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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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DeterminedGirl Scared of being scared
  • replies: 1

Hi Everyone I'm a carer for my partner who suffers from anxiety long term. I've been supporting him since we married but just lately I have been getting very anxious and scared when Im alone in the house. Usually at night, or when it's dark I have a ... View more

Hi Everyone I'm a carer for my partner who suffers from anxiety long term. I've been supporting him since we married but just lately I have been getting very anxious and scared when Im alone in the house. Usually at night, or when it's dark I have a thought that someone is going to attack me, break into the house, quite violent thoughts that keep me up at night, leaving me tense, anxious and fearful of sleeping, and I'm tired the next morning. This only happens when I'm alone and the violent thoughts are increasing that something bad will happen tonight. Has anyone else felt the way I do?

Bluey_moon Having a hard time
  • replies: 9

Well hi guys, I guess I'm just needing to talk. As most of you know I struggle with GAD and OCD tendencies. I have a fair dose of health anxiety. I have recently been cleared multiple times of having a psycotic disorder, which is great as I've been v... View more

Well hi guys, I guess I'm just needing to talk. As most of you know I struggle with GAD and OCD tendencies. I have a fair dose of health anxiety. I have recently been cleared multiple times of having a psycotic disorder, which is great as I've been very scared of this. This week has been different. For the last five weeks I have struggled with lady problems and as a consequence have become really tired (I had blood tests to test iron ect today and I am changing the contraceptive pill I'm on). Being chronically tired is flaring my anxiety and making me feel pretty down. I'm also struggling with migraines tonight. I'm sorry to vent! I just wanted to know if anyone had any advice. Skye

Crimson My anxiety take over..
  • replies: 4

So I have had anxiety since I was a child I had seperation anxiety which transformed into GAD and panic disorder/boarderline personality disorder into my teens and now adulthood.. It wasn't until I was 21 (and attempted Suicide) that I was full digin... View more

So I have had anxiety since I was a child I had seperation anxiety which transformed into GAD and panic disorder/boarderline personality disorder into my teens and now adulthood.. It wasn't until I was 21 (and attempted Suicide) that I was full diginosed I spent most of my life thinking everyone felt like this.. Since being diginosed I had been able to educate myself I have been able to manage my anxiety and not get into the cycle of depression steaming from my anxiety.. But I feel every few years a bad swing comes round.. And can feel myself sliding at the moment.. I've been with my boyfriend for 3 years and he met me when I was just coming out of a very bad period and was coming off medication.. I talk very openly about my mental illness and sometimes feel that he says he doesn't understand but he is supportive of me, but it's hard for him to understand because he is not in my head and can't see how I see things.. Lately I have been feeling very disassociated and I know this is the tell tail sign of my swinging out of control, and because I'm distant my boyfriend is getting annoyed, I often zone out cause I just can't Handel the small chit chat at the end of the day.. I'm thinking and worrying about other things and just don't listen to what he is saying and it's really starting to grate on him.. Does anyone eles feel like this? or understand? Any tips with how to stay more foucused or should I just communicate how I'm feeling even if I don't like what he has to say.. As you can see I'm panicking about talking about it..

ac1991 HOCD - confusing and scary
  • replies: 3

So I've been suffering with OCD for years now, but it wasnt until a few months ago that it became a lot worse. At first I had no idea why I was having these intrusive thoughts or images (and at the time didnt even know that these "intrustive thoughts... View more

So I've been suffering with OCD for years now, but it wasnt until a few months ago that it became a lot worse. At first I had no idea why I was having these intrusive thoughts or images (and at the time didnt even know that these "intrustive thoughts" were part of OCD and not just me going insane) - but knowing what I do now, it became all the more clear to me that intrusive thoughts are just another way of OCD trying to convince you you've lost/are going to lose control. I have experienced many different kinds, but one has stuck around - and doesn't seem to be going anywhere. It started when a friend was sitting with me one day, and made a joke about me being a lesbian because I haven't had a boyfriend in a long time and am not looking for one. I laughed it off, but it set something off and sent me back to square one, only this time with a different worry. My mind was telling me I was a lesbian. I have never been homophobic or had a problem with people of same sex orientation, and had never questioned my own sexuality either. I remember thinking that being attracted to the same sex emotionally just wasn't me. But all of a sudden, this thought would not stop circulating my head. I have always fantasised about finding the perfect guy and all those typical things, but now OCD has got me questioning even something so basic as this. Now I am too scared to be around friends of the same sex and am too scared to even consider the idea of being attracted to the same sex out of fear that I will like it more and stop being heterosexual. I am getting confused between feeling happy when I am around a female friend and feeling the sort of excitement you do when with a significant other - my mind cant even tell the difference anymore. Even on days when I know I am attracted to men, there is still a voice in my head telling me I'm not. Also, the fact that I don't want a relationship and feel nervous and uncomfortable around guys scares me and proves my anxiety more, even though I know it is normal to feel a little nervous and unrelaxed around the opposite sex. I check forums daily to try and convince myself that I am heterosexual, but they only make it worse and scare me more. It comforts me to know that this is a kind of OCD and not just me, and that there are people out there experiencing the same thing. But this is causing me to lose interest in any kind of relationship it scares me.

Beau_Brady Anxiety or Depression or something worse?
  • replies: 4

What is wrong with me? Whilst I am not medicated and have not sort professional help, I believe I have depression or anxiety or maybe something else. I am constantly talking to myself in my own head and my imagination runs absolutely wild (I am 30). ... View more

What is wrong with me? Whilst I am not medicated and have not sort professional help, I believe I have depression or anxiety or maybe something else. I am constantly talking to myself in my own head and my imagination runs absolutely wild (I am 30). Like when a child goes to bed and imagines he is playing cops and robbers as he lies their eyes closed, my imagination is no different. It’s like I am constantly talking to myself but not aloud. I don’t literally hear voices with ‘volume’ in my head, it’s more like a silent voice, constant narration of my life and whatever I am imagining. I day dream a lot. Other things to note; I have turned from an extrovert (up until early 20’s) into an introvert (am now 30). I avoid socialising not because I am scared of people but because it’s too draining mentally and I find small talk fake and extremely boring. I do prefer my own company nowdays. I find it hard to motivate myself at work. I do enough to get by rather than trying to be successful even know success is what i think about the most. I find it hard to find passion in anything. I question everything and am a deep thinker. Panic attack: I have some kind of mental panic during public speaking or even if I have to talk during a meeting at work in front of 10 or so people. Symptoms include; heart rate increase, mouth twitches, hot flush over body, sweating and then I can't think it’s like my brain has stopped. I understand that people will tell me to seek professional help and chat to my doc. That is obvious. I am after your thoughts not a referral. No wrong or right answers here i'm just hoping people have some advice and/or opinions.

Polka_Dots Social anxiety: a barrier to learning?
  • replies: 3

I have social anxiety (depression and regular anxiety as well) and it affects my ability to learn things, both academic and recreational. Recreational activities are worst because the teachers are not trained to deal with it because their training wo... View more

I have social anxiety (depression and regular anxiety as well) and it affects my ability to learn things, both academic and recreational. Recreational activities are worst because the teachers are not trained to deal with it because their training would be short. Even if you tell them you have anxiety they don’t recognise it and just teach how they know. “Don’t panic” is their useless advice. I don’t blame them because they are not taught. But I get mad that if there’s a physical injury in class the teachers are so vigilant but no one even notices if I’m panicking let alone does anything to help. I sign up for something active and fun. I am not a natural athlete and am a slow hesitant learner. I also feel like I must succeed to handle my illness and to not look dumb=pressure. Then, I start to feel everyone is watching me so I get embarrassed that I’m not learning as fast as my classmates. Then everyone gets ahead, even if it’s my 10th session and they’ve been doing it for 5 minutes- I’m still where I was before Lesson 1 and they’re great. I get more scared to try in front of others- it's a positive feedback cycle that escalates my anxiety. Then I panic. Paralysed so much by fear I can't learn. Everytime it worsens because I feel I should be further along and I also remember how anxious I was last time. I run out of classes, making 0 progress, as much as I want to learn the skill, I’m too embarrassed to go back because others only need 1 session to master Step 1, not 2 terms. The teachers talk about how great other students did, the students praise each other and I feel stupid and isolated. Everyone seems to be a natural and talented but me. I feel useless and unteachable because I am the only one who can’t. I cry for hours after and have a bad depressive episode for a week after, which gets worse each time. Then I hate myself that I’m depressed over a tiny thing. It compounds my depression because I see these all as yet more failed attempts to learn things and change my illness. I quit to avoid the frustration and embarrassment and because I’m a waste to teach- but am devastated because I want to do it badly. The cycle is unhealthy. Does anyone else have similar experiences or perhaps suggestions on how to approach learning things? I’m out of appointments on my MHP and am keen to hear people’s advice should I want to try more things or get courage to go do these things again and also for my degree, where I can’t even show my teacher my work. Thanks

Neenie87 What do you do to help bring you down while having a panic attack?
  • replies: 4

Hi All, Curious to find out how people manage their panic attacks? I struggle to settle myself down and really want to be able to control them. Has anyone mastered settling a panic attack?

Hi All, Curious to find out how people manage their panic attacks? I struggle to settle myself down and really want to be able to control them. Has anyone mastered settling a panic attack?

Angela_Faye My other emotions have disappeared
  • replies: 8

I'm on the recovery end of anxiety (12year journey) and I have just realised that I don't really have any emotions. I know how to feel nervous, anxious, scared, frightened, worried, sad - but I don't know how to feel all the other emotions passion, j... View more

I'm on the recovery end of anxiety (12year journey) and I have just realised that I don't really have any emotions. I know how to feel nervous, anxious, scared, frightened, worried, sad - but I don't know how to feel all the other emotions passion, joy, excitement, fulfilled, excellent. It seems as if I've spent too long down one end of the scale that I have forgotten all the other emotions. I graduated university; nothing, I got married; nothing, I built a house; nothing...all these moments are supposed to filled with emotions but I didn't seem to have any. I am on a mission to refill my life with meaning and this involves the full spectrum of emotions. Does anyone have this problem or have any tips on this?

Karellen Sought out help and now I feel even worse. What next steps are there?
  • replies: 2

Hello, I had a rant on this forum about 6 months ago about the history of my depression, anxiety lack of confidence and self-esteem. Had a few people reply with some good advice with the strong recommendation that I go back to my GP and arrange to se... View more

Hello, I had a rant on this forum about 6 months ago about the history of my depression, anxiety lack of confidence and self-esteem. Had a few people reply with some good advice with the strong recommendation that I go back to my GP and arrange to see another psychologist/psychiatrist. So it took some time but I finally went to see a new psych and immediately took a strong disliking to her. Found someone else about 6 weeks later who I got on better with. I was also put on a few different medications by a psychiatrist that I started seeing at the start of the year. He said I most likely had both dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. At the moment I have started another combination of medications and will have a review of how those are working in a fortnight. I have only one full session left with my psych that is covered by mental health plan so she wants me to wait a bit before seeing her again. So during the last few months I have been feeling absolutely terrible. I didn't know I could feel this miserable and my psych was particularly worried enough to consider hospitalization. During this whole time I have still had to go to my anxiety provoking job so I can afford these treatments. I would not mind having to spend thousands of dollars If it made life a little bit more bearable. My psychiatrist said the next step would be group therapy but that can also be expensive and probably will have to take more time off work. No guarantees with that either. My wits are frayed, cognition has hit rock bottom, medication has scrambled my brain, anxiety? depression? anger? frustration? I can't even explain to myself how I am feeling most of the time. I am not too sure what steps I should take next except for yelling at my psychiatrist/psychologist/gp that I'm losing my mind. Any suggestion would be appreciated?

Littlerevheads It's taken over again😭😭😭
  • replies: 1

Have had anxiety for 2 and half yrs now, it went way and has come back since December when my hubby went way for a weekend. It worst then before and itself to be taking over my life at night time , can't sleep and panic attacks like no tomorrow . Jus... View more

Have had anxiety for 2 and half yrs now, it went way and has come back since December when my hubby went way for a weekend. It worst then before and itself to be taking over my life at night time , can't sleep and panic attacks like no tomorrow . Just over feeling like this all the time.