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Anxiety

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Chris_B Forums etiquette: give support to receive support
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newb... View more

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newbies are welcomed when they first post, and we understand that it’s a big step to post for the first time on a forum like this, especially if you aren’t feeling great. It’s important to remember, though, that these forums are a community of real people, just like you, not a one-on-one support environment like going to see your psychologist. To get the best out of being here, one of the best tips we can offer is give support to receive support. Being a good community member means: participating in different threads (not just your own), replying to people who have taken the time to reply to you (even if it’s just to say thank you), and... posting words of emotional support and encouragement when you see others who are hurting and reaching out. You don’t have to feel obliged to solve the problems of others: that’s not what we’re here for. But you can offer empathy and what you’ve learned from your own life experiences, even if it’s just a line or two, eg. “I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support and tell you I care about what is happening to you and hope life will get better soon.” Try to develop an interest in the journeys of others here on the forums. You may be surprised at how good being an active, caring member here can make you feel. For those of you who have had good experiences giving support here on the forums, please post in this thread here and let us know how it has helped you on your journey.

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MisterM I am confused as to who I am or what I want to be and it is making me have bad anxiety
  • replies: 26

Hi all, I am almost 33 years old and have just begun my second year of a four year teaching degree for secondary education along with an arts degree. I often have doubts as to whether being a teacher is for me. As I am learning psychology as part of ... View more

Hi all, I am almost 33 years old and have just begun my second year of a four year teaching degree for secondary education along with an arts degree. I often have doubts as to whether being a teacher is for me. As I am learning psychology as part of my arts degree and the fact that I find it fun to learn has had me thinking about becoming a clinical psychologist or developmental psychologist but I don't like the fact that it requires years of post graduation study. I also don't know if being a psychologist would be for me. There's things about both careers that scare me and make me anxious. My true passion is music, I love writing songs, recording demos. I also like visual art. I am an arty type pretty much and not a corporate professional conforming your appearance to the profession type, I have my hair long (the thought of having to cut it short to be either a teacher or psychologist bothers me as I feel better about myself looking how I want to). I hate conforming to societal expectations especially in the workforce when it comes to appearance. I just want to be myself, an artist, doing what an artist does and dresses and wears his hair like he wants to. I have my first teaching placement soon and I am so anxious about it that I cannot focus on my homework. What's stopping me from just being a musician full time? Well lately my passion and motivation has died down, especially since I started uni last year I have been working on my craft less and less. My guitars just gather dust. The fact that I am nearly 33, no chance of making it big time in the industry. The 20s are the best time to be a star musician, not some old guy. My lack of belief and talent, to be honest I don't like my voice or my guitar skills, I am not that good but enjoy writing. People say they like my songs but I think they say that to be kind and not hurt my feelings. How will I manage my finances without a 'proper career'. The fear of my conservative family's reaction if I were to quit uni and just focus on being a musician, especially my mum who is very abusive, bad tempered, critical and ridiculing of me. I don't know what I want in life and am confused, down and suffering bad anxiety. I feel like an aimless failure that has no aspirations in life and is so scared of everything. I did exceptionally well in uni last year, high grades, GPA average of 6 and over but still I am not sure about the direction I am heading. Just wanted to vent and hope someone can give me some advice.

MaceyMae Anxiety and lack of motivation
  • replies: 3

Hi online community! I have severe anxiety and depression, I only started medication a few months ago, but it's helped fix my moods and be able to control my emotions. But I've just gone back into second semester of uni, and just like last semester, ... View more

Hi online community! I have severe anxiety and depression, I only started medication a few months ago, but it's helped fix my moods and be able to control my emotions. But I've just gone back into second semester of uni, and just like last semester, I'm lacking greatly in motivation, energy and concentration. I have two assignments to work on and I've been trying to start them for the last week and I just can't bring myself to do it. I'm getting more and more behind, which is increasing my stress levels and making me feel down. I always feel sleepy and lose concentration very easily at uni. So my question is, is this still related to my anxiety and depression, or, is it something else? Does anyone else experience this? And any tips to help? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

MossyVale Just some help dealing with a situation
  • replies: 7

Hey guys I'm new to the forums and just looking for some advice. I have ptsd/anxiety which can be crippling at times. I've been on anti depressants which I'm no longer taking but I feel have been a god send, but they aren't enough. Therapy did nothin... View more

Hey guys I'm new to the forums and just looking for some advice. I have ptsd/anxiety which can be crippling at times. I've been on anti depressants which I'm no longer taking but I feel have been a god send, but they aren't enough. Therapy did nothing to help. But no one in my immediate circle understands my anxiety, because well doesn't everyone get anxious? My anxiety has been triggered again due to my job. I have moved interstate to take on a job I thought would be more life friendly than the industry I was working in. Turns out I've unknowingly walked into a job and industry exactly the same. I've been in the job 2 months and my boss has decided to belittle me because I'm not learning as quickly as he wanted (I had zero previous experience). The rules are constantly changed, I'm being berrated for using my initiative, berrated if I get anything wrong, berrated for asking questions and being made to stay back without pay to "prove myself". I don't want to work there anymore but I'm stuck in this "freeze" where I can't comprehend doing anything. I'm in a state where I don't even know where to start. I don't want to go to work, I'm too scared to quit. I'm tired on constantly having to endure this type of treatment at work. I wonder if this is actually normal these days? I'm tired of always being in conflict and I'm afraid that the little fire inside that keeps me going will go out. I've started applying for new jobs but I'm terrified that I will be heading into another crappy job. Its a huge deal for me to have too much change, it upsets me a lot. What do I do? How can I control my anxiety? How do I stop the cogs in my head from spinning past each other and actually lock into place so I can some healthy, rational decisions?

KTOCD OCD Compulsions? Tics? Habits?
  • replies: 11

Hi All, I have suffered from OCD for some time now and generally manage well. I have recently reduced my medication and my repetitive behaviours are coming back. I am finding that not all of my compulsions are related to obsessions and I find myself ... View more

Hi All, I have suffered from OCD for some time now and generally manage well. I have recently reduced my medication and my repetitive behaviours are coming back. I am finding that not all of my compulsions are related to obsessions and I find myself engaging in these repetitive behaviours unconsciously. I have sought out some info on tics, however these seem to be involuntary. I don't know if my behaviours are involuntary. I certainly don't need to think about doing them...they just start themselves. I'm thinking they could just be a habit. I occasionally experienced a head jerk that I need to do and feel it coming on. It generally doesn't keep happening though. Only every now and then. My speech has been slightly off occasionally too - words coming out wrong mainly...not pronounced properly. Has anyone had any experience with this? I have tried to do a bit of research on it but can't find much out there. Thanks KT

TDonuts Seeking Advice On My Situation
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone, First time posting, thought i'd try this as other methods of supporting haven't been working. I have been working through my anxiety and depression for a year now and I feel like things haven't got better I'm just more aware of how I fe... View more

Hey everyone, First time posting, thought i'd try this as other methods of supporting haven't been working. I have been working through my anxiety and depression for a year now and I feel like things haven't got better I'm just more aware of how I feel. The crux of the issue is that I find it really hard to motivate myself, as situations seem so impossible to succeed. I separated from my partner of 3 years due to how unmotivated I was in life. I left my "perfect" job for the same reasons. Back at my Parents house whilst looking for a new house, and feeling the weight of my whole year of failures really squashing me. My question to all of you is, how to get up and get it all done? I can pin point all my life's issues, but how no energy to push myself to address them - instead I just find the easy way out to avoid feeling pressure. I am on anti-depressants but feel that theres more to the solution than a pill. Let me know your motivation techniques and any advice you have. I need all that I can get! Thanks!

Jimbo86 Morning anxiety
  • replies: 11

Does anyone have any help full tips for morning anxiety what subsides after acouple of hours

Does anyone have any help full tips for morning anxiety what subsides after acouple of hours

mcm97 No support in the workplace
  • replies: 9

Hi, this is my first time using Beyond Blue but something happened yesterday at work that I am not not okay with and feel the need to share. I have really bad anxiety and depression and only in the last 6months have ben put on medication to help, whi... View more

Hi, this is my first time using Beyond Blue but something happened yesterday at work that I am not not okay with and feel the need to share. I have really bad anxiety and depression and only in the last 6months have ben put on medication to help, which it has but I still have panic attacks and bad days. I work for a big organisation in a call centre so obviously taking calls can be quite challenging at times. Some days ill be fine and my shift will go by like a breeze with no issues. Other days I cannot even speak, i cant even greet the customers. The lights start messing with my head, my jaw starts clenching and shaking and i need to leave. My workplace claims they have endless support to help anyone facing mental illness, yet I have no assistance there. Most of the team leaders know about my mental illness. they often ask how I am but thats all. Yesterday I got told by a team leader that if i can only handle to take a limited range of calls that I will not be of value to the company. That same team leader last week told me I would be better off finding a new job in the new year. Firstly he is in no position to say that to me, secondly I am very fragile and those things set me off. I left work and dont want to return. Being told that I am of "no value" kills me. I have been put on a very high dose on antidepressants just to be okay then i have to deal with this at work. I have been offered no help or alternative options to help whilst my anxiety flares up. Today I am going to speak to the manager to report this. I no longer want to be at a workplace like this if they dont accommodate to people with mental illness. Mental illness is not something we can choose not to have. I am seeking help and I am doing my best to be myself again.

Butterfly82 First time posting and sharing about how I feel
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, I am new to beyond blue therefore please bare with me regarding my post. Currently I am feeling very overwhelmed with my anxiety issues as I recently changed jobs and struggling to adapt to the routine change as well as the none contact ... View more

Hi everyone, I am new to beyond blue therefore please bare with me regarding my post. Currently I am feeling very overwhelmed with my anxiety issues as I recently changed jobs and struggling to adapt to the routine change as well as the none contact with people and basically sitting in a corner by myself. I have always suffered with anxiety and depression. It seems to come and go but is always there deep down but of late and since starting my new job it has been horrendous. I don't want to go to work, I cry every day, I shake, I go dizzy and quite often cannot calm myself down but for some reason I am able to hide it from my colleagues when I do attend and I do not want to discuss these kind of things with them. Am I supposed to tell my new boss I have this anxiety? Am I meant to say this job sucks and isn't for me? I am still on probation for another month and I do not know what to do. Besides this I have the ongoing financial concerns if I was to give up my job to pursue a new career because finally I know what I want to be when I grow up (I am 35 geez) I would be worse off financially and not have enough income to cover all outgoings, its the main reason I stay in these kind of roles, for the financial gain but I am well and truly miserable. I have a drs appointment this evening as a follow up regarding current health plan, I am not looking forward to telling them how much worse things have gotten. I'm sorry if this is a jumble of different thoughts but I am the same when I am having conversations...whatever I think I speak! Thank you for allowing me to offload, any thoughts and opinions are welcome as I feel like I am between a rock and a hard place.

anon234 Help with health anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hello, I'm new here and just thought this might be good for some support sometimes. Ive dealt with anxiety especially for as long as I can remember. I have GAD, health anxiety, ocd, phobias... and it's become extremely difficult to handle. The worst ... View more

Hello, I'm new here and just thought this might be good for some support sometimes. Ive dealt with anxiety especially for as long as I can remember. I have GAD, health anxiety, ocd, phobias... and it's become extremely difficult to handle. The worst is the health anxiety, and I've been struggling to get to school and catch buses especially. I'm always thinking about what is potentially on furniture and in the air (in terms of getting sick) and have a fear of food poisoning. I keep thinking I'm falling sick, and as someone who already has OCD tendencies I'm worrying about behaviors I've started noticing (like checking my temperature hourly for a fever and refusing to touch food or furniture for example). It has become incredibly difficult to leave the house, and I have panic attacks as well. I've just been finding it difficult to eat and sleep and dealing with constant fear of panicking or becoming sick is exhausting. I was wondering if anyone has some techniques or thoughts that can calm them down? I started therapy earlier in the year, but it seems the problem just keeps morphing. Any response is appreciated

123bex You know i can't see through the haze around me
  • replies: 1

I have been suffering from PTSD for 2 year now and each day i still find i am fighting with anxiety and its encroaching thoughts even on medication. Has anyone found any usfull tools to fight back? yours in strength! Bec.

I have been suffering from PTSD for 2 year now and each day i still find i am fighting with anxiety and its encroaching thoughts even on medication. Has anyone found any usfull tools to fight back? yours in strength! Bec.