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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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2manyTabs So lost. What to do when nothing helps?!
  • replies: 2

I am a 34yo Mum of 4. I have been diagnosed with high-functioning GAD, which to me basically just means I have learnt to hide it very well (a practice which is exhausting). I have been on medication for just over 5 years: All SSRIs. I have also been ... View more

I am a 34yo Mum of 4. I have been diagnosed with high-functioning GAD, which to me basically just means I have learnt to hide it very well (a practice which is exhausting). I have been on medication for just over 5 years: All SSRIs. I have also been to 4 different psychologists over the years and done a 6 week mindfulness course. The thing is... nothing works. My body is almost constantly in fight or flight mode, I am always hungry, always tired. I excercise a lot because it is the one thing I can control and relieves stress (temporarily). I get jumpy, teary, and then completely flat. I can act completely “normal” for the kids/work/in public, and people often comment on how I have it “all together: how do you do it?!” Which is such a joke because whenever I am alone I fall in a heap. I have no one I can talk to about my anxiety (except the psychologists, who cost a bomb and haven’t helped). Breathing/meditation sometimes works for the time I am doing it but within minutes of finishing I am anxious again, so it’s a waste of time. I know this all sounds so negative but I am frustrated at having no idea how to fight the monster in my head.

Guest_98 Total confusion am I just being a sook?!?
  • replies: 2

So when around to many people I get really nervous to join in on conversations I can’t look at people in the eyes I actually don’t even no were to look when a group may b having a conversation near me coz I feel like if I say something it’s gona be t... View more

So when around to many people I get really nervous to join in on conversations I can’t look at people in the eyes I actually don’t even no were to look when a group may b having a conversation near me coz I feel like if I say something it’s gona be totally wrong and stupid and I wish I would have just kept quite, I always feel like people lie to me like constantly I have major trust issues, then I get a feeling as if they think I lie to them?! I tend to say things I truly don’t mean like saying yes to things want to say no to or things like that.... I will think and rethink situations in my mind all the time it drives me crazy, Wishing I did things differently! I care what people think of me way to much I think they all think I’m just a weirdo, I tend to not be able to be around people for to long because I think there getting bored of me and I’m annoying them and it all comes back to not being able to hold a conversation.... but then at the same time sometimes I don’t wana be alone but I don’t wana talk to anyone eaither.... I have a constant feeling that I need to be changing my job or my life i tend to stay at a job for 2 years or need something going on in my life because if I don’t then get really nervous and I feel as if I’m gona get fired or something so I’ll quit and start again somewhere new.. or I moved to Queensland For a bit and then I went on an overseas holiday for 5 weeks and now moved out of home but still now have this feeling I need to do something again.... it’s not a good feeling I get!! I’ve worked so hard to get my little flat but just have this terrible feeling in my stomach all the time that things aren’t good enough!! I feel as if I need to move back home or something and re group myself but I just don’t no sorry to vent I just don’t understand y I think so much on the things I feel so shitty about

imogen56 I love thinking about really horrible things..?
  • replies: 5

Just wanted to reach out and ask on here because I can't find anything on google. I really enjoy thinking about really bad things happening. Overall just really bad stuff usually involving me getting very badly injured. This is even though I would ne... View more

Just wanted to reach out and ask on here because I can't find anything on google. I really enjoy thinking about really bad things happening. Overall just really bad stuff usually involving me getting very badly injured. This is even though I would never want these things to happen in real life. Everything I've looked up online people complain about thinking horrible things like this and want to stop it, but I really like it. I don't want to fix it or anything I just wonder why I do it. Everyone I've talked to about it seem really weirded out and like they would never think such horrible things. Does anyone have any ideas?? Thanks

MISHELLE ANXIETY/PTSD
  • replies: 9

JUST JOINED TODAY. SUFFERING FROM ANXIETY/PTSD. HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS. IM STILL HERE CAUSE I AM A STRONG PERSON. SOME REALLY GOOD DAYS AND OTHER DAYS JUST TERRIBLE.

JUST JOINED TODAY. SUFFERING FROM ANXIETY/PTSD. HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS. IM STILL HERE CAUSE I AM A STRONG PERSON. SOME REALLY GOOD DAYS AND OTHER DAYS JUST TERRIBLE.

Topaz77 struggling to function and want to talk
  • replies: 2

I’ve been struggling with major depressive disorder for just under 11 months. I was diagnosed with anxiety but as time has gone by a slight depression has potientally started to develop Although I see a psychologist and psychiatrist and am medicated ... View more

I’ve been struggling with major depressive disorder for just under 11 months. I was diagnosed with anxiety but as time has gone by a slight depression has potientally started to develop Although I see a psychologist and psychiatrist and am medicated I’m still not coping. im still attending school but life is so hard and I can’t work but my family still try to force me into it and it causes panic attacks i don’t know what to do and I’m struggling to want to keep trying. I feel like no one understands and that my life is falling apart because of me i just really need advice and someone to talk to about life please if anyone is struggling share your story as I want to talk to people that are living with mental illness

Lemonlover Struggling to go to work
  • replies: 3

Hi, Im new to this type of support but I'm wanting help from other who may feel the same as me. I've recently relapsed back into depression and my anxiety is off the charts. A few months ago I was running a busy restaurant in the middle of the city a... View more

Hi, Im new to this type of support but I'm wanting help from other who may feel the same as me. I've recently relapsed back into depression and my anxiety is off the charts. A few months ago I was running a busy restaurant in the middle of the city and now I'm struggling to walk out my own front door. I have recently started a new job and was only there for 3 days before this kicked in. It's not a bad job and nobody was nasty in anyway towards me but nor was they very inviting. I usually wouldn't have a problem with this and would just continue about my day but after having to take the past few days off I'm terrified of returning out of fear of judgement and feeling uncomfortable around people. Plus as ive only technically worked 3 days i keep thinking about what they must think of me but honestly if I could I would. The feelings are so crippling I just want to curl into a ball and cry (most times i do) The journey also requires me to catch a bus and then a train the journey is only around 40 minutes long but the thought of this alone can be enough to put me off. The day before I can be fine and set everything up ready to go and then as soon as I get into bed it hits me full force and I just lay there, even when I do finally fall asleep I wake heavy chested only a few hours later. Im slowly starting to be put off going outside at all And feel nervous if I have to do anything alone, totally out of character for me. i really am aware I have nothing to worry about, I have a very supportive partner but i can see this is starting to have an affect on him and our relationship as we really do need my wage to get by. I anyone can help or give me advice on how to overcome this I would appreciate any support and right now I'm starting to feel more like a useless burden than a functioning half to a whole. X

Longest_ride What to do next
  • replies: 1

Hi so I am suffering from nausea related anxiety I have had this going on for a long time now and it is affecting my everyday life, it consumes my every thoughts, I have been to the doctors and been on medication and it made me worse I have been to t... View more

Hi so I am suffering from nausea related anxiety I have had this going on for a long time now and it is affecting my everyday life, it consumes my every thoughts, I have been to the doctors and been on medication and it made me worse I have been to the physiologist for weeks on end and found it hasn't help my nausea symptom as that is the only one I get. I was wondering what is the next step to try take to help my symptoms. As sometimes I don't even think it's anxiety related anymore. My mum says go to a hypnotist but I need some more insite and information on it. Thanks

Chelle88 Anxiety and Alcohol
  • replies: 3

Hi, I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for the past 3 years, I'm on daily medication. Mostly my anxiety is under control (no more panic attacks etc) however I find that if I have more than 2 drinks in a night out I wake up hungover and... View more

Hi, I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for the past 3 years, I'm on daily medication. Mostly my anxiety is under control (no more panic attacks etc) however I find that if I have more than 2 drinks in a night out I wake up hungover and super anxious! Does anyone else find that drinking makes them ridiculously anxious the next day or even for days after. I went out on Saturday night and it's now Tuesday morning and I'm still so anxious I only had about 5 drinks but I still feel horrible! Obviously the soloution is to not drink but I'm just wondering if this is a common thing?

Sav13 Teachers with OCD
  • replies: 15

I am a primary school teacher and believe I have OCD. I would love to hear from other teachers who also have OCD. As teachers, we often joke about OCD being a requisite for the job, as the job involves routines and being very organised etc. I am curr... View more

I am a primary school teacher and believe I have OCD. I would love to hear from other teachers who also have OCD. As teachers, we often joke about OCD being a requisite for the job, as the job involves routines and being very organised etc. I am currently taking anti-depressants. I have been teaching for 26 years, but in the last 5 years the job has become increasingly stressful due to the increased demands since the new Australian Curriculum came in. Before then I loved my job but now I am anxious and stressed most of the time. To cope, I have become increasingly obsessive about a number of things. I feel like this is my way to control things, as my job is now out of my control. So I was just wanting to hear experiences from other teachers and any tips which could help.

bozomac Increasing dose - will startup symptoms re-appear?
  • replies: 2

Hi all, started on medication (slow start due to potential of short term increase in panic symptoms), it's been a week now. Slight increase in anxiety, but mostly nausea that lasts most of the day. I've tried taking on full stomach etc and it helps a... View more

Hi all, started on medication (slow start due to potential of short term increase in panic symptoms), it's been a week now. Slight increase in anxiety, but mostly nausea that lasts most of the day. I've tried taking on full stomach etc and it helps a little, but nausea is still there. If that's only going to last another week, then I can struggle through that. But my doc's plan is that I will up dose to very soon, and then higher again after that. Will I get these startup symptoms all over again? If, so are they as bad? Or is the intial startup the worst bit, and then maybe milder side-effects each dose increase? That's what I'm hoping. Thanks!!

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