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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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dee122 Is this possible?
  • replies: 2

Hi i have this terrible fear that I have become pregnant from using the same toilet/bathroom as my sister's boyfriend. he woke up during the night to use the toilet and then about half an hour later I used the same toilet. I had to do a number two. A... View more

Hi i have this terrible fear that I have become pregnant from using the same toilet/bathroom as my sister's boyfriend. he woke up during the night to use the toilet and then about half an hour later I used the same toilet. I had to do a number two. Afterwards, I wiped my bottom. I then had a terrible thought that this could cause me to become pregnant. What if he had just had intercourse and I touched some left over semen/sperm that may have been on the toilet door handle, the toilet paper or another surface nearby. Is this possible? This anxiety consumes me...it affects my day to day life, it's all I can think about. It has been going on for a few years now...I take pregnancy tests daily. I don't know what to do. Has anyone been in a similar situation or experienced anything like this??

Pandapie93 Feel like I can't do anything right.
  • replies: 23

Hi all... I'm new to BB and pretty nervous about posting this, but I can't cope anymore on my own. I can't cope telling people close to me of my anxiety and depression, I feel like I've let them down some how and that I'm being judged. I've been stru... View more

Hi all... I'm new to BB and pretty nervous about posting this, but I can't cope anymore on my own. I can't cope telling people close to me of my anxiety and depression, I feel like I've let them down some how and that I'm being judged. I've been struggling with depression and anxiety for about 9 years now and only came to terms with it on the last couple of months as my anxiety attacks have become so severe. I live in a mental world of hell where I feel like a constant failure... I worry about every word I say and every move I make, worried I'll upset someone or be judged for my words or actions. I find it hard to sleep from worry and when I do I have nightmares. When I have anxiety attacks I feel physically sick to my stomach and get sharp pains in my chest and head... I get muscle cramps and want to burst into tears and run as far away as I can... I have an amazing life, so many amazing people in my life and I love my job, why can't I just stop worrying and be happy? What's wrong with me??!!! hate this disease, it's ruining my life and so many others. please, I beg of any hints or tips on how I can overcome this. - Panda

HelenM Worry chews at my mind
  • replies: 5

One of my biggest enemies with my mental health is worry. I have always been pessimistic and it played a massive part in my mental illness over the years. I am waiting to go on a Mindfulness course but that won't be till late Spring. So not helpful n... View more

One of my biggest enemies with my mental health is worry. I have always been pessimistic and it played a massive part in my mental illness over the years. I am waiting to go on a Mindfulness course but that won't be till late Spring. So not helpful now. My brother's son has leukaemia. He was diagnosed in January and I think it played a part in my mood dropping then. Things went well and he went into remission. However recently it came back. Fortunately he is only 30 and fit and so could handle the aggressive chemo they gave. He then got an infection which has thankfully cleared and it'll be a few weeks before they can say if he's in remission again. Then they want to do a bone marrow transplant - his siblings don't match but it seems that on the European donor list they'll find him a match reasonably okay. All this was fine in my head. Today I rang my brother and he also mentioned the possibility of his son not going in remission. He is coping well but obviously worried though he was not trying to worry me. Although things going wrong are always possible I cope by not asking about them or not allowing myself to 'know' .Now I can't stop worrying about my nephew. I try to reassure myself and certainly his youth is in his favour as well as the very good treatment that is available and apparently improving all the time. I try to distract myself but find it hard. It's a double problem for me: the worry I feel and also the possibility that it will pull me down. My sister tells me that to worry is pointless and that we have to be their for him. She's right but I am unable to switch worry off. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks, Helen

Bluegirl2014 scared of bad things happening in the world and terrorism
  • replies: 6

Hi, this is my first post here. I have suffered from anxiety and depression for ten years, to varying degrees. One theme that keeps reoccurring for me is the fear of something bad happening in the world or to me, my family (particularly my children) ... View more

Hi, this is my first post here. I have suffered from anxiety and depression for ten years, to varying degrees. One theme that keeps reoccurring for me is the fear of something bad happening in the world or to me, my family (particularly my children) and my loved ones. With the terrorism occurring, natural disasters. and wars the world is becoming even scarier, I worry that my children will be unsafe at school and their school will be the target of a shooter or terrorist. I worry when my family is at large community events something bad will happen. I worry that something will happen to me and they will be left sad, scared and alone. How can I live a normal life and how can I support my children to live a happy, productive life when I live in constant fear? Do other people get scared like this? I feel the only safe place is at home, I don't understand why people want to hurt other people.

anxiety223 PTSD, anxiety and no support
  • replies: 4

have you ever gone through a difficult phase with no support? I have a boyfriend of 2.5y ears and every time I am struggling, he finds it overwhelming and has trouble coping. My biggest anxiety trigger is the thought of him leaving me. i need some su... View more

have you ever gone through a difficult phase with no support? I have a boyfriend of 2.5y ears and every time I am struggling, he finds it overwhelming and has trouble coping. My biggest anxiety trigger is the thought of him leaving me. i need some support. i have no family of close friends here. have booking in to see a psyc. but i can't even talk to my man, he is "always right", once he has his mind up there is no changing it. what can i say to him? i need his support so badlybeyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.

Matty85 Anxiety and Insomnia, need some help
  • replies: 3

Hi, my name is Matt and this is my first post. I have suffered from anxiety and depression since my late teens, I am in my late 20's now. My anxiety tends to come and go and generally I manage it fairly well, however, ever few years I have what I wou... View more

Hi, my name is Matt and this is my first post. I have suffered from anxiety and depression since my late teens, I am in my late 20's now. My anxiety tends to come and go and generally I manage it fairly well, however, ever few years I have what I would call a major episode that hangs around for weeks or a few months. Usually I concentrate on one particular thing and constantly have thoughts about how it will never leave, and then I have anxiety about being stuck in that particular headspace for the rest of my life. This also causes me to become depressed. About a month ago after a big night of drinking I had a large anxiety episode. (Im not a big drinker these days, but at times when I am doing really well and in a good headspace, I find myself drinking more and partying hard, which usually brings on the anxiety episodes). Whilst trying to get to sleep I had a rather large anxiety attack about not getting to sleep. Since then I have had mild to strong anxiety whenever I think about sleep and whether or not I will fall asleep at night. When trying to go to sleep I tend to find myself dozing off and I become self aware that I am falling asleep and instantly wake myself up. This can happen a few times as Im trying to get off to sleep, and each time it happens my anxiety increases. As my anxiety increases I begin to stress that I wont fall asleep and I will be a mess for work the next day. I also get anxious that the next night I will have the same battle again, and again for the rest of my life. Whilst doing my day to day work or socialising I also become aware of my anxiety and start to stress about whether I will sleep that night. I went and spoke to my Dr about this and she has put me back on an antidepressant which I have taken in the past. She also prescribed me some sleeping tablets to help me get my sleep pattern back. I started on the antidepressant about a month ago and I feel it is slowly starting to kick in. I have taken the sleeping tablet a few times that I have needed to doze off so I will be right for work the next day, however, I am reluctant to take them regularly as I don't want to be dependant on pills to sleep. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced similar symptoms and could offer any tips or insight into moving past this battle I am having. I am about to go on an overseas holiday in a week and don't want to be stressing about sleep instead of enjoying myself. SIMILAR THREADS Anxiety after night out drinking? Anxiety and drinking alcohol Drinking anxiety Anxiety and alcohol equals despair Anxiety, depression and alcohol

ladybird01 Fear of disappointing your partner or not loving them enough
  • replies: 5

Hello all, I have had very mild anxiety through out my childhood (most of which I recently learnt I had repressed) but recently my anxiety has flared up enormously regarding my relationship. My partner and I have been together for almost two years. W... View more

Hello all, I have had very mild anxiety through out my childhood (most of which I recently learnt I had repressed) but recently my anxiety has flared up enormously regarding my relationship. My partner and I have been together for almost two years. We're from different countries and made the decision to get engaged so that we could marry here and he could get a visa. We were living in his country preparing to come out here and now I am here (due to a family commitment) and we have been long distance for 2 months) and Up until 3 months ago I felt fine with it all and completely happy and excited. Then one morning I woke up with an intense pressure on my chest and stomach and my head was swimming with fearful thoughts surrounding my relationship. Never to do with him or anything he might do, it is always me in these fears. I have flashes of what if I don't love him anymore or do I love him enough or do I want all this with him. These fears just refuse to let go and get so strong that I start believing they're real. I lose the ability to tell myself what it is that I want. I have no idea of what's real and what is just a fear. Has anyone felt this too? It's never a fear of him, it's always of me. Me disappointing or hurting him or not loving him. I have had two sessions with a psychologist and more coming up, but with him it's such a slow process while he paints a picture of the situation in order to help me deal with it. I need some way of stopping these fears when they come up, or some way to manage them effectively. thank you

Artsy_Chick Anxiety over new job interstate and need advice
  • replies: 2

Hi Guys. This is my first post and I just need some advice as my anxiety is going through the roof atm and I'm suffering bad headaches from my current dilemma. It actually very exciting but unfortunately life isn't always straight forward and smooth ... View more

Hi Guys. This is my first post and I just need some advice as my anxiety is going through the roof atm and I'm suffering bad headaches from my current dilemma. It actually very exciting but unfortunately life isn't always straight forward and smooth sailing. So without going into too much detail ill just say a bit a bout my situation. I am 28 engaged for 2 years in the relationship for almost 3. We love each other but I'm a bit stuck atm and i need a new job. I work in a very specialised field and i am also a teacher of what i do. I applied for a new job here but it is not ideal and doesn't have the specialist areas that i work in. I was also just offered a job interstate in Brisbane which is an amazing job with great pay and the people sound wonderful. dilemma is my partner won't go and my entire family are here in Melbourne. I don't know if i should go and use this as a opportunity for self growth and to spread my talents or if i should stay and take a job i don't really want which is not good pay and will have me working double what the one in Brisbane is offering. I can take my dog with me but then of course i will need to pay rent and be alone. My family said they will all visit but i do worry about my mum as we are very close and i go see her all the time ( just cos I'm a mummys girl) My partner was not over excited about the idea as you can imagine and said to me if i want it just go...but it wasn't said in a loving way like its great just go and he said never has he heard of long distance relationships working....i have. I also said it wouldn't be more than a year and he would just have to visit. I also honestly think it might be good for us cos we will miss each other and we rarely see each other anyway (we live together) we have ridiculous schedules and he has never really done much with me anyway throughout the relationship. I know that he could find work anywhere as he is multi talented. But i know he wouldn't want to leave his friends, which i can understand as they are very close. Me on the other side i don't have many friends and i am wanting to make new ones. I feel very bored here and need a change but i don't want to make the wrong decision and get there and ruin my life and live in regret. Please help i need advice. The Brisbane school said they are so excited to have me and they didn't even need an interview cos they love my work and know of me here in melbourne... my anxiety is sooooo bad... x

Stormgrl101 Anxious
  • replies: 3

I feel like nothing I do is good enough. I get so anxious living in this house with my best friend and her (ex) partner. I love her to bits and appreciate everything she has helped me with. But I am sad because I feel people don't understand me, I kn... View more

I feel like nothing I do is good enough. I get so anxious living in this house with my best friend and her (ex) partner. I love her to bits and appreciate everything she has helped me with. But I am sad because I feel people don't understand me, I know it's hard for people who don't have anxiety to understand. No one has said anything but i am anxious people think I am lazy or whatever but I really try hard to keep everyone happy. I'd like it if people have any issues to just come and talk to me nicely and I'll try and fix or try harder instead of keeping quiet getting angry behind closed doors. I was feeling depressed about moving back to my parents house in January but now I can't wait. I feel far to anxious living here and i am breaking

Jskyewalker Unsure of how to start
  • replies: 2

Hi, I have thought for a long time that I might have social anxiety and I would really like to seek help for it, however, the idea of having to go through a GP to get a mental health plan to then go see a psychologist is exceptionally overwhelming, a... View more

Hi, I have thought for a long time that I might have social anxiety and I would really like to seek help for it, however, the idea of having to go through a GP to get a mental health plan to then go see a psychologist is exceptionally overwhelming, and I was just wondering if anyone else has gone through this and how they overcame it. Thanks