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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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Cameragirl Anxity and hiatus hernia
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone. Hope everyone is looking after themselves. I have a question for anyone who has a hiatus hernia. I'm off to my doctors appointment tomorrow for a test to see if I have a hiatus hernia. I seem to have all the symptoms. The reading I've do... View more

Hi everyone. Hope everyone is looking after themselves. I have a question for anyone who has a hiatus hernia. I'm off to my doctors appointment tomorrow for a test to see if I have a hiatus hernia. I seem to have all the symptoms. The reading I've done so far is telling me that the hiatus hernia is great at mimicking the symptoms of Anxiety because it affects the vagus nerve. Any thoughts.?

Lazykh Phobias you have known...
  • replies: 4

I'm on the search for the most obscure phobia you guys have ever run into... Basically when I got into psychotherapy my first step was to rid myself of my own phobias... I found it challenging and rewarding. Since, I've helped a few counselling clien... View more

I'm on the search for the most obscure phobia you guys have ever run into... Basically when I got into psychotherapy my first step was to rid myself of my own phobias... I found it challenging and rewarding. Since, I've helped a few counselling clients with phobias too and also heard from other professionals of different phobias they have treated. These are the most obscure ones I have seen/ heard of, what can you contribute to the list? -False teeth (a lady who was wasting away in hospital because she had no teeth and had to combat the phobia to get dentures and survive) -Balloons (old, sticky decomposing ones only) -Feathers (led to a woman's agoraphobia, on a 60 minutes show) -Bogong Moths

Jess_164 Anxiety attack?
  • replies: 3

I've always felt stressed out and it's happened before but the other day it got worse. It was Sunday night and my friend texted be about some homework due. My cheeks got super red and hot, my heart raced and I breathed like I was crying. is anyone ex... View more

I've always felt stressed out and it's happened before but the other day it got worse. It was Sunday night and my friend texted be about some homework due. My cheeks got super red and hot, my heart raced and I breathed like I was crying. is anyone expiriencing the same thing?

Garymac Constant worry
  • replies: 3

Hi guys I am 45 and have suffered from chronic anxiety for as long as I can remember. I do go through ok periods where my anxieties are just low level background noise in my head,lets face it there are things that are genuine to worry about in life t... View more

Hi guys I am 45 and have suffered from chronic anxiety for as long as I can remember. I do go through ok periods where my anxieties are just low level background noise in my head,lets face it there are things that are genuine to worry about in life that we need to process and act on. My problem seems to be I either take a problem, or what I percieve to be a problem , and it becomes an obsession. If I become obsessive I will look at the problem in a million different ways , and play each outcome in my head over and over. When I reach this stage I am not fit to deal with anything. This without doubt is a family issue as my father, and his mother before him, were both deeply anxious and this had a very negative effect on their lives. I have had numerous sessions with a councelor, which went well and I learned a lot from it, but that was a few years ago. I realise that this condition is part of me and always will be,but I know with the right methods I can learn to control it. I just havent ever found the right method. I do take medication, but I know atleast at the dosage I am on it seems to have little effect when things get bad. I do not wish to up the dosage as I found the side effects prohibative. I was wondering if anyone with similar anxiety issues that have had some success in managing this could share their experiences or offer some advice ? Thanks Gary

MiaBella Flu-like symptoms - Anxiety?
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum, I am a relatively healthy 37 year old female with a history of anxiety/panic attacks. Just when I think I have it all under control it seems to manifest itself in a new way. I just wanted to ask if anyone else out... View more

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum, I am a relatively healthy 37 year old female with a history of anxiety/panic attacks. Just when I think I have it all under control it seems to manifest itself in a new way. I just wanted to ask if anyone else out there has experienced the following. Flu-like achy feelings through out your body, fatigue, very very sluggish, just cannot seem to get moving, this in turn causes more anxiety. I have had a very thorough check by my doctor, full blood count done, all normal, checks for any auto-immune diseases, all negative but anti-bodies present for Glandular Fever and Cytomegalovirus but doc says all from a past illness, I didn't even know I had CMV. Traces of blood in my urine, renal/bladder ultrasound all clear and Urine cytology negative so doc is at a loss, I just cannot shake this achyness, it's also effecting my sleep at times, I cannot stay asleep due to feeling so ill, it's like a cursing wired feeling going through my body and my mind constantly races which prevents me from sleeping and I feel very thirsty all night, during the day I could be feeling fine one minute and the next completely crash with the flu like feelings again. I just can't seem to accept that this could all be anxiety related??! My husband says YES most definitely, I am over thinking everything and always thinking something is wrong with my health but nothing ever shows up in tests. So hoping someone shares my symptoms and can shed some light on it all because it is driving me crazy, some days I am bed ridden because it literally feels like I have the flu, never have fever though. I also suffer with IBS. Thank you for anyone advice.

Jasper_J Self help
  • replies: 4

I'm sure this has been asked many many times. But I'd like to know what everyone does to help with their anxiety. I refuse to take anti depressants. I know exercise helps. What else can everyone suggest? I'd love to hear your opinions.

I'm sure this has been asked many many times. But I'd like to know what everyone does to help with their anxiety. I refuse to take anti depressants. I know exercise helps. What else can everyone suggest? I'd love to hear your opinions.

Purplefish Everything is just too much at the moment
  • replies: 5

Hey guys I'm new here so hello, this may contain some triggering stuff so here is a warning. I'm going through a heap of stresses at the moment and I really just wanted to share. Firstly I have just came out of a long term serious relationship and I ... View more

Hey guys I'm new here so hello, this may contain some triggering stuff so here is a warning. I'm going through a heap of stresses at the moment and I really just wanted to share. Firstly I have just came out of a long term serious relationship and I now live all by myself. Secondly my 41 year old aunt has just passed away from cancer. I can't sleep as when I start to fall asleep I think I can't breathe and end up having panic attacks. also I have so many uni assignments due that I think I'm going to rip my hair out. I used to see a phycologist but she treated me like I was stupid and I don't know if I have the energy or time to see someone else. Does anyone have any tips for uni study stress or dealing with loss that they think could help me? Thanks for reading and I hope you're all doing well. Kind regards

cadd97 A failure - too anxious to get a job
  • replies: 4

Hi. I'm new here, and I don't really know what to write but I need some help. I guess I'll start by saying that I've always been quite a shy, introverted, insecure and anxious person, with little to no friends. I've accepted that that's just my perso... View more

Hi. I'm new here, and I don't really know what to write but I need some help. I guess I'll start by saying that I've always been quite a shy, introverted, insecure and anxious person, with little to no friends. I've accepted that that's just my personality, even though I'm not all that happy with it. I'm here today though because I feel like a failure. At 17, I haven't done anything my peers are doing or have already done, such as getting my drivers license, a job, going to parties or sorting out my future. I stay at home all day because it's where I feel most comfortable. As much as I so badly want to get a job, I feel like I literally can't. I know nerves are normal when confronted with new things and that it probably won't be as bad as I think it will be, but I feel anxious to the point where I feel like I'll be sick and I can't even get myself to apply to places, and when I do I find myself worrying that I'll actually get the job. I beat myself up everyday over this, and having my parents lecturing and fighting with me over it doesn't make me feel any better. As much as I know they love me, I feel like I'm a disappointment to them. My mum constantly compares me to other people my age and what they've achieved. They think I'm lazy, that I'm a quitter and that I have no goals. But the truth is, I'm just too anxious to do anything, even though I want to so badly. I've tried explaining this to them, but they're convinced it's just natural nerves and that I'm making up excuses. I used to see a psychologist a few years ago for my anxiety, but stopped after a year as I seemed to be getting better. She gave me tactics to use that I still use to this day. I don't know whether I should go back, or if this is just something I'm over-analysing. I feel ridiculous, but I graduate high school this year and I don't know what to do. I feel like some traits of my personality and my anxiety are consuming me and stopping me from doing what I need and want to do in life.

suho Could this all really be anxiety??
  • replies: 10

Hi! I'm 23 and I've struggled with mild social/health anxiety for probably most of my life. I've had moments when they were bad, but I was always able to get through them, and move on. A little over a month ago however, I strained my back lifting som... View more

Hi! I'm 23 and I've struggled with mild social/health anxiety for probably most of my life. I've had moments when they were bad, but I was always able to get through them, and move on. A little over a month ago however, I strained my back lifting something. After that, I started getting really worried that it was something else. I started googling symptoms, and then somehow convinced myself it was my kidneys. Googling symptoms and convincing myself that I have something wrong with me is not something new to me. I've been doing it for years, and normally, I can ride it out (normally visit my GP and get some tests done), and it'll go away. But the morning after that, I woke up sweating, and my heart was so loud. I don't think it was a panic attack because I didn't feel out of breath or any other symptoms, but maybe an anxiety attack? I just felt hot all over and this dread, like something was wrong with me. The following week, I would get these same anxiety attacks (maybe 2-3 more times), and it would make me feel so weak and out of energy, as well as a burning sensation under my skin. It was like I could FEEL the adrenaline running through me. I stopped leaving the house because I was so afraid that my legs would give out on me. Since then, I don't really get hot anymore...but sometimes I get chills (which are the WORST because they make me feel like I'm buzzing out of my skin), IBS symptoms, muscle twitches, joint stiffness, and these weird jolts/pains that run up and down my extremities. I also get pins and needles very easily, and some days, my left arm goes numb (this usually goes away the next day). My appetite also fluctuates. Sometimes I can eat, but other times I just look at food and can't do it. I also think I get derealisation because I'm so worried all the time. Though I don't really get the anxiety attacks anymore, I feel like I'm CONSTANTLY worrying and dreading something, and so the anxiety is always there, and I always feel so weak even just getting out of bed. Sometimes I just feel this worry/hollowness inside of me that I don't know how to fix. I've had a blood test and everything came back normal...my GP just said anxiety, and I've gone for my first session with my psychologist, but it's just so hard to convince myself that all these physical symptoms are anxiety. Especially since I don't tend to get the main anxiety/panic attack symptoms like chest pain, breathing problems or heart racing. How did you end up accepting your anxiety??

Solosombra Life is looking up! So why am I scared!?
  • replies: 17

Life is actually going good in a lot of areas. More then usual anyway! So why is it scaring me to the point I can't enjoy any of my current success? Am I just being stupid? Has anyone else had this happened before?

Life is actually going good in a lot of areas. More then usual anyway! So why is it scaring me to the point I can't enjoy any of my current success? Am I just being stupid? Has anyone else had this happened before?

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