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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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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

Hardy524 New symptoms?
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I'm not really new here but I haven't even looked at this site in just over 3 years. I have suffered anxiety, OCD and depression on and off for 20 years. I have been absoloutley fine for 3 years but unfortunately I'm back here (no offenc... View more

Hi everyone, I'm not really new here but I haven't even looked at this site in just over 3 years. I have suffered anxiety, OCD and depression on and off for 20 years. I have been absoloutley fine for 3 years but unfortunately I'm back here (no offence) and dealing with anxiety/panic attacks again. Anxiety used to cause symptoms like headaches, heartburn and nausea, however this time around my problem seems to be acid reflux, mild stomach pain and occasional diarrhea. I should say that my whole anxiety thing revolves around health, especially vomiting and diarrhea.I'm not sure if the physical symptoms started the anxiety or if the anxiety started the physical symptoms but it feels like I'm going insane trying to work it out. I talked to my doctor but she was more concerned with my anxiety (as I was in tears) so didn't really address the bowel issue. Can physical symptoms change over time or with age?

LeaderDman How I Beat Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone I know when I was going through anxiety that one of the things that helped me the most was seeing a success story. It was comforting to know that you can indeed beat anxiety. So here is mine. Part 1 It all began when I had a bad reaction... View more

Hey everyone I know when I was going through anxiety that one of the things that helped me the most was seeing a success story. It was comforting to know that you can indeed beat anxiety. So here is mine. Part 1 It all began when I had a bad reaction to weed though I used to worry, over think and was anxious in social situations before this event. The reaction to weed is a story in itself, but essentially I suffered extreme pain. After this event I suffered from depersonalization for a week, which means everything felt like it was a dream. I also had this pain in my chest that would have been caused by my constant worrying, this caused me to have my first panic attack. Any pain I felt would cause my anxiety to get worse as I would fear getting the pain that I had from the weed. The extra worry would just make the pains worse and give me more symptoms. I saw the doctor many times and even a therapist, but it didn't really help. I tried to work at my job in a grocery store, but nearly had a panic attack at work and my back would get extremely sore very quickly. I also had to take time off uni as I was too anxious to go. My life had been taken away from me and all I wanted to do was get better though I didn’t feel like it was possible. I suffered from nearly every symptom that can be associated with anxiety. Here is a list of some of these:Numbness and tingling, dizziness, chest pain, feeling like throwing up, feeling my heartbeat constantly, brain/body zaps, flushed/burning skin sensations, cold flashes, fear of impending doom, heart palpitations, panic attacks, more depersonalization, feeling like i would go crazy or hurt myself/others, scared of talking to people, choking feeling in throat and hypersensitivity.There were even more symptoms, though I think that gives a good idea on the severity so someone with a similar level of anxiety knows that it’s possible to beat. All I felt for those couple of months were fear and pain. I got to the point where I decided to try medication to help deal with it so it would be easier to get better. I was on medication for a week and it was the worst week of my life. I had heard it can get worse before it gets better, but it was too severe. I suffered from extreme insomnia where i would only be able to sleep for an hour a day, I also started getting hot flashes and all of the symptoms got worse especially the fear of impending doom. So I made the decision to stop the medication and beat anxiety medication free.

Kate_S I am so sick of being afraid there is something wrong
  • replies: 7

I had my first anxiety attack about 7 weeks ago. I was terrified I was having a heart attack. Since that time I have had blood tests and an ecg - all came back fine and my chest pains (in various areas) and shortness of breath were put down to acid r... View more

I had my first anxiety attack about 7 weeks ago. I was terrified I was having a heart attack. Since that time I have had blood tests and an ecg - all came back fine and my chest pains (in various areas) and shortness of breath were put down to acid reflux and anxiety. The last couple of weeks I have been having very bad symptoms that seemingly come out of no where. I know when I am having panic attack because I go very tingly and i just have to calm myself down, but what scares me if that I get chest discomfort in my upper left chest that just feels wrong. I get heartburn and muscle tension everywhere. My left and right are will take turns hurting. My upper back hurts, I get bad pains on the left side of my abdomen, nausea, diarrheas, weakness. Sometimes I get a tickling sensation in oesophagus. It and the fear are always worse in the evening... Can anybody relate to this - the doctors keep saying it is just anxiety but it just makes no sense to me. Thanking you

Shan44 Worrying about kids and accidents
  • replies: 5

This summer I've been overtaken by anxiety about my children being in accidents. I took them to a water theme park and was extremely anxious about them going on rides (esp with inflatable tyres) and then to beach with jet skis. It's all-consuming and... View more

This summer I've been overtaken by anxiety about my children being in accidents. I took them to a water theme park and was extremely anxious about them going on rides (esp with inflatable tyres) and then to beach with jet skis. It's all-consuming and hasn't happened to this extent before, and feels like it's impacted by what's in the news (Dreamworld etc). I don't stop them going on but my husband thinks I'm really ridiculous and I ended up going on the rides to make myself feel better but felt sick afterwards. I've been very low the last couple of days after all the adrenaline. I know none of it is logical. Any thoughts?

Itsallme 'It's not me, it's all you'
  • replies: 6

Hey, sad lady here, I'm a 30 y.o woman and a mother. I am not suppose to feel like this. The thoughts in my head are not suppose to go on and on. I'm suppose to feel loved and cared for. Why am i being told its all me? Why am i not happy? Why do i fe... View more

Hey, sad lady here, I'm a 30 y.o woman and a mother. I am not suppose to feel like this. The thoughts in my head are not suppose to go on and on. I'm suppose to feel loved and cared for. Why am i being told its all me? Why am i not happy? Why do i feel like this? Why is this happening to me? I thought it was me being an over thinker but now I've looked on the page more and taken the test and it has come up as high (which i'll do again tomorrow). I had a chat with my partner/fiancee tonight 'heart to heart' as i was feeling somewhat unloved and was told its all me. Im the one who needs to work on myself, I'm the one who is unhappy. Why am i having this thrown in my face. told to do things that will make me happy? What makes me happy? chocolate makes me happy! what else makes me happy? I do admit, there was a day or 2 that I could have got on a plane and left without a trace. Left my daughters, partner and dogs behind. My full time job that i am not sure i like all that much, or do i? Is it this craziness that is making me sad and depressed? or is it anxiety? Or a long walk off a short pier? Argh. I really sound crazy. But i wouldn't say that it hasn't come across my mind before. Im tired, stressed and just want happily ever after. How can i fix me? I want to be happy. I want to enjoy life. I want to smile a proper smile and feel wanted. X

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