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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. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety 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 you 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 worthile 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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Luna_Eclipse very worried
  • replies: 4

I had a anxiety attack whilst driving and been on edge all the way home keep having this horrible heat sensation in my chest area and everything I try to do like the breathing exercises and distraction techniques does not help me at all. Starting to ... View more

I had a anxiety attack whilst driving and been on edge all the way home keep having this horrible heat sensation in my chest area and everything I try to do like the breathing exercises and distraction techniques does not help me at all. Starting to feel anxiety when I go to work and I am not coping with any of it. Can't seem to find anything that helps diffuse the horrible feelings I am getting. I still feel as tho there is something actually wrong with me and none of this is actually anxiety.

FMercury My anxiety symptoms seem unique
  • replies: 5

Hi all I am a brand newbie. Thanks in advance for this community - can't believe I didn't join it sooner. I've been suffering anxiety for about 20 years. It has reached the point where it's completely taking over, so I've taken my approach to managin... View more

Hi all I am a brand newbie. Thanks in advance for this community - can't believe I didn't join it sooner. I've been suffering anxiety for about 20 years. It has reached the point where it's completely taking over, so I've taken my approach to managing it to a new level, and making some significant changes in all areas. I've started a new medication (3 weeks in), seeing a new psychologist (who I love), changing my diet (greatly reducing sugar intake, eliminating coffee, increase vegetables, reduce alcohol), exercising daily, giving up facebook, replacing "time wasting" activities with productive ones, and spending more time with the people that matter to me. I'm also reading / researching more about anxiety than I ever had before, including this website and joining this forum. One thing that I'm struggling with in the process, is that I feel like my anxiety symptoms are so completely different to others'. I've done a search in the forum on 'anxiety symptoms' and read a lot of those posts, and I can't find many that I can relate to. My main symptom is that I feel like I can't get a proper breath. There's a very rare feeling of utter satisfaction or even ecstasy when, on the very very rare occasion, I'm able to breath deeply enough to properly fill my lungs. I often imagine that if I was anxiety-free, breathing in would feel like filling up a balloon to the max, then breathing out would feel like deflating it all the way. And yet for me, breathing in feels like the balloon only fills up a quarter of the way, then breathing out deflates it. And no matter how deeply I try to breathe in - I even breathe breathe breathe in until I can't fit anymore air in, and it's still only a quarter full. I have tried many many breathing techniques but none of them reduce this feeling of not being able to get enough breath. Other symptoms I feel are: Constant dread. Constant butterflies in my stomach. Constant adrenaline. You know that feeling when you're running down a flight of stairs and you slip and skip one, and your heart skips a beat? I have that sensation constantly. I guess I'm just interested to hear if there are many others experiencing symptoms of a similar nature, as I don't experience the ones that I've seen discussed frequently on these forums. Thanks in advance

Mackenzie Bad physical anxiety symptoms
  • replies: 11

Hi all, This is the first time on here and I'm glad that I'm not the only one that feels like this. I started having bad anxiety the last few months of my second pregnancy (which my baby is now 3 near 3 months old) and it was very physical along side... View more

Hi all, This is the first time on here and I'm glad that I'm not the only one that feels like this. I started having bad anxiety the last few months of my second pregnancy (which my baby is now 3 near 3 months old) and it was very physical along side a migraine with stroke like symptoms. I'm 33yrs and healthy as my doctors keep telling me. Now every time I get anxiety I have the following symptoms: chest pains and burning sensations (doesn't help with my breast feeding) weakness in my left arms especially the left, lightheaded, back pains, hard to breathe/shallow breathing, elevated heart rate, shivers through my body, pins and needles or tingling through my body, tingling in my top lip, and feelings of my mind not being totally in my body. I also get hot/cold flushes, head aches/pains, dizziness and now have vertigo. I have never had any of these feelings before. My normal occupation is very full on and stressful, which never ever bothered me. Now I am on maternity leave and is not anywhere near as stressful or busy as my normal occupation, and it's where the anxiety and panic attacks have now come into play. Even though I know these are symptoms of panic attacks, I still think about having some major health problem which is going to leave my husband and 2 sons without and wife and mother. I have had brain scans, breast scans and been put on the ECG more times than I care to admit. I want to get scans for my heart, but my doctor keeps reassuring me that I'm so healthy and he wishes all of his patients had a heart like mine. I get anxiety with just about anything, especially to do with my kids get sick or being hurt. I would love it if anyone else has these symptoms, to be able to chat with them. Even if you have different types of anxiety, it would be nice to know how extensive and broad this disorder is. Thank you. Mackenzie

vic panic disorder fear of dying
  • replies: 6

I have suffered panic attacks & depression on & off for 20 yrs. I am now at the best & most settled stage of my life but panic & depression are worse than ever. Ive been married 3yrs & very happy. My husband works & earns enough so there are no finan... View more

I have suffered panic attacks & depression on & off for 20 yrs. I am now at the best & most settled stage of my life but panic & depression are worse than ever. Ive been married 3yrs & very happy. My husband works & earns enough so there are no financial worries. 2 months ago my panic returned. I struggle to go anywhere, even panic at home. My main problem seems to be panic attacks over physical pains, I immediatley jump to the conclusion it must be something serious - im dying. I know perfectly well its just panic but that doesnt stop it. Feel like im going crazy. Does anyone else go through thjis? Is this normal? How do I cope? Please help anyone

TenLetters Work anxiety - advice/help please!
  • replies: 8

Hi all, newbie poster here, long time reader. I'm in a sticky situation and I'm reaching out for help and advice. Long story short, I've started a new job about 2 months ago in a corporate role in the city. After coming out of the induction process a... View more

Hi all, newbie poster here, long time reader. I'm in a sticky situation and I'm reaching out for help and advice. Long story short, I've started a new job about 2 months ago in a corporate role in the city. After coming out of the induction process and company onboarding etc., I've come to the realisation that I have been hired into the wrong job, and it's causing alot of anxiety. I'm one of 4 of a brand new team built, but the other 3 on my team have a completely different skill-set. Because my skill-set and experience is different to theirs, I'm completely dismissed if I ever make a point or a suggestion. A few weeks of this, and I'm now a ghost in the office. Meetings are held without me, discussions and conversations go quite when I arrive at my desk, and each day I'm feeling more in the dark. Although a very smart guy, my boss is non-communicative. I haven't had a single 1-to-1 since starting, barely says hello in the mornings, and will only engage in a conversation if I ask a question. Within the department I have learned of person x has a history with person y, and manager a is in a power struggle with manager b. etc. etc. With a combination of the ghosting and all the dysfunction across the area, it is toxic, and as a result has left me depressed, anxious, and isolated. I just hate it. I'm scared to raise my issues though to HR, because as I'm a new starter, I'm in probation. I don't want to be labelled a trouble-maker and then be let go suddenly due to 'budgeting'. I believe the core issue is management communication, which means that the people I should raise this to are the people that should be addressing this and managing the situation. So where can I go? I haven't been eating much at all in the last few weeks, have been going to bed at 8pm and have trouble concentrating whilst in work, leading me to be underperforming, not helping my credibility or reputation. If I tell the company I believe they have hired me into the wrong position, can they just turn around and go "tough luck" or do they have an obligation to improve/change the situation? If I say nothing, I look like a bad employee (which I am absolutely not), and wont get passed probation (if I make it that far). I don't want to explode, but it's affecting my personal time, including weekends, so I must do something to protect my own health. Would love to hear your thoughts

HayleyB Anxiety when driving
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I am 18 and still on my learners licence and am trying to go for my P's but need to get my hours up, I live in the country where there isn't much traffic and lights and roundabouts and all that 'fun' stuff. My parents and just about ever... View more

Hi everyone, I am 18 and still on my learners licence and am trying to go for my P's but need to get my hours up, I live in the country where there isn't much traffic and lights and roundabouts and all that 'fun' stuff. My parents and just about everyone around me has been pushing and pushing for me to drive more, i've driven quite a bit but going out into the city were there are double lanes and roundabouts and traffic just stress me out so much because i know that when i get anxious over something i can only focus on one thing at a time, and with driving i know that there are many things to think about and it just makes the whole situation unpleasant. I'm just tired of everyone having a go at me because they just don't understand, i don't just find it 'scary' as they describe i feel absolutely terrified and i just don't think that it would be best for me to be on the road stressing out and possibly causing an accident.

livm88 Almost 29, should have moved out of home by now....but scared to move to a sharehouse with strangers?
  • replies: 8

I've been thinking about finally moving out of the family home for over a year now, but as a shy person (with no friends, and never good at making them!), i'm reluctant to take any steps towards moving into a sharehouse. I'm worried I won't fit in (e... View more

I've been thinking about finally moving out of the family home for over a year now, but as a shy person (with no friends, and never good at making them!), i'm reluctant to take any steps towards moving into a sharehouse. I'm worried I won't fit in (especially if it's a house where the others know each other or have already lived together a few years). I never go out or socialise (except with family), i'm afraid I won't have anything to contribute socially, and as someone who's been friendless for 15yrs+, i'm really not good at keeping up some kind of 'i'm normal' facade. I feel people will see through this, and especially start to wonder over time when they see I never have friends over or 'go out'. Another thing that worries me is, i've always found it harder to get to know and interact with people my age (especially other females!). I find myself less anxious when talking to someone in a much older age bracket. I don't have anyone I know to move into a house with me, I know my cousin wants to when she gets a job (or so she says), and there is my younger sister, but she has behavioural issues (due to cerebral palsy), and acts more like a 13yr old than her age, 22 (and seems to want to oppose every suggestion I have). So that leaves sharehouse the only option for now....but i'm reluctant. Also, while I have managed to be in steady casual employment since February (and still receive Austudy while I study full time), I might soon only be getting 5-10 hrs a week (as the retailer i'm working for has brought in a new rostering system which will limit everyone's hours). I'm worried it will be a strain financially (or I simply wont afford it!). Thanks for reading

amalee78 Anxiety during good times
  • replies: 3

I have just recently had some very good news in the form of a bit of a windfall. But I keep having these thoughts that something bad is going to happen to even up the score, so to speak. The thoughts are so intrusive I'm starting to get that feeling ... View more

I have just recently had some very good news in the form of a bit of a windfall. But I keep having these thoughts that something bad is going to happen to even up the score, so to speak. The thoughts are so intrusive I'm starting to get that feeling of dread about me, even though I should be feeling happy and relaxed right now. does anyone have any suggestions for me?

KMTE Health anxiety please help
  • replies: 4

This is my second time posting. I've been recently diagnosed with anxiety- health anxiety, ocd, panic disorder which has caused mild depression. I've been to three different doctors multiple times and had various tests for various health conditions t... View more

This is my second time posting. I've been recently diagnosed with anxiety- health anxiety, ocd, panic disorder which has caused mild depression. I've been to three different doctors multiple times and had various tests for various health conditions that all came back fine. I'm rural which means it can be along time between appointments with gps and mental health workers. I basically spend all day thinking I have various life threatening conditions wrong with me which my anxiety then tends to mimic the symptoms causing a flow on effect. I guess I just want to here other people's experiences with health anxiety and some of the symptoms they get to make me feel less alone in all this. Thanks

Emmy. Day after panic attack
  • replies: 9

Had a huge panic attack yesterday, haven't had one this servere in a very long time. (To say I feel devastated is an understatement). Anyway, what I'm wanting to ask is today I just feel exhausted, and still a little panicked too. Is this normal? My ... View more

Had a huge panic attack yesterday, haven't had one this servere in a very long time. (To say I feel devastated is an understatement). Anyway, what I'm wanting to ask is today I just feel exhausted, and still a little panicked too. Is this normal? My poor husband was so surprised to see me like that yesterday. It took me back 3 years ago to my first ever panic attack, that's how scary it was and how out of control I felt. Sorry rambling. Please let me know if you experience anything similar the day after? Many Thanks, Emmy