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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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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

Matho61 Long time sufferer, first time poster
  • replies: 3

Well I bit the bullet and now I’m here. Unfortunately anxiety/depression is in my genes with even family members taking their life over it, but that was before help was available like it is today. Been off and on the meds most of my life. As of yeste... View more

Well I bit the bullet and now I’m here. Unfortunately anxiety/depression is in my genes with even family members taking their life over it, but that was before help was available like it is today. Been off and on the meds most of my life. As of yesterday I was off them for 5 months and life was bloody fantastic. Then 3 weeks ago I started to feel flat again but brushed it off by ignoring it. That didn’t work and it looked like it suddenly had me by the throat again, damn. At work yesterday (a 12 hour shift) it got the better of me. I was spiraling out of control, this was the worse I’ve ever felt in my life. What an overwhelming sickening feeling, this feeling has been with me for about a week now, but yesterday it was so intense that I thought I was going to collapse. I left work by saying I had a mini family crisis at home and luckily there was a medical clinic open on a Sunday. My family doctor has been away for 2 months but explained everything to this new doctor. He has put me back on the meds and given me a week off. Because of this being my third or fourth relapse with depression/anxiety, it looks like now I will have to stay on the meds for the rest of my life. Problem is I’m going to have to wait a few weeks before they kick in. My current mixed feelings are overwhelming. Guilt for taking time off work again, the continuing feeling of nausea, anxiety levels peaking all the time, uncontrollable tears, zero sleep and dreading the day ahead of me. I truely hope it gets better from here as these feelings are extremely intense and impossible to cope with.

glassninja Running away from depression and relationships
  • replies: 3

On the outside I seem pretty put together - 27, ambitious, moving overseas for a great job in marketing soon, confident, calm, fun to be around. Underneath it's not that peachy. I've had mild depression since I was a teenager, but was finally diagnos... View more

On the outside I seem pretty put together - 27, ambitious, moving overseas for a great job in marketing soon, confident, calm, fun to be around. Underneath it's not that peachy. I've had mild depression since I was a teenager, but was finally diagnosed with that and GAD when I was 23. It stemmed from an emotionally abusive relationship I'd had and then gotten out of at 21. But since diagnosis, the anxiety's grown to encompass basically any interpersonal relationship I have, whether that's work or relationships - I constantly feel like I need to prove myself and apologize. I have a reputation for being guarded and emotionally closed off as a result. I'm in regular therapy, but it's really hard to break that habit even with my therapist. Even all my friends tell me how guarded I am. The worst thing is, I'm SO good when I'm single. I'm so aware of the pitfalls of being that abuse survivor who falls into the same patterns again that I've gone completely the other way where I've just eschewed any emotion ever that would make me feel vulnerable. Then I let my guard down and get into a relationship and fall in love and when we break up it's like it takes everything in me to put myself back together again. It's made me such an avoidant person. Better to avoid relationships altogether than go through the utter emotional turbulence of being in or getting over one, right? Today the thing that's set me off is SUPER small - a guy I met spent weeks chasing me and telling me how much he liked me and loved spending time with me, and we ended up dating for a few weeks but he got too busy so I broke up with him. Today he went and deleted me off all his social media. Anyone else, I wouldn't care. But it really set me off today. Like, am I just not worth anyone's time? Is that what it is? When am I going to be worth someone's time? Is moving overseas going to solve my problems or am I going to still have them on TOP of just being alone? I feel like there's this thing inside me I can't get away from. I've noticed that every time I've broken up with someone or gone through something difficult, I've just picked up and moved overseas. I think I keep trying to run away from it but it follows me everywhere. I try to go camping and hiking, I keep wanting to just get away. I just want to be happy and normal and I can't figure out how to get there.

Elliemaybe Overwhelmed with life,and my mum is sick
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I have been feeling really stressed recently about pretty much everything. I find myself overthinking pretty much everything and I'm just really exhausted. To put it in perspective, I find the idea of opening a door (that hasn't been labelled... View more

Hi all, I have been feeling really stressed recently about pretty much everything. I find myself overthinking pretty much everything and I'm just really exhausted. To put it in perspective, I find the idea of opening a door (that hasn't been labelled with push/pull) really stressful, which seems like a silly thing to worry about. Pretty much everything I overthink. I am 25 with no licence because I panic everytime I try to drive. This last week has been hell for me because my mum had to have open heart surgery. The next day she ended up losing consciousness and needed CPR. She is stable now but still in ICU. Now all I find myself doing is going over every possible scenario in my head, to the point where I am in tears because I have played out her funeral in my head. I am so stressed, and so tired. I can't remeber the last day I didn't have a headache. My whole body aches all the time, I feel like my body is over 60 years old and I am only 25. If I could stay in bed all day I would. I honestly don't know how I am finding the strength to get up and go to work every day. I just wish I could be carefree for a day, just to know what it feels like. At the very least I would like to be able to confidently try to open any door I come across.