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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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Katherine22 Early morning anxiety/overwhelmed atm
  • replies: 5

Hi just needing some advice on early morning anxiety and coping with life at the moment please. I have suffered depression for over 15 years and anxiety the last probably 3 years now. I have had early morning anxiety for about two years but it sort o... View more

Hi just needing some advice on early morning anxiety and coping with life at the moment please. I have suffered depression for over 15 years and anxiety the last probably 3 years now. I have had early morning anxiety for about two years but it sort of hung around a few weeks then went, but now it's back. I had to have major surgery 2 weeks ago and it's been a ok recovery ups and downs but the last week the early morning anxiety has been bad. I wake up every morning about 3-4 and can't sleep for hours. My mind is racing through the past and its v difficult to stop it. I'm also pretty stressed as my family is always here not just for a visit but to stay for two weeks. I don't cope when too many people are here(plus I have a small house) I also can't cope with noise very much. My husband finds it hard when my family is here and it strains our relationship also. Life is just a bit bad for me at the moment, thanks guys for your support.

Murray11 Physical symptoms- postpartum anxiety or something else
  • replies: 6

Hi all, This is the first post from me, I'll try and keep it succinct... Firstly, I have a 2 year old son and 13 week old daughter. Approx. 4 weeks after having my daughter I started experiencing physical symptoms which I attributed to breastfeeding ... View more

Hi all, This is the first post from me, I'll try and keep it succinct... Firstly, I have a 2 year old son and 13 week old daughter. Approx. 4 weeks after having my daughter I started experiencing physical symptoms which I attributed to breastfeeding and tiredness including visual disturbances of flashing lights when standing up, dizziness, brain fog. Progressively I then started getting numb lips, numbness in my right arm, burning sensations in both arms and feet, with these last symptoms appearing only in the last few weeks. I have seen my Dr and am awaiting results of a blood test and a brain MRI. He mentioned MS to me and since then I am convinced that's what I have, although (even though I know better) after googling the symptoms, I have realised that anxiety and MS (and other neuro conditions) can have quite similar symptoms. I don't think of myself as an anxious person but I guess I'm reaching out to others who may have felt these symptoms, to see if you might see something in my story similar to yours... The reason why I think my symptoms could possibly be anxiety related is that my dad was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease two years ago, which I feel sick about whenever if it discussed or I think about the future, I laugh and find things funny but see the future as "grey" due to dad's parkinsons and a strained relationship with my mum since the birth of my son two years ago, despite "happy" things happening in my life such as the birth of my daughter and my sister's wedding in October '17... I worry if people don't text me back straight away I've offended them or they don't like me any more, I worry my husbands friends avoid him because he's married to me and I recently thought my sister was avoiding me because I was annoying her despite her being my person I can call no matter what. I also worry about anything happening to myself, my husband or kids, which makes possibly having MS terrifying. Car accidents, terrorism, etc. Does this sound like anxiety? Or normal thought processes for the society we live in? Seeking answers.

Moonstruck Causing mega-anxiety for me - but trivial to others!
  • replies: 4

For many years I have had the use of a work computer here at home - for my personal needs as well as work. It is the only type, program etc that I am familiar with. Continuing to work for this particular boss is becoming more and more impossible and ... View more

For many years I have had the use of a work computer here at home - for my personal needs as well as work. It is the only type, program etc that I am familiar with. Continuing to work for this particular boss is becoming more and more impossible and the cause of major stress, anxiety and even illness. (I have talked about this in detail on High Functioning Anxious People) the only thing standing in the way of my "freedom" is my having to get my own laptop as he will immediately remove the computer. I have many years of personal stuff on the hard drive. I have no idea how to retrieve it, if I should retrieve it, what to do with it, or let it go goodness knows where! I haven't a clue what kind of new laptop to get. The only type I am familiar with costs 3 times as much as any other brand or program. I could go in tomorrow and buy a laptop. I have no idea what Step 1 is when I get it home. Nothing - the only ones I can afford all have Windows. I don't know how to use Windows. I asked a few Computer Businesses who advertise that they come to the home and help "mature aged" people like me set up and get online. They also did retail sales and immediately went into a Sales Spiel telling me what ones they had for sale in their store and wanting to sell me one. I have not even decided which store to buy it from yet!!! I am afraid if I quit the job (which I MUST for my health's sake) I will be cut off from friends, family, the Internet, you guys on Forum....everything! I am terrified and no one seems to understand what a Huge Undertaking this is for me. I know all of you have laptops or desk tops that you work easily......but I wouldn't have the faintest idea unless it was exactly the same program/type I have had for nearly 20 years!! I went into a store, asked some questions and the guy could have been speaking Japanese...I couldn't understand one word he said!! the stress and fear of being without this link to the world is overtaking my every thought, the worry and anxiety about it gets worse each day. My work situation gets worse each day and I cannot see a way out! I feel like a prisoner! Not knowing what laptop to buy and how to work it is making me really ill - but others just say "Oh you'll be fine once you have a play around with it". A play-around??? What does this mean? How do I even get "on the air". they don't seem to realise I need to be instructed from STEP ONE!!.........who do I turn to next?

LittleSoftie Advice on how I could have reacted better to an event today
  • replies: 9

Hi, please can someone help me to understand how I could have handled myself better today, Im just now calming myself down after a panic attack and have taken a pill to help. I took my 10 month old son to the pool today and spent a good fun hour walk... View more

Hi, please can someone help me to understand how I could have handled myself better today, Im just now calming myself down after a panic attack and have taken a pill to help. I took my 10 month old son to the pool today and spent a good fun hour walking him around some water fountains where loads of other kids were playing and having fun. We had put our stuff in a little shady spot near the edge behind a wall where people/ parents could sit and supervise. A family rocked up and sat in front of us on the wall... all good, then their young girl sprayed us and our things with water, I said "hey hey stop" and she realized that she'd soaked us and stopped.. all good.. kids are kids, then her sister did the same and sprayed my little boy, so without fuss I picked up our stuff and moved us back a meter. Still all good...again kids are kids and I'm sure they didnt do it on purpose. then the father turned around, noticed what had happened, laughed and turned back. Then the mother rocked up and settled into the exact spot that I'd just been moved out of. I got annoyed and reacted I said "oh my god". The parents then turned on me and spoke rudely saying "what's your problem" and "it's a pool for Christmas sake". I picked up my son and we left with the whole family staring and scowling at me. I got my little boy home and asked my partner to watch him then went to the bathroom and broke down completely. Why can't I handle things like that?... I felt bullied... is that just me or was I in the wrong... I'm so sick of being pushed around. Help.

Kemooo Is social anxiety worse the next day for you ?
  • replies: 3

Went to a new year party with my friend from church to his friends, I knew a few poeple there, after while alot came like 15+. My anxiety was getting so over the top, when i talk to poeple I feel so weird and insecure and like I didnt know at all wha... View more

Went to a new year party with my friend from church to his friends, I knew a few poeple there, after while alot came like 15+. My anxiety was getting so over the top, when i talk to poeple I feel so weird and insecure and like I didnt know at all what to talk about and just felt like leaving straight away, it kills me inside, there was this cute girl amy ive met at church once, she seems quiet like me and think I really like her, I didnt talk to her much but when I did I enjoyed it. I think ill need to ask my friend about her and his fairly close with herm Anyway sometimes I think the worse part is the day after when you analyze what happened, and I just feel like poeple would be talking about me and saying how weird and non talkative I was. And how I wish I didnt even go.

Metoo New to this and a bit unsure
  • replies: 3

Hi, This is my first post, I'm new to the forum, please be gentle. I'm a 47 year old father of 3, trying to work through a few things but feeling overwhelmed. We've got an ongoing dispute with our neighbours, we're trying to do things the right way, ... View more

Hi, This is my first post, I'm new to the forum, please be gentle. I'm a 47 year old father of 3, trying to work through a few things but feeling overwhelmed. We've got an ongoing dispute with our neighbours, we're trying to do things the right way, solicitors etc whilst our neighbours are using bullying type tactics. I've always been what people may call a worrier, I always imagine the worst case scenarios, especially when it comes to the kids. I stress when they go near a swimming pool, or a play park, I can never sit back and relax. This has now escalated the longer this dispute continues, I feel in a constant state of anxiety. As a male i feel weak, the thought of further confrontation with our neighbours makes me shake. I can't eat properly as i have little appetite, its been great for the waste line though, back in to my 33" waste jeans. I find it hard to talk to anyone about what I'm feeling. I do bottle things up, but this is worse, it's like if I talk about it then its really happening, and I think I'm trying to play it down so it doesn't seem so important. Sorry if this seems a little disjointed perhaps I should have planned it first. If i had to some this up i feel scared, lost, tired and weak. I've never spoken to anyone about this, and wouldn't know where to start. I suppose I wonder if there are any other blokes out there who feel almost cowardly because there anxiety makes them almost powerless to cope....

mld1994 Scared it isn't just anxiety...
  • replies: 5

Hi, this is my first post here and its a long one so please stick with me (sorry!). Basically, I'm super scared that my symptoms aren't anxiety related?...Back story : Recently moved interstate, went without my partner for 2.5 months, started a new j... View more

Hi, this is my first post here and its a long one so please stick with me (sorry!). Basically, I'm super scared that my symptoms aren't anxiety related?...Back story : Recently moved interstate, went without my partner for 2.5 months, started a new job which I hate, and had no proper social connections. Had my car broken into and personal belongings stolen...I suddenly could not eat for 3 days, I felt sick to my stomach when I woke each morning (butterflies in tummy type sensation) and I just had that weird nervous sweating feeling that made going to work extremely difficult. Fast forward 4 months in. I start noticing foreign symptoms; I've lost A LOT of weight. I've got subtle neck ache/pain. I start feeling extremely lethargic and weak, I would feel shaky, as If my legs would cave in. Que first Doc appointment. Low iron he thought. On iron supplements for 2 months. Symptoms got slightly better (if I believed so). Completely off the iron supplement now. Next lot of symptoms come into play; still feeling weak and tired, weird strange head pains/cramps/stabbing on left side that would only last 2-3 seconds but are SO debilitating when they happen, weak stomach (nausea, butterfly feeling), dizzy/trippy feeling like somethings "kicked in", sudden rise in body temp and my heart would beat deep and fast (these symptoms happen at different times btw). I then start GOOGLING; Brain Tumor, Aneursyms, Meningitis...I've convinced myself I have a terrible neurological disorder. I try to remain calm and rational each day, but the symptoms take over and I think "NOPE! There IS something not right!!". Eventually the next big thing happened. Que, what I would now learn was most likely my first ever panic attack, but at the time I thought I had a catastrophic brain "thing" (I won't go into the symptoms, its hard to describe). I ended up in ED. CT & MRI Scan, basic Blood Work and a basic Neurological test (reflexes, pulling things, eye pupils ect) and guess what? I'm (supposedly) completely healthy. The ED doctor said basically now that we have ticked off the serious and deadly conditions, lets look at anxiety and depression....So, here we are now. I am still so scared that this is NOT anxiety. And knowing that all of my tests have came back clear, only makes me look deeper into other diseases. There is SO much more to say and I start therapy soon...but Can anxiety/depression REALLY do this to the body? HELP. I am 22 year old female and I feel like I am dying. Why me?!

S0S Virgin to anxiety; please share your stories and tips
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, i am a new sufferer of anxiety and I don't know how to handle it. It's so dibilitating. I suffered depression really bad a few months back but have been fairly good lately with a few bad days here and there. Now I've started to get anxie... View more

Hi everyone, i am a new sufferer of anxiety and I don't know how to handle it. It's so dibilitating. I suffered depression really bad a few months back but have been fairly good lately with a few bad days here and there. Now I've started to get anxiety and panic atracks.

Marie547 Flared up anxiety
  • replies: 9

I have suffered with anxiety for a very long time. This year it has gotten to the point where I can have up to 3 panic attacks a day and at work I have to hide myself away in the bathroom to regain some composure. It is such an awful feeling, I get t... View more

I have suffered with anxiety for a very long time. This year it has gotten to the point where I can have up to 3 panic attacks a day and at work I have to hide myself away in the bathroom to regain some composure. It is such an awful feeling, I get to the point where I barely eat and my head feels fuzzy all the time. If it's not one thing I am worried about its another and I fear I keep putting myself in those situations that set me off so I try to avoids them. Which basically means I avoide living the life I want. Tonight I have put myself into another panic and I have been like it all night. I'm not sure how to make it stop. I guess I am using this forum as another way to distract myself. ​I feel very scared of everything going on around me and I'm not really sure who I have to turn to. I am new to this, and I don't often speak about my anxiety to anyone, rather keeping it to myself. But it has gotten to the point where I am not sure if I can handle it on my own anymore. just wondering if anyone has any advice or coping strategies that may help? I have tried many things, from exercise to mindfulness but at times like tonight they don't seem to relive any of the anxiety.

Gwen_777 Socially Ungifted
  • replies: 2

Hi there, Is anyone else out there having a difficult time with all the social interactions that we have at this time of year. I've found myself sitting in the corner most of the time....wishing I had the guts to get up and join in with a conversatio... View more

Hi there, Is anyone else out there having a difficult time with all the social interactions that we have at this time of year. I've found myself sitting in the corner most of the time....wishing I had the guts to get up and join in with a conversation. This happens even when I'm with people I know. It always feels like I just don't fit in. My bf has an extremely outgoing family, that are all very loud and bf feels I'm not trying hard enough to 'fit in' !!! Im in my forties and I feel im much less shy in most social situations than I ever was in my youth. Does anyone else feel trapped by social anxiety?