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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. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety 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 you 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 worthile 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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jon_88 High Anxiety
  • replies: 1

G'day all, this is the first time I've ever reached out to any mental illness platform. I have a increasing level of Anxiety due to some intrusive though, they do vary but most of the time its an overwhelming fear that i could be gay, even though I h... View more

G'day all, this is the first time I've ever reached out to any mental illness platform. I have a increasing level of Anxiety due to some intrusive though, they do vary but most of the time its an overwhelming fear that i could be gay, even though I have never been homo erotically attracted to another man. Its hell for me. Im not homophobic, I have gay friends and family whom I love and respect all people for who they are. The thought first popped into my head when I was around 20 and dealt with it fine coming to terms with the fact that i wasn't into guys. I fell in love with a girl, she's now my wife I was fine for 5 or 6 years, no homosexual tendencies I'm not curious or anything like that. I didn't marry my wife to try and bury my true desire on being gay. I married this girl because i love her. The past few weeks these fears have been popping up daily and the anxiety is starting to effect me physically The whole thing is crazy, I feel like an idiot. But if anyone could share any light or help me somehow I would really appreciate it.

Reasonstosmile Infidelity and anxiety - where to start
  • replies: 2

I have always been a naturally anxious person (constant worrying, zoning out, easily panicked etc) which has often interfered with every day life, though I have not sought help in the past for it. However I have recently moved to Australia from the U... View more

I have always been a naturally anxious person (constant worrying, zoning out, easily panicked etc) which has often interfered with every day life, though I have not sought help in the past for it. However I have recently moved to Australia from the UK to be with my partner and it has now become an issue that can't be ignored. My partner moved here 6 months before I did, so this time was spent in a long distance relationship, with the exception of a 3 week visit from myself. A couple of days after giving up everything and moving here for him I unearthed an overwhelming pile of evidence from social media that my partner had been cheating for a period of time while we were apart with someone he had presented to me as a friend, to which a couple of months before I joined him in the country they proceeded to resume a platonic friendship. I had the choice of staying and working things out or getting the next flight back out of there. In an effort to pursue with the life we had planned together, I decided to stay and try to get over this. Upon me finding out about them, my partner immediately ended the friendship and no longer has any contact with the woman he cheated with, and has also erased all evidence of his infidelity. This has helped to not upset me further as almost all trace of their relationship has been removed. It has been three months since I found out, however, and I am starting to realise that the situation I have been exposed to has caused my anxiety to spiral out of control. I have spent the past few months feeling broken, scared and detached (being several thousand miles away from home may also be a contributing factor). I am unsure where to start in getting help, as I believe that he will not hurt me any more but it is my anxiety flaring up and fear that I won't get back to feeling 'normal' that is getting in the way of everyday life. Because of the detail of evidence I found (thank you social media...) it is something that continues to haunt me. Would relationship counselling be a viable approach in this situation or would it be best to address my own mental health issues first?

Steve27 CAn someone suggest help for panic attacks?
  • replies: 4

THis evening i have not been able to sleep - everytime I drop off I wake suddenly short of breath, confused - I am think they are panic attacks.I have not had symptoms since coming downstairs ... only when i try and get to sleep.

THis evening i have not been able to sleep - everytime I drop off I wake suddenly short of breath, confused - I am think they are panic attacks.I have not had symptoms since coming downstairs ... only when i try and get to sleep.

Shindig430 Prisoner of my mind..
  • replies: 8

Hi all, im new here. I guess im posting because i am an incredibly anxious person and i feel so stuck. Im 25, have a good but difficult and competitive job, in a relationship with a supportive and patient person. But i feel i cant do anything right. ... View more

Hi all, im new here. I guess im posting because i am an incredibly anxious person and i feel so stuck. Im 25, have a good but difficult and competitive job, in a relationship with a supportive and patient person. But i feel i cant do anything right. Most of the time i hate myself, hate my actions, hate every fibre of my being. Every conversation i have, i replay a thousand times. I havent slept the last few nights because im constantly rehashing the same conversation i had with a coworker (which happened a week ago). Im constantly terrified of what others think of me, i want to be perceived as perfect, i want control over everyones perceptions of me. I cant stand the thought of people seeing my flaws. This is especially in my working role. ive started having compulsions which are extremely difficult to ignore. I associate bad luck with random things like something on the floor or a coathanger the wrong way - and i have to fix it, otherwise i convince myself something terrible will happen. Thats the part i hate most - always WAITING for the next terrible thing to happen. Im so sick of being prepared, sensing the worst, getting ready. I never enjoy anything anymore. I feel like a total prisoner of this hellhole in my mind and sometimes all i want is to escape forever. I often find myself wishing i would just get sick so i could quietly and peacefully leave the world behind, with dignity and "courage" Am i alone?

contrarymary Is this anxiety or attention seeking
  • replies: 5

Hi All I am hoping someone has advice on how to cope with these events. I go to bed as normal and about 1 hour later wake up feeling very agitated, with palpitations, shaky cant get back to sleep, pace up and down through the house and garden, then l... View more

Hi All I am hoping someone has advice on how to cope with these events. I go to bed as normal and about 1 hour later wake up feeling very agitated, with palpitations, shaky cant get back to sleep, pace up and down through the house and garden, then lie awake for hours getting up pacing up and down more, this happens about every 3 months might happen 2 nights in row. Its usually always about an hour after going to sleep eg if I go to bed about 10 it happens about 1130 GP says cant pinpoint problem had blood tests etc all ok, nearly every othet night i go yo bed at 10am and sleep through night. GP says anxiety and/or panic attack. Anyone got any suggestions on how to get back to sleep, happened last night woke up at 11pm after 1 hour sleep paced house for couple of hours ended up falling asleep about 4am. Not too much coffee or tea as suggested by GP as drink neithet

michael1410 ADDICTION AND ANXIETY
  • replies: 3

I've always I guess had a predisposition to addiction no matter how hard I try to not let different substances take over my life I always seem to succumb to their clutches. It started with marijuana innocently enough smoking a few times, then slowly ... View more

I've always I guess had a predisposition to addiction no matter how hard I try to not let different substances take over my life I always seem to succumb to their clutches. It started with marijuana innocently enough smoking a few times, then slowly before I knew it getting taken over by it and my life becoming all about where was my next hit coming from. When I quit smoking cold Turkey I never knew it would be so easy but also affect me so much, I was unable to leave the house unable to be in large crowds and my depression hit an all time low. After seeing a psychologist for a year or so, I slowly began to be able to get out more but my problems never went away if anything my anxiety was the worst it had ever Been. I think I started drinking innocently enough the same as the marijuana never thinking this will get out of hand or become a huge problem, how wrong I was. Before I knew it I was drinking everyday and slowly but surely I began to drink more and more, I suppose drinking is different because it's socially acceptable. Unfortunately I eventually got to the point where I was drinking copious amounts of alcohol daily usually to the point of being physically ill then feeling better and continuing to drink some more. It became pretty obvious that I was drinking for the numbing effect to help me deal with and forget about my anxiety and depression along with any problems that were around at the time. In reality it doesn't help at all your problems are there when you sober up and sometimes, depending on the amount drunk joined by new ones just for something different. I knew I had a problem for a long time but I guess I didn't wanna face it, it Was too easy just to continue drinking and deal with the problems later.my anxiety was getting to the point where I was worrying about everything all the time even worrying about worrying.

Faee Anxiety Overload
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone, I'm new here and this is my first post. I am suffering with severe anxiety at the moment which has stopped me from being able to go to work. I have taken 3 days off to take some time out for myself. Yet recently I seem to be taking a lot... View more

Hi everyone, I'm new here and this is my first post. I am suffering with severe anxiety at the moment which has stopped me from being able to go to work. I have taken 3 days off to take some time out for myself. Yet recently I seem to be taking a lot of days off from this illness. And it worries me as you can probably tell. There's so much going on in my head and I am extremley restless/short of breath/nauseas. recently I went to my mum and told her that I am suffering with anxiety and depression and she ignored the whole subject. I do have my husband for support yet that is all. I have no close friends and I feel very confused, lost and lonely. I know we need to be positive but I can't find it anymore. This illness has taken over. It's taken control of my life and I don't know what to do anymore. I know there's people out there suffering a lot worse than what I am, but I just don't know how to shake this feeling. It's horrible and I'm scared for myself, I'm really really scared. If anyone is out there reading this, I hope you're doing ok. I am sending good energy and love your way.

Real1 Living nightmare!!!
  • replies: 5

Anxiety is eating me up!! In 2008 I met someone special, we connected and fell deeply love. Over 3 years we saw one another 3 times, the distance between us (2 states) away started to take a toll as I had trouble finding steady work and she lost her ... View more

Anxiety is eating me up!! In 2008 I met someone special, we connected and fell deeply love. Over 3 years we saw one another 3 times, the distance between us (2 states) away started to take a toll as I had trouble finding steady work and she lost her job. Then she died! I mourned her for the next 4 years, I cried a river! Then I rang her, and she answered her phone! I spent the next year (2015) angry and upset. April last year she reached out and we became friends. It progressed over the year, and we got engaged. Start of this year she revealed she'd cheated on me with a friend the 4th year of our relationship. Fell pregnant! Married the guy as it was best for the baby. He beat her up 3x! Went to jail and she fled. Devastated! I blocked her on Facebook and backed away to lick my wounds. I attempted to get over her, going on a succession of (flop) dates, upto 3 a day! She'd text me now and then but I ignored her. Two-weeks ago she reached out for a friend...her mum was on her death bed. As a Christian I forgave her and we have been chatting ever since. Since I'd left her she's done EVERYTHING she could to better herself...twice a week counselling (she was abused as a kid). New mental medication. Made amends with her abuser dad, who'd she'd grown up without. Became vested in her church again. Lost weight, to feel better about herself. I commend her for her efforts and am impressed she didn't sit back and do nothing to improve herself. I forgive her for her discretion, but in the recesses of my mind, my head swirls with what to do! If we grow close again, we both know what's due. It does my head and heart in!!!

chap10 OCD and addiction
  • replies: 1

Hi all. It's been two years since I last posted on these forums. I had just been diagnosed with OCD, and had suffered for a long time prior to that. Over the last two years I have made tremendous progress with my OCD-- symptom reduction, lessened anx... View more

Hi all. It's been two years since I last posted on these forums. I had just been diagnosed with OCD, and had suffered for a long time prior to that. Over the last two years I have made tremendous progress with my OCD-- symptom reduction, lessened anxiety, regained the ability to do things I couldn't such as read books, drive my car etc.. All of these victories were hard won, and I thought I would never get to where I am now. I seriously contemplated suicide many times when at my worst. I have been hospitalized three times on a psych ward (voluntarily) and all Up I spent 10 weeks there in 2016. I would love to chat to anyone who suffers from OCD, as I believe we could help each other. And I've found it is certainly hard to find people who understand... Though the ones that do are invaluable-- usually fellow OCD sufferers. Though I have made progress, I am still debilitated in certain ways. In certain aspects of my illness I have made no progress at all. I am still dealing with alcohol addiction, and with drugs rearing their ugly heads in the mix at times too. I have read that it is as high as 1/4 of OCD sufferers that also have substance abuse problems. I have been to aa and joined online forums specifically designed to help those with alcoholism, and I have made some progress but always seem to shoot myself in the foot again. I haven't managed more than 6 weeks alcohol free at one time over the last few years, and struggle to make it to a week most of the time. I believe I have the tools to achieve a sober life, I just need to keep trying... I wonder if anyone else here has struggled with this? Aside from this I am struggling with depression, albeit pretty mild comparatively to what I've experienced in the past. It is still very hard for me to put together a sense of meaning and purpose in my life, even though I know it is out there, I've seen glimmers of it in the past-- If I stay sober and keep making improvements with my OCD I know I could find it again... Right now, I feel so ashamed of myself. I know I have the power to change this for myself, so why haven't I done it? I have tried so hard, so hard. And I am really lonely now. Maybe more than I have ever been. I've alienated myself from my friends. I don't even know what they think of me now, most know I've been through a hard time and they are probably avoiding me like the plague.

Blondie101 Blushing all over
  • replies: 2

I have suffered with anxiety for years and have tried to ignore it as much as I can. But it's getting harder. The last couple of weeks I have had countless situations where I have become very nervous and embarrassed in the most normal social situatio... View more

I have suffered with anxiety for years and have tried to ignore it as much as I can. But it's getting harder. The last couple of weeks I have had countless situations where I have become very nervous and embarrassed in the most normal social situations with family , friends and even my partner . I feel my face getting hot and I know I am blushing madly , I try and calm myself down but I can't It takes awhile to calm down and once I have I feel stupid for it and wonder what people will think of me. Today it happened at work just because my partner came in to say hello. I had no reason to get nervous but I did and i was so red from embarrassment it even gave me a headache. I just don't know what to do anymore. It's so exhausting