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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. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety 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 you 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 worthile 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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R_one Help with a few problems.
  • replies: 3

Hey guys, Since the start of the year, my mind seems to of changed and things just don't seem right anymore. Let me explain: I was waking up during the night a few weeks ago, maybe it happened 2-3 times, i felt like i was trapped and i woke up and i ... View more

Hey guys, Since the start of the year, my mind seems to of changed and things just don't seem right anymore. Let me explain: I was waking up during the night a few weeks ago, maybe it happened 2-3 times, i felt like i was trapped and i woke up and i was panicking and to me i was stuck and couldn't get out, then, i'd come to my senses and realize i'm in my room. After this i started thinking about dying, and then it escalated from there and i was having constant thoughts that one day i will be dead and it'll be darkness and nothing will exist anymore, i wont be myself anymore etc etc. Obviously, these thoughts are honestly just silly, everyone dies, you can't do anything about it. But, i was staying awake at night and panicking terribly. Eventually a few weeks ago i was getting headaches and for some reason i lost it and had to go to the hospital, i did MRI scans and all, obviously everything was fine. That made me feel a little better but i still cant shake the thoughts of dying out of my head, everytime i watch a movie or something on tv, ill google an actor in the movie and see how old he is and think 'whoa he might die soon' and things like that. The worse part is that i know exactly how stupid this sounds. I'm only 27 years old and i keep thinking i don't have long left. I'm currently paying off my house with my fiance, i get married in 2 months, have a full time job, go to the gym, play football. But for some reason i feel like i cant do anything, as in, i can't do the things i enjoy, i dont know why. Sitting at home only makes things worse, but i cant seem to get myself up to do anything. I also seem to read things about people who get cancer at young ages and i keep panicking that if it can happen to them, it can happen to me and i seriously worry about this. I quit smoking probably about 2 years ago which is obviously a good thing, i've also stopped drinking coffee because for some reason that makes me feel worse and panicky. I think one of the next things i need to do is get my diet in order, i've probably put on a good 6 kilos in the last year and seem to always turn to junk food to make myself feel better. I'm actually not sure on why im posting here or what i think im going to solve from it, but i guess i feel better talking about it? I dont know.

soulsolaris Rough day :(
  • replies: 8

This flare up is so bad. Im so weak i can barely hold my body up. The brain fog is so severe. And my body is just doing weird things which is making the anxiety run high. Im really really trying to keep the mindset that i am experiencing a flare up a... View more

This flare up is so bad. Im so weak i can barely hold my body up. The brain fog is so severe. And my body is just doing weird things which is making the anxiety run high. Im really really trying to keep the mindset that i am experiencing a flare up and to keep calm but its so hard and i wish people could feel what i ak for a few seconds to see how scary it is. Like i feel abnormally weak and exhausted.

Jusanxiety Finding it hard to cope with my Anxiety
  • replies: 7

I have suffered with anxiety once or twice a year for about 12 years now and have been on perminant medication for it which has been great. Normally the triggers are when I get sick or if something traumatic happens to me and it normally only last a ... View more

I have suffered with anxiety once or twice a year for about 12 years now and have been on perminant medication for it which has been great. Normally the triggers are when I get sick or if something traumatic happens to me and it normally only last a week and then I am back to normal again. This time I'm not exactly sure what the trigger was but it has been 3 weeks and I am beyond exhausted by it and losing hope. From the second I open my eyes in the morning I am hit with anxiety. I walk for an hour trying to clear my mind and breathing before I have to get myself ready to go to work. I am struggeling at work as the pysical effects of the anxiety are so powerful. Afterwork I take my dog to the park and interact with other people but it takes every bit of my energy to do it. I haven't been able to eat for 3 weeks and all I can do is chew on pieces of vegetable and drink Sustagen so I can get something into me. I have tried to eat but I just can't. I try so hard not to let the anxiety rule me by forcing myself into everyday life but I just can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I went to a pshchologist last week and whilst it was good to talk I am not sure that I have walked away feeling any better. I am heading back to my GP again tonight because I just can't cope and I am hoping there is something he will be able to do. It is just so hard as I have no partner or family to help me and friends don't understand because everyone seems to think that anxiety and depression are the same thing. They aren't... They are both very diferent issues.

Velados Newbie with a few questions
  • replies: 2

Hello everyone, a quick brief on myself... mid 20s male, suffered with anxiety for 6-7 years and possible bouts of depression. I have been on a long journey and tried a lot of different medications but I have found not a lot has worked so far so I am... View more

Hello everyone, a quick brief on myself... mid 20s male, suffered with anxiety for 6-7 years and possible bouts of depression. I have been on a long journey and tried a lot of different medications but I have found not a lot has worked so far so I am venturing into non pharmaceutical treatment options. I would just like to know what I am allowed to discuss on here as I have never used any type of fourm before to discuss my mental health... I have had previous prescription drug problems with anti-anxiety medications and pain management medications from a work injury falling from a ladder. I was lucky enough to have a fantastic GP who I am completely honest with who has helped me tremendously with previous said issues. In short I would like to also know if discussing any of this can be self incriminating and get me in legal problems?? I would love to discuss and have other people's support and opinions in relation to my anxiety as I feel very alone and isolated a lot of the time. I have a very supportive family which helps tremendously but only my partner knows about the prescription medication problems. I also work full time in a well paid Job as a Electricial supervisor on larger construction jobs. My employer knows about previous anxiety issues but nothing else. He is also very understanding, Unfortunately the same cannot be said for other work colleagues. I look forward to hearing from other members here and hopefully from past experiences I can be of help to other members. I find even the idea of an online community for like minded people with similar problems very comforting... Knowing I'm not alone and help is available is a good feeling.

Chicken_Wings Flying
  • replies: 49

Hey guys, I've been doing pretty good lately. In fact I have felt pretty great over the last week. I really felt like I'd turned a corner. I have to make a trip to the UK to see my mum who is sick. I've been saving for ages and finally everything see... View more

Hey guys, I've been doing pretty good lately. In fact I have felt pretty great over the last week. I really felt like I'd turned a corner. I have to make a trip to the UK to see my mum who is sick. I've been saving for ages and finally everything seems to be in place. I've always been a bit nervous flying, but now I seem to be petrified. Until my passport arrived it was sort of just not real, but now there is nothing stopping me going except myself. I'm not so much scared of the flying, although I don't love it. I'm more scared of being stuck on this uncomfortable plane for so long and travelling so far from where I feel safe. I haven't travelled such a long way for a long time. I've been to the UK before, but it was before my anxiety was strong. The last couple of days I have woken up in the morning with that familiar tension and racing thoughts and its made me really sad because I was getting better. I've been doing my breathing exercises and trying to just keep moving forward with my plans. But the more real it becomes, the more my anxiety comes back. I've noticed that I've start twitching again and I'm nervously tapping my toes non-stop. I'm scared of that racing heart feeling and off freaking out on the plane. I'm scared that once the plane has taken off, thats it, I can't stop it. Part of me is excited to see my mum and go on holiday. The other part of me is terrified and just wants to cancel the whole thing and hide. My GP has prescribed me something to calm me. I've never had it before and so I need to try it before I fly to know how it will effect me. My boyfriend will be with me and I know I need to take plenty of things to occupy myself. I know I need to do this. I know I have to go. I know that once I get there I will be glad I went and I know that I will regret it forever if I don't go. What I don't know is how I'm going to do it. Any insights from those who have managed to travel long distances with anxiety would be greatly appreciated.

Jess_164 i think i have anxiety
  • replies: 3

i'm not really shore what to do, i always feel shaky, nervous and panicky. i just want some advice on what people might think i have. I've taken some online quizzes and they said i have 'high' levels. i just need guidance!

i'm not really shore what to do, i always feel shaky, nervous and panicky. i just want some advice on what people might think i have. I've taken some online quizzes and they said i have 'high' levels. i just need guidance!

Elea Wanting to run when things get tough
  • replies: 18

I start a 2 week placement for uni tomorrow and all I've been thinking about over the past few days is how to get out of doing it. I've seriously been fantasising about how good it would be if I was injured in some way so that I wouldn't be able to g... View more

I start a 2 week placement for uni tomorrow and all I've been thinking about over the past few days is how to get out of doing it. I've seriously been fantasising about how good it would be if I was injured in some way so that I wouldn't be able to go (terrible, I know). For the past few years I've made it my mission to avoid the things that cause me anxiety- seeing friends, applying for a better job, dating, meeting new people- and I know that it's no way to live because it's caused me to be extremely depressed but it's been comfortable, I guess. And now that I'm at uni again and I've thrown myself out of my comfort zone, I'm dealing with these really anxiety-inducing situations again and my first instinct is always to run. I just want to quit and keep living my easy, but lonely, life. Does anyone else get this really strong urge to run away or give up when things get hard? Thanks for reading. Elea x

Neenie87 What can i do to keep moving forward? Over going backwards!
  • replies: 1

Hi All, I recently started business college to gain coinfidenve and gain a new career path. It's been going well but they let us know we would need to attend excursions in the city. I get anxiousand have panic attacks being too far from home but real... View more

Hi All, I recently started business college to gain coinfidenve and gain a new career path. It's been going well but they let us know we would need to attend excursions in the city. I get anxiousand have panic attacks being too far from home but really want to move forward and stop my anxiety from ruling my life. I dont want to have to discontinue my course but i feel like i might have to. What can i do?

Olivia2 Can't separate my emotions from others'
  • replies: 4

Hello.....Wondering if anyone else experiences this as part of their anxiety. I'm a 39 year old female and have basically 'parented' both my parents pretty much all of my life. I'm an only child. As an adult I have experienced ongoing depression and ... View more

Hello.....Wondering if anyone else experiences this as part of their anxiety. I'm a 39 year old female and have basically 'parented' both my parents pretty much all of my life. I'm an only child. As an adult I have experienced ongoing depression and anxiety which I have only recently had a lightbulb moment and been partly able to attribute to this (in addition to other trauma as a teenager). I am finding it extremely difficult to separate my own emotions from others and I have read this is a huge part of being a 'child-parent'. I am moving overseas with my family soon and my father is devastated by this prospect. So even though I am excited for my future, and that of my sons', I can't seem to remove myself from his devastation. We are also quite close but at times I have found this closeness to also be suffocating. I love him dearly as he has been both a rock for me as well as perpetuating this behaviour. So unlike my mum who I can completely detach myself from because I just can't maintain a relationship with her (narcissistic amongst other things) I'm finding it hard to reconcile my feelings of what my dad is experiencing. I have had therapy for years and take medication but I am still yet to find a way of differentiating between my stuff and his stuff. He is coming to visit us this week and my anxiety is through the roof as it will be the last visit before we go overseas and I know how sad he is going to be. I was wondering what strategies people have used if any of you can identify with this kind of emotional enmeshment...? I tell my brain it is nonsensical but it won't listen, it's been hard-wired this way and won't let go of the pattern!

sunshinechris Im new and desperately need help
  • replies: 4

Hello, I have suffered from terrible health anxiety for a couple of years to the point that it is controlling my life and everything i do. My father passed away from cancer two weeks before Christmas which went undiagnosed by Doctors (until it was to... View more

Hello, I have suffered from terrible health anxiety for a couple of years to the point that it is controlling my life and everything i do. My father passed away from cancer two weeks before Christmas which went undiagnosed by Doctors (until it was too late). I watched him deteriorate and it was a very traumatic experience, Since his diagnoses I have convinced myself I have cancer and have put myself through scans, tests and doctors visits. I have always had a fear of lung cancer as I was exposed to asbestos as a child (Home renovations) and Im an ex smoker. I have been suffering tightness of heavy feeling in my lungs and a hoarse throat lately along with pain in my upper thoracic and shoulders. After googling I have convinced myself i have lung cancer. I went to doctor who ordered an xray to ease my mind, and the results came back that I have marks showing up on the xray with apparent plueral thickening. I was told by my doctor not to worry but to be safe to get a CT (apparently the thickening is quite common) but given my history and clear past xrays, Im now really worried. I had my CT scan, but the results seem to be taking a long time (I had them yesterday and they said they would be back that afternoon). I have been a mess, not able to work, sleep or eat, I am only 41 married and have two small children. Now I am convinced that I have a terminal illness. I am so scared of the results as my lungs feel so heavy. I know i suffer from anxiety and now I dont know whats real and what is in my head. Im beside myself with fear of dying.