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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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Marchaaika Anxiety, OCD, and pets
  • replies: 9

Hi everyone, I have pretty severe anxiety issues, OCD and depression, and am currently in the middle of a bad symptom flare-up. As part of this flare-up I have been experiencing feelings of extreme loneliness and grieving for my old dog and companion... View more

Hi everyone, I have pretty severe anxiety issues, OCD and depression, and am currently in the middle of a bad symptom flare-up. As part of this flare-up I have been experiencing feelings of extreme loneliness and grieving for my old dog and companion of 15 years, who passed a year ago. I couldn't face the thought of another dog, but thought that maybe adopting a couple of kittens might help. This was not an impulsive decision, but one that I've been considering for a while and thought now might be the right time, as did the others around me. My symptoms had eased off to a level that I could function again, so I went ahead and adopted two sweet and beautiful kittens. The minute I brought them home my anxiety skyrocketed again, and I felt I had made a horrible mistake. I worried about their health and the future, what would happen when my physical health issues played up again, had guilt about replacing my old pet, and my OCD went crazy at these two little balls of fur disrupting my routine and environment. Although my doc tried to reassure me the next day that I'd made a good choice, I could not calm down and couldn't sleep, eat or stop bawling most of the time for two days. A fairly minor allergic reaction provided me with an excuse, and I gave them to a family member who I know will give them a wonderful, loving home. And now I'm sitting here having a massive breakdown because I feel like a failure, and like I let those poor kittens down, and because maybe, if I'd just given it a better shot, it would've all worked out. There's not really a point to this story I suppose, I just needed to let it all out in a way I can't manage verbally. Thanks for listening/reading.

Bec_b How to stop thinking about negative conversations
  • replies: 4

How do I stop thinking about conversations that have happened over the past few days that no longer matter (logically) but they bothered me and I keep going over them again and again. Awake at 2am onwards with this. thanks!

How do I stop thinking about conversations that have happened over the past few days that no longer matter (logically) but they bothered me and I keep going over them again and again. Awake at 2am onwards with this. thanks!

Penguin_fan08 Extreme sensitivity to everyday life. Please help me.
  • replies: 4

Hello everyone, and thanks to those who have given me a warm welcome. I'm new here, and only getting used to how forums work, but I'll try my best in making this as easy to read as possible. I have extreme sensitivity to everyday life. What I mean by... View more

Hello everyone, and thanks to those who have given me a warm welcome. I'm new here, and only getting used to how forums work, but I'll try my best in making this as easy to read as possible. I have extreme sensitivity to everyday life. What I mean by this is that I cannot handle loud noise (usually can handle with my sound-cancelling headphones but not without them; I cannot leave home without them). I cannot handle being touched because of my phobia with germs, I have trouble maintaining eye contact and speaking to others (and when I do, they say I am rude or mean to them). I have a lot of trouble with all of this, and I was hoping someone could help me. Any advice would be well received. Anything helps, thanks. Penguin

Gertjaars Driving anxiety.
  • replies: 6

I’m 23 years old, got my learners the day I turned 16 and still only have about 30 hours completed, so that’s 7 years and I’ve only done about 8 hours in the last 5 of them. at first I was doing well but overtime with other things my depression, and ... View more

I’m 23 years old, got my learners the day I turned 16 and still only have about 30 hours completed, so that’s 7 years and I’ve only done about 8 hours in the last 5 of them. at first I was doing well but overtime with other things my depression, and my anxiety started to interfere with my life more and more. ive seen a therapist about these things but they really didn’t help and after a couple months I stopped due to it only adding worries not fixing. im okay with not driving I suppose, there’s ways to get around otherwise, but it’s my wife who is getting heavily effected by it. nearly every time we go anywhere she wants me to drive, I don’t but it ends up with her being annoyed and kind of throws the whole day off. i just don’t think I’ll be able to drive, the second I’m in the car drivIng I’m paying too much attention and overthinking and worrying, looking at every person, worrying about every car behind, infront and coming towards, worried that if someone moves I can’t control the car, worries that if someone walks out I can’t stop in time, worried that ill be looking at a car and accidentally speed or run a light, just a million things and I just break down internally and just feel exhausted and numb. Ive told me partner this and she just says I have to get over it and she can’t be expected to drive all the time, I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried, I’ve tried a lot. Being able to drive with a lisence, be able to go somewhere by myself without needing my partner to take me or walking would be a literal dream come true, but through therapy, driving lessons, many attempts at different hours of day, it still kills me to drive. I really need some outside input on this, it’s the same thing every day, I feel bad for it, I shouldn’t expect my wife to drive but I honestly don’t think I’ll ever be able to, I don’t trust myself with something that big and that fast, I’m uncomfortable being in a car in the first place for the most part. for any replies, thankyou.

help643i Anxiety making a return
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I have had anxiety for a long time. It has been unpredictable for about 5 years now...I am 15. My anxiety was born out of a fear of fainting. I always had to leave the house eating a well balanced meal. This was manageable until life happened... View more

Hi all, I have had anxiety for a long time. It has been unpredictable for about 5 years now...I am 15. My anxiety was born out of a fear of fainting. I always had to leave the house eating a well balanced meal. This was manageable until life happened. I moved schools and felt alone which led to my thoughts wreaking havoc over me. I now have friends at my new school even though it took a year but I am now accompanied by a scarier version of what used to be my anxiety. I had a huge panic attack at work and went home feeling stupid for leaving etc. Self doubt spiralled into more environmental factors. My mum says I’m low in iron so now I’m scared I will pass out at any moment but I am too scared to take a blood test because I’m my head losing blood = fainting. My parents say they understand but yell at me for using the “sympathy card” when I’m just saying how I feel. I think they think I am self involved and ungrateful. I’ve shut them out, I want to move out and be free from work and school. I am so lucky to have everything I have got but I can’t enjoy it with this thing. I am doing a brief summary but basically my life has been planned in order to cater towards my anxiety. When friends ask to go out I always say let’s go to my place or your place because a home is the only place where I feel really safe. I’m kind of scared that my heart is just going to stop working from all of the stress I put on myself unnessecarily. I hope this is only a short part of my life because I’m really finding it hard to pretend it’s not there. Any tips on how to overcome this? I’m not sure if it’s physical or mental but it always ends up being mental so I’m going to believe it’s mental and not that I have some terminal disease that is making my heart beat weirdly and me feeling weak all the time. I kind of needed to rant and hear a kind voice in the midst of all this yelling.

Isla_Rose Anxiety tension in jaw
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, First time posting, new to the community. Ive been living with anxiety following a severe panic attack (first time either has happened to me) for the last 6 months. Course my fear is the fear of another panic attack. To provide backgroun... View more

Hi everyone, First time posting, new to the community. Ive been living with anxiety following a severe panic attack (first time either has happened to me) for the last 6 months. Course my fear is the fear of another panic attack. To provide background my panic attack happened during the night. I fainted, and struggled to breathe after the attack, like i couldn't get the air i needed. 2 hospital visits and an ambulance ride within the next 24 hours later, and i was diagnosed with a deviated septum (blocked airway in nose). Have since had the surgery to have this fixed. The time from being diagnosed to the surgery was a week. Though it was the hardest and darkest of my life. I couldnt eat or sleep. Recovery from this surgery is a slow one meaning it was weeks before i could breathe through my nose again. This messed with my brain. I had been seeing a psychologist, though havent seen him in awhile as ive been doing really good. im still finding i have tension in my jaw and wondered if anyone else might have some tips on how i can relax this?

teachersfirstau Workplace Bullying and It's Effects
  • replies: 2

Workplace Bullying is rife in State Government Departments and often those responsible get away with their actions. There is a failure of internal complaint management systems because management investigate complaints against managers of the same Dep... View more

Workplace Bullying is rife in State Government Departments and often those responsible get away with their actions. There is a failure of internal complaint management systems because management investigate complaints against managers of the same Department. Often the result of any investigation is "it's just a clash of personalities" or they deliberately delay an investigation in the hope that the victim resigns or just seeks a transfer or is transferred, rather than actually address the bullying first hand. Even if you go onto Workers Compensation, you are often returned to work without a psychological treatment plan. Even if a teacher actually attempts suicide, this is not reported to Safework NSW and there is no investigation. Any internal investigation does not include medical evidence and does not even include assessment of multiple complaints made against the one bully. What can be done about these systemic faults? Paul

Nkme Health Axiety "HELP"
  • replies: 6

I suffer terrible health anxiety. For about 3 years now I have suffered with the fear of getting breast cancer. I constantly check myself and it seems to be everywhere I look. I have been on medication now for 21 years. Just recently the doctors have... View more

I suffer terrible health anxiety. For about 3 years now I have suffered with the fear of getting breast cancer. I constantly check myself and it seems to be everywhere I look. I have been on medication now for 21 years. Just recently the doctors have given me a higher dose and something to help me sleep. I just cant stop thinking that i have breast cancer and that maybe the doctors missed something. I have seen 5 doctors and had ultrasounds in the last 12months and everything health wise is great. There is just that horrible thought and feeling of Anxiety that just creeps up on me. I start shaking and i cant breath properly. I was hoping that someone else out there suffered the same feeling about there health that could give me some advice or even just to talk. Its ruining my life and interfering with my social life also. I have lost all my friends due to them not understanding me.

jaspreet regarding anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi I have some issue regarding my anxiety etc my hand shakes when i am anxious and also i feel giddy ,I would need some advice what can i do reduce my anxiety, Thank You

Hi I have some issue regarding my anxiety etc my hand shakes when i am anxious and also i feel giddy ,I would need some advice what can i do reduce my anxiety, Thank You

Hlkin Tips for hanging in there
  • replies: 7

Hey everyone I have been struggling with episodic generalised anxiety and panic attacks for about 15 years. I had been going really well for about 2 years, and then I had a panic attack on the phone to my boss about 2 weeks ago. Since then I spiralle... View more

Hey everyone I have been struggling with episodic generalised anxiety and panic attacks for about 15 years. I had been going really well for about 2 years, and then I had a panic attack on the phone to my boss about 2 weeks ago. Since then I spiralled into my usual pattern of being unable to eat, non-stop vomiting and unable to stay asleep. I was able to recover within about a week, and I tried to return to work. I made it through 2 days before I melted down again, and with my GP's support I have the next two weeks off work. I have been seeing a psychologist through my work's EAP, and I have now got a mental health care plan in place which will allow me to continue with the same psychologist once the work-supported sessions run out. I feel like I am doing all the things I should be doing, I am trying to practice the mindful techniques to calm the panic symptoms, and trying to keep hyrdrated by sipping herbal tea, and when I can, eating a few bites of fruit. I am also trying to exercise, and spend some time outside. I am making lists of things I can do each day to try and achieve small things. I am also watching a little too much netflix. I am seeing the psychologist once a week at the moment, and while its helpful, I am finding the days inbetween tough. I feel very guilty about dropping out of work. I was hoping to draw on your collective wisdom for what are the day to day things you do to help your recovery. But inbetween these sessions, I am looking for

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