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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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fire How do I manage severe anxiety? Going through a workers comp claim
  • replies: 5

I have decided to join the forum to learn how you guys manage severe anxiety. I am going through a workers comp claim and finding I am getting confused about dates, months - when things happened, when they didn't. I have kept a diary but this only in... View more

I have decided to join the forum to learn how you guys manage severe anxiety. I am going through a workers comp claim and finding I am getting confused about dates, months - when things happened, when they didn't. I have kept a diary but this only includes dates and remarks about appts, results etc. I thought I had clarity of mind starting out to remember pain issues, but as time goes on, the weeks and months are getting muddled leading to confusion in reports, which is hard for the insurance company and others to understand. I guess I am not as strong as I thought. One thing for sure, I can't do this on my own any more. I am tired and I can't come up with the answers to cover my errors. I like to be upfront with things and honest, but my mind does not seem to want to play that game at times. My psych is on holidays and I am really missing her. She is coming back in a couple of weeks. I scare myself with what I have quoted as happening, as I can see I am losing a grip on the situation. I have not verbalised this before to health professionals, but I feel from this point on I will need to. It is one thing to read psychiatric issues in a report, it is a whole different ball game to say yes, I have chronic depression and anxiety which I am being treated for and it is shadowing my version of reality. How frightening is this? Reading posts from other people with mental health issues, and what they have been through with WC claims is really touching and makes me feel very humble. Kisses to you all - I will close wishing you a happy pleasant week ahead, and I will now start reading thoughts from those who have walked the hard road ahead of me.

Craigos First post, have been told writing helps....
  • replies: 8

Hi all, this is my first post. Forgive my rambling but have been told writing it down helps. So here goes. I grew up in a very rough family. Step father a very violent alcoholic and my mother a severe agoraphobic who took copious amounts of pharmaceu... View more

Hi all, this is my first post. Forgive my rambling but have been told writing it down helps. So here goes. I grew up in a very rough family. Step father a very violent alcoholic and my mother a severe agoraphobic who took copious amounts of pharmaceuticals. I was beaten daily, worked from the age of 13 to support my family and left school and home at 15. Please don't think I'm looking for sympathy. Just context to my story. Honestly thought I was fine. I have worked most of my life. I'm currently 38. I have a wonderful wife and we have an amazingly smart if stubborn 16mth old girl. I thought everything was fine. I should be happy. Recently I have started having severe panic attacks. I can control it. I cry at stupid things. I never cry. Was always told it was weak. I cried at a FB post about a dog. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. As I said, stupid lol. I have been unable to work with any consistently for the last month. I can't sleep more than a few hours with my brain on the "what if" train. I'm constantly worried I'm letting everyone down. Worried my friends are noticing my change and are distancing themselves from me. I know it's all in my head. I feel useless because I control my basic emotions. My wife is so supportive. We have been to doctors and I have done bloods to rule out a physical issue. I just want to be normal.

Indra Build up and release
  • replies: 18

Today has been a particularly sad day for me. The high and low roller coaster begins to feel like the norm. I saw my GP on Wednesday and he is still pushing for meds and I am still reluctant, mainly to do with my children. I have found myself constan... View more

Today has been a particularly sad day for me. The high and low roller coaster begins to feel like the norm. I saw my GP on Wednesday and he is still pushing for meds and I am still reluctant, mainly to do with my children. I have found myself constantly pushing away my fiancée and it is usually with negativity. I constantly feel jealous or the need to check on him - sometimes I feel he gives me cause, other times it's just me. I know part of the reason was my ex husband cheated on me and there is always a fear it will happen again. He is not as interested in me as before - intimately and sometimes just in general. We don't have the easiest of lives to deal with but he knew about most of it when he signed on. I did have a moment though today when I felt enough was enough with me and told him that I won't stress on what he is doing anymore and concentrate on me. I was surprised with the reaction. Small steps forward....

khaled Any Australians on here experience getting centrelink for anxiety?
  • replies: 4

I can't work, I can barely leave the house for over an hour without totally freaking out, I can't afford to live anymore, my girlfriend has been supporting me but she can't do that forever. I was wondering if anyone here as gotten it for mental illne... View more

I can't work, I can barely leave the house for over an hour without totally freaking out, I can't afford to live anymore, my girlfriend has been supporting me but she can't do that forever. I was wondering if anyone here as gotten it for mental illness and how much bullcrap did centrelink put you through before they gave it to you?

belive newbie
  • replies: 5

Hi all, im new to this, i have social anxiety,there have been good days and very bad days, i wish i could switch off the constant negative thoughts the what do they really think of me the do they think i am stupid, incompetent, untrustworthy, liar et... View more

Hi all, im new to this, i have social anxiety,there have been good days and very bad days, i wish i could switch off the constant negative thoughts the what do they really think of me the do they think i am stupid, incompetent, untrustworthy, liar etc a work collegue once said to me "if you can see how others really see you, you wouldn't think this way" i dont believe her in my mind she is just saying that to cheer me up.i find it very difficult to talk about my true feelings with anyone,the silly thing about it is its not some deep dark horrible secret, its emotionally hard to talk about. I just wish i could clap my hands and it all go away

Lissy25 Are these REAL issues or do i need to toughen up?
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, Its only been quite recently that ive somewhat come to terms that i may have anxiety/depression. A very close relative of mine has convinced me to go to the GP. I thought i would ask for some of your opinion before i go- i dont know if how i... View more

Hi guys, Its only been quite recently that ive somewhat come to terms that i may have anxiety/depression. A very close relative of mine has convinced me to go to the GP. I thought i would ask for some of your opinion before i go- i dont know if how im feeling is anxiety/depression or if im simply being over emotional and/or if this is just how life is. Ive always found it very difficult to talk to people in large groups. I get a frog in my throat, i panic and everything shuts down- i freeze. The only thing thats going through my mind at this time would be thoughts of "Are they judging me", "what if i say something stupid", "they all hate me" etc. This has been my train of thought for the longest time i can remember. I avoid all social situations as possible unless it it with immediate family and friends. If im forced to go to a social event, i hide in the bathroom for as long as i can and to take myself out of that situation. About a year ago this anxiety got worse and i felt like people were talking about me. Now i can see that maybe it was all in my head and coupled with my low self confidence and worth, not to mentioned insecure, i fell into a really bad place. I would wake up in the mornings, dreading getting and bed. When i at work, everything just seemed pointless. I would have breakdowns every lunch time and not know what was wrong. I mean, i come from a good family and have great friends, no hardships in my life, so what right do i have to feel like that? When it got worse, i simply handed in my resignation and walked away. When i found a new job, it felt like i was in a better place. I still lacked confidence and had issues when it came to social gatherings. I felt flat but it was nothing compared to the low i had felt. Now, a year on, im back in this dark place. Every morning i wake up exhausted and not know why. I would have breakdowns everyday when im by myself and still not know why. It feels like i left my old job hoping that i felt the way i did because of the people there, but maybe its just me? What i want to know is, is this normal? Is this just the bouts of life and i have to soldier on? Or is something i need to get help on? I guess i kind of feel like how im feeling is really important. Any help/advise would be greatly appreciated. L

happyplace Are they judging me?
  • replies: 8

Hi I'm a newbie so sorry if I get it wrong. I have anxiety and OCD. I see a phsycologist and it helps heaps but I struggle with the thought people are judging me. I'm always reading any sign I can from other people, I assume they think the worst of m... View more

Hi I'm a newbie so sorry if I get it wrong. I have anxiety and OCD. I see a phsycologist and it helps heaps but I struggle with the thought people are judging me. I'm always reading any sign I can from other people, I assume they think the worst of me and take everything to heart. I find social situations very stressful which would surprise people as I always seem so outhoing but inside I'm worrying if I sound stupid or if I have offended somone or are they annoyed at me. Anyond else feel like this ?

tigers day to day battle with anxiety
  • replies: 2

hi my name is richard iam 48yrs old I have been married for 27yrs with three adult children and one granddaughter who I adore.i have lived with anxiety for more than twenty years and panic attacks which still affects my daily life.it started when I w... View more

hi my name is richard iam 48yrs old I have been married for 27yrs with three adult children and one granddaughter who I adore.i have lived with anxiety for more than twenty years and panic attacks which still affects my daily life.it started when I was in my twentys I thought I was having a heart attack at work I was taken to hospital and after a few hours they told me I have anxiety.after that day nothing was suggested to me to seek help or treatment.so as time went on my anxiety started to develop it was so bad that when I had an attack no matter where it was outside my home I would always flight instead of fight but I knew no better I had no knowledge of what was truly happening to me.it started to put a strain on my home life I would always ring my wife for reassurance when I was feeling anxious I did not understand or realize what pressure I was putting on her.as time went on the only thing I done to control my anxiety and panic attacks was to always stay in my comfort zone,and now I look back at that and realize how many things I have missed out on in life just so I could feel safe and comfortable.as I got older nothing changed until my sister started to fall ill with cancer and i was always on edge and very anxious battling the negativity and what ifs and the constant over working of my brain constantly thought after thought eventually it wore me down and I had a bit of a break down my wife had had enough so I was told I need help which I did get in the way of medication which iam still taking and I spoke to a councillor for several visits.she was so understanding on my first visit we sat outside so I would be more comfortable(this was because at this stage I could not even go shopping without fear or sit in a drs room unless I could make a quick get away if I needed to sometimes I would walk out of the drs surgery before my name was called because of feeling so anxious)with the help of the tablets and the sessions I got better and I understood that iam not alone..I returned to a normal life for me anyway and things did improve my confidence got better and I felt better within my self,i went through some tough stages with my life the death of my sister was very hard and still is but with the medication I got through it. my anxiety has returned not that it ever left me so with the help I have had and get and talking about me for the first time I wish to get better and enjoy my life instead of the daily battle. richard

JohnB9 OCD - dirt
  • replies: 4

Does anyone else have experience with OCD, primarily with fear of being dirty (particularly faeces/urine, animal or human)?

Does anyone else have experience with OCD, primarily with fear of being dirty (particularly faeces/urine, animal or human)?

Leelu General feeling of dread
  • replies: 2

Hi All, New to the forum. I have had GAD since I was a teenager. Recently I'm having a bad patch of anxiety, the constant feeling of dread that something awful is about to happen has returned and I find myself feeling too anxious and agitated to do t... View more

Hi All, New to the forum. I have had GAD since I was a teenager. Recently I'm having a bad patch of anxiety, the constant feeling of dread that something awful is about to happen has returned and I find myself feeling too anxious and agitated to do the things I used to enjoy. The thing thats really bothering me is I've also developed a phobia of driving, I can manage to drive short distances and stay local but I can no longer drive over a big bridge near my house or on any freeways, my panic and anxiety has convinced me that I will have a terrible panic attack whilst driving over the bridge or on the freeway and I'll pass out and hurt myself or someone else.. I'm really not sure how to get past it, even looking at the bridge or freeway entrance now sends me into a panic attack. It's really limiting the places I can go and really exasperating my poor partner.. has anyone else had a phobia like this? Thanks