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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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Tryinhard Do I have depression or anxiety
  • replies: 5

I’ve been taking anti depressants on and off since the age of 16. My counsellor has told me that she thinks I suffer from anxiety as opposed to depression. I tend to agree but the anti depressants are a big part of my life, are they really what I nee... View more

I’ve been taking anti depressants on and off since the age of 16. My counsellor has told me that she thinks I suffer from anxiety as opposed to depression. I tend to agree but the anti depressants are a big part of my life, are they really what I need though? I worry about everyone and everything. Never feel I’m good enough and yearn for other people’s approval. When things get hard I just go to bed and sleep

RainbowBird Help for high-functioning anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I'm so glad I found this little hub- I have been searching for a while for a place I can communicate and finally tell people what I am feeling. I'm 35 years old and suffer from high functioning anxiety and what I think is social anxiety also.... View more

Hi all, I'm so glad I found this little hub- I have been searching for a while for a place I can communicate and finally tell people what I am feeling. I'm 35 years old and suffer from high functioning anxiety and what I think is social anxiety also. It's really hard for me to talk about, as on paper my life looks perfect to an outsider. I work for one of the biggest tech companies in the world where I have achieved and won an award for ny performance. I have a great home, I'm putting myself through university part time, I'm travelling overseas on a dream vacation in a few weeks etc. But the truth is I'm breaking up inside. Working at a company where extraversion, being social, and building relationships is highly prized and valued, is so so hard for me- I suffer from huge bouts of anxiety being in groups, talking to clients, getting my work wrong- basically 'imposter syndrome' where I'll be found out to be a fraud and not having the skills to do my job. it's bad enough it keeps me up at night and working like at all hours to keep up. Everything is about collaboration and sharing, and I get so tired at always having to be 'On' when basically I am scared all day long. I have few friends because of my anxiety- basically because I struggle to connect with people, and don't have a boyfriend as I really struggle to even talk to a guy I really like, making me come across as aloof and not interested. I'm wondering if I'm even displaying selective mutism here as I cannot physically talk to someone I really like ( men I'm not attracted to I can talk to normally). I'm super worried at 35 I will be alone forever- I'm aware of my age and would like to have a child in the future. I have a history of domestic violence from my childhood, my parents were not emotional people, and I was bullied in both primary school and high school. I hate being in groups, especially groups of women- probably a past trauma from my high school days at an all-girls school and being bullied, which is hard as I work in an all female team. I have little support in real life except for a few friends. I force myself to socialize and network and usually drink to make it easier but it feels forced and inauthentic. I have had therapy in the past for a year, but it's all still there and I have no idea how to work through it. I can't talk about it as I fear no one that knows me would believe me or would think I am complaining about nothing due to what they see on the outside.

Mumworrier Food poisoning/germ anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hello, I am new here and just coming to terms with the fact I likely have anxiety/OCD. I am currently spinning myself out because I let my children lick the beaters when we made cookies and now am sure I have given them salmonella. It is exhausting i... View more

Hello, I am new here and just coming to terms with the fact I likely have anxiety/OCD. I am currently spinning myself out because I let my children lick the beaters when we made cookies and now am sure I have given them salmonella. It is exhausting in my head and each day I get through feels like I have just barely survived. As there always is at schools there is a vomity big going around at the moment and from the second I hear about it, I feel sick and unwell. My body cooperates with my anxiety and I do often have an upset stomach etc which compounds it. I could hardly eat at a friends house the other day because I had no idea how long the roast chicken had been sitting out for. I am planning on going for help soon because I can’t continue to live like this but can anyone give me some reassurances in the meantime?

beehivesweetie nervous and feel nausea at the thought of going out
  • replies: 4

hi i'm not really sure what been going on but for quite some time now i have been getting really nausea and nervous of the thought of going out in public in any way, i can leave my front gate without my heart starting to race and feel like i'm gonna ... View more

hi i'm not really sure what been going on but for quite some time now i have been getting really nausea and nervous of the thought of going out in public in any way, i can leave my front gate without my heart starting to race and feel like i'm gonna pass out. seeing or being around people i do not have a close relationship with is like hell. i cant finish my sentences because of stuttering from nerves, as i'm talking to someone i don't know i tend to find myself going red in the face and just not being able to talk. Going to school is terrible every bell that rings means i have to just see more people. i was wondering on what peoples thought are on this cause i have no idea but i know its not healthy as it is progressively getting worse

kayley_jane Getting help for Anxiety
  • replies: 2

I was diagnosed with anxiety really young and it hasn’t ever really decreased in severity since. I’ve recently had to finish with my psychologist due to finances but I still need help. I know Medicare has the 10 session rebate but now that I’m finish... View more

I was diagnosed with anxiety really young and it hasn’t ever really decreased in severity since. I’ve recently had to finish with my psychologist due to finances but I still need help. I know Medicare has the 10 session rebate but now that I’m finished with those... what now? It seems as though my options cost so much money that I don’t have but I know I really need help. I don’t really have much of a support system and I want help really badly I just don’t know where to go from here. Any suggestions?

Ellie05 I don't know how to understand this or manage it
  • replies: 15

Hello, I'm writing here because I am struggling to come to terms which what I deem 'anxiety'. I've always been a sensitive person and a worrier but in the last four years I've found more and more I've had periods where I cannot cope. Something will h... View more

Hello, I'm writing here because I am struggling to come to terms which what I deem 'anxiety'. I've always been a sensitive person and a worrier but in the last four years I've found more and more I've had periods where I cannot cope. Something will happen and it will trigger an episode. During these episodes I feel physically sick and it's overwhelming. My stomach feels awful, I dry wretch and have diarrhoea. I am unable to sit still and will have to pace around, this includes at night were sometimes I'll have to spend the entire night pacing around rather than sleeping. There have been times where I've gone days without sleeping (might get an hour with a sleeping pill) and am only able to consume liquids. Often I am at a loss because the event that triggered it is so minor and my fear and worry becomes mainly about the experience itself. The thoughts that continues the circle are depressive in nature (I might lose loved ones, I'll never have a family of my own, I'll always be lonely etc.) rather than a fear of an upcoming event or situation. This means there's no end in sight when I have an episode and I never know how long it will be before I'm back to normal. People can struggle to understand why I get so worked up over things I cannot change or that shouldn't be that big of a deal. It's difficult to explain to them that it the illness itself which takes on a life of its own. The only things which ease the distress are walking (which helps to bring the feelings down to a manageable level) and having conversations with other people (somehow this can manages to take me out of the experience all together but it starts again as soon as the conversation is over). The problem is I can't always be conversing with others or walking, especially at night which is the time I dread the most during an episode. I've been on antidepressants for years and they worked well for a long time but do not prevent these episodes. The doctor also gave me some benzodiazepines for sleep (which I taking very rarely, due to their addictive nature) which sometimes work to help me sleep but only if the feelings of distress are not too intense, otherwise they do nothing. I have a hard time understanding what's wrong with me and am convinced there must be something wrong with me physiologically for there to be such an intense reaction to stress. I've not been able to find any information about similar cases online so I wanted to put this out there to see if anyone else has this issue.

Idunno25 A bit about me, where do I start?
  • replies: 3

My first time posting and actually coming to terms with the fact I have anxiety and possibly mild depression. I know ive had anxiety for some time now quite a few years actually, But today was a point where I knew I needed tp get help. I have 4 yr ol... View more

My first time posting and actually coming to terms with the fact I have anxiety and possibly mild depression. I know ive had anxiety for some time now quite a few years actually, But today was a point where I knew I needed tp get help. I have 4 yr old twins and spent the day just wanting to sleep, I didn't want to play with these gorgeous loving little boys of mine. i avoid all situations I know will be hard to handle, taking my kids shopping, driving in peak hour or places im not familiar, social situations, the gym at peak hours, etc. I also think the worst is going to happen all the time.. its exausting. I'm just a shell of the funny, easy going, quirky person i used to be, I have no idea who I have become, i find it really difficult to make/keep friends and I care so much about what everyone thinks of me, I never used to care about this! Can I go back to being the person I once was? How do parents with young children see someone to manage their anxiety? My children arent in kinder or child care, and I have very little family support. I also have no idea how to tell my family, I'm ashamed because I've always had to be the strong one out of my siblings and in my relationship with my partner as he has suffered ongoing depression.

Luna_Eclipse Feel like I'm going crazy
  • replies: 2

I have had the worst week everyday I feel like I'm dying and losing my mind and becoming so angry. I've tried therapists, psychologists and my GP. I'm all alone with no support system and I feel as tho it's time to check in somewhere yet have no idea... View more

I have had the worst week everyday I feel like I'm dying and losing my mind and becoming so angry. I've tried therapists, psychologists and my GP. I'm all alone with no support system and I feel as tho it's time to check in somewhere yet have no idea where to go or how to get there. I need help. and advise

Deano12345 When will it stappp
  • replies: 3

Hey guys just reaching out to chat to anyone that is in a similair situation as me. First of all I feel for everyone that struggles day to day with mental issues. We can only dream of the day where life is how it should be. I am 23 year old male who ... View more

Hey guys just reaching out to chat to anyone that is in a similair situation as me. First of all I feel for everyone that struggles day to day with mental issues. We can only dream of the day where life is how it should be. I am 23 year old male who since leaving school as struggled with socialising due to a very anxious feeling and racing mind. Over time this has lead me to have next to no close friends and my life is far from how I would like it. I feel like depression has creeped on in in the last few years and find myself sounding really dull and quite compared to.a.majority of people. It has gotten to the point work is becoming difficult. I no deep down I am a funny guy but my mental problems mask anyone from seeing this. I always feel so serious n tence when really I just wont to open up and have a.friend. the combination of both depression and anxiety has made me become very quite, seriouse, lonely, sad and I feel like I cant even spark a conversation anymore. It used to be so natural Im just hoping the old me is still there. I sound so dumb at times and feel like my whole thinking process is slowed right down. I have had moments of happines which where caused from me moving out and being forced.to live with mates which after a week or two I felt amazing again. And where I had great belief I was going to.become good again. These feelings of relief where amazing but unfortunately didnt stick as I have fallen back into my old thinking pattern. I find socialising my hardest obsticle and it always reminds me that im no good just reaching out for a chat or any advice even a friend with similar issues. Much love

AinslieB Terribile Anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi all I'm new here...thought Id drop in. I have had bad anxiety all my life, has got worse in the last 5 years - but well managed and not on meds. My mother had crippling anxiety as well, and depression kind of runs in the family. I have two kids, 1... View more

Hi all I'm new here...thought Id drop in. I have had bad anxiety all my life, has got worse in the last 5 years - but well managed and not on meds. My mother had crippling anxiety as well, and depression kind of runs in the family. I have two kids, 15 and 12. I am having ongoing, crippling panic attacks that one of them will end up with a serious mental illness such as Schizophrenia - particularly as my cousin has it. This fear is paralysing me and I am absolutely convinced this is going to happen. I look out for every sign (my two boys suffer anxiety, my eldest is prone to anger outbursts, and he was born emergency c-section and had allergies etc and medical difficulties - nothing serious - when he was younger) and I can't move, sleep, talk or anything. It never goes away and sometimes I can't even work or function because of this. I read statistics about the chances of this happening and then my fear skyrockets. I don't know what to do - I don't fear anything else (drugs, violence, physical illness etc) but only this. I'm not sure where to go for help - it's a form of hypochondria which I have about myself, too) projected on my kids and I just want to crawl under a bed and sleep forever, wanting the years to pass quickly so that it can just 'happen' and they can be 'diagnosed' and then I won't need to think about it. I don't know if I am irrational or if I have something serious to worry about, if they recurrent odd behaviour. I feel they have a tendency to anxiety but they are doing well at school, lots of friends, have a loving extended family, and very open communicators - very happy kids. I can't stand this anymore - does anyone have a similar anxiety around mental/physical health of their children? I am just convinced this is going to happen.