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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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empressliberty23 First day of work tomorrow... help me.
  • replies: 2

After suffering from Social Anxiety for many years which has hindered me from securing a paid job, I finally summoned the courage to go through a job interview, then a job trial which has subsequently gotten me a new job. I start tomorrow, and though... View more

After suffering from Social Anxiety for many years which has hindered me from securing a paid job, I finally summoned the courage to go through a job interview, then a job trial which has subsequently gotten me a new job. I start tomorrow, and though I understand nerves are normal, I'm still panicky. There is a clear voice in my mind that says "I don't want to do it", and I feel chest tension, stomach upset, the urge to cry and feeling a bit nauseous just dreading the worst. I'm 24 and this is my first stint at working a paid job. SA has really restricted me from living my life to the full - so convinced that I'll do horribly and that no one will accept me, that as a result, I won't even take a risk. Avoidance has been my coping mechanism for a long time. There's a part of me that just wants to avoid, stay at home and not risk failure, but then there's another side - who wants progress and change. Who wants to expand and grow and learn. I really want to go to the UK, so I just think of the perks this job could afford me, like a plane ticket. In fact, I was thinking of making a pinboard on Pinterest, just dedicated to all things UK. That way, should I feel stressed or anxious or feel as if I'm not accepted at work, I can just look at the board and remind myself of what I'm fighting for. I've already come a long way when it comes to recovery from SA. I volunteered at two organisations, which were both invaluable experiences and served to be some exposure therapy for me. Feedback from colleagues and superiors have been positive, but I'm still so adamant that I just won't fit in this new job and that I'll be terrible. Has anyone felt this way and what have you done about it?

DN129 The 'rock bottom' physically ill feeling after coping fine with anxiety for weeks/months.
  • replies: 2

So I had been doing very well with anxiety lately. I got a new therapist and he really helped. Following his advice I had been making a lot of progress and felt somewhat able again. Then all of a sudden a few nights ago after subjecting myself to anx... View more

So I had been doing very well with anxiety lately. I got a new therapist and he really helped. Following his advice I had been making a lot of progress and felt somewhat able again. Then all of a sudden a few nights ago after subjecting myself to anxiety all day I got a random headache seemingly out of nowhere, started with a kind of radiating tension headache, then the host of 'unwell' symptoms hit, slight nausea, slight vertigo, sensitivity to motion. Feelings of ear pressure and aches. Just feeling genuinely off. When that hits I find the anxiety is much much harder to deal with. I've felt that way a few days in a row now. Its a really weird set of symptoms and I'm not quite sure I understand it. Does anyone else randomly get stuff like this? Almost after 'build up' anxiety.

livm88 Anxiety about life- breakup, job search, future etc...
  • replies: 4

I've always had a very negative outlook on life, even when things usually work out in the end. My main worries at the moment are about my current employment situation, recent break up and how I generally can't stop putting myself down! I recently (a ... View more

I've always had a very negative outlook on life, even when things usually work out in the end. My main worries at the moment are about my current employment situation, recent break up and how I generally can't stop putting myself down! I recently (a week ago!) ended a 6 month relationship that wasn't going well (I felt we weren't putting in the same effort...I felt like a low priority, even though I still had strong feelings for him, and i'm sure he did me). Breaking up was hard, but I knew it had to be done. It's just got me feeling like a horrible person, when before that I always kind of had the problem of never really liking myself, I really don't like myself at the moment. The second thing is my job situation, I gave up a job of 2 solid days a week (16hrs) to be available for another (big supermarket chain), only to feel really used there- i've had about 4 whole weeks with no work in just over 2 months, and when I do get a shift....it's 3 hrs. Other people who started the same position as me at the same time, are always on the roster, at least 8 hrs a week. I'm starting to wonder if it's me...What makes me feel worse is, my ex bf used to work there (he got me the job), and that's where I met him (I was working for a merchandising company and visited the store prior to being an actual employee). So being there connects me to him, I keep thinking back to when we met (fantasising about better times I guess). If I do see hope for more opportunities (like I have an interview on Monday for another retail position), I always find ways to be pessimistic about it (such as...the job i'm interviewing for is a uni bookshop, so it will be a temporary position, and might not lead to permanent work). I can't seem to think positively about anything in the future, or that anything good will come to me. Another example, I kept thinking i'd never meet someone, but then it happened out of the blue (but ended...ex I mentioned above!), so now i'm back to thinking the same thing again, i'll never meet someone compatible, and be alone forever. This is how I end up thinking about everything, I just don't believe good things will happen to me. And the other bad thing is, family and friends are trying to help me, offer advice and I just get angry at them, turn them away. I took the step of going to the doctor and getting a referral to see a counsellor, which i'm looking forward to but it's not for 3 weeks (very popular guy). Will I always be like this?!? Olivia

Avenger Anxiety and/or Depression
  • replies: 3

Hi All, I am new to this forum and looking for support and help. My anxiety attacks started 5 years ago due to extreme stress. Since then i have never felt a 100%. In the beginning i went to various GP's and cardiologists to get examined. It came bac... View more

Hi All, I am new to this forum and looking for support and help. My anxiety attacks started 5 years ago due to extreme stress. Since then i have never felt a 100%. In the beginning i went to various GP's and cardiologists to get examined. It came back good and there were no obvious signs of any physical problems. The panic attacks didn't stop for about 12-18 months and went on daily. Somewhere these feelings were so ugly and not pleasant that i began trying to find ways to avoid the feelings. Over the years not knowing i began to hide from these feelings and started battling the thoughts that came with it. It lead to extreme hopelessness and the anxiety/fear didn't seem to abate. I have gotten to a point where i do continue my daily life but hardly have any enthusiasm in the things in loved doing. I still anxiety attacks almost everyday but not as severe. I got so fed up at one point that i began fighting with the mental thoughts as i couldn't find any other way to relieve myself of anxiety. As anyone would expect it got worse. This year i have started on a journey by eliminating processed sugar from my diet completely. Also i have begun exercising daily. What i struggle with most is the voice in my head going on all day 24/7 and that leads to severe fatigue. I look around at people and i realise people don't focus on their anxiety/panic like i do and live a normal life. I want to do the same but somewhere i get dragged into this as soon as i feel anxiety/panic. Any help/suggestions/guidance anyone can provide will be of great help.

MatildaW Anxiety stopping me from travelling too far
  • replies: 16

Hi, I've always suffered anxiety around travelling too far from home, and at times it's more than manageable, but at others I pull out last minute or avoid. I had been relatively good, until work burnout caused me to collapse in a heap late October a... View more

Hi, I've always suffered anxiety around travelling too far from home, and at times it's more than manageable, but at others I pull out last minute or avoid. I had been relatively good, until work burnout caused me to collapse in a heap late October and I suffered a breakdown. I am supposed to be going away for 5 days with my husband and two children (9 and 12) but I have completely had a meltdown. We are staying in a house with others, friends their age, so I know they'll be fine if I don't go, but it's eating me away that it's gotten to this! I just can't bring myself to go and drive the 3 hours from home. Even with a recent increase in my medication, I'm highly anxious and on the verge of vomiting. If I stay home, (which is what I really want to do), I'm giving into the fear and it escalates. BUT I truly believe I'll be worse if I go. I'll miss my kids terribly, and I feel so guilty, but it's weighing up which is the worse !!! I feel like such a loser. I'm in tears at being without my kids, but in tears about going. Am I the only one that gets like this over what should be a fun time away? thanks

Muggles Intrusive thoughts, worry about my son dying, how can I stop this?
  • replies: 6

Hi, this is my first post here... I have had anxiety for my whole life I think and have gone through many patches of depression. I'm currently on medication and I want off it but I can't seem to do that right now. I have a 1.5year old son and I am fi... View more

Hi, this is my first post here... I have had anxiety for my whole life I think and have gone through many patches of depression. I'm currently on medication and I want off it but I can't seem to do that right now. I have a 1.5year old son and I am finding my anxiety is so enormous lately and I'm so tired of it. At the moment, everything revolves around being scared of bad things happening. Eg my brain finds a way to turn every thought or experience into a story about my death or my son's death. And my body and mind feel like they're truly experiencing it. It's almost like I go into this other world where it's really happening and I feel what I would feel (to some extent). It's constant. Today at work I kept imagining random things like my partner calling to tell me my son is dead, having to do cpr on my mum, people around me hating and accidentally messaging me a bitchy comment about me instead of a colleague, choking, falling down the stairs (like when I was about to go down them), getting cancer and knowing I will die and leave my son... Etc. if I'm at shop with my son I imagine him falling off the escalator or running onto the road or something. And I can't stop these thoughts. They're constant and stupid and they make me feel like it's really happening. I feel like over the years I've done so much counselling. Not doing any right now but what am I meant to do?? I'm still like this. Some days it takes me an hour to make a decision about leaving the house and then I get in the car and then get back out again and go inside. I cancel plans or ignore friends (only occasionally) because I find life so difficult. I need to plan everything and know what's going to happen. What can I do? Is there any point in going back to see a psychologist again?

TJTJ Anxiety that I will become anxious and escalate to panic
  • replies: 7

Hello everyone. I've been suffering with anxiety this year. I have been diagnosed with OCD also. It all started when I got a new job. i have previously been a shift worker but now I'm required to start at 7am. I am obsessed with sleep and whether I w... View more

Hello everyone. I've been suffering with anxiety this year. I have been diagnosed with OCD also. It all started when I got a new job. i have previously been a shift worker but now I'm required to start at 7am. I am obsessed with sleep and whether I will get any. I've had nights where I have been up all night with panic attacks with no sleep whatsoever. I will then go to work. I am now in a position where I am anxious daily. I get anxious that I will have a panic attack. So now I am having panic attacks more regularly. I am very concerned about what this will do to my job. I had some CBT about honestly I didn't benefit from the sessions as they were too far apart and I believe I would need something more intense. Does anyone have strategies on how to stop intense fear of a panic attack? I am getting more unwell and desperate.

GS Hi. Am I developing a panic disorder / claustorophobia??
  • replies: 3

Hi. Just after some advice. I'd had a Restless Leg Syndrome for years and this has worsened to the point that about twice per week I am awakened during the night and need to get out of bed to stretch my legs. Normally I can return to sleep pretty eas... View more

Hi. Just after some advice. I'd had a Restless Leg Syndrome for years and this has worsened to the point that about twice per week I am awakened during the night and need to get out of bed to stretch my legs. Normally I can return to sleep pretty easily so I guess I can't complain too much. I was prescribed medication, though a few times I awoke with really low blood pressure so I rarely take it now. Just recently I seem to be developing claustrophobia/ panic attacks. One year ago a dentist was measuring me up for a dental splint. I've had plenty of dental work in the past without any panic problems. This time, he left the mold in for what seemed like ages, and with my mouth filled (and a slightly blocked nose) I was having trouble breathing. A panic set in and when he finally removed the mold I refused to continue and had to leave. Then last week I was in an elevator alone (I've never had a problem with lifts before) when the lift became stuck. I felt a surge of panic and began to pace around the elevator, feeling an overwhelming sense of panic. The relief was palpable when, after I rang the emergency button, the hotel staff had the lift moving and open within perhaps 2 minutes. Flying home yesterday, when the plane landed and all the passengers had stood up awaiting the flight crew to open the exist door, I again felt this surge of panic, albeit slight, as we stood waiting in the crowded plane for perhaps 10 minutes. I managed to control it quickly, though was surprised by this new trend (again I've flown many times). As I try to make sense of this apparently new situation, I guess I can recall always hating the idea of being trapped in a small underground tunnel (like an escaping criminal in a movie). Guess I've just never thought it to be much of a problem before, or even considered it claustrophobia. Not really complaining, just a little surprised / confused by it all- am I developing a phobia / anxiety, or have I always had a sub-clinical version? Any thoughts appreciated. Cheers

Guest_3072 FEELING SOCIAL ANXIETY FOR AN UPCOMING BBQ
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone, So I've been invited to go to a birthday BBQ next weekend and where I won't know that many people and I am feeling anxious because there is expected to be about 30-40 people attending and it takes me a while to warm to people. I'm a l... View more

Hello everyone, So I've been invited to go to a birthday BBQ next weekend and where I won't know that many people and I am feeling anxious because there is expected to be about 30-40 people attending and it takes me a while to warm to people. I'm a little bit anxious of coming across as socially awkward and don't want to just hang around the few people that I know for the whole time that I am there. Do you guys have any suggestions for me. I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed even with what outfit to wear and what-not. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

Cailin Anxiety overload
  • replies: 2

Just had 4 weeks off work due to depression and anxiety Returning to work tomorrow and terrified All my colleagues know im scared of driving and everything and can't sleep been like this for 32 years and it's so lonely and hell. I'm good at putting o... View more

Just had 4 weeks off work due to depression and anxiety Returning to work tomorrow and terrified All my colleagues know im scared of driving and everything and can't sleep been like this for 32 years and it's so lonely and hell. I'm good at putting on a good front but inside I'm dying How do you cope with wanting to stay in bed and being so anxious Cailin