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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AinslieB Anxious mum
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Hi everyone - I am a mum of two young teens. Both are lovely and social but sitting underneath this is some anxiety (runs in my family). My youngest had panic attacks at age 9/10 which was awful but have disappeared now (they were triggered by people... View more

Hi everyone - I am a mum of two young teens. Both are lovely and social but sitting underneath this is some anxiety (runs in my family). My youngest had panic attacks at age 9/10 which was awful but have disappeared now (they were triggered by people taking photos of him and being on social media) and he said he feels he can manage it and he's proud of what he's achieved in overcoming it. My eldest is diagnosed GAD a long time ago and his manifests in mild depression and anger. At this stage its relatively OK - both are healthy, loving, appear happy. My eldest does brilliantly at school, is currently positive and motivated, and very aware of his feelings so that when he feels down he takes action. My youngest less brilliant at school (I do attribute this to anxiety), but he is sociable, artistic, engaged and outgoing - has many friends, and he recently held his first art exhibition which he was proud of. He to is very alert to negative feelings and talks about them so feels he can take control of it. So really - they are not bad to the point where I need to take them out of school and seek serious help (this is their current state, mind you - but they have had bad times in the past) At this stage, I am the biggest problem - I have serious anxiety diagnosed 5 years ago after my mum died and while on the outside it looks OK it's starting to eat away at me where I worry about my kids and their future constantly. I am convinced one of them will develop a serious mental illness and/or will have any other host of significant problems in the future - I am just 100% convinced regardless of what anyone says. It's ripping me up inside and I am blaming myself and my parenting for their 'future' problems and don't know how to cope with it. Up at 3am every night, heart racing, tingling legs, the other night I burst into tears in front of my husband and I feel for him as he doesn't know how to help and is tired of it. I am totally sure my kids are going to suffer in life and have serious problems - mental, physical. employment, challenges with further education etc. It's affecting my life and work and I want out.......it's so bad I feel like Iwant to run away as a mother vs. deal with any of their problems head on, should they pop up. I just don't have the coping mechanisms anymore nor do I feel I can help. This is also affecting my work and I am retreating socially. Any tips???

El4 Is it anxiety
  • replies: 11

I haven’t really told anyone what’s REALLY going on. It’s been a while since I started to feel like this. Orginialy I thought it was just me being a teenager but what I feel like it’s more than that. When ever something happens I can’t get it if my m... View more

I haven’t really told anyone what’s REALLY going on. It’s been a while since I started to feel like this. Orginialy I thought it was just me being a teenager but what I feel like it’s more than that. When ever something happens I can’t get it if my mind, I tried talking to my mum but she just said I was over thinking it. But I never did this before. It all started when my best friend moved away and then my group broke up and now I feel alone. Whenever someone looks at me funny I start to overthink it and then I feel my heart pick up and I get hot. I can’t sleep sometimes. I just want to go back to normal but I can’t. I started to think that maybe I have anxiety but then I felt bad for over reacting. Some things make me feel sick when I see them but then is that just normal? Idk what to do.....

sue_denim Any teachers with anxiety? I need help to get through prac.
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Hi everyone, I've just started in the forums, but am seeking some tips/ help etc to get through my 4th year / 10 week prac block. I'm a mature aged student, have been studying since 2011 due to parenting/ earning responsibilities, and I'm on the home... View more

Hi everyone, I've just started in the forums, but am seeking some tips/ help etc to get through my 4th year / 10 week prac block. I'm a mature aged student, have been studying since 2011 due to parenting/ earning responsibilities, and I'm on the home stretch of practicum/ internship to get this dual degree. Thing is, it's not fun. I'm not getting that joy I'm supposed to feel when people who teach love their teaching. I struggle with classroom management , and no matter how many hours I spend on my lesson plans, it often unravels and I end up having an anxiety attack in front of the kids. I've burst into tears in front of one group: I can handle most kids (I've been a teachers' aide for 10 years), but the ones who argue that the sky is not blue, that I can't have their phone to take to the office because they've used it in class, etc, esp. those with ODD and just rude really confound me, and now know how to push my buttons. My uni obs. sessions have been mixed, the last one, she witnessed a train wreck of a lesson, and I've barely passed that stage of prac. I'm a really high achieving student: I normally get Ds and HDs, and now to be floundering is soul destroying. The 80 minute periods don't help either. I'm even questioning whether I want to be a teacher. I'm back at it for the last half of prac tomorrow. Am trying to get in exercise, mindfulness meditation, eating well, trying to get enough sleep etc, but am scared I'll fail. My partner has also just left me, and I've got 2 disabled kids. I have to get through this. Help!

toodepressed Severe anxiety - new serious symptoms need help !
  • replies: 6

I'm having problem in my severe anxiety. New signs and symptoms that destroying my life. I don't have a family or even close friends to give me a clear feedback about my daily life, but what I feel I'm becoming so lost, losing control " time manageme... View more

I'm having problem in my severe anxiety. New signs and symptoms that destroying my life. I don't have a family or even close friends to give me a clear feedback about my daily life, but what I feel I'm becoming so lost, losing control " time management" losing opportunities, friends, personal stuff, and attention to small details. My short memory is getting worst, tried to get a job but my anxietys' symptoms are really clear such as shaking hands and lack of attention. I'm so scared about my future need your advice !

G89 Reaching out.
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For the purposes of this post, I’ll call myself John. I am 28 years old and have been living with some type of anxiety disorder since the age of 10. As a young child, I distinctly recall having textbook OCD – the counting, checking, touching, repeati... View more

For the purposes of this post, I’ll call myself John. I am 28 years old and have been living with some type of anxiety disorder since the age of 10. As a young child, I distinctly recall having textbook OCD – the counting, checking, touching, repeating rituals based on everything and anything. In my teenage years it largely subsided, but only to make room for GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). This too was textbook. The what if’s would repeat over and over and over again. Moving forward 10 or so years, I have developed an ugly eating disorder, body dysmorphia as well as a reoccurrence of both my OCD and GAD. I work in an industry where I deal with separated parents and it is bloody difficult. It has taken a toll my mental health in ways I can’t explain. In the last week I’ve been forced to take some off from work on sick leave because my anxiety and paranoia just became all too much. I have seen various psychologists and psychiatrist and I am currently being treated with therapy and medication. As I don’t have many people to talk to about this, I thought posting on here would be a good idea. I have a daughter who is one year old and a supportive partner, who unfortunately has to put up with me with when I am feeling extremely down. I am not sure if anyone will respond, but it would be nice to hear from others in similar distressing situations. John.

Booklover17 Anxiety from social situations
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Hi everyone, I need some help with this. I was hosting a party on the weekend and I got so anxious. I was so overwhelmed with the setting up of everything and then when the party was going on, everyone wanted me for something and I didn't even have t... View more

Hi everyone, I need some help with this. I was hosting a party on the weekend and I got so anxious. I was so overwhelmed with the setting up of everything and then when the party was going on, everyone wanted me for something and I didn't even have time to eat much. It was just so overwhelming for me. Has anyone else felt like this? What did you do to cope in that situation?

Lil4 How do I start living again 😢
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Hi! I'm a 34 year old married woman with 2 small children, no history of anxiety or mental health problems. Have always been a positive, happy, enjoying life as it comes type of person until a month & a half ago when we were on holidays & I experienc... View more

Hi! I'm a 34 year old married woman with 2 small children, no history of anxiety or mental health problems. Have always been a positive, happy, enjoying life as it comes type of person until a month & a half ago when we were on holidays & I experienced what I now know was a panic attack... It came out of the blue, nothing to provoke it! Sweating, feeling sick, dizzy, cold, pounding racing heart! So into an ambulance of to emergency... Monitored & put down to stressors or the infection that was on my ear. Since then I just haven't felt the same! Just anxious all the time on & off, can't enjoy life. I'm now just over 3 weeks on meds & 3 sessions of therapy, I'm having some really good days & have definitely improved from where I was at, but also times where I get the sensations something isn't right... Then I start to panic about my health! Even though the Dr has said you're fine, it's just anxiety! I'm finding it so hard to deal with, because when you go from feeling great one day to having an attack like I did & now these feelings for over month you just can't shake off that something isn't physically wrong with you! How do I get my old self back, I miss me... I miss feeling confident, I miss wanting to do things, I miss living with no fear

sm23 Anxiety or just overreacting?
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Hi, I’m new here and I really just want to know what’s going on. I don’t know if I have anxiety or if I just worry way too much. I go from being ‘normal’ to stressing about really little things that other people probably won’t even worry about. I cou... View more

Hi, I’m new here and I really just want to know what’s going on. I don’t know if I have anxiety or if I just worry way too much. I go from being ‘normal’ to stressing about really little things that other people probably won’t even worry about. I could have a really good day, but at night, right before I go to sleep, my brain just repeats all the things that I did wrong that day or things that could have gone wrong and I find it really hard to sleep. I also get affected by things really easily, no matter how small it is. I also obsess over whatever it is I’m worried about and I usually end up annoying the people I talk about it to. Usually when I’m worrying about something, I get a really uncomfortable tingling sensation that kind of moves from my heart to my hands and I have to keep fidgetting to keep it under control. My jaws also end up getting lind of sore because I clench them subconsciously when I’m nervous. It also often feels like something is going to go horribly wrong, or I feel like people actually secretly hate me. I also find that I always find new things to be anxious about. I recently just started a new job and while I was working I felt pretty good and comfortable, but right after I finished my shift I started overanalysing everything I did and made myself really anxious. Then when I get over that, I’ll get anxious about some other stupid thing. Sometimes I’ll just start getting really nervous for some reason. This has been going on for at least a year and a half now, and even though some days I’ll be completely fine, it feels like im worrying most of the time. And I feel like my worries are really out of proportion. Even if its a normal thing to be scared about, like a job interview or a speech, it seems like I’m overreacting when I compare my feelings to my friends. I don’t know if that really made sense or if what I wrote is even worth posting but it’s getting really annoying and K feel bad because I usually annoy the people I’m close with. Thanks in advance.

Gords315 Do I need help? New to anxiety
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Hello, I just joined the beyondblue community 10 mins ago and I'm seeking advise after I had what I think was an anxiety/panic attack today. I was shopping with my boyfriend and all of a sudden when I was waiting in line to pay for my shopping I went... View more

Hello, I just joined the beyondblue community 10 mins ago and I'm seeking advise after I had what I think was an anxiety/panic attack today. I was shopping with my boyfriend and all of a sudden when I was waiting in line to pay for my shopping I went really hot, dizzy and my head felt pressured, it was like I was zoning out. I had to take my jacket off and tried to control my briefing. My boyfriend noticed and asked if I was ok, my eyes watering. I said no I don't feel right. I tried to pull myself together but in the next shop I was texting my friend about what I just experienced then it was happening again and I started to panic, I was shaking and cried quietly so non of the other customers could see. My boyfriend urged for us to leave and go home. As he was driving I burst into tears, I was trembling, hiding away from him. I kept thinking I bet he thinks I'm mental, he pulled over and hugged me, asked why I was crying and I couldn't explain. I said I didn't know. It was like this while feeling of dread was hanging over me. I cried more because I was scaring my self thinking there is something wrong with me. I just wanted to lock myself in my room so no one could see me. I have been very worried about a lot recently. Money being a huge factor. I'm on a working holiday visa so my future is uncertain and feel like it has unsettled me, I am my late 20's and feel I should have some sort of base. I worry about ridiculous things like needing to find the right partner because I want kids in the next 5/6 years. I worry that I'm not good enough in work and that my boss thinks I'm stupid, I just moved career paths and also to a different type of company, where I'm trying to learn new things. I worry about my looks. I've avoided friends I've met here. I've found everything a struggle lately and then I tell myself I am being ungrateful because I'm living the dream near the beach and I shouldn't be like this. But I can't help it. When today happened, I thought there might be something wrong and took action to seek advice. is there something wrong with me? And do I need help? Id like to think I can handle it and move past the worry but if I'm honest to myself I don't know if I can. Thank you in advance to anyone who reaches out

Thenamegame Rocovery, anxiety and trying to build confidence
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So, I had a breakdown a few months ago and an espisode which has new left me currently at home healing. The only problem is I now have severe anxiety and I worry about how to build my confidence so I can go to interviews and live my life again when I... View more

So, I had a breakdown a few months ago and an espisode which has new left me currently at home healing. The only problem is I now have severe anxiety and I worry about how to build my confidence so I can go to interviews and live my life again when I start to get better. How can we help our own anxiety and build confidence?