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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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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.

guest59 New to the page… frustrated
  • replies: 3

Hi guys,My name is Ben.Ive been living with (believe i have been) depression and social anxiety since my late teens.I have noticed over the last 8-10 months that these feelings have become much stronger, i feel as though I go through low points much ... View more

Hi guys,My name is Ben.Ive been living with (believe i have been) depression and social anxiety since my late teens.I have noticed over the last 8-10 months that these feelings have become much stronger, i feel as though I go through low points much more than i ever have before, and being in social situations is nearing on unbearable for me.Tonight I finally made the move to visit a GP in the hope to speak to someone…I became extremely frustrated that this GP simply palmed me off a months worth of tablets with a "you'll be right" attitude and to visit them in 2 weeks to see how i was feeling. I asked multiple times if I could possibly book to see some form of specialist for a chat instead, to which i received the same answer over and over. Take the tablets and ill see you in 2 weeks…Have I gone into this with too high of an expectation, or is this standard procedure for an initial visit?If it isn't standard procedure then does anyone have a good GP that can actually point me in the right direction?

Jemz14 Any online support groups or chat sites for Australian's??
  • replies: 1

Hi, This is my first post I have just joined - I am suffering very bad anxiety and panic attacks, I have a panic attack everyday usually more then once. I am terrified of dying. I hate eating in case I get food poisoning or have a serious life threat... View more

Hi, This is my first post I have just joined - I am suffering very bad anxiety and panic attacks, I have a panic attack everyday usually more then once. I am terrified of dying. I hate eating in case I get food poisoning or have a serious life threatening allergy, ( i did suffer my first allergic reaction a few months ago and have a appointment with a specialist in a few months). Since then my panic attacks and anxiety is off the charts and night time is the worst!!! I am scared i will die in my sleep. I am seeing a psychiatrist now and he has increased my meds i am just wondering is there any chat sites or online groups for Australians with anxiety and other problems. Kind Regards Jemz

Cookie Postnatal anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi I think I have developed postnatal anxiety and am hoping someone can share their story about how they got through it and how long it lasted. My daughter is now 9 weeks old and my husband is a shift worker so is not always around to help. My proble... View more

Hi I think I have developed postnatal anxiety and am hoping someone can share their story about how they got through it and how long it lasted. My daughter is now 9 weeks old and my husband is a shift worker so is not always around to help. My problem is that I have a constant knot in my stomach and feel so scared of how we are going to get through each day. I feel that I just don't know what to do with her all day. She is very unsettled and can become quite hysterical when she cries and I don't seem able to calm her when she is like this. I just feel terribly anxious about it all to the point where it consumes my thoughts all day and night. I'd be grateful for any advice or just to hear how others have coped? Thank you.

ronO Double cancer Anxiety whammy
  • replies: 2

Hello all. After recovering from bowel cancer at 39 , I was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago and also needed a spinal operation. Ive turned into an anxious human being . I was a confidant man . Now at 52 , Im quite anxious all the time ... View more

Hello all. After recovering from bowel cancer at 39 , I was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago and also needed a spinal operation. Ive turned into an anxious human being . I was a confidant man . Now at 52 , Im quite anxious all the time and can only work part time. Id really appreciate some advice or similar experiences Ron

hope_29 anxiety is coming back and i feel worse
  • replies: 1

I posted a couple of days ago about how I've been feeling now that I have started a new job and find myself checking everyday for a reply it's like im desperate or something. I actually left my last job because it was horrible hours and stress. I gue... View more

I posted a couple of days ago about how I've been feeling now that I have started a new job and find myself checking everyday for a reply it's like im desperate or something. I actually left my last job because it was horrible hours and stress. I guess I'm worried that I'm going to feel miserable at my new job. I have this fear that Im not going to do well even though I've worked for this company before and they were happy to have me back. It's like I feel I will let them down some way. I think my self-confidence is at a bit of a low. The role is more responsibility this time but I need the money atm. I know it all prob sounds normal but Ive battled for the last few years a long journey in depression and anxiety and was seeing a counselor about it (this was for other reasons but work was something we did talk about towards my last few sessions). I don't think Im depressed anymore but anxiety has been a battle. I haven't seen her in a few months now but I don't know if thats stopping me booking with her again. I guess I feel I had to come here just to let out what it is I'm feeling when I wake up for work or on a sat night when I know I have to go to work on a sunday. I wake up with knots in my stomach, my heart flutters, my hands feel really shakey and my lip twitches a bit too. I'm paranoid this will show at work sometimes when I feel nervous. Is this because I'm thinking too much? I know its ok to feel nervous at a new job but sometimes I just over think everything and hype myself up way too much just for one day and it drives me crazy. Whats strange is that Im actually a very positive person (well so everyone says)... even at work Im known to smile a lot but I wish I actually felt what I project myself. Please if anyone could give me some advice that would be amazing!

Iskallos This is weird
  • replies: 1

So long story short I've had anxiety for a while with a lot of physical symptoms, a lot of them going away and sometimes coming back or new ones coming into the fray. Last night though when I was trying to sleep, I heard something like a bell ringing... View more

So long story short I've had anxiety for a while with a lot of physical symptoms, a lot of them going away and sometimes coming back or new ones coming into the fray. Last night though when I was trying to sleep, I heard something like a bell ringing, like a doorbell that's an actual bell. I ignored it but it happened again and after that it stopped but then, just as I had started to doze off I jumped up and gasped for air like someone had just splashed water over my face (not actual feeling like that, of course). This proceeded to happen a couple more times until I turned my light on and fell asleep. Has something like that ever happened to any of you? It kinda reminds me of the time I thought I was going to have a heart attack and my heart would flutter every time I was about to go to sleep. This time though it came out of nowhere and it's freaking me out a bit.

mandy6 speechless
  • replies: 22

I think I have social anxiety. I have authority issues (is this a real thing or just a Grey's Anatomy thing?) when someone is my senior I can't have a conversation with them, I know exactly what I'm going to say, but i always back down last minute be... View more

I think I have social anxiety. I have authority issues (is this a real thing or just a Grey's Anatomy thing?) when someone is my senior I can't have a conversation with them, I know exactly what I'm going to say, but i always back down last minute because I get really stressed. Also if someone says something that I know is wrong I can't correct them even if I know they would want to be corrected, because as I am about to open my mouth my whole body tenses up and I physically can't say anything. I have an irrational fear of looking stupid/ idiotic, I know that I am and that everyone already knows that I am so I wouldn't be revealing anything new at all. so does anyone have any tips on overcoming anxiety? Is there a way to learn how to talk to people, approach them? be able to ask others for help and help them when needed? thanks

missmilford so tired
  • replies: 2

I am so tired of feeling anxious all the time and I think depression is setting in. My work situation is awful but I live on my own with a mortgage and I feel very trapped. I am not doing my job properly, I don't really care but the turmoil we are in... View more

I am so tired of feeling anxious all the time and I think depression is setting in. My work situation is awful but I live on my own with a mortgage and I feel very trapped. I am not doing my job properly, I don't really care but the turmoil we are in now is not helping. My closest friends have moved interstate and I just feel so isolated and overwhelmed. I wish I knew how to move on and get out of this terribly difficult time, it seems endless. I need to move on and get out more but it takes a lot of energy that I don't have. it is such a vicious circle and everything seems so hard. thank you for listening, I think I just needed to put it out there how bad I am feeling. I know I am the one who has to make changes and no one else can do so. but wow it's hard to see how. thank you for listening

Cookie2012 Paranoia about dying
  • replies: 4

Hi Everybody,Is there anybody else out there who suffers from health anxiety? I have severe paranoia about dying and it is taking over my life, I just don't know what to do anymore. I have a husband and 4 beautiful children and have just found out I ... View more

Hi Everybody,Is there anybody else out there who suffers from health anxiety? I have severe paranoia about dying and it is taking over my life, I just don't know what to do anymore. I have a husband and 4 beautiful children and have just found out I am pregnant with our 5th. I love them all so much and I am petrified of dying and leaving them without a mum. It all started a year ago (looking back I have always had anxiety) when my husband and I flew overseas for the first time. I was absolutely petrified the plane was going to crash. The panic attacks started soon after we got back and its been downhill ever since. I have been to the hospital a few times and am always at the doctors with symptoms of some terminal illness. I have spent so much money on tests and there appears to be nothing wrong with me. I have been active and exercised nearly my whole life but for some unknown reason I have convinced myself I have a heart condition and I am convinced I am going to drop dead at any time. I am too afraid to exercise for fear of collapsing in the middle of the road and constantly feel like I cant breathe. I always have a funny feeling in my throat and my chest always feels tight. I go to bed every night thinking im not going to wake up in the morning. When I do wake up in the morning I have no desire to do anything. Im scared to be alone in case something happens to me. My whole day is consumed with thoughts of dying. This has all gotten bad again since I found out I am pregnant, I have a fear that this baby and pregnancy is going to kill me and I hate feeling like this. The morning sickness is feeding my anxiety and thoughts of dying even more. My doctor has given me benzodiazepine tablets to tide me over for a few weeks, I was given an antidepressant but that made me awfully sick and unable to function ending up in my last hospital visit. I am also studying full time at uni and im scared this is going to ruin me. Can anybody help me on what I can do, im scared of what the future holds for me and my family while I am like this.