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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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Crimson74 Food phobia help needed
  • replies: 7

Hi all I have GAD ,PTSD , agrophobia and suffer panic attacks which I all find really hard to deal with everyday but on top of all that I have now got a phobia of food and not sure how to deal with. It all started because I was very obese weighing 14... View more

Hi all I have GAD ,PTSD , agrophobia and suffer panic attacks which I all find really hard to deal with everyday but on top of all that I have now got a phobia of food and not sure how to deal with. It all started because I was very obese weighing 140kg and need to lose weight because I use to comfort eat when my anxiety got really bad . I was doing really well at got down to 110kg in a year. But then my weight just stayed the same for 2 months and I got upset . So I then started watching what I ate and counting my calories and by doing that I was cutting out a lot of food and was only eating about 1000 calories a day but I got tired and weak which then made my anxiety so bad that I was having panic attacks everyday and they were really bad and lasted for 1-2 hours and the only ended because I got so exhausted I ended up falling asleep. So since then every time I tried to eat my throat would tighten and then bring on another panic attack, so now I'm really scared to eat . I'm only managing to eat about 300-400 calories a day and I have lost 24kg in just 2 months so I now weigh 86kg and I'm scared that I'm going to get to 65kg and still not being able to eat properly but still be losing weight because I'm losing 3-4kg a week . I was wonder if anyone could give me some advice on how to eat again . Because I've been stuck at home for 8 months now so not eating on top of that is really starting to get to me Thankyou for any help

Moonstruck Should we tell others we have an anxiety problem?
  • replies: 11

Is it best to keep our mental health challenges to ourselves - or just be upfront with a carefully chosen few? The relatively rare (thank goodness) times I have to cancel plans, or late in beginning projects (procrastinating) saying No to requests et... View more

Is it best to keep our mental health challenges to ourselves - or just be upfront with a carefully chosen few? The relatively rare (thank goodness) times I have to cancel plans, or late in beginning projects (procrastinating) saying No to requests etc...I wish I could simply tell the truth and say "I have an anxiety disorder"...or "I have big problems with anxiety that overcome me sometimes" or similar. Wouldn't that sound like I am "making excuses"?. People would find it hard to believe because I am so good at putting on a false, breezy, "together" switched on, capable, coping, good listener facade....the one OTHERS confide their problems to. I tried a couple of times, something simple, not making a big deal of it or anything - like "I have a problem with anxiety" or "I have an anxiety disorder" I think I said. Responses included "Ah, you just worry too much" and another asked re anxiety disorder "What's that?" I've also had in the past "It's about time you got your life together- what have YOU got to worry about?".......obviously we have to keep it a big secret!!! I would be interested to hear if anyone else has had similar responses, or do the majority of us just keep our mouths shut?

Barby Driving Fear
  • replies: 2

Hi, my name is Barby. Approximately 6 months ago I had a panic attack whilst driving. Since then I have had another 2 attacks. Its always along the same stretch of road. Its got to the point that I feel anxious just getting into the car for the fear ... View more

Hi, my name is Barby. Approximately 6 months ago I had a panic attack whilst driving. Since then I have had another 2 attacks. Its always along the same stretch of road. Its got to the point that I feel anxious just getting into the car for the fear of it happening again. Has this happened to anyone else out there? I would love to hear some feedback and any suggestions that can help me would be appreciated. I want to point out that I have never been involved in a car accident or had anything happen to me whilst driving, so I am at a loss to understand why this is happening to me.

Dazed_and_confused Scared and alone
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone33 yr old mum of 3This is my first time posting here. I was diagnosed back in April this year with Anxiety and Depression after a very frightening panic attack. It all started just after my mum (who was visiting from interstate) and I had ... View more

Hi everyone33 yr old mum of 3This is my first time posting here. I was diagnosed back in April this year with Anxiety and Depression after a very frightening panic attack. It all started just after my mum (who was visiting from interstate) and I had just finished doing the housework for the day. She'd gone off for a shower and I sat down with my kids playing with Lego. I started to feel slightly unwell and my left arm started to go numb and my finger had a tingle in the end. I'm a bigger person and have recently started to worry about my weight and dying. So instantly I thought I was having a heart attack. My mum come back in and I was starting to sweat and panic I told her I was not feeling so good and I think I'm going to have a heart attack, she initially laughed at me and kept getting ready. I went off for a shower, the whole time in the shower my chest started to feel extremely tight and felt like an elephant was sitting on it. By this time my breathing had become quiet fast from the panic and I asked my mum to take me to the emergency room. Once I got there I was rushed off to be put on a machine, this of course made me panic even more. My blood pressure was 205/190. I literally felt like I was going to die like my heart was going to explode in my chest. Once the first ECG was done and they told me my heart was ok I started to settle down. I was kept over night just in case with 6 blood test done. They just said I'd had a panic attack and sent me on my way.Three days had passed and I still was not feeling too well, I started having bad headaches where my head would be so tight I'd cry, I felt dizzy all the time standing, sitting and even at night while in bed I spun out of control. I made a doctors appointment and was told there was nothing wrong with me. It was one of those Drs who pulls you in and pushes you out as quick as possible and charges you an arm and a leg with no answers. I decided to change Dr surgeries and found my current Dr. She listened to every word I said explained everything to me and knew what I was going through. It Did take 2 more visits for her to say you my dear have anxiety. She has put me on medication, it's started to help but now not so much so will be seeing her when she's back from holidays. I'm supposed to be seeing a psychologist but every time I go to make an appointment I have a panic attack and can't bring myself to do it. I don't know why or what I'm afraid of.​

Angelicfruitcake Alcohol and anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hi all, new here. I experience anxiety and often self medicate with alcohol which i know isnt good. It makes my anxiety worse i will wake up worried i did something i shouldnt have. It can be unbearable i go numb and feel like im not in my body i get... View more

Hi all, new here. I experience anxiety and often self medicate with alcohol which i know isnt good. It makes my anxiety worse i will wake up worried i did something i shouldnt have. It can be unbearable i go numb and feel like im not in my body i get so worried sick. Then i get so anxious i need to drink again so over this never ending cycle

Frankie_Ryan Waking up Anxious in the middle of the night!
  • replies: 3

Hi! I'm completely new to all this forum and posting stuff. I've always had anxiety from when I can remember. I was on medication for a while then came off it and was good for 4-5 years. Recently living down stairs with my partner until we save for a... View more

Hi! I'm completely new to all this forum and posting stuff. I've always had anxiety from when I can remember. I was on medication for a while then came off it and was good for 4-5 years. Recently living down stairs with my partner until we save for a house my stress and anxiety levels are through the roof. I'm currently going to acupuncture and taking a few herbs, I thought they were working but the last couple of nights I've been waking up very anxious like I've been woken up in a fright and then concentrating on the noise I can hear up stairs and letting that worry me and not let me go back to sleep. I started taking some pain killers to help me stay asleep but I think I have gone past that point. I have a lot going on with work and study and not having my own space or home but all I want to do is stay asleep and no worry about trying to get back to sleep.

Neenie87 Who has read the book Dare?
  • replies: 4

Hi All! Got recommended to read the book called Dare. A friend said it changed her life as she doesn't get panic attacks anymore and her general anxiety has really gone down. Would hate to buy another book on anxiety without getting reviews. Thanks View more

Hi All! Got recommended to read the book called Dare. A friend said it changed her life as she doesn't get panic attacks anymore and her general anxiety has really gone down. Would hate to buy another book on anxiety without getting reviews. Thanks

themadchatter Feeling Alone
  • replies: 5

Hello all not sure exactly how to start so will just share everything. I'm a 30 year old male comes from a unsupportive and broken family. I am single and unemployed. I used to have a large group of friends but over the past 10 years there have been ... View more

Hello all not sure exactly how to start so will just share everything. I'm a 30 year old male comes from a unsupportive and broken family. I am single and unemployed. I used to have a large group of friends but over the past 10 years there have been at least 17 weddings that some I have been invited to and others I have found out later. While they have found partners to marry I had been struggling and as a result the friendships have dissolved because they rarely take the time to hang out anymore and plus it was hard to be around them seeing how they were so happy and I was questioning myself deep inside. I have very little support from parents. One parent doesn't really care about myself and siblings and the other is not able to provide direction and encouragement due to a mental disability. Due to all this I am used to keeping to myself. When I do try to make friends it doesn't go well for me and that just makes me withdraw further away from all that and gets me down. I just don't know what to do anymore

NessieT Here we go again - anxiety triggered by pet loss
  • replies: 3

Warning Long Post: Hi Guys I have never posted before. I am a 37 yr old married mother of two and I work full time. My husband is currently away for 6 months due back in Nov. I was coping alright, just worn out. Here is where the issues started. I ha... View more

Warning Long Post: Hi Guys I have never posted before. I am a 37 yr old married mother of two and I work full time. My husband is currently away for 6 months due back in Nov. I was coping alright, just worn out. Here is where the issues started. I have suffered panic disorder with associated depression since I was 21. I have been on medication most of that time but of course I still have flare ups as we do. On Friday I came home from work to find our 11 yr old dog who believe it or not suffered from anxiety in a state. Over the years he had been destructive, he escaped frequently, hurt himself, he even once ran through a window. We have tried medication, special training, special jackets amongst other things and in recent weeks I had to resort to tying him up all day. When i came home on friday I knew in my heart that it was not a nice existence for him. He was becoming snappy with his offsider so i called my husband crying. I said now what, what else can we do...he said what are you suggesting. I said we have been told for a year now that perhaps he needs to be put down. We both got sad and realised that this was the option. So I called our vet and took him down there. She was wonderful and talked through the things we had tried and how he was possibly going to get worse and what we were doing was the kind option. He passed quickly and peacefully with myself and my son there. A few hours later kick in the panic attacks, I felt like I had made the worse decision, yet I know intellectually it was the right one. Since then I have had panic attacks followed by levels of anxiety - you know the nausea, lack of appetite, shaking, etc and last night I didnt sleep......I just want to get back on an even keel, I know I need to eat but I have no desire to, I want to sleep but the racing thoughts and sweating keep me awake on and off....any suggestions, any ideas guys? I just want to feel normal again.

Ash07 Anxiety rearing it's head after a major interstate move and being alone
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, I'm new here so not sure where to start. I just wanted to find another way to help a little with everything going on. I'm 26 and moved interstate 2 weeks ago for work. My parter of 4 years came with me and we drove all of my stuff over t... View more

Hi everyone, I'm new here so not sure where to start. I just wanted to find another way to help a little with everything going on. I'm 26 and moved interstate 2 weeks ago for work. My parter of 4 years came with me and we drove all of my stuff over to get me settled for work in my new centre. While the first week went well because he was here with me, unfortunately he had to go back to organise our house. We have a lease until October and with only 2 weeks to get interstate to begin work, the priority was getting me over here. So now he has gone back to our house and is trying to get everything packed so that he can get back here. Hopefully within 4-5 weeks. I'm currently staying with his mum but unfortunately she isn't here most nights so I'm here alone. Although this will only be my 4th night alone, it's been a rollercoaster of emotional exhaustion and nausea. I have been working about 6 hours a day for the past week which has been great, and when I'm at work I know we've made the right decision in making the move and taking the opportunity as it has come up. From Monday, I will be taking on a new role at work which is a promotion to a leadership role. The workload and responsibility will increase which I anticipate will create some more anxiety, but will also be a nice distraction with an 8 hour day plus possible work to do at home. I found out about getting the position once my partner had left which was hard because he wasn't here to cheer me on, although he was there via the phone and Skype. During the days at work, I'm distracted and fine. The problem is on the drive home from work if I know his mum won't be around. I start to feel anxious as I'm driving and not wanting to really come back here. Once home I'm finding it hard to do much other than sit around. Although my external uni semester has started, I feel no motivation or encouragement to do any work on that in the evening. I love studying but I just can't bring myself to it at the moment. I feel so anxious that I feel sick in my stomach. I find I'm unable to eat much, if anything in the evening which worries me because I don't want to get ill. I found a new GP yesterday to get my anxiety medication re-prescribed as I had come off that some years ago, so hoping that will kick in in a few days properly and I'll be able to function at home alone, and eat in the evening! I know this is a long post, I just want to know if anyone else has experienced similar and what they did to help.

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