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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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askignquestions How to calm down when overwhelmed
  • replies: 3

Two situations. The first was an isolated incident yesterday-I was in a high stress situation (dealing with taking time off Uni for anxiety) but was doing ok. But all of a sudden something came over me. I started to cry, had a hard time breathing, I ... View more

Two situations. The first was an isolated incident yesterday-I was in a high stress situation (dealing with taking time off Uni for anxiety) but was doing ok. But all of a sudden something came over me. I started to cry, had a hard time breathing, I couldn't connect thoughts, and apparently went real white. Could that have been an anxiety attack? The second is something thats been going on lately. I feel very overwhelmed often. I have so much negative energy that I have to run or punch things or something of that nature. I try anything I can think of to calm down, but nothing works. I'm actually in that right now. I don't know what to do anymore, because I try everything on my list of things to calm me down. But the energy just keeps coming. The only thing I know works is hitting something or being so restless until I literally tire myself out and fall asleep. But neither of those solutions are good solutions. Especially the hitting. Although it does work. I need help, or suggestions. I feel like a little kid who is overtired and is throwing a tantrum. I know I am exhausted from the constant anxiety and from not sleeping, but I need practical things to help me actually calm down, rather than tire myself out. Thanks

shamim1987 I am characterized by most people as being wierd & socially awkwad and im having difficulty relating to others. Nobody I meet seems to click with me.
  • replies: 4

Hey guys My name is Shamim. Im a 28 yr old guy from Singapore. I live in Perth and English is my first language. People seem to have trouble accepting me and think im wierd. I mean im a quirky person..if a good song comes up on my ipod whilst im walk... View more

Hey guys My name is Shamim. Im a 28 yr old guy from Singapore. I live in Perth and English is my first language. People seem to have trouble accepting me and think im wierd. I mean im a quirky person..if a good song comes up on my ipod whilst im walking i may start to hum the tune or even sing at audible volumes. Also I love music that is out of date and out of fashion like hit me baby one more time by britney spears. I also love to watch 10 year old cartoons like ed,edd n eddy as opposed to shows that cool ppl watch like modern family,the office and so on. I should mention have a slow response rate and it takes me time to process what a person says and give an appropriate response. In that time people have moved on to a new topic.This makes my social anxiety a thousand times worse and often I feel people hate me. Furthermore,This was the subject that bullies used to make fun of me back in Singapore. . Coupled with the fact that im not in tune with today's scene makes me feel more isolated. Im all alone here and nobody seems to understand me and nobody is keen to spend time with me. PLS HELP. Ill be entirely in ur debt. Thanks so much

Stormgrl101 I want to curl up into a ball and hide
  • replies: 7

Today started off with lots of tears. Felt very down so booked into see my doc. We changed my dosage of AD back since I seem to have been feeling side effects. He did a new mental health plan and gave me information to get more support and possibly j... View more

Today started off with lots of tears. Felt very down so booked into see my doc. We changed my dosage of AD back since I seem to have been feeling side effects. He did a new mental health plan and gave me information to get more support and possibly join a mental health activity group. It would be nice to meet some people who actually understand. Im tired of the constant struggle to get on top of this mental illness. My eyes are sore and tired.

Guest_937 Can't trust my Gut
  • replies: 3

I've always been a 'worrier' and my job (lawyer) exacerbates my tendency to catastrophise things In the past 5 or so years I've had some pretty big things happen in my life- kids, moving, renovating, part of big legal case (as witness), threats of be... View more

I've always been a 'worrier' and my job (lawyer) exacerbates my tendency to catastrophise things In the past 5 or so years I've had some pretty big things happen in my life- kids, moving, renovating, part of big legal case (as witness), threats of being sued, parents divorce, financial problems These things are the source of my anxiety The thing is, I read other people's stories of anxiety and think they are being irrational. When I think of the things I stress over, I of course think it's perfectly normal and acceptable to stress over it- my fear seems rational and normal given the circumstances. Wouldn't you stress if you were being sued?! So do I really suffer from anxiety or is it just normal stress? I am struggling to identify what is 'my anxiety talking' and what is a real fear- I have lost my ability to trust my gut when it comes to assessing risk Has anyone felt like this?

siliver_rat Lost
  • replies: 2

Hi I am feeling very lost and anxious all the time. Any time I start to feel even a bit better my mind just thinks about possible bad things that may happen and back comes the anxious feeling. For most of my life I have been successful, had a good jo... View more

Hi I am feeling very lost and anxious all the time. Any time I start to feel even a bit better my mind just thinks about possible bad things that may happen and back comes the anxious feeling. For most of my life I have been successful, had a good job, wife and one 18 year old daughter. My daughter has had mild Anorexia very since a boy called her fat. Have been working through this and she is getting better. Moved school and just recently moved house to help - definite improvement in her state of mind. Moving house resulted in an increased mortgage and this unfortunately coincided with troubles at work. All of a sudden my job is under threat. I had some anxiety feelings before but now I just feel sick all the time, Cry for no reason, just want to curl up in a ball. I feel I am letting my family down, my confidence is shot everything is just dark. I know people have a life a lot harder than mine and I should not be so sad but I cannot shake the feeling and for the first time in my life I do not know what to do.

Karellen I feel like I am defined by my anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hello, I have been reading these forums for a few months now and thought I might try giving some advice before asking for some in return. As is happens I could not find anything positive to say and felt like I didn't have any useful advice to give an... View more

Hello, I have been reading these forums for a few months now and thought I might try giving some advice before asking for some in return. As is happens I could not find anything positive to say and felt like I didn't have any useful advice to give anybody else. So I thought I would just go ahead and just say how I have been feeling. I have had anxiety since I was about 13 (I am 26 now) and have periods of bad depression every so often as well. Though out this time most people considered me a shy person. No one really understood me and I could did not feel I could confide in anyone. Going into high school everything started to become a source of anxiety bu somehow I kind of just grit my teeth and bore it . By the time I got to year 12 I had a bit of a breakdown and had to see a counselor and I kept as many people in the dark about it as I could. I was reassured by my parents that life would get better when I went to university. It only got worse. During the next few years I saw a few different therapist and took a few different medications and it was all for naught. I made no friends at university, failed more units than I passed, got suspended for 12 months for poor academic performance and have forgotten most of what I learned at the end of it. Ended up getting a low paying job with no relevance to my degree. I should just add that I also have no self-esteem or confidence in myself as a human being. No motivating goals or ambition apart from getting through the next day without having a mental breakdown. The social anxiety aspects I could probably go on about forever as they are always on my mind. I am constantly agonizing over my limited experience with women, the state of my limited friendships and so forth and I can become really bitter about it. Seeing an attractive woman on the street can make me immediately feel dejected and slightly nauseous. What is that supposed to say about me? Sorry if this is long winded but i have difficulty writing down my thoughts. The almost consistent anxiety, self-loathing and sexual frustration just seem to feed into each other making it difficult to concentrate. I have given up trying to talk to people about it as it seems to leave me more frustrated (my blood seems to boil every time someone suggests breathing exercises.) I guess I just feel like this all consuming state of mind is all I am but confused that it has not destroyed me yet. Having trouble finishing this, sorry. thanks for reading

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.

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