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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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MiaBella Flu-like symptoms - Anxiety?
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum, I am a relatively healthy 37 year old female with a history of anxiety/panic attacks. Just when I think I have it all under control it seems to manifest itself in a new way. I just wanted to ask if anyone else out... View more

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum, I am a relatively healthy 37 year old female with a history of anxiety/panic attacks. Just when I think I have it all under control it seems to manifest itself in a new way. I just wanted to ask if anyone else out there has experienced the following. Flu-like achy feelings through out your body, fatigue, very very sluggish, just cannot seem to get moving, this in turn causes more anxiety. I have had a very thorough check by my doctor, full blood count done, all normal, checks for any auto-immune diseases, all negative but anti-bodies present for Glandular Fever and Cytomegalovirus but doc says all from a past illness, I didn't even know I had CMV. Traces of blood in my urine, renal/bladder ultrasound all clear and Urine cytology negative so doc is at a loss, I just cannot shake this achyness, it's also effecting my sleep at times, I cannot stay asleep due to feeling so ill, it's like a cursing wired feeling going through my body and my mind constantly races which prevents me from sleeping and I feel very thirsty all night, during the day I could be feeling fine one minute and the next completely crash with the flu like feelings again. I just can't seem to accept that this could all be anxiety related??! My husband says YES most definitely, I am over thinking everything and always thinking something is wrong with my health but nothing ever shows up in tests. So hoping someone shares my symptoms and can shed some light on it all because it is driving me crazy, some days I am bed ridden because it literally feels like I have the flu, never have fever though. I also suffer with IBS. Thank you for anyone advice.

Jasper_J Self help
  • replies: 4

I'm sure this has been asked many many times. But I'd like to know what everyone does to help with their anxiety. I refuse to take anti depressants. I know exercise helps. What else can everyone suggest? I'd love to hear your opinions.

I'm sure this has been asked many many times. But I'd like to know what everyone does to help with their anxiety. I refuse to take anti depressants. I know exercise helps. What else can everyone suggest? I'd love to hear your opinions.

Purplefish Everything is just too much at the moment
  • replies: 5

Hey guys I'm new here so hello, this may contain some triggering stuff so here is a warning. I'm going through a heap of stresses at the moment and I really just wanted to share. Firstly I have just came out of a long term serious relationship and I ... View more

Hey guys I'm new here so hello, this may contain some triggering stuff so here is a warning. I'm going through a heap of stresses at the moment and I really just wanted to share. Firstly I have just came out of a long term serious relationship and I now live all by myself. Secondly my 41 year old aunt has just passed away from cancer. I can't sleep as when I start to fall asleep I think I can't breathe and end up having panic attacks. also I have so many uni assignments due that I think I'm going to rip my hair out. I used to see a phycologist but she treated me like I was stupid and I don't know if I have the energy or time to see someone else. Does anyone have any tips for uni study stress or dealing with loss that they think could help me? Thanks for reading and I hope you're all doing well. Kind regards

cadd97 A failure - too anxious to get a job
  • replies: 4

Hi. I'm new here, and I don't really know what to write but I need some help. I guess I'll start by saying that I've always been quite a shy, introverted, insecure and anxious person, with little to no friends. I've accepted that that's just my perso... View more

Hi. I'm new here, and I don't really know what to write but I need some help. I guess I'll start by saying that I've always been quite a shy, introverted, insecure and anxious person, with little to no friends. I've accepted that that's just my personality, even though I'm not all that happy with it. I'm here today though because I feel like a failure. At 17, I haven't done anything my peers are doing or have already done, such as getting my drivers license, a job, going to parties or sorting out my future. I stay at home all day because it's where I feel most comfortable. As much as I so badly want to get a job, I feel like I literally can't. I know nerves are normal when confronted with new things and that it probably won't be as bad as I think it will be, but I feel anxious to the point where I feel like I'll be sick and I can't even get myself to apply to places, and when I do I find myself worrying that I'll actually get the job. I beat myself up everyday over this, and having my parents lecturing and fighting with me over it doesn't make me feel any better. As much as I know they love me, I feel like I'm a disappointment to them. My mum constantly compares me to other people my age and what they've achieved. They think I'm lazy, that I'm a quitter and that I have no goals. But the truth is, I'm just too anxious to do anything, even though I want to so badly. I've tried explaining this to them, but they're convinced it's just natural nerves and that I'm making up excuses. I used to see a psychologist a few years ago for my anxiety, but stopped after a year as I seemed to be getting better. She gave me tactics to use that I still use to this day. I don't know whether I should go back, or if this is just something I'm over-analysing. I feel ridiculous, but I graduate high school this year and I don't know what to do. I feel like some traits of my personality and my anxiety are consuming me and stopping me from doing what I need and want to do in life.

suho Could this all really be anxiety??
  • replies: 10

Hi! I'm 23 and I've struggled with mild social/health anxiety for probably most of my life. I've had moments when they were bad, but I was always able to get through them, and move on. A little over a month ago however, I strained my back lifting som... View more

Hi! I'm 23 and I've struggled with mild social/health anxiety for probably most of my life. I've had moments when they were bad, but I was always able to get through them, and move on. A little over a month ago however, I strained my back lifting something. After that, I started getting really worried that it was something else. I started googling symptoms, and then somehow convinced myself it was my kidneys. Googling symptoms and convincing myself that I have something wrong with me is not something new to me. I've been doing it for years, and normally, I can ride it out (normally visit my GP and get some tests done), and it'll go away. But the morning after that, I woke up sweating, and my heart was so loud. I don't think it was a panic attack because I didn't feel out of breath or any other symptoms, but maybe an anxiety attack? I just felt hot all over and this dread, like something was wrong with me. The following week, I would get these same anxiety attacks (maybe 2-3 more times), and it would make me feel so weak and out of energy, as well as a burning sensation under my skin. It was like I could FEEL the adrenaline running through me. I stopped leaving the house because I was so afraid that my legs would give out on me. Since then, I don't really get hot anymore...but sometimes I get chills (which are the WORST because they make me feel like I'm buzzing out of my skin), IBS symptoms, muscle twitches, joint stiffness, and these weird jolts/pains that run up and down my extremities. I also get pins and needles very easily, and some days, my left arm goes numb (this usually goes away the next day). My appetite also fluctuates. Sometimes I can eat, but other times I just look at food and can't do it. I also think I get derealisation because I'm so worried all the time. Though I don't really get the anxiety attacks anymore, I feel like I'm CONSTANTLY worrying and dreading something, and so the anxiety is always there, and I always feel so weak even just getting out of bed. Sometimes I just feel this worry/hollowness inside of me that I don't know how to fix. I've had a blood test and everything came back normal...my GP just said anxiety, and I've gone for my first session with my psychologist, but it's just so hard to convince myself that all these physical symptoms are anxiety. Especially since I don't tend to get the main anxiety/panic attack symptoms like chest pain, breathing problems or heart racing. How did you end up accepting your anxiety??

Solosombra Life is looking up! So why am I scared!?
  • replies: 17

Life is actually going good in a lot of areas. More then usual anyway! So why is it scaring me to the point I can't enjoy any of my current success? Am I just being stupid? Has anyone else had this happened before?

Life is actually going good in a lot of areas. More then usual anyway! So why is it scaring me to the point I can't enjoy any of my current success? Am I just being stupid? Has anyone else had this happened before?

Guest_342 I'm new here
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone. I'm really looking forward to hearing your experiences and also perhaps offering some helpful thoughts if I can. I've always been a fairly anxious person by nature but about 6 years ago something (and I've no idea what) triggered the sta... View more

Hi everyone. I'm really looking forward to hearing your experiences and also perhaps offering some helpful thoughts if I can. I've always been a fairly anxious person by nature but about 6 years ago something (and I've no idea what) triggered the start of fairly severe general anxiety. It has at times tended to cling to thoughts about my health (e.g. with each new partner I felt needed to get blood tests to assure myself they had not given me an STD) and persistently to thoughts that I have somehow inadvertently breached rules e.g. running red lights, speeding or filling out forms incorrectly - when I know this is not the case. My anxiety basically clings to anything it wants to. It got to a point where anxiety had total control over my life. Whenever I drove my car, I had to sit down afterwards and travel over the route in my head to picture each intersection and speed sign to satisfy myself that I had complied with all the road rules along the way. On multiple occasions I had to drive back to where I thought I might not have noticed exceeding the speed limit to reassess the conditions. This sometimes involved standing on the footpath at an intersection and observing a few rounds of green lights to see what everyone else on the road was doing. There was no room in my mind for normal thoughts to come and go because my mind was occupied around the clock with very worrying thoughts about "what ifs" and total dread. I Decided to tell my parents and take a week or so off work. I had never taken even a single day of sick leave in my life. My parents also helped me to get back in touch with a GP who I really clicked with in the past. Over the last few years I have tried various different approaches to getting back on track and not all have worked well for me - it's been a whole lot of trial and error. But now I can honestly say that I've found the right thing for me - at least for now and have been really well for some time now. My relationships with family have gone back to how they were - and beyond - and I have even kept a relationship for a couple of years now. I can make decisions and am astounded at how quiet things are without those noisy thoughts circling around in my head - such peace and quiet! I know I'll continually have to work on staying worry free, but it's so worth it. I suffered in silence for so long and my only regret is that I didn't embrace life earlier. I wouldn't wish anxiety disorders upon anyone. best wishes!

CookieMunster Anxiety and phobias.
  • replies: 7

Hi. I'm new here. I guess I should start with how I suspect I'm suffering from anxiety. I've grown up in a very sheltered household, and was basically raised by my mum. And I'm terrified as to what might happen should anything happen to her. I'd hate... View more

Hi. I'm new here. I guess I should start with how I suspect I'm suffering from anxiety. I've grown up in a very sheltered household, and was basically raised by my mum. And I'm terrified as to what might happen should anything happen to her. I'd hate to ever be alone, and the thought of being without my mum really makes me feel sick. I cry at the thought of it. A few days ago, mum got into a car accident and got a little hurt, and it just made all these things and feelings come to the surface. I am pretty certain I also have Metathesiophobia, which is a fear of change, and it brings to a concern... what am I to do when my mum isn't any longer with me? Our family has a history of various mental illnesses, so I'd also like to know if anxiety is hereditary? Is there any natural remedies for it? I really hate feeling like this.

gloria10 Anxiety with confrontation
  • replies: 3

Hi, So at the moment I'm in the process of finding a new job, hopefully getting closer, one thing I do find hard though is facing my boss, especially if I go against something he says. They tend to have outbursts from time to time and I never know wh... View more

Hi, So at the moment I'm in the process of finding a new job, hopefully getting closer, one thing I do find hard though is facing my boss, especially if I go against something he says. They tend to have outbursts from time to time and I never know when it will happen, so it makes it worse for my anxiety. Actually, they are the main reason I am seeking a new job because I can't deal with their quick temper any more. I'm wondering if anyone has advice on how to approach this? Luckily I shouldn't need to spend too much more time with them, but I am always on edge when they are at work. I dread facing them if I do something wrong because I keep worrying that I will be told off like a child or humiliated. I guess I just needed to vent but any advice would be welcome.

Greyhound123 Feelings of regret
  • replies: 3

Hi Guys, I am wondering if this is just a thing I do, or if this is common? I came from a very moral family, where in my eyes my mum, dad and sister always did everything right. Throughout the years growing up, I think i was generally a good person, ... View more

Hi Guys, I am wondering if this is just a thing I do, or if this is common? I came from a very moral family, where in my eyes my mum, dad and sister always did everything right. Throughout the years growing up, I think i was generally a good person, but like anyone i made mistakes (I was the wild one). Sometimes I find things i did wrong and obsess over how bad it was that I did them. Mostly stuff when I was young, insecure and trying to be cool. Often after woulds I will think, "ohh stop being silly". For example when I was about 16 years old, I stole a VCR tape from the video shop, I really really didn't want to but my friend really pressured me into it (no excuse I know). From the moment I walked out I felt a tremendous amount of guilt. I watched the movie once and just remember pondering for a couple of years on and off what to do and how bad I felt, I would think "ohh i will take it back" but then thinking i would get in trouble or they would think i was crazy, then "Oh I will pay for it" and then I didn't ever seem to have the money, and also being too embarrassed to do so. Eventually about 2 years later a mate borrowed the video. then ironically it was stolen from his place! That sort of gave me a bit of a feeling of "well you got your Karma and it got stolen from you forget it". But now...15 years later, it pops into my mind and I start to regret it....I start to think "what if I got caught, how disappointed would my parents have been", "Now I can't die with a clear conscious knowing I was a thief". I Think to myself though that I had friends who stole things all the time and i don't think any less of them now. But it doesn't change it for me. I thought about going back to the shop and paying for it but never did and now the shop is closed. Now that I am an adult I thought I will find another shop in the chain, go and give them $50 and walk out looking like an idiot but feeling like I did the right thing. If it is not the video I will find another thing. Sometimes it was bigger things like sleeping with women, or it is smaller things like the VCR or being rude and arguing with somebody. It is all stuff from when I was about 15 - 25. P.S. The only other thing I ever stole was a ladder I never returned to the company i did my apprenticeship for, I looked at it as payment for unpaid overtime, but the same thing, I am thinking about bringing it back.