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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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perthguy100 rental anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hey guys, i guess i'm mostly just using this as a way to vent. I'd consider myself living with anxiety/depression that generally well managed with medication. Essentially i had a negative interaction with my landlord the other day. I had complained a... View more

Hey guys, i guess i'm mostly just using this as a way to vent. I'd consider myself living with anxiety/depression that generally well managed with medication. Essentially i had a negative interaction with my landlord the other day. I had complained about some maintenance issues and was concerned that the realestate agent wanted me to pay for drycleaning drapes that based on what i read on tenancywa was not my problem. The realestate agent said the landlord wanted to stop by to discuss the maintenance issues and i agreed to have her come over. When she arrived she seemed quite angry and frustrated and said something along the lines that we were telling her how to run her business. Instead of standing up for myself i went into damage control. In the end I didn't like the experience and I didn't like the way it left myself and my girlfriend feeling. Like we didn't matter, like we were just an annoyance. I tossed and turned about whether I should say something. I concluded that I'm an amazing tenant (i've been there for years, always pay bills, maintain the place really well) and that i don't deserve to be treated like that. So I wrote an email to the realestate agent about my concerns. Frankly now i'm just stewing in my own anxiety. Did I do the right thing standing up for myself? Should I have just kept my mouth shut? The power imbalance between tenant and landlord can be quite stressful. I have made this place my home and I guess i fear that she could make my life difficult and then decide not to sign me on for another 12 months when my lease comes up in a few months. The uncertainty is quite distressing. Though being able to vent here certainly helps, even if no one reads this.

Scas Health anxiety - worse when i get a cold
  • replies: 2

So everytime I get sick , sore throat, ear ect my health anxiety just seems to spiral . I'm sick now and my anxiety has gotten 10 x worse . does it happen to you too ? I just think about all the illness I could have even though I know I shouldn't View more

So everytime I get sick , sore throat, ear ect my health anxiety just seems to spiral . I'm sick now and my anxiety has gotten 10 x worse . does it happen to you too ? I just think about all the illness I could have even though I know I shouldn't

Rok2 Health anxiety- Help
  • replies: 4

Hi, So I've just joined this site out of desperation and feeling like I was at a dead end for answers and stumbled upon the answer I believe I have been looking for, for over a year. After looking through the forums here, I've discovered that 'health... View more

Hi, So I've just joined this site out of desperation and feeling like I was at a dead end for answers and stumbled upon the answer I believe I have been looking for, for over a year. After looking through the forums here, I've discovered that 'health anxiety' is a real thing! I'd never heard of it, even after endless searches about anxiety, symptoms of anxiety, types of anxiety, I never found anything to fit my issues. So I guess that has been a relief for me today... For the past year or so, I have been getting increasingly anxious about my health deteriorating, in particular I have a huge fear of being diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease that would slowly take away my quality of life to the point of basically being a vegetable awaiting death. The idea of it terrifies me. Since this has begun, I've been experiencing strange symptoms, such as constant severe tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, random numbness, trouble swallowing/ speaking, and more. I've had myself convinced that I have cancer, brain tumours, motor neuron disease, the lot. I've had blood tests, ECGs, MRIs, seen a neurologist, been to hospital several times with chest pains thinking I was having a heart attack, been convinced I was having a stroke several times, brain aneurysms, blood clots, you name it. All tests have come back clear, which has been a small relief in one way, but frustrating/ worrying in another, as I'm then left wondering, well what's wrong with me then??? In short, it's been a living hell in my own head and I know I need professional help but I just don't know who to turn to... I guess the other thing is the feeling of shame/ embarrassment because the rational me knows how ridiculous this all is! From the moment I wake up, to the moment I go to sleep, it's there in my thoughts. It's taking over my life. I have no idea what it feels like to be relaxed or feel 'normal' anymore; I'm on edge all the time. The fact that I get these phantom symptoms that seem to mimic my fears, only adds to the problem and makes everything a million times worse. I have had so many moments where I've felt totally hopeless and drained by it all. To make things worse, I have serious issues with reaching out to other people, no one I know has any idea this is all going on inside my head. I bottle everything up and act totally normal on the outside when I feel like there is a bomb going off in my head. I would love to hear some similar stories from people, and what has helped you

Bethie Need help. Anxiety so bad I can't function
  • replies: 3

Hi This isn' easy opening up. I'e fought anxiety and depression since my early teens. At times it' been so bad I've tried taking my life then turned to drugs and alcohl for years before finally getting clean and sober nearly 17 years ago. It' kinda h... View more

Hi This isn' easy opening up. I'e fought anxiety and depression since my early teens. At times it' been so bad I've tried taking my life then turned to drugs and alcohl for years before finally getting clean and sober nearly 17 years ago. It' kinda hard telling my story but maybe it' time. My step dad was a violent alcholic and would regularly put Mum into intensive care. If run to friends to escape but was allways sent back. At 18 I married a man who was a friend just to get away. He had bad control issues. I finally got out and got sober. In 2011 I was and still am in one of the worse hit areas of the Brisbane floods. The storms or even power blackouts make me start sweating, rocking and crying. My 14 year old just tells me Mum calm down. Earlier this year with the floods down around the Gold Coast I was forced to drive home through crazy conditions to get to my son. 6 months ago my now husband who' my son' father had a accident and now has amnesia and as a result of this his PTSD has started again. I didn't even know he saw active service in the Army. I am medicated but find it really hard to stay in the moment. My biggest thing is I tend to project which creates added anxiety. When my son turns 17 he wants to join the Army. I worry how we will survive if neither of us can ever work again. Centerlink has been stressing me out because my doctor can' seem to get the carers paperwork right. I plan everything then fall badly if things don' turn out how I've been promised they will. A few years ago I was able to buy a block of land for security but stress about how to build there and what services are available in the country. My moods are affecting my partner as well because he thinks it' his fault. Our son just wants to get away as soon as he can. Every ime I see him I his cadets uniform I get scared has leaving me and will end up like his Dad. Yar I know I'm crazy worrying about 2 and a half years ahead but staying in the now isn' easy when I try to hide what I'm feeling inside. S orry to be a pain but it gets so bad I have to force myself to even eat sdomedays

yxis123 I need some advice
  • replies: 5

Ok I have pretty bad anxiety and not so bad depression I haven't left the house in 5 weeks i can't talk to anyone I dont know and even some that I do without having a panic attack where i just have to get away. So im 22 and the rent i pay fortnightly... View more

Ok I have pretty bad anxiety and not so bad depression I haven't left the house in 5 weeks i can't talk to anyone I dont know and even some that I do without having a panic attack where i just have to get away. So im 22 and the rent i pay fortnightly comes out of my youth allowence. I'm a job seeker atm but since i haven't gone to my appointments in 5 weeks I've been cut off. My savings are dwindling and I don't have anyone to talk to about this I'm semi ways through a panic attack writting about this right now.

Lubenica Constant stress and anxiety of what can go wrong at work
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I am new here and I think I have anxiety. I am am constantly worried and consistently over analysing emails that I have written, how I act/acted when somebody has spoken to me or tried to interact with me, peoples general demeanour towards my... View more

Hi all, I am new here and I think I have anxiety. I am am constantly worried and consistently over analysing emails that I have written, how I act/acted when somebody has spoken to me or tried to interact with me, peoples general demeanour towards myself and other people and so on. I am constantly worrying about work and what I might have down wrong and then start being concerned that someone will complain about me. Then the stress starts. I have been feeling really down lately and everything is starting to get on my nerves. I have recently found myself slowly stop caring about my job. I used to put a lot of effort into my work but I feel like I am deflated. I often feel like I do not deserve my job, my house, my trips overseas and interstate and sometimes think I am a bad person for my past mistakes. My work colleagues tell me that I am too hard on myself and that I don’t give myself enough credit. I often feel like a bad person when I make mistakes. I don’t really know how to approach this. I get comments from my clients that they are happy with me but I get elation out of the praise but it soon turns to being sad and down again. I often feel like I am being silly when I try to voice my feelings to other people as well. I think to myself stop being over dramatic. Any advice?

Ant86 Fatigue and anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi all, Hoping to get some advice (new to these forums). Prior to 12 months ago I believe I had my anxiety under control, a bit of social anxiety and overthinking (trying to control everything). 12 months ago I went to the dentist for a routine check... View more

Hi all, Hoping to get some advice (new to these forums). Prior to 12 months ago I believe I had my anxiety under control, a bit of social anxiety and overthinking (trying to control everything). 12 months ago I went to the dentist for a routine check and he found a cyst in my left jaw, this was a sudden shock. A few days later my grandmother who I was very close with passed away (I witnessed it in hospital). Then few days after that I had the surgery. I was alright for a few weeks then became bedridden and completely sick. Dentist determined that I had a infection on the right side of my face and he would need to put me under local and clear it out which he did. Few weeks passed and I began to feel very sick again to the point where I admitted myself to hospital and put on IV. Dentist saw me and said the bone graft in my jaw was infected and he had to clear it out under general anaesthetic. Few days passed and that was done and thankfully I haven’t had any problems there since. About a month after that my wife and I had our wedding which was also stressful leading up to it, planning, organising etc. After the wedding I developed a condition called Labyrinthitis which is an issue with vertigo and dizziness which I experienced throughout the honeymoon and several months afterwards. After that I had been experiencing on and off sinus / flu / viral infections for the proceeding months as with on and off fatigue. At the moment (12 months later) it seems like my sinus issues are starting to get better but I’m left with extreme fatigue which has made working very difficult. Also throughout this 12 month period my wife and I have been building a house which has also been stressful. We are due to move house in the next few weeks and I’m extremely exhausted (still working). My sleep has been poor for the last few months with thoughts racing around my head constantly about this house. I’m also chronically worried about my health now and have been googling non stop (I know it’s bad). I’m seeing a psychologist trained in CBT at the moment and she’s helping but I’m finding it very difficult to work and function with this fatigue. Cheers.

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.