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

All discussions

CountingCrows1 DPDR Depersonalisation Derealisation at University
  • replies: 1

This is a rant because I can't tell anyone in my life what I am going through, so I want to write it here. The rant is directed at the teachers who judge me at university, because I occasionally appear a tiny bit abnormal or spaced out. Because I hav... View more

This is a rant because I can't tell anyone in my life what I am going through, so I want to write it here. The rant is directed at the teachers who judge me at university, because I occasionally appear a tiny bit abnormal or spaced out. Because I have DPDR and I am managing my debilitating and frightening symptoms while trying to appear normal in conversation. Masking. Depersonalisation disorder is a hidden illness and it is frustrating to have this through university because I can't tell the teachers about it due to stigma. They think I am 'only suffering from anxiety' and judge me because "they have anxiety too". DPDR fluctuated with stress level. Fact. Imagine being in final year and juggling a lot of competing priorities - it would cause a lot of stress, particularly if there were also life stressors and fatigue involved, correct? So it is logical to suggest that the symptoms of DPDR increase during this time also, making it nearly impossible for me to navigate my studies at no fault of my own. This is NOT my fault and I am tired of teaching staff treating my like I am lazy because I appear normal sometimes, or treating me like I am incompetent because I appear anxious and scattered sometimes. The anxious and scattered version of me is the DPDR me. It is NOT an accurate representation of who I am in the real world, when I don't have all of these stressors happening. It is NOT an accurate representation of my intellect, or my academic capabilities and it is NOT an accurate representation of my attitude towards my degree or the university. I care very much about my degree and my future career. That's a part of the reason why I am so stressed. Because I actually care. I am NOT lazy, incompetent, unstable, slow or stupid. That is the DPDR you are judging, not ME. I have a hidden disability - a legitimate disability! One that makes every day a living hell and I am in SO much pain, trying my best to get through each day and then smile and have conversations with everyone as though I am fine at university. I am not fine. If you only knew what it was like under this high level of symptoms, you would fully understand and be supportive. You would be crying after one day of this hell if you felt it. I can barely function each day right now. If I make it to university I only speak with teachers the whole week. So thanks for discriminating against me and making me feel ridiculous and stupid in the only interactions with people that I can manage to have. Cheers.

plushelephant Anxiety and DPDR help
  • replies: 6

Hi, this is my first post on here. I struggle with DPDR and anxiety, but the past few days I just haven't been able to get over my negative thoughts and existential anxiety. It's like I'm scared to be alive, but also scared to die at the same time. I... View more

Hi, this is my first post on here. I struggle with DPDR and anxiety, but the past few days I just haven't been able to get over my negative thoughts and existential anxiety. It's like I'm scared to be alive, but also scared to die at the same time. I also keep having really intrusive thoughts of 'how am I even alive', 'why do we live', 'what's the point of feeling good'. It's hard to remain positive because I just don't feel real or alive, and I'm scared that I'll never feel better, but then I get scared that I'll feel better and actually have to live my life. Anyways, I guess I just need help with these thoughts because they're making me feel pretty depressed.

Alel Afraid anxiety will stay for the rest of my life.
  • replies: 2

I was diagnosed recently with severe anxiety and depression. I'm scared that no matter how much I overcome my anxiety and depression, it'll still be there. Even if it won't be as bad, just the thought that it'll be there forever, makes me feel broken... View more

I was diagnosed recently with severe anxiety and depression. I'm scared that no matter how much I overcome my anxiety and depression, it'll still be there. Even if it won't be as bad, just the thought that it'll be there forever, makes me feel broken beyond repair. I don't want to spend the rest of my life adjusting to the anxiety and depression to fight it. Fighting it everyday for the rest of my life seems exhausting. I'm also deadly afraid that I won't be able to handle it and go crazy one day. I'm so scared of becoming a lunatic or so messed up. How do I live with this? I don't want to be conscious of it forever that it drives me crazy. Please help.

stell_a178 Feeling Lonely in a Sharehouse
  • replies: 5

I recently moved out of home at 20 into a share house and I’m feeling really lonely. It’s pretty ironic because I left my mums house a week ago because it was a toxic environment, but moving has made me feel even more isolated. I live with 5 other pe... View more

I recently moved out of home at 20 into a share house and I’m feeling really lonely. It’s pretty ironic because I left my mums house a week ago because it was a toxic environment, but moving has made me feel even more isolated. I live with 5 other people and they are insanely quiet. I wake up; silence. I go to bed; silence. It kind of creeps me out a bit, even though I am a shy introverted person, hearing nothing has been freaking me out.It has also made me feel quite lonely, especially on top of being away from my siblings and mother (even if we don’t have the best relationship). I don’t have any friends and now I hardly ever see my family, so I am having a hard time coping. I see a psychologist once a month but it’s becoming too expensive. I don’t know what to do because I’ve already signed a lease and ideally I don’t want to go back to my mothers house. Any advice or support is appreciated.

justinian_ii Anxiety over a negative experience at work
  • replies: 3

It has been several years since this incident but yet I cannot seem to shake the anxiety and worry that has plagued me since. It all happened a few years ago when I had decided to leave a company I had worked at for over 6 years across two continents... View more

It has been several years since this incident but yet I cannot seem to shake the anxiety and worry that has plagued me since. It all happened a few years ago when I had decided to leave a company I had worked at for over 6 years across two continents. At the time of my resignation I was so elated and happy to leave that toxic environment that in an attempt to be proactive I had made a copy of data to facilitate my handovers (a common practice when I was working for the same company in a different part of the world) and also to retain various sources of personal information that had been stored on the laptop over time due to taxes and etc. This led to a whole complex situation (disciplinary hearings) where I was accused of multiple things, and there were attempts to invalidate my rights to work in Australia. To add to this, they seized my hard drive in question that had my personal data along with the data I had made a copy of to do my hand overs. I had to get lawyers involved and was in the end told to compromise and sign their expectations. In the end, I never actually got to tell my side of the story because they kept changing what they were accusing me off. Since then I have had bad anxiety and sometimes get panic attacks that just stop me from moving forward with my life. I keep conjuring situations in my mind where my previous company is out there just bad mouthing me to everyone and destroying my reputation. Which in my line of work is important because I have to deal with multiple people and build connections.

AnonymousOtter Anxiety and Eye Floaters
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone,Struggling to come to terms with having eye floaters. I’ve had them for about a year now (30yo) and my anxiety hasn’t gotten any better as they progress/change. All doctors say my eyes are healthy and they’re apart of life but it’s all I ... View more

Hi everyone,Struggling to come to terms with having eye floaters. I’ve had them for about a year now (30yo) and my anxiety hasn’t gotten any better as they progress/change. All doctors say my eyes are healthy and they’re apart of life but it’s all I think about every second of the day. I’m becoming lonely and slowly isolating myself from others. I don’t like to go outside in fear I’ll see them. I’ve been back/forth with doctors but as I’m young, there isn’t any treatment. I just want to return to my happy self and not focus on them all day long.

AYU_227 Vertigo caused by health anxiety
  • replies: 3

I am having severe vertigo problems since 2 months. It always feels like I am floating & walking on marshmallows. Every single day it’s the same. I first started having these when I had a severe panic attack. It stopped for few months, but it again c... View more

I am having severe vertigo problems since 2 months. It always feels like I am floating & walking on marshmallows. Every single day it’s the same. I first started having these when I had a severe panic attack. It stopped for few months, but it again came back. I don’t know what to do. Has anyone experienced something like this before? Or does anyone have any solutions on how I can stop this vertigo. It is affecting me very badly. I went to the gp twice but still no hope. I am scared to get a MRI since I don’t know what will be the result & my health anxiety is making it worse.

Alel Afraid of hot weather and summer
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I panic during hot weather because I experience anxiety symptoms and then my overthinking and panic makes my anxiety even worse. I have a fear of fainting, vomiting and dizziness. So hot weather is the worst. It's also really hard for me to go to sle... View more

I panic during hot weather because I experience anxiety symptoms and then my overthinking and panic makes my anxiety even worse. I have a fear of fainting, vomiting and dizziness. So hot weather is the worst. It's also really hard for me to go to sleep and stay asleep. Are there any tips for anxiety during hot weather or summer? Please.

ThomasJakeLim Post Covid readaption anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi all being an introvert, I struggle mentally to readapt. My productivity was at its best during the covid period but now, I really struggle with crowd and in person distractions at work. Most of the time, I just want people to leave me alone as I j... View more

Hi all being an introvert, I struggle mentally to readapt. My productivity was at its best during the covid period but now, I really struggle with crowd and in person distractions at work. Most of the time, I just want people to leave me alone as I just want to get the job done and go home! Not sure if there are others out there who feels the same?

Guest_1282 Anxious about going back to work- copping a big whack from people there
  • replies: 3

Hey folks Yeah look just anxious about going back to work, all just based on the fact couldn't catch up with someone yesterday. Just cos of medication side effects like really what else does that have to say, to mean its not personal to this person? ... View more

Hey folks Yeah look just anxious about going back to work, all just based on the fact couldn't catch up with someone yesterday. Just cos of medication side effects like really what else does that have to say, to mean its not personal to this person? I dont get it and now it will spiral and become a big thing- where I'm the perpetrator, and they're the victim. As is always the case with me, even when looking to avoid confrontation to the point of avoiding emotions aha. Which to get back on the point of this section of the forums- does cause anxiety