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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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mcm97 No support in the workplace
  • replies: 9

Hi, this is my first time using Beyond Blue but something happened yesterday at work that I am not not okay with and feel the need to share. I have really bad anxiety and depression and only in the last 6months have ben put on medication to help, whi... View more

Hi, this is my first time using Beyond Blue but something happened yesterday at work that I am not not okay with and feel the need to share. I have really bad anxiety and depression and only in the last 6months have ben put on medication to help, which it has but I still have panic attacks and bad days. I work for a big organisation in a call centre so obviously taking calls can be quite challenging at times. Some days ill be fine and my shift will go by like a breeze with no issues. Other days I cannot even speak, i cant even greet the customers. The lights start messing with my head, my jaw starts clenching and shaking and i need to leave. My workplace claims they have endless support to help anyone facing mental illness, yet I have no assistance there. Most of the team leaders know about my mental illness. they often ask how I am but thats all. Yesterday I got told by a team leader that if i can only handle to take a limited range of calls that I will not be of value to the company. That same team leader last week told me I would be better off finding a new job in the new year. Firstly he is in no position to say that to me, secondly I am very fragile and those things set me off. I left work and dont want to return. Being told that I am of "no value" kills me. I have been put on a very high dose on antidepressants just to be okay then i have to deal with this at work. I have been offered no help or alternative options to help whilst my anxiety flares up. Today I am going to speak to the manager to report this. I no longer want to be at a workplace like this if they dont accommodate to people with mental illness. Mental illness is not something we can choose not to have. I am seeking help and I am doing my best to be myself again.

Butterfly82 First time posting and sharing about how I feel
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, I am new to beyond blue therefore please bare with me regarding my post. Currently I am feeling very overwhelmed with my anxiety issues as I recently changed jobs and struggling to adapt to the routine change as well as the none contact ... View more

Hi everyone, I am new to beyond blue therefore please bare with me regarding my post. Currently I am feeling very overwhelmed with my anxiety issues as I recently changed jobs and struggling to adapt to the routine change as well as the none contact with people and basically sitting in a corner by myself. I have always suffered with anxiety and depression. It seems to come and go but is always there deep down but of late and since starting my new job it has been horrendous. I don't want to go to work, I cry every day, I shake, I go dizzy and quite often cannot calm myself down but for some reason I am able to hide it from my colleagues when I do attend and I do not want to discuss these kind of things with them. Am I supposed to tell my new boss I have this anxiety? Am I meant to say this job sucks and isn't for me? I am still on probation for another month and I do not know what to do. Besides this I have the ongoing financial concerns if I was to give up my job to pursue a new career because finally I know what I want to be when I grow up (I am 35 geez) I would be worse off financially and not have enough income to cover all outgoings, its the main reason I stay in these kind of roles, for the financial gain but I am well and truly miserable. I have a drs appointment this evening as a follow up regarding current health plan, I am not looking forward to telling them how much worse things have gotten. I'm sorry if this is a jumble of different thoughts but I am the same when I am having conversations...whatever I think I speak! Thank you for allowing me to offload, any thoughts and opinions are welcome as I feel like I am between a rock and a hard place.

anon234 Help with health anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hello, I'm new here and just thought this might be good for some support sometimes. Ive dealt with anxiety especially for as long as I can remember. I have GAD, health anxiety, ocd, phobias... and it's become extremely difficult to handle. The worst ... View more

Hello, I'm new here and just thought this might be good for some support sometimes. Ive dealt with anxiety especially for as long as I can remember. I have GAD, health anxiety, ocd, phobias... and it's become extremely difficult to handle. The worst is the health anxiety, and I've been struggling to get to school and catch buses especially. I'm always thinking about what is potentially on furniture and in the air (in terms of getting sick) and have a fear of food poisoning. I keep thinking I'm falling sick, and as someone who already has OCD tendencies I'm worrying about behaviors I've started noticing (like checking my temperature hourly for a fever and refusing to touch food or furniture for example). It has become incredibly difficult to leave the house, and I have panic attacks as well. I've just been finding it difficult to eat and sleep and dealing with constant fear of panicking or becoming sick is exhausting. I was wondering if anyone has some techniques or thoughts that can calm them down? I started therapy earlier in the year, but it seems the problem just keeps morphing. Any response is appreciated

123bex You know i can't see through the haze around me
  • replies: 1

I have been suffering from PTSD for 2 year now and each day i still find i am fighting with anxiety and its encroaching thoughts even on medication. Has anyone found any usfull tools to fight back? yours in strength! Bec.

I have been suffering from PTSD for 2 year now and each day i still find i am fighting with anxiety and its encroaching thoughts even on medication. Has anyone found any usfull tools to fight back? yours in strength! Bec.

RonnieA Anxiety with driving!
  • replies: 1

I've suffered with anxiety & panic attacks for 12 years now. 4 of which the doctor had no idea what was wrong with me!! I really want to deal with it all as I have 3 kids (11, 6 & 4 weeks) & I can't take them out anywhere without a trusted support pe... View more

I've suffered with anxiety & panic attacks for 12 years now. 4 of which the doctor had no idea what was wrong with me!! I really want to deal with it all as I have 3 kids (11, 6 & 4 weeks) & I can't take them out anywhere without a trusted support person. I can normally drive in my own town ok, but have major freak outs if I defer from my normal routine or leave the town at all by myself. I want to get help, but I have to rely on other people to take me. I feel like a real burden & I'm terrified of the exposure treatment!! Any tips??

ElliotCleverland Intrusive Anxiety over Literally Nothing
  • replies: 5

Hi all I've always imagined scenarios that have a 0.05% chance of actually occurring, and then I have anxiety over the potential consequences. It's crazy. It happened during my early teens (up to 14). I was petrified of drugs (note, nobody in my fami... View more

Hi all I've always imagined scenarios that have a 0.05% chance of actually occurring, and then I have anxiety over the potential consequences. It's crazy. It happened during my early teens (up to 14). I was petrified of drugs (note, nobody in my family has had drug issues - was an odd, but good fear to have I guess). If I went into a public bathroom and saw a sharpie bin or what looked like powder, I would be worried that it would somehow effect me, as if some fake powder somehow flew up inside my nose. I would literally google "(insert drug name) symptoms of use" and look out for symptoms, in case I somehow digested it (looking back, I see how silly this is). Oh and of course, because I was reading the symptoms, my body tricked myself into thinking I was experiencing them. Fast forward to now, where I'm twenty. Typical stuff really... I became acquaintances with some colourful people. Nobody properly dangerous, but moved in questionable circles. Through third degree connections, mutual mates who they had - some pretty 'unlikable' members of society came to knowledge. I was privy to lots of information, things not of a legal nature. Since then, I believe I have fallen out with these people. It was a huge misunderstanding, but they're ignoring my messages and I feel like they're mad. They've told me stuff that I'm not comfortable knowing, stuff which I would hate to be questioned for leaking (not that I have, but if something happened...) and it taught me lessons about who to and who not to associate with. I trusted these people with lots, and the whole hostility makes me uncomfortable. So much so, that I don't go out at night anymore. I don't go to the gym, I'm almost becoming a recluse. Nothing has actually happened to warrant this. No threats, no signs or anything. Just me thinking "what if (person) told (person) what I thought about (person).. Oh no, that could be very dangerous. They're violent, they're this they're that blah blah..." In reality, these people don't even think about me anymore and the 'falling out' was over six months ago. It's just their nature (more so, the nature of their associates) which makes me extremely anxious. I've spoken to some mates, in full detail and they say that nothing has happened to make me worry. They're right, I know it but can't let it settle... I can't remember how I got over the whole drug thing, but I NEED to get over this. It leaves me trembling with intrusive thoughts. Thanks in advanced!

lelebe Anxiety flare up
  • replies: 54

Hi, About 5 years ago i had my first panic attacks i seeked therapy and slowly improved but i could never shake my phobias. Recently my family has had a couple of stressful months and the anxiety has flared back up again. I know anxiety is so individ... View more

Hi, About 5 years ago i had my first panic attacks i seeked therapy and slowly improved but i could never shake my phobias. Recently my family has had a couple of stressful months and the anxiety has flared back up again. I know anxiety is so individual but has anyone with panic disorder found relief from anti depressants? Or is there any other therapy anyone has found useful?

Miss1234 Scared with physical anxiety symptoms and just starting medication
  • replies: 2

After 6 months of testing for loads of things they've finally diagnosed me with bad anxiety/depression. Not sure how I didn't realise it earlier. I've felt so sick and nauseous and it just comes out of no where. My mouth goes funny and I have a stran... View more

After 6 months of testing for loads of things they've finally diagnosed me with bad anxiety/depression. Not sure how I didn't realise it earlier. I've felt so sick and nauseous and it just comes out of no where. My mouth goes funny and I have a strange metallic taste. I get a slight headache and a bit hot and cold. Does this sound like a panic attack? Insist want it to go away. I worry about anything and everything and it's getting my everyday life and small children. I've been given a script today for medication but haven't started it yet. Is anyone on medication? I'm so nervous. Thanks

Pluckyhbomb Anxiety over throwing up/feeling sick - An endless cycle.
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone. You can call me Hayley. I'm 22 years old and am feeling really lost and down at the moment. This week I've really been struggling with a new aspect of my anxiety. I've always suffered from social anxiety but have always been able to keep... View more

Hi everyone. You can call me Hayley. I'm 22 years old and am feeling really lost and down at the moment. This week I've really been struggling with a new aspect of my anxiety. I've always suffered from social anxiety but have always been able to keep the anxiety at a manageable level. However this week I have added a new stressor into my life - dating. I have found that I am now often plagued by this uneasy, unsettled, nauseous feeling in my stomach. I have long had a fear of vomiting - I don't exactly know why. Perhaps the loss of control that you feel when you vomit? I also got alcohol poisoning once and that was extremely difficult to deal with so I'm sure that is also a contributing factor. Upon arriving at a date the other day I proceeded to throw up in my car - classy I know. I had thought the feeling was just 'normal' butterflies in the stomach - but 10 minutes before meeting him I had a hot sweat and my mouth began to salivate and I knew I was done for. Throughout the date this same feeling swept over me in waves about five more times - luckily with no actual vomiting but there may have been a few audible gags at times. He was very understanding and sympathetic to me though. I'm now scared to eat any food because I both can't stomach the thought of eating because it makes me feel nauseous and I'm also afraid that if I eat I will need to be sick again. But then I am also sure that me not eating nearly enough food (other than bird nibbles when I am not feeling nauseous) probably only exacerbates the problem because I am probably feeling weak/tired/nauseous from lack of food. The kicker is that my mind wasn't even feeling an unmanageable feeling of anxiety before this date and since then. It's like my body started to exhibit physiological signs of anxiety and now its those physiological responses that are causing me anxiety. Does that make any sense? This constant feeling of anxiety is now leading to me feeling incredibly 'down' and critical of myself. I feel like this is an endless cycle and I don't really know how to go about putting it to a halt. We have another date tonight and I don't want to cancel because I genuinely like this guy - but the thought of feeling like this every time I see him makes me want to curl up in a ball in my room and never leave.

Kiag34 I'm strange... so what
  • replies: 2

Hi. I'm not sure exactly what my question is. I guess I'm looking for people that have had similar experiences. Today in the way home from work I cried. Someone had noticed I moved a wheelie trolley to lean my book on at work. He said that's not how ... View more

Hi. I'm not sure exactly what my question is. I guess I'm looking for people that have had similar experiences. Today in the way home from work I cried. Someone had noticed I moved a wheelie trolley to lean my book on at work. He said that's not how it's done there usually. I said 'yeah but I'm different' with a smile. He said yes, I knew you were strange when I first met you. I brushed it off but as the day went on I remembered how many times I have been told I'm kooky, different, strange, 'honest' (read: blunt). Or 'special' with that look that's supposed to be a joke but doesn't feel like it. One time I got the courage to respond and question directly at the time to a good friend who is known for telling things how it is. She had a lot of pauses formulating her answer. She told me that I was blunt. Honestly I don't feel I am but I'm trying to appreciate that is how I'm seen at times by others. in a way I feel like I'm back at school where there's that one kid that everyone has to treat extra nice because they have some sort of impairment /disability that wants to participate in something you know they just can't fully. Indulging their request. Is there something wrong with me that I don't know about? Ive had depression diagnosed years ago which subsided with short term medication before coming back a number of years later - this time with its friend anxiety. I got help through GP and psychologist. Learnt about mindfulness. Im not sure how to respond (within myself) to comments of being weird/strange/different. My sibling got diagnosed borderline personality disorder recently now I'm worried if I were going down that path. I over complicate too much at times. Surely I'm not alone in my experience