddenly decided to get my first one yesterday (quite a large one at that, stupid I know). As beautiful as the tattoo itself is I have been left with such a heavy feeling of dread and anxiety. Something about getting the tattoo has now triggered something in me and I no longer feel like myself. I feel like I acted completely out of character and I’m having a hard time accepting what I’ve done. I had no idea this would happen to me. I have suffered from anxiety for well over 10 years now and this has brought up the most horrible panic attacks and negative thoughts that I’ve had in a long time. I’ve been beating myself up about it all day and can’t even bring myself to tell my parents that I got it. This probably all sounds ridiculous but my thoughts are all over the place and I could really use someone to talk to. I would also love to know if anyone has experienced this.

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