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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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Chris_B Forums etiquette: give support to receive support
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newb... View more

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newbies are welcomed when they first post, and we understand that it’s a big step to post for the first time on a forum like this, especially if you aren’t feeling great. It’s important to remember, though, that these forums are a community of real people, just like you, not a one-on-one support environment like going to see your psychologist. To get the best out of being here, one of the best tips we can offer is give support to receive support. Being a good community member means: participating in different threads (not just your own), replying to people who have taken the time to reply to you (even if it’s just to say thank you), and... posting words of emotional support and encouragement when you see others who are hurting and reaching out. You don’t have to feel obliged to solve the problems of others: that’s not what we’re here for. But you can offer empathy and what you’ve learned from your own life experiences, even if it’s just a line or two, eg. “I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support and tell you I care about what is happening to you and hope life will get better soon.” Try to develop an interest in the journeys of others here on the forums. You may be surprised at how good being an active, caring member here can make you feel. For those of you who have had good experiences giving support here on the forums, please post in this thread here and let us know how it has helped you on your journey.

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JacintaMarie Feelings
  • replies: 2

Hi, I haven't been on here for ages and I've been getting there, have had bad times but good times as well.Had some feelings & not sure if it's okay to feel like it,At work, people are stressed and I feel for them but realize it's their own making & ... View more

Hi, I haven't been on here for ages and I've been getting there, have had bad times but good times as well.Had some feelings & not sure if it's okay to feel like it,At work, people are stressed and I feel for them but realize it's their own making & there's nothing I can do to relieve it. I've just got to go with flow & agree with them, so arguments won't come.Is it alright to not want to be around people when their stressed. The people are higher ups and to be fair they're only new in the job, bur I have a feeling it's their personality, not the position and nothing I can do, it's for them to work it out.Hope everyone else is getting there. It's hard to keep mentally healthy and be kind to others & not take out my stress on others, I answered back to someone when I should have been quiet.

2faces Anxiety and sadness
  • replies: 2

I’m new to BB and have found just reading the forums has made me feel a little better already. Most helpful was one about what physical symptoms people experience with their anxiety. Particularly the breathing issues. I would like to hear more from p... View more

I’m new to BB and have found just reading the forums has made me feel a little better already. Most helpful was one about what physical symptoms people experience with their anxiety. Particularly the breathing issues. I would like to hear more from people with this debilitating symptom. I’ve gone down the path of looking for medical reasons for my constant shortness of breath and tight chest but with no findings. Just knowing that others share what I’m going through helps me to believe that what feels like a serious illness could in fact be anxiety. And then I want to try to understand the accompanying sadness, which I’m not sure is depression because I rarely actually shut down. Outwardly I am animated and jovial whilst internally my chest is crushed and I’m just biding my time to get to the end of the day. Even just writing that down feels like relief.

sparrowhawk Jealousy and anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone. I have come to realise that I'm really struggling with jealousy. I had a major life change back in April last year - I lived in a religious community for seven years and left (so left relationships, job, home, etc). I've come back to liv... View more

Hi everyone. I have come to realise that I'm really struggling with jealousy. I had a major life change back in April last year - I lived in a religious community for seven years and left (so left relationships, job, home, etc). I've come back to live with my parents and youngest sister - throughout those years I had little contact with them. It's been very difficult being back as I'm feeling a lot of jealousy and even rejection. I've experienced a lot of rejection in my life and have rarely had truly mutual relationships - a lot of people have taken advantage of me or used me. I felt a lot of rejection in the community. I came into the environment hoping it would be like family, which it should have been, but there were serious power imbalances and I didn't really have any mutual relationships within the community itself, so I often felt quite isolated. The closest relationships I had were with people who had authority over me and who abused their authority. I feel jealous seeing how close my sisters have become (talking every day on the phone, deep common interests, etc). I feel jealous at work when other team members have deep chats or do things without me, or seeing how light-hearted my boss is with other team members and how serious she can be with me (I have only been working there for four months, so know I can't expect to be integrated straight away). All of this makes me anxious, because I start telling myself that there's something wrong with me or that I'm never going to be good enough/never fit in. I hate feeling this way, as I really don't want to be jealous. I don't want to be resentful. I try and tell myself I'm happy my sisters are close, and I am. I have told them I struggle with jealousy (though I think it's hard for my family to really understand what went on in the community and what I'm dealing with now I've left) and one of them mentioned I'm too nice, that I shouldn't compare my relationships and try and forge my own. I'd really love advice if anyone has it!

Guest_342 Tailgated
  • replies: 4

Hello. I was badly tailgated on a busy highway today and I wondered if there are any tips regarding how I could have got out of the situation sooner and/or how I can de-stress. I am feeling a bit nervous still - about four hours later - and haven't b... View more

Hello. I was badly tailgated on a busy highway today and I wondered if there are any tips regarding how I could have got out of the situation sooner and/or how I can de-stress. I am feeling a bit nervous still - about four hours later - and haven't been able to handle any other stressful moments well since then (eg I got an email from a motel I stayed at saying they think I slept in both beds in my room so have to charge me another $15 a night - meaning they don't change sheets between guests if the 2nd bed doesn't look slept in - and I can't stop feeling yuck about that...)Anyway... back to the drive. A truck was going much slower than me so I moved to the right (overtaking) lane to overtake - at the time, there were no cars in that lane near me. Then as I almost passed the truck it started speeding up to the 100kmh limit. I was about to slow down to go back behind it but a 4wd had come up behind me and I couldn't see their headlights they were so close. I was going the speed limit and they were pushing me to go faster. I didn't. But I couldn't slow down or merge left (as the truck was now going the same speed as me). It continued for about 2 minutes. I was so scared. Then the limit changed to 110kmh so I quickly sped up to that and managed to get in front of the truck on the left. I was boxed in for that time and felt like my life was in serious danger. I am so upset by what the driver of the 4wd did - he could see I was in a situation I couldn't get out of. Further, the truck would have witnessed this too yet made the situation worse - and I couldn't help but assume he did it for kicks. I felt so distressed that a human can do this to another and feel okay about it.

Blue_Lou Therapy
  • replies: 1

Out of interest. Has anyone tried psychotherapy and hypnotherapy for GAD? I've seen a psychologist for a while but I'm finding I'm know longer improving. Although I am way more educated, my physical anxiety symptoms often come back with a vengeance. ... View more

Out of interest. Has anyone tried psychotherapy and hypnotherapy for GAD? I've seen a psychologist for a while but I'm finding I'm know longer improving. Although I am way more educated, my physical anxiety symptoms often come back with a vengeance. Just wondering what other techniques people have used, and what's worked for them. thanks

JEF15 Anxiety & depression
  • replies: 2

Hello Im having a very hard time. Im the lowest I have ever been and my anxiety is at its peak. My health anxiety is taking over. Im currently on a wait list for psychologists. I don't take ADs, I used to for 15 years but I came off them over 6 month... View more

Hello Im having a very hard time. Im the lowest I have ever been and my anxiety is at its peak. My health anxiety is taking over. Im currently on a wait list for psychologists. I don't take ADs, I used to for 15 years but I came off them over 6 months ago. My husband doesn't really understand MH so I don't speak to him much about it all. I just hid away and cry most days. Getting out of bed to just make breakfast is the hardest job. But I push myself to do it for my kids. My husband wants all of us to go away this weekend with his family and Im dreading it. I don't know how to function around people. I really don't know what to do. Some days I function ok, and I think "yay its a good day" And then by night time Im crying again. I just thought I'd post to chat with others who feel like this, because relating to someone always feels nice.

Moses C. Great Discovery For Anxiety & Depression
  • replies: 2

comment below if you have any questions I remember when my anxiety & mood went higher than it's normal bad level for month and i discovered it's because i was thinking too much about these negative feelings by frequently responding harshly to them. I... View more

comment below if you have any questions I remember when my anxiety & mood went higher than it's normal bad level for month and i discovered it's because i was thinking too much about these negative feelings by frequently responding harshly to them. I started ignoring the feelings and stopped negatively exploding to them within a few days my anxiety & mood went back down to it's normal bad level. Wasn't a full fix but wasn't a worse situation also lol.When you respond to a single attack of anxiety/depression by repeatedly exploding or getting extremely down from the attacks, it creates a new "worse feeling" and stick around longer for days or weeks. Try to ignore the episode by not getting extremely upset, eventually the new worse feeling loses it's power eventually and goes back to normal bad feeling (better than a worse feeling). You only need to ignore few attacks, not all.It's a hit or miss game. Sometimes you will have enough willpower/strength to ignore them. Like the bible says ignore the devil and eventually he loses alot of power.

Pyrolee Work stress, family stress, responsibilities
  • replies: 2

HiI'm under an immense amount of stress but trying my best to keep composed and getting by as happily as possible. I'm currently married and have a 3 month old. I'm just under a large amount of stress trying to provide for my family, wanting to purch... View more

HiI'm under an immense amount of stress but trying my best to keep composed and getting by as happily as possible. I'm currently married and have a 3 month old. I'm just under a large amount of stress trying to provide for my family, wanting to purchase my first home with my wife but can't due to my wifes visa restriction and the government not helping or giving us any information about it. We literally get no help from the government and keep getting answers like just wait just wait when it's been nearly 7 years with no answers or explanations. My work also is contributing to my stress, the work load and work is fine its my boss who's making my life a living hell. He's tried to dodge paying my weekly wages, gets very aggressive and abusive out of nowhere. So far my solution for work is to leave this job to deal with this stress and also don't want to work for an abusive boss, but the problem I have now is this government issue, I feel like I've been told we should only care and do things within our reach and this issue I feel like it's out of my reach due to negligence and incompetent workers which is effecting my life and my familys life, not sure what to do next. I feel like I'm letting my family down

On the Low Down Anxiety Related Involuntary Shaking/Spasms
  • replies: 3

I had my first panic attack in my early 20’s right as I walked into a job interview, it was mortifying as I couldn’t stop my entire body from shaking and could barely speak because my heart was racing so much. I’m now in my early 40’s and rely on bet... View more

I had my first panic attack in my early 20’s right as I walked into a job interview, it was mortifying as I couldn’t stop my entire body from shaking and could barely speak because my heart was racing so much. I’m now in my early 40’s and rely on beta blockers to cope with job interviews, work meetings (when I had a job) and all manner of social situations. If I don’t take these I feel unbearably self conscious and get these embarrassing involuntary neck/head spasms as if I have some form of Tourette’s, but it isn’t Tourette’s...it’s just the physiological symptoms of my anxiety and low self esteem coming out. These spasms/anxiety attacks are the bain of my existence so I have to always have beta blockers or sometimes, Benzos on hand so I don’t make a complete idiot out of myself. Basically, if I feel like people are looking at me when I’m speaking and I can’t have my hand up near my face (depending on where/how I’m standing or sitting) then my head and neck jerk around terribly. I’ve been dealing with this for so long now, that I usually know when it’s going to happen so I either avoid the situation, take beta blockers in preparation or if the attack hits me when I’m not expecting it then I find an excuse to get the hell out of there...I know this all stems from a complete lack of confidence but understanding it and it’s triggers doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. Does anyone reading this have a similar issue? Do you think it’s completely curable with therapy? I’m so tired of living like this.

Peter_A Its back
  • replies: 2

After many years of coping with anxiety reasonably well, im now feeling overwhelmed. Meeting other peoples expectations seems to be a real worry for me. Ive always worried, i think, too much about what other people think. Something as silly as sellin... View more

After many years of coping with anxiety reasonably well, im now feeling overwhelmed. Meeting other peoples expectations seems to be a real worry for me. Ive always worried, i think, too much about what other people think. Something as silly as selling my boat seems to have set me off this time. Ive had boats for about 20 years and its become a chore to look after so i thought, thats it, ill sell the boat and no more boats for me. Now im feeling anxious/guilty that im depriving my wife, mother in law and friends of somthing they enjoy. Not that we were doing it very often anyway. Ive finally told my wife how im feeling and broke down in tears. Dont want to worry her but i do want her to support me but she doesnt seem to understand. I guess someone who hasnt experienced it cant understand. I dont want to go back to the major depression i went though many years ago. Hoping i can get through this and get back to "normal"