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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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gmc Have you been through this?
  • replies: 8

Hello everyone, I've been for around 1 week and a half on this forums and I am deeply thankful for the support I've received from the wonderful people here. I try to read all your stories and in time return all the great support. I've decided to open... View more

Hello everyone, I've been for around 1 week and a half on this forums and I am deeply thankful for the support I've received from the wonderful people here. I try to read all your stories and in time return all the great support. I've decided to open another post to talk about something that's on my mind for a long long time, since I can't remember. I get very enthusiastic about some plans and even decisions I make sometimes and after I express them, how I feel and what do I plan to do, it seems like it all gets away, like it's not mine and everything it's hopeless, I can't do it anymore, it was a bad decision. Even if I want it badly, I get back to what my mom sometimes says, that I'd be better if I wouldn't want "that much"... Or I don't think about it too much to see if it's a good decision or not. Last time it happened today. I decided I'd follow a master program in psychology, something I want to do for a while, and be an arts therapist specialised in theatre, as acting is a big passion of mine. Talking to my mom about it and how excited I am to have decided this, I felt very awkward about my own dream. I think that I am too confused, that I am desperately thinking of a reason to live, actually, that I feel the presure from my parents that I have to follow my studies, that depression and anxiety are controlling my life and I have to do something about it, that maybe I don't follow my passion for psychology and acting because I am too scared or my parents even if they would support me, they wouldn't agree with my choice... I don't know. It's like too much going on. So I hope you get that I won't even tell you about the almost unbearable level of anxiety I've been through, but the story (or better said the adventure) of finding a good specialist to treat me is in another thread. And I don't live in Australia. Have you been through this, through feeling that thoughts are not anymore yours as you put it in spoken words?

jrb having a hard time
  • replies: 5

I'm struggling day by day & i can't find anything to be happy about. I'm having a hard time with my anxiety & depression and sometimes i just want to give in but i have to tell myself just try to cope with these feelings. My anxiety started when i wa... View more

I'm struggling day by day & i can't find anything to be happy about. I'm having a hard time with my anxiety & depression and sometimes i just want to give in but i have to tell myself just try to cope with these feelings. My anxiety started when i was in high school where i was bullied everyday for five years. I hid the bruises from my mum and dad because i wanted to handle it myself until the middle of year twelve when i lifted my shirt and showed them the bruises and they were very upset i didn't come to them.

CSmith Mixed anxiety-depression - let's talk about it.
  • replies: 5

I have had troubles with anxiety for as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until I was diagnosed with mixed anxiety-depression (this year), that I actually realised that how I have been living is very energy-consuming and no healthy. There are tim... View more

I have had troubles with anxiety for as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until I was diagnosed with mixed anxiety-depression (this year), that I actually realised that how I have been living is very energy-consuming and no healthy. There are times when I feel absolutely fine and can talk to anyone without felling self-conscious or worthless, but there are other times when the anxiety is so bad that I just repeat negative and hurtful thoughts about myself in my mind, like my own mantra. I go to university and find it quite difficult to walk into a room that has more than a few people in it. If I am late to class, I usually don't go. But the main thing that gets me is that when I look around and see people being so carefree and completely comfortable in their own skin, it makes me hate myself more and I often get very emotional about this. I feel like I put more pressure on myself to be better than I can, because it shouldn't actually be this hard. What I really want is to be able to enjoy my life and not feel so trapped within my own body. I am trying to meditate when I can, but so far I don't think that much of a change has occurred. I am also talking to a counsellor regularly, and this has helped me work through some of my issues. Are there any other ideas for dealing with anxiety and/or depression (besides medication) that anyone thinks are beneficial?

Jenni Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - seeking help
  • replies: 5

Hi, I'm hoping someone can recommend a very good psychiatrist who specialises in PTSD in Melbourne. My partner has been diagnosed with PTSD (from childhood abuse) and severe clinical depression and none of his psychs so far seem to be able to get the... View more

Hi, I'm hoping someone can recommend a very good psychiatrist who specialises in PTSD in Melbourne. My partner has been diagnosed with PTSD (from childhood abuse) and severe clinical depression and none of his psychs so far seem to be able to get their head around it. The psychiatrist will need to be able to handle an incredibly intelligent, analytical and "needs to be in control" individual, also preferably someone who is strong on therapy rather than medication. Any suggestions would be really appreciated as he is in such a terrible space at the moment and only heading downwards. Thank you

vip Chewing gum and anxiety
  • replies: 11

Hi everyone people constantly ask me why do you chew gum all the time. Well when I did my therapy groups we were all told one side effect of this antidepressant medication is that it can ruin your teeth. Good dental care is essential as I go to my de... View more

Hi everyone people constantly ask me why do you chew gum all the time. Well when I did my therapy groups we were all told one side effect of this antidepressant medication is that it can ruin your teeth. Good dental care is essential as I go to my dentist every 6 months and chewing gum keeps your mouth fresh and I find in the mornings especially I feel anxious so by chewing a little it helps calm me down . Can anyone else relate to this ????? And I also have funny traits with my anxiety it makes me cough for no reason , move around a lot talk really fast give limited eye contact breathe fast when I speak I can have a nervous feel in my words does anyone experience this feeling with anxiety???? would love some feedback please

Corey_G Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphic Disorders among men
  • replies: 2

An increasing number of studies into the matter of eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorders among men, have shown a stead increase in the number of reported cases within Australia. The increase in reported cases is likely to be a consequence of... View more

An increasing number of studies into the matter of eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorders among men, have shown a stead increase in the number of reported cases within Australia. The increase in reported cases is likely to be a consequence of a number of factors including society's ideal version of a 'man' and/ or increased awareness of the issue, thereby assisting doctors in diagnosing and treating these disorders much more effectively than it had been previously. Recently, the toy manufacturer, Hasbro, was criticised for its design of a 'Winx Club' doll, which featured 'stick-thin legs'. It was argued that such representation through the use of toys, which are marketed to children, creates an unrealistic idea of beauty, thereby contributing to the prevalence of such disorders. After hearing this story, it got me think about male action figures and how, if at all, could they be contributing to the increased prevalence of these body image disorders? For example, take the Hulk, whose aesthetic is excessively muscular and tough in character. Arguably, applying the same principle that was argued the 'Winx Club' dolls, could these action heroes, which children being young often idolise, be contributing to societies skewed perception of what a 'man' should look like. More specifically on the issue of muscularity, the concept of 'Muscular Dysmorphia' establishes the basis of a disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with the idea that they are not muscular enough. In this disorder a person is preoccupied with thoughts conceding appearance, especially musculature. A few risk factors may contribute to this disorder: family disharmony, perfectionism, severe stress, aesthetics focus and negative influence of mass culture that promotes an idealised body. Do you believe that disorders regarding body image among men, could reasonably be attributed, in part, to children's action figures like the Hulk, particularly with respect to the physical aesthetics of such action figures . Also, if anyone has experienced pressure to change or modify certain features of themselves as a result of society's perception of what is 'normal' or 'acceptable' with respect to eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorders and what you believe contributed to your experience with the disorder?

Banefish Too many feelings, too many thoughts
  • replies: 1

Hello, I've recently moved away from my parents home for the first time and am now living with a friend in Victoria. This move is complicated because I got into a little bit of a ''online relationship'' with my friends ex when I was planning the move... View more

Hello, I've recently moved away from my parents home for the first time and am now living with a friend in Victoria. This move is complicated because I got into a little bit of a ''online relationship'' with my friends ex when I was planning the move and we now all live together.

Mares73 Geoff-anxiety issues
  • replies: 1

Dear Geoff as one who has their illness managed & given my huge respect for you-would you mind reading my latest post and see if you have any suggestions re coping with disabling anxiety? It's still under my "Royal Commission" thread. Love Mary (Mare... View more

Dear Geoff as one who has their illness managed & given my huge respect for you-would you mind reading my latest post and see if you have any suggestions re coping with disabling anxiety? It's still under my "Royal Commission" thread. Love Mary (Mares) x

bug30 Too much on my mind
  • replies: 4

Recently ive been having trouble sleeping. Its likea everything going on in my life plays on my mind when im trying to sleep. Most nights I wake uo aboit 3 or 4 times. I feel like im not getting anywhere in life. Most of my friends are married and st... View more

Recently ive been having trouble sleeping. Its likea everything going on in my life plays on my mind when im trying to sleep. Most nights I wake uo aboit 3 or 4 times. I feel like im not getting anywhere in life. Most of my friends are married and starting families and are constantly asking when me and my bf will be doing the same. We have discussed it but arent ready, we want to live our lives. But I feel as though im drifting fartjer and farther away from friends ive had for years because I wont conform and have a baby and because my boyfriend hasnt asked me to marry him. Im also having trouble at Work, I dont enjoy my job anymore and want to study but cant give up my job because we will be broke and wont be able to afford anything with only one income so I feel as thought im trapped in this job until I can find something else. I have a boss who wont give me the time of day because she tries to tell me how to live my life and I wont listen. She likes the girls who are married and atarting families. She couldn't care less about what I do, which makes work unpleasant. Who wants to work in a place where you feel so unwelcome It just feels like no matter what I do, I cant make new friends. We have lived in this new town for nearly 2 years and I do not have one person who I can contact to hang out with, I spend my days off at home alone cooking and cleaning. My closest friend is 4 hours away. This puts alot of strain on my relationship as my boyfriend seems to have no trouble making friends which makes me evwn more anxious. What is wrong with me? Why dont people like me? Why do people keep telling me how to live my life? Why do I feel like im failing and everything I put my mind too?

Gm Intrusive thoughts overpowering daily life
  • replies: 4

Hi. Not sure how to do this. I have an issue with intrusive thoughts. Really awful things that I can't control or let go of. I try to find distractions to occupy my mind and keep them at bay, and sometimes it works really well. However, more often th... View more

Hi. Not sure how to do this. I have an issue with intrusive thoughts. Really awful things that I can't control or let go of. I try to find distractions to occupy my mind and keep them at bay, and sometimes it works really well. However, more often than not something will happen to trigger an intrusive thought(s) process while I'm doing whatever it is I am doing to distract myself. I feel a heavy weight in my chest, and from then on I feel like I can't do what I enjoy anymore because it now has that negative connotation with it. It feels like my mind is trying to seek out whatever I love doing and making it into something ugly; a new trigger. The last time it happened was today, which prompted me to post this. Has anyone else experienced this? How did you deal with it? I feel lost. Hope this made sense. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.