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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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Sunny_side Anxiety-when it creeps up out of the blue.
  • replies: 10

hello, this is my first post, so a little nervous. But I have been reading posts for sometime and feel I would like to share and one of the things that has helped me with my anxiety is knowing I am not alone. From my childhood memories I have always ... View more

hello, this is my first post, so a little nervous. But I have been reading posts for sometime and feel I would like to share and one of the things that has helped me with my anxiety is knowing I am not alone. From my childhood memories I have always been anxious and driven by pleasing others. I have always pushed myself to excel and have been hard on myself. I have managed to use cope until 2 years ago, when I had my first anxiety attack. The trigger was and still is work related and the all consuming fear or failure and the consequences of me failing or doing something wrong. During my last two years of being diagnosed with anxiety, I have learnt a lot about myself and have some strategies that help me. I have also become acquainted with panic attacks. BUT, anxiety seems to creep up on me when I least expect it and give me a really hard time. Like this week. It reallyconsumes my thoughts and makes me worry about things. i would like to hear how people deal with anxiety when it hits you out of the blue and is persistent. Also any positive stories or living with anxiety

Matt005 2016 the year things went pear shaped
  • replies: 4

2016 was was the year it all changed for me, I had just turned 30... I went from being happy, healthy and not a worry in the world to living every day with worry and anxiety. It all started when I woke up one night drenched in sweat, heart racing and... View more

2016 was was the year it all changed for me, I had just turned 30... I went from being happy, healthy and not a worry in the world to living every day with worry and anxiety. It all started when I woke up one night drenched in sweat, heart racing and the fear I was having a heart attack, I panicked and drove myself to the local hospital where they rushed me in only to find every thing was okay and after a few hours they sent me home feeling back to normal. Since this day I have been back to hospital 4 times with similar symptoms and could have easily taken myself several more, but knowing that it's either anxiety or panic attacks I have stopped myself from going in. I have many physical symptoms daily from tingles and numbness through my body, pains in my head, chest pains, extreme sweating, loss of focus at work, sadness, I feel on edge and like I am going crazy. I have been to the doctor and had heart test and many other test that have all came back fine, I have changed my diet, my lifestyle and searched the web for any vitamins that may help as I don't won't to be on medication but it seems to be getting worse and worse as the year goes on. I can't seem to find what causes my anxiety, I love my job, I don't feel like I am stressed about anything, My girlfriend is amazing and she supports me through it all after I told her about it all. I have stopped drinking alcohol, caffeine and sugar drinks and also given up social smoking and the occasional use of recreational drugs (ecstasy) but none of this has seemed to help. I get the anxiety at all different times including: sleeping, work, gym, hairdressers, social outings, at home, playing sport and even driving. I have tried benzodiazepenes to calm me down but it doesn't seem to work that well, I am also on beta-blockers for a minor heart issue but I don't want to be taking these other medications as I have read so many bad side effects. I have booked in to speak to someone who specializes in this but they are not free until January. It feels as if life is a struggle every day lately and I just really don't know what to do? Is it only going to get worse? What might help me?

MessyHeadSpin I have this weird problem that has manifested, associating things I see to sex or something related
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone, Firstly, I'm MessyHeadSpin I'm 31 years old (..I think) and I live in the Gold Coast. I have suffered depression, anxiety, ADHD and a list of other problems but I suppose those are the main ones. I also think I suffer PTSD after years of... View more

Hi everyone, Firstly, I'm MessyHeadSpin I'm 31 years old (..I think) and I live in the Gold Coast. I have suffered depression, anxiety, ADHD and a list of other problems but I suppose those are the main ones. I also think I suffer PTSD after years of horrible life and problems... I've been battling with sleep problems that have caused me a lot of stress and it has affected people around me a lot. Anyway, greetings and thanks for reading my post. So to begin, a little back story about this current issue. I lived with 2 people who ended up being absolutely horrible to me, but whilst I was there and things were 'ok' I was going out with a Japanese girl. My housemate said to me 'when she's making her squeaking noises think of me' ... O.O Ever since that day, I actually had that stuck in my head. It infuriated me a lot and ended up causing big problems in my relationship. I think there is something wrong with me... But now, I have this chronic issue where I associate things that I see to sex or anything related to it... For example, I was looking up Pearly Penile Papules which is a small issue I have, and I saw a suggested video of a popular youtuber who I don't particularly like and there seems to be some part of my brain that wants to associate his face with what I was researching... Now I kind of have the concern that every time I see that persons suggestions in the youtube I'll remember this situation. This kind of thing happens to me all the time like if I'm watching a movie and someone horrible does something sexually abusive to someone or something then I have some paranoia that develops that if I get into a situation that has something even slightly related to just an action they were doing (not the abusive stuff, just a visual or something) that I will think of that if I ever get into a situation like that.. I'm not sure how to make that make it make sense without giving too much detail.... One more example, if my housemates god son is talking about something sexual like boobs or something I don't want him to because I might relate him to boobs and it will ruin my experience later on. It might seem funny, but it's a serious problem for me... I feel like sometimes I have to stick my fingers in my ears and go 'la la la' and get out of there in case someone taints even more of my thoughts. I'm just tired of it and I don't know if anyone has anything helpful to say. I appreciate everyone who reads this and replies. Thank you.

joshbro mood constantly changing
  • replies: 7

Hey, I am a 16 year old maleSo everyday my mood has been changing constantly, multiple times each hour.1 minute i will feel happy and get a sudden burst of energy and then the next minute something little happens and makes me so angry that i want to ... View more

Hey, I am a 16 year old maleSo everyday my mood has been changing constantly, multiple times each hour.1 minute i will feel happy and get a sudden burst of energy and then the next minute something little happens and makes me so angry that i want to explode.Sometimes i feel empty, emotionless and numb, no feeling at all and then I could be feeling anxious.Sometimes my thoughts travel at a million miles an hour and I can't understand them.This effects me in alot of different situations such as social situations sometimes I get very confident and I could take to anyone about anything, and other times I can barley get a word out of my mouthWhat is wrong with me other people i have spoken to dont have this problemThanks for reading :

mermaidgirl Should i start medication?
  • replies: 5

Hi all. Dr has prescribed me to start medication. I am extremely worried about the side effects and what they will do to me. I have convinced myself that I will get them all especially the dizziness as I get dizzy spells anyway when I have anxiety. M... View more

Hi all. Dr has prescribed me to start medication. I am extremely worried about the side effects and what they will do to me. I have convinced myself that I will get them all especially the dizziness as I get dizzy spells anyway when I have anxiety. My thoughts are that I will wait to take them after Christmas when my husband will be home on holidays so I won't feel so uneasy and also so my kids are safe. Should I wait or start now? Tnoughts?

annonymoussss Do i have anxiety?
  • replies: 4

Hi, i feel i have been having more than a few symptoms of anxiety lately and i was wondering if anyone nows of an at least semi reliable online test to see if i need to seek help with these feelings. I have done a few and generally scored moderate to... View more

Hi, i feel i have been having more than a few symptoms of anxiety lately and i was wondering if anyone nows of an at least semi reliable online test to see if i need to seek help with these feelings. I have done a few and generally scored moderate to high chance of anxiety Thank you xx

Jammai ROCD - Relationship OCD
  • replies: 4

Can anyone tell me if there is anyone in Perth WA that can help with Relationship OCD. I have discovered a book called "Love you, Love you not" and I have finally found out that it is a real condition. i just want someone to help me with CBT in tryin... View more

Can anyone tell me if there is anyone in Perth WA that can help with Relationship OCD. I have discovered a book called "Love you, Love you not" and I have finally found out that it is a real condition. i just want someone to help me with CBT in trying to control the thoughts that I get. Would really find any feedback very helpful regards Jammai

blondguy Having Difficulty Telling the Boss About Your Anxiety? Try this! (New Posters Welcome!)
  • replies: 18

Hi Everybody. This is just one tip that may help save your job and reduce work related anxiety too! I had many years of GAD (free floating anxiety) and employers just never understood or cared. Unfortunately profit comes first before a junior or seni... View more

Hi Everybody. This is just one tip that may help save your job and reduce work related anxiety too! I had many years of GAD (free floating anxiety) and employers just never understood or cared. Unfortunately profit comes first before a junior or senior employee with an anxiety disorder (not always of course...there are 'some' decent employers that understand) If you are stuck explaining your anxiety to your manager/supervisor let them know that you have 'this occasional claustrophobic condition' that you get 'even in big spaces'. I have used it successfully many times...It may help you stay employed where telling the truth is not an option This works because there is the stigma associated with 'GAD' or 'Anxiety' or 'Panic Attacks' This works because managers understand what claustrophobia is....'they get it' If you have a meeting or a car trip as a passenger and your anxiety is spiking....let them know about your 'Claustrophobia' not your Anxiety Your job security will be enhanced as 'Claustrophobia' is very understood....Mental Illness unfortunately isnt..........yet... If you have pro-active managers that are understanding re mental illness then please ignore this post....(and good on you!) This post is for people that suffer anxiety disorder that may lose their job/career and need a more 'comfortable' way of explaining it Your thoughts/opinions/queries on this method of informing non caring employers are Welcome! Thankyou for taking the time to read my post my kind thoughts Paul

newnat Boyfriend has significant stress/undiagnosed anxiety.. feel like i'm going crazy
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I live with my boyfriend, who after another bad fight, agreed to go to the doctor and start seeing a counsellor. Which is good he's seen a GP, but it took us months to get him help (or months for me to keep reminding him). I just feel like i'... View more

Hi all, I live with my boyfriend, who after another bad fight, agreed to go to the doctor and start seeing a counsellor. Which is good he's seen a GP, but it took us months to get him help (or months for me to keep reminding him). I just feel like i'm going crazy some days. I feel more and more resentful, losing empathy & respect for his condition, I need regular distance from him to stay afloat myself (trying to start my own business and was studying and working full time doing 80+ work a week 3 weeks ago). It was not so bad at the start, but now he dips several times a day, every day, causing regular fights 3-4 x a week, especially when we are out in public and there are many uncontrollable variables. He doesn't have a diagnosis, but he has severe mood swings several times a day based on what he refers to as his stress. When he feels any sort of pressure, plans need to change, anything happens he can't control, for example when he's cooking, working etc. He get's extremely stressed. He says he can't think. He also says things he says doesn't mean; becoming occasionally very nasty. We have occasional fights because he needs to relax and if I say that "I feel tired" or "I feel x" he gets very defensive and we end up arguing for hours (often 3 hours plus) for him to understand me. Some days I honestly feel like i'm going crazy. I hate to be negative and say "I can't talk to him", but i've been with him for 11 months, and we've had many discussions about how to talk to each other, the best way to talk about our feelings- and every single time (not an exaggeration) i've sat down to talk to him, it's lead to him getting extremely stressed. For hours, he will sit in silence, start hitting himself, want to talk to me defensively etc. It's gotten to the point now where I feel he is barely functioning, and we are barely functioning together. I insist on avoiding his triggers which just upsets him (I understand some of this is self blame but it is extremely draining). For example, cooking stresses him out to the point of yelling, then going quiet, not wanting to talk etc. So I suggest that I cook, which just angers him, as I work more than him already. Work stresses him out, so I suggest he ask work to accomodate for him, but he feels ashamed (understandably). But I just get an unhappy, depressed person every time he comes home. I feel like I will have to see a counsellor to feel sane in this relationship... someone who I can talk honestly

Tony3 constant worries relating to heart problems
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone I am new to this forum, and would like to share my problem with you since I have no one to talk to My name is Tony; and I have anxiety and OCD for 8 years. I have severe hypochondria and constantly worry about my heart I have all the symp... View more

Hi everyone I am new to this forum, and would like to share my problem with you since I have no one to talk to My name is Tony; and I have anxiety and OCD for 8 years. I have severe hypochondria and constantly worry about my heart I have all the symptoms including chest pain, difficulty breathing, shoulder pain and neck pain. I went to the ER twice in one month and they said I was fine but symptoms won't stop so I went to gp and got a ECG and chest xray. X ray result came back fine but ECG said I got sinus tachycardia so I got worried and went to see a cardiologist to do a stress test and he told me I have sinus tachycardia to but no abnormal heartbeat or anything he said it was fine after that I had another chest x ray and they said I was fine and the the sinus tachycardia was just relating to anxiety but I still keep worrying its ruining my life Is there anyone like me and can you Please help me thanks in advance