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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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El10 Just want to feel normal again
  • replies: 5

Hi I'm elyse and I'm 27, I had my first panic attack 10 months ago, I was just sitting on the couch watching tv then all of a sudden I went very dizzy got up to get a drink of water then all of a sudden I couldn't breath and my heart was going so fas... View more

Hi I'm elyse and I'm 27, I had my first panic attack 10 months ago, I was just sitting on the couch watching tv then all of a sudden I went very dizzy got up to get a drink of water then all of a sudden I couldn't breath and my heart was going so fast, I honestly thought I was going to die, my mum and partner took me up the emergency, and they told me a was having a panic attack, I was so confused and was like WHAT??? I went to the doctor and had tests done and they told me a have anxiety, so with that I was on google a lot...I went to Thailand in October last year ( got engaged ) and all my symptoms seems to go away. Ive been on medication since January.I thought I was getting better but the last month I've been a mess, keep getting this heavy head feeling, like a tight band is around my head, can't concentrate, and just tired all the time, It's so frustrating. I'm not depressed but this head thing is making my feel depressed.. Just get very emotional about it. My partner doesn't understand which makes it very hard.. Just want it to go away. I've had a mental health plan done for me but just need to make that phone call to make an appointment!!!! Any feedback would be great, just to hear im not alone!

EmmaP Feeling a bit desperate and down...
  • replies: 2

Hi Everyone, I was hoping some of you may have some wise words out there for me. I have posted a couple of times now, but to fill you in, I have diagnosed anxiety- specifically separation anxiety and general anxiety, and depression resulting from the... View more

Hi Everyone, I was hoping some of you may have some wise words out there for me. I have posted a couple of times now, but to fill you in, I have diagnosed anxiety- specifically separation anxiety and general anxiety, and depression resulting from the anxiety. I am seeing my GP who has put me on a SNRI anti-depressant and I have been on this one for approximately a month now. I am also seeing a psychiatrist who I very much like and I have seen her twice now, and seeing her unfortunately at monthly intervals due to work (they won't let me go once a fortnight). She has given me relaxation and mindfulness techniques to do, and I try my best to eat a balanced diet and have started doing yoga at home three times a week. I found the relaxation techniques were working well for the mild anxiety. However for the past three days I have been feeling very much down, hopeless, sad, constantly anxious, unable to concentrate, exhausted, achy, and have been suffering panic attacks several times a day. My mum and I aren't very close but she has been admitted to hospital for a month due to an unexplained illness where she has lost weight to an anorexic level. She has to be tube fed for a month through a tube in her nose. Also, my girlfriend of 5 months has recently gone through a lot of stress with her housing situation which in turn has put a lot of stress on me and a huge change of our long term plans to move to Melbourne (we have had to move it forward 6 months which is scary). I am also struggling with obsessive thoughts once more and everything is seeming to make me anxious. Work is dull and my tasks seem impossible and I cannot concentrate at all! I am guilt tripping myself about feeling this way and cannot stop. I am beating myself up about me feeling down, that I shouldn't feel this way, that I'm a burden on my loved ones, that I am a hypochondriac, that I should be able to flick a switch and feel better, even though I know none of that is true deep down. I am also having obsessive thoughts about my money situation and being broke, but at the same time I desperately want to spend it to feel better (never ending cycle!!!). All I have wanted to do is buy a pet fish, even though I don't have the spare money for a set up, and my house mate is funny about the extra electricity to run the filter/heater. But I'm obsessing about it! Does anyone have any tips about how they deal with the depressive feelings, guilt and obsessive thoughts?? I'm really struggling.

Mia14 scared feeling wakes me every night
  • replies: 2

Hey my first time 52 mum of 3 beautiful kids and a new nanny diagnosed 2years ago with anxiety I find myself unable to function and I'm so tired of being scared I had such a love of life now I can't even bring myself to go to work I've been hiding ho... View more

Hey my first time 52 mum of 3 beautiful kids and a new nanny diagnosed 2years ago with anxiety I find myself unable to function and I'm so tired of being scared I had such a love of life now I can't even bring myself to go to work I've been hiding how I've been for months but can't do it anymore I'm well educated have a good job (that I can't go to ) I'm scared and just want me back I'm medicated just changed again and I'm currently taking sleep tabs for a week just get some relief from the scared feeling that wakes me every night will I ever be free of this

lilykitten Anxiety and self esteem
  • replies: 4

I seem to have panic attacks anytime I treat myself. I may be at the airport about to have a holiday, in a restaurant and a delicious meal has just been served or on a night out and I am the guest of honour....... suddenly I get very dizzy, nauseous ... View more

I seem to have panic attacks anytime I treat myself. I may be at the airport about to have a holiday, in a restaurant and a delicious meal has just been served or on a night out and I am the guest of honour....... suddenly I get very dizzy, nauseous and desperate to go to the loo. I always cope well in stressful situations so why do I get panic attacks when I should be enjoying myself. Do you think it has something to do with low self esteem?

nessy120 Please Help
  • replies: 4

So I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at the age of 14, I am now 31. I currently went to see a neurologist who suggested that I was on way to much medicine and that I should come off all of it. And so I did. I came off all of it within a 2 w... View more

So I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at the age of 14, I am now 31. I currently went to see a neurologist who suggested that I was on way to much medicine and that I should come off all of it. And so I did. I came off all of it within a 2 week period, and as I was tapering off I felt fine. UNTIL NOW..... i can't even leave my house,my anxiety id=s o bad. I am not sad or depressed just very anxious, and do not know how to handle it. Yesterday the dr added medication back to the equation but told me it takes 2-4 weeks to work. I have been out of work now for two weeks and feel like I am going crazy. I am not having any crazy thoughts its just a constant feeling of nervousness and anxiousness to the point were I am in the bathroom ever ten minutes. Someone please help me.

Girty Anxious, sad and overwhelmed by the thought of completing everyday tasks
  • replies: 5

Hi there, I'm just wondering if anybody can help/relate. I have always suffered mild anxiety but I've mostly always managed it (I've had a few panic attacks over the years) I am a teacher and am currently on holidays which I should be so excited abou... View more

Hi there, I'm just wondering if anybody can help/relate. I have always suffered mild anxiety but I've mostly always managed it (I've had a few panic attacks over the years) I am a teacher and am currently on holidays which I should be so excited about but I just feel hopeless and so anxious and sad and I just don't entirely know why. I spent most of the day crying and I just couldn't get the motivation to get up and do everyday household things I was meant to like the dishes... I caught up with a friend in the afternoon but spent all morning feeling so anxious about the stupidest things like what to wear and how much time I had and guilty at the fact that I had done none of the above households things that needed to be done etc etc... I thought of so many ways that I could to get out of it but it got too late to cancel and I sucked up the tears and went (don't know how) I enjoyed myself and was out for a few hours but I feel like I was just putting on a 'happy act' and as soon as I got in the car the bawled my eyes out to the point I nearly had a panic attack.... All of which has brought me here as I feel like this time round a good night's sleep isn't going to fix todays sad feelings... if that makes sense. I have a hard time talking to loved ones about it because I don't want to burden or worry them. My fiance has clinical depression which I worry about all the time even though he manages it and lives a happy and healthy life... My little brother also has severe anxiety/depression....I guess I just worry all the time... It's really taking its toll on me at the moment Everyday things such as cooking dinner or even just thinking what to cook, going to the supermarket, or sweeping the floors feel completely overwhelming and these things never seemed this bad......I feel like the clock is against me and there just isn't enough time in the day. I feel anxious that I'm wasting my holidays and they'll be over before I've had enough time to relax and enjoy them. I feel anxious about going back to work even though I have 2 weeks off and I love my job and my students...I just feel so selfish for complaining when I know I've got it so good... Thanks for reading

BenD Anxiety around some friends but not others?
  • replies: 2

Hi all, Just wondering if anyone else gets more anxious around some friends but not others? I just spent the week away with a bunch of uni friends and it was honestly one of the most enjoyable trips I've had. I seem to get agree with them more than s... View more

Hi all, Just wondering if anyone else gets more anxious around some friends but not others? I just spent the week away with a bunch of uni friends and it was honestly one of the most enjoyable trips I've had. I seem to get agree with them more than some of the friends that I've grown up with (not to diminish the benefit that they have made to my life though). It kinda feels like some people I'm keeping up appearances and "acting", whilst around others I'm not afraid to be myself and say what I want. Thoughts?

just_let_go Intensifying anxiety and depression.
  • replies: 6

Hi all. I'm not entirely sure what I'm hoping to achieve here. But here goes. Here's is my story. I am convinced all my problems stem from my constant worrying about things that happened in the past, every day activities, fear of what my future holds... View more

Hi all. I'm not entirely sure what I'm hoping to achieve here. But here goes. Here's is my story. I am convinced all my problems stem from my constant worrying about things that happened in the past, every day activities, fear of what my future holds and other things I have no control over and a general lack of confidence in myself. I wish I had a way to just stop thinking. Turn my brain off for a few hours. Where to begin... I suppose with my first panic attack. Things had started to get weird. I've always shown signs of anxiety and depression, but it was at a manageable point. I was growing less and less happy, not enjoying thing I usually did. I first noticed it when I was at a concert seeing my favourite band, and literally felt nothing. now a week later I caught up with some friends, and one of them had the bright idea of sharing around some dope brownies. (I do not have a drug problem before you all start asking, I have smoked it before but extremely rarely.) So anyway I had one for the hell of it. I felt good at first... Then I noticed my heart racing uncontrollably. I thought It may have been from running around (we were kicking a soccer ball around) but after sitting down it did not show any signs of slowing. The I began to panic. I said to my friend I needed to get home. He took me home and I just started freaking out. All my muscles tightened, my mouth went dry, my heart was going mental. I was over taken by a sense of uncontrollable irrational fear and I thought I was dying. It lasted 2 hours. It was the worst thing I have ever experienced. That was about to months ago. Since then my anxiety has skyrocketed. I'm slowly learning to control it, but lately the depression side of things is escalating. It's to the point where I am conscious of my mental state 24/7. Every night I got to bed fearing another panic attack. I'm always worried that it's going to keep getting worse, and it's bad enough as it is. I've started exercising more, watching what I eat, engaging in calming exercises before bed and seeing a psychiatrist. I really hope things get better soon. I don't want to live out my days feeling like this. I'm not going to give up. i wont let this beat me. I found a site called anxietynomore that is fantastic and taught me a few things about controling and embracing my anxiety (That is seriously the key, you have to embrace it, train your brain to react calmly when it strikes). But depression is proving tougher. Thanks for reading.

Shell4444 My life has gone temporarily haywire
  • replies: 2

Hi all,many things have happened to me over the past couple of years - loss of job I loved which led to a job I hated, death of a friend whom I was the only executor, listed as next of kin and her general dogsbody then facing having a much delayed kn... View more

Hi all,many things have happened to me over the past couple of years - loss of job I loved which led to a job I hated, death of a friend whom I was the only executor, listed as next of kin and her general dogsbody then facing having a much delayed knee replacement. When i was about to return to work my back started to play up and now the ceo of the organisation has decided I am not capable of driving a work vehicle even though i have clearance from 3 doctors and she has never met me. I have sailed through everything except now the ceo's actions have been the icing on the cake and have eroded my confidence to such a state I have started with anxiety attacks and today had a panic attack waiting in the doctors rooms. I thought I was going to keel over and my heart was racing so hard he gave me an ecg. How does everyone else cope in these situations. I want to resign from work, I've gone from 40+ hours per week to 7.5 hours per week, I was cutting down hours and starting work back in a job I really enjoyed but not to 7.5 hours. I am feeling like they dont think I can carry out the job anymore and this I find devastating. My husband is very supportive and does not want me to resign because he does not want me home dwelling on what is going on. I have written a "diary" to get a lot of this stuff out of my head. My doctor has started me on medication and he at long last realises what I am going through and wants to see me later in the week to discuss anxiety medication. I am also seeing a psychologist. I would really like to know I am not going mad and that I will get past this, at the moment I would like to find a nice safe place and hide for a while.thankyou,Michelle