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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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markrob0 Workers Compensation for anxiety
  • replies: 11

I was wondering if anyone else is going through Worker's Comp for anxiety/work related stress. My lawyer accepted me on a no win no fee & told me that I have high success rate. I do security. I had problems with a co-worker. This co worker went balli... View more

I was wondering if anyone else is going through Worker's Comp for anxiety/work related stress. My lawyer accepted me on a no win no fee & told me that I have high success rate. I do security. I had problems with a co-worker. This co worker went ballistic on me over nothing. He was emotionally unstable. He is a Filipino, my wife is a Filipina. As I was walking away from him through the middle of the car park & for all people to hear him as he called me a racist. That arvo, my roster changed & was told that we have to share our rosters. Why should I lose hours? I was doing my best to keep my head down but once they changed the roster, it peeved me off. The next day the client of the site decided he didn't want this co-worker & he was removed. My roster went back to normal. I was told that I wouldn't have to work with him again. Less than a week, he's back. 2nd day, first thing in the morning, he came up to me, put his finger in my face & said 'you are a racist even you have a Filipina wife.' I was fuming that my company allowed this to happen - where was the duty of care? I contacted Operations, I was so pissed off I told Ops I'm leaving site under duress to prevent further baiting & provoking. Prior to me working there, two guys had a fight onsite for similar reasons & both lost their jobs. Apparently one was defending himself. What if this guy attacked me & I defended myself? I'd most likely lose my licenses no matter the outcome. ALL OF THIS ON PAPERTRAIL AND A LETTER THAT I WROTE TO THE COMPANY. I went for a meeting the following Tuesday & was under investigation to be told that I will receive a First and Final written warning & will be placed back on a permanent on call basis, which is what I was did for 3 years prior. I FOUND 18 BREACHES IN MY CONTRACT. In Mundaring we were placed in the bush, next to the dam to watch a boat. I wasn't shown a toilet. There was no phone reception & no welfare checks. It was winter then & was 2 degrees. 2 days later I found out that they were expecting me to use an outdoor toilet. I MADE COMPLAINTS BY BOTH EMAIL AND PHONE BUT NOTHING WAS FOLLOWED UP - PAPERTRAIL EVIDENCE. Another site I was removed for complaining about a supervisor who ignored me, and guess what? It was the same manager who gave me the First and Final written warning. I HAVE ON PAPERTRAIL SHOWING THAT SHE IS REMOVING ME FROM SITE BUT NOT BASED ON MY WORK ETHICS. Can any experienced person give some advise of the process? Cheers.

Relay_for_life Can anxiety and depression change who you are ?
  • replies: 2

I have been on this road of anxiety and depression for three years now , with three relapses due to medication change or lowering the dose , the last year I was following up with a phsychtrist who is managing medication and talk therapy weekly . I am... View more

I have been on this road of anxiety and depression for three years now , with three relapses due to medication change or lowering the dose , the last year I was following up with a phsychtrist who is managing medication and talk therapy weekly . I am coping well , working , handling my family , dealing with some friends , depending more on my mind and positive thinking skills to manage my life situation . Proud of the skills I have learnt to deal with life . But I still miss my bubbly , very social , very caring , very outgoing , confident , fearful, popular personality ( I use to love allll people , saying yes to help all peoole, having this idealistic ideas and expectations from my self, I use to be what you call people person ) . It is like I have changed ,I am not that person anymore. I now think million time before agreeing to any commitment, I lost that spontaneous vibe in my old self . I can’t feel very excited or very happy about events , like Christmas or Easter celebration. I use to live life to the max . Now I feel I have a very neutral attitude towards everything, I do not get very sad or very happy . Is that normal ? Can anxiety and depression change you ? Do you have to get used to your new self and accept it fully ? . I am not saying I am depressed or sad . I am existing and living and coping , just wondering if I would ever be back to my old me. Thx

Nodisplaynamesleft Letting it out
  • replies: 6

So finally after reading on here for so long I am finally going to post. I am so over getting caught out by daily triggers. My anxiety starts to come between my partner and myself because he doesn't understand and I can't just make it all go away. Iv... View more

So finally after reading on here for so long I am finally going to post. I am so over getting caught out by daily triggers. My anxiety starts to come between my partner and myself because he doesn't understand and I can't just make it all go away. Ive seen numerous psychologists and everything they say makes sense but when the anxiety comes calling it all becomes words. Normal day to day things for most people send cold chills through my body and my heart racing. Ive tried grounding exercises, I've even tried pain. (Nothing over the top, just pinching myself or a finger nail digging in) Just to bring me back to present. Sometimes it works quickly sometimes only temporarily. No one around me gets it. I don't know how to explain to my partner how I'm feeling. He used to be empathetic and I started getting anxious less but I think he thought it would all go away. Of course it hasn't so he doesn't know how to fix me and gets frustrated and short....which of course makes me feel worse. How do I explain to a 'black and white' man that I'm in a very 'grey' zone. Im so lost and alone.

Mumworrier Anxiety over the health of others
  • replies: 2

Hello, i have been struggling this last few months with anxiety. It seems to be directed in particular to my children and especially my 10 year old son. He is a wonderful, happy, healthy boy but he has a peanut allergy and I feel I am getting more an... View more

Hello, i have been struggling this last few months with anxiety. It seems to be directed in particular to my children and especially my 10 year old son. He is a wonderful, happy, healthy boy but he has a peanut allergy and I feel I am getting more and more paranoid about it. It isn’t just the allergy though I will avoid taking them into large crowds or always be checking they have washed their hands etc. because I am nervous about them getting sick. Just tonight he had a little cough before he got out of the pool and although I know it’s far fetched and unlikely I started googling ‘dry or secondary drowning’ and now I am in his room listening to him sleep. Sounds terrible as I even write that. It’s exhausting.

Leewee Health Anxiety
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone; I am new to this site, even though I've heard about it for years. I guess I've gotten to that point where I need to try everything. I am 21 and have been suffering from health anxiety for at least 5 years. I have been seeing a psychologi... View more

Hi everyone; I am new to this site, even though I've heard about it for years. I guess I've gotten to that point where I need to try everything. I am 21 and have been suffering from health anxiety for at least 5 years. I have been seeing a psychologist for 4 or those years and I do not believe I have made any improvements. If anything it has gotten worse. When I am busy with university I have minor symptoms, however; when I'm on break (like now) I suffer from severe anxiety, which impacts on my social and work life. This constant fear has left me feeling depressed like life is never going to get better. When I experience somatic symptoms I am able to logically understand how they can be symptoms of a mild disorder (eg. Allergies, anxiety, hunger). However; the stronger part of me tells me that the pain behind my eye, muscle twitches and tiredness is something more serious like multiple sclerosis. I have made an appointment to see my GP about getting an MRI scan but I know I will not be satisfied with the answer either way.. I will either have the disease, or not trust the doctors judgement. I am aware that I am suffering from health anxiety and that my worries are illogical.. however I am unable to escape the worries and depression that follows. Any advice would be greatly appreciated xx

Tylers Chronic Illness and Anxiety
  • replies: 6

I have a chronic illness that affects my autonomic system and since my anxiety has gotten worse recently, I started getting anxiety about it stopping my breathing or my heart because they are controlled by the autonomic system. I was just just wonder... View more

I have a chronic illness that affects my autonomic system and since my anxiety has gotten worse recently, I started getting anxiety about it stopping my breathing or my heart because they are controlled by the autonomic system. I was just just wondering if there was anyone here with disautonomia and anxiety that has experienced this.

Bethie Looking after a family and anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hi Atm my anxiety is acting up. Yes I am medicated dual antianxiety/ant depressnts but even the high doses struggle somedays to work. No matter what I'm doing there's times when nothing is working. With a 14 year old son I get anxiety bad if he doesn... View more

Hi Atm my anxiety is acting up. Yes I am medicated dual antianxiety/ant depressnts but even the high doses struggle somedays to work. No matter what I'm doing there's times when nothing is working. With a 14 year old son I get anxiety bad if he doesn't check in every few hours and start freaking out. Probably due to what happened with my husband last year. Question is where do I draw the line? I want him to have a normal life and not be smothered by me. I know it does him no good to see me constantly breaking down crying. He gets so angry with me and his Dad if we say no you can't go out riding with your mates at night. His bike is worth even 2nd hand $1300 and signed by alot of famous BMX stars. Sure in theory he can take care of himself. Martial arts on state level in 4 different disciplines and 2nd year Army Cadets. But all my knowledge externally does not help my emotions. I can't loose him like I did his Dad with a accident that means he wount know us. When he's on base his CO sms me a few times a day because she knows the family situation but when he's out with his mates well it's different. Her he carries a mobile but either turns it of or has no charge.

EJG Severe anxiety
  • replies: 26

Just thought I'd reach out here to some like minded people. My anxiety hits peak point when I'm about to commit myself to a decision and even after until the event has passed. It sits as a black pit in the core of my body and won't shift. The only op... View more

Just thought I'd reach out here to some like minded people. My anxiety hits peak point when I'm about to commit myself to a decision and even after until the event has passed. It sits as a black pit in the core of my body and won't shift. The only option feels like backing out of my commitment. Any ideas?

Justanothermum Admitting Something Is Wrong.
  • replies: 15

Not sure where to start and not even sure why im posting or if anyone will see.. Im a mother of 3 children. Ive suffered on and off for about 3 years with anxiety (social and health) but ive alaways managed it myself. But last week something happened... View more

Not sure where to start and not even sure why im posting or if anyone will see.. Im a mother of 3 children. Ive suffered on and off for about 3 years with anxiety (social and health) but ive alaways managed it myself. But last week something happened and i started googling symptoms which i wish i never had now and went downwards fast! I was convinced that something bad is going to happen to me and ill need some sort of major surgery. Now i just cant get out of this down mood im in. Ive never been this bad. Everymorning i wake up in a panic attack and all day im down. I just dont see this getting better and im not sure i could live a whole life everyday like this! I have booked in to see a gp tommorow as i cant live like this. but ive just moved to a new area and will be the first time seeing a dr. So im not sure what to say and im not even really sure how seeing a gp is going to help me. Im really struggling to see how this can get better and how will i cope everyday like this. Any advice on seeing a gp doctor especially one who ive never met before?

RuGray I NEED ADVICE!!!! PLZ HELP!
  • replies: 1

My partner is going away for a week and I will be alone in the house. This scares me because without anyone to normalise my day I am afraid I will begin using unhelpful coping mechanisms in order to drive the bad thoughts away such as drinking, smoki... View more

My partner is going away for a week and I will be alone in the house. This scares me because without anyone to normalise my day I am afraid I will begin using unhelpful coping mechanisms in order to drive the bad thoughts away such as drinking, smoking, binge eating etc. I have no set routine at the moment as i am still on Holidays. I have some friends close by but I don't even feel like seeing anyone right now and I'm not sure I feel comfortable reaching out to them in this way. Can anyone suggest any tools or coping mechanisms to get me through the next week? Thanks in advance