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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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bblu Just stressed out
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm new here and came with the need to rant so please don't mind me as I do. I currently have many problems in my life that give me anxiety but there is only so much I can talk about, so I guess I'll share one of them here since I have no one to ... View more

Hi, I'm new here and came with the need to rant so please don't mind me as I do. I currently have many problems in my life that give me anxiety but there is only so much I can talk about, so I guess I'll share one of them here since I have no one to talk to. I have been wanting to get this off my chest because its been eating me inside and been giving me so much stress. I am a student currently living by myself and have been experiencing financial stress over the last couple of months to the point where I have been skipping meals and just barely making my rent. I am someone who does not make friends easily and only have one friend group which also happens to be my classmates at uni. One of them in particular comes from a wealthy family and everyone knows her as "the rich one". I consider her my friend but I know deep down that I am jealous of her because I can't help but compare myself to her. Unlike me, she is a very fortunate and lucky person who somehow always gets the best opportunities that I don't. She's a talkative person that likes to flex and sometimes overshare the good things in her life. Couple months back, when I saw her the first day back to school, the first thing she told me was how much money she made during the break and how rich her company was. It makes me feel bad about myself because I know I can't share my financial struggles with her and I always think about how much of a failure I am compared to her. I know she doesn't mean harm and is actually a sweet girl, but sometimes her flaunting is annoying and gives me unnecessary stress. I remember one time I got very annoyed at her because she tried to give me "advice" on how to act and do my job better when I was actually the one who had more work experience and a higher qualification than her. She's also part of our close friend group and I realized that most of my friends actually like her more than me, which makes it even more discouraging for me. I don't want to feel this way and I know its not good to compare myself to others but it's so difficult not to feel inferior around her. I don't want to lose my friend group as they will be with me until I graduate so I try to endure it but I am suffering. I am trying my best to earn money to get out of my financial situation but I know that I will never reach the same level as my friend and I can't help but feel like I'm not enough and that I will always be in financial stress.

GreenEgg Wondering if I’ve chosen one of the worst possible careers I could’ve
  • replies: 13

Has anyone realised this, and restarted in a completely different field? How did you do it - or the reverse, did you think that but it ended up ok? I’m so unhappy and stressed all the time, work becomes my entire life. My work is high pressure in tha... View more

Has anyone realised this, and restarted in a completely different field? How did you do it - or the reverse, did you think that but it ended up ok? I’m so unhappy and stressed all the time, work becomes my entire life. My work is high pressure in that deadlines can be very demanding, but it’s also quite complex and means dealing with lots of different people who have different views etc. I’m a people pleaser and a bit of a perfectionist so that really is challenging for me. I keep imaging an escape and it’s always something like a wildlife rescue in the country, or even a florist, or a librarian, or anything else. I feel like I’m just not cut out for my work - everyone says how good I am it but they don’t see the toll that it takes on me? I feel like resigning, ending my lease, moving somewhere and just escaping it all but I can’t do that financially. I doubt I’d ever have the courage or follow through as well, I’m terrible with decisions and just get paralysed and do nothing.I also don’t trust myself though, like is this just me in the moment? Would another job just be exactly the same, because it’s about how I react to things? Would being somewhere totally new and alone with no one really be the best idea?

Ben1983 Cardiac health anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I'm new to this and looking for some advice for some one that has been through what I'm going through. To keep it short it started about 3 months ago now, I went to see my Dr with a bit of chest discomfort and as my heart rate was elevated he... View more

Hi all, I'm new to this and looking for some advice for some one that has been through what I'm going through. To keep it short it started about 3 months ago now, I went to see my Dr with a bit of chest discomfort and as my heart rate was elevated he called an ambulance to take me straight to the closest hospital. Upon arrival they did a ecg, ct scan and blood test which all came back clear. They desided to admit me into the cardiovascular ward as my heart rate was still over 100. From there I was monitored 24 hrs, had another ct scan and an echocardiogram all which came back normal. A month later I was back in the emergency department as I had my first heart palpatation that felt like my heart was jumping around, to me it felt like I was having a heart attack. They did bloods, ecg and it all came back normal, however they wanted me to conduct a holter monitor test. I did the test and it came back that I had 24 pre beats in the 24 hr period and that my heart was perfect from an electrical side of house. Since then I have now been checking my pulse religiously as I have felt weird pains and tightness around my chest, tightness in my neck, light headed from time to time, have even noticed a visible heart beat in the hollow part of my neck. I have even started to notice that some times when I'm standing up for a period of time my heart rate remains over 100 even though other times it has returned to normal. Since then I have had a few panic attacks and developed anxiety over this. My issue is that even though I have been told and reassured from my Dr that every thing is fine with my heart, to me it still fells like something is wrong especially when I notice my heart rate doing weird things and or feeling the physical symptoms as I have mentioned earlier. I've tried hard to believe what the Drs tell me but I still can't shake the feeling or thoughts that there is something wrong. This is starting to control my life as all I do is worry about it. Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

_bookworm_ Overwhelmed
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I don’t know if this will help but I feel like I need to get this off my chest.. I am in my 20s and I feel overwhelmed and anxious all the time, I don’t know what to do. I have talked to a professional a couple of years ago after a panic... View more

Hi everyone, I don’t know if this will help but I feel like I need to get this off my chest.. I am in my 20s and I feel overwhelmed and anxious all the time, I don’t know what to do. I have talked to a professional a couple of years ago after a panic attack (never had one before) but her advice was not helpful and it’s just getting worse. I have been feeling ill lately, I’ve seen my GP about it and she did a heap of test that came back ‘unremarkable’. It’s been 2 or 3 months and she is out of tests to run on me so I keep feeling sick. I am wondering if it is my anxiety that’s causing the issues and if it is I feel like there is no hope of getting better. On top of that I feel undervalued and not challenged at work but I am too worried to talk to my manager. I struggle falling asleep every night and wake up a lot too. I have chronic headaches that have been more like migraines lately. I feel tired and unmotivated and things that I used to like don’t seem enjoyable anymore. I thought about going to my GP to get a mental health care plan but I am so worried about the cost involved with all of that and also don’t believe it would help anyway. I get too emotional most of the time and feel like I’m either really happy or really sad. I don’t like to leave my house alone so I never do anything when my fiancé is at work, I don’t have any friends and I don’t talk to my family as much as I should but I have nothing to talk about so I don’t want to bother them. I don’t know what to do and I feel like I’m venting too much.

TimO Aniexty
  • replies: 7

Hi, 8 yrs ago I had anxiety like I have now, I have some stress in my life with family issues and house moving plus work pressures but my main problem is when I go to bed I’m scared I won’t sleep because I’m so anxious of not sleep and tossand turn a... View more

Hi, 8 yrs ago I had anxiety like I have now, I have some stress in my life with family issues and house moving plus work pressures but my main problem is when I go to bed I’m scared I won’t sleep because I’m so anxious of not sleep and tossand turn all nite, today I went to GP and start some meds tonite and will be starting a mental health plan this Wednesday, was just wanting to hear from others for support and any advice you can share, thks

Guest_60524517 I have a problem with lieing to the ones closes to me about the most smallest of things I'm hurting
  • replies: 2

I keep lieing about the most dumbest things and I'm at point now we're the one person I've hurt alot with my lies doesn't trust me anymore what do I do

I keep lieing about the most dumbest things and I'm at point now we're the one person I've hurt alot with my lies doesn't trust me anymore what do I do

Ukrose Anxiety everyday
  • replies: 4

I have been suffering anxiety and panic attacks for many years, but in the last 6 months things are just unbearable. I wake everyday with crippling anxiety, my mornings are virtually a right off. I'm seeking help but feel so alone

I have been suffering anxiety and panic attacks for many years, but in the last 6 months things are just unbearable. I wake everyday with crippling anxiety, my mornings are virtually a right off. I'm seeking help but feel so alone

LostSoul Feeling Lost and Overwhelmed
  • replies: 2

Hi EveryoneI have suffered from anxiety and depression since I was a kid, I am now in my mid 30's and I just find myself feeling more lost and overwhelmed, as each day passes, by everything and everyone.Nothing seems to get easier, only harder!My mot... View more

Hi EveryoneI have suffered from anxiety and depression since I was a kid, I am now in my mid 30's and I just find myself feeling more lost and overwhelmed, as each day passes, by everything and everyone.Nothing seems to get easier, only harder!My mother is a narcissist, my partner of 10 years is possibly bi-polar (I say possibly because I was told he was diagnosed before I met him but went off his medication because he didn't think he needed it) and I dare not bring it up with him, and I work with someone on a daily basis who is a worker like me but seems to think it is their duty to micro manage me because they can't cope unless everything is the way they want (ocd!)I constantly feel like I am fighting a losing battle with everything, feeling like I am standing there just digging the biggest hole underneath myself and soon it's going to be too big for me to get out of. I feel as though I'm constantly being watched and scrutinized, as though I'm not allowed to have a voice, or if I make a choice, it's wrong. Is there anyone else out there who has similar issues? or who feels like this? How do you cope / get through each day?Best wishesLost Soul

Ukrose I'm back again, with my horrible anxiety friend
  • replies: 1

Hello everyone, I can't believe it's been 6 years since I last posted here! In that time we have all been through a pandemic which challenged us all, and I have lost my my beautiful brother to cancer. My anxiety/ panic attacks settled down for awhile... View more

Hello everyone, I can't believe it's been 6 years since I last posted here! In that time we have all been through a pandemic which challenged us all, and I have lost my my beautiful brother to cancer. My anxiety/ panic attacks settled down for awhile and I actually felt like I got my life back. But, here we go again and this time I cannot cope, its relentless, not so much panic ( which is a blessing) but anxiety each and everyday! I hate the morning's, I wake after only managing 4 hours of sleep with anxiety, racing heart, palpitations, shakes, sick to the stomach and there really is no reason why. I miss my brother terribly, we spoke everyday and as he was a sufferer too he got me, now he is gone I have a loving family but I just want to wake up and be happy with what the day will bring. Im seeing my doctor regularly and a psychologist and come away from the appointments feeling positive but then another day starts and so does the anxiety. My doctor has changed my medication to a new one and it's only been 7 days on, I know they take time to work and I'm probably expecting a miracle. But this time around I can't see light at the end if the end of the tunnel. I have a 21 year old son who is suffering terribly with OCD and other issues, he misses his uncle badly too. Im trying to stay strong for him, but feel I'm falling apart.

pinkflower95 Overwhelmed ... studying after a while and dealing with life ...aaahhhhh!!!!
  • replies: 5

My therapist has recommended I undertake study in a course that more suits 'me' in order to help me find what I enjoy, find my 'dream job'' (if that even exists?!) and 'make me come alive' ... in hopes to also bring me out of a depressive state and h... View more

My therapist has recommended I undertake study in a course that more suits 'me' in order to help me find what I enjoy, find my 'dream job'' (if that even exists?!) and 'make me come alive' ... in hopes to also bring me out of a depressive state and hopefully my quarter life crisis. The course I have chosen and enrolled into is a Diploma of Design (which gives me the option to study subjects in Graphic Design, Fashion, Interior and Game Design) my passion (I think) is Graphic, Fashion and maybe Interior, however I am one of those indecisive people and can never seem to pick something and I like to have variety (even in my job too), so hence why this course appealed to me. The things I am struggling with is self doubt, pessimism, lack of confidence and feeling like I am wasting my time with studying this course as it is in industry that doesn't have a lot of stability, which is something I have always wanted so hence why I chose another path when finishing school. I know my parents have steered me away from this area as 'where would that lead??', ''whats wrong with where you work now?'' ''why can't you just be happy so that way people can see that you are happy in life and approach you to date'', ''change your attitude'', ''be grateful'' ,''pray about it - what does God say?'' etc. I am feeling overwhelmed as I haven't studied since 2017 and also a brief attempt at uni which I pulled out of early on due to, well similar reasons and finding it too hard (Diploma of Business. I work in Admin & Customer Service for the past 10+ years), so this time I feel more pressure to make this work and I want to push through my mindset issues and see if this might lead somewhere. I have fallen rusty on time management skills in the last few years also and can't even keep my room clean like I used to, get up early enough to style my hair and put on makeup. This is due to my bad habit of being on my phone too much, I could achieve so much if I wasn't on my damn phone!! however I also use it to set reminders, timers,etc to help me stay organised too it is a double edged sword.I also find myself getting distracted easily and am not a fan of reading, I never was in school either. When I read and I lose focus and forget what I was reading, my eyes dry up and/ or I fall asleep, so that is another worry I have as well. Trying to stay disciplined and positive to persevere through it all! My course to due to start in a month and its online and I am getting increasingly overwhelmed and feel like I want to tap out, but I don't know how to push through. Breathing techniques I haven't found to be helpful, they seem to make my thoughts louder and I feel like it is all too much. Almost like I need to get everything right before I can proceed to the next task. I find myself asking what is wrong with me? Why can't I do even a simple task??