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

All discussions

Rain81 Anxiety & depression 18 years
  • replies: 5

I am new to this forum, my anxiety and depression started quite young, I was about 15 and in high school when I first started feeling anxious and it just engulfed me from there on. I cannot leave my house without having someone I know and trust with ... View more

I am new to this forum, my anxiety and depression started quite young, I was about 15 and in high school when I first started feeling anxious and it just engulfed me from there on. I cannot leave my house without having someone I know and trust with me. Having been on a myriad of different medications and seeing many psychologists and psychiatrists , Centrelink granted me the disability pension 2 years ago, it is now currently " under review" because of new rules. I should be able to go have a psych evaluation with it only causing me great anxiety, but last August my grandpa whom I was very close with passed away, and things like this Centrelink business not only cause anxiety but I find myself breaking down with an unbearable feeling of not being able to cope. I hope this made sense, it's 3 am. also hopefully right place for this thread

Chloekat84 Anxiety and feeling sick and resltess legs syndrome
  • replies: 4

Hello everyone. I have posted on these forums before and being treated for anxiety and depression. Ive always had mild restless legs but its gotten worse lately. I take magnesium tablets at night to try and help which it does a bit but have stopped t... View more

Hello everyone. I have posted on these forums before and being treated for anxiety and depression. Ive always had mild restless legs but its gotten worse lately. I take magnesium tablets at night to try and help which it does a bit but have stopped the last few nights as I ran out but I have been not well all day today and just not feeling calm or content. Im tense and constantly moving my legs/feet around. Normally I only get these symptoms at night but now its during the day which makes it hard when I need to look after my daughter and myself. Any tips or suggestions on how to cope with this would be greatly appreciated as im finding it hard to cope with this

endlesslydriftingthroughspace emotion sickness
  • replies: 3

Empathy is the key to emotion. To understand how you feel you must consort. To understand emotion is not to find solace in reward but to know a measure of external rest and commit internally.I feel only what you feel when I observe you.I only feel wh... View more

Empathy is the key to emotion. To understand how you feel you must consort. To understand emotion is not to find solace in reward but to know a measure of external rest and commit internally.I feel only what you feel when I observe you.I only feel what you feel. Nothing more.I don't waver. Ever.I wish for simplicity in my mind. A thousand locks pulled apart to form a key to all locks. The key attaches itself to you. It binds to your mind. You can never close that door again. Now you know. Now you feel them. Now you fall apart. Now you fall asleep.Endlessness. beyondblue'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. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE 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-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Paulsasinger Heart thumping at bed time wakes me up
  • replies: 3

Hi, 2014 was an "Annus Horribilis" for me which included separation from my wife of 22 years, the recent death of my mother and worries about my elderly Dad who is now struggling to cope plus all life's usual stresses. I have a history of anxiety and... View more

Hi, 2014 was an "Annus Horribilis" for me which included separation from my wife of 22 years, the recent death of my mother and worries about my elderly Dad who is now struggling to cope plus all life's usual stresses. I have a history of anxiety and depression which in the past I've dealt with mostly successfully with antidepressants and talk therapy. But I'm currently struggling with anxiety and particularly with sleep. At the moment I typically get around 3 - 6 hours sleep per night and find less than about 5 hours leads to a struggle the following day. One of the things that seems to keep me awake is that when I lie flat my heart starts thumping. This typically happens in waves lasting perhaps 10 or 20 seconds which come on and then subside perhaps every minute or so. I can be dropping off to sleep and a wave of heart thumping will come over my whole body and wake me up. It seems to happen more after a stressful day. I'm curious to know: a) what's going on - why does that happen? and, b) is there anything I can do to reduce or stop it? I don't think it's purely an issue of being aware of my heartbeat when lying down and anxiety then causing it to beat harder or increase (although that can also happen to me) as I can often be quite calm when going to bed and ready to go to sleep and it will still happen and wake me up. Has anyone experienced anything similar and/or can recommend something that helped - either with that issue in particular or with sleep in general.

allalone unsure
  • replies: 9

New here not sure what to do. I feel a bit lost today. And feel a bit used

New here not sure what to do. I feel a bit lost today. And feel a bit used

Lam83 Dizziness
  • replies: 1

I suffer from GAD, so I have been told. ive had anxiety for 14 years take an antidepressant which helps with the panic attacks but I still am suffering with the symptoms aid anxiety. i feel dizzy/ unsteady on my feet constantly, I feel anxious like I... View more

I suffer from GAD, so I have been told. ive had anxiety for 14 years take an antidepressant which helps with the panic attacks but I still am suffering with the symptoms aid anxiety. i feel dizzy/ unsteady on my feet constantly, I feel anxious like I can't relax, I feel as though bdy is full of tension and sooo much more. the biggest thing that is ruining my life at the moment is the unsteadiness, it affects my life so much that I'm scared to go out anywhere due to suffering with it, its just easier to stay home and suffer. Mi have a 3yo son and planning my next baby but I worry that I can't do anything with them cause of the dizziness. does anyone else suffer dizziness/ unsSteadiness? i just want my life back, I want enjoy my kids without all the worry.

chloe33 The most honest words I've ever shared.
  • replies: 6

Most people in my life would not believe what I do to myself. Do not see the scars that appear after I have been covered up for months and months. I have a full time job, people lean on me for support and I work hard. I smile and laugh, telling lies ... View more

Most people in my life would not believe what I do to myself. Do not see the scars that appear after I have been covered up for months and months. I have a full time job, people lean on me for support and I work hard. I smile and laugh, telling lies about how great life is. I also feel like I am dying inside. I have self harmed for going on 10 years now and suffered from panic attacks for 8. At times I feel strong, mostly I feel broken. Is this all life has to offer?In the last few weeks I have tried some online chats and get cut off because I'm taking too long. I have great difficulty expressing myself to anyone as I am so scared of what goes on inside my head and constantly thinking about how pathetic I sound. I spoke face to face to a psychologist twice, but never managed to discuss the self harm. They focussed on the panic attacks and I never had the guts to take the conversation elsewhere. I never managed to make a follow up appointment as I am terrible with the telephone. I do not discuss this with my family and I never will. I can not physically get the words out. I feel too ashamed. So, this is my first online post.I do not know what to do or what to say. I have never been the happiest of people, but recent changes in my life have made it almost unbearable. All I do is work, sleep and cry. I experience happiness but I don't remember the last time I felt relaxed and content. I envy people who are suicidal because I would love to be away from this all. I think that confuses me even more. I have had serious thoughts before but I feel like this is the worst I have ever felt but I know I will not do it. It's both a blessing and a curse to have things that tie me here. Sounds utterly crazy, I know.Even now as I write this I wonder at the use. I have read a lot of information about anxiety, self harm and depression and continue to feel at a loss about what to do. I am now trying to reach out it a way that is less confronting than face to face. These are probably my darkest days so far yet I am desperate for help. Ppl will mention to go to a gp, but I cannot find one I trust. A friend? I'm not ready to burn those bridges. Family? I will never tell them. I am a respected professional.I have been living like this for years and surviving. I am now so tired of surviving. beyondblue'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. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE 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-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

allalone getting here
  • replies: 1

I think I work the site out at last. Wish it was so easy to work my anxiety out. I can't be anywhere with to many people are. Took me over two years just to go to the doctor now have to make myself go again thinking about it makes me sick. Just think... View more

I think I work the site out at last. Wish it was so easy to work my anxiety out. I can't be anywhere with to many people are. Took me over two years just to go to the doctor now have to make myself go again thinking about it makes me sick. Just thinking making an appointment is enough. It's hard when I have no one yo talk to. Spend most of my time at home

mjncoursecar Anxiety Disorder and Relationship
  • replies: 7

Hi, I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder a couple of years ago, but it took me a while to get me head around and accept it. Once that happened (about a year later) I explained what was going on to my girlfriend, who I have been with for ... View more

Hi, I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder a couple of years ago, but it took me a while to get me head around and accept it. Once that happened (about a year later) I explained what was going on to my girlfriend, who I have been with for 9 years. Ever since then, the relationship has started to degrade, and I feel like she is blaming me, without directly addressing the anxiety disorder (she refuses to discuss it), which makes me feel worse. Does anyone have any advice or supportive words? I'm really struggling to understand what to do from here.

misspossum Losing the battle against myself.
  • replies: 2

Never been diagnosed with a mental illness, in all honesty too afraid to even speak to anyone about whats going on inside. Ive always felt, odd. You wouldnt pick me to be different in a crowd, but inside my head is an absolute mess. Every day im torn... View more

Never been diagnosed with a mental illness, in all honesty too afraid to even speak to anyone about whats going on inside. Ive always felt, odd. You wouldnt pick me to be different in a crowd, but inside my head is an absolute mess. Every day im torn between two completely opposite sides of myself. Im in a constant panic attack of not knowing who im going to wake up and be in the morning. Its hard to explain but recently i feel like im being torn apart from the inside from all the confusion, indecisiveness and constant feeling of dread. To make matters harder ive been with my partner over two years and this is someone im excited to spend the foreseeable future with. But for months now ive been struggling to show and feel love for another person when im so lost with myself. The last thing I want is this relationship to end i honestly feel if it did i couldnt go on. But is it fair for myself or my partner to go through the pain of disappointment when the version of me that walks through the door isnt the girl he feel in love with. The girl i know i am? Im exhausted and weak and really struggling with each day. Im a smart girl and ive practiced anxiety exercises, set goals, done yoga... but i feel as if im inly getting worse with each day. I need help and i don't even know where to begin..