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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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Christy222 Scared of not getting better!
  • replies: 4

Hi guys x I know this sounds negative but does anyone else feel that the anxiety and panic will never go away ? I just recommenced my medication. I do feel better but am worried the panic will keep returning Is anyone on meds that really work for anx... View more

Hi guys x I know this sounds negative but does anyone else feel that the anxiety and panic will never go away ? I just recommenced my medication. I do feel better but am worried the panic will keep returning Is anyone on meds that really work for anxiety straight away ? I get so scared of the morning when my anxiety is overwhelming is anyone else's like this ? Love to all xx

YarrBee Confident but can't speak, Selective Mutism
  • replies: 4

Does/has anyone else experience/d this? I can speak in some situations but not others. In after school activities I couldn't speak to anyone. At school I couldn't speak in classes I didn't already have friends in. Now I'm at university and was determ... View more

Does/has anyone else experience/d this? I can speak in some situations but not others. In after school activities I couldn't speak to anyone. At school I couldn't speak in classes I didn't already have friends in. Now I'm at university and was determined to start speaking so I could let out my personality and make new friends. But I quickly went back into my shell and soon everyone expected me not to speak. I don't understand why this happens. I am very confident in myself. I think I'm an awesome person and I don't care if someone doesn't like me. So why can't I speak? I recently found out about selective mutism which really resonates with me, except for the part where you feel anxiety. I do feel anxiety if I get put on the spot but that's about it. Maybe I'm really out of touch with my feelings? I find whenever I try to tell someone what I'm experiencing, I start to cry and I can't let out a word. I've realised I don't like crying in front of people, I try hard to hold it in or hide. I want to tell my best friend, who I live with, and my family but I can't. My best friend is going through anxiety and depression but she's able to tell people. She told her friends at university (and not me until recently) and she writes things on social media. She said she's never been worried about me since I never seem to experience anxiety or depression, that I'm really happy. I genuinely am happy (but far less than I was before) and am comfortable being alone. But lately I've been sad as it's nearing the end of the year and I still haven't made friends at university. I'm good at hiding my feelings and I guess from myself as well. I need her to ask if I'm okay too because we're both going through something. Her bringing up what's going on in her life hasn't been enough to get me talking no matter how hard I try.

skum Crippling Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hey guys, I'm really lost and don't know what to do with my life. I dropped out at Grade 11 last year due to anxiety where I could barely leave the house eventually got placed into a psychiatric ward for 4 weeks (voluntarily btw, didn't help at all).... View more

Hey guys, I'm really lost and don't know what to do with my life. I dropped out at Grade 11 last year due to anxiety where I could barely leave the house eventually got placed into a psychiatric ward for 4 weeks (voluntarily btw, didn't help at all). I enrolled this year, went 2 days and dropped out once again. I feel worthless, a 17 year old bumming off his mother going absolutely nowhere but 6 feet deep. I've been on SSRI's since I was 9, talked to dozens of psychiatrists and psychologists and nothing seems to help. Anyone else in a similar situation? I've completely isolated myself to where I think I am going crazy.

Bsrfitness Life crippling Anxiety (Looking for help)
  • replies: 4

Hey guys, my name is Bryce! Quick back story on my anxiety, smoked weed for 6 months when I was 17, had a panic attack, thought I was actually having a heart attack (Had a mutual friend die from heart issues in highschool so I was kind of thinking of... View more

Hey guys, my name is Bryce! Quick back story on my anxiety, smoked weed for 6 months when I was 17, had a panic attack, thought I was actually having a heart attack (Had a mutual friend die from heart issues in highschool so I was kind of thinking of it at the time). Skip ahead 9 years later and I still suffer from anxiety. I have 75% got over my anxiety (the minor things that used to trigger my anxiety) and now im left with the end boss.. the last thing holding me back from living my life. the problem is its the hardest one, the biggest one, so I decided to come into these forums to seek help, to help me take the necessary steps in order to not so much beat my anxiety, but not let my anxiety hold me back from this one life I have. So heres the situation I am in with my anxiety, when I first had anxiety, I thought I was having a heart attack (still think I am having a heart attack when I have a panic attack), at first I could not leave the house without doing exercise, and I could not leave the house at one point. Now, the only thing that will trigger a panic attack in my (keep in mind, its hard for me to have a panic attack now, but when I do have them, they are giant due to the circumstances), the only thing that can cause me to have a panic attack is staying awake to long or getting little sleep or both, I litterally look at the clock each morning and calculate how much sleep I got. if its less than 7 hours, than yeah it will be a rough day. I want to travel but I get nervous about getting no sleep (and most the time I dont get any sleep), so I end up having a panic attack and have my family travel to come get me, I feel so dependant on my family and I hate it (my family are amazing btw). But I cant live like this anymore. I've done research, and the way to get over anxiety is exposure to fear. So rationally I think, maybe I should stay awake in order to get used to having no sleep (everyone i've asked irl told me its a terrible idea, but I feel like I need to not be afraid of being sleep deprived and be able to travel and live a normal life even if I am)? the problem is the longer I stay awake the worse the anxiety gets and the easier it is for me to convince myself I could die of a heart attack due to lack of sleep... I want to really get help. I want to see the best psychologist in australia / retrain my brain, whatever it takes. im willing to fight for this, I just dont know where to start.. Any advice will be truly appreciate. Bryce

Shivers88 ADHD TESTING!
  • replies: 5

Hi guys, im not new here but I need to know something. ive been diagnosed with OCD, and GAD with depression (low lying) I have for year suffered from irritability, anger, impatience, agitation, wormy in my chair, impulsiveness, and no way I can handl... View more

Hi guys, im not new here but I need to know something. ive been diagnosed with OCD, and GAD with depression (low lying) I have for year suffered from irritability, anger, impatience, agitation, wormy in my chair, impulsiveness, and no way I can handle stress. I somehow think I may have Adult ADHD. My psyc has referred me to get testing done.. And I'm like... Thinking OMG I may be ADHD! Can an anyone explain the testing that is involved with ADULT ADHD? And what costs roughly are too? What at meds are like if you're prescribed any? I'm scared to go in meds as i hear it nakes OCD and anxiety worse?? Please help!!!!!

Gallifreyan How do you deal with the guilt on the days you can't function properly?
  • replies: 1

Hi this is my first time posting so I hope I'm doing it right! A bit of background, I've been suffering sever anxiety for four years now (I'm 33). I see a psychologist regularly and I know the cause of my anxiety, my Mum died of cancer when I was 19 ... View more

Hi this is my first time posting so I hope I'm doing it right! A bit of background, I've been suffering sever anxiety for four years now (I'm 33). I see a psychologist regularly and I know the cause of my anxiety, my Mum died of cancer when I was 19 and I cared for my Dad for three years until he died of leukemia when I was 29. I was also in a nasty accident just before he died which landed me in hospital. This has given me severe health anxiety, every little thing makes me think I have cancer or only a few months to live. Last year I finally got it under control, and didn't have panic attacks for almost a whole year. Bliss! That's all changed now. I work two different jobs that keep me busy seven days a week. I work very hard and I'm good at my jobs. Usually I never ever turn down work, but a couple of weeks ago one of my bosses started having a go at me, really undermining my self-confidence and implying that I was a disappointment and that I wasn't living up to expectation etc. This would be fine, if it was the case, but I genuinely believe I've given 110%, and also it wasn't just a reprimand, it was a real dig at me as a person. Since that happened two weeks ago I've hardly been in to either job. I've spiraled down into panic attacks and I've started having twitching muscles which has brought my health anxiety raging back and caused me to think I'm dying of some horrible disease. I can't sleep for the fear, and every little twitch makes me freak out and start crying. The clincher was when the phone rang today and it was my weekday job, probably asking if I was ok to come in today, and I freaked out so badly I couldn't even answer it. Now I'm wracked by guilt and imagining everyone hates me. I don't even know what to do now. I have a doctor's appointment next week that I'm terrified of going to, I HAVE to go back to work tomorrow because I need the money and I'm scared I'm going to have a breakdown while I'm there, I'm worried that my only remaining family member, my Uncle, thinks I've lost it, and I'm SO frustrated because I had this monster beaten and everything was going so well! So I guess my question, after that enormous rant, is does anyone else feel guilty when they can't do the things they need to do, and if so, how do you deal? I feel like such a useless, total wreck of a human being and it's driving me nuts!

DBoo I'm still not better - 18 months later.
  • replies: 4

I had what I can only describe as a breakdown 18 months ago. It was work related on a number of levels: bullying, assault, and general disfunction and incompetence from higher management. I worked hard to get back to myself - medication, psychologica... View more

I had what I can only describe as a breakdown 18 months ago. It was work related on a number of levels: bullying, assault, and general disfunction and incompetence from higher management. I worked hard to get back to myself - medication, psychological, and psychiatric help. I started a new job 6 months ago, and while I like the work, the people, and have achieved a high level of competence, I find myself stressed to the point of tears every few weeks. The most difficult part of this is feeling as though I have not come as far as I thought. I guess I feel like I am permanently maimed. Like I won't ever be fully ok. I'm having anxiety now over "ruining my reputation " at my new job. I feel conspicuous, and like I am the problem child.

Guest_843 Overthinking - Heres my current situation
  • replies: 18

Hi there, This is a bit ridiculous but its casing me so much stress Heres a backstory, So back in year 3 this girl lets call her A, A used to apparently talk about me behind my back, didn't think much of it and since then we have been in classes toge... View more

Hi there, This is a bit ridiculous but its casing me so much stress Heres a backstory, So back in year 3 this girl lets call her A, A used to apparently talk about me behind my back, didn't think much of it and since then we have been in classes together, partners in cooking and she sits with my group of friends at recess currently. In June 2016 she unfollowed me on Instagram (wow yes I know thats ridiculous), anyway since then I've always been second guessing stuff she does like if i walk past her and i hear her laugh I always think its about me and stuff like that. One time I thought she was laughing about me when i walked past but I found out later she actually wasn't laughing about me, she mentioned the situation to a group of people my sister was sitting with and my sister realised it wasn't about me and said to A (oh My sister (me) thought you were laughing at her ) which A was not laughing at me. That was the only time 2 years ago that she found out I sometimes question if she's talking about me or not. Anyway I haven't questioned anything she's done since the end of last year, until Saturday. I was scrolling through facebook and A had commented on one of those funny posts tagging one of her friends in it. The post said: When someone you hate is breathing Immediately I think this is about me and when someone you hates breaths what does that even mean you want them to stop breathing? and what die ? (i don't know thats a bit of a stretch) oops anyway As friend that was tagged in the when someone you hate breaths post mentioned something about her brother which made me think that maybe A, tagged her friend in that because her friend has experienced something like that before like because As friend mentioned her brother. the post was not posted by A she must of just found them and thought they were relatable to her and her friend so she tagged her friend in it and the post was posted last year i just found it last week. My sister says its absolutely not about me and that A wouldn't even think of me or I wouldn't even come to her mind or her friends mind when she tagged her friend in this post or any for that matter All the posts A has ever liked, tagged people have never raised any concern just this one But i can't shake the feeling that this isabout me, Its like an elephant is sitting on my chest. Its almost like i know but I also don't. Do you think its just the anxiety talking? Sorry this is so long I wanted to get it all out

team_nobody Anxiety about University
  • replies: 1

I just started a visual Arts Degree at a local university. Its only week three and I am lost and have no Idea what I should be up to. I have asked other students but they dont offer much insight. I feel bad for constantly emailing the lecturer who wo... View more

I just started a visual Arts Degree at a local university. Its only week three and I am lost and have no Idea what I should be up to. I have asked other students but they dont offer much insight. I feel bad for constantly emailing the lecturer who would probably be disappointed to know how lost I am and unmotivated, I barely hear a word she says. All I want to do is smoke weed and stay in my bed. I dont want to do any of this work even if it can be fun. I feel like I dont care anymore but if I quit the depression will get worse, life will get worse. I went back because people believe in me as an artist and to try and find my way in life. I dont feel like I have any other options; Im not really good at anything else cant even hold down a shitty job. The worst part is that I am sick, I have PMDD. I have my period every second week and the migraines are back. Half the time I am too tired to get out of bed and am having emotional outbursts like never before. I feel like I am totally out of control. Everyone keeps saying dont quit you can do this..but I cant. I am on the mini pill but its not doing anything and will get back to the GP when I can be bothered having another lecture. I dumped my boyfriend last weekend because he went a bit cold on me. I cant stand the idea of being abandoned so I run. I know I am not good enough for him, thats why he is so interested in every other girl he will end up leaving me in the end. Now I have two days to get 2 weeks of course work back on track, I am looking at third year students and the amount of pressure and work on them and I know deep down I am not going to make it. Centrelink have only just started paying me Austudy, after not getting paid properly for 2 weeks. I feel like this is my last chance to get a degree I have tried and failed before. If I dont do this I have nothing in life. I am on the edge; feel purposeless and emotionally unsupported scared and confused. I am so lost with the course work and drained I am just sitting on my bed crying and dying to go back to sleep but there is so much noise outside I am tempted to self-harm. I am afraid I will let everyone down again and just want to disappear, I hate myself. They all expect too much and I am too tired to deliver anymore. Im not that good at art anyway, not good enough at anything.

Jesscia Anxiety
  • replies: 1

I’m 22 years old & currently suffering from anxiety & depression. it all started from when I was in a very toxic relationship, with lots of physical & mental abuse. during our relationship I found out my partner had been with another girl & had been ... View more

I’m 22 years old & currently suffering from anxiety & depression. it all started from when I was in a very toxic relationship, with lots of physical & mental abuse. during our relationship I found out my partner had been with another girl & had been lying about it for several months. In this moment of time, once I found out the truth, my heart absolutely broke & that’s when I first discovered anxiety. for me, my anxiety consist of constant heart povotations & having absolutely no control over it. this feeling was all very new for me & at the time, I forgave my partner because honestly I just wanted someone there to help me through what was happening, even though he was the cause. months & months past & he ended up leaving me for someone else. that’s when the real anxiety kicked in. the worst three months of my life. I couldn’t sleep, if I was able to fall asleep, I’d be awake by 2am. I would wake up with a pounding heart that wouldn’t stop racing, I would be so overwhelmed with feeling like this & having no control over it, that I would get depressed & emotional. I couldn’t go to work, I would drive there & sit in the car park, but couldn’t build up the courage to walk in. i felt crazy all the time, felt like I was loosing my mind, I didn’t know who I was anymore. Luckily I had a close friend who was there for me, even though I had depression & anxiety; & was down all the time, & wasn’t fun to be around at all; the feeling of having someone right there for me was a game changer, knowing that they were in the next room, that at any time I could speak up & talk about my feelings. I eventually worked out how my body would fall back asleep, by sleeping on the coach with the tv on & my cat sleeping beside me ( lame I know ), but it’s all about distracting the mind & using your senses. It was all about time, I did see a physiologist, but for me it didn’t work. Eventually my anxiety stopped & I didn’t have it for ages. then... years on, I started seeing someone new, & we’ve only been seeing eachother for three months, but I would over think & analyse everything. I started giving myself anxiety by thinking the worse. I guess there was always going to be that fear of not being good enough or not being loved that chewed at me. which brings me back to the way my ex made me feel & what I experienced back then. I’m currently suffering it again. Hopefully this time I can control it & learn to train my thoughts and mind so I stop myself from being anxious.

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