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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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Elizabeth CP Experiencing increased anxiety & unable to calm myself down
  • replies: 13

Over the last couple of years depression has been my main problem. I typically become anxious when very stressed & trying to do too much. I stopped work last October because the stress from competing demands (work, my carer role & depression) became ... View more

Over the last couple of years depression has been my main problem. I typically become anxious when very stressed & trying to do too much. I stopped work last October because the stress from competing demands (work, my carer role & depression) became too much. I have been trying a number of strategies to manage my depression with mixed results. At times I felt like I was getting better but then things fell in a heap with no logical reason. I saw my psychiatrist last week & he talked me into trialling a different AD on a very low dose to avoid side effects & enable me to stop more easily if required. My previous experience of ADs has been very negative. Since the appointment I have felt very anxious. To make things worse I have had an extremely busy/stressful week which hasn't helped. I'm really struggling to calm down even though life has settled down. I would welcome any advice. I would also like advice how others monitered the effectiveness of ADs. Because of my condition I go up & down anyway and in the past increased anxiety has been a side effect of ADs but this time the anxiety increased before I started so this makes it hard to tell what is affecting what

ci Does anyone else ever feel like the thought of a normal life is impossible?
  • replies: 39

Haven't been on here for awhile trying to focus on changing my life getting my ocd undercontrol. Today it seems like I've bitten off more than I can chew. So overwhelmed by everything I've gone back to studying this year in my mid 30 with 3 kids and ... View more

Haven't been on here for awhile trying to focus on changing my life getting my ocd undercontrol. Today it seems like I've bitten off more than I can chew. So overwhelmed by everything I've gone back to studying this year in my mid 30 with 3 kids and a business to run. Travelling back and forth to uni I so worried I can't do this. I'm not sure if I should quite and accept that I can only have a simple life and stay home where it's safe and easier to get through the day? Sorry to vent on here but don't want to disappoint my family by telling them I'm not strong enough! Does anyone else feel like this?

Mumof_four Anxiety at all time high
  • replies: 5

This is my first post, not sure how this all works or if it will even help,but here I go. Since September after witnessing a fatal accident and nearly being involved myself, I have been having anxiety and having guilty feelings over that day.. the pa... View more

This is my first post, not sure how this all works or if it will even help,but here I go. Since September after witnessing a fatal accident and nearly being involved myself, I have been having anxiety and having guilty feelings over that day.. the past week I have been having high anxiety and don't know how to deal with it or myself at this point ... As Mother's Day is approaching, I'm struggling with how can I celebrate with my children when another family will be without their mother this mothers day..Can anyone help me with some tips of how to stop needing to take constant deep breaths ( feels like my lungs just arnt getting enough air) and the heart pounding feeling,... i have tried to do mediation, but my brain just can't relax at the Moment... Any advice would be great, thanks in advance

Krytie Anxiety and yawning so much it hurts!
  • replies: 10

Hi all, just joined up today so please let me know if this is not the right way to post. Anyway, I have depression and by what's happening to me I'm guessing anxiety, hoping someone can offer some suggestions. So any time I'm not hugely distracted by... View more

Hi all, just joined up today so please let me know if this is not the right way to post. Anyway, I have depression and by what's happening to me I'm guessing anxiety, hoping someone can offer some suggestions. So any time I'm not hugely distracted by something else, I find myself feeling like I need to yawn or take a very deep breath. Constantly. Like, 3-4 times a minute pretty much all day every day, and it's really getting quite painful! It just feels like when I'm breathing normally I'm not getting enough oxygen. Does this happen to others too and have you found any way to cope with it please? I suffered from severe depression and anxiety after having PND but haven't really had any problems for about 4 years now (except this yawning thing happened for a few weeks a bit before christmas), until I lost my job about a month ago and now can't get another one so I feel stressed, useless and hopeless. I went to my GP who gave me a referral but it will be weeks until they call apparently so I'm hoping to get some suggestions to try in the meantime as my jaw is getting very sore. I try distracting myself, mindfulness, sensory games, etc, distraction helps a little but everything else seems to make it worse as I'm overtly aware of it, if that makes sense. TIA!

SH87 Are my feelings "normal"/minor?
  • replies: 5

Hi all, This is my first post, and to be quite honest I'm not sure what to say. I joined because I'm not sure if I have issues with anxiety or if what I feel is "normal". My sister has severe anxiety, she is medicated and seeing someone for help. I d... View more

Hi all, This is my first post, and to be quite honest I'm not sure what to say. I joined because I'm not sure if I have issues with anxiety or if what I feel is "normal". My sister has severe anxiety, she is medicated and seeing someone for help. I don't think I'm on her level but I'm struggling to manage my feelings of shame, embarrassment ect over things I do everyday. I'm always recounting conversations I've had and agonising over everything I say. I spend hours thinking of "excuses" in case people think something I've said or done is offensive (which is pointless because no one ever does). If I drink (which I very rarely do) the next day is horrific, and often I'll be a wreck for days (I pretty much avoid alcohol now as even one drink sets me off). I'm pretty functional despite all this, I work full time, go to uni part time and have a great group of friends. However, on a bad day I can convince myself they are friends with me out of habit and obligation, which is awful. I know at times they get frustrated with me although in their defence I don't really tell them about my "bad days". I don't like going out outside this group, and normally turn down invites with other people. Sometimes I get confident and go out but this always leave me in a state of feeling mortified for reasons I can't put my finger on. I spend the next week trying to "suss out" if I've upset anyone even though I know I haven't, (like I said I don't drink so I don't get where this comes from). I'm always looking for someone to say a "magical" sentence that will make me feel better but despite people's reassurance no one ever seems to say the right thing. I'm single and have been for over four years. This doesn't bother me as I much prefer to be on my own. Often I'll spend my weekends just going to the gym, studying and watching TV and that's fine by me. Im very stubborn and I'm embarrassed to admit to my friends I might need help. I've tried to manage this on my own with exercise, healthy eating and positive thoughts but I'm exhausted. I don't want to tell my family as they have enough to worry about because of my sister. Any advice would be great. Should I be getting help? Or is this minor? I came on here today because I want something to change, because I'm so tired of feeling this way. Thanks in advance.

Jasperw Cause of Stress
  • replies: 5

1. Commonality or Individuality? How can you find what makes you different from everybody else (individuality) without first checking to see what other people have? (commonality). What is the common cause of stress? 2. Stress not caused by the events... View more

1. Commonality or Individuality? How can you find what makes you different from everybody else (individuality) without first checking to see what other people have? (commonality). What is the common cause of stress? 2. Stress not caused by the events you encounter, but by your mind's interpretation of that event. It is caused by what you think the event means. Your thoughts, opinions and beliefs about the event. What thoughts (i.e. worries) are common to people with psychological stress? 3. Society's philosophy of "If you are good, you will get" sets up the subconscious mind to believe that you need to live up to particular criteria in order to prove that you are worthy of receiving your needs for development. This sets up the following chain: Fail to achieve criteria=nothing to offer=no value=no approval= MISS OUT on requirements for development (what you need for your life to progress)= die (to the subconscious). So what is development? What do you need? Can you miss out on it? 4. There are two different models for measuring personal development. The first is the "achievement model", where they say "measure yourself by your achievements". In this model, people gauge their development and self-worth by the level of control they have over life. The more accurate model is the "wisdom model", where it is understood that all events you encounter provide growth in understanding the reality of what is occurring in life. We can't miss out out our development. All events are food for thought, whether they go the way you want them to or not. This does not mean you stop having goals, but rather do not measure your life by whether you achieve them. 5. The concept of "Free Will" is incorrect. (defined as "that person had free will and could have simply have chosen to have acted differently at that moment regardless of their beliefs. They are not being governed.) Can you choose what you believe? (Think of something you do not currently believe. Try "the earth is flat". Now choose to believe it. Can you?) Can you choose how you act? (Think of something you would not do no matter what. Now choose to do that action. Can you?). "I do not want to do that acton" is not a valid response, as we are not talking about whether or not you can follow my demands, but whether you can use your power of choice to do something, when your beliefs (your wants) are governing you and preventing you from doing the action. Can you choose to do that action you do not want to do?

DMA Episode 1. The one with the awkward first post
  • replies: 2

This is my first time talking about my experiences with anxiety and depression and hopefully this won't be the last time and is a positive experience. Just over a year ago I was 28 and burnt out from my demanding job. At the height of that, my girlfr... View more

This is my first time talking about my experiences with anxiety and depression and hopefully this won't be the last time and is a positive experience. Just over a year ago I was 28 and burnt out from my demanding job. At the height of that, my girlfriend of 8 years chose to end our relationship and moved out and moved states and cut off all communication. Needless to say it completely destroyed me and I have never experienced such heartache in my life and a time when I’ve questioned everything in my life. I wasn’t good at reaching out to friends to talk about what I was going through and they were oblivious to what was going on. The effects of the breakup impacted my work life and the stress I caused myself worry about the breakup and work caused me to get extremely unwell. I proceeded to feel extremely unwell for months and experienced a ridiculous range of symptoms that my DR told me were physical manifestations of stress and depression. This caused even more stress as I became more depressed and anxious that I wasn’t getting any better and was struggling with motivation and energy at work. My latest DR in a long line of DRs tells me that the prolonged period where my body was producing extremely high levels of cortisol has weakened my immune system. I’ve been told that it should improve in time, but constantly getting sick and feeling like I always have the flu, tired, and having aching joints constantly makes it hard to stay positive and I catastrophize any little thing that is wrong with my health to the point I’ve developed severe anxiety surrounding fear of getting sick so much that I make myself sick from stressing about it worrying that there some underlying condition that DRs aren't picking up. The more I've started to speak with friends about anxiety and depression i've found that they have dealt with it as well which is sad as we could have been supporting each other through our troubles. Hoping to read other people sharing similar issues and give support. Thanks for your time.

Zoostar84 Anxiety related neck and shoulder tension
  • replies: 5

Just wondering if anyone else gets anxiety related tension in back of the neck and shoulder. I live by myself so getting a massage at home is not an option. I also do not wish to pay for a massage. I would like you to offer some suggestions as to how... View more

Just wondering if anyone else gets anxiety related tension in back of the neck and shoulder. I live by myself so getting a massage at home is not an option. I also do not wish to pay for a massage. I would like you to offer some suggestions as to how to ease the tension whilst I'm at work. Something i may consider doing is to take a 5 minute break and practice a yoga pose called child pose which does seem to help when I'm at home.

Sportsnut89 New to anxiety
  • replies: 8

Ive recently been dealing with some anxiety issues of late, the reasons for worry have gone but im still worried all the time. Ive spoken to a counsiler over the phone in my moments of panic, 3 times in three days. They help emmensly but i still worr... View more

Ive recently been dealing with some anxiety issues of late, the reasons for worry have gone but im still worried all the time. Ive spoken to a counsiler over the phone in my moments of panic, 3 times in three days. They help emmensly but i still worry when i hang the phone up it all comes flooding back. I try to do the exercises they give me but they only work very briefly. I wanted to call my counsiler service again tonight but i feel im taking advantage of there emergency service. Im really worried that this will never go away ive never felt like this before in my life. Any advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

Baron_sherry Sleepless
  • replies: 3

I had a major anxiety attack last weekend. Cried for 3 days. Got some respite at my parents place but I'm sleepless. It's only been 2 nights with no sleep but I feel like a zombie. Tried sedatives but they aren't working. I can't sit still. Body is e... View more

I had a major anxiety attack last weekend. Cried for 3 days. Got some respite at my parents place but I'm sleepless. It's only been 2 nights with no sleep but I feel like a zombie. Tried sedatives but they aren't working. I can't sit still. Body is exhausted, mind is in another dimension of space and time. Tried meditation - distracted, tried other distraction like cleaning, reading, watching a movie, went for a walk. Tried laying on the bed and hoping for a sleep. Nothing. I look like crud, I feel cruddier. Tips, tricks, anything???