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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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Guest_723 Terrible anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi there I want to remain as anon but really want to talk about some problems I am facing atm i have terrible anxiety I have anxiety thinking I’m commuting crime stealing and gonna go to jail when I don’t do anything bad I do every thing legal I don’... View more

Hi there I want to remain as anon but really want to talk about some problems I am facing atm i have terrible anxiety I have anxiety thinking I’m commuting crime stealing and gonna go to jail when I don’t do anything bad I do every thing legal I don’t know why I think I am going to jail it’s like my head thinks it and I collect my recipets everywhere I shop if I don’t have one I flip out my anxiety goes hay wire and I think there’s no prof of purchase how did I get this did I really pay for this etc etc when I know I did so I just want to know does anyone else experience these thoughts I am going to see my doctor soon and talk to him thank you

Jsmith I need advice!
  • replies: 2

Hi Ive recently been diagnosed by a therapist with social phobia, and I’ve started trying to pick up at school some “triggers” for me. I’ve noticed my friends often use me as a scapegoat, and although I try to brush it off they keep doing it. They al... View more

Hi Ive recently been diagnosed by a therapist with social phobia, and I’ve started trying to pick up at school some “triggers” for me. I’ve noticed my friends often use me as a scapegoat, and although I try to brush it off they keep doing it. They also tend to make jokes at my expense, and I know logically they are just joking because they do it to all my other friends as well, but I can’t help feel like it’s a personal attack on me. I haven’t told any of them I have anxiety issues but I want to ask them to stop scapegoating me. What do you think I should say to them?

KateER Financial Stress + Anxiety + Emetophobia
  • replies: 1

Hello everyone, I'm new to this thread, but I'm also new to reaching out for help on this kind of platform. I've had anxiety for my entire life. I believe it first started when I was in early primary school and threw up for the first time (that I can... View more

Hello everyone, I'm new to this thread, but I'm also new to reaching out for help on this kind of platform. I've had anxiety for my entire life. I believe it first started when I was in early primary school and threw up for the first time (that I can remember). Since that day, the fear of throwing up has plagued my life more than you can imagine. Only those with this kind of phobia can relate to how debilitating and overwhelming it can be. Despite this phobia, I've only thrown up maybe six times since then. I've got a fantastic immune system but I neglect to tell myself that whenever I feel sick. I was on medication for two years a few years back. Two years ago, I weaned myself off them because I was in a new relationship and everything felt good. I hadn't had a panic attack for ages before I got off them, so I felt it was the right thing. I only really had panic attacks during the time my period was due, most likely due to the hormone changes and nausea that I experienced. Fast forward to three months ago when the company I work for stopped paying myself and the rest of the staff. It has now been 14 weeks, and during that time, weekly promises of the money being paid by EOW were made yet none were followed through. My partner of two years worked for the company too, so with us both not being paid, we were trying to tread water and keep each other afloat, which just wasn't working. We broke up three weeks ago because the stress was too much. We couldn't afford rent, car repayments, food or general bills. I lasted for the first five weeks without any severe stress or anxiety. Perhaps I was in denial. Only after the update meeting during week five did I lose it. From there, I started having constant anxiety attacks. Having moved home three weeks ago, I have had daily panic attacks, sometimes up to four a day. I've been unable to see friends or get out of the house most of the time due to limited availability to funds. I have a new job lined up for next week, but I'm worried that I will have panic attacks whilst I'm there. They're usually over nothing in particular, but I'm worried that I won't be able to escape if I get worried. I wish people who didn't experience this level of anxiety would understand what it's like. It's debilitating and awful and all consuming. Stay strong everyone. One way or another, there is help available and I've made my first step by booking in with NewAccess and seeing my doctor.

MaiiBear Feeling Detached When Communicating
  • replies: 5

It's strange. I am a persistent person and I'd like to think I can throw things under the rug but it doesn't completely go away. When people say "get over anxiety" and "just talk to people more", I do it. It doesn't stop me from internally panicking ... View more

It's strange. I am a persistent person and I'd like to think I can throw things under the rug but it doesn't completely go away. When people say "get over anxiety" and "just talk to people more", I do it. It doesn't stop me from internally panicking but I do it and I seem fine to others besides my apparent awkwardness and lack of emotion/hype? I don't know. Whenever I talk to someone I'm fine but a minute into the conversation I can't hear what they're saying and my vision blurs and then I don't know what's happening and forget how to speak because my head goes blank and my mouth goes dry, but I'm not necessarily panicking. I just feel like I'm losing control of my senses and forgetting how to be a human being and it's ruined my relationships with everybody because I can't relate to them or hold a conversation. I had a mock interview today and the only way to calm myself down was to pretend I was an actor in a movie and at one point I actually had to force myself to go through with it because I felt so eerily detached and it's happening too often. I'm doing the best I can to manage it but does anyone else know how to get past it?

Guest_9870 How does someone with depression and anxiety keep a job
  • replies: 3

I have tried so hard to keep a job, even casual role's and i just cant and i do not understand why. If anyone else has been through this and overcome this please give me advice on what helped you if you have the time as i just want to get somewhere i... View more

I have tried so hard to keep a job, even casual role's and i just cant and i do not understand why. If anyone else has been through this and overcome this please give me advice on what helped you if you have the time as i just want to get somewhere in life. I just dont know how to keep a casual job let a lone a full time one, and i know i have to get a full time job and the more i put it off the more behind i am getting and i feel so down on myself but it scares me because i know i just dont end up turning up one day. Because every time i get a job i just cant keep it. Any advice will help as i am feeling defeated. Thankyou.

nattycakes29 First massive anxiety attack
  • replies: 4

Today i had my first massive anxiety attack. I was sitting on the train when i received a message regarding my financial situation. I got cold all over, nauseous and dizzy. I thought if I could close my eyes it might just go away, when in fact it did... View more

Today i had my first massive anxiety attack. I was sitting on the train when i received a message regarding my financial situation. I got cold all over, nauseous and dizzy. I thought if I could close my eyes it might just go away, when in fact it did the complete opposite, it got worse. I thought I was going to pass out right then and there. I had to force myself off the train (just on the off chance I actually did through up). What a horrific feeling it was. I thought i was going to have to walk over to the hospital emergency room nearby because i thought i was dying. Even now as i write this i am still nauseous and have the shakes. I think to top it all off I'm embarrassed. Embarrassed that i have allowed myself to get to this point. Angry that i haven't been taking better care of myself and frustrated because the moment i think I'm doing better i get knocked off my perch and end up like this. How do I get through this? I can't ask how to get over it because I don't truly think i will ever get over my depression and anxiety. Sorry for the long winded story but i felt writing it out could help when in actual fact it has made me bawl my eyes out.

Guest_41 Panic attack out of the blue???
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, I’ve posted here before about missed heartbeats and other strange symptoms I get. But tonight something strange happened... My partner and I had just finished washing up after dinner and I’d made myself a cup of chamomile tea. I went to... View more

Hey everyone, I’ve posted here before about missed heartbeats and other strange symptoms I get. But tonight something strange happened... My partner and I had just finished washing up after dinner and I’d made myself a cup of chamomile tea. I went to sit down in the loungeroom when I felt funny and noticed irregular heartbeats... It lasted maybe 2-3 minutes I got up and spoke to my partner and felt ill. He checked my pulse and said my heart wasn’t beating right. I started to panic - I burst into tears thinking I needed an ambulance. It stopped but the fear remained... I am now shaky with prickly forearms and well needing to use the bathroom heaps... My heart I feel is also I feel beating faster than normal and I can’t sleep... I’m petrified. I have had tests done on my heart 2x 24 hour holter monitors and an echocardiogram all normal. I figured if I had a dangerous arrhythmia it’d have shown up in the testing... It hasn’t happened in so long and I thought maybe I was getting better but this came I feel out of the blue... I’d been feeling so good lately I decided to have a glass of wine tonight. I had a glass yesterday and nothing like this happened.... I do have a lot going on at the moment... I’m just wondering could it have been a panic attack?

Ma-jd I am in need of some guidance and support
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, Ive just been going through these threads and I've become so emotional after reading the responses. You all seem to care for each other so much and I would really like some help if that's okay. I have developed GAD over the last few mont... View more

Hi everyone, Ive just been going through these threads and I've become so emotional after reading the responses. You all seem to care for each other so much and I would really like some help if that's okay. I have developed GAD over the last few months and I am terrified. I'm always nauseous, dizzy and terrified. My stomachs in knots and I'm restless. I feel like I can't go to work but I have to as they only employ a handful of people to do a lot of work - we don't really get paid very well but I think it will look good on my resume (I'm babbling, I'm sorry). Last week the nausea got so bad at work I threw up. I have been referred to a psychologist office but I can't get up the courage to call... I feel absolutely pathetic I feel like I've lost complete control over who I am, my doctor has now prescribed me some medication but I am paralysed with fear that my anxiety will get worse before it gets better. I am so scared about the future. I just want to be myself again but I don't know what to do. I know I need to get help, but I'm so scared. I really don't know how to help myself. Thanks for your time.

Vitsyra Anxiety Triggers
  • replies: 11

Hi All, I have been wondering if other people have anxiety triggers. I've always been quite sensitive, though have gotten a little tougher with age. Last Friday I triggered my anxiety by watching a scary zombie movie, which I knew I shouldn't have do... View more

Hi All, I have been wondering if other people have anxiety triggers. I've always been quite sensitive, though have gotten a little tougher with age. Last Friday I triggered my anxiety by watching a scary zombie movie, which I knew I shouldn't have done, but did not expect to struggle so much with anxiety for the last few days. Even just thinking or mentioning the movie makes me fearful. So I was wondering if others have triggers, I have quite a few things I avoid because I worry they will set me off. It is kind of a sucky way to live life. For me, I have to be very careful with movies, TV, books.. anything too scary, unfair, cruelty to animals, or just too sad can set me off. I also have to be careful with social media, news.. etc. I don't travel, because being away from home can trigger me. So hard to explain to workmates that I haven't traveled and nor do I want to. Meeting new people, new situations. but also not doing these things can set me off. Getting into trouble at work, accidentally breaking a road rule, or being told off by someone. Even if I THINK I did something wrong with work it can set me off. Being alone in some places, like events, shops, etc. When I'm already suffering anxiety, the chance of triggering myself again is always more likely than when I'm in a good place. I know a lot about what can trigger my anxiety, I just wish I knew how to turn it off once it starts. One moment can lead to weeks of despair.

ocdbill OCD - checking - trying to lift the shame and secrecy
  • replies: 9

Long time reader and first time poster. I am a 29 yr old male and have struggled with Anxiety for the best part of 10 years and struggled with OCD for the last 3. My OCD began when at a job years ago I didn't leave a gate locked; at the time it made ... View more

Long time reader and first time poster. I am a 29 yr old male and have struggled with Anxiety for the best part of 10 years and struggled with OCD for the last 3. My OCD began when at a job years ago I didn't leave a gate locked; at the time it made me more vigilant and I would sometimes drive 15 mins back to check it ; fast forward 7 years and I am at another job where I am responsible for locking up. My OCD brain told me to create a checklist for everything I needed to do; this kept the OCD at bay for a short time; suddenly the amount of checking increased and this increased the anxiety and a circle began where I needed to check the locks more and more to get the same reduction in anxiety. I have now started seeing a therapist (3rd therapist in my life) and we are working through CBT and thought process with the next part to begin with ERP. I admit that therapy at first was hard and confusing but swore this time I would stick it out and so far I have. What I hope is that we can talk openly about OCD; the shame I felt about mine meant I was in denial and tried to self manage; the shame led me to secrecy which just fuelled the shame more and delayed me from getting professional help. My journey with OCD is far from over but I have started talking to friends and coming here and posting was always something I wanted to do to try raise some awareness. If anyone with OCD is reading this please note the following 1) You are not crazy - no matter the thoughts 2) You are not crazy! 3) You are not alone. 4) Help is available. Would love to hear other peoples stories about OCD