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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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Fizz_wizz Anxiety over social media
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone Just wanting to vent a bit about Facebook everyone around me has Facebook but for years I've never wanted to set an account up as I'm really worried about bullying as I was bullied at school people keep telling me to get on it but it scar... View more

Hi everyone Just wanting to vent a bit about Facebook everyone around me has Facebook but for years I've never wanted to set an account up as I'm really worried about bullying as I was bullied at school people keep telling me to get on it but it scares the hell out of me but I feel like I'm missing out if i dont but there's that little voice in the back of my head warning me to stay away and then it sets of my anxiety is this normal and does anyone else feel this way? Thanks for reading.

losingit04 Anxiety about losing free time after starting full time work.
  • replies: 7

Hi guys, I'm no stranger to anxiety. I've probably had it since 13 (undiagnosed) and started seeing someone to talk about it at 18. I'm still pretty young (23) and I've just started my first full on job. For the next two weeks it's 9am-5pm everyday, ... View more

Hi guys, I'm no stranger to anxiety. I've probably had it since 13 (undiagnosed) and started seeing someone to talk about it at 18. I'm still pretty young (23) and I've just started my first full on job. For the next two weeks it's 9am-5pm everyday, after that I get put on a rotating roster that is about 55hrs per fortnight. I did uni last year and had all the summer for free time over the break while I looked for work. In the course of my life, I've never really had any full time work like this or any sort of real commitment. What I'm REALLY REALLY struggling with is the grind of only having something like... 6 or so hours to yourself after work and many of those are spent getting home, prepping or eating food, etc. When I get home I feel like shit. Then, in my supposed relax time, I feel like I don't have enough time to properly enjoy my free time/activities, etc. I worry about doing this for the rest of my life - that I won't have enough time to ME. The job itself is okay, the people are lovely, etc... I just feel so overwhelmed. The inner demon in me is screaming LEAVE, but I know I'll regret it so so much if I do. Plus, this job is actually a wonderful opportunity and could really help me in the future. I saw my psychologist yesterday and we worked on mindfulness techniques, etc. She explained that these thoughts are creating my reality and I need to shut them down. But it's so hard. I just want my old life back... but I KNOW I can't just do nothing for the rest of my life (even if I really want to) Has anyone else felt like this? What can I do to take my mind off these feelings?

cdan_sm learning how to cope
  • replies: 2

hello. two years ago, my cousin (who i hadn't spoken to for many years due to our mothers' disagreements) took her own life due to depression. i have always been a nervous person, but this seemed to set it off extremely. we used to be basically siste... View more

hello. two years ago, my cousin (who i hadn't spoken to for many years due to our mothers' disagreements) took her own life due to depression. i have always been a nervous person, but this seemed to set it off extremely. we used to be basically sisters, and when she was gone i missed her so much i couldn't breathe, whereas my siblings seemed a bit upset but recovered very quickly. this being said, it felt like i had no right to miss her because i didn't really know who she was. i now listen to her favourite music, amity affliction, a lot and that either helps or makes it worse but im coping. i am almost constantly anxious or nervous about something, and fit pretty much every symptom to multiple anxiety disorders. i also suffer from panic attacks. i am still in high school and after an "anonymous" test about mental health we all had to complete, my parents were contacted and were 'recommended' to take me to the school councellor. she is nice enough, but i don't really feel like i can tell her everything or discuss it really because she mostly just talks about how all i have to do is redirect nueral pathsways and stuff which doesn't help me. and now its like my parents have forgotten it was even an issue. i kind of want to see a therapist or psychologist, but i just found out my dads business isn't going well anymore so now we have to move house, so i don't want to put extra financial strain or pressure on them. i guess im just seeking advice or guidance of how to cope with all of this..? thanks xx

NMTB Seeking advice on how to face a hospital stay
  • replies: 3

Hey all, As I have mentioned elsewhere as a Newb to this forum, I am a veteran of a 40 year battle with anxiety (GAD, Social Phobia, PD, Agoraphobia) and over the past 10 years Depression added to the mix. I haven’t left the house, except for medical... View more

Hey all, As I have mentioned elsewhere as a Newb to this forum, I am a veteran of a 40 year battle with anxiety (GAD, Social Phobia, PD, Agoraphobia) and over the past 10 years Depression added to the mix. I haven’t left the house, except for medical appointments for that decade (and with a few heavily medicated family gathering exceptions). I haven’t seen my boy play football or do athletics in person (he is 9 years old) nor attended assemblies where he has been given awards. I haven’t even kicked a football with him in the local park. Such things are the source of much sadness and self-loathing. Anyway – I digress. Over the journey I have seen more psychologists and allied therapists than I care to remember but during the last 20 years or so I have restricted myself to psychiatric care and take a special interest in developments in medication rather than trends in psychotherapy (I emphasise that if CBT, hypnotism, meditation, mindfulness or a combination benefits you I think that’s great – just doesn’t work for me). So against that background, the recent diagnosis that I needed a hip replacement has put me in a quandary. I have previously only stayed in hospital during the day and indeed on one occasion discharged myself rather than stay the night after a motorbike crash. Don’t think that is an option this time! My psych will write a letter detailing my issues and medication regime but two issues loom large (i) I will be out of my house and my routine – just writing that sends the heart racing and the familiar symptoms cranking up (ii) I will not be in control of my medication. For most of them that is OK, but with the benzodiazepine class I adjust my dosage according to what I am facing. It is something I have done and refined (so as not to make them useless via development of tolerance) over the 30 years I have taken them. Yet in hospital, unless I keep a private stash, I will get an inadequate standard dose. Of the two issues (i) seems insurmountable. Has anyone else faced this sort of challenge and, if so, how did you deal with it? Cheers.

Cozabear Does anyone else suffer with a fear from open spaces.
  • replies: 4

Since year 9 I have struggled with a fear of open spaces. Every-time i leave my house i feel detached from my body and get an overhwelming feeling of panic. I am wondering if anyone else is struggling with this and what have you done to help yourself... View more

Since year 9 I have struggled with a fear of open spaces. Every-time i leave my house i feel detached from my body and get an overhwelming feeling of panic. I am wondering if anyone else is struggling with this and what have you done to help yourself? I am getting to the point where i just don't want to leave my bed anymore.

Possummagic25 Placing intrusive thoughts
  • replies: 16

I struggle with intrusive thoughts. They are all about my relationship with my husband. How I feel about him and where our relationship is going. I am cognitively strong and I know to just ignore and not feed them. But I am after some strategies to r... View more

I struggle with intrusive thoughts. They are all about my relationship with my husband. How I feel about him and where our relationship is going. I am cognitively strong and I know to just ignore and not feed them. But I am after some strategies to release them from my mind. The only thing that seems to settle them is cuddle time with hubby. This is all new to me, I had my first attack about a month ago, following a few weeks of incinsistent intrusive thoughts and then a few days of intense thoughts following the seperation of an engaged couple close to me. I am on medication and am seeing a psychologist. But am looking for support on the 'down and out days' I am 27 a mum of 2 bouncing boys. And am determined to beat this. What do you do to help you through the bad days?? Feeling good today

nicham Weird Feelings throughout my body
  • replies: 13

Hi there I have been experiencing the weirdest sensations and I'm scared that I have MS, Parkinsons or Motor Neurons Disease. My doctor said she thinks it is probably Anxiety but has given me a referral to a neurologist. It happens at times when I'm ... View more

Hi there I have been experiencing the weirdest sensations and I'm scared that I have MS, Parkinsons or Motor Neurons Disease. My doctor said she thinks it is probably Anxiety but has given me a referral to a neurologist. It happens at times when I'm not stressed or anxious which is why it worries me. The feeling is like tremors within my body. It's hard to explain. My arms feel really weak and I feel that I have to really think about it to do complex things with my fingers like tie a knot. I've got muscle twitches in my eyelids and the side of my face sometimes. I'm always clenching my teeth. The feelings come on suddenly and then I worry about all of the things that they could be and they get worse. I have had depression on and off over the years with it getting quite bad last year however I got through that and was doing well. Although I still do often have panic attacks as well. I guess I'm just on here to see if anyone else has had these types of symptoms and if they know if these sorts of feelings are anxiety related. I have an appointment with a Neurologist but I have to wait until November. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Taylen_Bucello Constantly panic attacks
  • replies: 4

Hi my name is Taylen, I have been suffering with anxiety and panic attacks for over 8 years. I know it’s from my childhood and I am taking medication for it. Sometimes I won’t have it for a year then it will all hit me at once. The second a bad situa... View more

Hi my name is Taylen, I have been suffering with anxiety and panic attacks for over 8 years. I know it’s from my childhood and I am taking medication for it. Sometimes I won’t have it for a year then it will all hit me at once. The second a bad situation occurs I get in this stage of extreme panic attacks where I sweat, can hardly move, feel week and sometimes almost faint. This year has been very hard for me, I am a mother of two. One 3 year old girl and a 5 month old son. My partner went to hospital recently which has triggered my panic attacks back to the point where I feel anxious all the time. I NEED to go to the dentist as I have an abscess in my tooth and I can’t open my mouth very wide but even the thought of going to the dentist triggers me (hence while I am writing this at 2:30am) I had a panic attack 2 days ago for no reason. I was just out on a picnic with my partners family and all of a sudden it started so I had to rush home leaving my 5 month old (who is breastfed) and toddler with my partners mum as I felt like I am dying and needed to get home! Once I was home I felt a bit better. I have just changed my medication also. i guess what I’m trying to say is that....... I need help, not only do I feel like a crappy mum for not being able to go on adventures, catch busses, even go to the park for a family lunch!! But I can’t even bring myself to go to the dentist and get my health sorted I have a fear of dentists ever since I was heavily pregnant and went to hospital ICU for a week after having oral meningitis and almost dying and fainting almost every time I get a needle i need help over coming these things before I end up not being able to leave my house! I feel like it’s getting to that point, I wake up every day and feel hungover and drained and I am looking after my recovering partner who had severe pneumonia and is off work for a month and also my two children I’m drained, worried, scared and petrified please help me

kimdv Overthinking - to obessive levels
  • replies: 5

I'm not really sure where to start as I'm struggling with quite a range of issues and I'm not sure how to go about delving into it and really conveying the depth of the issues. I think my greatest concern is that I won't be able to express the depth ... View more

I'm not really sure where to start as I'm struggling with quite a range of issues and I'm not sure how to go about delving into it and really conveying the depth of the issues. I think my greatest concern is that I won't be able to express the depth of my issues and I won't get the help I need. My biggest issue currently is my overthinking, it's gotten to a point that has really taken control of my life, moods and possibly my personality. Quite often I found myself hung up on things I've said or done and I am trying to analyze in my mind other persons' possible reactions, thoughts and opinions of me and my actions. Along with that comes the thoughts about myself and how I stack up to other in terms of *being a good person* Im heavily aware that I will never please everyone and no matter how hard i try and I will never truly know what people think of me so I know it's unproductive and I know I'm wasting my time entertaining these thoughts, I'm very capable of thinking about it logically and yet I can't stop obsessing no matter how much logical thinking I use. Im frustrated at myself for not being a better person, for not acting a certain way etc, and I feel a lot of guilt about it all. When I react naturally to situations that make me uncomfortable or angry I overthink my reaction the situation to obsessive levels, even though it was natural, thinking that I'm a bad person for acting this way and that I should've acted a different way etc, which would mean I would be non-genuine to myself. I feel that my brain is close to snapping, these compulsions and overthinking almost feel like physical tension in my mind, it almost feels that my mind is rotting. I worry that everyone has negative feelings and opinions towards me and it stops me from enjoying life, from focusing or living the best life I can, I struggle to find interest and joy in things anymore, so it makes it hard to find hobbies or distractions to keep my mind occupied. I also find that I have a very bad short memory and I am almost startled when I can't remember recent information, I usually have fast bursts of panic when I cant remember things, or I can’t follow a train of thoughts without being interrupted by forgetting the train part way through. I almost feel that because Im so aware of my negative thoughts and can logically recognize them that no amount of thinking strategies will help me, Im not sure if medication will help, essentially my main concern is that this will never go away.

mehmeh Anxiety and Physical Symptoms
  • replies: 2

Hey, I am new here, i have been reading through different topics and feel this place has helped me a lot so i decided to share what i was going through. i was fine just a month ago until i had a random panic attack which lasted few seconds, felt like... View more

Hey, I am new here, i have been reading through different topics and feel this place has helped me a lot so i decided to share what i was going through. i was fine just a month ago until i had a random panic attack which lasted few seconds, felt like i might pass out and i called my partner straight away (she was just working outside the house) as soon as she came in i was totally fine. My father had panic attacks my twin brother passed out and had to an ambulance called on twice. he went through all the tests which came back clear, this was an year ago. so later i started of the same way, few panic attacks, shoulder tense which btw i recommend physio, clouded head and eyesight, back pain and random pains around the body scariest of them all is chest pain which my doctor said something about gas being released from stomach. My GP didn't ask me to do a single test and just said you have anxiety issues. well im like doesn't feel like it tho. i went in again to see someone else as my GP went away and after some hands on tests she said you dont need tests and said i am fine. but i am not convinced. chest pains were sharp and sometimes dull mostly in specific areas, sometimes they wake me up from my sleep but mostly i sleep okay. Jaw hurts because i think i clench my jaw in sleep and while i am awake too. i just recently started to go to a gym and it help with pain, which i think is probably only thing helping me right now along with my partner. i understand that given my family history everything does point towards anxiety (my dad was checked every month and he is fine) but i sometimes feel like i should go and ask for some tests done? also i would like to know what symptoms you get and how long do they last for?