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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. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety 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 you 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 worthile 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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purelight Intrusive thoughts
  • replies: 44

Hi everyone, this is my first post but I have been following with interest people's stories and realising that I should share my story in the hope that one or more of you could help me. And perhaps down the track I might be able to help others. I hav... View more

Hi everyone, this is my first post but I have been following with interest people's stories and realising that I should share my story in the hope that one or more of you could help me. And perhaps down the track I might be able to help others. I have had ocd for as long as I can remember. My dad had ocd, although he never admitted it and it was obvious that his sister has it as well. At first the ocd centrered around doing things a set number of times. eg As a child of about 10 years of age I felt I needed to get into and out of bed a set number of times before "it felt right" This progressed to checking taps, doors and other appliances numerous times. When I had children I would check on them numerous time while they were asleep just to make sure thy were still breathing and that I hadn't covered their head with the blankets. My most debilitating obsession is my intrusive thoughts and when the ocd is not being managed appropriately this is what brings me unstuck. I am 58 years old and I'm still bothered by the same horrible intrusive thoughts. A while ago I decided that my medications were not as effective as they had been. I decided to wean off the meds, one was an SSRI and the other an anti psychotic. I did this without really listening to my psychiatrist.After I'd weaned down to a certain level I then swapped over to a different SSRI. Under the guidance of my psychiatrist I have now increased the dose of the SSRI to a level I can tolerate and am about to increase dramatically the dosage of the anti psychotic. My question is have any of you who are troubled by intrusive thoughts found that you need to be on quite a hefty dose of an anti psychotic before the thoughts are able to be kept in check? I have been going through menopause and my mum died late last year which are also contributing factors. I have felt bad for so long now and wonder when this hell on earth will disappear. I have taken two weeks off work as I wasn't coping and wonder if I'm ever going to see that light at the end of the tunnel. Any helpful thoughts, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Tabzzzzzzzy I never get listened to or taken seriously & Anxiety kicks in
  • replies: 4

I always get told to stand up for myself and be who I am, I always seem to always get put back in my place, so many people in this world are over opinionated and don't just listen.... I used to be so bubbly and happy in life, but now everything makes... View more

I always get told to stand up for myself and be who I am, I always seem to always get put back in my place, so many people in this world are over opinionated and don't just listen.... I used to be so bubbly and happy in life, but now everything makes me anxious, I don't speak up, because no one listens or cares what I have to say, I bottle everything in, then explode when it get to be too much and tend to just give up and feel like I am not worth it, so why bother..... I over think everything, even if it hasn't happened, I worry over things out of my control and try to fix things that have nothing to do with me, I try to please people even though I tell myself no, but I just do it and now people expect that of me, I am my own worst enemy.... I can never stand up for myself, as I am always portrayed at the bad guy.....

CherryOnTop I let my Social Anxiety ruin my birthday
  • replies: 3

I have depression and severe SAD. I spend most of my time worrying about what other people think of me and the rest of it comparing myself to others unfavorably. There are certain people in my life that I idolise and nothing matters more than what th... View more

I have depression and severe SAD. I spend most of my time worrying about what other people think of me and the rest of it comparing myself to others unfavorably. There are certain people in my life that I idolise and nothing matters more than what they think of me. No I don't have that kind of attraction for these people but I want to be considered their friends. I am in CBT. It's hard because my appointments are sparse and a worry about what my therapist thinks. For 3 months I badly wanted to try the new cycle classes at the gym. I have so few things in my life that make me happy and I have my hopes desperately pinned on this. But I really look up to the instructor .It's stupid because I barely know them. I go to their classes at another gym and I'm scared they think I'm a stalker. They even said I should go once. I said no out of embarrassment. Sure enough the next time it was on I didn't go into the studio. Every week at the right time I go to the gym thinking I'm going to go because I'm a paying customer with every right. I know it will make me so happy. Or maybe he'll ask me again and I'll accept, knowing my presence is not creepy. Every week I chicken out. Then I cry miserably, listening to others having fun while I'm excluded and also because it's my fault. This has been going on for 8 weeks. It's becoming a very painful cycle. Every week when the issue comes up I tell myself not to go at all and it will be a different duller pain. Then I think it shouldn't be an issue and I have a right to go. Or that this week might be the week I get asked again. Like every year, today I wanted my first happy birthday in a long time, like everyone else has. But it's always a non event. I spent the day home alone. I have no friends. My parents care but it's not enough when you're an adult. So I was determined to go to class today. It was the one thing that I could use myself to make today special. I knew that if I didn't go through with it I would be even more miserable than normal so I figured I'd do it. But in the moment my phobia was more important than not being miserable and I just stood hopefully hoping someone would ask me to come- they didn't. I cried my heart out and had a panic attack. How do I break this cycle? This is just one example of the many pleasures and accomplishments I deny myself because of my SAD. I know I'll regret it when I'm older. This seems like an achievable first step to break. If I break this one maybe I can work on others

Hopefull_ Prisoner in my own body
  • replies: 85

Hey First of all let me introduce myself, my name is James and I guess i've hit rock bottom, it's why I'm here *I don't mean to sound all dramatic* But I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for over 30 years, depression on and off but anx... View more

Hey First of all let me introduce myself, my name is James and I guess i've hit rock bottom, it's why I'm here *I don't mean to sound all dramatic* But I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for over 30 years, depression on and off but anxiety is pretty much constant. Lately I have become very depressed, at lot more than usual and I can't seem to get motivated to do the things that I used to enjoy, even with the anxiety I did things like art, cooking, gardening, I used to keep my place immaculate as it helped with my anxiety, it was my constant, very important to me but now I've let it go. It feels like I'm losing myself as if Im being swallowed up by some terrible void. The reason I say I'm a prisoner I'm my own body is because I feel I'm not capable of getting back to a place that wasn't perfect but *doable* I feel very lost in this void, even around family, I feel as if i'm drifting away a little more every day and it hurts like hell. so, I guess I'm not typing I'm yelling in the hope that someone will hear me. Enough for now. James.

shyguy Shyness is ruining my life
  • replies: 8

I'm a new member, 45 years of age from WA living in Perth. I have suffered shyness all my life thus causing me to have no friends or relationships. I live alone with only my dog for company. When I was very young I was very sick so I didn't get to ma... View more

I'm a new member, 45 years of age from WA living in Perth. I have suffered shyness all my life thus causing me to have no friends or relationships. I live alone with only my dog for company. When I was very young I was very sick so I didn't get to make friends that easily, at the age of 14 I was diagnosed with diabetes at a time when no one else had or shared the disease so there was no support especially coming from the country. 5 years ago I had a kidney transplant which was a major change in my life. I have always worked however I have not socialized with any my co-workers as the anxiety I feel is too much to bear for the fear I must be a most boring person to them with little to say, I am completely out of my depth. As I reflect on my life I can see I have wasted my life compared to others of my generation, it now bothers me and I continuously think what it would be like to have a close friend or that special person to give me some joy in life. The worst disease of all is sadness in life. shyguy.

LulaBean Losing control
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I'm a bit new to this, so not exactly sure how it works. I'm feeling like I'm really losing control at the moment. I'm partway through a medical degree and I'm not coping with the stress very well. It sounds normal but the longer the course g... View more

Hi all, I'm a bit new to this, so not exactly sure how it works. I'm feeling like I'm really losing control at the moment. I'm partway through a medical degree and I'm not coping with the stress very well. It sounds normal but the longer the course goes on, the worse my anxiety gets. Everyone says that the more exposure you get to stressful things the better you cope with it, but I find the opposite is true. Things that I could do easily a few months ago, are now causing me a lot of stress. I often leave uni in tears. I also feel like I can't talk to my uni friends about it cos they all seem so competent compared to me, and not as stressed out. I also feel like the stress is spilling over into every aspect of my life. I'm eating badly and not exercising, and I'm also struggling financially, so it feels like I've got no control over any part of my life. Often at the end of the day I just wanna go home and watch tv and binge on junk food. I also don't feel like socialising any more and I'm just in a bad mood all the time. I feel like I've lost control cos I'm not coping with my anxiety as well as I was a few months ago, I just keep eating badly and I can't get the motivation to do any exercise or even do hobbies that I used to find fun. Everyday I say to myself that I'm going to get on top of things, but the day always ends the same way, with me feeling hopeless and anxious, and doing nothing all evening. I feel like it's all spinning out of control and no part of my life is the way I want it to be. I'd really like some tips on how to get back some control in my life. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Liz71 New member
  • replies: 4

I'm so grateful to have found this forum. So many people with the same symptoms & experiences as me. I've suffered for years, this year I've reached breaking point & have had a breakdown. I've been forced to finally "own" this stuff that happens to m... View more

I'm so grateful to have found this forum. So many people with the same symptoms & experiences as me. I've suffered for years, this year I've reached breaking point & have had a breakdown. I've been forced to finally "own" this stuff that happens to me, rather than trying to mask it with every type of masking behaviour I can find. I've been on & off AD or years, going to random GP's when I've hit lows, getting prescribed with whatever AD they think to prescribe, feel better, go off them, then the cycle of starting to spiral down & then back to whatever doctor I can get an appointment with & start again. I have committed myself to the care of one GP & have ended up in the care of a good psychiatrist. The last few months have seen us experimenting trying to get meds right. I went cold turkey for a few weeks (don't know how I got through it). The medication I'm now on has helped in it's own way, but has done nothing for my anxiety, which is currently off the charts & up there with the worst I've ever had. Hits me on waking, can't eat & can barely function. It dictates my life I hate it so so much & just wish I could have a break just for one day. I can't get near any helping techniques while I'm this strung out. I live in country NSW & it' so hard to get emergency appointments with your GP/specialist. I have a video hook up with my psychiatrist the 3rd week of October. I have a GP appointment tomorrow, but not with my regular Dr, so I'll have to start again with my story & probably beg for some medication. Then they'll think I'm a strung out drugo & won't perscribe me anything (happened before) Going to be a full on exhausting time until I can see my psychiatrist

Chloekat84 I cant handlle this anymore!!!!
  • replies: 26

Ive been havin some really bad days when it comes to anxiety attacks that have lasted a day. I am nauseated all the time so cant eat I don' t know what to do this is happening day after day and I cant handle it! Ive been to the hospital a couple mont... View more

Ive been havin some really bad days when it comes to anxiety attacks that have lasted a day. I am nauseated all the time so cant eat I don' t know what to do this is happening day after day and I cant handle it! Ive been to the hospital a couple monthes ago and know I cant go back as there is no1 to look after my daughter. Ive been dinosed with borderline personality disorder and dysthymia which is a type of depression but my depression has been really bad lately also. PLEASE just let this adrenaline feeling end!!! :'(

Tinks_1 Finding help
  • replies: 2

I recently had an anxiety episode that began late on a Friday. It was still intense on Saturday morning so I decided to go to the doctor. No doctor available so I went to the ER at my local hospital. I had a 6 hour wait and was only seen when I persi... View more

I recently had an anxiety episode that began late on a Friday. It was still intense on Saturday morning so I decided to go to the doctor. No doctor available so I went to the ER at my local hospital. I had a 6 hour wait and was only seen when I persisted in getting attention. There was only one doctor available who did not seem to see ER patients for 4 hours. The stress of waiting made it worse. My question is: what could I have done instead?

criz Anxiety with depression --jeeez when does it stop.
  • replies: 1

Hi I'm new here I'm 46 married with 2 kids. When I was 15-16 years I started to notice i used to get very nervous around new friends or large groups. Over the years it has not got much better it has led me into depression which escalated when my brot... View more

Hi I'm new here I'm 46 married with 2 kids. When I was 15-16 years I started to notice i used to get very nervous around new friends or large groups. Over the years it has not got much better it has led me into depression which escalated when my brother died in 2003. I have only started taking anti depressants 2 days ago can you believe. It was either start medication and see if it helps, or follow through on the thoughts I've been having. Ive come to a point in my life where I have lost two off my best friends , that I have not seen now for nearly 4 years and cannot seam to get enjoyment out of anything anymore, I hate being around people. I worry about every little thing and the big things send me into a deep depression. Ive been off work for a week (work in the building industry) now and don't want to go back. Im beginning to think pretty dark things, as this is no way to live. Ive got through the past 4-5 years just worrying about my kids I don't really know where I'm going