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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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Unravel What do i need to be treated for
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, My story could go several thousand words long, but im at work and i don't have the time to write that or bore you with all the details. 7 years ago i had a couple of panic attacks out of nowhere due to extreme fear, which put me into hos... View more

Hi everyone, My story could go several thousand words long, but im at work and i don't have the time to write that or bore you with all the details. 7 years ago i had a couple of panic attacks out of nowhere due to extreme fear, which put me into hospital for a couple of days. The very first few months was terrible, trying all kinds of different medications i found one that didn't make me sick. very quickly i developed GAD, for a whole year i couldn't watch tv or radio or see any bad news going on in the world as it would trigger me to have a panic attack. Fast forward to now, and i havent been on medication for about 2 years. I have had 2 kids, been through a somewhat serious surgery, and been through issues with my wife which developed GBS. Very tough times i have been through a lot, but survived it. Today i work full time, support my family and life is pretty good. Until i realise that i'm never getting better and every day is a struggle with my anxiety. I have always thought that a panic attack is the type of attack that would put me in hospital, so when people ask me do i get them i say no. but after doing some reading, i realise that i get them all the time.. im just really good at handling it so that it doesnt consume me and put me into hospital. i can control it over 10 minutes or so when it happens, but the truth is i guess i do get panic attacks all the time. Simple everyday tasks like driving, if i drive further than i like, that brings on serious anxiety for me. Yesterday i took my family to the circus which i have never been to, yes that was hard sitting in a tight space and looking for any exit i could as soon as i walked in. once i started seeing the circus performers up really high with no ropes doing crazy things, that triggered me, but i calmed myself. simple things like this i believe are actually panic attacks but i am just good at controlling them. Anyway I have decided i might try some medication again to see if i can make my every day life more comfortable. Previously i have been on medication which i found out helps GAD but not Panic Disorder. Im starting to think maybe i need to think about a different medication specifically for panic disorder? general doctors can only know so much about everything. does anyone have any suggestions on what i should be doing? thanks.

studentteacher18 Student Teacher Anxiety tips?
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone! This is my first post and after reading many different threads, I feel an accepting vibe which I have been longing for quite a while now. I am currently completing my last year of my bachelor of education (primary) at university and I ca... View more

Hi everyone! This is my first post and after reading many different threads, I feel an accepting vibe which I have been longing for quite a while now. I am currently completing my last year of my bachelor of education (primary) at university and I cannot wait to finish. Along with my course I also completed a health and physical education extension which allows me to teach health and physical education up to year 10. Because of this extension, last year during my third year of university, I had to undertake 2x 2 week placements at a high school, which at first I was really excited about. I met my mentor teacher on the first day of placement, which I immediately felt intimidated and at times spoken down to. This automatically made me feel extremely uncomfortable, and at times not wanted. He bombarded me with lesson plans to teach year 11 and 12 students that very same day, and when I explained to him of my extension, he refused to listen to my concerns and urged me to teach his VCE students. After I explained myself many times about the fact I couldn't teach VCE students, he eventually gave in and told me that good and effective student teachers would have listened to him. I went home crying that night and felt so anxious that I could not stop shaking. The next day I spoke to my university placement coordinator, and explained to her how I was feeling. She was extremely helpful and told me that if I didn't want to teach then so be, and if I felt like observing was the best option for this round of placement then so be it. I felt a little better with the circumstance, however I dreaded going back to that school. I eventually took a few year 10 health lessons, which I taught the lessons with enthusiasm and will to teach the students. However after every lesson, my supervising teacher would only give me negative feedback, and non-constructive feedback. This made me feel really small. After those 2 weeks were over, I felt great again- but never forgot how horrible I felt. The next round of placement were at another school, and my mentor teacher was so much nicer and gave me positive feedback every day. My anxiety returned throughout this placement, but i got through it easier. Now I am currently completing my final placement with Prep students, which is an amazing experience, however because of my horrible high school placement, I have major anxiety sometimes which really makes me feel low Does anybody have any tips to help my anxiety? Thank you kindly!

startingnew how to cope with triggering threads?
  • replies: 2

hi everyone i think this is the right place to put this thread.. im wondering how other people cope when they come to read a triggering thread/post? i know there is a delay in responses due to moderation but the wait sometimes makes me nervous when i... View more

hi everyone i think this is the right place to put this thread.. im wondering how other people cope when they come to read a triggering thread/post? i know there is a delay in responses due to moderation but the wait sometimes makes me nervous when i start to read triggering posts and when i cant answer it or feel helpless to post it really sets my anxiety off i know its not up to me how people respond or feel etc and thats why we do have the moderators to monitor as well but it still really sets my anxiety off, im wondering how other members cope with triggering posts?

Last_weeks_hero Anxiety surrounding work and relationships
  • replies: 1

Hi, I've had issues with anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember. A couple of years ago things got pretty bad and I sought help from my GP and ended up on medication and seeing a psychologist. Eventually I felt stable enough to come off ... View more

Hi, I've had issues with anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember. A couple of years ago things got pretty bad and I sought help from my GP and ended up on medication and seeing a psychologist. Eventually I felt stable enough to come off the medication and went on functioning reasonably well. But in the past 12 months things have gotten progressively worse and I feel very much like I'm on the edge of a serious breakdown. There area two main sources of anxiety in my life, they stem pretty clearly from a complete lack of self-worth: Firstly, I am working in my first full time job. I did an undergraduate degree in marine biology and was unable to find work, so I made the decision to complete a masters in environmental engineering which I was never passionate about. I'm now working for an environmental consultancy and am completely uninspired by the work and the people. I feel completely defeated that I've spent all this time studying to end up somewhere that makes me miserable. I spend every day at my computer by myself stuck in my own head. The worst part is I have no idea what other options I have. I don't have a clue what I'd rather be doing and I can't help but think I'd feel the same in any job. Secondly, and probably the biggest issue is my relationship. I've spent the past 6 months with a girl that I am completely in love with but she's leaving in a week to go traveling and that will be the end of us. She was clear when we started seeing each other that she would be leaving and wasn't looking for anything serious which I accepted at the time. But then we spent more and more time together and really connected. I have asked about whether there'd be a chance to reconnect when she comes back but she says she wants no expectations. She doesn't see herself in a serious relationship in the foreseeable future. I guess my real issue is understanding how someone could behave in the way she does when she's around me but be so casual about walking away. It makes me feel expendable. I have a constant tightness in my chest. I can't focus at work. I feel sick all the time. I am not motivated to do anything. I dwell on every interaction wondering what people are thinking of me. I am on medication again but I don't really feel as if it's doing anything. I've seen a psych twice now but in a way she's making it worse by dredging up things I didn't even realise were affecting me. I don't know what to do. But I know this job is making me miserable.

CourtneyJ Trapped by your safety bubble
  • replies: 1

So as a sufferer of anxiety for almost of my life I've created a "safety bubble" around myself which is basically contains my life. As you would expect this bubble is there to protect me as much as possible from uncertainty. I wake up at the same tim... View more

So as a sufferer of anxiety for almost of my life I've created a "safety bubble" around myself which is basically contains my life. As you would expect this bubble is there to protect me as much as possible from uncertainty. I wake up at the same time everyday, leave the house at the same time, drive to the same train station, park in the same spot, catch the same train, eat the same breakfast, get to work at the same time, sit at the same desk, do the same work, leave work at the same time, get on the train, go home, watch TV, go to bed. On the weekend to do the normal chores around the house, go shopping for food and not much else. Of course occasionally I do other things like have coffee or lunch with friends or even take in a football game but this is only maybe once a month. I have my hair cuts already booked at 6 month intervals with the same hair dresser and basically get the same haircut every time. And most of the time I'm perfectly happy inside my little bubble. I have friends and family (although I don't get along with most of them but that's a much bigger story) I work hard and my boss loves me... But there are times (like right now) where my safety bubble feels more like a prisoner that I need to escape. I feel like doing something completely out of character like shave my head, punch a wall or quit my job. Does anyone else feel like this?

Raynor feeling desperate
  • replies: 7

on wednesday i have to talk to an international audience of experts in another country. i can't. i know all the good advice about how to manage it. i've done it all. i'm well prepared. it makes no difference. and i can't not go unless im seriously il... View more

on wednesday i have to talk to an international audience of experts in another country. i can't. i know all the good advice about how to manage it. i've done it all. i'm well prepared. it makes no difference. and i can't not go unless im seriously ill. in hospital.

Raevin Unknown anxiety for 17 years
  • replies: 4

So it turns out I've self medicated my anxiety with alcoholism for the last 17 years without even knowing. I decided 80 days ago my addictive habits had to stop, I gave up my daily alcohol and cigarette habit of 17 years. I can now barely bring mysel... View more

So it turns out I've self medicated my anxiety with alcoholism for the last 17 years without even knowing. I decided 80 days ago my addictive habits had to stop, I gave up my daily alcohol and cigarette habit of 17 years. I can now barely bring myself to go to work through complete fear of I'm not even sure what? I have never felt this way before and it is scaring the life out of me. I went to my first AA meeting Friday night which helped but work is just killing me! Some nights I don't want to go to bed as I know the next step is waking up and having to go to work! All I want to do is have a drink to calm my nerves but ultimately know this is not the solution!!

gloria10 Separation anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hello, Thanks for reading my post. I'm finding my anxiety is increasing at the moment and I'm looking at ways to manage it. I've had it for years and I'm not surprised that it has resurfaced. So, my parents are away at the moment. We have a co-depend... View more

Hello, Thanks for reading my post. I'm finding my anxiety is increasing at the moment and I'm looking at ways to manage it. I've had it for years and I'm not surprised that it has resurfaced. So, my parents are away at the moment. We have a co-dependant relationship and I normally call my parents at least once a day. I have improved and can have days where I manage fine without them, however, they are away for a month and I am having to cope on my own with no one to turn to, which is why I'm writing this post. I guess the thing that I'm finding hardest is that my mum worries about everything going wrong and we all try to compensate for that. I've been trying to make sure everything is perfect eg having no anxiety, not getting emotional and not having any problems with work and I am struggling. I guess I'm most afraid that she'll come back and be angry at me for one thing or another. I cant please her. I also feel like I can't call them which is hardest. I'm also still adjusting to a relatively new job so any advice on that would be great. I expect to learn things straight away and I feel like my boss expects that too which is extra pressure. I'm wondering where I might find advice on dealing with separation anxiety. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you

shygirlk Switching off from work
  • replies: 4

Hi Im having such a difficult time switching off after work, I have hobbies to do and outside interests though I still struggle, and I find myself going over everything that has happened in the day, in tiny detail, what I said, what their reaction wa... View more

Hi Im having such a difficult time switching off after work, I have hobbies to do and outside interests though I still struggle, and I find myself going over everything that has happened in the day, in tiny detail, what I said, what their reaction was, what could I have don't different, it does my head in and I just want to be able to switch off from work. What does everyone else do to help clear their head and switch off from work?

Ajames the devil in me
  • replies: 3

Hi, first posting so here goes. Just started a new job, more responsibility than ever before, but its the job I've always wanted. I'm middle aged but late to the industry (financial services). New job is new everything - new people, new systems, new ... View more

Hi, first posting so here goes. Just started a new job, more responsibility than ever before, but its the job I've always wanted. I'm middle aged but late to the industry (financial services). New job is new everything - new people, new systems, new software. Have always suffered from anxiety on a low level, I'd call it trivial really compared to what other people have to deal with. Also have aspergers traits but diagnosed as not having it. My father died earlier this year so I'm thinking that was the catalyst for what is happening now. First 2 days at new work was quite traumatic mentally. Crushing anxiety on both days before work, driving to work and first few hours there, involving heart racing, nervous sweating, mental & physical revulsion of actually turning up at my new workplace. People at work are very nice, no problems there. Now its Sunday, had a worry free day yesterday but now its creeping back in for work tomorrow. And of course it annoys me that I'm not like most other people seem to be, especially others my age, in that they seem to be generally mature and worry free, even though I don't know that for sure. I have a supportive wife but she has her own issues, and 2 grown up boys but they are struggling with life a bit too, no jobs at the moment. I have a need (for myself more than anything / anyone else) to succeed in this new job but I'm worried (again) that I won't be able to because of my anxiety. Have wanted to post something like this on facebook etc but haven't had the nerve, most people my age & older would not really understand, they would have the "oh just get on with it" mentality, and its not something I would feel able to discuss with mates, guys aren't supposed to feel like this are they?