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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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AnushaD Mum& wife Dealing with Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi guys!!! I'm 34 years old, I have a husband and a 8 month old baby. I have had anxiety issues in the past but I feel like now it's really taking over my life. Couple months ago we had to call the ambulance because I thought I was going to die but t... View more

Hi guys!!! I'm 34 years old, I have a husband and a 8 month old baby. I have had anxiety issues in the past but I feel like now it's really taking over my life. Couple months ago we had to call the ambulance because I thought I was going to die but turns out it was a panic attack. I feel like I'm going to die if I fall asleep and constantly I feel my chest very tight and I can't breathe. Please do share with me if you have any advice. Thank you, Anusha

Muddlee Strange or weird feelings/sensations and panic attacks
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, Has anyone ever experienced these really strange sensations, thoughts or feelings? I'll give an example. Past few months have been quite good for me as my anxiety is in proportion and actively managed. But the last couple of days have be... View more

Hi everyone, Has anyone ever experienced these really strange sensations, thoughts or feelings? I'll give an example. Past few months have been quite good for me as my anxiety is in proportion and actively managed. But the last couple of days have been really strange. I had this tight bladder sensation which makes me want to go to the toilet every hour or so. I've experienced this before and know the symptoms - eg. excessive worrying, tightness in my pelvis, particularly my bladder, general discomfort and mental cloudiness etc). But after this I began to have some very strange thoughts. My anxiety went bananas and conjured up thoughts like the walls were disappearing, people had no necks, I was going to hurt someone and many more. I know I have problems with intrusive thoughts and my brain went right into fight/flight panic mode - i.e what do these thoughts mean, am I going crazy/have schizophrenia, are these thoughts true, will I have more or will they get worse etc. And after that it felt like a wave of confusion, anxiety and a general strange/weird sensation hit me. I felt dizzy, nauseous, very withdrawn and lightheaded. Capped the night off with a panic attack just before bed, but was easily able to manage it with some controlled and calm breathing, gentle thoughts and mindfulness. There's my story and here's my question - has anyone else experienced these really strange or weird sensations and thoughts? If so, describe them vividly please, and if so, what did you do to cope? Thought challenging, acceptance and controlled breathing can only take me so far. Many thanks in advance, Muddleee

DeserveBetter Disclosure Stigma & Workplace
  • replies: 9

Hi everyone. I'm new on here. I have a long term anxiety condition which I take medication and have counselling for. I have been off work a few times over the years because of it. I'm now thinking about trying some possible volunteering (even though ... View more

Hi everyone. I'm new on here. I have a long term anxiety condition which I take medication and have counselling for. I have been off work a few times over the years because of it. I'm now thinking about trying some possible volunteering (even though I'm quite anxious about it) to try to get some confidence. My question is how do I explain the gap in my CV for the period I've been off work (over 4 years now) or should I disclose my condition? I know I am under no obligation to do so but I'm unsure how to go about explaining what I've been doing since my last job unless I make something up and hope for the best. A family member suggested I talk to my psychologist about whether or not to disclose and ever since they said that I've been feeling confused and worried about what I should do. Anyone been in this situation with some positive feedback that won't freak me out would be very appreciative?

CherryBlossom89 Anxiety over juggling toddlers, work and study
  • replies: 1

I am currently on maternity leave. I had to cut my masters to a graduate Certificate when I got pregnant with second. Due to our organisations downsizing over the next few years and lack of progression opportunities I will have to continue studying m... View more

I am currently on maternity leave. I had to cut my masters to a graduate Certificate when I got pregnant with second. Due to our organisations downsizing over the next few years and lack of progression opportunities I will have to continue studying my masters to have a secure back up. My previous studies don’t have much opportunities in my current city and I’m reluctant to move with small kids. My issue is how do I cope with the anxiety this is causing me. Every time I think about how I’ll handle study with toddlers my anxiety flares up. I’ve studied with my first while she was a baby and toddler. But now that I have two I can’t get past how I’ll manage. They are already on two different bed times. And my first is going through a really bad sleep regression - going from one nap to none. Because of this she gets really bad night terrors. Im wondering if both end up with bad sleep how I’ll study at night. I don’t want to jeopardise weekends with them unless it’s for exam time. Last time I studied on the bus, during breaks/downtime at work, and at night when she slept or during day naps. With two it’s harder to do this. i have always been anxious with study since high school. Especially with assignments. I end up breaking down thinking I won’t meet it. But add kids and a job and I’m even more anxious. I already pulled out three times from degrees I accepted. work doesn’t cause me anxiety funnily enough. any hints and tips about managing anxiety study? Any motivating stories?

sohtrop Thinking of visiting GP for Binge Eating Disorder
  • replies: 4

Hi, This is my first post here. I'm thinking of visiting my GP to get a referal on the mental health care plan to a psychologist. It's not the first time. This will be my 5th psychologist in 10 years. I developed PTSD after a sexual assault and from ... View more

Hi, This is my first post here. I'm thinking of visiting my GP to get a referal on the mental health care plan to a psychologist. It's not the first time. This will be my 5th psychologist in 10 years. I developed PTSD after a sexual assault and from that came depression, anxiety and binge eating. I've done a lot of work over the past decade, coming from not being so crippled by my depression and anxiety that I couldn't work or study, to being mostly free of the depression and anxiety and being successfully self employed. I even got rid of the binge eating for about a year and a half, but over the past 2 years it has been coming back and it's now as bad as it's ever been. I'm morbidly obese and sick of it. I'm an active person; I love travelling, hiking, kayaking, weight lifting... but my weight can interfere and it's so frustrating to me that I don't look like the person that I feel I am. I want to finally develop a healthy relationship with food and finally build a fit, strong and healthy body, before I end up doing permanent damage from being so overweight. I'm nervous about starting again... the misunderstandings with GPs (one looked me up and down once and said "you don't look like you have an eating disorder") and the hit and miss nature of finding a psychologist (one said to me, a rape victim, "you're very pretty so I'm sure you'll get through all of this okay." WHAT?!)... I would also like to ask my GP if there are any options for medication in Australia (I know Vyvanse is used to treat BED in the U.S) but I'm worried about looking like a druggie asking for pills (even though I never do drugs or drink). I'm not sure what I'm looking for with this post... welcome, support, encouragement, advice? I just felt like I needed to reach out. Thanks for reading xox

Neferata Fearing the new job
  • replies: 8

Like most people I can imagine there comes a certain amount of nervousness with the prospect of an entirely new job. I start a Master of Teaching degree this year to teach science in high schools, to pair with this I managed to get a job tutoring hig... View more

Like most people I can imagine there comes a certain amount of nervousness with the prospect of an entirely new job. I start a Master of Teaching degree this year to teach science in high schools, to pair with this I managed to get a job tutoring high school students after school hours. I figured this would allow me to evaluate if I am cut out for teaching, but unfortunately my tutoring is looking to be almost all in the realm of maths which is one of those subjects I can do but never thought I'd have to teach. It certainly isn't my specialty, science, which I did my bachelors degree in and have a healthy passion for. To add to this feeling of unpreparedness I am also getting the hint that I'll be doubling as a counselor, trying to motivate and enthuse teenagers to take an interest in something they rightfully cannot see a reason for, much less care for. My fears will be answered next week when I meet my students and attempt to guide them through the torments of being in high school and it will be good to be getting some money while I study again. I can only breathe life into the quote of the working person throughout the ages "nothing is ever easy, is it." I couldn't just stick with a well paying job that I hated, I had to go back to uni. I couldn't get an easy part time job, of course, I had to get something hard that I'm stressing about. Much love to you all and I wish you all well through your own journeys, Nef.

NQ Anxiety : bloating, loss of appetite, nausea
  • replies: 2

Hi. I think I have anxiety, starting 3 weeks ago. I didn’t know what it was before. Woke up at 2 am feeling something in my throat, palpitations. The next few weeks feeling easily full, loss of appetite, a bit nausea, but no pain. That feeling of wor... View more

Hi. I think I have anxiety, starting 3 weeks ago. I didn’t know what it was before. Woke up at 2 am feeling something in my throat, palpitations. The next few weeks feeling easily full, loss of appetite, a bit nausea, but no pain. That feeling of worry sicks. This week I went to my GP. He gave me blood test for many things to exclude many serious diseases. Including a pelvic scan. Feeling very nervous about the results which makes my symptoms even worse. I’m seeing him back on Friday to arrange mental health plan and referral to a psychologist. I am 45 and used to be the happiest and most cheerful person. Now I forget how to laugh. . I want my old self back.

CJs_mum Anxiety caused by doctors, hearing professionals and lack of understanding at the moment.
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm in my 30's, struggling with hearing loss and depression and anxiety in WA. Firstly the hearing: I have been having difficulty finding a provider to help me with Hearing Aids for years. I've had GP's tell me its all in my head, but that's not ... View more

Hi, I'm in my 30's, struggling with hearing loss and depression and anxiety in WA. Firstly the hearing: I have been having difficulty finding a provider to help me with Hearing Aids for years. I've had GP's tell me its all in my head, but that's not the case at all. I simply can not hear and because of my age, no one is able to help. I've been homeless and on a pension almost all my life (mostly due to hearing loss - can't always follow instructions and miss certain important messages etc, can't hear on a phone or understand half of what's said) I have very little money but need hearing aids and they COST! Some can be anywhere from $3,000 - $12,000 depending on what brand you get given and what your needs are. Ouch. I don't have that! Am now panicking because I need them badly. Can anyone help me in WA? Thanks in advance there. Secondly the Anxiety: I've just been to a new GP and he's told me I'm "crazy" and laughed. He said but that's ok, all I need to do is just go to the main mental health hospital here, just rock up with the referral he'll write me and - voila - "just like that, it's all good. I'll be instantly better, as that's where I need to be - I'll feel like I belong - because I do and I'll get help with facing the hearing providers there." Apparently. hmm. Nope, I don't think so at all! I can not afford to be back on medication - financially, mentally and physically - at the moment. I have a history of mental illness, yes, but that shouldn't mean right now I'm "crazy". I'm not - I just want hearing aids and need some help with the huge costs AND need some help to sort out some personal family stuff (a family counsellor was what I wanted a referral to!). This is what is causing the anxiety at the moment. I don't think I need a hospital or for my daughter to be taken away from me for what I perceive as a fairly simple problem that could be fixed easily with a bit of guidance, thank you. I feel I am in a bit of a cycle at the moment: panicking because people think I'll panic and "go crazy" and be I'll labelled just that, but I just was labelled that so therefore I must be and...- agh! Round and round I go. I'm not crazy, but these people seem to want to send me that way! Finally, depression: the root cause of all this shite above. My dad was in Vietnam. He was strict when I was little: long story short, I'm still afraid of him, even as an adult. What can I do to tell medical staff this without labels? Thank you. All the best

A_2105 Never ending
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone. Hope you all are well. I’m 23 this year and have been suffering with anxiety since I was 19. Does anyone know anything that can help? Medication doesn’t work as it makes me nauseous. Has anyone seen a psychiatrist before & has it helped?... View more

Hi everyone. Hope you all are well. I’m 23 this year and have been suffering with anxiety since I was 19. Does anyone know anything that can help? Medication doesn’t work as it makes me nauseous. Has anyone seen a psychiatrist before & has it helped? I feel like this is never going to end. Every day I’m anxious, even when I’m not doing anything. I could just be sitting there doing nothing at all and my heart would be racing & my mind would be going crazy.

E_Paddington Tips for Anxiety in tricky situations - work, university, school etc.
  • replies: 3

I'm reaching out for some tips on reducing anxiety and anxiety attacks in situations where you can't leave, provide a distraction, speak to someone etc. I often find that the common advice provided for reducing anxiety is difficult/impossible to reen... View more

I'm reaching out for some tips on reducing anxiety and anxiety attacks in situations where you can't leave, provide a distraction, speak to someone etc. I often find that the common advice provided for reducing anxiety is difficult/impossible to reenact in the situations where I experience anxiety the most. Does anyone have any advice for some tips (before, during and after these scenarios) to reduce anxiety when in places such as work, university, school etc. where you experience severe anxiety but cannot leave?