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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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Don79 Health anxiety
  • replies: 3

About 10 years ago I had an issue where I was up in the middle of the night and I felt sort of like an electrical impulse shoot through my head. I immediately thought I was dying and that then set off my thoughts and anxiety around dying. Probably fo... View more

About 10 years ago I had an issue where I was up in the middle of the night and I felt sort of like an electrical impulse shoot through my head. I immediately thought I was dying and that then set off my thoughts and anxiety around dying. Probably for the next seven or so years I visited numerous doctors and emergency departments thinking I was dying, with no results identified. After nil issues identified over this period of time I eventually just gave up and put it down to anxiety. They put me on anxiety medication but that is not really working that well anymore, and deep down I am constantly questioning myself and convincing myself that I am dying. Each time I will become focused on a particular body part and then my mind will convince me that I am dying from issues with that. At present my whole body is sore, especially my kidney, so I am constantly thinking that some form of cancer has spread to my kidney. I feel like even if I am not dying from a disease, anxiety is killing me. The big issue is that my weight has now ballooned out of control and now I have a pregnant wife and a little boy who both mean the world to me. I want to be around to look after my family and play with my kids, but just feel like it is all a lost cause because I may be dying anyway. I just don't know what to do anymore.

ruby8 Gallbladder removal and panic
  • replies: 3

Good evening , I have suffered panic attacks for 30 yrs or so and managed to keep them under control for many years until recently, 6 months ago I started having Gallbladder issues and noticed my panics starting get Major and symptoms I hadnt had bef... View more

Good evening , I have suffered panic attacks for 30 yrs or so and managed to keep them under control for many years until recently, 6 months ago I started having Gallbladder issues and noticed my panics starting get Major and symptoms I hadnt had before , light headed , hot and cold chills etc , to the point of ambulances etc , GB was taken out last monday ( before christmas ) , yes I did expected some pain but tonight after eating light bland meals due to op and letting things settle , but the pain tonight set of another major one , I have never had panic from things like back pain etc , so is the pain actually causeing the panics to occur ? I know i will need time to heal physically , but was surprised by this major one as after gb was taken out I was panic free for 4-5 days , I have worked out over the last 6 months the GB attack pain was causing them so I am presumeing the after pain is also causeing the panics , Thank you

Patsy_Ann Not sure how to express feelings
  • replies: 9

Hi, I've never written on here before and not sure about the whole thing of expressing my feelings. I have suffered with anxiety/depression not quite sure which for a few years. Ive always been a worrier but lately it's getting a lot worse. I'm awake... View more

Hi, I've never written on here before and not sure about the whole thing of expressing my feelings. I have suffered with anxiety/depression not quite sure which for a few years. Ive always been a worrier but lately it's getting a lot worse. I'm awake most of the night and things always seem a lot worse. Lately I can't be bothered doing the house work, can't make a decision about what to cook. I go to the shops and don't know what food to buy. Then at the end of the day I feel guilty because I have not done the things I should of. There are other issues going on but I don't feel comfortable enough yet to talk about them yet. regards

Bobina Health anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, This is my first time posting on here – although I’ve been reading this forum for a little while now. I’m just wondering if anyone out there suffers from health anxiety? This year has been pretty stressful with what feels like one thing ... View more

Hi everyone, This is my first time posting on here – although I’ve been reading this forum for a little while now. I’m just wondering if anyone out there suffers from health anxiety? This year has been pretty stressful with what feels like one thing after another. I feel like I started off the year feeling strong but all the things that have happened this year have slowly worn me down to the point where now I feel like I’m overwhelmed and not coping. This is when my health anxiety kicks in. As I slowly become worn out the physical symptoms of stress become really apparent to me and I start worrying that I have this or that illness. And the thing is I’m not the kind of person to go to the doctor very often – usually because of the fear that the doctor really will find something wrong with me. Although I have been to the doctor recently, I was meant to go do a blood test and am yet to do it – the anxiety is just too great at the moment to face having a blood test done. Anyway, so now I’m at point where I’m obsessing about my health daily. In my mind a pain here or a twinge there is a sign that there’s something seriously wrong depending on which disease or illness I’m latched onto at that moment – could be heart disease, stomach ulcer, appendicitis, cancer, you name it. I’m not quite sure how to overcome this right now as I feel like I’m in the thick of it and I’m struggling to remain positive and it’s making me feel depressed and extremely anxious (sometimes to the point of panic attacks). It’s also affecting my relationships. Is there anyone else out there like me?

MyProfile Anyone dealing with ergophobia?
  • replies: 7

Hi, I have ergophobia. I'm scared of the work environment. It stems from social anxiety, I guess a bit of performance anxiety too. I really want hope to overcome this. I've struggled to work and study since I was a teenager (31 years old now). My hus... View more

Hi, I have ergophobia. I'm scared of the work environment. It stems from social anxiety, I guess a bit of performance anxiety too. I really want hope to overcome this. I've struggled to work and study since I was a teenager (31 years old now). My husband is not coping with life, and I want to be able to work to contribute not necessarily financially, but just as a member of our team, if that makes sense? I don't expect to earn much as I have little skill, so whatever I contribute would be more a show that I'm willing to try to do the hard stuff for our relationship, for him. I've been scouring job sites, but every job needs experience and references. My experience is very varied, but it doesn't look good on my resume to see me jumping from job to job, with huge gaps in between when I've had mental breakdowns. Any ideas on how to navigate that? Honestly, as soon as I think I will apply for a job, I completely freak out, I get the whole flight or fight response. I'm panicking just thinking about it now! I get therapy and have done in the past, but nothing has helped. I haven't worked for 9 months. I feel like such a loser and I am so ashamed. I feel guilty for being such a burden. It would be nice to hear from others who actually understand this, or who experience it themselves.

Kan12 Recent anxiety - Advice please :)
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, In the last couple of months I have had 2 anxiety attacks. 1 very severe and the 2nd one not as bad. Dr says its "situational anxiety". I don't cope well with conflict/drama. I never think it's the other person I always try to "fix" myse... View more

Hi everyone, In the last couple of months I have had 2 anxiety attacks. 1 very severe and the 2nd one not as bad. Dr says its "situational anxiety". I don't cope well with conflict/drama. I never think it's the other person I always try to "fix" myself to make things better. The Dr put me on medication, I now have to wean myself off and if I'm finding I'm needing it again she will put me on something long term. The crazy thing is, she asked me to wean off by having 1 tablet, none for a day, tablet next day, wait 2 days, then have a tablet, wait 3 days, have a tablet etc. Im finding I feel great off the tablet but when I have it, as a once off I feel shaky again. Is this common? Any advice or experience will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

GD19 Anxiety, depression, CFS - time to share
  • replies: 3

Hello Today I thought I would make the first step to talking about my pain. Some 20 years ago (i'm 53) I got ross river fever and then suffered from chronic fatigue for a couple years. After that, a new marriage, fantastic wife, good job, etc. I have... View more

Hello Today I thought I would make the first step to talking about my pain. Some 20 years ago (i'm 53) I got ross river fever and then suffered from chronic fatigue for a couple years. After that, a new marriage, fantastic wife, good job, etc. I have suffered bouts of depression since then but seemed to manage or keep it under control. Life was good. So I thought. Then about 4 months ago I suffered my first ever severe panic anxiety attack brought on by work pressure. Being a fit person prior, it was one of the worst things I have experienced. My wife called the ambulance and guess what no physical issues. I laid in bed for 3 days thinking I was going to die. For two weeks I just slept, wept, and slept. My doctor encouraged me to see a physiologist and I have been about 10 times. He has been great. Solved my work issue/pressures and I was travelling okay. Then, I started getting mood swings, the sweats, and now my depression has returned. I sleep all weekend just to recharge for Monday workday. You know its tiring just to sleep that much. Having worked with my physiologist I think I now realize that I maybe riddled with guilt about my divorce and the affect on my son. He's 26 and now lives with us. It's like looking at a mirror with his mood swings, own depression and when he's down or angry I have an anxiety attack. I just want to fix it all for him but know I can't. This make me feel helpless or useless. He came to live with us in April so we could give him a chance to get his life together. What more can I do...I want to pay his debts but my wife says that is not helping him. Everyone is doing their best to help me, I know that but it just feels like the pit is to high to climb out of. How do you step away from your child and let them fail..knowing you may have contributed to where they are now. My biggest fear is I will get chronic fatigue again as I know what it does to you. Only my family and very close friends know what I am going through..noone at work due to my position. Anxiety is horrible... GD

Jadessy Anxiety and physical health.
  • replies: 3

I’ve had anxiety for like over two years now and it was awful at the start now I just feel it’s getting worse. I was doing ok for about 8 months I even got a job and finally got my daughter back from dhs. During all this time I’ve had pains in my sto... View more

I’ve had anxiety for like over two years now and it was awful at the start now I just feel it’s getting worse. I was doing ok for about 8 months I even got a job and finally got my daughter back from dhs. During all this time I’ve had pains in my stomach and pains in my neck and just heavy headness and so dizzy and nauseous and I get headaches all the time, does anyone else have this? Does the pains in your body make you feel anxious? I feel like I’m losing my mind my anxiety is just through the roof. The dr has said I should take antidepressants to calm down and my body will calm down also but I just had such a bad experience with anti depressants last year that it’s put me off

Sarah_the_Sardine Anxiety and nausea caused by attraction to a person
  • replies: 4

Hello everybody. I wasn't sure where to put this exactly because there are a few forums to choose from but i guess i'm doing it here now. I am a fifteen year old girl and until a couple of months ago i had never really had anxiety. I had some issues ... View more

Hello everybody. I wasn't sure where to put this exactly because there are a few forums to choose from but i guess i'm doing it here now. I am a fifteen year old girl and until a couple of months ago i had never really had anxiety. I had some issues with socialising that would really upset me from time to time but nothing as intense as this. But to explain, 2 months ago i began having intense anxiety mainly triggered by my feelings for a close friend of mine. I had had feelings for this friend for around a two years by this point. There was no warning. She (yes she's a girl -my family is accepting of same-sex relationships) had done nothing wrong. One day I just woke up and the thought of her made me extremely panicked and for the first week that i developed this, i had to stay home from school. This was because I would throw up every meal quite violently, even to the point of throwing up blood. After a while i was able to gain some control over it, however it still causes me to avoid my friend. If she touches me at all i feel anxious. If she says or does anything that can be perceived as intimate I feel anxious. The thought of having a conversation with her makes me anxious. What more, its starting to bleed into other areas of my life. I'm beginning to become anxious about things that would never usually worry me. For example, this last school term was a little difficult for me, because i started getting nauseous at the thought of standing in front of the class or putting my hand up even though that has never concerned me to this extent before. Some days i didn't even want to go to school because i would wake up with intense anxiety. I don't completely know why this started. Honestly, I'm frustrated at myself for being so irrational. I'm around this person for a lot of my time at school and I desperately want to stay friends with her, and if possible get closer to her romantically. But this anxiety is making me feel really awkward and afraid of her as well as my feelings. I'm not sure how to cope with this and still maintain my friendship. Any ideas would be appreciated.

katie0623 Looking for some help
  • replies: 2

I am new to these forums so hello! I've suffered from anxiety as long as I can remember which a few months ago caused me some depression which I think I am over now. I am on medication and have been to a psychologist which didn't help. I find myself ... View more

I am new to these forums so hello! I've suffered from anxiety as long as I can remember which a few months ago caused me some depression which I think I am over now. I am on medication and have been to a psychologist which didn't help. I find myself going over the same worries all the time and it's really starting to get to me. I am definitely and extravert and a perfectionist and at the moment I just feel so lonely and friendless despite being told I have lots of friends. I also feel like a big failure and like I'm not doing anything with my life despite going to university. There is so much I want to do and be but I'm just too scared. I really want to travel but can't really find a friend to go with which makes me feel friendless. I want to start hobbies but I'm really scared of being the outsider. I work nights so in the day I'm all by myself. I used to be so happy and excited about the future and everything really, more and more I am not liking my life and who I am because of my worries and anxiety. Any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks