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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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Guest_85ED2072 Why do i drink when i know it's bad for me?
  • replies: 7

Hello all,Me - 37, great wife, great kids, good job. Happy days.No childhood trauma, happy upbringing, close family.Struggled with anxiety since adolescence for whatever reason, just got on with it. Have struggled with weight since my teenage years, ... View more

Hello all,Me - 37, great wife, great kids, good job. Happy days.No childhood trauma, happy upbringing, close family.Struggled with anxiety since adolescence for whatever reason, just got on with it. Have struggled with weight since my teenage years, I've always been overweight. Found exercise and healthy living worked to alleviate most symptoms. However I've also drank quite a bit since adolescence, nothing hugely unusual in that. Gone are the days of drinking 20 beers and shots and getting up at dawn to play rugby with no side effects.Now a few bottles of wine equals a 24hour hangover. Why do I do it to myself?Struggled with anxiety and mild depression on and off, have had a few panic attacks over the years which is pretty horrific. Found sessions with a therapist very beneficial and take medication which has been excellent.Don't drink during the day/at work and regularly have a few days off but I tend to hit it really hard at the weekends and I cant seem to get out of this rut. Drinking at least 2 bottles of wine, Thu, Fri, Sat nights and some times more. I feel dreadful the next day and know this is a slippery slope. I need to make some changes.I drink because it numbs my feelings and stops my brain going a million miles an hour. It also makes the anxiety go away, at least initially. The bad thing is the anxiety is twice as bad with a hangover.Overweight = Anxiety = Depression = Drinking = Weight gain = Overweight = I'm seeing a pattern here..!Any advice from anyone who is in, or been in a similar situation to help me cut down my drinking/change my routine here?Answering myself (Sorry) I know I could simply give up drinking but it that the only option?Thank you for listening.Rob

ci I need all this to stop!
  • replies: 8

This is to hard! Don't know what this post will achieve but if I don't get it out I'm going to explode! I am try desperately to held everything together but I can't I'm hiding in a corner right now trying to catch my breath and calm my thoughts. Does... View more

This is to hard! Don't know what this post will achieve but if I don't get it out I'm going to explode! I am try desperately to held everything together but I can't I'm hiding in a corner right now trying to catch my breath and calm my thoughts. Does anyone else ever feel like they are just going to snap and loose control of everything I feel like I'm going to just loose it well scream throw stuff in so frustrated! I have ocd and there are people in my house fixing stuff and I so annoyed at my husband for organizing it. It's causing me huge anxiety and thoughts are nuts! I been really struggling this last month told him I need to rest I need everything that doesn't need to happen to stop and I need a break. But here I am in the corner. My husband has been great with all this better than I could have asked and I'm so selfish for needing more than he can give me but I do right now. I'm so tired keep telling I need to get a break I need help I run our business working from home I have 3 kids and no support from outside family on one to help take the pressure off. Feel like I need a week of having someone with me get on top of everything that I'm behind on and give me a chance to rest or maybe go for a walk alone I love my family so much this sounds so selfish but I'm lost as to what to do. Dealing with ocd and depression is one of the hardest thing I've ever gone through and my life hasn't been smooth. How do you deal with this I see doc and therapists not on meds yet tried to avoid but think it's time to fill my scrip?

Ellie05 Early morning anxiety
  • replies: 12

Hi There, I've been experiencing depression and anxiety over the last few months and one of the most difficult challenges is the early morning anxiety I face. I wake most mornings at about 4 to 5am and spend the next few hours in a state of near pani... View more

Hi There, I've been experiencing depression and anxiety over the last few months and one of the most difficult challenges is the early morning anxiety I face. I wake most mornings at about 4 to 5am and spend the next few hours in a state of near panic, worrying about all my most deep seated fears (growing older, losing people I love, Dying alone, the anxiety itself etc.). As it's so early and I'm tired it's really hard to manage the negative thoughts that come my way. It's really affecting my quality of life and I'm not sure what to do. Has/does anyone else here experience the same thing? If so, do you have any tips on how to manage it?

tannat Anxiety why must you consume me
  • replies: 6

Standard Saturday night; sitting at home alone staring at the walls. I should be at an event, an event that would literally have been probably one of the best nights I've had in a while yet my social anxiety decided to put a stop to all the fun. I've... View more

Standard Saturday night; sitting at home alone staring at the walls. I should be at an event, an event that would literally have been probably one of the best nights I've had in a while yet my social anxiety decided to put a stop to all the fun. I've had social anxiety since I was about 14 (29 now). Now, to add to this I have been diagnosed with complex PTSD. So, it is like a double whammy. I struggle to leave the house on a good day, and on a bad day well.. I honestly do not know what to do anymore. I know where my social anxiety stems from; my weight. I am overweight.. and then some. Losing weight is hard.. but hating myself is harder. I avoid looking in the mirror at all costs. I literally cry at the sight of myself. I don't know how I got to the point that I hate myself so much. I can't even get a job because I am terrified to walk into the office/building. I start sobbing at the thought of it. And it all stems down to how I look. I am ashamed. I don't feel worthy of anything. And, worst of all I have no friends. I have one family member. I basically have no one. I honestly feel if I vanished, no one would even notice, or care. I forget what it feels like to be loved, or needed. I feel like an empty vessel. It scares me that this is going to be my existence; that I am going to just live this lonely, worthless anxieety ridden life. I have seen psychologists, I have been on medication, off medication, natural remedies.. self-help groups, meet up groups, social anxiety meetings, hypnotherapy... hell I have even see a psychic! I just feel like this is my destiny, and I really don't want it to be. I was okay for a few years, but I relapsed about 2 years ago now and it has been this downward spiral. I feel like I am at the bottom of a big, deep well and can see the light but it is getting further and further away. Anyone.. is this my life? How do I change it? How do I change it when I have sought out every single avenue that I can possibly think of? The saddest part about all this, for me, is that the only way I can talk to someone is by finding an online community. Having no one is really messing with me, just as much as me hating myself.

fatima I hate the ups and downs
  • replies: 11

so frustrated. after weeks of regular panic attacks, I felt calm for a few days . Not happy but at least calm and feeling that i might be regaining a bit of control on my way to crawl out of the black hole. Well guess not, two nights of poor sleep (b... View more

so frustrated. after weeks of regular panic attacks, I felt calm for a few days . Not happy but at least calm and feeling that i might be regaining a bit of control on my way to crawl out of the black hole. Well guess not, two nights of poor sleep (bloody mind keeps going in circles) and I just broke down again today. so over it. why cant life just be a bit more easy. rant over

Koodji I suspect I have panic disorder
  • replies: 3

Hello, Im Koodji, um don't really know how to do this so will just say it how it is....I suspect I have Panic Disorder. Yes, I should seek professional help...but I've been scared off by one GP who said I was kidding myself and seeking medication. I ... View more

Hello, Im Koodji, um don't really know how to do this so will just say it how it is....I suspect I have Panic Disorder. Yes, I should seek professional help...but I've been scared off by one GP who said I was kidding myself and seeking medication. I told him from the outset I didn't WANT medication. Anyway. I did the beyond blue test (honestly!) and came out 'High'. Can't say I was surprised as I've got all the pointers....family history, repeated attacks, started age 34, irrational thoughts (even though I tell myself they are irrational) elevated heartbeat, disilusion from reality when they occur...yada yada. Some things, sometimes, work (after trying to rationalise the irrational), for example... 1. phoning my awesome other half and saying "Positive". That's his cue to tell me some positive thing. He does one heck of a job dreaming something up on the spot. 2. Breathing, walking away or changing the circumstances. Not always convenient but worth a crack. 3. Trying to out-think my own brain. A form of CBT, I guess. I ask myself a series of questions, e.g WHY has this happened? WHAT can you do to change it, WHO can you call for help if it doesn't work. Somtimes though. They stick around, despite my efforts and last alllllll day. I'm exhausted by the end of it. It's debilitating. Dunno what to do. A nurse once used a pressure point (temples) when I freaked out so bad I thought I was having a 'Heart Attack' one day and called the other half at work to drive me to hospital. I was also at work. Not that it always happens at work. Can anyone advise alternative pressure points that might work for my condition? The temples appear to have stopped working. Sorry for the long post! one more thing (sorry!) I'm also looking for somewhere I can 'post' during meetings etc that doesn't look sus and get some sympathy....yours in suffering, Koodji

Chicken_Wings I'm feeling scared today
  • replies: 3

I've been feeling scared most days, but today I feel particularly scared. I'm scared about the future and about my health and about what's going to happen to me and of becoming even more scared. I don't know what I expect from this post, I just wante... View more

I've been feeling scared most days, but today I feel particularly scared. I'm scared about the future and about my health and about what's going to happen to me and of becoming even more scared. I don't know what I expect from this post, I just wanted to tell someone.

Haveachat2u Anxiety issues
  • replies: 3

I have anxiety, everybody is saying its normal. I'm going through some big things at the moment. I have just about finished my bachelor degree, I have been offered honors, but I'm going through the process to get my dream job. This job is takes a sev... View more

I have anxiety, everybody is saying its normal. I'm going through some big things at the moment. I have just about finished my bachelor degree, I have been offered honors, but I'm going through the process to get my dream job. This job is takes a several months of interviews to possibly get selected. I'm afraid that I won't get the job. I can't stop thinking about what I will do if they find me lacking and choose someone else for the job. These months of waiting gives me a lot of anxiety. HELP

Nessie1602 New member
  • replies: 5

hello All, I'm new to this site, I found it by accident when looking for information and support for bipolar disorder and BPD. Its helpful reading the posts, I'm not alone, I always thought I was. Glad I found you.

hello All, I'm new to this site, I found it by accident when looking for information and support for bipolar disorder and BPD. Its helpful reading the posts, I'm not alone, I always thought I was. Glad I found you.

REWIND How to cope with anxiety and stop fighting with my husband....
  • replies: 2

Hi all; I am new to these forums and am only just now receiving help (have visited a psychologist twice) for my generalised anxiety disorder. I feel out of control at the moment and unable to stop my worrying and find myself getting so angry at my hu... View more

Hi all; I am new to these forums and am only just now receiving help (have visited a psychologist twice) for my generalised anxiety disorder. I feel out of control at the moment and unable to stop my worrying and find myself getting so angry at my husband ALL THE TIME. He has never suffered any anxiety so finds it difficult to understand my worries and how I always immediately jump to the worst possible outcome in any situation. He loves to go out and have fun and I feel like I don't even know how to have fun anymore. He would love me to be happy and tells me all the time that I need to be happy - but I don't know what will make me happy. We have a young family so have the added stress of needing to find babysitters when we do want to go out and often for me that is just too much worry to cope with and I will generally stay home while he goes out. His job also involves a lot of social events where he is drinking and coming home at all hours of the morning. I don't sleep well and always hear him come home and just can't stop myself from confronting him and getting very angry. I want to stop this and get back to being in a loving relationship but I just don't know how to. I want to be able to go out and not worry so much about getting the kids sorted, babysitter organised, house cleaned and all the other worries that start as soon as a social event is mentioned. I would love to hear from anyone that has been in a similar situation and any strategies or tips that worked for you. I really want to feel better and I want my children to see me coping better and feeling happier. Thanks