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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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Iskallos This is weird
  • replies: 1

So long story short I've had anxiety for a while with a lot of physical symptoms, a lot of them going away and sometimes coming back or new ones coming into the fray. Last night though when I was trying to sleep, I heard something like a bell ringing... View more

So long story short I've had anxiety for a while with a lot of physical symptoms, a lot of them going away and sometimes coming back or new ones coming into the fray. Last night though when I was trying to sleep, I heard something like a bell ringing, like a doorbell that's an actual bell. I ignored it but it happened again and after that it stopped but then, just as I had started to doze off I jumped up and gasped for air like someone had just splashed water over my face (not actual feeling like that, of course). This proceeded to happen a couple more times until I turned my light on and fell asleep. Has something like that ever happened to any of you? It kinda reminds me of the time I thought I was going to have a heart attack and my heart would flutter every time I was about to go to sleep. This time though it came out of nowhere and it's freaking me out a bit.

mandy6 speechless
  • replies: 22

I think I have social anxiety. I have authority issues (is this a real thing or just a Grey's Anatomy thing?) when someone is my senior I can't have a conversation with them, I know exactly what I'm going to say, but i always back down last minute be... View more

I think I have social anxiety. I have authority issues (is this a real thing or just a Grey's Anatomy thing?) when someone is my senior I can't have a conversation with them, I know exactly what I'm going to say, but i always back down last minute because I get really stressed. Also if someone says something that I know is wrong I can't correct them even if I know they would want to be corrected, because as I am about to open my mouth my whole body tenses up and I physically can't say anything. I have an irrational fear of looking stupid/ idiotic, I know that I am and that everyone already knows that I am so I wouldn't be revealing anything new at all. so does anyone have any tips on overcoming anxiety? Is there a way to learn how to talk to people, approach them? be able to ask others for help and help them when needed? thanks

missmilford so tired
  • replies: 2

I am so tired of feeling anxious all the time and I think depression is setting in. My work situation is awful but I live on my own with a mortgage and I feel very trapped. I am not doing my job properly, I don't really care but the turmoil we are in... View more

I am so tired of feeling anxious all the time and I think depression is setting in. My work situation is awful but I live on my own with a mortgage and I feel very trapped. I am not doing my job properly, I don't really care but the turmoil we are in now is not helping. My closest friends have moved interstate and I just feel so isolated and overwhelmed. I wish I knew how to move on and get out of this terribly difficult time, it seems endless. I need to move on and get out more but it takes a lot of energy that I don't have. it is such a vicious circle and everything seems so hard. thank you for listening, I think I just needed to put it out there how bad I am feeling. I know I am the one who has to make changes and no one else can do so. but wow it's hard to see how. thank you for listening

Cookie2012 Paranoia about dying
  • replies: 4

Hi Everybody,Is there anybody else out there who suffers from health anxiety? I have severe paranoia about dying and it is taking over my life, I just don't know what to do anymore. I have a husband and 4 beautiful children and have just found out I ... View more

Hi Everybody,Is there anybody else out there who suffers from health anxiety? I have severe paranoia about dying and it is taking over my life, I just don't know what to do anymore. I have a husband and 4 beautiful children and have just found out I am pregnant with our 5th. I love them all so much and I am petrified of dying and leaving them without a mum. It all started a year ago (looking back I have always had anxiety) when my husband and I flew overseas for the first time. I was absolutely petrified the plane was going to crash. The panic attacks started soon after we got back and its been downhill ever since. I have been to the hospital a few times and am always at the doctors with symptoms of some terminal illness. I have spent so much money on tests and there appears to be nothing wrong with me. I have been active and exercised nearly my whole life but for some unknown reason I have convinced myself I have a heart condition and I am convinced I am going to drop dead at any time. I am too afraid to exercise for fear of collapsing in the middle of the road and constantly feel like I cant breathe. I always have a funny feeling in my throat and my chest always feels tight. I go to bed every night thinking im not going to wake up in the morning. When I do wake up in the morning I have no desire to do anything. Im scared to be alone in case something happens to me. My whole day is consumed with thoughts of dying. This has all gotten bad again since I found out I am pregnant, I have a fear that this baby and pregnancy is going to kill me and I hate feeling like this. The morning sickness is feeding my anxiety and thoughts of dying even more. My doctor has given me benzodiazepine tablets to tide me over for a few weeks, I was given an antidepressant but that made me awfully sick and unable to function ending up in my last hospital visit. I am also studying full time at uni and im scared this is going to ruin me. Can anybody help me on what I can do, im scared of what the future holds for me and my family while I am like this.

Kitty_Kat Please Help Me
  • replies: 5

Hi, To start off, I would just like to say that I am a fairly young girl but I need help. There is a lot on my mind at the moment, so I have joined this online forum looking for help... Firstly, I have lots and lots of friends outside of school and I... View more

Hi, To start off, I would just like to say that I am a fairly young girl but I need help. There is a lot on my mind at the moment, so I have joined this online forum looking for help... Firstly, I have lots and lots of friends outside of school and I guess I would consider myself popular between those people, and they are the best people I could ask for. But when I step into school I find myself surrounded by these people who only really treat me badly. I have a few friends there, but the people they hang out with are just so horrible. If they treat me like I am nothing and take the only friends I have away from me, how am I to cope? Do I try and fight for them or do I let them push me around, because knowing me; I wouldn't have the courage to stand up for myself. I met this one girl, who was my best friend just like that! But I went on my class camp, and all of a sudden; there is this other girl with her. I understood that she is allowed to have more than one friend, but she happened to choose a girl that hates me. Every time I actually get the courage to approach them all she does is steal my friend away and doesn't let her be with me. This is like a stab in the heart for me because what we shared was something truly special and I miss what we had. Secondly, (this is more to do with anxiety) lately, every time something happens; big or small, but it hurts my feelings... I cry. But not just any crying, the type of crying when I have to leave the room, sit in the toilet getting scared because I cant stop. No matter what I do it doesn't stop and I am normally there for about 30-35 minutes waiting for it to stop. It has been happening for the past four weeks and it hasn't gotten any better or worse. I am seeing a counsellor about this but I would like some other advice for it because the more it happens, the more scared of it I get and I freak out every time it happens. Is this a form of anxiety? Because I don't really know what anxiety is and I want to have some kind of answer to why this crying thing is happening. Lastly, these days I have become very self conscious of the way I look, am and sound like. I am always thinking in my head, and I am not classified as a pretty girl at my school. I have freckles, a weird nose, a horrible height, a low voice and the only thing I like when I look in the mirror is either what I am wearing, my hair (long, curly, brunette) and my eyes (rich blue). I also try to make people laugh sometimes by being funny, which never works; and sometimes I seem to forget I am trying to fit in and I go a little crazy and be my self. Mum always says, just be yourself and everyone will like you. Well, when I do be myself people judge me, and I am the type who can't handle being judged in a bad way. I would really appreciate someone to reply because I need to serious help and I need answers to my problems, I am still only in year eight and I don't want to feel this way any longer. Love Kitty xxx

Mandakini Need to see doc for anxiety, OCD, hypochondria-ASAP! any suggestions?
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm a 28yr old female . I am in desperate of some mental health as I seem to be going more downhill than up. I can't cope with my fears, phobias and anxieties anymore and it's affecting my everyday life. I have now turned to drinking a little thr... View more

Hi, I'm a 28yr old female . I am in desperate of some mental health as I seem to be going more downhill than up. I can't cope with my fears, phobias and anxieties anymore and it's affecting my everyday life. I have now turned to drinking a little through the day to get by which is very unhealthy since I am on medication. Obviously I don't feel that they are doing anything because I still cannot think clearly to live a "normal" life. Everyone in my life thinks it's just me being weak and not pushing through this hard enough, and maybe they are right? I just don't know anymore. I don't even know if I need mental health help or to just try and pull myself together- but like I said, I'm in so much confusion that just getting through the day is a triumph. So I need to talk to someone to sort this out for me because I can't do it alone. I'm a tourist in the area for at least 3 months and therefore have no insurance, but regardless, I have to get better. PLEASE PLEASE reply with some answers or encouraging words.

Anon71 Am i suffering from anxiety?
  • replies: 1

Hi, I had never considered that i was suffering from anxiety although i know that it runs in my family. I just felt i was awkward around people, but over the last 6 months it has got much worse. I started college this year and i did not really make a... View more

Hi, I had never considered that i was suffering from anxiety although i know that it runs in my family. I just felt i was awkward around people, but over the last 6 months it has got much worse. I started college this year and i did not really make any friends, and avoided talking to new people whenever possible. However i also feel like i have been losing my old friends and i fear situations where i will have to talk to people, whether i know them or not (although more so when not). I have found myself missing lots of college and not attempting to socialise with anybody and when I'm invited places I avoid going with various excuses. I hate being in groups of people and i always feel that nobody is interested in what i have to say or that they are judging me for what i do say- which is not much, as i can never find the words to take part in conversations. I used to be quite out going and friendly with lots of people but this has lessened over the years, reaching it's peak now. I am pretty sure i suffer from depression although i have not been diagnosed (but i see a therapist and she thinks that i am). It would be helpful if anyone could let me know if this sounds like social anxiety

vintage_kar <--------- Backspacer
  • replies: 3

Firstly hi, I've done a LOT of typing and backspacing. Backspacing. Backspacing. I avoid at all costs actually going to the doctor for help. In the past I have been told, 'don't drink' or 'it's situational'. I'd like to have 'situational' struck off ... View more

Firstly hi, I've done a LOT of typing and backspacing. Backspacing. Backspacing. I avoid at all costs actually going to the doctor for help. In the past I have been told, 'don't drink' or 'it's situational'. I'd like to have 'situational' struck off the vocabulary list for mental health speak. I know my situation is causing me anxiety, and yes my situation is crap. The thing is that I don't control the situation! Why is it ok that I suffer day in day out with constant anxiety and disgusting thoughts about being better off dead? Surely this can't be just situational? People seem to be able to sum up in a few words how I should go about dealing with my feelings. I know the thoughts are bad and abnormal. I just don't see any light. ~k

12alisonm Anxiety at university
  • replies: 2

I'm currently studying, but am finding it really hard to go to my lectures and tutorials because the entire time I'm there, I feel vaguely like I can't breathe! I've not had full panic attacks, but the constant nervousness and tight chest makes it re... View more

I'm currently studying, but am finding it really hard to go to my lectures and tutorials because the entire time I'm there, I feel vaguely like I can't breathe! I've not had full panic attacks, but the constant nervousness and tight chest makes it really hard for me to pay attention, and I dread going to tutorials where I have to talk to people. I'm starting to skip more and more classes, and I really don't want to jeopardise my degree. Does anyone have any tips on reducing the anxiety?!

Amali Relationship and social anxiety
  • replies: 2

I am currently in a relationship with a partner who I previously dated. We were together for 3 years and then broke up due to his hurtful behavior. We are trying to start fresh and have been back together for about 6 months. I have been having terrib... View more

I am currently in a relationship with a partner who I previously dated. We were together for 3 years and then broke up due to his hurtful behavior. We are trying to start fresh and have been back together for about 6 months. I have been having terrible anxiety and an irrational fear that he'll hurt me again. I break down when he says he's going out with friends and he recently booked an overseas holiday for 6 weeks and he wants to do it alone even though I would love to travel with him. I find myself turning into this insecure, clinging girlfriend who over analyses everything. I know this behavior will only push him away. I'm terrified of losing him again. I didn't think it would be this hard the second time and wish everything could go back to how it was before we broke up. I also suffer some social anxiety. I feel overwhelmed in social settings where I don't know many people. My partner is the complete opposite, very outgoing and makes friends easily. Im finding it hard to communicate how I'm feeling without getting overly emotional. My boyfriend hates to see me upset and just becomes distant when I'm upset. He wants to make me happy but I know I have to do my own things and make myself happy first. Many advice in this area would be greatly appreciated thanks TD