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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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Seeker12 Anxiety at work, My personal life is getting destroyed
  • replies: 2

Hi All, I am working mother of 2 kids. I have a beautiful family. My husband is very supportive as well. Just to give you a background. I have joined my work back after 10 months career break. I decided to take that break to take care of my kids. I u... View more

Hi All, I am working mother of 2 kids. I have a beautiful family. My husband is very supportive as well. Just to give you a background. I have joined my work back after 10 months career break. I decided to take that break to take care of my kids. I used to be very stressed at work and that was impacting my personal life. Now I have joined back , this is my third week and I have started getting feelings of failure again. Thoughts like, what the other person will think of me, I keep saying sorry to others and sometimes it feels like I want to speak but my voice is not coming from my mouth. Other times I speak but not loud enough that other person will hear me. I feel like I am not capable enough to do the work. But I will have to work because of finances issues. This is all impacting my relationship with my husband and kids. There are nights when I don't do anything just sit down and keep crying. I can't explain to my kids and I dont want them to think I am weak. I feel scared. There is some heaviness on my chest all the time. I would like to add one more thing which I think is important one. My native language is not english but I am leaving in sydney. so I do have language issues, I can't mingle with people easily. My company is really good and people are very supportive. But it is just me which is killing me inside.

cocosmith boyfriend troubles and anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi. So about 2 months ago my boyfriend and I had a really awful fight. It lasted for about 2 weeks and we were still really struggling for that whole month. I have never felt so low. I was having trouble eating, sleeping, and just managing day to day... View more

Hi. So about 2 months ago my boyfriend and I had a really awful fight. It lasted for about 2 weeks and we were still really struggling for that whole month. I have never felt so low. I was having trouble eating, sleeping, and just managing day to day functioning. On top of this all I was overseas on a family holiday and he was at my house taking care of it for my family (which he left while we were overseas because thats when the fight started). The fight was not his fault nor was it mine it was sort of circumstances but it touched on some really difficult topics for both of us (wont go into the whole thing). My boyfriend is also my best friend; he probably knows me better than anyone and he is always the person I go to when I'm struggling (still have plenty of other friends). so- when we were fighting I felt so messed up because i felt i had no one to go to because no one really understood how much he means to me and knew all my secrets (for example, my dads an alcoholic and my boyfriend is the only person i have been able to talk about it with). I was so messed up while we were fighting and i have never been so anxious in my life. Anyway, eventually we talked through our problems and its been a while and we are basically back to normal and have talked about dealing with fights better in the future- but i am so paranoid about having those same feelings of anxiety again even if us parting ways if for something totally out of my control and normal like him falling out of love with me. So- i don't know how to move forward and deal with this- would love some advice. xx

Izfish Alone and confused
  • replies: 3

I am so so confused at the moment. So for about 2ish years I have been battling social anxiety by myself. Like I am completely alone. I really struggle to open up to people, I just don’t have anyone around me who I feel comfortable talking to except ... View more

I am so so confused at the moment. So for about 2ish years I have been battling social anxiety by myself. Like I am completely alone. I really struggle to open up to people, I just don’t have anyone around me who I feel comfortable talking to except my running coach. Anyway so long story short I finally texted him after 2 years of hesitation. The feeling of being so alone and cut off from everyone was just too much. So I reached out to him (it literally took everything I had in me). I talked to him about feeling so alone and that I didn’t know what to do (I didn’t mention my social anxiety because I thought that could be another conversation for another time). He was really supportive and calmed me down and made me feel there was someone else in this world I could rely on other than myself. But now I am questioning whether he cares about me and wants to help because it has been about 3-4 weeks and he still hasn’t brought it up since that night. And now I just feel stupid and back at square 1 (maybe even further back because I always told myself if things got bad I could rely on my coach to help) but now I have no one. I seriously have no idea what to do. I hate feeling this way. You know that quote everything happens for a reason? Well I am really struggling to find a reason for why this is happening to me and why it has been going for 2 years, and that when I finally build up enough courage to talk to someone, it isn’t what I thought it would be. Seriously I am so confused and frustrated. I am sick of always feeling this way and always crying myself to sleep without anyone to turn to

Struggling_mum Mum with anxiety and anger
  • replies: 6

Really hoping someone has some experience with this and can help me feel less alone. I have a very spirited 3 year old and an 11 month old, a very supportive husband and supportive family but they all live hours away. I have a long history of anxiety... View more

Really hoping someone has some experience with this and can help me feel less alone. I have a very spirited 3 year old and an 11 month old, a very supportive husband and supportive family but they all live hours away. I have a long history of anxiety (and depression) but have recently experienced episodes of anger, usually in relation to something my 3 year old son does (fairly normal 3 year old behaviour, ie Not listening and following instructions, throwing things/being rough with his sister etc). I feel so ashamed because I lose control at times and yell at him, usually causing him to cry. When it first started happening I saw a psychologist and spoke about some strategies and she felt sleep deprivation was playing a big part. The sleep deprivation isn’t as bad now but the intermittent anger is still there. I know that I become overwhelmed when I have too much going on and I usually experience the anger when both kids are unhappy/needing attention or I am trying to get them both somewhere by a certain time and my son is not cooperating and we are running late. Although I can identify these situations, I still struggle to find a way to keep myself calm. It’s like a switch is flicked and I just see red and cannot be rational in that moment. I feel like I must be the only person like this and worry that I’m going to damage my kids as a result of this problem. I have never ever hit them and I don’t feel I am at risk of this but I have slammed doors and occasionally thrown something across the room (they were not at risk of being hit). I know walking away is one strategy but this is not ideal as the situation often requires me to address my 3 year olds behaviour and keep my baby safe. However, I need to be in control of myself to help him and to model appropriate behaviour. I cannot understand why I cannot maintain my composure in these situations. I have always been known for being a very calm and patient person at work and feel like a fraud because my colleagues would be astounded and disgusted at what sometimes happens at home. (note: this is not a daily occurrence).

Karlsbad Med free for the first time in 3 years
  • replies: 2

My dr told me that takeing a small dose of anxiety medication was having a placebo effect and to wean myself off. I have successfuly done done this and now three weeks later I am feeling angry, depressed, sad and heightened emotions I want to stick t... View more

My dr told me that takeing a small dose of anxiety medication was having a placebo effect and to wean myself off. I have successfuly done done this and now three weeks later I am feeling angry, depressed, sad and heightened emotions I want to stick this med free period out, for as long as I can but, at what cost! My husband is walking on eggs shells My kids whisper to not make me upset I feel utterly defeated! I hope this anger and depression passes soon so that I can enjoy this period of time without being on medication!

Biankka Anxiety and Nausea
  • replies: 1

I'm am currently battling with anxiety and often feel quiet queezy in the stomach which makes me feel like I need to be sick... I have been sick for soo long on a regular basis with an unknown diagnosis which is causing me to have anxiety attacks whe... View more

I'm am currently battling with anxiety and often feel quiet queezy in the stomach which makes me feel like I need to be sick... I have been sick for soo long on a regular basis with an unknown diagnosis which is causing me to have anxiety attacks when I worry about being sick (even if I am not at the time) I am getting married in exactly 3 months and I am battling serious paranoia that I will not make it on my wedding day if i worry about being sick or stressed soo much I make myself sick... I need some serious help pleaseeeee!!!

Jane24 Can't be alone
  • replies: 5

I struggle with anxiety & panic attacks when I'm alone, especially when I'm physically unwell with a flu etc. as I feel unable to cope/scared of something happening to me with no help. I'm 25 & live at home with my retired parents. They get angry at ... View more

I struggle with anxiety & panic attacks when I'm alone, especially when I'm physically unwell with a flu etc. as I feel unable to cope/scared of something happening to me with no help. I'm 25 & live at home with my retired parents. They get angry at me for not being able to cope on my own as it affects their life & they can't leave me home by myself. I feel like the worst person ever & they make me feel very guilty about my anxiety/how it affects them. I feel so depressed because of how I'm ruining their life & how little life I have. Right now I have the flu & asked mum to stay home with me as I'm feeling very anxious. She is angry at me, saying how much she is sick of putting up with me, how I'm stressing everyone out & ruining her life etc. How can I cope with these comments when I'm also reliant on her & physically sick right now? The stress is making everything worse.

flappybird Does your eye twitch too?
  • replies: 3

I'm so sick of this nervous twitch in my eye. It started after a fairly explosive breakdown at my high stress job which very nearly cost me my job almost 6 months ago. I've had 8 sessions of CBT and meds, and I still can't get rid of this twitch in m... View more

I'm so sick of this nervous twitch in my eye. It started after a fairly explosive breakdown at my high stress job which very nearly cost me my job almost 6 months ago. I've had 8 sessions of CBT and meds, and I still can't get rid of this twitch in my eye. Every time it twitches it reminds me of the explosive outburst and what a mess I'm in - i.e workplace anxiety running rampant - catastrophising that I'll be walked off-site tomorrow etc etc.... Not to mention how tiring it is feeling anxious all day. This makes me grumpy, my productivity drops, then I get start catastrophising again and the cycle continues. Add to that the now compulsory regular meetings with the boss only help to make it worse as I convince myself I am being "performance managed" out the door. I'm looking forward to catching up with my councilor again when she gets back from holidays. Has anyone else managed to rid themselves of a eye twitch? It is a very annoying and constant reminder that my mind isn't working properly.

Mum_with_four Anxiety and anger with kids
  • replies: 1

I am feeling really defeated at the moment. I have 4 kids between 7 and 1. I have had some family help over the past few weeks and they know I have been struggling. After work I come home and my peaceful house turns to chaos. Kids yelling and fightin... View more

I am feeling really defeated at the moment. I have 4 kids between 7 and 1. I have had some family help over the past few weeks and they know I have been struggling. After work I come home and my peaceful house turns to chaos. Kids yelling and fighting for attention. When I’m home during the day it’s the same. I had a really bad day the other week and I ended up in tears. My 7 year old said to me the other day, even though you cry sometimes I still love you. I do get angry with the kids sometimes just little things trigger me. But it’s the build up of days and days of the same arguments and struggles and battles. I didn’t think much of my child’s comment until yesterday my parent said that they want to talk to my husband and me because they can see some serious problems in the house and we are struggling as parents. I can’t even look my parents in the eyes now. I have felt like a failure as a parent when we have a bad day but having it pointed out has broken me. I know I have to get some help somehow but I don’t know when to start. After I had my last child I was supposed to see the nurse as I was borderline post natal but I felt like i couldn’t go back to get help. I feel ashamed when I get angry and snap at my kids. I have so much to do and need to work to help out financially all the stresses of life are getting too much. I feel my anxiety is triggering my anger and sometimes I see red and have to remove myself. I have 2 challenging children who argue from the minute they wake up in the morning. I don’t know where to start. I need to make my situation better but don’t know how.

Fazza new, remote mum with anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi, I live in remote WA and have limited access to services. I manage and live on a remote property and am a mum of a 13 month old who I adore. I had to go back to work when my baby was 6 months and I've struggled with leaving him for work which impa... View more

Hi, I live in remote WA and have limited access to services. I manage and live on a remote property and am a mum of a 13 month old who I adore. I had to go back to work when my baby was 6 months and I've struggled with leaving him for work which impacts my general anxiety. My dad has just been diagnosed with cancer and only has a couple of years which I am struggling with balancing a very busy and high responsibility job, living remote, missing my baby and being away from my dad at this time. I'm looking for support counselling or help that might be available to assist me through this hard time as I'm getting overwhelmed and struggling with sleep (more than just a new mum is!).