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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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anickname My social anxiety
  • replies: 1

Since moving high schools, I have never felt more alone. I am constantly in fear about every small mistake I make. I obsessively criticize my every move and worry about what people will think of me. When i'm not at school, i'm always at home but i'm ... View more

Since moving high schools, I have never felt more alone. I am constantly in fear about every small mistake I make. I obsessively criticize my every move and worry about what people will think of me. When i'm not at school, i'm always at home but i'm okay with that because i'm happiest at home by myself. When I get anxious about something, I spend days on end thinking about it and I never want to leave my bed or go to school because I feel safe at home. But when I do stay at home, I hate myself even more because I think of all the worst possible things people could be saying about me - keep in mind when I do gain the courage to school no one even notices me, ever. So when this fear happens again, I try to remind myself "no one cares enough talk about you" and "it's not a big deal" but it never works. It's like my irrational fear of always being hated and isolated has taken over and my brain won't listen to reason. When I think about my anxious thoughts, it's like I can feel it under my skin. I can imagine the isolation in my head. I can picture it and in the motion picture every one has turned on me, everyone hates me and I feel small and alone and have no where to go. When this happens, and it happens frequently, its like I am in the middle of an empty room my mind is pulling me in hundreds of different directions and I just want my thoughts to rationalize but it can't and it never does.

Guest0012 Intrusive thoughts 24/7 making me depressed.
  • replies: 1

Hi. I have had an extremely tough year. I had graduated high school in aus, and then took half a gap year in my home country, but it didn't go as expected. I was very lonely, and sad, and my grandma who was there became terminally ill. I didn't reall... View more

Hi. I have had an extremely tough year. I had graduated high school in aus, and then took half a gap year in my home country, but it didn't go as expected. I was very lonely, and sad, and my grandma who was there became terminally ill. I didn't really leave the house (due to many reasons i won't go into) except for seeing her in the hospital, and on the way back i would always cry. my dad was with me. Due to all the stress i started getting intrusive thoughts, that made me so ashamed and depressed. In may after about 6 weeks of her being in the hospital she passed away. I was sad beyond belief, and due to my unhealthy mental state i could barely keep on living. A few weeks after the funeral i came back to aus, and started university in july. I have extreme intrusive thoughts non stop, all the time. I started therapy in august, but only see my psychologist every 3 weeks, and though it is helping i still think does it ever get better. I get so frustrated and ashamed with myself due to my intrusive thoughts that i have non stop. If i'm with friends i have them, if i'm at uni i have them, if i'm at home i have them. And it's the EXACT same thought, it's only 1 thought i keep having and i can't believe it. I suffered for 3 and a half months alone, before i told my mum who got me to the psychologist after i asked. but she doesn't know my thoughts, no one does except my psychologist because i'm too ashamed to tell them. Now it's been over 4 months and i start to wonder does it ever get better. i feel trapped in my mind sometimes i even wish i couldn't think. I've been depressed before but nothing like this. it affects every part of my life, to where i can barely function. I'm almost failing uni, i'm losing friends, i'm keeping distance from my family and i'm hating myself. i just don't know what to do, at this point i want to get any medication to just reduce it, but my psychologist hasn't talked about medication, or even diagnosed me yet.

The_walking_dead_girl Getting through withdrawals
  • replies: 1

I’m 3 days in and have stopped drinking and drugs. I have major depression and anxiety. Was so sick, now just shaky hands and completely uninterested in my hobbies even. And really frustrated and irrated at even the slightest thing my parents do . Wh... View more

I’m 3 days in and have stopped drinking and drugs. I have major depression and anxiety. Was so sick, now just shaky hands and completely uninterested in my hobbies even. And really frustrated and irrated at even the slightest thing my parents do . What’s the point if meds don’t work and your miserable and bored without alcohol?

Guest_125 Social anxiety and no meaningful friendships.
  • replies: 6

I have been trying to recover from depression and anxiety, including social anxiety, for a while now. Met up with some people over the weekend for my husband's birthday and was mostly fine. That is until I was caught up in a situation where I was lef... View more

I have been trying to recover from depression and anxiety, including social anxiety, for a while now. Met up with some people over the weekend for my husband's birthday and was mostly fine. That is until I was caught up in a situation where I was left alone with another woman, a partner of my husband's friend. I know this woman and I've been to her house for BBQs with my husband before. She's by all accounts a really decent person. Usually I am OK talking briefly to other women, with my husband or other familiar people by my side. But one-to-one I felt fearful and couldn't talk. Since then I realised I have actually managed to avoid any situation where I am alone with a woman my age in a social setting for years and years. Maybe through subconscious effort. But this goes beyond my normal strain of social anxiety. In hindsight I kind of suspect I felt that way because she is the same gender and age and in the same circle as me, and therefore a genuine candidate for friendship. I've realised I've been totally fearful of making friends and have done everything I can to put enough walls up to stop it from happening. I mostly satisfy my need to socialise through my husband's mates who I've known for 15 years, but who'd otherwise have nothing to do with me if it weren't for my husband. I have been seeing a therapist who has touched on social anxiety with me a bit (mostly focused on other issues though). I have improved in terms of just being around others in social situations, but none of it is going beyond the very brief obligatory chat to any real meaningful connection to others. Some fear in me will just not allow it to happen. It's like a mental wall is up in my mind and I can't see a way around or over it. Most of my life, I have contrasted myself from others to keep the walls up - pretending I am different to them, have nothing in common, and so there's no point in getting to know me. Now I am reaching a point where I want to more actively seek meaningful connections to others, but I just can't move past the mental barriers. I think that I need to focus on my social anxiety a bit more in my therapy sessions now, but I don't see my therapist for another month. I guess I just want to get my thoughts and worries down. Would appreciate any insight or sharing of remotely similar exeriences/feelings...?

Naed Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Lately I have been getting really anxious when I have my days off work. I’m in my third year out of uni and I feel lost. When I’m at work I’m so much better then some days at home. It’s like I can’t switch off from work and I’m constantly thinking ab... View more

Lately I have been getting really anxious when I have my days off work. I’m in my third year out of uni and I feel lost. When I’m at work I’m so much better then some days at home. It’s like I can’t switch off from work and I’m constantly thinking about what it’s going to be like when I go back. It’s like a viscous cycle especially when I’m coming close to my days off i get really excited for them! And then when I’m off I just can’t feel calm anymore and I start to feel really depressed about going back to work. I don’t know if it’s because when I’m at work I feel like I’m losing my ability to do anything right. Like my time management is getting worse, I can’t focus & I’m stressed. Dose anyone having any tips to help me get over this horrible stage!

KTKat92 I think I have Body Dismorphia how do i get help when im afraid to leave the house.
  • replies: 1

After my partner cheated on me a few years ago, i have become very insecure about how i look. Mainly because i was told by him that he cheated because i got fat. Its gotten to a stage where i am to scared to leave my house because i am afraid of how ... View more

After my partner cheated on me a few years ago, i have become very insecure about how i look. Mainly because i was told by him that he cheated because i got fat. Its gotten to a stage where i am to scared to leave my house because i am afraid of how people will judge me seeing me in public. After having my first child i am the heaviest i have ever been in my life. Everytime i step on the scales i have a complete meltdown. Everytime we are ment to go to some kid of social event i am crying in my room because everything i put on makes me look fat or makes me feel disgusting. I constantly buy clothes and makeup trying to make myself feel better but it never works. Im constantly dieting or not eating and then crying myself to sleep when i have given in a binged. I hate that i dont have beautiful long hair like some girls. That i dont have a beautiful white straight smile. I consider myself hideous and no matter what people say thry dont change my mind. I cant see it when they say ive lost weighy or thay i have nice skin or they think my hairs pretty. As far as im concerned nothing i do is good enough. Anyway my main question here is im terriefied to go to my doctors about it. I dont like waiting in surgeries i get very anxious and antsy. And to be honest everyday when i have to get dressed and leave the house im crying cause i fear judgement from other people. So how can i bet help when im scared of people and judgement as well as leaving the safety of my home. Im also afraid of being pushed aside on this being told theres nothing wrong im just being silly.

MrSavoy Inability to make big decisions
  • replies: 5

Hi, I have always been a bit of an over-thinker or procrastinator, a bit negative at times, and just kind of dealt with it. I have always found it difficult to make decisions, but decisions that only affected me and were easy to get over. However rec... View more

Hi, I have always been a bit of an over-thinker or procrastinator, a bit negative at times, and just kind of dealt with it. I have always found it difficult to make decisions, but decisions that only affected me and were easy to get over. However recently couldn't go through with a big decision and really let my partner down and feeling really terrible about the whole thing now. We put an offer in on a house which was accepted - I got terribly cold feet about it and seemed to concentrate on every negative thing about it and the whole process of selling our house, home loans, etc. My anxiety got so bad I couldn't think clearly about the whole situation, I literally got sick overnight and was totally run-down from work at the same time - eventually my girlfriend said don't worry about it, I cooled off on the purchase and it was done. Now I'm realising I'd gotten my self in such a state I couldn't accept that we had finally bought our dream house, offer was accepted, my girlfriend was totally in love with the house, it was well within our budget, everything went right and even then I couldn't accept it and I've gone and ruined the whole thing. Now we are back to square one still in our little house that we don't particularly like (even more so knowing what we could have been coming home to every night) - the other house sold the very next day and I feel like I'll be in a state of 'what could have been' for ever. It has definitely affected my relationship. If the same opportunity came up again I'd like to think I've learned from this but I'm not so sure I wouldn't get stuck again. Now it's really affecting my outlook and level of un-happiness. Feel like I'm working so hard and saving money for nothing because I can't even go through with deals like this. My girlfriend kind of says it doesn't matter so long as I'm happy, but it's really made me totally devastated that I let her down (well the both of us down) and couldn't handle the situation. So struggling to deal with my current situation, and wondering what I can do to make better decisions in the future. I should have been able to take a step back and realise what I was doing. It was even pointed out that my stress and state of mind was affecting my decision making and couldn't recognise it as someone trying to help me. I totally understand I should feel lucky to be in the position I am in - but just struggling at the moment. Thanks for listening

BobRoberts Terrible anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, I have battled anxiety and panic attacks for as long as I can remember. It seems to be an hereditary thing, because my maternal side all has the same issues (although none of it is ever spoken about). I work in a high profile/high stress job... View more

Hi guys, I have battled anxiety and panic attacks for as long as I can remember. It seems to be an hereditary thing, because my maternal side all has the same issues (although none of it is ever spoken about). I work in a high profile/high stress job. It’s very visible and I do my best to cope. Catastrophising and the anxious “loop” my mind gets into, is so draining and frightening. I’ve been seeing a great psychologist and my exercise program is helping me a lot. I just can’t seem to shake it, even when I’m managing it well, I still get shocking pangs that stop me in my tracks. Sweats, rushing to the bathroom, pacing around the room. My job makes it worse. Problem is I’m good at it and passionate about it. Im just wondering if this is sustainable? Do I need to quit, and take on something that won’t trigger me as often and as powerfully? Or will my anxiety just follow me to whatever job I do? Thanks very much.

Gedgirl OCD thing i wrote about me and my diagnosis
  • replies: 2

I guess rant ahead.... also may trigger some people. I worry every day about my inevitable death. Sometimes to the point of making myself sick. And i struggling daily with the fact that despite any choices i make in life it all results in my inevitab... View more

I guess rant ahead.... also may trigger some people. I worry every day about my inevitable death. Sometimes to the point of making myself sick. And i struggling daily with the fact that despite any choices i make in life it all results in my inevitable death. I worry constantly about the fact i won't get to spend forever with the ones i love because it will always end. It makes me feel sick thinking about all the experiences and feelings life offers and that resulting in nothingness. I regularly count the number of years i have til 80+(general death area) and rationalise that it won't go fast and break it down into five or 10 year blocks to ease my mind. These thoughts affect my daily life. I also deal with continuous thoughts of contracting deadly diseases. Cancer being an example. No this does not mean i tell everyone i have cancer. It means i obsess over things. Potential symptoms. I worry excessively about my health. And no this differs from hypochondria yes the symptoms are very similar but my diagnosis is OCD. extreme excessive and compulsive thoughts around this area. I apologise for the novel and the rant but its important for people to know there is always a reason behind the 'odd' behaviours of others and if you feel this way or similar there is help you can access because it is not considered normal to stress this much over these things

chloel7 anyone else have an eating disorder but seems to keep a stable weight?
  • replies: 1

ive had an eating disorder for about half a year now, i find that people like my friends dont notice (which is good ) because yes i starve myself but i also binge constantly and only am sometimes able to purge. im 5 3 and have been 45 kilos for a whi... View more

ive had an eating disorder for about half a year now, i find that people like my friends dont notice (which is good ) because yes i starve myself but i also binge constantly and only am sometimes able to purge. im 5 3 and have been 45 kilos for a while now, ive actually gained a kilo surprisingly considering my restrictive diet im on rn. I just wrote this bcs i havent met anyone else who hasnt had their weight dramatically plummet or increase during their ed so im just wondering if anyone else is the same.