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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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stuggelingmumandwife i just dont know how i should feel
  • replies: 3

I have been married for 10 years and over the years i have let my depression and anxiety get to me. This has caused my marriage to suffer resulting in very minimal sex and my husband feeling unloved and un appriciated. Over the years my husband has m... View more

I have been married for 10 years and over the years i have let my depression and anxiety get to me. This has caused my marriage to suffer resulting in very minimal sex and my husband feeling unloved and un appriciated. Over the years my husband has made new friends at work which have been women. He would have lunch with them and would then start texting regularly. Over the years i have been jelous of the relationship and he has been honest he has said he gets attention from them which is what he is not getting at home. Recently there has been one woman who i feel really insecure about. They have been out drinking together (just them ) and text every day. He has told her of our marriage problems. I believe him that he is not cheating but my anxiety and depression kick in and make it worse. He says we are world's apart in what we like and want yet they have a similar job. He has a hobby which normally meana real early start so i don't usually want to go cos of kids however today he has taken her. My behavior about her has caused problems for us as he said she is a good friend who he can talk to. How can i control my emotions and trust him. He has never cheated. If anything i should be the one who cant be trustes. I cheated on him just before being diagnosed. Please help

SweetieCass Lost in the Past - Relapse
  • replies: 8

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum, but I'm not new to this Mary-go-round of anxiety, So I feel a little silly writing this right now. A good start to this story is that I have overcome this thing twice and been able to manage for a good 1.5 years curren... View more

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum, but I'm not new to this Mary-go-round of anxiety, So I feel a little silly writing this right now. A good start to this story is that I have overcome this thing twice and been able to manage for a good 1.5 years currently. However I am slipping again. My anxiety is not about the future, I'm pretty good at meeting that head on. My anxiety is about the past, which makes it so difficult to overcome because it's always there. I get anxiety about things in the past that I might have done but not thought about, or not thought what people would think. I get anxiety looking back at things like driving home, once I'm home, I worry about whether I ran red lights or cut people off. By this time my mind has usually distorted things and I can remember exactly what could have happened. Lots of small things like this and they can just ruin my memories and send me into panic. Lately I have been less able to put these things back in the past. People keep telling me the last won't hurt me and I just have to move on but we all know how that feels. Sounds easy right? I have been getting worse and worse over the last few weeks and now here I am unable to function almost. Yesterday was a crazy storm event. I work on an island so as soon as we heard things were going to get bad we were out the door to get home. The road can sometimes flood. Anyways we got to this road area and it was water over the road. I can't even remember how much!!. But everyone was still going through. Big cars small cars etc so I went through. Scared stiff but I followed the line of people, took my turn and slowly and carefully followed the line of cars . My work colleagues were one in front and one behind and we all went through ok, followed by many many more people on either side of be road. I'm not sure if they ever closed that road at all. Nothing happened, we were all through safe, I breathed a sigh of relief. However I could not stop shaking hVe been in panic mode since then. I know it was a stupid and horrible thing to do, I know how dangerous it was but I followed everyone. However I am stuck having flashbacks and anxiety. I don't know if this was just the last straw and my anxiety is back full time but I know I sure do not feel good today. I could not sleep. thats my mind right now. I was wondering does anyone else get anxiety about the past? can get rid of anxiety for the 3rd time without medication? I hate being back here in my head.

luciban Relapse of symptoms
  • replies: 5

I have been treated for anxiety and depression recently and with an increase in my medication have been feeling fantastic. I have managed to feel almost "normal" again for the last two weeks. I woke up today feeling very anxious again (not depressed)... View more

I have been treated for anxiety and depression recently and with an increase in my medication have been feeling fantastic. I have managed to feel almost "normal" again for the last two weeks. I woke up today feeling very anxious again (not depressed) but almost feeling like I was before I needed to start my medication. I have been on medication for a total of 14 weeks now and the dose increased two weeks ago. I become scared that I am going to get really sick again and anxious about the anxiety! I am worried that I have been feeling so good and all of a sudden I have this relapse. I do a lot of exercise, try to think positively and think it is just a hurdle, and keep busy, but the fear of becoming unwell again has me struggling today. Has anyone experienced this?

Living57 Anxiety/panic heightened by anothers actions
  • replies: 1

I am so anxious, my panic buttons have been pressed, it has heightened my depression. My husband has been diagnosed with dementia, I get that this causes him some angst and worries. I understand that he 'forgets', I understand. But, I have just disco... View more

I am so anxious, my panic buttons have been pressed, it has heightened my depression. My husband has been diagnosed with dementia, I get that this causes him some angst and worries. I understand that he 'forgets', I understand. But, I have just discovered that the tablets he needs for bp, gout and having had a heart attack, have not been taken. I give them to him as he has in the past forgotten, but he has been stashing them away. I found them when I was cleaning. I asked him about it and he shrugged and said whats the point. I am gping to see his Dr today, but the anxiety and panic about what the adverse effects can be has me worried. I am sweaty, light headed, and every little noise is intensified, it has been such a long night.

Liani1989 Life is well but my mind won't let me be happy.
  • replies: 1

I don't know what to do, everything is going well for me, I am in a new relationship and about to start a new life interstate but I in my mind I still feel anxious that something bad is going to happen, that i dont deserve happiness, finally my life ... View more

I don't know what to do, everything is going well for me, I am in a new relationship and about to start a new life interstate but I in my mind I still feel anxious that something bad is going to happen, that i dont deserve happiness, finally my life is getting better on the outside but on the inside I'm still having terrible thoughts; that I don't deserve happiness, that things will turn bad soon and I can't escape it it's like my soul hates me, I can't explain it I just want it to go away

BobMarley Life went pear shaped
  • replies: 2

Hello beautiful people,first time post. 5 years ago my life took a big turn,it went from being someone that had everything and everyone(friends) and then to being someone that lost it all especially my mind,i never knew much about depression and anxi... View more

Hello beautiful people,first time post. 5 years ago my life took a big turn,it went from being someone that had everything and everyone(friends) and then to being someone that lost it all especially my mind,i never knew much about depression and anxiety,but when i did i thought ahh well thats life,just live with it surely it will all go away,but no it doesnt work like that 5years later and im still stuck in the same rut,only now realising that i need help,and this is the first big step ive taken,lucky for me i still have my beautiful mrs that has been very supportive,only weeks ago i opened up to her about it,and since then life is starting to be easier in the aspects of my relationship with her,shes the most strongest woman i have ever known and im so lucky to still have her in my life,i dont deserve her but i can tell you this i owe her the world..

RandyJ Bursting into tears irrationally and randomly - anxiety & depression
  • replies: 3

Hi - I can't believe I'm here. But I am. I just picked myself up off the couch after sobbing uncontrollably for the past 30 minutes. Why was I crying? My dog ate a $2 drink coaster. I adopted this dog a little while ago for companionship & company du... View more

Hi - I can't believe I'm here. But I am. I just picked myself up off the couch after sobbing uncontrollably for the past 30 minutes. Why was I crying? My dog ate a $2 drink coaster. I adopted this dog a little while ago for companionship & company during my long work days. I work from home and it's SO boring for about 12 hours a day while my wife is out. I figured he would help and I'd break the monotony of being home alone all the time. Just recently I left my job to work from home because of health issues. Between pain, the dog, the anxiety over starting a new business and everything else I'm just overwhelmed. I tried to focus on my work this morning while the dog played. He was quiet-ish so I let him go. I walked into the room to get a drink and he's gnawing the last half of the mentioned coaster. I hooked him outside and completely collapsed. I don't blame him - I'm just anxious about everything. I'm anxious the business won't work. I'm anxious about my health and pretty much think everything I have wrong is going to kill me. I am anxious about the dog and whether I can control him and if it's too much work for me. I am anxious that if I return a rescue what a schmuck I am. I'm anxious that if I return a rescue pup he may have had one too many homes and something bad will happen to him too. I don't even know where to start. I thought walks & fresh air would be good for me. I thought having the pup depend on me would give me a bigger purpose than work. My wife loves the pup but she is out of the house 12 hours a day. She does everything with him when she's home - 100%. I don't begin to know where to start. When we walk and he pulls it hurts. When I don't walk, I hurt from sitting too long. I can't win. NOTHING I do has been right. I just can't get it right. I'm in pain going to work - that makes me anxious (and depressed). I quit work so I can work from home - that makes me anxious (and depressed). I get bored and lonely - that makes me anxious (and depressed). I adopt the pup to help him & help me - that makes me anxious (and depressed). Now I'm afraid if we re-surrender him, that will make me more anxious & depressed. And if I don't, he'll make me anxious. I can't get it right. I'm overwhelmed with anxiety & depression ... obviously. I really don't think this is dog, job or health related. It's just .. everything and me. I don't know what anyone can say or suggest but I'm in need.

anotherPeter I'm not suicidal but I wish it would end.
  • replies: 5

To begin with, I am not suicidal. I am not a danger to myself or anyone else. I am going through the experimental stages with medications. Apart from sedatives I am on my third anti depressant. Still it doesn't help. I feel that the medications are m... View more

To begin with, I am not suicidal. I am not a danger to myself or anyone else. I am going through the experimental stages with medications. Apart from sedatives I am on my third anti depressant. Still it doesn't help. I feel that the medications are making me paranoid. I am scared that someone might knock on the door. I am scared that the phone might ring. I am scared that I might get an email. I am terrified if a car drives by in the street. I am petrified that I might have to talk to someone. But I am lonely. I do nothing all day except wait for the time to pass. As I said, I am not suicidal and will not do anything to harm myself but I just wish it would all just end.

Raia ANXIETY AT ITS WORST, IN ME....
  • replies: 2

My anxiety has had me backed into a place I cannot even describe at times.. My anxiety began in 2008 when my best friend persistently asked me to take a helicopter tour with her and two other friends, which I declined as I had to attend to my daughte... View more

My anxiety has had me backed into a place I cannot even describe at times.. My anxiety began in 2008 when my best friend persistently asked me to take a helicopter tour with her and two other friends, which I declined as I had to attend to my daughter who was unwell at that time. I let another friend use my ticket to take my place on the helicopter. Later that afternoon I was informed of the tragic accident and all of the passengers passing.. This obviously left me traumatized and naturally devastated suffering with grief and loss. I struggle with simple activities like driving my car, my heart races and all I want is to get out. I have terrible anxiety over other people's driving and absolutely refuse to get in a vehicle with people who I feel aren't paying attention to safe driving or should I say making me feel safe with their driving. Even going to the grocery store. Flying was out of the question, although the fear is still there. This is really scary for me. I have hot flushes, I start to feel light headed, my vision goes blurry and sometimes feel off balance. Another occasion my partner insisted we go to the fair and asked me to promise to go on one ride only.It was daunting when I noticed the operators spraying cooking oil on the mechanics of the ride. Well... that was the worst feeling and close enough to a near death experience I have ever had. I got thrown from the top of the cage to the bottom, my hands were so sweaty that I could not properly grip the bars directly in front of me for stability, naturally I gripped the side wall of the cage and held on for dear life. I could hear my partner reassuring me it was still ok and felt him gently touch my arm, I screamed in horror for him not to touch me which scared him. After grasping for air from being throttled around like a rag doll the ride stopped. We got out, I looked at my hand which was bleeding from holding on so tight. Later when we arrived home, the thought of it caused me some serious chest pain which made me believe I was having a heart attack. I went straight to the hospital and was told I was having another anxiety attack which was triggered simply by thought. This is now becoming something serious that I need some or complete control over. Anyone else going through this?

Eme RECOVERED?!
  • replies: 2

Hi, I would love to hear some stories on recovery. People that have succeeded & have fully recovered from Anxiety. I myself have read books/ counselling/Meds/therapy, you name it. I have made a promise to myself that I will achieve. I would like to b... View more

Hi, I would love to hear some stories on recovery. People that have succeeded & have fully recovered from Anxiety. I myself have read books/ counselling/Meds/therapy, you name it. I have made a promise to myself that I will achieve. I would like to be fully recovered from my Anxiety/depression & be able to help others. I was sexually & mentally abused for 10 years when I was younger. Im 35 & I don't recall much before the age of 20, I think my mind has subconsciously blocked it out. I still dream about the Pedophile now & it's been 15 years since it stopped. He had a hold over me, I was embarrassed, I was scared, I felt dirty & the most of all was that I was controlled. I want MY LIFE BACK, I DONT WANT ANYONE ELSE TO CONTROL IT BUT ME & DEFINITELY NOT ANXIETY!!!!!!!