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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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Rosey_Posey Fear of Flying
  • replies: 1

I have had depression and anxiety for 45 years and I have managed with medication and my husband's help. HELP ME TO FLY AGAIN PLEASE I couldn't get out of bed to go to the airport for a trip to visit family in Singapore. I had a massive fear of being... View more

I have had depression and anxiety for 45 years and I have managed with medication and my husband's help. HELP ME TO FLY AGAIN PLEASE I couldn't get out of bed to go to the airport for a trip to visit family in Singapore. I had a massive fear of being trapped at the airport as you go through the customs etc. We had to forfeit airfares and accommodation. i have flown a lot and loved it and loved new places, food and cultures. i can't believe what I have done and I am sensitive and sad. i have increased my medication, joined an anxiety support group and see a counsellor. Can anyone please help me to get back on a plane again. I have a lot more to see in this world. Also I have been really brave and told family and close friends I have depression and anxiety for the first time ever. I have had many different reactions. One friend now has told everyone at work. I considered our conversation to be confidential not gossip. I feel angry and sad.

AyGok Stuggling with anxiety
  • replies: 2

My anxiety symptoms get so bad even when Im on medication and I can't change the way I think and feel i have been getting some help but how can I get a grip on it when I'm at home or stuck in my thoughts ? Suggestions help ?

My anxiety symptoms get so bad even when Im on medication and I can't change the way I think and feel i have been getting some help but how can I get a grip on it when I'm at home or stuck in my thoughts ? Suggestions help ?

flosssie I am new to this.
  • replies: 3

I have had chronic Generalised Anxiety/ Panic disorder/ Eating disorder most of my life, the earliest memory of panic/anxiety i have is when i was about 8 years old. I am now 25. I am still affected every day. Sometimes in small ways, sometimes in bi... View more

I have had chronic Generalised Anxiety/ Panic disorder/ Eating disorder most of my life, the earliest memory of panic/anxiety i have is when i was about 8 years old. I am now 25. I am still affected every day. Sometimes in small ways, sometimes in big ways. When i was 23 i was hospitalized because i had stopped eating and could barely function. I spent the next 6-8 months recovering. The worst part about it was, all my life, especially in the latter stages pre-diagnosis, i kept it all to myself. No body knew a thing, until one day i was in hospital. I decided to turn my life around, which was the hardest thing i have ever done but worth every second of pain and heart ache. There were a lot of lonely days and nights, Christmases and birthdays etc. and only after 2 years of persistence did my hard work begin to pay off. i work in Aged Care now and i love what i do, so much more than what i did in the past, sitting behind a desk and being a slave to the corporate world. I want to know that there are people out there like me, people that would much prefer a night in on the couch watching a movie and having a chat, over a night out on the town. I don't drink alcohol so i am cut off from most of the socialising that people in their 20s do. I'd love to hear from people like, because i know they exist, and sometimes when every minute of your day is a struggle, it would be nice to have a little ray of sunshine to help you smile again.

mortalgoat anixity and work and things that stop you getting a job at all
  • replies: 2

hello I have been struggling awhile now I can not even go into a shop with the right change but now since my collage shut down I need to look for work and I'm having so many panic attacks I cant help it ruining my life this fear of getting work is dr... View more

hello I have been struggling awhile now I can not even go into a shop with the right change but now since my collage shut down I need to look for work and I'm having so many panic attacks I cant help it ruining my life this fear of getting work is driving me over the edge and I cant handle it is there any advise you can give someone who has a panic attack getting a burger let alone looking for work

Mike27 Did I do the right thing?
  • replies: 6

Hello, I have GAD and i'm on medication for it. I ended a relationship with somebody who cares about me a lot. It all became to much for me. I kept having guilty feelings that I was tired a lot. That I couldn't love my partner the same. Couldn't give... View more

Hello, I have GAD and i'm on medication for it. I ended a relationship with somebody who cares about me a lot. It all became to much for me. I kept having guilty feelings that I was tired a lot. That I couldn't love my partner the same. Couldn't give 100%. I felt I was losing my independence and wanted to be alone and independent. I can't distinguish between normal thoughts and those that are my anxiety. I feel I won't ever have a relationship now because of my anxiety. Thats its not good for people like me. I don't love myself and feel I always run away from problems. I can't love somebody if I don't love me. Is this normal? Do you suffers like me feel they can't be in a relationship? That we should be single? Should we be able to manage both? I've always had this. I'm seeing my therapist is 3 weeks because she's booked out. That's a long way a away with my mind. My partner was amazing. She went and spoke to a psychologicst herself to learn how she can help me. But I abandoned her and cut her off. She was devastated. Mike

HannahG Intusive Thoughts are killing me
  • replies: 2

Started getting intrusive thoughts about 6 weeks ago. Am also 6 weeks pregnant. Horrible guilt thoughts from issues when I was growing up. Horrible obsessive thoughts about past attention seeking behaviours. Horrible sexual Intrusive thoughts about e... View more

Started getting intrusive thoughts about 6 weeks ago. Am also 6 weeks pregnant. Horrible guilt thoughts from issues when I was growing up. Horrible obsessive thoughts about past attention seeking behaviours. Horrible sexual Intrusive thoughts about every male or even female I see. I had a history of cheating on my now husband when we first got together and he is over it but I have constant flash backs of everything I did wrong. I am trying to rewire 27 years of seeking attention from whoever just cos my parents didn't pay much attention. I have started on an SSRI 3 days ago that I used to be on years ago. A tranquiliser used to be able to control my anxiety but I cant really take them while preg. Have a history of 2 previous stillbirths so I am high risk. Its just so hard. I am trying to function for the kids I have at home and Hubby had taken the last week off work to help but he goes back tomorrow and that scares me. I start Schema therapy on tuesday with my Psychologist and hopefully ERP therapy on thursday the following week with my Psychotherapist. I have done heaps of reading and realise thoughts are just thoughts.. but its easier said than done to switch them off. Guess I just need to hear from others with intrusive thoughts that things get better.

Jamie87 I just want to feel normal again
  • replies: 1

Every morning I cry. I feel like a complete failure for no reason. The only person that makes me feel better is my boyfriend. We don't live together yet, so we spend weekends together. I have had so much happen in the last 5 years which has built up ... View more

Every morning I cry. I feel like a complete failure for no reason. The only person that makes me feel better is my boyfriend. We don't live together yet, so we spend weekends together. I have had so much happen in the last 5 years which has built up to this. My grandfather died, I have had two long term relationships end, I've moved 4 times. I've had to move back in with my parents twice which was a massive hit to the self esteem. I have lost a good job and spent time looking for a new career. I've rekindled with an old flame and I am terrified of losing him. I want to be my old self again. I never used to worry so much as I do now. I just want to escape myself and fly away, run away from the fear. I don't know how to fix it. I always feel distracted, I can't concentrate and I feel like I am constantly letting everyone down.

Sherry8888 I just want to be normal again
  • replies: 1

Hi every one I've been suffering from social anxiety/PTSD for 8 years now. I had it under control until about a month ago when i had a panic attack at work. Now my anxiety has gone through the roof. About 8 years ago i was held up at my previous job ... View more

Hi every one I've been suffering from social anxiety/PTSD for 8 years now. I had it under control until about a month ago when i had a panic attack at work. Now my anxiety has gone through the roof. About 8 years ago i was held up at my previous job and a year later i started having panic attacks. I didnt know what they were and why i was feeling the way i was feeling. I was put on anti depressants and it did calm me down a bit but not in social situations and when i had to or people introduced me to other people. Time went by and i turned to alcohol and would drink before an interview for new jobs and going out to even lunch with friends. Time has gone by and i have an awesome job now and i work with great people who understand what i go through eveyday. I go to the gym every morning, eat healthy, no caffeine, see a psychologist once a week and rarely drink alcohol. But lately ever since my recent panic attack at work (meeting potential clients. I had to introduce myself and couldnt so i got up and let the room because i was so scared) i've strayed away from my friends and just want to be alone. I'm scared to go to work eveyday because i dont want to have another panic attack at work again. I'm trying to be strong but the thoughts and feelings are just getting to much for me some days. I just wanted to come here and share my story

Anicca New to Beyond Blue forums
  • replies: 11

Hi, I'm Alison and my anxiety has bee quite debilitating over the last four weeks. I was hopeful when I saw the new Beyond Blue campaign on anxiety. My problem now is how to use the forums and follow threads. I've never done this before and I'm even ... View more

Hi, I'm Alison and my anxiety has bee quite debilitating over the last four weeks. I was hopeful when I saw the new Beyond Blue campaign on anxiety. My problem now is how to use the forums and follow threads. I've never done this before and I'm even anxious about posting questions in the wrong place!! I rang BB and all they could tell me was to get online and have a go. So, I hope this is ok. I'm fearful of people being rude, just because it is the Internet and no-one can see them. My psychiatrist is going on holidays in two weeks for three weeks. This is worrying me further. I've had depression and anxiety all my life. I like CBT and meditation but cannot do either when I'm so anxious. Thank you for this site BB. I feel a bit better for at least making a start on this site. Alison.

blondguy Do you Fight/Battle/Push Though Anxiety or Accept it?
  • replies: 47

Hi Everyone This is my second thread on the forums. After my first mega anxiety attack in 1983 I was in bed with cold sweats, nightmares, heart attack feelings, the inability to breathe.... It was awful and my memories of that first few days are stil... View more

Hi Everyone This is my second thread on the forums. After my first mega anxiety attack in 1983 I was in bed with cold sweats, nightmares, heart attack feelings, the inability to breathe.... It was awful and my memories of that first few days are still vivid. 25 Years later my anxiety is nothing but a 'memory' once I realised that the 'symptoms' were only bad feelings that were brought on by me overthinking with my 'tired' mind. I have since learned that being a 'perfectionist' is detrimental to my health and a waste of time. There is so much to be gained by not fighting so very hard all of the time. Whether at work or in a relationship there is lot to be said to adopt the mentality of being 'simple minded'. I have also learned the 'lesson' that "Pride Is a Poor Substitute For Intelligence" Your thoughts on 'Fighting/Battling' Anxiety/Depression are appreciated Paul