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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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ilurvesleep I think i used to have bad anxiety but then it suddenly went away will it come back?
  • replies: 2

I haven't been on here before so I don't really know what to write, sorry in advance if i do something wrong. here is a bit of my background: I have never been professionally diagnosed with anxiety or depression but for about six months of this year,... View more

I haven't been on here before so I don't really know what to write, sorry in advance if i do something wrong. here is a bit of my background: I have never been professionally diagnosed with anxiety or depression but for about six months of this year, from about the start of autumn, i started to feel really down all of the time. My memory started getting really bad and I kept on thinking that everyone was out to get me. I stopped trusting anyone, even my closest friend who is the kindest person in the world. I started having a really short temper and becoming very introverted, I was having suicidal thoughts even though I knew I would never do it. I was always tired during the day and couldn't get to sleep at night, I gained too much weight (to the point that I am now on the verge of obesity but I also quit the gym because it was too expensive so that probably contributed a lot to my weight) and finally I was never able to relax both mentally and physically. so a few weeks ago I went to the first social outing I had been to since before the 6 months, it was my favorite band performing at a concert. That night I let it all out. I was jumping up and down for 5 hours straight, yelling my lungs out and forgetting all of my self conscience thoughts. I stayed up until 5 and then slept for around 16 hours. since then I have been so happy all of the time. I can't even imagine having felt depressed before. So I was wondering if I am going to fall back into this depressive state (which was so horrible) or am I better? or is that a stupid question because mood and things in the future is really hard to predict? one last question: for those six months no one ever said anything to me or asked me if anything was wrong. for the most part i understand that I was able to "wear another person's face" so most people thought i was just always on my period and nothing more but my grades dropped considerably during the time, to the extent that i was failing most subjects (mainly because i couldn't remember anything no matter how hard i tried so i gave up on trying). so my question, is there any part of teacher education which teaches them to recognize when students are depressed? and if so are they encouraged to help the student or advise them to see a counselor? i only ask because I think it would have helped me if someone else had initiated a conversation. thanks page

lost_in_melbourne Anxiety over husbands job loss
  • replies: 1

Hi Everyone,I am here because I am having a very difficult time coping with my husbands job loss. This happened about 6 weeks ago. I am incredibly proud of how he has handled this - he's been meeting up with people, seeing recruiters etc but there's ... View more

Hi Everyone,I am here because I am having a very difficult time coping with my husbands job loss. This happened about 6 weeks ago. I am incredibly proud of how he has handled this - he's been meeting up with people, seeing recruiters etc but there's not a lot out there in his area of work at the moment. I am terrified that this is going to turn into a long term situaiton. I fear for the security of our children. I fear that he may never find another job. I fear that there is a stigma towards people who have been made redundant and that no one will hire him. I fear that our landlord will want to sell the house we are renting and we wont be able to get anything else bc we have no income. I am absolutely ruled by my fears and the constant voices in my head to the point where I am thinking of how to relieve this anguish permanently. I hate myself for being so weak. I am putting on a good mask in front of my husband and children, happy, smiling etc but its becoming harder. I've lost quite a bit of weight. No appetite, but making myself try and eat 3 times a day. Will it ever get better?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.

guest149 A story of panic and anxiety
  • replies: 3

I know some of the rules here and I think mentioning places is not allowed but please let me tell my story with no editing. I live in Albuquerque NM USA. Last year, I drove to see a friend in Fort Smith, Arkansas 728 miles door to door, my house to h... View more

I know some of the rules here and I think mentioning places is not allowed but please let me tell my story with no editing. I live in Albuquerque NM USA. Last year, I drove to see a friend in Fort Smith, Arkansas 728 miles door to door, my house to his. I drove on I-40 which passes through Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Dead center in tornado alley, the only place in the world and OKC is dead center in the path. As I drove through Oklahoma City 550 miles from my home, I saw ominous clouds. I drove about 10 miles east of OKC and had a total meltdown in my car, I truly don't think it was fear of tornadoes. I was in my car in Arkansas in the middle of a tornado in 2011, trees flying everywhere, but not a bit scared. Anyways, I pulled to the side of the road close to a truck stop, walked down a ravine, sat on a big rock, held my dog, and cried for an hour, terrified out of my mind even though the clouds had dissipated. This was the week after the Moore Oklahoma tornadoes of 2013. Moore is a suburb of OKC. It destroyed the city. Within 180 miles of my destination, I turned the car around and drove home. 1104 miles non stop. Almost 24 hours. 3 months ago, in July 2014 I drove the trip again. 728 miles to Fort Smith, Arkansas. I was dead tired. It was on a Friday. The next day, I had an anxiety meltdown again (Saturday). Packed my stuff back in my car, said goodbye and drove back to Albuquerque. They probably don't want me back thinking I must be crazy. 12 hours one way trip., over 1450 miles I drove so I could be back home and be in my "safe place". I also had the same experience in 1990 when I paid an extra thousand dollars to fly home from Washington DC. cutting a "vacation" short 1 day because of panic. When I get panic or a streak of anxiety (usually lasts about 5 days) I don't react like "text book" descriptions. I get extremely nauseous, not like stomach flu nausea, (it's hard to describe) but it is definitely nausea. I feel like I'm in a dream, detached from my body. The nausea feeds the panic, and the panic feeds the nausea. An excruciating vortex. I don't get chest tightness, tingling arms, or all the other symptoms that send people to the hospital thinking they have a heart attack. I'm just throwing this out in the universe wondering if anyone experiences this weird behavior as a reaction to panic hoping I am not a freak, alone with this. "grounding" does not help when you are this far into a meltdown. Thanks for listening (reading)

shellyt constant battle
  • replies: 4

So i have been struggling with anxiety for about 6 years now sometimes i can go months without it and other times it feels like a daily struggle. I have taken medication for the past 5 years which has helped a lot, the past couple of weeks my anxiety... View more

So i have been struggling with anxiety for about 6 years now sometimes i can go months without it and other times it feels like a daily struggle. I have taken medication for the past 5 years which has helped a lot, the past couple of weeks my anxiety has come back in full force. I constantly feel like i have something really wrong with me l am so aware of every sensation in my body and my head feels fuzzy which makes me feel 100 times worse which causes me to feel extra anxious which brings along all the other anxiety symptoms. i just want to feel free of anxiety and have a clear head. I have 3 children my youngest is 13 months old and i want to be able to enjoy my time with them but i am so scared that i have something terrible wrong with me and i might not be around and they need me does anyone else feel this way<>

Jo3 Feeling very anxious
  • replies: 2

I need some advice pls.For quite a while now I have become very anxious and depressed about doing the banking online. Especially when the accounts are in the negative. I panic a lot now when I know i need to look at the netbank and check the balances... View more

I need some advice pls.For quite a while now I have become very anxious and depressed about doing the banking online. Especially when the accounts are in the negative. I panic a lot now when I know i need to look at the netbank and check the balances. So for the past few weeks I haven't been looking so I actually have no idea of what the balances are. I just hope that when I go to the shops that I have money in the account; if not, well then I am in trouble,I can't keep doing this ie not looking at netbank but I don't know what to do. I know that hubby won't do it because i have tried so many times to show him how to log in and use net bank but he just won't.I am getting so depressed and anxious because i know that if there is no money we will have companies call us. Tonight I received an email from a company requesting that money be put into the account for them to direct debit in 2 weeks. There is no way we can have that money in our account by then.What am I going to do? I have been referred to see a social worker at the hospital where I was admitted, so I think I will have to call him tomorrow. Jo

todd1981 alcohol and anxiety
  • replies: 1

hi everyone, i experience severe GAD and also drink everyday.. when i drink my anxiety lessons and i feel better. iv tried being sober for times[ best 3 months ] but still horrible anxiety? wat do i do ?

hi everyone, i experience severe GAD and also drink everyday.. when i drink my anxiety lessons and i feel better. iv tried being sober for times[ best 3 months ] but still horrible anxiety? wat do i do ?

Aggy Just want to say hi: diagnosed with agoraphobia
  • replies: 63

Hi everyone. I just signed up and wanted to say hi to all. I started med treatment from my doc last week for severe anxiety and today was diagnosed with agoraphobia. I'm a middle aged guy with no friends or family so it's great to have somewhere to c... View more

Hi everyone. I just signed up and wanted to say hi to all. I started med treatment from my doc last week for severe anxiety and today was diagnosed with agoraphobia. I'm a middle aged guy with no friends or family so it's great to have somewhere to come and compare notes. You all seem very nice and supportive of each other. That makes me feel better already and think I will like it here. That's my first post, so look after yourselves and I'm looking forward to making a friend or two. -aggy

Dreamcatcher Anxiety over Illness
  • replies: 5

Not quite sure how to begin this! Well here goes! I am a 33 year old mother of one beautiful baby girl and happily married so my anxiety is not stemming from either. This all began 4 years ago when I battled an illness and was quite un well and was s... View more

Not quite sure how to begin this! Well here goes! I am a 33 year old mother of one beautiful baby girl and happily married so my anxiety is not stemming from either. This all began 4 years ago when I battled an illness and was quite un well and was sure that I was going to die! I recovered but now every time I have a stomach ache, my mind runs away and the little voice in my head that I like to call the accuser tells me it's stomach cancer. Or if I have a head ache it's a tumor I am sure you get the drift I try my best not to give in to these fears and stop googling my symptoms as this only makes things worse. At the moment I am really anxious as I am waiting on ultra sound results I wish I didn't always think the worst I hate to burden my husband with my constant health worries and have no close girl friends that I can talk too. I work in a fast paced enviroment part-time so that I can be with my daughter. I am not sure how to get over the anxiety and dont want to take medication, I would appreciated any ones thoughts?

Optimist_Prime What works for you to escape your moment of anxiety?
  • replies: 5

Hello It is hard for me to admit to myself that my anxiety is unhealthy and that it has reached a point where I am no longer in control. But I think I'm finally ready to stop denying the problem (again). Would some of you lovely, sharing people discu... View more

Hello It is hard for me to admit to myself that my anxiety is unhealthy and that it has reached a point where I am no longer in control. But I think I'm finally ready to stop denying the problem (again). Would some of you lovely, sharing people discuss what has truly helped you in the moment to overcome your anxiety? Is it simply "being strict with yourself" and forcing thoughts to be more positive? Or have you found other things helpful? I am not open to medication (health reasons, long story). And I have sought professional help before but did not find it healing longterm. I find my anxiety/ depression goes in waves. Sometimes I can get on top of it for years and then a number of stressful occurrences finally push me back over the edge to the same anxiety and negative thoughts.

sw A whole new world..
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone I am new here & reasonably new to the extreme anxiety experience. Ive suffered bought's of depression in the past but after a recent trauma I am living with anxiety and not enjoying the experience at all of course. One of the most difficu... View more

Hi everyone I am new here & reasonably new to the extreme anxiety experience. Ive suffered bought's of depression in the past but after a recent trauma I am living with anxiety and not enjoying the experience at all of course. One of the most difficult symptoms I find is the insomnia..When I am having a bad day, like today, Ill be lucky to get to sleep until the early hours of the morning. Its a vicious cycle and feels so hopeless at times. This week I almost had an anxiety attack in a work meeting when a person triggered a memory of the recent trauma I referred to. It was a hellish experience and I hope its not the start of further deterioration. I am on medication that is taken at night and meant to help me sleep but only works on good days...Went off the sleeping tablets as I do not want to become reliant. Thankful to have the opportunity to share a part of my story with my peers & hear your feedback