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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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Danno87 Heath anxiety and ‘false’ symptoms?
  • replies: 1

Hi All, New to the forum and Health Anxiety sufferer for the last 6yrs. I have not seen anyone about getting my anxiety under control yet, but have an appointment with my GP today to chat about creating a plan. What I am wondering is, do any other su... View more

Hi All, New to the forum and Health Anxiety sufferer for the last 6yrs. I have not seen anyone about getting my anxiety under control yet, but have an appointment with my GP today to chat about creating a plan. What I am wondering is, do any other sufferers of health anxiety read about symptoms of a certain illness they think they have and then develop symptoms? Last week I had a gland in my neck swell up and after a google (bad idea I know!) and reading other symptoms of Lymphoma, I started feeling these symptoms, chest aches, itchy ness.. it is an absolute nightmare. Do other suffers have this problem?

Ah_mei Anxious about hot weather
  • replies: 2

Hi, I am new here. I am 46 yo living in Melbourne with my husband and 2 kids. On Christmas Day, I started overthinking about the impending 3 days hot spell and started getting anxious. It hasn't stopped since. I took steps to ensure that the family s... View more

Hi, I am new here. I am 46 yo living in Melbourne with my husband and 2 kids. On Christmas Day, I started overthinking about the impending 3 days hot spell and started getting anxious. It hasn't stopped since. I took steps to ensure that the family stayed cool putting on the aircon or by going to places with a/c. We survived but I found myself worrying about the next heatwave in few days time. We we are also planning a trip to Singapore in 2 weeks time for about 4 weeks to visit families. I dread the flying. Had a couple of panic attacks before on the plane. But the worst part is the sleeping arrangement, with all 4 of us cramping into a room. Here I go again, overthinking it and causing my anxiety level to shoot up. i started to plan and manage my trip by downloading movies to watch for distraction, yoga and meditation programs and music, trips to swimming pools and indoor places, etc. I am trying to take control of the future, but my anxiety level would not come down. I am not eating, always feeling bloated and thirsty, and having bowel problems. My head spins a hundred miles an hour and I am having problems sleep. I tried the smiling mind this morning at 4am and managed to get 3.5h sleep. i am seeing my GP tomorrow, and am hoping for some medications to control my racing mind. She may recommend other forms of treatment like counseling. But from what others say about waiting time and my overseas trip, it may b a while before it starts. can anyone suggest some things they have done to rein in their anxiety? I will really appreciate it. thanks. We

Dreamer235 Feeling a bit lost
  • replies: 2

Hello this is the first time I am posting, and to be honest I didn’t imagine today I would be posting of all days. I felt like I have been pretty positive of recent, but maybe it’s just I keep telling myself to be positive and yet I still feel very a... View more

Hello this is the first time I am posting, and to be honest I didn’t imagine today I would be posting of all days. I felt like I have been pretty positive of recent, but maybe it’s just I keep telling myself to be positive and yet I still feel very anxious long story short, the last few months I have been supporting a family member through a lot of health issues, and they have had a lot of complications along the way which has brought a lot of challenges mentally for myself and other family members. We lost our beloved mother very young, whilst I was in my teens ( a few years back) and the possibility of loosing someone else I love always sets me on edge. i also decided to have my very own pet for the first time who is very young and enjoys keeping us on our toes, rushing to the vet potentionally paying thousands to keep them alive. all in the matter of 4 months I have gone through these struggles and I feel like it is endless and it’s going to be a long rollercoaster and all I want is a rest. i have spoken to two doctors on two separate occasions, the first time i bursted into tears, only for this doctor to laugh and say it will be alright, which turned me off speaking about my emotions.. I said I expected he would be able to help me by pointing me into the direction of speaking to somebody.. which he said there was somebody at the medical Centre only I tried to book myself in and due to work hours I could not see this person so I shrugged it off and never rebooked... 3 months later I was going through a very anxious moment in time and was not coping, getting chest pains, freaking out over the slightest moments, not sleeping properly. So I spoke to another doctor and she recommend I speak to Someone (different medical Centre) only for them to be on holidays and not returning until the next year but also prescribing me some antidepressant medication (low dose) which seems to work but tonight I feel anxious ( 3 weeks in) basically I wrote wondering two things what do you do if you can’t find somebody to talk to? I feel for people who are at their limits and can’t speak to somebody And does life get easier? Does the peak craziness ever end?

Anonymous1234433 Why does my anxiety do this to me
  • replies: 2

i force my brain to make things up. I cant help it I will convince myself that things that didn't happen did, I will convince myself that someone said something to me that didn't actually happen. it's not all bad things either like i will convince my... View more

i force my brain to make things up. I cant help it I will convince myself that things that didn't happen did, I will convince myself that someone said something to me that didn't actually happen. it's not all bad things either like i will convince myself that a person who probably hates me was nice to me. Is it a coping mechanism?

Lillipilligirl When Nothing Works
  • replies: 4

Hi Everyone, I have lived with anxiety my whole life (I’m 40 years old) and it ebbs and flows in strength but it’s always there. Depression is there too sometimes but that also comes and goes. These two things have greatly impacted my life to the poi... View more

Hi Everyone, I have lived with anxiety my whole life (I’m 40 years old) and it ebbs and flows in strength but it’s always there. Depression is there too sometimes but that also comes and goes. These two things have greatly impacted my life to the point where I attempted suicide 13 years ago. After that attempt, I told myself I would never do that again and I have come to a point where I know anxiety and depression will always be there. I have found nothing actually helps and I have tried it all it would seem. I have been to see professionals. Obtained the doctor’s referral, gone to different psychologists over the years and I just don’t find therapy does a single thing for me. In fact, I often feel worse afterwards. A couple of years ago I bit the bullet and decided to go to a highly recommended psychologist at $500 per session and I had to commit to 6. After $3,000 I may as well have splurged on something nice as it was no help whatsoever. I reached out to a couple of friends (when I used to have close friends) - people just don’t want to know or feel too uncomfortable to help. My diet is pretty good, I exercise, I try to go out to meet people but my anxiety makes me awkward. I’ve tried supplements, ringing hotlines, praying, different spiritualities, mindfulness, meditation...and other things I can’t remember right now. The only good things in my life are my animals, my home in the countryside and my mum, brother and sister who live not too far away. I have a very successful career, but that also comes with enormous anxiety and in fact I’d rather be a stay-at-home mum in all honesty. But with no glimmer of hope of a husband there’s not much chance of that. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m exhausted of trying and failing to find anything that helps. I get frustrated when I see media campaigns telling people to ring a number or go see a professional because for some of us those things don’t work. What I really want is to have meaningful relationships with people close to me and I just seem incapable of that other than with my immediate family. Is there anyone else who tried it all with little success? Did someone actually find something that worked?

Maddy10 Anxiety with a career change
  • replies: 2

Hi guys, Let’s say I have had a pretty crappy year this year, I have been suffering from a lot of health issues I was diagnosed with glandular fever, a autoimmune disease and being diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder. Also having to deal with... View more

Hi guys, Let’s say I have had a pretty crappy year this year, I have been suffering from a lot of health issues I was diagnosed with glandular fever, a autoimmune disease and being diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder. Also having to deal with my mother going through cancer while living interstate and my partner being away for work most of the year (he is in defence). My anxiety has unfortunately left me to resigned from my job as a flight attendant. Resigning from my job has been my choice as I just don’t think it’s for me anymore. The job has caused me so many anxiety and health issues. It is so unpredictable and there is absolutely no work life balance whatsoever. I am now enrolled into tafe and studying my cert III in individual support (ageing), I am very exited for this career change as I believe I would suit this job better as I really do love helping and empowing the elderly. I eventually want to be a nurse so I thought this would be a great stepping stone. I don’t have a casual job lined up yet so I do have to find something before tafe as I don’t think I could study full time with being unemployed. I am also a qualified hairdresser but I have been out of the industry for a while now about 3 years so the thought of going back to hairdressing makes me anxious. Because I’m scared I have lost all of skills in hairdressing. Of course my anxiety is doubting everything in my life at the moment, I am absolutely terrified to resign from my full time job and go to studying full time while living on a casual wage. I just really hope I am making the right decision. And not a stupid one. I just want to know if anyone hasn’t been in a similar situation before where you hated your job and decided to try something completely different? And it was all a success!! I really hope I’ll evetually find happiness and do something I’m really passionate about. anything would be supportive! Thanks for listening I really appreciate it Maddy,

Mon68 Dating with Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi All; It has been a 4 year journey through the jungles of anxiety and depression that we all try and navigate. During the majority of this time, I have been single and used this time to work on myself. I have now entered a space where I would like ... View more

Hi All; It has been a 4 year journey through the jungles of anxiety and depression that we all try and navigate. During the majority of this time, I have been single and used this time to work on myself. I have now entered a space where I would like to spend time with someone and explore the possibility of a relationship. To be honest I never thought I would say this again. Can people share with me, how they have navigated this? How they dealt with it? What is the benefits and consequences of entering the dating scene? How did they not sabotage the possibility of a friendship that looked at becoming something more? Is there reading material on this subject? Would love your thoughts and ideas.

Pinkly Getting out of an anxiety fueled rut?
  • replies: 1

I'm currently 24, and over the past couple of years I've been struggling really hard with keeping up with work commitments. I quit one job due to stress, anxiety and issues going issues in the place (long story) and was unemployed for a couple of mon... View more

I'm currently 24, and over the past couple of years I've been struggling really hard with keeping up with work commitments. I quit one job due to stress, anxiety and issues going issues in the place (long story) and was unemployed for a couple of months. Then I got another job at a different place, and had many panic attacks both at home and at work because of work, and I ended up quitting again due to stress and anxiety and had 9 months of unemployment. I got a job again at the first place as they gave me a second chance, but it was just the same thing and I fell into the same rut and issues I had the first time, as well as a new wave of toxicity, office politics, cattiness between colleagues that did not help my mentality. So far I have been unemployed (again) for about 4 months and really struggling. In this 4 months, I've lost 2 family members that were extremely close (they both passed within a month of each other) and I haven't been able to deal with that very well which is not helping. I really want to get into doing study, because I feel like any place I go for work, I'm just going to continuously let my bosses/managers down with my unreliability and I don't want to continue my bad reputation I feel like I have, but I'm at a complete loss of what to do. I never really had a passion or drive toward anything in particular when I was growing up that made me think "that's what I want to do when I get older" and even though I've just thrown myself out there and actually just applied for some course of study, I'm filled with a ball of anxiety, doubt and for some reason regret, even though after months of weighing up all the courses and picking what seemed like the best out of all, I'm really not sure. Has anyone else had any issues like this or similar? What can I do to try and overcome this? I'm sick of going round and round in circles like I have been for the past 5 or so years of my life.

Ah_mei Anxious, can't sleep
  • replies: 1

Hello, I am new here. I am 46yo, married with 2 kids. I have been anxious since Christmas Day. I think the trigger is the hot weather here in Melbourne, and an impending trip overseas to see family in a tropical country. I don't cope with heat and st... View more

Hello, I am new here. I am 46yo, married with 2 kids. I have been anxious since Christmas Day. I think the trigger is the hot weather here in Melbourne, and an impending trip overseas to see family in a tropical country. I don't cope with heat and stuffy places well so the thought of flying and being hot set my anxiety level through the roof. I had a couple of panic attacks in aero planes in the past. My current anxiety reminds me of the time when my first child was born and I had no idea how to cope with a constantly crying and not sleeping baby. Except that this time it felt more intense. I have been having trouble sleeping and eating, and I constantly feel thirsty. My bowel movement plays up too. I am seeing my GP in 2 days time, and hopefully she will do a mental health assessment with me. At the meantime, I have been trying some yoga and deep breathing exercise to calm down, but nothing has worked. Can anyone suggest something? ah mei

CoraC Unable to work - severe anxiety- explaining work gaps?
  • replies: 4

I am plannng to take some time off work due to severe anxiety. I'm no longer able to work at this point and need to take some time to allow myself to recalibrate, allow new meds to take effect and maybe get psychological help. I have tried everything... View more

I am plannng to take some time off work due to severe anxiety. I'm no longer able to work at this point and need to take some time to allow myself to recalibrate, allow new meds to take effect and maybe get psychological help. I have tried everything to stay at work but running out of ways to cope and am getting worse. This is a new job so I don't have any leave, I'm going To have to resign with nothing else to go to. This terrifies me but so does staying at work and having a full on breakdown. I think ive hidden it from managers and workmates so far but at breaking point now.My question to you is.. how do you explain periods of not working to next employer. I don't want to get into the whole story. Please share your experiences.

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