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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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Jezbr How to beat Anxiety disorders
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I'm Josh. I'm a regular reader of these forums and have found some great tips on how to manage day to day with chronic anxiety so thank you to everyone. Unfortunately, I have a phobia of my medication which is like a wall stopping me getting ... View more

Hi all, I'm Josh. I'm a regular reader of these forums and have found some great tips on how to manage day to day with chronic anxiety so thank you to everyone. Unfortunately, I have a phobia of my medication which is like a wall stopping me getting over this illness, I am constantly dizzy and shaky and have a sort of drunk feeling 24/7 I've taken the meds for a few days but stopped because they just amplified my symptoms 10 fold. I'm just wondering if anyone else has the same issue and how they overcome it. How do you take a tablet that makes you feel worse and not start to panic as soon as yo swallow it? I've suffered my entire life with anxiety and panic attacks and want to beat this and feel human again. I miss going out for dinner and a drink with friends without that fear of collapsing or getting so dizzy I collapse. Anxiety sucks! Atm I feel strong and able to manage but that fear that at any given moment I will go into panic is still lingering. If anyone has any advice that would be awesome Thanks

Weazel Tired
  • replies: 2

Alright, where to start. My doctor has diagnosed me with anxiety. I've had an uncomfortable feeling in my throat for a month or so now, pretty much constantly every day. It ranges from a lump at the top of my throat to feeling like somebody has their... View more

Alright, where to start. My doctor has diagnosed me with anxiety. I've had an uncomfortable feeling in my throat for a month or so now, pretty much constantly every day. It ranges from a lump at the top of my throat to feeling like somebody has their hands around my neck. I've also developed a phobia of food, well that's the only way I can describe it. I'm scared that I will have a reaction to what I eat, it will get stuck in my throat and I will choke so now I'm forcing myself to eat each day. I've lost 5kg in the last month. My doctor thinks all of this is due to the stress of the last 12 months. My brother was killed last year in a car accident and my stepfather has stage 4 cancer. I also have an ex-husband who is very controlling in every aspect with my children plus his partner abusing me and telling me I'm a crap parent. I study at uni but I also work part time in the finance industry in a customer facing role. I've been off work for the past 2.5 weeks on stress leave following an incident where I got into an argument with a customer who was abusive and the customer loaded a formal complaint against me and I was threatened with loss of my job. It resulted in a formal warning but I haven't been able to go back to work. My doctor has prescribed me some medication but I can't take it because I feel like I've failed myself for not being strong enough to cope with everything but also because I'm worried about having an allergic reaction (despite not being allergic to anything!) I'm so tired of the constant daily battle to eat and do things. My house is a mess, i do washing and peg it out but then forget to bring it in for a couple of days. I'm so frustrated at being held back by myself but I don't know what to do to fix myself. If that makes sense? I used to be good at fixing situations but right now I'm scared and I can't fix me. I'm hoping somebody out there can relate and help me.

Guest_4DC6D4DC Really struggling
  • replies: 2

Hi im really struggling tonight One night after another when is it going to get easier. ... My anxiety is really bad tonight. Its choking me and i cant breathe and my chest is so tight and i feel really sick Im actually smelling blood which is unusua... View more

Hi im really struggling tonight One night after another when is it going to get easier. ... My anxiety is really bad tonight. Its choking me and i cant breathe and my chest is so tight and i feel really sick Im actually smelling blood which is unusual but its veru strong but no where to be found or for any reason. And my sisters sick and my thoughts keep jumping to the worst which is she going yo end up in hospital and not make it. Im sure that it not going to happen and at this point verh unlikely but i cant help it. And my mums going to work totomorrow so ill have her and ive got appointments that I have to go to and how am i suppose to do it.

Tryhard84 New job anxiety - i always run away
  • replies: 4

Hi Everyone, This is my first post. I normally keep my thoughts locked away but im slowly realising that talking about it can actually help. Over the past 20 years i have shaped my life around avoiding anxiety inducing situations. Ive dropped out of ... View more

Hi Everyone, This is my first post. I normally keep my thoughts locked away but im slowly realising that talking about it can actually help. Over the past 20 years i have shaped my life around avoiding anxiety inducing situations. Ive dropped out of uni multiple times (including 1 week before my finals), ive quit jobs, given up driving, moved cities and even countries. Ive found that although its not been ideal, its kept my anxiety under control to a certain extent. Ive never been able to face my issues head on, ive always run away. For the past 5 yrs I've been (on the most part) comfortable. I started to get bored in my job and felt confident that i was capable of a whole lot more. So i applied for a 6 month secondment and got it, sounds great right?! Well no. Im only 2 weeks in and suffering daily panic attacks, losing sleep and have barely eaten in that time. I would normally quit but this time is different as i care about letting multiple ppl down. I am also sick to death of my anxiety holding me back. I was prescribed medication by my doctor but im so scared of taking meds incase i get stuck on them. And because i know the anxiety could be controlled if i just removed myself from the situation..... I keep reminding myself its only for 6 months, that the 1st month will be the hardest, that its not the end of the world etc. but that doesnt stop the physical symptoms or the nightmares or the constant "on edge" feeling. I feel guilty for suffering because i know other people have it a lot worse than me and i sometimes wonder if im making it all up?!? Sounds crazy i know, but I sometimes feel not worthy of suffering from anxiety and that i dont deserve to say "i have anxiety" because really im just weak and should "snap out of it". Its a funny old mind i have. Anyway, i suppose im here because i feel this may be a platform for me to talk freely to ppl who understand and wont judge. I dont have family close by or friends to confide in so have kept it to myself for so long. I have had cbt sessions but they didnt really work for me as i felt unable to be honest. I know that im going to stick at the job and i know deep down i wont take the drugs, but i want to do everything else that i can to make the next 6 months as easy as possible, and i feel like talking about it on here has helped me already. Thanks for reading x

J_D_F_C_ Any Advice?: Job & Financial Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi Everyone, I'm hoping that someone might have some advice or suggestions for me..... I find myself in a job that I greatly dislike (OK, I hate it!) and it is the major cause of my current anxiety issues. I would resign in a heartbeat, however I rec... View more

Hi Everyone, I'm hoping that someone might have some advice or suggestions for me..... I find myself in a job that I greatly dislike (OK, I hate it!) and it is the major cause of my current anxiety issues. I would resign in a heartbeat, however I recently got myself into a little financial predicament and unfortunately don't have any savings that I could rely on if I wasn't working, to cover rent or basic living costs. Bit of a vicious circle - need to leave this job (for my mental health and sanity) but need to stay (for the money). I'm only working 3 days a week (10hr days) at the moment and even then, I haven't managed to work every shift - I normally break down in tears within minutes of my arrival at work, or completely lose my cool after dealing with a customer on the phone and then breakdown in tears. I don't have any family/friends or a partner that I could ask for money (and probably wouldn't even if that was an option). The (practical) little voice in my head tells me that I need to keep working otherwise I'll be out on the street, which I absolutely understand and acknowledge that it's right, but I can't keep doing this too much longer. I considered looking for a new job but not sure that I would be able to deal with that right now whilst I'm falling down the rabbit hole, nor do I think that I could put my best foot forward for a new employer in my current mindset. I'm seriously at a loss as to what to do now!! I would love to just leave society behind and live 'off the grid' somewhere, but can't afford to that either!! LOL Anyone have any advice or suggestions on how I could try to turn this around, or make some sunshine out of this thunder storm??

amalee78 Bad thoughts worse after fights?
  • replies: 1

Does anyone else find that their anxiety gets worse after fighting with loved ones? I'm trying hard to use distraction strategies, and feel like my health anxiety is getting slightly better... but any time i have a disagreement with my partner or som... View more

Does anyone else find that their anxiety gets worse after fighting with loved ones? I'm trying hard to use distraction strategies, and feel like my health anxiety is getting slightly better... but any time i have a disagreement with my partner or something like that I straightaway start thinking bad thoughts about my health - even if we were talking about something totally unrelated. does anyone else find this?

MyProfile Looking for job suggestions?
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I'm having a good day, ergophobia wise, having a few lately, and really keen to try and get back into work, give it a go at least, so I can work on the anxiety. But I keep hitting hurdles in going back to work: 1. I have limited qualification... View more

Hi all, I'm having a good day, ergophobia wise, having a few lately, and really keen to try and get back into work, give it a go at least, so I can work on the anxiety. But I keep hitting hurdles in going back to work: 1. I have limited qualifications, I am an education assistant for special needs, but I REALLY REALLY REALLY do not want to go back to it, it is way too stressful on it's own, let alone dealing with ergophobia. I actually do not like working in schools full stop - it's not a supportive environment, it's a very dog eat dog world. 2. I am pregnant and will only be able to work for another 5 -6 months before I want to stop and prepare for baby. I also don't want a very physical job because of this. 3. I don't want full time or weekend or night work. 4. I want an easy going environment (even if the pay reflects this) so I can work mostly just on being in the work environment and battle my anxiety, rather than being overwhelmed by job stress so I can't manage my ergophobia at the same time. I'd love to work from home, or even a retail job that's a few days during the week, but I feel like I don't have the experience or the luck to land my perfect "safe" job, and it's disheartening because I am finally ready after 10 months of not working to try again. Please share any suggestions or tips, help me keep this positive feeling going Thanks

anmay Ashamed about my anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hi All, I'm new here & decided to post as I'm really struggling. My anxiety is off the charts at the moment. I remain undiagnosed, when I see the GP I skirt around my mental health issues as I think I'm either in denial or ashamed. I've recently soug... View more

Hi All, I'm new here & decided to post as I'm really struggling. My anxiety is off the charts at the moment. I remain undiagnosed, when I see the GP I skirt around my mental health issues as I think I'm either in denial or ashamed. I've recently sought counselling support for past trauma & am on a waiting list of a few weeks as its a free service, however this admission of something I've kept secret for years has opened up pandoras box and I'm not coping but I hide it really well. I put on a face to the world that isn't how I really feel. I haven't slept overnight for the past week. I'm having panic attacks laying in bed unable to sleep. I haven't gone to work the past few days. My mind is constantly in overdrive, I feel overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time until I'm just in a zombie like state. I know I should get up and out of bed & go for a walk, do some meditation, talk with someone openly, go to work, get to sleep early... but I can't seem to manage doing anything at all. No one is aware how much I'm struggling as I'm ashamed to admit I may have a mental illness. I come across as ok. I can be around people and have conversations however I'm constantly thinking about how anxious I am, which turns into paranoia and then my heart races and I feel sick in the guts, but I will still just sit and pretend nothings happening on the inside. I'm worried I've screwed my life up and will end up institutionalised. I just want to feel normal again. If anyone can relate or offer some insight or advice, I'd really appreciate it.

MissMc Returning to work next week 30 Jan
  • replies: 8

Hi I'm returning to work next Monday 30 January after having 9 weeks off due to my depression and anxiety .... I'm very worried that I'm going to totally loose control on the said day I'm not on any meds for my anxiety only for my depression .... I'm... View more

Hi I'm returning to work next Monday 30 January after having 9 weeks off due to my depression and anxiety .... I'm very worried that I'm going to totally loose control on the said day I'm not on any meds for my anxiety only for my depression .... I'm having small bouts of anxiety even thinking about returning to work .... I have written a list of positives to why returning to work is going to be good ... money, getting out of the house, wearing some make up ( yes vain I know ) but hey if it makes a person feel good why not!!! my work colleges ( which I haven't seen only communicated on social media ) having a purpose to life and some direction and commitment, and a routine .... I see my psychologist on Friday the 27 Jan and hopefully she can give me some strategies I can use ... I really need to return to work I know that, BUT!!!!! IM SCARED!!!! I have no one I can talk to face to face not even family, so that's why I joined this site and I certainly have NO wish to discuss this with any work colleges as I want it kept secret, but I do know theres going to be a lot of question wanting to be asked by my work mates!!!!

PhoneJockey Medicare rebate denied?
  • replies: 2

I have been suffering pretty bad anxiety for about a year or more now. I finally plucked up the courage to quit my job at the call center which was causing most of it and decided to get the help I needed by exposing my issues to my doctor, which was ... View more

I have been suffering pretty bad anxiety for about a year or more now. I finally plucked up the courage to quit my job at the call center which was causing most of it and decided to get the help I needed by exposing my issues to my doctor, which was hard for me to even do. I got referred to the psychologist, I was anxious to go because I always think something will go wrong. The appointment went just fine, but now, something has gone wrong. I was told I was entitled to $124.50 back as a medicare rebate. The receptionist said they would do this at the clinic and I would get the amount in my bank account within 24 hours. I googled this and most people received it within 5 days. It has been over a week for me, checking my bank account every single day as I am relying on this money being unemployed as I am living off my savings and am not entitled to centerlink for the full 13 weeks as I quit (even though I quit for good reason!). Today i received a letter in the mail from medicare saying $0 rebate, "service not claimed". I was told many times I could have a rebate for these sessions, and if this doesn't resolve I won't be going back to the psychologist because it is simply too much money to be spending right now with sessions $170 every fortnight. I feel like I'm an exception and this doesn't usually happen but for some reason it has happened to me. I felt like I was on a good path by going to the sessions and really putting myself out there and now I just feel awful. I cried for a long time when I got the letter. I called the psychologist office first and they swore up and down that everything has been put through correctly. Then, onto medicare. The lady tells me that they have no record of me having a mental health care plan even though when I was at the office they told me they had a copy of it and I have a copy of it in my hand right now. Now I'm going to be on the phone again to the psychologist office to try and get them to re-send the mental health care plan to medicare... this all just seems so much! As someone with anxiety about even talking on the phone I feel like I'm really being put through the ringer here. Has anyone had any experiences like this? At this point I am just so upset about this experience that I am thinking about not even going to my next appointment.. well, if it doesn't get fixed up i won't be going because of the cost.