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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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Adrian2014 I'm back again after two years
  • replies: 2

After a period of relative stability in keeping my general anxiety under control, it's back with a vengeance. I was living in Australia when I first joined this forum, and received some great support in that time I needed it. Since then, I have moved... View more

After a period of relative stability in keeping my general anxiety under control, it's back with a vengeance. I was living in Australia when I first joined this forum, and received some great support in that time I needed it. Since then, I have moved back to the UK, quit the career which was causing stress and felt much better for it. After 8 months of being back here I met the girl of my dreams, and we were together four months before last weekend she decided we should split up. It came completely out the blue. She has her own issues she needs to work through. Since I got the bad news on saturday, I've hit rock bottom. I wake up, and at 8am I drink wine to make me feel better. I drink a fair amount each day, just enough to keep me mellowed, not drinking to get completely drunk. It's not a normal reaction and my coping mechanism is a disaster. I have barely eaten for 3 days, my stomach is in bits, and I'm full of worry / dread. Constantly feel like I'm going to lose my mind and have a breakdown, yet I never actually do. I'm functioning whilst under the influence of alcohol all day and none of my family or friends realise. I went to my GP this morning and he prescribed me sleeping tablets to assist with my bad sleep and beta blockers to help with the panic, both of which I've used in the last few years. The irony is my girlfriend thinks we should potentially give it another go, but that has still not made me feel better. The thing is, whilst I think my break up has triggered it, my anxiety problem has always been their in the background and I need to get to the cause of it. Why am I so susceptible to bad news like this? It seems I can't cope with stress.

Guest_2345 Anxiety about having anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety at the start of 2016, possibly brought on because I was meant to head off to uni. I've become a lot better during the year and intend to go to uni next year. But I'm very nervous about what my anxiety... View more

Hey everyone. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety at the start of 2016, possibly brought on because I was meant to head off to uni. I've become a lot better during the year and intend to go to uni next year. But I'm very nervous about what my anxiety might do. For me, my main fear and main issue that causes me to have panic attacks is that I'm going to go somewhere and feel anxious. Like, on a good day I'm keen to move and go to uni, but I'm scared that my anxiety will be shocking again when I go. It's such a crappy cycle. Basically, I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to get more on top of this before I move? Also, I expect to have some nerves when moving as most people do, but what advice does anyone have for moving away and starting new things with mental illnesses such as anxiety?

Huff Hello Everyone! Just reaching out a little bit.
  • replies: 4

I don't know if I have anxiety really. I've self diagnosed that I have. I've done quizzes and tests online and I've been diagnosed from none to mild to medium to severe, so I don't really know. I don't have panic attacks or many physical symptoms rel... View more

I don't know if I have anxiety really. I've self diagnosed that I have. I've done quizzes and tests online and I've been diagnosed from none to mild to medium to severe, so I don't really know. I don't have panic attacks or many physical symptoms related to anxiety at all. I function in the world. I have a job, I can talk to colleagues and strangers and I have a few friends. But I carry around with all the time - a feeling I can't quite define. I guess the closest word is 'unease'. Most times I can push it back, but sometimes its front line and centre and then I am paralysed. I need to retreat and not talk to anyone. Sometimes I wish I wasn't here at all. I fantasize about being in an fatal accident, but I am actually very safety conscious. I am not suicidal. I love my family too much. I haven't seen anyone professionally. I just can't bear the thought of talking to someone in case they tell me I'm imagining it, or that I've been reading or watching too many things about anxiety and if I stop doing it, I'll get better. I guess I'm actually anxious about not being anxious enough. I’m not very articulate anyway, and find it difficult to talk to any health professional for any reason. This is why I'm writing to this anonymous forum. I worry that I'm just diagnosing myself with something, so I can account for the fact that I'm a little bit weird and don't quite fit in. The only person I tell when I'm feeling very bad with this unease is my husband and that's to give him insight into my current behaviour. He thinks I analyse everything too much and should just get on with things. And he's probably right. In fact - in some ways he fits in less than I do..but doesn't seem to care. Maybe I just care too much about what other people think. I can tell from this forum that people are truly suffering and I feel a bit fraudulent by posting. But I thank you for listening anyway.

Bookgirl Struggling today after good day
  • replies: 2

Yesterday after seeing my dr i felt ok. Didn't feel anxious for the most part after having a really bad day previously. Today even though i woke up at 4am with some symptoms (pins and needles) went to work because i thought at least it would be a dis... View more

Yesterday after seeing my dr i felt ok. Didn't feel anxious for the most part after having a really bad day previously. Today even though i woke up at 4am with some symptoms (pins and needles) went to work because i thought at least it would be a distraction. Now feeling bad. When i am stressed i get this pain under my breast which i have gotten for years. This time though after having had a full blown panic attack a few weeks ago i feel heavy across my chest with other assorted symptoms. I know its probably anxiety but i still worry its something else. Haven't felt this bad in years and struggling. Hate the ups and downs of this. Think i should have stayed at home and taken something but thought i should solider on. Does anyone think its better to rest when you feel this bad or do something to distract yourself?

Safeasmilk Panic attacks keeping me away from sport and public performance
  • replies: 7

Two years ago I started having panic attacks, which would arise during sport or any sort of public performance. I spent a season of cricket making excuses why I couldn't attend training, such as working late, because my anxiety was getting the better... View more

Two years ago I started having panic attacks, which would arise during sport or any sort of public performance. I spent a season of cricket making excuses why I couldn't attend training, such as working late, because my anxiety was getting the better of me. The next year I tried to quit but kept getting asked to play due to lack of numbers so I reluctantly played but never trained. I'm quite heavily involved in this cricket club, being on the committee and it being apart of my social life. I also enjoy being in the company of most of the people there. Once again this season we are short of players and I have been asked to play again or at least fill in. I really don't want to play as my anxiety has killed any enjoyment playing but being so heavily involved in the club I feel abliged to do so. Or if I say no to playing then I feel like I can't show my face there again because I've let people down. I was seeing a psychologist last year about this and am also on medication but I can't seem to overcome my anxiety. Just wondering if anyone had any advice for me as it is constantly on my mind. Thanks Ben

VenusInFurs Waking up paranoid/severe anxiety at night?
  • replies: 3

This is something that's been happening on and off for a few months now, but every now and then I'll have a night where I'll fall asleep easily, but I'll end up waking up feeling extremely paranoid. And it's not about anything in particular, I just h... View more

This is something that's been happening on and off for a few months now, but every now and then I'll have a night where I'll fall asleep easily, but I'll end up waking up feeling extremely paranoid. And it's not about anything in particular, I just have the general feeling of really bad anxiety, I feel really restrained and I can't keep my body still. Sometimes when I feel I might finally be getting to sleep, my body will suddenly jerk and it starts all over again. I lie there scanning the room feeling extremely uncomfortable and scared. This usually goes on for about 2 hours until I finally fall asleep, but usually after this occurs I end up having a nightmare. This has only haopened around five times in my life, and I can't pin point what's causing this. I'm feeling extremely alone in this and just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this, and maybe even some ideas on how to stop it?

AnxietyGirl222 Introduction
  • replies: 4

Hi All, I've just joined Beyond Blue after starting anxiety medication for the first time last night. I suffer from CHRONIC GAD and possibly OCD. I was terrified to take the medication after reading all of the horrible side effects online, but today ... View more

Hi All, I've just joined Beyond Blue after starting anxiety medication for the first time last night. I suffer from CHRONIC GAD and possibly OCD. I was terrified to take the medication after reading all of the horrible side effects online, but today I am feeling calm for the first time since June. I am so excited to see how this goes. I am looking forward to contributing to posts and to helping out when I can. Speak to you all soon x

Bookgirl news anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi, does anyone else get anxiety over the news cycle? When i have high anxiety i just get panicked by news stories about terrorism or wars or can be anything really. I have been doing this since i was a teenager. Think i should stop watching news bul... View more

Hi, does anyone else get anxiety over the news cycle? When i have high anxiety i just get panicked by news stories about terrorism or wars or can be anything really. I have been doing this since i was a teenager. Think i should stop watching news bulletins but nowadays its 24 x 7 and is everywhere. I think the media now makes it worse for us with anxiety.

Kengy Choking feeling when anxious
  • replies: 14

Hi all Does anyone else experience a choking sensation during the worst of their anxiety? I feel like my throat is tight, and I'm choking on something, making it hard to breathe. I'm just wondering if other people have this issue, and what they do to... View more

Hi all Does anyone else experience a choking sensation during the worst of their anxiety? I feel like my throat is tight, and I'm choking on something, making it hard to breathe. I'm just wondering if other people have this issue, and what they do to get rid of it?

Hymz Anxiety over things said or done
  • replies: 3

Hi I am just looking into information about anxiety of things I say to people in social occasions. Whether it be text messages to speech I always over analyse it to the point its makes me sick. I worry that I have offended people and its getting wors... View more

Hi I am just looking into information about anxiety of things I say to people in social occasions. Whether it be text messages to speech I always over analyse it to the point its makes me sick. I worry that I have offended people and its getting worse the older I get.