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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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markrob80 Health anxiety... help?
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, Long time reader, first time poster. I was "diagnosed" (such a weird word) with GAD and health anxiety 2 weeks ago. Long story short, in November a friend committed suicide, then over the following 2 months, 2 people I knew passed away and a... View more

Hi guys, Long time reader, first time poster. I was "diagnosed" (such a weird word) with GAD and health anxiety 2 weeks ago. Long story short, in November a friend committed suicide, then over the following 2 months, 2 people I knew passed away and another was diagnosed with cancer. To say that scared the hell out of me is an understatement. I've been to my GP (and 2 others) and all 3 say it's anxiety. I've had chest x-ray. Fine. Lung function tests. Fine. I started doing CBT with a psychologist this week. I regularly experience physical symptoms. It started as short, sharp chest pains back in November. Then in December (when I had my chest x-ray) they magically went away. Then I started to get shortness of breath. Then the feeling like there was a lump in my throat. Then that went away. Then the shortness of breath came back. And recently it's a "queazy" stomach feeling throughout the day, mixed in with some shallow breathing. My problem is that I'm not very good at focusing on anything BUT my body. I regularly scan. Like every 5 minutes. That leads to adrenaline and a worsening of physical sensations. And the loop repeats. I have medication but try not to take them. Running, weights and drinking (anything that distracts me) work to take my mind off things, but it's hard. I'm hopeful CBT will work. I'd love to hear from anyone who has/had physical anxiety symptoms and any advice on how to overcome them or train your brain to focus on the positives and not constantly be inward focused and scanning your body for sensations (which, of course, produces sensations and then amplifies them thanks to added adrenaline, etc). Thanks for reading...

LingYuk New Member - Mania verses Anxiety and Panic Attacks - are they all the same thing?
  • replies: 6

Hi Everyone, I'm very new to the 'forum' style of communication but hope to get support concerning some serious panic attacks and acute anxiety that I have been experiencing over the past week. I feel like I am about to loose control at times and tha... View more

Hi Everyone, I'm very new to the 'forum' style of communication but hope to get support concerning some serious panic attacks and acute anxiety that I have been experiencing over the past week. I feel like I am about to loose control at times and that no-one could really understand what I am experiencing. I can't focus or concentrate when conversing with colleagues and I'm terrified of saying the wrong thing and embarrassing myself. I am involved in a new and very complicated project at work and am having difficulty grasping my new job scope. I'm feeling very stressed and fearful that my boss will decide I'm not the right person for the job and terminate my contract. I know I can do the role if I can just relax, settle down and focus, which I am finding very hard to do at the moment. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder which I understand to mean cyclic bouts of depression and mania. The mania frightens me the most as it has led to some very embarrassing and regrettable actions in the past, which have landed me in serious trouble. The anxiety and panic attacks I am experiencing at the moment feel very much like the manic episodes I have experienced in the past. Is mania, anxiety and the panic attacks all part of the same syndrome? I am on meds now which I have used in the past only when I feel I am starting to experience manic symptoms. I started these meds again about 2 weeks ago and consulted my GP a week ago. Normally I feel completely symptom free after a week on medication but now after two weeks I am still experiencing panic attacks and anxiety which is distressing. I will make another appointment to see my GP as soon as he can fit me in. Thank you so much for accepting me into the group and listening to my concerns. I look forward to reciprocating.

Alannah57 I feel so drained from being in public :(
  • replies: 6

I have a problem: I feel drained from being in public. I feel ashamed of myself, embarrassed, and like I stick out like a sore thumb. My heart rate goes up, I can’t concentrate, and my self esteem just plummets. It’s a problem because I’m looking for... View more

I have a problem: I feel drained from being in public. I feel ashamed of myself, embarrassed, and like I stick out like a sore thumb. My heart rate goes up, I can’t concentrate, and my self esteem just plummets. It’s a problem because I’m looking for jobs at the moment, but every part of my body is basically screaming “get home, close the curtains and hide!!!”. I mumble, fidget and walk around really fast, or my voice shakes. If I’m out for a few hours, my mental anxiety gets so bad that I have to shut myself away in my room for hours, sometimes days. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I’ve been struggling with this for so long, and it’s getting to a point where I have to be able to find work/go to work and go to uni without feeling exhausted, confused, ashamed and overwhelmed. Does anyone else experience this? How have you gotten help? I would love to discuss this.

Mikes84 Weight loss and anxiety, worried
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, my Anxiety is mainly centred around my health. I have had black pain for some time now and is causing alot if heightened anxiety. Doc thinks it'muscular so that is helping but the pain still makes me anxious. I havel lost about 5 kg and ... View more

Hi everyone, my Anxiety is mainly centred around my health. I have had black pain for some time now and is causing alot if heightened anxiety. Doc thinks it'muscular so that is helping but the pain still makes me anxious. I havel lost about 5 kg and being skinnyalreadyits concerning. Doc also seems to think the anxiety is causing the weight loss, but 5kg!!?? I have changed any eatinghabits either. Anyone else experienced this? Thankyou.

obwan bad health anxiety
  • replies: 1

hi im 17 and for the past 5 months i've had severe health anxiety, sometimes it goes away if i take my mind off things but recently i've been looking up symptoms on google (neck pain and slight pain at back of head), and its completely triggered it a... View more

hi im 17 and for the past 5 months i've had severe health anxiety, sometimes it goes away if i take my mind off things but recently i've been looking up symptoms on google (neck pain and slight pain at back of head), and its completely triggered it again but so bad, i am worrying if i have something wrong with my head or whatever, right now as i type this its hard to breath in fully because im so scared, i've always had anxiety but last year i had a problem with my eyes that turned out to be blepharitis, which sort of triggered it all, now i dont know what to do, is there anyone else suffering like me? im afraid that i might die or something i keep having thoughts all the time and its making me sad like i can't be happy at all, please respond.

Beanybean Feeling alone in a group
  • replies: 1

Hi there. This is my first time talking on this forum. I'm a nearly 30 y/O female and I've gotten the job of my dreams. The only thing is now the team I'm working in has gotten a bit larger (there is about 8 of us) I feel utterly alone and unlikable.... View more

Hi there. This is my first time talking on this forum. I'm a nearly 30 y/O female and I've gotten the job of my dreams. The only thing is now the team I'm working in has gotten a bit larger (there is about 8 of us) I feel utterly alone and unlikable. Ifind it really hard to join in conversations and I feel like everyone thinks I'm not worth talking to or asking my opinion. I'm shutting off from interacting with people and I eat lunch on my own (I feel anxious eating around others because I don't want to be judged. I have low self eesteem). I have been tearful in front of them a few times and I think it may have made them distance themselves away from me. I have very bad thoughts about myself like "they don't want to talk to me cos I make them feel awkward" or "they don't value my Input, so why bother". I should be enjoying my job but everyday I am fretting constantly over feeling disliked and alone. Ive never been good I'm groups, I always feel like the odd one out and I know most of this is self sabotage. I'm not sure what to do.

Alize Living with constant anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi, I’m new and joined so I can see how others are dealing with their anxiety and what tools you are using to try and get on top of it. I’ve had anxiety for years, but it has been extremely chronic for the past 4 months due to financial stress, loss ... View more

Hi, I’m new and joined so I can see how others are dealing with their anxiety and what tools you are using to try and get on top of it. I’ve had anxiety for years, but it has been extremely chronic for the past 4 months due to financial stress, loss of loved ones and I also have health anxiety. I have different health issues, get anxious about them and this creates more anxiety leading to more symptoms, so it creates a viscous circle. I was also diagnosed last July with PTSD after seeing my beloved Am Staff die and awful death. I am seeing a psychologist, learning meditation and mindfulness, but so far the old anxiety always wins.

Hardy524 Does anyone else have a major fear of vomiting?
  • replies: 5

I have posted here before but not for a long time. I am still seeing my psychologist but have gone to 3 monthly appointments because I was doing so well. Until yesterday. My anxiety completely revolves around a major fear of vomiting, closely followe... View more

I have posted here before but not for a long time. I am still seeing my psychologist but have gone to 3 monthly appointments because I was doing so well. Until yesterday. My anxiety completely revolves around a major fear of vomiting, closely followed by a fear of diarrhoea. Yesterday my hubby came down with a tummy bug, I handled it not too badly until darkness hit. I completely fell apart. My whole night consisted of full blown panic attacks in the fear that I am also going to get sick. I do feel stupid, a tummy bug is not a life threatening illness but I can’t help it. I feel like no one understands and that my anxiety is completely irrational. Is there anyone out there whose anxiety is similar?

AntiHero I feel like a ghost passing through
  • replies: 4

Do you ever feel like a ghost passing through this world? I do. I have this sensation there is an invisible veil between me and the world, as though there is a bubble around me or as though I am around ghost passing through. As if I am not really a p... View more

Do you ever feel like a ghost passing through this world? I do. I have this sensation there is an invisible veil between me and the world, as though there is a bubble around me or as though I am around ghost passing through. As if I am not really a part of this world. The world changes and moves so fast but I don't. I pass through it slowly, like through murky water, and no one sees or hears me. I'm invisible. No matter what I do, it's the same. If I work, go grocery shopping, take a new class... Does anyone else ever feel like this? Does this sensation ever pass?

SilverLight Over it all...
  • replies: 3

This is my 9th year of living with anxiety and depression. I've been.on two different anti depressants over the last 3 years but had to come off the last one because I'm pregnant with a little boy. Hubby and I planned our little miracle and we couldn... View more

This is my 9th year of living with anxiety and depression. I've been.on two different anti depressants over the last 3 years but had to come off the last one because I'm pregnant with a little boy. Hubby and I planned our little miracle and we couldn't be more thrilled however the added hormones along with a gruelling six months (I lost my job due to morning sickness, my car was written off and my only uncle, one of only 8 members of our very close family, is fighting terminal brain cancer) has made for a tough time. I've copied pretty well up until now but I'm just so over everything at the moment... Over seeing my family arguing, crying, sad and falling apart because of my uncle's illness, over having to sit here and pretend it's all normal to me because my husband has cancer too(caught super early and controlled), over having barely any friends and nobody else around me who is pregnant, feeling like a burden on my husband because I want someone to talk about the baby with without feeling like he doesn't matter and I need to keep my mouth shut, over feeling so alone and most of all, over the idea of going back on medication... I never want to put it in my body again... But I also don't believe in and struggle with the concept of mindfulness due to my Christian faith and due to believing that if we could stop this stuff with some simple Mind tricks it wouldn't exist... Yet it does... Please please please... Someone tell me how to deal with this without mindfulness or filling my unborn son with medication... I'm terrified of telling my psychologist any of this in case she just puts me back on the meds... I should mention, our local community offers nothing for expectant or new mums or dads. There's a few neighbouring communities that do but I'm much too scared to approach them... Bloody social skills of a deck chair...

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