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

All discussions

Elizabeth2601 Health Anxiety - waiting for MRI
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I need some help and support. I have recently had terrible headaches, tingling and wet skin feelings in patches on my body, dizziness and blurry vision and I am freaking out! my GP referred me to a neurologist who has ordered a brain and... View more

Hi everyone, I need some help and support. I have recently had terrible headaches, tingling and wet skin feelings in patches on my body, dizziness and blurry vision and I am freaking out! my GP referred me to a neurologist who has ordered a brain and spine MRI which I had on late Thursday night (it's Sunday night now). I feel like I can't even face to day tomorrow as I live in complete fear that my phone will ring with him wanting me to come in to discuss the results. I have been seeing a psychologist but it hasn't seemed to be helping, I can't control this panic I am feeling that something terrible was on the MRI. has anyone else experienced this? Please help!

Noso Anyone else had these panic attack symptoms before?
  • replies: 8

A couole of hours ago I had what was probably the worst panic attack I've ever had, I won't into huge detail about what triggered but needless to say I can't handle confrontation whatsoever, I pretty much fall to pieces straight away and freak out. A... View more

A couole of hours ago I had what was probably the worst panic attack I've ever had, I won't into huge detail about what triggered but needless to say I can't handle confrontation whatsoever, I pretty much fall to pieces straight away and freak out. Anyway when it really kicked into gear my hands and fingers all siezed up like crab claws and it was actually quite painful it was like I was being mildly electrocuted, this then spread to my face and my face went all numb and it actually made it difficult to talk, at that point brain goes into overdrive and screams stroke! It took me a while to convince myself otherwise and get movement back in my hands, fingers and face. I've had anxiety for a fair while and I've never experienced anything like this before, just putting seeing if this has happened to anyone else? cheers for listening guys, Kieran

kucingcantik Change of career due to anxiety?
  • replies: 9

Hi there, I am new here! I was diagnosed with GAD and Social AD in 2015, but have really been experiencing this my whole life. I am a lawyer and that is obviously quite a stressful job. I find it really hard to manage my anxiety in many situations th... View more

Hi there, I am new here! I was diagnosed with GAD and Social AD in 2015, but have really been experiencing this my whole life. I am a lawyer and that is obviously quite a stressful job. I find it really hard to manage my anxiety in many situations that arise frequently in my job. This leaves me having panic attacks and feeling awful for days/weeks at a time. I find it hard to interact with my children and husband and withdraw when this happens. It affects how I enjoy my whole life. I have wanted to be a lawyer since I was 13. I thought it was something I was really passionate about. I do enjoy some aspects of my job, but every few months since I started working as a lawyer I have wondered if what I enjoy about my job really does justify the anxiety flare ups I experience due to my work. Has anyone here changed careers because of the way that their career impacted upon their mental health? I feel like I would be a failure if I did this, but I also feel like I am wasting my young children's childhood due to how this is making me feel.

DomM Anxiety and OCD thought patterns leading to self destruction
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Was Curious if anyone else feels their anxiety/ OCD thought patterns make them feel like they are a bad person. I am constantly feeling like I have done something wrong, acted in a bad manner, worrying people hate me, self destructing my relationship... View more

Was Curious if anyone else feels their anxiety/ OCD thought patterns make them feel like they are a bad person. I am constantly feeling like I have done something wrong, acted in a bad manner, worrying people hate me, self destructing my relationships, and making up scenarios that never happened. I was wondering who else has these types of experiences and how they work through them? As it appears to most people "nothing" is wrong with me, but I am destroying myself on the inside with thoughts and now thoughts of things I know I did not do but keep questioning it anyways. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Alwayworied Anxious wreck
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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.