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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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new_beginning My first step towards a new beginning
  • replies: 17

Hi guys, today I called to make an appointment to see the doctor and try to get my depression under control and deal with my social anxiety. I've lived with varying levels for depression for the last 2 1/2 years and have never been a social person bu... View more

Hi guys, today I called to make an appointment to see the doctor and try to get my depression under control and deal with my social anxiety. I've lived with varying levels for depression for the last 2 1/2 years and have never been a social person but have found that as I'm getting older my ability to cope in social situations is becoming worse and worse. As a result of all of this my partner has left me and our 16 month old daughter and I struggle to go a day without crying and feeling completely alone and worthless. My children deserve so much more than I can give them in this state and its time to make a change. I've been told to just stop cracking the sads and just go out and start a convo with the girl at the checkout or a mothers group, which I have tried but it's just not that easy for me. I make people feel awkward by my awkwardness and I never know what to say to someone when they're right I front of me. I'll think about things before hand and be positive about making new friends but then when it happens I just get all jumbled up and close myself off. I hate it. I have no friends, no one I can really talk to about anything and I don't know what to do. All I know is I have to make a change, nothing has worked for the last 34 years of my life and I don't want the next 34 to be the same.. Please help me find a way to live the live that I and my children deserve

Jessme Health anxiety - how to undo what you've googled?
  • replies: 7

Hi guys, so Ive been Google free for about 2 weeks now as Dr told me I was banned. Unfortunately before I stopped, I hit the mother load of all worrying diseases. Now I can't seem to stop the obsession with it. I googled chromosomal damage to cells, ... View more

Hi guys, so Ive been Google free for about 2 weeks now as Dr told me I was banned. Unfortunately before I stopped, I hit the mother load of all worrying diseases. Now I can't seem to stop the obsession with it. I googled chromosomal damage to cells, as I felt older than my years and was worried I may have had a degenerative disease. Instead I stumbled upon several conditions that cause cells to rapidly deteriorate in 20's, 30's and 40's and eventually cause you to die before age 50?( usually from cancer or heart disease) .... Does anybody else have this obsession or is it just me?...why do I pick such weird crap to obsess over?... Where is the line between mild curiosity over staying alive and the delusional obsession with health?... Is there any way to undo knowing more than you should? Help!! Arrgghh

Jasonaus Hey, I'm new!
  • replies: 3

Hey, my name is Jason and I'm from Melbourne. I am hoping for some tips to stop drinking, I am now drinking a bottle of vodka in 3 - 4 hours before bed every night. Any advise would be helpful. Thanks.

Hey, my name is Jason and I'm from Melbourne. I am hoping for some tips to stop drinking, I am now drinking a bottle of vodka in 3 - 4 hours before bed every night. Any advise would be helpful. Thanks.

ci So lost and lonely
  • replies: 4

Not sure why I'm writing this but just need to vent and let it out! The feeling of emptyness and hopelessness is huge today I was doing so well working so hard but everything feels like it's falling apart and I'm sinking into that black hole again. I... View more

Not sure why I'm writing this but just need to vent and let it out! The feeling of emptyness and hopelessness is huge today I was doing so well working so hard but everything feels like it's falling apart and I'm sinking into that black hole again. I don't want to go back to that I want to get better why is this struggle that we all go through so hard. It all feels so cruel to put anyone through this mental torture.

Pepper_Charlie New and need support - Anxiety Depression and Black Out Episodes
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone This is the first time I've reached out for help away from my family. I have a loving supportive family but think I need to find support from similar groups of people. I've always had anxiety, it stems from witnessing domestic violence be... View more

Hi everyone This is the first time I've reached out for help away from my family. I have a loving supportive family but think I need to find support from similar groups of people. I've always had anxiety, it stems from witnessing domestic violence between my parents. I'm happily married, with one child, and recently turned 42. I have had major black out episodes three now, with the last one on Thursday night. I attacked my sister verbally, she's my twin and my best friend, so this is confusing to me why I've done this, and woke up in my car that I had crashed into a ditch. Alcohol was involved, and it was the common denominator on the other two occasions this has happened as well. When these episodes come I black out - I don't remember one single detail. This has been the worst thing that I have ever done and I'm not sure how I'm going to get through it. The guilt of hurting my loved one so much and my own self loathing is almost too much to bear. Obviously I can never drink alcohol again - that's just a given, but I don't know how I get past this, so I can be normal again.

olly1 Social anxiety experience
  • replies: 5

I forced myself to interact with friends today because depression. It was ok, however it felt awkward and paranoid. I hope I faked it enough to not embarrass myself. Hope they didn't notice my uncomfort. Rather than feeling like my social battery has... View more

I forced myself to interact with friends today because depression. It was ok, however it felt awkward and paranoid. I hope I faked it enough to not embarrass myself. Hope they didn't notice my uncomfort. Rather than feeling like my social battery has been charged, I feel an attitude of lethargic disappointment. I feel so much a outsider.

Iwillbeatthis New Health Anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hi guys,its not like me to be out there with my issues but I feel like any support right now can be beneficial. My story starts from several months ago where I was diagnosed with coeliac disease. I was having (not classic) symptoms for over a year be... View more

Hi guys,its not like me to be out there with my issues but I feel like any support right now can be beneficial. My story starts from several months ago where I was diagnosed with coeliac disease. I was having (not classic) symptoms for over a year before diagnosed. These ranged from joint pain, fatigue, weight gain, brain fog etc. my doc assumed underactive thyroid and at some times of testing it was underactive but follow ups were normal.Fast forward a few months, I had some back pain, not major - didn't even need pain killers, but googled middle back pain... Cancer. Well, there was my first panic attack, didn't know it at the time, all I did was go home feeling sick, not wanting dinner and just went to bed early.went to doc about back pain, recommended physio but also noticed I was anxious, told me to take medicationl due to bit of high BP. It made my heart rate low and short of breathe (I'm fit so a low heart rate really scares me when mine is already low). Went off that and on to another medication, it caused me all sorts of horrible side effects I had to stop. My back pain went, I felt great.a few weeks later I had some wrist pain. Crap. Why? I haven't done anything to my wrist. My mother in law mentioned maybe early arthritis (I'm 29). Straight to the doc, he said he had to test my rheumatoid since I was coeliac. Worst 2 days of my life getting results,the second day I was in extreme panic at work, veins all popping and heart rate up, went to doc, no RA but possible Lupus or Sjögren's syndrome... Got blood test and had to wait a week. All came back neg which is fine.i had a counseling session yesterday and just explaining everything made me anxious.. My anxiety attacks have been really horrible, causing body aches, chest pains etc and all health professionals have conducted tests etc and say I'm fine. This morning I awoke to some minor pain in my shin. Cancer. Couldn't even go to work! i live a healthy life, careful what I eat and I thoroughly enjoy running, which I did so whilst off work today. Just looking for advice from anyone who may be going through something similar. I'm finding it difficult. My husband and mother have been amazing but I have two young children who I've been quite snappy with. Quite funny with anxiety, you kind of need to keep your mind busy but I find when my time is demanded I get cranky because my body wants to keep thinking bad things.sorry for the rant but surely I'm not alone. I'm scared of dying young and not seeing my boys grow up!

Byrone Getting better after coming off medication - health anxiety
  • replies: 2

I am wondering if anyone has health anxiety? I had a melanoma 10 years ago and have struggled with health anxiety ever since. I came off medication 18 months ago after being on and off for about 3 years. I feel as though it's an uphill battle to get ... View more

I am wondering if anyone has health anxiety? I had a melanoma 10 years ago and have struggled with health anxiety ever since. I came off medication 18 months ago after being on and off for about 3 years. I feel as though it's an uphill battle to get better again - I'm spending a lot of time practising meditation and yoga and getting as much exercise as I can. I have "windows" where I feel better at times but still feel what seems like withdrawal effects. Would be great to talk to someone in a similar situation.

issy93 Multiple mental health issues at once?
  • replies: 3

Hello! I've posted to beyond blue before and know the people on here are very kind and helpful. I really need help. Is it possible or normal to have many mental issues at once... I haven't seen a psychologist but am thinking I have depression, social... View more

Hello! I've posted to beyond blue before and know the people on here are very kind and helpful. I really need help. Is it possible or normal to have many mental issues at once... I haven't seen a psychologist but am thinking I have depression, social anxiety, personality disorder and trichotillomania (compulsive picking of hair). I've heard of people with depression also having anxiety or OCD etc, but can you have all the ones I listed together? Every day is so hard for me and I'm finally thinking no this isn't ok, I need to seek help. I can't keep living with these problems. I feel I don't know who I am/ what image to project to others. I have picked at my scalp to the point I have a large bald spot. I also hate going out, because of my issues with who I am and who I want to project to the world. I'm scared to be seen because I don't know who I am. I don't feel comfortable with myself at all and I am not living. Thank you for reading

Clarebear2000 Panic attacks at work
  • replies: 1

Hi all im new to this forum and I'm hoping talking with others will help me in some way stop the panic attacks from happening in my work place. I carry out treatments so it's very embarrassing when I have to walk out of a treatment because I've worke... View more

Hi all im new to this forum and I'm hoping talking with others will help me in some way stop the panic attacks from happening in my work place. I carry out treatments so it's very embarrassing when I have to walk out of a treatment because I've worked myself up with worry about the person I'm going to treat. It's just a horrible cycle I have got myself into. I wake up every day and dread going to work. It's becoming a mental struggle and the constant thoughts of when will my next panic attack be. i have been to a physiologist about 2 years ago and found him really good as this came on me at work place out of nowhere. I do believe I have a massive issue with fear. This fear is mostly related too when I feel worried about how a client will be with me and if I feel threatened I start to tremble and can't carry out the treatment. I read books and find them great but it slowly creeps back in and I get anxious. I hope that someone can give me advice on how too stop this horrible thought process as its consuming so much of my energy and I really don't want to live a life of constant fear and panic attacks.

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