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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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VegeHead When workplace culture brings everything to a head
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone - first time poster, but I feel like I need to talk to people who may understand. After years of what I consider low key depression, handled ok during that time with meds, I've had a major meltdown. I had to have a week off work 10 months... View more

Hi everyone - first time poster, but I feel like I need to talk to people who may understand. After years of what I consider low key depression, handled ok during that time with meds, I've had a major meltdown. I had to have a week off work 10 months ago, because I felt so overwhelmed with anxiety from the job. I'd never felt anxiety like that - where you feel so trapped in thought processes of confusion. My meds were increased and I had talks with my boss to rectify some of the issues. All went well for a while, until the same stressors crept back in and I started to feel like nothing had been resolved. I've battled on through these past months, with another increase of meds during that time, but something snapped in me last week. I was hearing other staff laughing and carrying on as I perceive they do alot, with my boss saying to me, "have you done this"..."Could you fix that issue"...and I thought that's it, I can't do this anymore - I can't be the "backbone" of the place (as I've been called by other staff), while my perceptions of the culture within the workplace diminishes. So I just left and went home - got a medical certificate for 7 days and here I am. I have also now put in for an extra two weeks leave on top of it - giving myself time to figure things out and try to feel better. I work in a small team environment, where I'm senior to others in age and experience, but considered on the same level in my role title. It's been an occupation that I enjoy, but I just can't seem to overcome the thoughts that overwhelm me throughout the work day. New staff come in and others latch onto them for the social aspect, management of staff could be better- I just feel overwhelmed. It's an issue that always seems to rear it's ugly head with me. There are other factors in my life over the years that have contributed to the way I am - I've had to be the "strong one" through some traumatic times which include - lost my husband to illness 5 years ago - I'm estranged from two of my adult children - I know these are also factors which have contributed to me not 'being strong'. I'm in therapy and doing a lot of inner work and am actually prepared to leave this job without another one lined up. It scares the hell out of me, but makes me frustrated to think I'm leaving because I can't handle the culture that place has become - or what I perceive it has become - that they value the social aspect over the work aspect. I feel in a mess of late. Thanks for listening.

Fred22 Am I crazy
  • replies: 2

Hi start a new job in a few days - something I trained for and always wanted - I have great support from my new managers so why am I so anxious - feelings I’ll fail, make mistakes, useless, fraud etc ?

Hi start a new job in a few days - something I trained for and always wanted - I have great support from my new managers so why am I so anxious - feelings I’ll fail, make mistakes, useless, fraud etc ?

AlliS Physically sick from all the stress
  • replies: 3

...and that's just making me more stressed! I don't know at what point I stopped having fun at work and started feeling overwhelmed. I work in a high pressure job and got a new manager recently. The leadership team hasn't been willing to support our ... View more

...and that's just making me more stressed! I don't know at what point I stopped having fun at work and started feeling overwhelmed. I work in a high pressure job and got a new manager recently. The leadership team hasn't been willing to support our team to alleviate the pressure and this has really impacted morale. Over time I've started to feel a sense of helplessness as I can't seem to find another job (not for lack of trying, I've applied to over 80). To top it off my psych is making me date. Dating pushes my stress levels through the roof and I don't know how to handle it. That being said, my homework is a different kind of stress and I would definitely say work is the issue. I've lost interest in my art and music pursuits. I don't see my friends, I'm too tired. I'm lightheaded and nauseated. My appettite is on and off. My skin is horrible, I'm losing hair. I've developed sleep apneoa and wake up several times each night. My dentist, psychologist, optometrist, two doctors, friends and family are telling me to get out and I can't and I'm so trapped. I don't know what to do. Has anyone else been in this situation? Will it get better?

Scatterbrain Drug Trigger
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I’ve recently started having anxiety, worse than I’ve had in years. Been to Dr and am in the process of changing meds, however I’m struggling big time at work...I’m a care assistant who handles medications, and I have developed a paranoia tha... View more

Hi all, I’ve recently started having anxiety, worse than I’ve had in years. Been to Dr and am in the process of changing meds, however I’m struggling big time at work...I’m a care assistant who handles medications, and I have developed a paranoia that people think I’m on drugs, or that I steal them...the mention of the word “drugs” now sends me into a hot flush and I feel guilty as heck, and all for no reason!!!! Which of course then makes me LOOK guilty!!!! Anyone else had this? Any ideas on how to get past it would be most welcome, thank you!

Eyre Turning down a job opportunity
  • replies: 4

Hello. I’ve not written on this forum before. I have said yes to an amazing job opportunity but now I know I can’t do it. I know I’m going to feel humiliated by turning it down because I’ve told people already. for the last 2 weeks (since interview) ... View more

Hello. I’ve not written on this forum before. I have said yes to an amazing job opportunity but now I know I can’t do it. I know I’m going to feel humiliated by turning it down because I’ve told people already. for the last 2 weeks (since interview) I’ve been unable to function properly, the only th8ng I want is to turn down the job offer and hide. How do I say no without disclosing my mental health issues? I don’t know why I said yes! This happens all the time, I say yes and then retreat. They already knew I had other chronic health problems- I have multiple autoimmune diseases that cause severe fatigue and chronic pain. Im not entirely sure why I’m writing this, other than to get it off my chest.

Agnes09 Oh My! This is horrible!
  • replies: 1

I grew up in a very critical home and have always struggled with anxiety and low self-esteem. I then married a very critical man who occasionally used his fists to express his disappointment in me. The day my 6 y/o called me stupid "cause daddy says ... View more

I grew up in a very critical home and have always struggled with anxiety and low self-esteem. I then married a very critical man who occasionally used his fists to express his disappointment in me. The day my 6 y/o called me stupid "cause daddy says so" was the day I took 3 children, and no belongings, to the park and never went back home. I got tough and nothing was going to put me down again, especially my own negative self-talk. I put myself though uni, raised the 3, whose father refused to see or support, met a wonderful man and welcomed a new baby into our home. Things weren't always easy and sometimes anxiety would get in my way, but we were tough and we found a way around, over or though all obstacles. Life was good. The bushfires came and we lost everything, our home, some good friends and our ability to live with anxiety. But we were tough and most importantly together, and with help we got back on our feet and found a way though most problems. The anxiety was the worst problem because now the whole family was suffering and who has time to calmly deal with their own anxiety when one child refuses to go to school because they think you will die if they leave you, and another child starts self-medicating illegally. Time for professional help, and it did help. It took a while but life was good again. At the age of 50 I decided to became a nurse. I loved every moment of school and had the makings of a good nurse until my final placement, where I had a critical educator who made life difficult for all his students. I couldn't deal with anxiety anymore. I messed up all my interviews and so stayed in my job as a carer for a year, until I finally got the courage to sign up as an agency nurse. The 2 shifts I've had have been marred by extreme thirst, nervous poo, blurry vision, nausea and palpitations. The palpitations aren't new but the other symptoms are. This all means I'm working slow and can't think straight. I'm too scared to talk the senior nurses, they're getting frustrated which only makes my anxiety worse. I feel so stupid and don't know what to do. I can't take another shift but I don't want to quit nursing. How did things get so bad? I saw my GP today. He has diagnosed me with GAD and I have an appointment with a psychologist in 2 weeks time. I'm not sure what to do in the meantime because I can't take all that time off a casual job and I can't risk an anxiety attack messing up another shift.

Booklover17 In a funk - not excited about anything
  • replies: 18

Hi everyone, For the past week I have felt deflated, dreading going to work and I have this heaviness in my chest. I am seeing a psychologist and do get anxiety and depression. I guess I just wanted to unload here a little and ask if anyone is feelin... View more

Hi everyone, For the past week I have felt deflated, dreading going to work and I have this heaviness in my chest. I am seeing a psychologist and do get anxiety and depression. I guess I just wanted to unload here a little and ask if anyone is feeling the same way or has in the past and what strategies you used?

Whazp Is it Anxiety?
  • replies: 17

Hi All, Back when i was a teen i suffered from OCD (Obsessive thoughts about food poisoning) & some sort of GAD - cant remember the specifics. Was put on medication and after a while everything picked up and life was good. Stayed on it for about 12 y... View more

Hi All, Back when i was a teen i suffered from OCD (Obsessive thoughts about food poisoning) & some sort of GAD - cant remember the specifics. Was put on medication and after a while everything picked up and life was good. Stayed on it for about 12 years until 2 years ago i decided that i didn't need medication anymore because i was doing so well. What a mistake that was... Got hit with some work stress pretty bad and started having faint dizzy spells. Had brain fog, irratibility etc. Ended up re-instating the medication after a little over a year & things started to pick up again. After a few months of being on the medication again i started having strange physical symptoms for around 2 hours each evening after eating and taking the medication. Thought that the medication was hurting me and i tapered off it in about 3 weeks. Ended up with'discontinuation syndrome' - id never wish it on my worse enemy. Its now 5 months out from last taking the medication. What im not sure about is am i still experiencing discontinuation syndrome or is this what anxiety feels like? I have the following symptoms in isolation or sometimes together. Intensity varies and the sensations are not always the same. Tightness in forehead like a constant pressure in the head. Difficulty concentrating. Regular tension type headaches - usually left side. Weakness in the body - find physical exertion bombs me quickly Numbness in limbs Constant tingling sensations in the body and limbs. Feeling like going to pass out - not too often. Burning sensations in the face Some tightness in the chest Slight tremble Derealization - feels like im watching a movie picture. Feels like on drugs but without any euphoria. Has improved slightly. Random ringing in ears - only lasts a few seconds. Happens occasionally. Sometimes rapid heart rate. Confusion occasionally. Is this Anxiety? I always thought anxiety was feeling nervous about something. Often i get these symptoms but im not worrying about anything?

JustM3 Should i get help?
  • replies: 3

Hi, I think i have anxiety but i am too scared that it will be dismissed if i see a mental health care professional. I'm still in school and don't want to cause a hassle for my family but i have been struggling with this for a while now. Here are som... View more

Hi, I think i have anxiety but i am too scared that it will be dismissed if i see a mental health care professional. I'm still in school and don't want to cause a hassle for my family but i have been struggling with this for a while now. Here are some things i struggle with: -Watching movies that involve monsters or ghosts (this sounds dumb but even after i watched the PG rated movie Gremlins i had trouble sleeping for a month) -Performing (i'm a musician) -Talking to people (if i think i've said something wrong i avoid people so i don't have to talk to them in case they confront me) -Sleeping with the lights off (some days i literally cannot sleep because i look at the clock and freak out over the fact that i should be asleep while checking the doorway every five seconds to make sure there are no immediate threats) -Physical activities (i am self conscious and avoid sport and school camps in case people make fun of me) -Freezing (when i hear a noise at night i freeze and lie as still as i can while wishing i could move to get across the room to turn the light on) -Stress (at school i can feel all the work piling up and i sometimes end up hyperventilating when i get home i am usually very grouchy and end up in tears by the end of the night, this happens most nights) -Seeking help (i am terrified of seeking help i asked my mother to book an appointment once and backed out after she organised it and i told her i was fine) This list looks like nothing now i've written it but i really feel that the issues i'm having aren't normal, or maybe no one ever talks about it? I think lots of people have anxiety but social media has dismissed it as the norm and that people say that people who get help don't actually need it they are just looking for attention. I've taken the anxiety quiz on this site and i have contacted headspace and i think maybe i should get help. I'm still too scared to mention this to my parents in case i end up in tears (like i did last time) which is humiliating. How can you deal with anxiety anyway, even when i try breathing slowly and counting to 10 i know it's still there. What kind of solutions do mental health care professionals provide? and do they work? Thank you for reading this and if you think that the stress i'm feeling is normal please just tell me

Fred22 Does it ever go away
  • replies: 3

Hi I suffer from GAD with frequent anxiety panic attacks. It has been off and on for most off my life but I never seem to be over it. I have a trigger of when I am criticised or feel I am failing or less then perfect; what do i do? Will it ever go aw... View more

Hi I suffer from GAD with frequent anxiety panic attacks. It has been off and on for most off my life but I never seem to be over it. I have a trigger of when I am criticised or feel I am failing or less then perfect; what do i do? Will it ever go away?

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