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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. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety 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 you 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 worthile 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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V17 Overcoming arachnophobia.
  • replies: 16

I've noticed that I am increasingly becoming more and more arachnophobic. Even writing this post and bringing it to the forefront of my mind is making me edgy. The word spider..uh! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to over come this? The though... View more

I've noticed that I am increasingly becoming more and more arachnophobic. Even writing this post and bringing it to the forefront of my mind is making me edgy. The word spider..uh! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to over come this? The thought of having one on me...Oh. No. Waaaay. Is it because I've been anxious lately that this kinda irrational thought is popping up? I mean I check under the visors in the car before I start driving because I'd rather deal with it then instead of driving. I'm in the garden and the other day I seen a big one and couldn't get back into it [garden]. I really don't want to let this get outta hand and want to nip it in the bud. Any advice would be gratefully received. Except having them on me. V.

DN129 Driving anxiety. Has anyone had any success with this?
  • replies: 6

The initial source of what I'll call my anxiety condition and still the main ailment is driving. It came very suddenly for me around 18 months ago. I was out, driving people around in my car and suddenly got a panic attack when 'stuck' in dense traff... View more

The initial source of what I'll call my anxiety condition and still the main ailment is driving. It came very suddenly for me around 18 months ago. I was out, driving people around in my car and suddenly got a panic attack when 'stuck' in dense traffic at a set of lights. It didn't creep up from there, it was like a switch, before that no driving anxiety, after that can barely drive without getting panic attacks. Over the past 18 months I worked hard to get myself mobile, seemingly expanding my 'range' by a street at a time. Even roads I previously knew, unless I had taught myself I could drive on them with anxiety I got panic attacks. I particularly struggled with traffic lights initially, but seem ok with them now. I can't drive highways, the second I merge onto them I get a massive panic attack, feel like my whole body is going numb and dizzy and have to merge straight off. I spoke to a psychologist about this. They tried to help, but I never felt there was any progress. They kept saying without knowing a real 'cause' of the anxiety its hard the treat and didn't really give me any directions short of build up to it. I've been really frustrated of late. I feel about a month back I made real progress. I was driving more or less freely on all semi-metro and connecting roads without any real anxiety symptoms. But it really seems to be two steps forward, three steps back. Suddenly one day I felt "off", went for a drive, had a panic attack and I feel I've regressed drastically again. I seem to just be able to drive easily within a say, 10km radius of my home. Which is enough for the basics, but not enough for any real freedoms. I'm seriously considering taking anti-depressants to see if they have any effect as I just can't stand not being able to drive freely anymore. Has anyone been through this or has any input? It seems now the entire time I'm driving instead of just driving confidently, I'm 'scanning' the roads for the ability to pull over, like I'll have to do that any second. If I get to a road thats busy, backed up, full of traffic lights, or no space on the side of the road my body freaks out.

V17 Avoidance?
  • replies: 10

Hello, I'm finding that by helping others in the forums the anxiety that I am feeling lessens dramatically, yet I'm concerned I may be using this as a crux to avoid facing the problems I have. Like for instance I feel really teary and can't seem to b... View more

Hello, I'm finding that by helping others in the forums the anxiety that I am feeling lessens dramatically, yet I'm concerned I may be using this as a crux to avoid facing the problems I have. Like for instance I feel really teary and can't seem to be motivated. Do you think taking a break from the forums would be beneficial? I'd welcome your suggestions. V.

m_bel Losing control
  • replies: 5

I am at my wits end and very frightened. Unfortunately my story is quite complicated so forgive me if this is quite long. Since childhood I have been quite an anxious person but I have always maintained a high quality of life, until... my 18 yr old b... View more

I am at my wits end and very frightened. Unfortunately my story is quite complicated so forgive me if this is quite long. Since childhood I have been quite an anxious person but I have always maintained a high quality of life, until... my 18 yr old brother passed away with cancer. He was a source of strength and happiness for me, a close friend. As if it weren't enough, my Mum, my rock, has been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. She is fine right now, very positive and her scans are looking good. I have never, not even with my brother, been able to talk about the situation because talking is like accepting reality for me. In the last year or two I have progressively developed an intense fear of dying. I have had good days, good months, but recently my fear was triggered when I started having severe back pain (symptoms of my brother and mother's illness). Panic attacks, which I had learned to deal with, returned with a vengeance. I had scans to ease my mind of any serious reason for my back pain and subsequently, my pain has dissipated since I had the scan. A symptom of the back pain, or so I thought, was a dizziness, like I was on a boat, losing balance. This feeling remains even though my pain has subsided. I also sometimes feel like I lose feeling on the left side of my face and my arm. The fear and feeling is incessant and I am constantly thinking of the worst - generally something neurological (the fear attached to my back pain came from this notion too; that I would somehow lose all feeling in my body). I now have panic attacks multiple times a day, but what is worse is this dizzy, rocking, loss of sensation feeling. It is so frightening. I don't know if it has to do with muscle tightness, a real neurological issue, or anxiety. I am sick of (and slightly embarrassed) of going to the doctor but I can't study, I can't work, I can't go out on my own for more than an hour, I struggle to drive myself, I constantly have muscle tension and headaches (something that enhances my fear) and I cry daily. The doctor keeps telling me it's just anxiety but how do they really know, they misdiagnosed my brother even when I had a fear something was very wrong. I am seeing a psychologist once every two weeks, I have been prescribed medication but haven't taken it yet (another fear). Does anyone else experience this feeling? I can't help but feel something is badly wrong with me. I feel completely trapped. Thanks and appreciation in advance, M

Northern_prince Advice / peer support: manager with anxiety
  • replies: 9

Hi - I have been just started my first management position and have a history of anxiety. I have just had a breakdown at home and then work after becoming completely overwhelmed by the constant and varied demands of being a manager. I've organised to... View more

Hi - I have been just started my first management position and have a history of anxiety. I have just had a breakdown at home and then work after becoming completely overwhelmed by the constant and varied demands of being a manager. I've organised to see a counsellor and have have a supportive supervisor who will have help me implement a wellbeing plan. That said I've noticed that there is a lack of resources for managers with anxiety themselves. I also can't find much about other managers dealing with anxiety, their experiences and how they have overcome these. Can anyone point me in the right direction for tailored resources for managers suffering from anxiety or is anyone willing to share their experiences to assist me get through this difficult period? Thanks in anticipation

kaimare Vomit Anxiety ?OCD
  • replies: 11

Hi all, I'm Kai, i'm 24. Lately I have been wondering if I have an issue, bought up by another friend who laughed and joked about maybe I am "OCD". I have an intense fear of vomiting but only when related to Gastroenteritis. From this I excessively w... View more

Hi all, I'm Kai, i'm 24. Lately I have been wondering if I have an issue, bought up by another friend who laughed and joked about maybe I am "OCD". I have an intense fear of vomiting but only when related to Gastroenteritis. From this I excessively wash and sanitise my hands, I don't touch public doors/handles/buttons, I always check if my food is properly cooked or warmed (even in public restaurants), constantly wipe and clean my benches and my house (i'm talking 4-5 times a day with antibacterial wipes) and when a friend or family member mentions to me that they or someone they know has been "vomit-sick" I either make excuses not to see them, or if we are already together my anxiety hits the roof..I find myself trying to rationalise it, I get sweaty, nauseated, I feel an intense need to wash my hands and long to be back at home. My friends alway laugh because I am a "germ-o-phobe" but I have only just thought, hang on, maybe this is next level and I actually have something else going on here.. I know all of these things are silly, and I even feel silly feeling or doing them but they make me feel better and safe. Has anyone got a similar phobia?? Or experience similar things??

mpmelb First time in a forum
  • replies: 6

Hi... I have been suffering from health anxiety since shortly after my first child was born, almost six years ago. I had a breast cancer scare when my baby was 6 weeks old and that was the onset of my health anxiety. Since then, I have been on and of... View more

Hi... I have been suffering from health anxiety since shortly after my first child was born, almost six years ago. I had a breast cancer scare when my baby was 6 weeks old and that was the onset of my health anxiety. Since then, I have been on and off of medication and went through CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) nearly 2 1/2 years ago which was helpful. Right now, I am suffering very badly with it. Whilst my child is at school today and my husband is at work, I have spent the day sobbing because I am convinced I have colon cancer. You see, cancer is my problem. I obsess over it. I had an accident a couple of weeks ago and injured my hand, requiring plastic surgery. This seemed to flare up my anxiety and I was hyperventilating, which was making me dizzy and get lots of headaches, so naturally I thought I had brain cancer. Somehow, over the past week or so it has managed to switch to colon cancer. It's so ridiculous, I know. I also know that the symptoms I am experiencing are because of my diet, and the anxiety but no matter how much I reassure myself, I can't get past it. I am trying to implement the strategies I learnt in CBT but today, I am a mess. My husband is so busy at work, I feel I can't burden him with my struggle today. So, here I am, needing to vent and do something other than cry. The thoughts of dying from cancer and having to say goodbye to my child are overwhelming me today and I just need something from someone to help me because today, I can't do this on my own. Thank you.

finjake Feel very alone
  • replies: 4

I feel like no one understands the way I feel. I feel like the universe is forcing me to be alone when I'm scared to. When I'm home alone I feel so alone and afraid. I'm afraid that something bad will happen to me and no one will be here to help me. ... View more

I feel like no one understands the way I feel. I feel like the universe is forcing me to be alone when I'm scared to. When I'm home alone I feel so alone and afraid. I'm afraid that something bad will happen to me and no one will be here to help me. I am terrified of dying, I become obsessed with it and its complex because it confuses me I want to die but I'm petrified and I want to live. Every little symptom I have I'm afraid something is happening with my health and I'm dying and I always think the worst. Then when I'm out and I'm around people I want to be alone because I feel alone then too. I guess I'm writing this because maybe someone somewhere out there in the world will understand me and tell me I'm not crazy, that I'm not alone and that I'm safe. It's getting so hard to be inside my body. Its exhausting I just want to be free from this paranoia.

KittyCat17 Anxious and Confused
  • replies: 5

Hi, I am new to this forum but have been looking at other posts trying to relate to my situation for a long time now and thought I should really just post my own situation as everyone's journeys are unique. I have always been a slightly anxious perso... View more

Hi, I am new to this forum but have been looking at other posts trying to relate to my situation for a long time now and thought I should really just post my own situation as everyone's journeys are unique. I have always been a slightly anxious person. I have had a severe fear of vomiting since I was a child but have always managed to still maintain functional living and get through moments the anxiety was high. About a year ago I started a job which is focused all around people with cancer and I am speaking with people who have just been diagnosed everyday. I never really thought it effected me much until recently. I begun experiencing feelings of being 'unwell' - like I was coming down with something- extremely tired, brain fog, sore aching mucles. I was convinced something was seriously wrong with me, looking up my symptoms on google (I know, I knew that was stupid but couldnt help myself). I was convinced I could have cancer and really spiraled out of control. I also then convinced myself maybe it was a thyroid issue as it showed a slightly elevated level at my last check up. I found myself at the doctors more times in a month than I had been in my whole life. I felt like death- I felt like there was a 'shadow' over my brain, my eyes felt sunken in, I couldnt even focus on people talking to me. WHen all my tests came back, everything was fine, nothing was out of the ordinary and I was told that I had Generalised Anxiety Disorder. I was shocked, I was relieved about not being unwell but at the same time I couldnt believe that what I was feeling was just anxiety. I guess my question is, has it ever got to this point for other people? Have you ever made yourself so physically sick from anxiety that you didnt even realise it was happening? I have been seeing a psychologist since then, and my anxiety has definitely subsides since being told its just anxiety and not a life threatening illness but there are still days I feel off and I can help it creeping back into my head that maybe it is an illness that the doctors have missed. Would love to hear if anyone else relates to this? Thank you

A_Bit_Of_A_Pickle Caught in a never ending cycle...
  • replies: 2

Like probably a lot of people here, I know that anxiety tends to be a bit of a sneaky *insert your choice of swear word here*, and to be honest I thought I was done, until about a week ago when it came back with a bit of a chip on it's shoulder. I fe... View more

Like probably a lot of people here, I know that anxiety tends to be a bit of a sneaky *insert your choice of swear word here*, and to be honest I thought I was done, until about a week ago when it came back with a bit of a chip on it's shoulder. I feel like everything I've worked for in the last year has fallen apart, and what's worse is that I know why - and i still can't stop it. Maybe I should give a bit of back story. I've been having panic attacks and anxiety since i was thirteen but wasn't officially diagnosed until the beginning of last year at the age of 22 when my depression and panic attacks could no longer be hidden. My anxiety is usually coupled with extreme nightmare which lead to acute insomnia, an extreme aversion to food and pretty epic panic attacks leaving me emotionally and physically worn down. I got help and started on medication which made me feel better and i was able to start regulating my sleep and eating again so much so I was able to go and study overseas for six months. I've been back for over a year now and felt that I was doing really well - until last week when I started getting nightmares again, which made me afraid of sleep, which as you could imagine makes it very difficult to sleep, which makes me more stressed, which makes me more emotional, which makes me more anxious, which makes me afraid that the whole terrible cycle will start again. I've just finished uni, I'm broke and jobless which is adding to the stress and worry about my future and the things that used to help me cope actually seem to be making everything worse. Foods I used enjoy turn to ash in my mouth, shows and music that used to calm me remind me of my anxiety in the past. Because of some childhood interactions I find it extremely difficult to explain to people how I'm feeling. I don't know if i can afford going to the doctor's, and i feel like if I go back on medication i'll be letting everyone who helped me down, let alone my self. But most of all i just want to live. I want to not have to worry about this stuff anymore, and just knowing that I have to start the whole process all over again hurts me.