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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. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety 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 you 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 worthile 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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Nette Social Anxiety tips
  • replies: 2

I am 62 and have recognized that my anxiety over these menopause years has escalated and I find myself only able to maintain certain friends mostly who I have known for a long time. I have recently had to retire and its now more than ever that I need... View more

I am 62 and have recognized that my anxiety over these menopause years has escalated and I find myself only able to maintain certain friends mostly who I have known for a long time. I have recently had to retire and its now more than ever that I need to make new friends. I'm so caution not to invade their family time. I have no children or companion. I need ideas of how I can safely make new friends. Recently some of my older friends have moved away due to my inability to socialise normally. I need some tips, please.

Jessksch I am starting a new job, and deathly anxious and afraid, could use some encouragement?
  • replies: 3

This is basically my dream job, but it requires to learn a new software and I am so afraid of not being able to learn it fast enough... I just want to relax and be positive but all I think of is this event is coming up and I can't relax the weeks I h... View more

This is basically my dream job, but it requires to learn a new software and I am so afraid of not being able to learn it fast enough... I just want to relax and be positive but all I think of is this event is coming up and I can't relax the weeks I have off now before I start...I could use some encouragement or some words of advice to calm down maybe?

62_63 Losing sleep
  • replies: 2

I'm having trouble getting to sleep and also waking up in a fright feeling like I'm not breathing properly causing panic/anxiety. I've had medication from my doctor but I don't like taking them as I get constipated and also don't think it has helped ... View more

I'm having trouble getting to sleep and also waking up in a fright feeling like I'm not breathing properly causing panic/anxiety. I've had medication from my doctor but I don't like taking them as I get constipated and also don't think it has helped the root cause...

ihateocd OCD.. Nightmare
  • replies: 2

People think washing is ocd. Pretty much destroyed my life.

People think washing is ocd. Pretty much destroyed my life.

CCR Relationship Anxiety Attacks
  • replies: 2

Struggling to understand my anxiety. Probably had mild social anxiety for 30 years but it mostly surrounds relationships (I have an anxious attachment style). Anxiety dramatically escalated after a horrible narcissistic marriage which ended 8 years a... View more

Struggling to understand my anxiety. Probably had mild social anxiety for 30 years but it mostly surrounds relationships (I have an anxious attachment style). Anxiety dramatically escalated after a horrible narcissistic marriage which ended 8 years ago. Since then had 2 fairly short relationships with a borderline personality disorder and a severe avoidant attachment style - not surprising neither of those worked out. Have been seeing someone for 6 months. Very calm, kind, gentle soul. We are both so happy with each other and want this to last long term.My anxiety has been triggered by little things not working out as planned.I overreact, even when I know - logically - that it's no big deal and these things happen. My mind and body spirals into panic and I find it hard to hide my reaction or override the physical reaction happening. It is causing problems in our relationship - my partner feels like I'm being selfish/misunderstanding/overreactive etc. (and rightly so). The honeymoon phase seems to be wearing off and I know I'm the cause of this demise.In turn, this is causing me greater anxiety, because I know my irrational reactions are causing a rift in our beautiful relationship. I don't know how to stop it and I'm panicking...I've been really open with my partner about it, and he's really understanding. But I want to get it under control as my anxiety around our relationship potentially failing is worse than ever.

Ro97bert Boss says I'm incompetent
  • replies: 2

Hi there, I am a 27 year old male who just started an electrician apprenticeship in Brisbane. When I was hired I was told I would be on a 3 month probation period before I was fully accepted to do my apprenticeship. It takes about 4 years to complete... View more

Hi there, I am a 27 year old male who just started an electrician apprenticeship in Brisbane. When I was hired I was told I would be on a 3 month probation period before I was fully accepted to do my apprenticeship. It takes about 4 years to complete and so far I have done 8 weeks now. I have been working hard and trying to be as helpful as I can to the tradesman I work under. Yesterday I stopped into my boss's office to ask him how I was doing and if I needed to improve anything. He told me I was incompetent and that this job is not for me. I felt hurt and disheartened. I dropped out of FIFO work to do a 10 week course in TAFE. I applied to so many apprentice jobs and none got back to me. I then got hired by a company that does electrician and aircon. I worked in the aircon side for about 3 months before chasing up the electrical boss and urging him to give me a chance which is how I've ended up here. I overhead workmates talking that they are firing people at the moment because work is quiet. I plan to work twice as hard for the remainder 3 weeks I have. But cannot help but feel hopeless and defeated. It is my dream career to become an electrician but hearing these words from my boss who is a master electrician has made me feel like it is not possible. What should I do? Thank you.

jemma09 OCD and intrusive/aggressive/taboo thoughts - I feel like this is not talked about a lot?
  • replies: 15

Hi everyone, I hope you are having a peaceful day I noticed this anxiety section of the forum says we can also talk about OCD. I heard about intrusive, aggressive or taboo thoughts associated with OCD only maybe a year or two ago after reading about ... View more

Hi everyone, I hope you are having a peaceful day I noticed this anxiety section of the forum says we can also talk about OCD. I heard about intrusive, aggressive or taboo thoughts associated with OCD only maybe a year or two ago after reading about it on some article. I never knew it was something to do with OCD. I remember reading one person explain that they found a lot of peace when they accepted their thoughts were in fact intrusive and did not define them as a person or what they wanted in life. I wish this was talked about more. Does anyone experience these? I never thought there was a name for it. I would have the most random thought just present itself in my head. (It's not so bad now after learning it is part of OCD, I thought I was a horrible person. I couldn't understand why it was happening.) A thought that might be intrusive or taboo and something that I would never do. Sometimes my mind would say to me - 'what if you did this?' 'or what if you were this?' usually referring to negative connotations. It would make me feel horrific and within myself because I knew I am not someone who would do any of the things that were being asked of me. These thoughts were always against my very soul and being and nothing like who I am as a person. I felt so alone and didn't understand why my brain was doing this. It would upset me so much each time. But finding out other people experienced it too was so comforting. I've never talked to a therapist about it because I was so worried I would be labelled as insane or as someone who would commit crimes or be a danger in society. Thank you so much for reading and listening

Mindful_Momma Has anyone been successful with a Return to Work SA claim for anxiety caused by the job?
  • replies: 10

Hi everyone, Thanks for letting me post on this. I have worked for a great organization for the past 19 months. Even though the org is great, unfortunately, my role with the org is completely unique - wearing 5 different hats in a part time role. Wit... View more

Hi everyone, Thanks for letting me post on this. I have worked for a great organization for the past 19 months. Even though the org is great, unfortunately, my role with the org is completely unique - wearing 5 different hats in a part time role. Within two weeks of starting, there was a traumatic event that I have not recovered from. The role itself is extremely stressful even without having that traumatic event, and because it is so different from others, my peers and bosses are not compassionate. The bosses only see their specific role and KPIs without considering that I need to keep 5 balls in the air at any one time. They frequently schedule mandatory meetings that overlap or happen out of work hours. It seems like the only time the CEO and my main boss calls is when I am off the clock, and these end up taking an hour or so. In June, I had my first ever anxiety attack, and it happened at the job in the corporate office which is interstate. I saw a GP who diagnosed the anxiety attack caused by work, and I told my main supervisor about it and what spurred it on. I also asked for support so that I could succeed. He seemed supportive on the outside, and even agreed to pay some of the hours that I was regularly working. The following month, I attended another meeting in the corporate office and had a second anxiety attack after a consultant said to the group that if we weren't in-stride with our jobs that we were going to have physical and mental health problems and ultimately risk death from work. I had developed both anxiety and physical manifestations as a result, and I almost harmed myself accidentally during the meeting. I escalated the concerns to one of my other bosses about how my role wasn't sustainable, and she said that they had 10 people in the role over the past 12 years and that nobody was successful in the role. I escalated it again to the CEO who said that my wellbeing was the most important and that she accepted by resignation. I DIDN'T RESIGN! My main boss called an hour later and asked for my end date, and I once again said that I didn't resign. I put in a worker's compensation claim with a law firm and have since had a private investigator call me and have a psychiatric exam next week. I also am seeing a psychologist and my GP regularly. I've bee off work for the past month, and am very anxious about whether the claim will be accepted. Is there a loophole that will make this rejected?

Guest_42214218 Homeowner nightmare
  • replies: 1

Anyone is having anxiety over their home with all possibilities that could go wrong?

Anyone is having anxiety over their home with all possibilities that could go wrong?

RCWolf Anxiety after being hacked
  • replies: 3

Back in November. I was compromised by a virus and had a social media account stolen since then I have felt like I’m being watched, even though I’ve taken every single step and measure to resecure everything but I’m so scared that this person will sh... View more

Back in November. I was compromised by a virus and had a social media account stolen since then I have felt like I’m being watched, even though I’ve taken every single step and measure to resecure everything but I’m so scared that this person will show up somewhere else, continue to have nightmares Just don’t know how to cope or deal with it every DM ping increase my heart rate…I keep trying to convince myself that I’m back in control but I just don’t know what to trust…i don’t know how to move past this without looking over my shoulder