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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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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

Jellyjam Feeling AWFUL
  • replies: 16

Hi everyone, have been feeling absolutely rotten the last 6 days. I have had panic attacks/anxiety before but nothing that has lasted so long for me. It started so abruptly & the only symptom I have is this awful tight feeling in my throat that makes... View more

Hi everyone, have been feeling absolutely rotten the last 6 days. I have had panic attacks/anxiety before but nothing that has lasted so long for me. It started so abruptly & the only symptom I have is this awful tight feeling in my throat that makes me panic like it is going to close up on me. Rediculous I know I say to myself as I leave work early to go the ER feeling like my throat is closing. Im so ashamed of how I wasted the doctor's time. He said there was absolutely no blockage and everything looked great. Ugh... I am booking GP for mental health plan for a few sessions with a psychologist. I feel so awful has anyone else experienced this strange throat thing? Or is it just me

beach_lover Anxiety and throwing up- other ways to manage?
  • replies: 5

Hi there, I am new to this forum and have been struggling with anxiety for a long time alone. I have always found my own way to cope but find myself repeating mistakes or just avoiding and blocking things which are slowly catching up to me and making... View more

Hi there, I am new to this forum and have been struggling with anxiety for a long time alone. I have always found my own way to cope but find myself repeating mistakes or just avoiding and blocking things which are slowly catching up to me and making it worse. I know there are many symptoms associated with anxiety but I find that when I throw up it calms me down and goes away and I was wondering if anybody else has experienced something similar? I went through the same thing in high school 10 years ago- I would throw up to control my anxiety and make it stop but I had no appetite most days. I ended up losing a lot of weight to the point where my parents were in denial and my extended family thought I had an eating disorder. I am just worried this is happening/going to happen to me again as I had an episode about half an hour ago. I know the triggers are things in my personal life but I never have been on medication or seen or spoken to anyone about it and I really don't know if I feel comfortable to start now because I feel like they can't fix it so there isn't much point. Anyone with positive advice or whose been in a similar position- I would really appreciate hearing from you

Aree Struggling
  • replies: 27

I feel so locked in and very negative. I have short moments of reprieve but then this darkness and fear seems to take over. I have had feelings like this before but this time it just seems to be getting worse. I feel so lost but have a loving husband... View more

I feel so locked in and very negative. I have short moments of reprieve but then this darkness and fear seems to take over. I have had feelings like this before but this time it just seems to be getting worse. I feel so lost but have a loving husband and daughter to support me. So why can't I just get on top of this fear. I can see that my thoughts are irrational and not real but that does not take the anxiety away. I know if I go to this fearful situation in real time that nothing will happen but It doesn't stop the fear and anxiety. I feel bothered and panic stricken. My mind goes over and over again. I am constantly trying to resolve a problem which I can't really define. I want to b e strong but can't find any strength or positivity. It is though my mind is telling me that I don't deserve to find happiness. I don't think I am feeling sorry for myself as I have tried to think differently but there is a block and no direction. I am tired and despondent. It is good to let it out like this I don't know if it is a good thing to complain as I am.

sophia_jane Physical symptoms of anxiety
  • replies: 8

Hello everyone! I've been living with an anxiety/panic disorder since I was a child. I am now 21 years old and am finding it very manageable for the first time in a really long time. I feel emotionally well. However, within the past 6 months, I've be... View more

Hello everyone! I've been living with an anxiety/panic disorder since I was a child. I am now 21 years old and am finding it very manageable for the first time in a really long time. I feel emotionally well. However, within the past 6 months, I've been having strange episodes of faintness and dizziness. Some nights I am woken up by them. I am usually very calm during this episodes, I'd hardly describe myself as feeling anxious during them at all, and they feel nothing like the panic attacks I've had in the past. I've had almost everything else ruled out as a possible cause, so the health professionals are kind of insisting that its panic or anxiety. I suppose what I'm trying to ask is, is it possible to have an anxiety or panic attack with only the physical symptoms, and not the actual anxiety or panic emotion/feeling? Has anyone experienced anything like this before? Thanks!