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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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leavemealone Friendly neighbours or nightmare neighbours?
  • replies: 8

We've just moved into a house on a street where the neighbours are overbearingly nice (well for me anyway), I can't go out to the garden, sit in the front room or out to check the mail because as soon as they see me they come over or their kids come ... View more

We've just moved into a house on a street where the neighbours are overbearingly nice (well for me anyway), I can't go out to the garden, sit in the front room or out to check the mail because as soon as they see me they come over or their kids come over. The kids walk inside the house uninvited and out to the back garden to bounce on the trampoline and then the parents eventually leave and the kids linger for ages. This morning i almost ran over one of the kids in the car, who was in my drive way, while i was running late and rushing out the door for work, as i pulled out the Dad is standing there waving at me and then walks into my drive to play with his kids as i'm driving off. Needless to say i arrived at work so stressed out and almost in tears. the neighbours say this is normal (we're house sitting) for the owners to allow and how they all love the open door policy. I'm trying to make myself more friendly, to embrace it for the 6 months we're living here and I know it's going to be good for my "issues" Does anyone have any tips to help me deal with it? I can't tell them to get lost as the owners would be upset when they return to their home, plus they are very nice and I know I'd regret being so rude and then would feel like the need to avoid them would be even stronger than it already is. I'm just so bad with people in the past few months, even people I know very well, I won't answer my phone to them, I'll do EVERYTHING to avoid going for dinner/coffees, catch ups, whatever. These poor neighbours don't stand a chance really do they? My husband on the other hand is the most social and friendly person on the planet and loves having them there, I used to be similar, but as I mentioned in recent months I'm the pits it's got s bad that my 4 year old is now showing signs because of my behaviour

Tre3_of_life Over thinking and paranoia
  • replies: 3

Hello, I am new to the forum. I am struggling climbing up from this dark hole that I have sunk into and I am having trouble with severe over thinking and over analysing absolutely everything anyone says or does around me and I am super paranoid. This... View more

Hello, I am new to the forum. I am struggling climbing up from this dark hole that I have sunk into and I am having trouble with severe over thinking and over analysing absolutely everything anyone says or does around me and I am super paranoid. This is not me! I feel very alone and scared. Even with the help and support of my GP and a psych, I am still feeling like I am drowning. Am I alone in feeling and thinking this way?

Chicken_Wings New health anxiety diagnosis
  • replies: 5

I’ve had depression and generalised anxiety for a long time now, but in a recent appointment my psychologist said I also have health anxiety. Shes given me some reading to do about health anxiety and we plan to tackle it more in coming sessions. Im f... View more

I’ve had depression and generalised anxiety for a long time now, but in a recent appointment my psychologist said I also have health anxiety. Shes given me some reading to do about health anxiety and we plan to tackle it more in coming sessions. Im fairly certain this has come on because my mother has stage 4 cancer. For me this is huge, from a family who have never needed to go to hospital, no broken bones, no diseases, barely a visit to the dr (apart from my depression) to all of a sudden my mum is terminal. Now every ache, every twitch, every spot or bump is something that (in my mind) is going to kill me. I guess I just wanted to hear from others with health anxiety to see if they have found cbt helpful? Have you been able to curb your unhelpful thinking and behaviours?

Fwuffy Contemplating air travel when I have a hard time just driving an hour away from home!
  • replies: 11

Hi everyone, Feeling sooo overwhelmed and down on myself. I have had anxiety and depression for over 20 years. One thing I have become very good at is avoiding travel because of panic attacks. I am now faced with this situation; One of my sons is gra... View more

Hi everyone, Feeling sooo overwhelmed and down on myself. I have had anxiety and depression for over 20 years. One thing I have become very good at is avoiding travel because of panic attacks. I am now faced with this situation; One of my sons is graduating, I want to be there for him, I have said I will be. BUT! I am finding the idea of two plane trips alone and more travel on top of that simply mind boggling and full of what ifs! I am wondering if anyone else has really forced themselves into this type of exposure therapy for family reasons and how they coped? Please, I welcome any input, thoughts and ideas, I really need to discuss this with like minded individuals that can relate. At the moment it's just going round and round in my head and I have 2 weeks till his graduation, so the pressure is on! TIA, Sarah

Jubbachub Health Anxiety Distressing Symptoms
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I'm new to this forum, but I'm hoping to have a chat with a few health anxiety sufferers, such as myself. I've had health anxiety for many years now. I've convinced myself that I've had cancer, tumors, ALS, almost every debilitating disease u... View more

Hi all, I'm new to this forum, but I'm hoping to have a chat with a few health anxiety sufferers, such as myself. I've had health anxiety for many years now. I've convinced myself that I've had cancer, tumors, ALS, almost every debilitating disease under the sun. The symptoms felt so real, however usually went away once I found a new illness to obsess over. What brings me here today, is that about 8 months ago I noticed a pain in my lower right abdomen, below the bellybutton but above the pelvis. I spoke to the doctor, and had an ultrasound, chest/abdominal xray and blood tests to check my organ function. All came back fine. This pain is still here to this day. It hurts to press, but not enough to disrupt my daily function. It hasn't gotten worse, but I can tell this isn't something anxiety related. At the moment I'm terrified I have bowel cancer, as my stools have been changing quite a bit in consistency/colour, but are still what I'd call within normal range. I don't want to have anymore tests. I'm a 22 year old male, and have now started seeing a psychologist about my anxiety, but have not yet brought this up. I guess what I'm asking is has anyone had a similar experience? Or can offer advice on what you have done to overcome these kinds of fears? Thanks in advance, Jacob, fellow hypochondriac.

Joels Getting out of the rut to help Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi everybody, I’ve recently been diagnosed with anxiety. I’ve only been seeing a Psychologist for three months now but one of the things that has been pointed out is alcohol has been a way of coping with my anxiety over a long period of time. My ques... View more

Hi everybody, I’ve recently been diagnosed with anxiety. I’ve only been seeing a Psychologist for three months now but one of the things that has been pointed out is alcohol has been a way of coping with my anxiety over a long period of time. My question I would like to ask others out there is how you have changed your habits with alcohol or drugs in a way that has helped you and your anxiety? I’ve just turned 30 and am starting to realise now that my weekends of partying need to stop for my mental healths sake.

Living_lighter Exhausted and alone
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, iv just joined to get some support or better yet not feel so alone with my anxiety and hopefully share what helps me and also and get some advice on what works for others. To begin I’m a 32 year old solo parent with a 10 year old. For the la... View more

Hi guys, iv just joined to get some support or better yet not feel so alone with my anxiety and hopefully share what helps me and also and get some advice on what works for others. To begin I’m a 32 year old solo parent with a 10 year old. For the last 5 years Iv been working full time with minimal support and about 2 years ago the exhaustion lead me to extreme anxiety and depression. I quite my job and only work part-time now and find I have a better balance. I got off my medication at Christmas just gone. I’m finding small things are starting to present themselves again with signs of high anxiety and lots of body aces obviously due to stress. Does anyone else get body aces with there anxiety and stress? I’m going back to the doctor next week to get on a mental health plan and also more exercise. I just feel really alone and isolated with my anxiety, I feel like no around understands mental health and those that do I’m to scared to talk to much because I feel like a burden. The ups and downs are exhausting.

Kajirin Where there's a will
  • replies: 6

Hi all, First time posting here, I have been lurking in the forums for weeks getting myself adjusted to this forum. I have always suffered right from my early teens, from anxiety and going into depressive states - they cycle depending on what's going... View more

Hi all, First time posting here, I have been lurking in the forums for weeks getting myself adjusted to this forum. I have always suffered right from my early teens, from anxiety and going into depressive states - they cycle depending on what's going on at the time. I did seek help years ago, but sadly at the time then anxiety and depression weren't foremost on GP's minds. It was deemed my problems were social and 'I'd get over it'. So I still have issues seeking 'professional' help, even though I know things have changed. Lately, my anxiety has been off the scale - I know it and am aware of it. I use magnesium supplements when I'm at my worst and that really helps calm my body and mind. Strangely I don't feel depression at the moment - they usually go hand in hand. I am the type to just bottle things and say I'm ok [which is silly I know, but it is hard for me to open up face to face with people]. Background circumstances are... 1. My Dad is slowly dying due to health complications, I am his primary carer [I share the load with Mum, but she works full time]. It is so hard to watch him slowly waste away bed ridden. He doesn't want to eat, can't force him. He basically eats to minimally sustain life, but he's skin and bone. He's prone to falling when he tries to walk, got him a rollator walker to help him, but still feel anxious when he uses it. His previous falls result in injury as he has paper thin skin. One fall left him having a seizure. He refuses all medical aid, sends ambulance people away refusing to go to hospital. So I have to tend to his wounds the best I can, in his diminished capacity he can't travel to a GP and there are no locums that service this area. I am here 24/7 for him and seldom venture off the property, seldom get decent sleep as he calls out during the night at times needing help. 2. Mum has been going through a rough trot with work. Workplace bullying for a few years, now she is going through PM on a lot of unwarranted accusations. She is suffering anxiety too and is copping things by the double between here and work. I try my best to help her - keep her spirits up, talk through her problems etc. She did seek help from a GP and a psychologist [but she felt she was just having her problems validated and not solved]. She's an amazing woman, but even she has her limits as we all do - just feels like a never ending nightmare. She is seeking Union help, so hopefully they can advise better than what I can.

Sami_Swilks Finding Right Service
  • replies: 2

I have extreme anxiety that is manifesting in a range of ways, and beginning to affect my interpersonal relationships. I really want to go and see a psychologist after about 2 years of having these feelings, but do not earn a lot of money. I was wond... View more

I have extreme anxiety that is manifesting in a range of ways, and beginning to affect my interpersonal relationships. I really want to go and see a psychologist after about 2 years of having these feelings, but do not earn a lot of money. I was wondering what the most cost effective and expedient manner by which I could be sitting and chatting with a professional is? It's getting all a bit too much and I need to regain control / get some kind of diagnosis. Thank you, Sami

Hope_for_the_best What do I need to do for "situational anxiety"?
  • replies: 10

This is my 1st post here. I am a nervous person. When I am stressed out, I get very distressing symptoms, but after the stressful events, I am completely back to normal. This happened to me twice in the past 6 years. The first time was in my undergra... View more

This is my 1st post here. I am a nervous person. When I am stressed out, I get very distressing symptoms, but after the stressful events, I am completely back to normal. This happened to me twice in the past 6 years. The first time was in my undergrad. I was very stressed out with exams for two semesters and I struggled to swallow food some evenings. I also got panic-attack like symptoms, e.g. racing heartbeats and shortness of breaths. That continued for a while after the exams. I went to a clinical psychologist and she reassured me that I was simply stressed out. I took her advice to enjoy my semester break and I recovered without any further support. Now, I am approaching the end of my postgraduate and writing up for my thesis. 8 months ago I was stressed out again because of data collection. The whole process seemed endless and the frustration set off another episode of intense anxiety. I felt awful on and off for several months. My muscles tensed up some mornings and I struggled to walk back to my office. I also had strong aversion to some daily bad smells, e.g. poops, as if these smells would harm me. When I finished data collection and made good progression of writing, I started to get better on my own, again without any support. I now feel completely normal. My psychologist reassured me that I was again stressed out and not having a disorder. She says I made very good progress in coping with stress and it is unlikely that I will develop mental disorders. However, I am still worried. I have family history of mental problems and I think I am predisposed to one. The two episodes were so bad that people around me thought I had an anxiety disorder. I don't wish to have stress like this anymore. What should I do for such "situational anxiety"? Do I go to a GP now or when I get stressed out again? It is strange to see a doctor if I don't actually feel unwell. Thanks for any advice.

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