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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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FozBear New Member-Wanting to share,help and receive help
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone.This is my first post. For those interested in giving me guidance, here is some background on my anxiety journey. Until Dec 2012 I enjoyed great health and physical fitness. Then the lower back pain started for no identifiable reason base... View more

Hi everyone.This is my first post. For those interested in giving me guidance, here is some background on my anxiety journey. Until Dec 2012 I enjoyed great health and physical fitness. Then the lower back pain started for no identifiable reason based on scans etc.Tried every type of professional help including rehab trainer,osteo ,physio etc etc all promising to fix it but no one could.18 months later in June this year I woke at 4 am one morning with pain throughout my whole back and I went into a panic that despite everything I had done I thought I was never going to be the same. I had 3 sleepless nights due to anxiety and panic and just paced the house for hours.GP gave me something for anxiety and put me on antidepressants and referred me to psychiatrist who I see weekly. Now on fourth lot of antidepressants as they all seemed to make me feel worse.Also had to constantly take anti anxiety meds throughout day. I have my own business and kept up a brave front for a few months but eventually I just got to a point where the psychiatrist said I should not be at work. Luckily I have a great business partner and great staff to carry on. I have now been away from work for months and I feel I have lost my identity.I love my team and my clients and I miss them terribly. Now I feel I have no purpose as I really enjoy my work and really get a great deal from helping my clients.I love the social interaction. I have now gone from being a respected professional with an award winning business to someone who often struggles going to the supermarket due to anxiety. I just cant believe that 6 months ago everyone knew me as a super friendly,chatty guy who always seemed happy to the depressed and anxious ridden person I am today. I find everyday a real struggle as there is just no purpose like I had before .I have no interest in anything. I started my new meds 12 days ago and since then I have cried a lot more, felt very low and the anxiety is more constant and stronger. Can anyone tell me if this is normal in the start up phase of an antidepressant.(This is an SSRI not SSNI like I was on before) After 6 months I just thought I would be so much better but I feel nearly as bad as at the start despite meds, weekly therapy etc.I would be most grateful if anyone can share their thoughts on the recent surge of my symptoms based on what I have shared and any words of encouragement would bee deeply appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read this

Ready1 New to Anxiety!
  • replies: 29

HI, I am a 35 year old male and had what I thought was my first full blown panic attack a week and a half ago. I ended up in the ER and did bloods, Chest X-Ray and ECG and all came back clear. Since leaving the next morning I have felt extremely flat... View more

HI, I am a 35 year old male and had what I thought was my first full blown panic attack a week and a half ago. I ended up in the ER and did bloods, Chest X-Ray and ECG and all came back clear. Since leaving the next morning I have felt extremely flat and cant get the fear that I am about to have another out of my mind. My doc prescribed some meds to help me sleep but really hasnt worked - I feel tired in the mornings and a little "hazy" for most of the day. One thing that I have found weird is that when I am tired since then I get a sort of pins and needles feeling in my face and left arm - of course I tell myself its something more sinister and around it goes again! I can keep active, I still play Aussie Rules footy and have no issues when I am playing. Has anyone else had feelings like this? While in the hospital the nurse sat with me and we worked out I have probably had this ongoing for some time and it s kind of like it has hit its peak and I am struggling to get right from here. Any advice from any out there would be most welcome! Thanks in advance!

geekgirl0000 Help. Need some advice on services.
  • replies: 2

I used to have depression years ago. The depression lifted but I still have anxiety that causes me lots of trouble. i don't get panic attacks but there are things that set of me off. I pretty much have a list of things that I know will cause me to ge... View more

I used to have depression years ago. The depression lifted but I still have anxiety that causes me lots of trouble. i don't get panic attacks but there are things that set of me off. I pretty much have a list of things that I know will cause me to get upset. Can anyone recommend a service that I can access with a health care card / medicare card at low or no cost (im unemployed). I don't want to go on medication but would rather attack the root of the problem itself. Thanks.

vixstar The guilt is overwhelming me
  • replies: 4

I am struggling at the moment with being unemployed. I have always had problems with the working environment due to my social anxiety and panic attacks, however found a stable job I was in for 6 years. At the beginning of this year I was made redunda... View more

I am struggling at the moment with being unemployed. I have always had problems with the working environment due to my social anxiety and panic attacks, however found a stable job I was in for 6 years. At the beginning of this year I was made redundant as my entire site was shut down. Since Feb this year I have been unemployed and trying to find some part time work that suits me and I can handle due to my anxiety it has been very hard to find something and each day I feel more and more depressed and guilty for not working. My husband is such a hard worker getting up at 5 am everyday and not getting home until 6 pm sometimes 6 days a week. Every morning he gets up and leaves for work I feel more and more guilty as I am not contributing financially to our relationship and do nothing at home because I don't want to spend any money. I am on job websites every day and don't know what else I can do if the jobs aren't there. I can't stop feeling guilty and on top of my anxiety and depression I am really struggling. I'm not sure if I am looking for advice or just somewhere to get my thoughts out. I know it is starting to bother my husband me not working and I am trying to show him I am looking as much as possible. I also see a psychiatrist who has upped my medication during this difficult time until I can find some work I am comfortable with. I am feeling like such a failure at the moment to everyone around me, my husband, my family and friends.

Nessa Life is becoming a little overwhelming and now my anxiety is with me 24/7
  • replies: 11

I am now 35 years old I thought that life would be easier now that my children are getting older. My children are the reason I haven't lost myself fully. I love them so much and will always be here for them. For some reason everything has become so i... View more

I am now 35 years old I thought that life would be easier now that my children are getting older. My children are the reason I haven't lost myself fully. I love them so much and will always be here for them. For some reason everything has become so intense that I have anxiety 24/7, I always feel like my chest is on fire, I don't sleep well and my body is always in pain. The way I deal with my anxiety is by overeating but clearly that's not helping me either. I don't know what to do I am consumed by anxiety.

lookingforme Anxiety and Self Harm
  • replies: 8

I'm new to forums, even so, asking for help is new to me. I called up beyondblue and it was recommended for me to share if I wanted to; get some perspective maybe. I' ve been fighting some strong anxiety on my own and in the past I' ve self harmed, a... View more

I'm new to forums, even so, asking for help is new to me. I called up beyondblue and it was recommended for me to share if I wanted to; get some perspective maybe. I' ve been fighting some strong anxiety on my own and in the past I' ve self harmed, and now after years, I've done it again. But I have also stopped again, but I'm struggling with keeping the urges under control. I plan on seeing someone as soon as I can (definitely this coming week), but for now, maybe a few suggestions can help me survive the weekend. What really has upset me is that I told a friend and she wants to tell my family. I don't feel ready to do that because I don't feel close with them and I feel as if it would make it worse for me (which again could be anxiety), but I would like to tell them on my own terms, not because someone is threatening to do it. I've told her I want to stop, and I will stop, I just need support, but she doesn't trust me to because I've done it again. Any thoughts?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.

Mtuna Getting married happy but anxious
  • replies: 1

Hi my name is marilyn , I'm due to get married in 12 days . All the planning has been exhausting but fun , me and my husband to be have been fine . But I still have not told my ex partner to whome I share a 2,year old with ... I'm finding my self in ... View more

Hi my name is marilyn , I'm due to get married in 12 days . All the planning has been exhausting but fun , me and my husband to be have been fine . But I still have not told my ex partner to whome I share a 2,year old with ... I'm finding my self in a constant state of high tend anxiety and fear of anything and everything . Got so bad I could not go to work this morning and could hardly keep my energy levels up ... I'm so scared somthing will go wrong it's debilitating me , I can't eat , or even walk Into a shop with out wanting to cry .. I've sufferd from anxiety for many years and have come of medication 8 months ago .. HELP

enlighten Managing social anxiety during the festive season
  • replies: 2

Hello. I have social anxiety and avoidant personality disorder. Now coming into the silly season, my family and I are being invited to social functions. Still living at home, I feel obligated to go to these but the thought of attending makes me feel ... View more

Hello. I have social anxiety and avoidant personality disorder. Now coming into the silly season, my family and I are being invited to social functions. Still living at home, I feel obligated to go to these but the thought of attending makes me feel like crying, head ache, chest constrict, and extremely stressed about the event well in advance of its date, with these symptoms interfering with my everyday life. The key contributor to this anxiety is my fear of people who are under the influence of alcohol, which often is evident in functions such as these. I don't trust these people and, as a self-professed 'control freak', feel very uncomfortable with their propensity to act in a random, irrational and sometimes aggressive or intimidating manner. I feel awkward in discussing this fear as I am in my mid 20s, and I understand that a number (though not all) of my peers do not have drink or have a problem with being in settings in which others are drinking. I know I need to tackle my social anxiety but I really do not want to deal with this particular issue as I feel that it is a very real and rational one for me. I plucked up the courage to raise it once with a psychologist right at the end of a session, but they didn't respond to it as I suppose we had run out of time (I have since stopped seeing them, as they weren't the right 'fit' for me, and am not currently seeing anyone). My family is of the 'just snap out of it' perspective when it comes to my anxiety, and so I don't feel comfortable discussing this issue with them. Earlier this year, I managed going to a family member's 40th birthday party and a wedding. I left these events at around 9pm, a time I thought the effects of alcohol would begin to take effect on people. The stories from attendees about people who got drunk at these events (which they found humour, as I suspect a lot of the Australian population would) were really disconcerting, and added 'evidence' towards my fears. I would rather just avoid these events – but I feel an extreme sense of guilt and obligation, especially coming from a close-knit family. My brother's 21st birthday is coming up; in February – but I am already feeling very anxious as he begins to make arrangements for a big party. I know I have to attend this, and it is unlikely that I will be able to leave as early as I have done in the past.

HelenM continuing my struggle
  • replies: 14

I've not been on BB because although I know people are more than willing to help there comes a time when there's no advice other than to hang in there. However I know everyone cares. My symptoms are so unpredictable; this whole depression, it came in... View more

I've not been on BB because although I know people are more than willing to help there comes a time when there's no advice other than to hang in there. However I know everyone cares. My symptoms are so unpredictable; this whole depression, it came in January has confused and frightened me and all I can do is plod on hoping that things will sort or improve

Cruiser123 Scared all the time ....is this anxiety ??
  • replies: 5

Can someone please help? 3 years ago I did a really stupid thing a now I am consumed with guilt and paranoia. I took $200 dollars from work and then felt so guilty that night I broke down in tears told my husband and took the money back then next day... View more

Can someone please help? 3 years ago I did a really stupid thing a now I am consumed with guilt and paranoia. I took $200 dollars from work and then felt so guilty that night I broke down in tears told my husband and took the money back then next day and put it back. I am 99.9% sure that no one knows as I do the banking. From that day forward I have felt sick with guilt that I was going to be caught and exposed. I every day I think of it and in my mind make up these incredible scenarios about the police raiding my house and me being dragged off and things like that..and I will loose everything, my house, my family etc. I can.t be happy because I think if i let my guard down thats when it will happen... It effects all parts of my life. Im completely paranoid that there is this huge conspiracy at work to get me even know they never do anything to me.. I cant confess or I will be fired and I work for people with a lot of connections and wouldn't be able to get another job because I would be labeled a thief. I don't know what to do... I just want to remember what its like to be normal again, I have panic attacks when we are doing family things lik

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