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

All discussions

3cats Obsessive Compulsive Thoughts about Someone
  • replies: 5

I'm happily married but my husbands exes name keeps coming into my thoughts. She's no threat at all and the thoughts did go away until a week before our wedding I saw her looking worst for wear as karma is definitely catching up with her for all the ... View more

I'm happily married but my husbands exes name keeps coming into my thoughts. She's no threat at all and the thoughts did go away until a week before our wedding I saw her looking worst for wear as karma is definitely catching up with her for all the things that she's done to people but it's never been directed at me but I constantly think about her. Even on our wedding day. Her name was going through my thoughts. It's causing me so much anxiety and stress going through this again. Has anyone experienced this at all? I'm trying to be positive and turn my thoughts around into feeling sorry for her but I can't, as she's told so many lies and I shouldn't feel anything at all or even think about her as she's nothing to me so I need to retrain my thoughts again where she's irrelevant to my thoughts and my life again.

AnxiousAndy The physical side of anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hello, I have suffered from anxiety for a good portion of my life with my anxiety being quite high the past few months due to life changes, such as a new job. I am taking medication. The medication has certainly helped me cope day to day, however I o... View more

Hello, I have suffered from anxiety for a good portion of my life with my anxiety being quite high the past few months due to life changes, such as a new job. I am taking medication. The medication has certainly helped me cope day to day, however I often wake up with several physical signs of anxiety. Not only do I have sleeping issues (every night = frequent waking, waking well before my alarm; most nights = trouble falling asleep), but I also feel nauseous, nervous/panic and lack appetite. This happens every morning leading up to work. I was wondering if there is anything people know of that could be helpful managing "in-the-moment" anxiety. I have tried mindfulness, breathing exercises, writing down thoughts, exercise, questioning thoughts, trying to change my focus... I feel like I have exhausted many of the common actions, so am wondering if anyone has had success with a certain OTC medication or herbal supplements/teas (I often enjoy a peppermint tea)?

Courtz_45 Anxiety attacks make me exhausted?
  • replies: 11

Hi, I literally woke up a few hours ago and due to not eating as I have barely any appetite I woke up shakey and anxious - now I don't know if it's cause my blood sugar levels were down or what but I got up had some juice and a few bites of toast. Af... View more

Hi, I literally woke up a few hours ago and due to not eating as I have barely any appetite I woke up shakey and anxious - now I don't know if it's cause my blood sugar levels were down or what but I got up had some juice and a few bites of toast. After that I felt better, but now I just feel extremely exhausted! Is this normal to feel exhausted after an anxiety attack? I think i feel so off to because I started medication two days ago.

Lm587 Trying to understand
  • replies: 1

Hi, i have recently started getting what I feel is anxiety. my doctor has not yet diagnosed me with this but is going through the usual blood tests and heart rate monitor test. Im not sure exactly what it is but I have mainly only had the feelings at... View more

Hi, i have recently started getting what I feel is anxiety. my doctor has not yet diagnosed me with this but is going through the usual blood tests and heart rate monitor test. Im not sure exactly what it is but I have mainly only had the feelings at night time or when haveing dinner. I feel they are not triggered by thoughts as I could be laughing a a tv show then suddenly feel the nervous belly coming on. It has lessened over the last month but not completely. I have these feelings almost every day. Is this anything anyone else has experienced at night or just me ?

Nervybella Needing help feeling flat
  • replies: 9

Hi guys, Just struggling with feeling really flat. A bit of background... Got a new job at the start of this year, it was awful and I resigned after like 2 weeks. Was unemployed for around a month before landing another job. I really like this job an... View more

Hi guys, Just struggling with feeling really flat. A bit of background... Got a new job at the start of this year, it was awful and I resigned after like 2 weeks. Was unemployed for around a month before landing another job. I really like this job and have been here for a month now, everything is going well but the last few days I have been feeling really really flat. nothing can cheer me up and I'm just on the verge of tears. I have a terrible headache and all I want is to be at home. can anyone help with some techniques or even just some reassurance? Feeling lost at the moment Bella

Nervybella New job, renewed anxiety
  • replies: 21

Hi everyone, I'm recently graduated and landed my first ever full time job, so I should be over the moon right? Well I'm not. To give some background my training school helps students look for employment (which happened to me). The school warned me b... View more

Hi everyone, I'm recently graduated and landed my first ever full time job, so I should be over the moon right? Well I'm not. To give some background my training school helps students look for employment (which happened to me). The school warned me before this interview that the boss was notoriously hard to work for. I went ahead to the interview not feeling confident and two days later I was told I had the job. I was apprehensive from the get go and since starting my anxiety has reached new levels. Without going into too much detail there has been a number of occasions in my first week that have left me feeling anxious and embarrassed. I've come home crying every night and my partner says I should quit. Part of me sides with him because I don't think it's normal to feel so strongly, and also not fair on myself or my family to see me like this. At the same time I feel like such a failure because I can't seem to stick with anything I start because of my anxiety. I hate that I'm stressing my family out as well. Also if I quit then what do I do, sure it will probably alleviate my anxiety but who says it won't return when I get another job. i think I just need to hear from some people that don't know me and aren't emotionally invested in my story. I would love your opinion and hear of similar stories

To_be_FREE I'm having a panic attack now
  • replies: 5

So I'm coming to the end of a rather horrible panic attack. I was playing tag with the kids outside then, bam, just starts. I have no idea what started it off, why does it just happen, it just makes me feel so down, I do all the things, don't fight i... View more

So I'm coming to the end of a rather horrible panic attack. I was playing tag with the kids outside then, bam, just starts. I have no idea what started it off, why does it just happen, it just makes me feel so down, I do all the things, don't fight it, remind myself I won't die etc... Now I'm sitting here, nauseous, dizzy, tired and so over it. I just want to stop the panic and anxiety

Courtz_45 Anxiety Attacks - Appetite related?
  • replies: 2

Hi, For the past few weeks I've experienced out of blue anxiety attacks but the last I'd say 3-4 days they have gotten worse, and longer. I find that it takes me quite sometime to calm down. I get a racing heart, cold and clammy hands and feet, and m... View more

Hi, For the past few weeks I've experienced out of blue anxiety attacks but the last I'd say 3-4 days they have gotten worse, and longer. I find that it takes me quite sometime to calm down. I get a racing heart, cold and clammy hands and feet, and my chest becomes tight and painful. I started medication yesterday so I know that won't kick in for another week or two, and I'm waiting for the psychologist clinic to call me with an appointment. I try really hard to remain stress free about everything, but weirdly past few days attacks come on lightly then go, however few hours later I have a massive one. I'm honestly thinking it's food related with me not really eating anything due to not being hungry. But I can drink litres of water just fine. Would love some advice, tips about anxiety or even how to increase my appetite. Or even to just be reassured I'm not the only one as times like these we think it's just ourselves going through it. Also I've had numerous tests, ecgs, heart monitor worn to confirm my hearts healthy. Thanks in advance!

_PerthGirl_ Missing another friend's birthday :(
  • replies: 3

I feel so guilty that yet again I'm wimping out of going to a friend's birthday celebrations. I felt so sick earlier and I realised I do just about every Saturday - its too much of a coincidence to get an upset stomach each and every time I'm suppose... View more

I feel so guilty that yet again I'm wimping out of going to a friend's birthday celebrations. I felt so sick earlier and I realised I do just about every Saturday - its too much of a coincidence to get an upset stomach each and every time I'm supposed to be getting dolled up and heading out. I dawdled getting ready hovering between hoping I would either feel so much worse that the decision would be made for me and I would be able to honestly say I was too ill to go or hoping I could feel better and care free and just get on with it and go. Well its hardly worth going now I'm already two hours late!!!

Spearmint Social Anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi, Late last year was very rough with the death of my brother and then my boyfriend left me (6 year relationship) a month later. It left me completely broken and devastated. I've made a lot of hard earned progress but I'm still not 100%. I have to f... View more

Hi, Late last year was very rough with the death of my brother and then my boyfriend left me (6 year relationship) a month later. It left me completely broken and devastated. I've made a lot of hard earned progress but I'm still not 100%. I have to find employment but am struggling with bad social anxiety which is really holding me back. I also have this fear that if I get a job interview and the employer asks why I haven't been working or what I've been doing since my last job, I really don't want to talk about the fact that I was a huge mess because my life fell apart, I don't know what to say to fill in my unemployment gap? Any advice on how I could handle that kind of question and if anyone has solutions or helpful advice on dealing with social anxiety would be great and much appreciated. Thanks