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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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Maryjane12 Really struggling
  • replies: 6

Hi I have been reading the posts up here for a while and have decided that maybe by talking about what I am experiencing I may be able to hear from some people who understand/have also gone through this. I will start from the beginning. I have had de... View more

Hi I have been reading the posts up here for a while and have decided that maybe by talking about what I am experiencing I may be able to hear from some people who understand/have also gone through this. I will start from the beginning. I have had depression and mild anxiety for the past 3 years. About 6 weeks ago there was a drama with my housemates. I absolutely hate conflict, and although I hadn't actually done anything wrong in this situation I couldn't help but feel like everything was all my fault and I was a terrible person. Since then I have been having the worst anxiety of my life. I continuously get memories that make me think that I am a really bad person, and despite other people saying I am not, I can't get these thoughts out of my head. They are making me so stressed, and depressed and I am getting some physical symptoms like sweating, stomach churning, heart racing also. I don't know how to cope with these terrible thoughts that keep popping into my head, and as soon as I get passed one thought, a new one pops up. I feel like I can't get any relief and am struggling to cope. I am really struggling with uni at the moment because of all of this. I am terrified this will go on forever and I won't be able to function like a normal person. Has anyone else had this before/ managed to deal with it effectively?

daisytrousers Binge eating as a coping mechanism for anxiety
  • replies: 9

I would like to know if there is anyone else who uses food as a way to cope with anxiety. I've started to binge eat as a way to deal with my heightened anxiety. It's really bizarre, almost like an act of self harm (I used to physically self harm in h... View more

I would like to know if there is anyone else who uses food as a way to cope with anxiety. I've started to binge eat as a way to deal with my heightened anxiety. It's really bizarre, almost like an act of self harm (I used to physically self harm in high school) as I eat until I am immensely ill. I binge to feel that sickly, horrid feeling. I just want to punish myself. My binge foods aren't even things I particularly enjoy eating. I've been known to binge on odd food items like brown rice or peas. Which is actually laughable when I think about it. I suppose that's the most difficult thing about overcoming anxiety, recognising and managing irrational thoughts and behaviours. Binge eating is seen as such a shameful and gluttonous behaviour that I fear talking to anyone about it and because I've begun to put on weight I'm just isolating myself more which feeds my social anxiety. The common vicious cycle. This is the first time I've spoken about my behaviour and was hoping that anyone who has experienced something similar would kindly offer some advice.

mizzy83 Need help believing
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I thought I was getting on top of this whole anxiety thing I've had for the past 4 months. I'd been in therapy, I was sleeping well again, but was still feeling some anxiety symptoms and some lingering worry about a health issue. But was gene... View more

Hi all, I thought I was getting on top of this whole anxiety thing I've had for the past 4 months. I'd been in therapy, I was sleeping well again, but was still feeling some anxiety symptoms and some lingering worry about a health issue. But was generally feeling like I was very close to feeling normal again. I kept trying to tell myself the symptoms are just anxiety, not a heart problem. But now that seems to have caused me to accept that, but to then go into overdrive thinking and obsessing about the anxiety and that I have it and need to get rid of it. It's caused me a reasonable setback, and I'm quite dejected about that fact. I've come back to this site and the internet in general looking to read accounts of people who have recovered from anxiety, but all I seem to find is more people like me crying out for help. I don't know anyone who has anxiety so I feel very alone. I want to know that there are many people out there who have recovered from anxiety, and many people out there for whom medication worked. I need to hear from these people and believe that I can become one too. I need to believe that one day I can not have this chest pain and breath shortness. I have been reluctant to try medication but now I think I will need to try it, but I am scared of the idea of it, and that I might need to try every med on the planet to find one that worked. How long will that take? Can anyone here who knows more people than me or had some personal experience provide me some reassurance? I'll be forever grateful. Thanks.

april_123 is it anxiety?
  • replies: 2

About 10 months ago somebody tried to break into my house. They didn't actually get inside but I feel very traumatised by the event because I was home alone. I know it's normal to be bothered by these kinds of things, but ever since I have been havin... View more

About 10 months ago somebody tried to break into my house. They didn't actually get inside but I feel very traumatised by the event because I was home alone. I know it's normal to be bothered by these kinds of things, but ever since I have been having vivid nightmares just about every single night since the event. I can't sleep at night and have been relying upon Stilnox to get me to sleep otherwise I am just too jumpy and nervous and wake up every 2 minutes. Even when I am awake at home I can't relax for 5 minutes. I am literally driving myself insane and this has been going on for 10 months now and I can't see it coming to an end. Basically what I want to know is this normal or is this some form of anxiety that I can get treated for? In the past I have been treated with depression and anxiety but that was before this happened. Thanks for your help.

susiem new here. need advice. anxiety/ panic attack journey
  • replies: 3

Have been searching the net and thank goodness found beyond blue site. I am a 50 year old lady. Had severe anxiety attacks and used meds to help me through in my late 20's and early 30's. Decided back then to learn about this horrible condition.So I ... View more

Have been searching the net and thank goodness found beyond blue site. I am a 50 year old lady. Had severe anxiety attacks and used meds to help me through in my late 20's and early 30's. Decided back then to learn about this horrible condition.So I read books and talked to trusted people and over a couple of years (which at the time felt like forever) I came through it. At my worst I remember being in such a state that I couldn't remember how to drive and I was driving at the time! I couldn't remember what to do when I got to an intersection. I remember heaving when I tried to eat, climbing under the covers and crying because I didn't know what was wrong with me and my then Dr not being any help at all. My worst came when I was lying next to my husband in bed and told him I was going to die that night and he would have to raise our 2 girls on his own. Even though he didn't understand he tried. That was the night I promised myself that I had to help me. It wasn't easy. Far from it. My best motivation was our girls. I had to get up and get them to school. I slowly started to do things that I had been avoiding. I read and with a supportive Dr and meds found my way back. Now roll forward nearly 20 years later and 'IT' HAS RETURNED!!!!!!! I had a HUGE panic attack when I was overseas in September last year. I thought I was going to faint and to say the waves of ??? that were going through my body was unpleasant is an understatement.For days afterwards I would felt anxious and somehow get myself through, holding my now husband of 29 years hand. Since then I have been to my Dr twice. These feelings are awful. She thinks they are hormonal based due to my age and offered to put my on HRT. I said no thank you at this stage. My 2nd visit she gave me a med to take which gave me the a HUGE attack and I vowed I won't take them again. The thing is I can go weeks and be okay and then WHAM like today had such bad anxiety.Where I had such overwhelming waves of I guess adrenalin going through my body. Felt panicky but I wasn't doing anything to cause it. These are the ones that scare me the most as I don't know what is causing them so I start to think something else more sinister is happening. I know I can do this with no meds. I have done it before. I just need some advice, support and guidance from you lovely people. Sorry for my long post. Thank you for any help. Susie

zailleh I'm angry
  • replies: 2

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Normal 0 false false false EN-AU JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} I've lived a life filled with anxiety and I'm on the road now to recovery, but recovery is a hard road filled with realisations. I'm at a point now where I'm letting myself be angry instead of hiding it to placate everyone. I have to not fear my own anger, I have to not fear conflict or else I'll never find myself.---I'm angry at my parents for, my lovely Dad for not being around enough and my mother for being too self-absorbed in her own struggles to notice her struggling son. I'm angry at my brother for being born first and forcing me to be in an environment where I had to fight for attention and praise by doing what I was told, what was good, and what was expected of me. I'm angry at my family for always talking over the top of me when I started to share an idea or a story.I'm angry at my primary school friends for being cowards who, instead of sticking to their own desires flaked and followed what was 'cool', leaving me in the dust to learn that I needed to do what was expected of me to be liked. I'm angry at my first love for being a manipulative, attention seeking seductress that made me fight for years for her attention. I'm angry at my high school friends for rejecting my over stupid things. I'm angry at my teachers and mentors for never pushing my to excel. I'm angry at the high school culture I happened to grow up with where being smart, working hard and doing well was reason to be ostracized. I'm angry at my parents for not yelling at my when didn't work hard.I'm angry at my ex-fiance for not helping me more when she did realise what was happening to me. I'm angry at her for cheating on me. I'm angry at her for letting me believe that things were fine until they weren't. I'm angry that she didn't trust me enough, or have the strength enough herself, to be vulnerable and be open with me.I'm angry at myself. I'm angry at myself for letting everyone in my life to date for thoughtlessly trampling and and flattening my personality, teaching my subconscious that being different and standing up for my beliefs and opinions would cause me harm. I'm angry at myself for not putting effort into things I enjoyed. I'm angry at myself forgiving up. I'm angry that now, at almost 30, I'm only just realising all of this. Most of all, I'm angry that now I'm back at square one without the time, resources, or support to once again try to grow into my own person.

Blondyroses Frustrated
  • replies: 4

hi, I suffer chronic GAD, depression, mood disorder and various other stuff. I was on medication 300mg a day. It gave me a good nights sleep, however, I was drowsy most of the day or extremely tired by the end of it. Usually had to have a nana nap. A... View more

hi, I suffer chronic GAD, depression, mood disorder and various other stuff. I was on medication 300mg a day. It gave me a good nights sleep, however, I was drowsy most of the day or extremely tired by the end of it. Usually had to have a nana nap. Anyway, so I got sick of being tired all the time and hav e gradually backed off to 200mg. It still helps my mood, anxiety still happens but not as bad and same with panic attacks. It's liveable. However, I have soooo much trouble getting to sleep. I take various types of pain killers ( as I also suffer fibromyalgia) and this helps me sleep or I take a sleeping tab. Once asleep I will only wake once and can usually go back to sleep. My question is, am I better off taking a sleeping pill at night or going back to 300mg? i also have anxiety attacks where I shake uncontrollably- for no obvious reason. Exercises help sometimes but today I took a relaxant. I also have a problem with control. All things must be in order, no surprises, planned days but only one day at a time, only manage a couple of biggish tasks a day (ie shopping and housework), I have zippo zilch motivation and I have to force myself to do things around the house. Since on the high meds, my house is less tidy (but clean) and little jobs become huge when they all start to pile up. I become so overwhelmed that it affects me physically. I hate mixing with strangers, parties, big events etc. I only have a couple of close friends who I am comfortable with. It's like I have to put on a nice act just to keep them all happy. I like being by myself. Is there anything wrong with that?? Seriously. I also feel that people are always judging me, talking about me etc. I immediately think the worst of a situation or comment. I get upset ( on Facebook) if I see people from my past. I'm seriously thinking about closing my account. These people hold bad memories for me. Should I face up to it and not worry (but I know I will coz I worry about EVERYTHING) or block people or just get off Facebook. I know I am anti social but I like it that way. I wish the world would just leave me alone and if I feel like talking to someone I will. Is that attitude selfish? If so, I will still think that as its how I feel. Sometimes I even worry that the world's problems are huge, much bigger than mine and I feel like I'm just being selfish and shouldn't whinge. My problems are so small when measured against third world country problems.

TWNZ My Experience with Anxiety
  • replies: 2

I started suffering from anxiety when I was around 16. I'm 27 now but never really found a cure for it until I was about 23. I would suffer from severe anxiety attacks to the point that I was unable to socialise and found it difficult to complete eve... View more

I started suffering from anxiety when I was around 16. I'm 27 now but never really found a cure for it until I was about 23. I would suffer from severe anxiety attacks to the point that I was unable to socialise and found it difficult to complete everyday tasks. For me a period of anxiety would last 1-2 weeks, completely exhausting me and eventually bring on a episode of depression. The depressive state would last 1-2 months before eventually lifting and I would be seemingly back to normal again. When I was about 23 I had an anxiety attack that was so severe that it threw me into a mental breakdown, which was followed by a long and very dark period of depression. However, out of that event I was really able to grasp and understanding of my anxiety/depression and ever since have always been able to stay well and not slip back into the cycle that i had been going through for so long. As I became aware that my thoughts were the cause of my anxiety, not necessarily the situation at hand, I was able to disregard these patterns of thinking that seemed to be the catalyst for these episodes. It seems to me that anxiety and depression is completely connected to distorted patterns of thinking, whether they are worrying about the future or dwelling on a past event, whatever it may be the thinking is negative and fearful and generates stress and anxiety which ultimately leads to periods of depression. So being able to recognise these patterns of thinking and knowing they are the trigger for anxiety is incredibly powerful (has been for me anyway).Whenever I feel an episode of anxiety starting to come on I simply know that my thinking is out of whack. At this point I simply try and stay present, stay in the here and the now and completely disconnect from my thoughts. It can be a difficult task initially, but every time I do it I feel the anxiety slowly dissipate and eventually subside completely. Whereas in the past I would mull over the thoughts in my head which would drive the anxiety up further and eventually throw me into a state of depression. Today I have no worry or fear for my anxiety or depression, I feel like I truly understand it and see what the cause of it is. For me it is distorted patterns of thinking and identification with the thoughts (believing the thoughts to be true). As soon as I became disconnected from them and conscious of what was happening I was free from the cycle of anxiety/depression that has caused me immense suffering for many years.

NLY doctor not treating my diagnosis, please help?
  • replies: 2

I am new to here so I am not exactly sure how this works but I am quite desperate. Brief background, I was diagnosed with CPTSD and RAD when I was 12 and unfortunately was going to CYMHS appointments with the main cause of those problems until I was ... View more

I am new to here so I am not exactly sure how this works but I am quite desperate. Brief background, I was diagnosed with CPTSD and RAD when I was 12 and unfortunately was going to CYMHS appointments with the main cause of those problems until I was 14/15 when I moved out. I hadn't pursued treatment until 2014 after the main cause of my problems passed away. Since seeking treatment my doctors have all ignored what I have told them and labelled me with GAD. I am really struggling to cope, I was initially on one antidepressant and then put on a different one and then I moved and changed psychiatrist and she put me on an anti-psychotic. I find that it really helps me actually sleep (without it I didnt sleep or woke so many times in the night), however I am still going through horrific nightmares (I will have panic attacks when the effects of the medication hit because I am so afraid of my dreams), panic attacks, intense depression, anxiety and paranoia. I dont know how to get my doctors to actually acknowledge that I have CPTSD and RAD. I feel that I am not being adequately treated and my doctors treat me with the assumption I am a hypochondriac and overreacting. I guess what I am asking is if anyone knows how I can get them to take me seriously? I have tried to get my case files from CYMHS but there were technical issues and I will need to reapply for them. I am a uni student and I am simply not coping and waiting for my files to get released will take a while so the sooner I can get my doctors on board the better. Any help is appreciated, thank you.

Nlpreece Anxiety worst in the morning
  • replies: 4

Why is my anxiety always the worst in the morning? I go to sleep feeling ok and then wake up panicking

Why is my anxiety always the worst in the morning? I go to sleep feeling ok and then wake up panicking