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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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EB01 Phobias
  • replies: 1

Hey guys, I'm a student doing work in SA and for a large part of my grading I am basing one of my final projects on phobias. I have conducted a question of "How does psychology explain the effects of phobias on an individual?". It would be such a gre... View more

Hey guys, I'm a student doing work in SA and for a large part of my grading I am basing one of my final projects on phobias. I have conducted a question of "How does psychology explain the effects of phobias on an individual?". It would be such a great help if any of you could take a minute to answer a couple, if not several or all of these questions below. 1. Are phobias a common occurrence? 2. What are the physical symptoms? 3. Are there any symptoms that are a rare side effect of a phobia that you know of or may experience? 4. How are phobias formed? How did yours start? Is it hereditary or an evolved childhood fear? 5. How do phobias physically impair someone? 6. Are phobias common? Do you know anyone else with a phobia? 7. How do phobias differ from everyday fear? 8. How would this situation be treated? How do you deal with a phobia? Thank you!!!

Shivers88 EMOTIONAL DISTRESS ABOUT MY MENTAL HEALTH
  • replies: 24

Hi there,, im very distressed and anxious about my health basically having intrusive thoughts and ending in full blown panic attacks! Which ended me up in bed for weeks and crying like no tomorrow.. This is hard Journey for me, as the thoughts I've n... View more

Hi there,, im very distressed and anxious about my health basically having intrusive thoughts and ending in full blown panic attacks! Which ended me up in bed for weeks and crying like no tomorrow.. This is hard Journey for me, as the thoughts I've never really experienced like this, harming my children or thinking I'm a pedophile or something stupid like that, it freaked me out. So I started to fight these thoughts out of my head which didn't work, and it snow balled. I felt like I was going crazy!! Anyway, since then I've been feeling guilty about these thoughts and can't quite shake it off, I'm seeing someone and it's helping but today in particular in finding myself like every other day googling my symptoms, to the point where I'm so anxious I'll keep going until I'm satisfied I hate it it sucks!! It's like an addiction constantly googling shit to "find" or "self diagnose" I've also been suffering some sadness, but j avoid those feelings and just "keep going" with life you know? I've adjusted to my partner doing FIFO 2/1 and it pretty much happened a week after that, which didn't help at all really... It triggered me off. Do I take meds if I'm feeling really miserable,? I have constant brain fog as If a black cloud is in my head, no clarity or anything it's debilitating

AnxiousSince1998 Anyone similar? Agoraphobia?
  • replies: 8

Hi guys, is there anyone else suffering agoraphobia, or having trouble with 1 on 1 conversations?I have been really struggling of late to do such simple things such as going to the supermarket or post office, and finding when I do force myself into t... View more

Hi guys, is there anyone else suffering agoraphobia, or having trouble with 1 on 1 conversations?I have been really struggling of late to do such simple things such as going to the supermarket or post office, and finding when I do force myself into these situations (for exposure therapy), I am left with full blown panic. It is peaking at its worst when I have to talk to someone, or if I'm asked a question. Everything tenses up, I go mega dizzy, faint, shakey, scattered, sweaty, and breathless to name just a couple of symptoms (you guys already know the rest of them)..My couple of days a week at work are becoming harder and harder to face, and that's even with minimal interaction with people. It looks like my anxiety has found a new way to bring me down now, and it's really scary.... I don't want to be housebound or this person who can't face the world. I question myself, being off medication now, after being on it for so many years, if that is playing a part in all this? Maybe I do have a chemical imbalance now, and need to be on them for life?I have been riding my bike a few times a week, which I find awesome because it gets me outdoors and is keeping me fit, but winter is here now and the days are getting colder/wetter....I have an appointment with my psych in a fortnight, so hoping he can provide me with some answers/therapy, but really don't want to be just thrown some meds and sent on my way.Any advice or personal experiences on this topic would be awesome.Cheers guys, Jase.

luckyman Inertia resulting from fear of change
  • replies: 4

Hi there good people at BB. I am currently struggling a little bit with a decent bout of inertia atm. I have been through quite a bit in recent years and come out the other side but it has left me a bit gun shy so to speak. I have ideas in my head ab... View more

Hi there good people at BB. I am currently struggling a little bit with a decent bout of inertia atm. I have been through quite a bit in recent years and come out the other side but it has left me a bit gun shy so to speak. I have ideas in my head about what i would like to do with my life going forward, but then I begin to get bogged down with doubt and fear of failing or even success and then end up becoming paralyzed by my own thoughts. I suppose I am just wanting to hear from anyone who has been there and what they did to push through and if they had success at the other side? Just looking for some inspiration I guess. Thanks in advance!

NBAC79 Driving anxiety
  • replies: 4

Does anyone else experience driving anxiety? I've had anxiety on and off for years but this aspect is new for me. I'd like to know how others deal with it? I'm worried it will leave me completely housebound soon if I don't get on top of it. Stopping ... View more

Does anyone else experience driving anxiety? I've had anxiety on and off for years but this aspect is new for me. I'd like to know how others deal with it? I'm worried it will leave me completely housebound soon if I don't get on top of it. Stopping at red traffic lights is my biggest issue at the moment. Instant panic attack inducer. But also just driving in general. What do others experience and suggest?

Bluegirl2014 so scared and worried about the thought that Donald Trump will cause WWIII
  • replies: 7

Hi, I have generalised anxiety disorder diagnosed for over ten years now... long slow road. I often worry about the threat of terrorism, but have recently been managing to lead a fairly normal lifestyle without too much of these intrusive thoughts. I... View more

Hi, I have generalised anxiety disorder diagnosed for over ten years now... long slow road. I often worry about the threat of terrorism, but have recently been managing to lead a fairly normal lifestyle without too much of these intrusive thoughts. I used to worry if my teenage daughters were in a public place they might get attack by a terrorist, so I would constantly worry when they were at movies etc. Now my fear is that America and Donald Trump in particular will cause a World War and I'm so scared that my kids and family will suffer terrible experiences or die and I won't be able to help them or take their fears and pain away. I know it sounds dramatic but I cant stop these thoughts. One of my children also has anxiety and I'm so worried she will be hurt and scared confirming that world is bad after all.

Hael Anxiety Symptoms Rollercoaster
  • replies: 6

Hi All,Just wanted to come on here and share my horrid experience so far and hopefully get some feedback to help get this weeks anxiety off my back, i find when i talk about it, it alleviates some symptoms.I'm 25, have been suffering from depression ... View more

Hi All,Just wanted to come on here and share my horrid experience so far and hopefully get some feedback to help get this weeks anxiety off my back, i find when i talk about it, it alleviates some symptoms.I'm 25, have been suffering from depression since i was 14, i had counseling back then, tried dealing with it since then up until late 2014 i started seeing a psychologist. 12 months of seeing her we weren't on the same page and my depression was spiraling down at a fast rate. I saw my GP and got put on some anti depressants, had heaps of issues with side effects, went off them and changed, had all the withdrawals, new ones were good. i use medication tooThen a few months back i got glandular fever, after having 2.5 weeks off work resting, i was really stressed about returning to work because i wasn't healthy enough yet. I like working and working had, so to be not my normal self i found difficult, returning to work is when i discovered what panic attacks and anxiety were. I was vomiting before going to work and my back neck and jaw were so wound up. when i looked into these things i realized I've been having panic attacks for about 4 years now on and off, never knew what they were just thought my body was doing weird stuff. Ever since i saw the GP the day i committed getting ready for work and he explained the anxiety.I've had 3 panic attacks in the last 2 months, and when i'm anxious and stressed i have been having these symptoms and the same time or separately, on different days or on different weeks on some kind of cycle. and it is driving me mad. It is worse through the day at work, it eases on the weekend when i relax.I get for some periods of time the current streak is 5 days, dizziness, blurry vision, sharp head pains, neck pains, neck back and shoulder tension, nausea, stomach cramps, twitching, neck pressures, head pressures, chest pains, chest rashes, difficulty concentrating, short term memory loss and drowsiness. not all together, usually some after others.I've had tests done by GP, i saw a Psychiatrist about 2-3 weeks ago and all these symptoms eased off. I had a big night drinking over the weekend and it has triggered everything. . Seeing GP again tomorrow about anxiety symptoms and new psychologist straight after. The anxiety is taking over my life, i finally start to deal with it and tell myself it is all in my head and it comes racing back out of no where.. Feel like i am going insane. does all of this sound normal lol

Sampanther Anxiety/worry and unsure how to help myself
  • replies: 2

Hey all I have been struggling with moderate anxiety symptoms for the past year or so and feel I am getting little help from GP's, almost as if they don't know how to help. So I battle through on my own but sometimes feel like I am going to fall apar... View more

Hey all I have been struggling with moderate anxiety symptoms for the past year or so and feel I am getting little help from GP's, almost as if they don't know how to help. So I battle through on my own but sometimes feel like I am going to fall apart and my symptoms are becoming out of my control and affecting my work etc. I sometimes get so upset over small things, and overthink, and am unsure how to help myself. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, as I get nervous thinking about work and as my boss is pretty hard I know he wouldn't understand!

ci Panic attack!! ! ! ! ! ! !
  • replies: 5

So I've just had pretty major panic attack and I'm needing to vent. So scary and awful experience. My poor husband was witness to it all and I feel so bad for him! I feel like a waste of space. My husband and kids deserve so much more than me. Why ca... View more

So I've just had pretty major panic attack and I'm needing to vent. So scary and awful experience. My poor husband was witness to it all and I feel so bad for him! I feel like a waste of space. My husband and kids deserve so much more than me. Why can't I get control of this.

Melina1 How can I explain to people who don't have anxiety?
  • replies: 3

I never thought I'm on of 'those' people. We always have to put things in boxes. Are you depressed?, did she experience trauma? I haven't experience trauma, I had a good childhood, I was the naughty one - a smart talker - and the class clown entertai... View more

I never thought I'm on of 'those' people. We always have to put things in boxes. Are you depressed?, did she experience trauma? I haven't experience trauma, I had a good childhood, I was the naughty one - a smart talker - and the class clown entertaining everyone. Traveling on my own etc - no problems. Losing control over a situation - I get pins and needles in my arms - heavy breathing - almost feels like I'm not getting enough oxygen. I feel sick - sometimes so bad I don't want to eat for days or make myself throw up to feel relieve. I need to be alone - people freak me out and I get claustrophobic. I can't sleep. I cry - for no reason. When I try to explain what's going on in my body right now I analyse everything in it's details until it becomes obsessive thinking. But the anxiety is not me - it is the complete opposite of who I actually am and friends can't understand how I can fall into this headspace within seconds - I don't want to let it take over me. That's why I refuse to take medication - I want to be stronger. Admitting that something is not right and seeing doctors was hard for me - it made it real. I am very much aware of how lucky I am and what is going on in the world - that's why I'm feeling even more ashamed of feeling like this. I have tried everything - detox, meditation - I am very active and love the outdoors - It's so annoying and unpredictable when it comes. I was always lucky to be in supporting relationships but the last year my anxiety increased and now when I date someone I don't tell them - who wants to be with a psycho I think to myself -but in the end they all see the other site of me - I'm just by then... to tired to explain and specially don't know how? The worst things to hear when I feel like this are statements such as: “Think positive and move on, or: Happiness is within you, or: ' you don't really have problems -Sometimes it’s better to say nothing. It’s all in your head,” -Do people really think those with anxiety haven’t considered this? Yes, it is a mental illness, but it affects us physically, creating sensations such as shallow breathing, hyperventilating, tightness of chest and claustrophobia.There is one recommendation that might help everyone: Avoid telling people not to worry, or they will add being misunderstood to their list of anxieties - but how can I explain and specially when?

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