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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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JacobA Not sure where belongs as quite different to what I have read.I
  • replies: 1

I don't know where to start. I am writing this in an attempt to get it out and clear some chatter in my head. I have been living with this condition for my whole teenage/adult life and it is unbearable at times. On the surface I held things together ... View more

I don't know where to start. I am writing this in an attempt to get it out and clear some chatter in my head. I have been living with this condition for my whole teenage/adult life and it is unbearable at times. On the surface I held things together OK for a while. I was outgoing and friendly and had good mates. Inside I never felt comfortable with anyone. I would avoid being in situations where I was with people one on one as I felt I had nothing to offer. At 25 yrs old I headed overseas with the one friend I was OK with and managed to fake it for about 12 months then the wheels feel off. I now realise I had and have fairly severe social anxiety. I got back to Oz and moved towns to avoid people seeing me like I was but I was fairly open with a few that I was in trouble. They encouraged me. Family encouraged me. Everyone said what a great person I was but it made no difference. This holding pattern went on for a few years and I faked it with bouts of really hard times but I simply used the strategy of avoidance to solve my issue........that said I did push myself. Fast forward..............I changed careers by going back to uni. Married an amazing women and now have 4 kids and a good job. Problem is whenever I have holidays or down time this bloody fog envelopes me in self pity. I lay around, watch my wife struggle, spend hours on Internet looking for answers. I keep saying I have tried everything but I don't think I am ever honestly having a go. I just want a quick fix............eg been to hospital, ECT, exercise (which I am terrible with now), counselling (I think I just forget what they say). My brain is doing exactly what it wants and I let it expecting the worst and it becoming true. I am back at work next week and I feel totally incapable and haven't prepared what needs to be done. I just have not meet anyone who has managed to fake it for so long (my faking is getting much worse) but been so empty and lack connection with anyone (I love my family but this condition puts me in a bubble and just flat all the time. I cannot remember a time where I felt OK with people, ever. I can't even complain about anything dramatic or terrible happening as a kid (unlike some of you) but this is now me. Sorry but I think this is also part of my condition expecting one of you to have an answer instead of getting on with it. I have promised people I would be ok.

Mimi_D Words of Support for OCD/ Anxiety sufferers
  • replies: 2

To my fellow sufferers, I understand and sympathise with the pain and torment you go through on a daily, weekly basis, sometimes it feels neverending. Every time I go to the internet I wish I could find this message because I always go searching for ... View more

To my fellow sufferers, I understand and sympathise with the pain and torment you go through on a daily, weekly basis, sometimes it feels neverending. Every time I go to the internet I wish I could find this message because I always go searching for answers and nothing I find truly helps. So I hope this finds you and that it may help even if it's only for a second. You are not crazy. You are not going crazy. You will never truly go crazy even though it may feel that way sometimes. You are not alone. This is not just happening to you. So many people feel and think the way you do. Those things you think might happen, the things you think you might say or do, are not going to happen. Just because you think them does not make them true. I cannot guarantee that they will 100% not happen but I can guarantee the terrible or fighting things you sometimes think will not happen by your doing. They are obsessions for a reason and that's because they strike fear inside you. Fear= something you do not want to happen not something you desire. Therefore even if your thoughts tell you otherwise these things go against your values, your wants and your desires they are not what you seek out for in life. You are probably more moral, more aware, more in touch and more loving than most people in society. Yet it's hard to think that way I know. I want you to know you are loved and accepted and nothing you say to me that you think will ever scare me away because I guarantee you I've thought it to. We will get through this you and I. We may need extra help and support and time. But there is always light and love at the end of the tunnel I promise.

Chicken_Wings What techniques do you use?
  • replies: 9

I’ve found that I catch myself with my shoulders up around me ears, clenching my jaw and basically every other part of my body. so I was wondering what everyone does to relax? I try to catch myself and take some deep breathes, but it doesn’t take lon... View more

I’ve found that I catch myself with my shoulders up around me ears, clenching my jaw and basically every other part of my body. so I was wondering what everyone does to relax? I try to catch myself and take some deep breathes, but it doesn’t take long to tense up again. Being tense is really tiring.

Lori32 Claire Weekes self help success stories please
  • replies: 10

Hi there Has anyone had any success with the techniques Claire Weekes explains to use in her books for panic attacks/agoraphobia ? Accept-float etc she makes so much sense and was wanting to hear from anyone that has had any type of success no matter... View more

Hi there Has anyone had any success with the techniques Claire Weekes explains to use in her books for panic attacks/agoraphobia ? Accept-float etc she makes so much sense and was wanting to hear from anyone that has had any type of success no matter how small. Ta

Pumpkin777 Anxiety/panic disorder
  • replies: 3

Hi guys I’m new at this so go easy on me I don’t really know what to say, but I’m hoping maybe someone out there may have some tips and advice or may be able to share their story with me, I recently quit my job due to being under a lot of stress, I h... View more

Hi guys I’m new at this so go easy on me I don’t really know what to say, but I’m hoping maybe someone out there may have some tips and advice or may be able to share their story with me, I recently quit my job due to being under a lot of stress, I have had anxiety since I was about 13 I’m now nearly 20 and have been diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety.. I ended up quitting my job because my anxiety started getting worse and worse and I began to have panic attacks as soon as I entered work and my work place couldn’t deal with me not being able to focus on my work, after I quit my job I began to experience more and more panic attacks out of no where like going down to the supermarket or just sitting at home with my partner, situations which I have been in about a million times in my life time, but I couldn’t seem to understand why they’re happening now, like what has brought on these panic attacks to start happening? Anyway I began to take new medication and got a medical certificate from my doctor saying I am unfit for work due to my anxiety and panic disorder, this was 2 months ago I’d say, and I’ve began to notice that it is not seeming to get any better... my anxiety seems to take over just a bit more every day. Last night I got very upset due to these horrible thoughts I get in my head which are like really disturbing things I would never think of doing but because they’re so horrible I’ve been to scared to tell anyone due to them being so awful, which leads me to become more and more over whelmed, I ended up telling my partner last night as it was driving me crazy and I did some googling about anxiety and disturbing thoughts and found that it is quite normal to have them, but my boyfriend doesn’t suffer from such extreme anxiety as I do so I still felt really embarrassed to tell him about it as they were so horrible, but I had to get it out!!!! I have lots of positive people around me, but I felt maybe if I posted something on here maybe someone could help relate to me and perhaps give me some tips on how they deal with it, that’s not really the whole extent to my anxiety and mental health issues but a breif outline of what kinda happens, any advice i would really appreciate, like I said I’ve got a few people to talk to but I’m a very quiet person that bottles things in so if anyone else out there is or has been like that I’d really like some tips on how you’ve over come bottling stuff up and being more open about your feelings!. Thanks!

PhoenixEmoria Worried about illness??
  • replies: 7

Hey, So abiut 2 months ago i started to get problems with eating where I'd started feelimg sick whenever I ate, and i'd lose my appetite. And this for some reason didn't bother me until about a week ago when I began getting anxious over it. In the na... View more

Hey, So abiut 2 months ago i started to get problems with eating where I'd started feelimg sick whenever I ate, and i'd lose my appetite. And this for some reason didn't bother me until about a week ago when I began getting anxious over it. In the natural progression of anxiety, I'm now anxious that I might have stoamch cancer?! I have some symptoms like the bloating and the loss of appetite as well as the nausea, but i have pain in the wrong spot (above the hips instead) and lots of symptoms now from anxiety (throat closing up, chest pain on both sides)?! I can't sleep anymore, I can't eat, all of my relationships are falling apart and I honestly don't know how i can go on like this. Please help?!

Matt_T Anxiety vs. Hope – Hope wins!
  • replies: 4

A dark cloud continually consumes & plagues my thoughts day & night. I wake exhausted feeling I’m on the verge of going insane. My palms are sweaty, my head is oppressed & I can’t sleep. I’m taking medication each morning just to get out of bed & fun... View more

A dark cloud continually consumes & plagues my thoughts day & night. I wake exhausted feeling I’m on the verge of going insane. My palms are sweaty, my head is oppressed & I can’t sleep. I’m taking medication each morning just to get out of bed & function. I feel numb, helpless & most of all HOPELESS. I want to escape & rise above it all, but I can’t see the future. I’m mentally & physically fatigued as I battle in private for the mental anguish to be removed. My thoughts drift into dark places where I grapple with ways of “escaping”, although praying for the strength not to follow through. This was my private battle of anxiety over a 5-year period triggered by an event I witnessed on a flight to Bali. My anxiety grew from being situational (flying) to panic attacks. I had to make a choice, either take action & fight it or live in a medicated cocoon for the rest of my life. There is HOPE for full & utter restoration & to live a life free of anxiety. Although in the pit of darkness everything seems hopeless, hold on there is an amazing & bright future on the other side of this “giant”. Although the symptoms may present themselves physically, anxiety is not real, it can be controlled, it’s just annoying & uncomfortable. I want to share some tips / thoughts that enabled me to manage & overcome my anxiety / PA: Tip 1:Professional help - No shame in seeking professional help, they can provide rational & logical perspective when you can’t Tip 2: Avoid avoidance - face your fears Tip 3: Breathing is your anchor - With this it is physically impossible to have panic attacks. Recommend from iTunes Gay Hendricks Ph. D titled “fly without fear” Tip 4:Thought replacement - Observe them but don’t let them take hold & replace them with positive thoughts Tip 5:Keep a list of your conquests - This is a reminder of how far you have come Tip 6:Rehearse how you want to experience the situation & break it up into manageable pieces - So doesn’t seem so overwhelming Tip 7: Its ok & no shame in medication - I used that for a period when I needed it (properly prescribed by my Doctor) until I could get it under control. Whether you are a believer or not, the power in the tips noted above are not diminished. For me, my greatest anchor was my faith in Jesus Christ. There was a sermon that my Pastor preached on “Courage beyond our fears” which changed my perspective & set me on a path of freedom.

Chicken_Wings Does Anxiety Make You Chatty
  • replies: 7

When I’m anxious I start feeling like I need to talk. I don’t often have someone to actually talk to. But when I do it’s like floodgates release, I can hardly stop myself. I don’t know if it’s because everything feels like it’s moving fast and I just... View more

When I’m anxious I start feeling like I need to talk. I don’t often have someone to actually talk to. But when I do it’s like floodgates release, I can hardly stop myself. I don’t know if it’s because everything feels like it’s moving fast and I just need to let it out or because finally someone is listening. Does anyone else find that they become like a geyser of emotions?

Dogsarethebest Does anyone else feel like they are 'delaying' a breakdown?
  • replies: 7

Hi there, i dont want to go into my big dark history but essentially I was on heavy medications for a decade through my teens/ early 20s. I did not find them effective. However- I know my brain is different from someone who has a healthy experience o... View more

Hi there, i dont want to go into my big dark history but essentially I was on heavy medications for a decade through my teens/ early 20s. I did not find them effective. However- I know my brain is different from someone who has a healthy experience of life. My boyfriend of 3.5years broke up with me just after Christmas. We lived together and I have been sortimg everything out. I'm working in a job where I'm sometimes expected to run someone else entire business on my own. I'm trying to move furniture, find housemates, keep the business running, keep my dog happy and not let anyone down. I feel like I am so close to a breakdown and have been for weeks. I'm dealing with panic attacks and I'm smoking way more than I should- Im just trying to find some relief. Its like I'm just delaying a breakdown until its socially acceptable (I have no commitments) to do so. Has anyone ever felt like this? I'm getting desperate. I don't want to loose my job but I need some time to deal with everything that is going on.

hairclip Anxiety and possibly depressed?
  • replies: 7

Hi, First time posting here, just wanted to make sure what I'm going through is just a part of life and hopefully I won't need to see a therapist. I've been graduated over a year now and I have still yet found any employment I am interested in. At th... View more

Hi, First time posting here, just wanted to make sure what I'm going through is just a part of life and hopefully I won't need to see a therapist. I've been graduated over a year now and I have still yet found any employment I am interested in. At the time I thought the degree I studied was something I am passionate about, but now I am drained and I am definitely not the same happy person I use to be. I found myself stuck in a dead end job I hate, I love my colleagues but I really hate my position. I just want to move to a new place with only one or two people I care about. I don't want to see anyone I know or really talk to them. I don't know what I want to do with my life anymore. I can't sleep properly, I've gained a lot of weight, I stress eat a lot, I need to have youtube playing a video on a device at all times (except at work)... I don't have time to see a psychologist because my job doesn't allow time for that and I also can't find another job...it hurts me to see everyone moving forwards and I'm still where I am... I just want to know all this will get better and it's normal, everyone goes through it and I don't need to see a specialist.

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