Living in a world of Anxiety

[Living_in_a_world_of_anxi]

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, approximately 45% of Australians aged between 16-85 will experience some kind of mental health condition (Anxiety and Depression). For some people they are able to openly discuss what is going on in their life, which is very courageous, but for others they simply hide it away and no one knows about it, which is very easy to do when you just smile it off and pretend everything is fine. Im a very personal person and don't like to share most things in my life, however, in saying that, i am wondering whether if i let my guard down and share my personal experience, whether it will help me at all. This is not something i am doing for sympathy, i am not that kind of person, i am just wondering whether if i share my story whether it will help anyone else who is silently struggling. 

 For around three years i have been struggling with severe anxiety and a bit of depression. It has undoubtedly made my life so difficult and determined what i can and cannot do everyday. There has been some really tough times where i couldn't even force myself to get out of bed and have had to just lay there all day and cry about it because i didn't feel strong enough to complete the simplest of activities. I have removed myself from many social situations because i either have a fear that the person i am meeting with secretly doesn't like me or even the fact that the group of people i might have social drinks with may stay out after 12am... Apparently that is an OCD thing that i have chosen a time to be home and if i am not in bed by then i freak out that i won't get enough sleep. It does sound silly when you say it like that but when you are actually living it, it is very real. I have a few lovely friends who invite me places regularly, which sometimes i deny the invitation and make up any excuse under the sun so that i don't have to go, not for the reason that i don't want to meet them, but for some reason my brain has made up that is restricting me from doing so (because something bad might happen). 

 It took me a long time to come to terms that i had anxiety, i think my doctor told me about 6-8 months before i could admit it to myself that she thought i did. I think i was scared of admitting that there was something wrong because it is classed as a 'Mental Health Condition', but it was the best thing i could have done for myself. I am now seeing a psychologist and she is helping me to try and get my life back on track!

[Guest_1055]

Hello, Would it be alright to give you a welcome hug?

Thank you for letting your guard down and opening up your heart. I know how hard that can be, because I am one off those people who kept things to myself, also. But since joining beyond blue, and sharing a little bit about myself, and being able to read other people's experiences..... Well it has helped me a lot, so it may help you as well. For me reading about the struggles of others, makes you feel not so alone, or something. It has also helped me to take my eyes of myself, and sort off care about others.

I can relate to a lot of what you are experiencing as well. And I know how hard it can be to force yourself out of bed, as well.

So thank you for sharing a bit about you.

With hugs

Shelley anne xxxx

[Chicken_Wings]

You're right, it can be daunting to share your story but you've found the best place to do it.

I know for me it's been helpful to to get things down on paper so to speak.
You know that you are not alone in how you feel and you'll find plenty of people here to help if you want or just listen if you need it.