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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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Nikky99 My Anxiety Story!
  • replies: 2

Hi My name is Nicole and i'm 17 years old, I suffer from a bad anxiety disorder that occurs more then 3 times a day I suffer from anxiety attacks, that can become really bad like cant breathe properly and almost passing out a lot of the time. A lot o... View more

Hi My name is Nicole and i'm 17 years old, I suffer from a bad anxiety disorder that occurs more then 3 times a day I suffer from anxiety attacks, that can become really bad like cant breathe properly and almost passing out a lot of the time. A lot of things give me anxiety, I really don't know what to do to help me from my anxiety attacks and so many things giving me anxiety attacks. One big thing that causes my anxiety really bad is My boyfriend Will, He;s 19 and I am constantly worrying about him and getting anxiety of what he is doing behind my back with other girls and stuff like that I get anxiety about, I do trust him with everything its not about not trusting him its about just being concerned and worried about him and the things he does. I love my boyfriend so much and I just don't want everything to tear me and him apart and Im scared and anxious that it could happen. I could not imagine my life without me in it. I need advice about this, Please comment and give me any advice that could help Thanks

Ace6913 finding it hard to think rationally when seeing my fears on tv or social media
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone just wondering if any of you find it hard to think rationally after being exposed to your fears either on tv or social media? My biggest fear is having or getting cancer. I feel like everywhere I turn I see it either on news an add or som... View more

Hi everyone just wondering if any of you find it hard to think rationally after being exposed to your fears either on tv or social media? My biggest fear is having or getting cancer. I feel like everywhere I turn I see it either on news an add or something shared on social media I feel like I never get a break from seeing it . I know it's my anxiety telling me these are all signs that I need to take note of and go get checked again and again because I feel like it's all i ever see someone out there is trying to tell me something crazy right ? Oh anxiety how I hate you I'm determined to not let this control me as I can't control what I see anywhere really just wondering if anyone out there has these irrational thoughts as well.

Dani1234 I've decided to get help
  • replies: 3

I have always know that there was something just not quite right. But I could never really put my finger on it. I've always thought of myself as a strong independent person, or was I just like that because I thought I had to be. Motion sickness has a... View more

I have always know that there was something just not quite right. But I could never really put my finger on it. I've always thought of myself as a strong independent person, or was I just like that because I thought I had to be. Motion sickness has always been a trigger for me and avoiding situations where I know I'm going to be affected is becoming harder. I feel like I was handling everything just fine until every time I was anxious I would begin to feel nauseous and not just in the motion sickness kind of way. I was due to go on a trip up a range with someone else as the driver I got myself so worked up the night before because it was something that I had to do and couldn't get out of it. I felt trapped and like I was loosing control. The trip started out ok but then I started to get hot and shaky, it was raining so I couldn't open the window for fresh air. I tried deep breathing and closing my eyes trying to imagine myself some where else. This did not work I made it to the top just where I went and sat in the bathroom to try and calm down which helped until the food was brought out eggs. I almost died the smell was enough to make me hurl. Again in a situation where I had no control I had to say no. I was starting to feel better as the day went on until we had to make the trip back. Again came the hot feeling, the tightness in my chest the feeling like I couldn't breath. Was I having a heartattackTears running down my face what can I do I felt ashamed to admit that I was struggling and had lost complete control. Finally made it home and straight to bed I went I was so warn out and tired like I'd run a marathon. It had never been this bad before and I couldn't believe how quickly it had got out of control. Ever since then when ever I start to feel over whelmed or anxious I start to feel nauseous and even though I try to remove myself from the the situation the nausea remains and I am just flooded with the horrible prospect of being sick and that is my worst nightmare. I find myself avoiding situations when I think I may become nauseous whether it be a car ride or going out to lunch with a friend for fear the food might make me feel sick. I would have no where to lie down everyone would be looking at me like what is wrong with this person. I've always hated being sick but it has never stopped me from doing things because I had found ways around it but now I fear everything will make me sick and I don't know how to fix this it's ruining my life.

bohobabe10 Anxiety about University
  • replies: 1

I was diagnosed with general and social anxiety in early high school. I did well but struggled when I got emotionally tired, needing support to finish high school. I began university straight out of high school. My first semester did not go well, I e... View more

I was diagnosed with general and social anxiety in early high school. I did well but struggled when I got emotionally tired, needing support to finish high school. I began university straight out of high school. My first semester did not go well, I ended up deferring half way through after I found out about some personal health issues which sparked my anxiety and depression. I returned in semester 2 and out of two courses I only passed 1. The next year I actually did okay while balancing a brand new relationship with someone who had depression and was admitted to hospital right on exam time. This semester has been a disaster again. My partner got admitted to hospital again, I have been unwell with different things all semester and have been in hospital around crunch time, pushing my assessment further. During this semester my social anxiety has been extremely high. I manage to have friends but they go out and I don't go out with them. I leave university early because I feel so tired, self conscious and I just want to go home so bad. I've had to drop one of my courses and now I have to frantically salvage my other two courses. This on top of my partner being in hospital for depression. I've begun to question if I am even capable of doing university, will I ever finish? I can't part time work so my parents have to support me which makes me feel so guilty. Eventually my partner and me would love to live together but what if I can't work till I graduate in 2020? Of course he says he'd pay for me but I feel like I'm mooching of everyone around me. Have you been able to complete university with anxiety? Are any careers compatiable with anxiety?

Ace6913 Health anxiety and constantly need reassurance
  • replies: 23

Hi there, Im not new to health anxiety I suffered horribly about 4 years ago when I found lumps in my neck wich triggered anxiety and panic attacks at the time I was absolutely convinced I had cancer of course I googled and I had all the symptoms of ... View more

Hi there, Im not new to health anxiety I suffered horribly about 4 years ago when I found lumps in my neck wich triggered anxiety and panic attacks at the time I was absolutely convinced I had cancer of course I googled and I had all the symptoms of the illness it just snow balled onto constant visits to the Drs and emergency because I felt no one was listening to me. It was just the one last dr I saw made me realise I had anxiety and everything I was feeling was anxiety itself not some life threatening illness . In time I moved on and accepted I had to make the change and I did . Now 4 yrs on I'm suffering again and once again found a hard small lump on my wrist whilst I was washing my hands straight away before I could take my next breath I fell straight into panic mode and then onto anxiety I was proactive straight away went to the Drs got X-ray done everything came back clear but alls I've been left with is fear that they missed something or the X-ray just won't show what it really is meaning I think it's cancer I can't believe I'm putting myself through this again I feel extremely disappointed in myself

DN129 Do you find your anxiety is causing you to 'invent' medical issues all the time?
  • replies: 14

I think I've dealt with this most of my life and only recently acknowledged it. I never really confronted my anxiety until I started to get panic attacks, but the more I look back the more its always been there to some degree. I think for me one of t... View more

I think I've dealt with this most of my life and only recently acknowledged it. I never really confronted my anxiety until I started to get panic attacks, but the more I look back the more its always been there to some degree. I think for me one of the hardest hit symptoms I've always faced is 'health anxiety' or 'inventing' medical issues. To me, in my mind they're real. I can even feel the symptoms. But to doctors, they seem inexplainable, vague or simply excessive relative to the 'injury' or my general health. Now this isn't to say that doctors are always right or what you're feeling isn't necessarily true. But I've always found I suffered from the type of illnesses that have symptoms overlapping with anxiety. For instance I've had stomach and IBS issues my whole life. This started when I got punched in the gut and started obsessing about it. It seems very possible to create mental situations.

Guest_9632 Stuck in a rut and can't keep my emotions stable
  • replies: 5

Hi all, this is my first post so please bare with me. I signed up to BB because I thought i'd give a forum a go as a ways of releasing the problems that I have and just seeing if it will hopefully give me some kind of benefit. So in a nutshell: i've ... View more

Hi all, this is my first post so please bare with me. I signed up to BB because I thought i'd give a forum a go as a ways of releasing the problems that I have and just seeing if it will hopefully give me some kind of benefit. So in a nutshell: i've been battling anxiety on and off for about 5 years have a wife who's suffered from depression but does have it under control comes in waves (my anxiety) and is usually at its peak when I have several things to stress about at once in recent times i've had to juggle living at my parents place (with my wife who suffers from depression) whilst our future home gets built. This home has been at a stalemate with the developer and council disagreeing over certain issues for over a year with now with no end in sight. In other words i'm trapped at home. In August my father whom i was very close to died suddenly. It has caused major stress among my family especially mum My wife and i have been trying to have a child for 12 months with no success. I have gone through many avenues to deal with the points above. I openly communicate with my wife and some people close too me. I try to eat well, try not to drink too much and am about to see a psychologist. I just thought putting my story out there may resonate with others. Don't get me wrong, I know there are others out there with much worse problems than me and I feel guilty putting my supposed problems out there for others to see. I just thought I need to start looking out for myself and maybe get a response that will have a positive effect on my wellbeing right now. FYI im a 36 yo professional male Kind regards ​

Louise10 Need some advice!!!
  • replies: 4

Hi guys, Am totally new to this and not sure if it's for me but I suppose I've got nothing to lose! I have a bit of a problem and it's an embarrassing thing for me to talk about it to those around me so thought I'd try my luck for some advice on here... View more

Hi guys, Am totally new to this and not sure if it's for me but I suppose I've got nothing to lose! I have a bit of a problem and it's an embarrassing thing for me to talk about it to those around me so thought I'd try my luck for some advice on here. Ever since I was young I have had this fixation about my loved ones drinking. Growing up my dad liked a drink, nothing negative ever happened and I wouldn't say he was an alcoholic but I always just felt like he was drinking too much and it worried me! I can't pinpoint why.. I'm not sure if it was an anxiety about something happening to him or just because his drinking was out of my control. Whenever my parents were having parties I would just dread it because I knew that dad would have too much and it would stress me out (even though I can't explain why!). I used to make snide comments like don't you think you've had enough? Or how big is that wine glass.. surely you don't need to drink all that? anyway.. I've now been in a relationship for a couple of years and my partner is rarely a drinker. However when I know that we have something coming up where he might get drunk, I get so anxious and stress about it for weeks beforehand. He's not a cheater, he is an amazing guy and I have NO idea what my fears are or why they are there but it's really starting to overcome me. It's gotten to the point that when we go out I try and drink more than him so that I'm not noticing what he's drinking.. but then I can't hold my alcohol very well and I just end up starting a fight with him over nothing so that we can leave! I know this sounds absolutely ridiculous and probably like such a trivial problem but the same thing happened yesterday and we are now on the verge of breaking up because of it. i guess I'm looking for some advice on WHY I could be feeling this way. I know my fears are irrational but that's not enough to switch them off! And maybe how I stop feeling like I need to control everything? And how to deal with my feelings appropriately when they are NOT under my control! can anyone relate to this or am I completely crazy?!!!

ci I have something to say!
  • replies: 3

I have a mental health disorder it does not make me weak it does not make me defective it does not make me less of a person! It makes me strong it makes me a fighter! Today I need to look at the positives

I have a mental health disorder it does not make me weak it does not make me defective it does not make me less of a person! It makes me strong it makes me a fighter! Today I need to look at the positives

poida1 self sabotaging my own progress...
  • replies: 3

Hey, Name's Pete, I'm 25 years old. I've posted on here a few times a while back and the support I received was helpful so I thought i would share this new formation of anxiety that I've been experiencing. It would be nice to know that someone else h... View more

Hey, Name's Pete, I'm 25 years old. I've posted on here a few times a while back and the support I received was helpful so I thought i would share this new formation of anxiety that I've been experiencing. It would be nice to know that someone else has suffered from or knows a little about this new emergence in my condition. To start I'll give some history. I've been suffering from anxiety, panic attacks and depression for about 8 years now, in the last year it had become unbearable so i decided to quit work for the time being, fly home and try and get some help. I started a mindfulness program called ACT that my psychologist put me on to and it was quite helpful, although i found that i kept falling into the same traps and that infact my anxiety, panic and disfunctional thoughts got a whole lot worse. So much so that about 2 weeks ago i suffered 5 days straight panic attacks that sent me to the hospital after passing out in the shower. Since then I've been ok some days even great, but sure enough i end up falling back into the same old hole. Anyway, last friday i was having one of my good days so i decided to take off for the weekend, just me and my backpack out for a walk, the way it used to be, and i was doing ok. Then something inside me emerged that is scaring the absolute hell out of me. I had just calmed down from a slight state of panic just before bed, when instead of relaxing and trying to go back to sleep, something inside me actually brought on another one. Almost as if i were testing myself, so naturally i tried pulling away, asking myself why i would do something like that, but i kept stirring the pot (so to speak) and the panic attack and fear grew much greater. I managed to calm down from this, event, but the next day, infact every day since, I have not been able to relax, because i now know that at any time, this part of myself could totally self sabotage me. It could make me feel extreme fear or panic or think ungodly thoughts that only fuel the cycle. The obvious response would be, ok well if it's you causing this panic, then just stop, but the strange thing is I can't. It's almost as if there's this really evil part of myself that knows exactly what will scare the begeezes out of me, how to make me hurt etc. and is trying to see how far things can be pushed before i break. It is terrifying, why would i ever want to do this to myself? I've already been through so much recently, so why this? Anyway I hope someone can shed some light