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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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Alwayworied Anxious wreck
  • replies: 2

I have been off work for a couple of months on compo im returning tomorow, i feel nervous sick and anxious usually when this happens i cant sleep i wake up all the time feeling sick no doubt when i wake tomorow morning to go back to work i will have ... View more

I have been off work for a couple of months on compo im returning tomorow, i feel nervous sick and anxious usually when this happens i cant sleep i wake up all the time feeling sick no doubt when i wake tomorow morning to go back to work i will have to take a sick bag i usualy end up having to drive and spew at the same time more dry reaching than anything the closer i get to work the worse i feel oh no not looking forward to tomorow i should be asleep now for a 5 oclock start but im way to anxious about it i feel sick now, is there any ways around this anyone please

Jemz14 HELP terrified to sleep!!!
  • replies: 9

I believe I may be the most anxious I have ever ever been and NOTHING is helping!!! im a extreme hypochondriac last week was a irrational fear of anaphylaxis now I’m obsessively scared of dying in my sleep as I think I have sleep apnea!!! I have had ... View more

I believe I may be the most anxious I have ever ever been and NOTHING is helping!!! im a extreme hypochondriac last week was a irrational fear of anaphylaxis now I’m obsessively scared of dying in my sleep as I think I have sleep apnea!!! I have had had heaps of reassurance from my doctor it’s not helping I’m forcing myself to stay awake and calling ppl terrified to be alone a night by myself this can’t go on what can I do???

AnxSam What to do!!!
  • replies: 5

I've recently started a new job (3months in) I left my old job to travel, spend time with my girlfriend. Since I've started every time I head into work my stomach churns, I feel sick and I get anxious about performing daily tasks. I've always had thi... View more

I've recently started a new job (3months in) I left my old job to travel, spend time with my girlfriend. Since I've started every time I head into work my stomach churns, I feel sick and I get anxious about performing daily tasks. I've always had this fear/anxiety that whatever job I do I'm always destined to fail, not succeed or not perform well. It's always been my understanding I'm a failure. Particularly in this role as its a role I've never be assigned to or had experience in. I don't know how to stop feeling like this and start feeling normal or even excited to come into work!

Coggie I think I will choke when I eat..Feel like I am going Crazy!!!!!!
  • replies: 4

Hey I am new to this site and think it's great that you can express how you are feeling. I was recently in hospital and to say it was an unpleasant experience is an understatement and I feel that I had a physical and nervous breakdown. Fast forward 3... View more

Hey I am new to this site and think it's great that you can express how you are feeling. I was recently in hospital and to say it was an unpleasant experience is an understatement and I feel that I had a physical and nervous breakdown. Fast forward 3 weeks after that and one night I took two tablets before going to bed and They did not go down too well and I thought I was going to choke. The next day I awoke with my throat aching, went to the Doctor and he said I had an infection and put me on antibiotics, which did not solve the problem. My infection is gone but I have developed a phobia of eating solid food as I feel it will get stuck and choke me. I feel like a baby as I have to eat really soft foods and even then I have panic attacks and cough for such a long time that I am left with a very sore throat. I am seeing a counselor but does not seem to be working and I am also doing meditation. I feel like I am going crazy and life will never be the same again. I have a very supportive partner but I feel with what I am putting him through.

Clear82 Wake up and have panic attack
  • replies: 3

I’ve been waking up every morning at the same time and i have a panic attack for past week. My heart races, pain in chest, muscle tension and I feel hot. My thoughts then go crazy! I’ve recently had a relationship break which has broken my heart. And... View more

I’ve been waking up every morning at the same time and i have a panic attack for past week. My heart races, pain in chest, muscle tension and I feel hot. My thoughts then go crazy! I’ve recently had a relationship break which has broken my heart. And now I’m faced with this unwanted panic and thoughts. Anyone had morning panic attacks before? Advice please!

luft_ Anxious again, job hunting, family problems
  • replies: 1

Hello to all, I was posting here earlier in the year and received some great help from people! Thanks to support from people on here, I gained the strength to make some really good changes to my life, and my partner and I's relationship has improved ... View more

Hello to all, I was posting here earlier in the year and received some great help from people! Thanks to support from people on here, I gained the strength to make some really good changes to my life, and my partner and I's relationship has improved after having gotten to a pretty dark place. I had just lost someone in my family (in Nov) after a long battle with cancer, and I was really struggling. Unfortunately now I feel my anxiety, lack of confidence is resurfacing again. Some background: I have been running my own business, but effectively a freelance communications & political consultant, for the past 3 years. It has had its ups and downs. I have been looking for a while to return to paid work because my partner and I would like to buy an apartment in the next year, but have been struggling to find something. I am currently earning little money per week working on a freelance project, and I picked up some casual work in a bar which starts next week. It's about 1/3 of what I would be paid for hour normally, and I am too embarrassed to tell anyone, particularly my family. I have nothing against anyone working in hospitality, but I know my family will judge me and continue to think I am 'hopeless'. Last night at a party my sister even said I "don't really do anything during the week" which isn't true, simply because I work from home. I feel like I probably have missed out on some learning whilst being in freelance work. Trying to return to the corporate game is daunting and have been trying for a month ever since I got back from my holiday (I climbed to Everest Base Camp!). Lots of recruiters I've met with think I'm quite bright and strategic, but I am terribly anxious about meeting with prospective employers, and I'm really scared to start a job and have it not work out. Over the past 4 years I have had a number of things not work out, whereas some work has been fabulous. I have ADHD so work can be difficult, but I have been undergoing some therapy and training recently, which has helped. Nevertheless, I'm really worried that any new job will be hard, and I will perform badly. I am interviewing for a director level job next week, and will be glad if I get it because it will make paying off a mortgage a breeze, but part of me is still scared and would like something more junior, and less stressful, but everything more junior I have applied for I have been told I am overqualified. Would appreciate anyone's advice in this! Many thanks.

Undiagnosedanxietygirl what’s wrong with me?
  • replies: 2

Hello, i don’t think of myself as a shy person but often I will be so shy I can’t even look a person in the eyes and this person could be my best friend or my best friends boyfriend who I have known for a long time. I don’t know what happens but some... View more

Hello, i don’t think of myself as a shy person but often I will be so shy I can’t even look a person in the eyes and this person could be my best friend or my best friends boyfriend who I have known for a long time. I don’t know what happens but sometimes when I’m going out and I’ll catch a bus, I get awkward and all sweaty and feel like everybody in the bus is looking at me ( and I hate feeling self centred) I’ll constantly put my head down and even then I’ll feel as though all eyes are on me and “people think I’m weird” “stop doing that” “look this way” it’s as if I go robotic. it gets so bad most times that if I’m listening to music through my headphones I’ll put the volume all the way down because I feel as though I’m breathing too loud, like I’ll have to listen to myself breath. I have no idea what this is or if it means I have anxiety but i just feel like my friends don’t have this kind of problem and they say I over think stuff but it doesn’t help and it still always happens, ESPECIALLY when I’m by myself. I totally avoid doin things by myself because I know what I get like, but then again I avoid hanging out with my closest friends because I feel like I can’t even be around them without getting awkward and it makes me seem weird and like a bad person and I’m really not like that at all.

d_93 Anxious mother, Anxious family/Psychotherapy
  • replies: 3

Hello, One year on my mum is still suffering from the cruel battles of anxiety and depression. This time last year she was in a mental health unit receiving treatment for her ongoing illness. I can celebrate some improvements she has made but i'm now... View more

Hello, One year on my mum is still suffering from the cruel battles of anxiety and depression. This time last year she was in a mental health unit receiving treatment for her ongoing illness. I can celebrate some improvements she has made but i'm now beginning to see some set backs which i hope to be minor ones. She is constantly complaining that she has a sore stomach which she is convinced it isn't anxiety when several medical professionals have told her it is only anxiety. Alongside this she is constantly complaining and saying she is sick and crying. This is taking a real toll on the family as frustration is definitely kicking in. The once mother who was so caring is no longer caring to her family members. Whilst understanding the pain she must be experiencing it is really hard when we are running lengths to do anything to help her. it's becoming really hard to be a mother to your own mother. We are about to start psychotherapy with her on Saturday. Can i please have and experiences that people may have had with this kind of treatment. D.93

Vicki88 Bad health anxiety... at my wits end!
  • replies: 10

4 months ago I fell ill with what we thought was gastro or food poisoning, that I feel I never fully recovered from. Following a bad belly ache/cramps I had water like diarrhoea for a whole hour and nausea, but wasn't sick. Since I have had abdominal... View more

4 months ago I fell ill with what we thought was gastro or food poisoning, that I feel I never fully recovered from. Following a bad belly ache/cramps I had water like diarrhoea for a whole hour and nausea, but wasn't sick. Since I have had abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea/normalish bowel movements and bad reflux. I have had bloods, CT of abdomen, ultrasound of abdomen, CT & X-ray of chest, colonoscopy & endoscopy and all clear, except the endoscopy revealed mild gastritis. My gastro specialist thinks I have IBS also and my GP thinks it is all due to anxiety. My reflux causes severe chest discomfort, pulling/burning feeling and sometimes stabbing pain. The discomfort also travels to my shoulders and arms. It is scary and I am so sick of it. Since switching medications I have found my reflux improved but it is still there. I get my PH levels checked for reflux next month and my GP has put me on medication for anxiety. I keep getting sore neck, weak upper arms & thighs, tingly finger tips, and little niggle electric shock feelings in my head. I am scared and so sick of all these symptoms. Can they really be caused by anxiety? Please help I have convinced myself I had every cancer to name and then once cleared of one, Id go onto the next one. Is this possible?

Lozzy33 Health Anxiety - Help am I'm a hypochondriac!?
  • replies: 3

Hello fellow stress heads... I have been suffering from health anxiety for some months now and it's getting progressively worse. I knew a girl my age who recently died of a brain tumour and a family member in my household is currently undergoing radi... View more

Hello fellow stress heads... I have been suffering from health anxiety for some months now and it's getting progressively worse. I knew a girl my age who recently died of a brain tumour and a family member in my household is currently undergoing radiation treatment for cancer, together with constant health horror stories on the news and social media is turning me into a hypochondriac. I am paranoid about constantly washing my hands or sanitising with the fear I might catch something awful. I worry myself sick if I show the slightest abnormal symptom and over analyse by searching on the internet. I get anxious about being in places that are far from hospitals in case I need one. Last year I had a small biopsy procedure for Cervical cancer as my original results showed signs of abnormality, but the second lots of results came back clear - yet I can't help but worry that somehow they got my records mixed up or information wrong and I must be living with cancer. As far as anyone else is concerned including my GP I am healthy! It's really starting to impact my day to day and it's making me upset because I can't get out of feeling this way, I literally can't stop worrying! Then the spiral begins, I worry and stress more, giving myself more emotional and physical symptoms and so it continues... in particular I am suffering from Bruxism (clentching my jaw) and waking up with a sore jaw every day and general emotional stress from constantly feeling like this. Does anyone else feel this way? What steps have people taken to alleviate the anxiety of health issues???!!! Please help!