Hi everyone,

I would love to hear your stories on how you overcome your anxiety or improved life with anxiety...

I know majority of us don't refer to these online forums when feeling great but if there are some, like myself that stay on here to help support others, please share. 😊

Hi Lind779

Great post by the way:-)

My first mega anxiety attack was in 1983. It was awful. The anxiety kept being a pain off and on until 1997 when my female GP started my on the AD's which gave me my life back! I joined the BB forums back in January to talk to other people with depression after being too alone over Christmas and just really down. The support I received then and now is wonderful. I also take a great interest in helping others if they are stuck as I was in '83

• Anxiety attack severity does decrease over time with regular counseling
• Depression can also be treated (for me my meds were a godsend)
• I have spent 99% of these 30 years working successfully..with the anxiety then the depression.
• There is always hope...there is always some peace..:-)

Kind Thoughts

Paul

Hey gorgeous lady,

Your strength to get through what you have is amazing and your courage is inspirational!

You should be extremely proud of yourself and you make me put my problems in perspective.

My partner and I have been trying to have a baby. We're both 37 and its been challenging. I was diagnosed with bad endometriosis and the only reason why I have formed extreme anxiety is due to complications from the colposcopy 5 months ago. Ever since then I have been experiencing health anxiety though the panic attacks are less extreme since being on medication.

I have now put a hold on trying for a baby until I get better mentally but it feels like a big setback.

Just taking each day as it comes 😊

Xx

Hi Paul,

Its great to hear from you and thank you for sharing your story.

As terrible as it sounds, its nice to know you're not alone. Its a terrible thing to suffer from and its crazy how our mind and body can create such thoughts and health symptoms.

Im still new to all of this and I just need to keep telling myself that I am stronger than I think and I will get through it. 😊

Just recently i have overcome an issue that had been weighing me down for quiet some time.

I was bullied a lot through highschool and had been suffering from social anxiety for a long time. There was multiple issues at play, but i wont discuss them as i want to keep this fairly short.

I met a girl this past semester at university who made me realize i didn't have to be the way i was and showed me an acceptance that i hadn't felt in a long time. I decided to write her a note discussing my situation, my past and that she had helped me through a tough time, because i knew i couldn't tell her in person.

Later she thanked me for opening up to her, but i think i came across as weird or vulnerable, and she didn't keep in contact. Im sure it was more complicated than that, but i can understand from her point of view.

I feel bad that im not sure if i conveyed the level of gratitude i wanted or if she understands the impact she had on my life, but in the end i still have come out a much better person. I've began giving up the shy, introverted me and am beginning to finally get out and enjoy life and not let my past get me down.

I feel great, and am a much better person now than i have ever been. I now look at life with a much more positive perspective, and i think that's key in being happy and finding happiness.

Thanks for reading :)

Welcome Lind779!

The thing that drives me each day is forgiving myself for not being perfect. The other is patting myself on the back regularly for the amazing job I've done fighting this insidious health issue.

I come from a childhood and adolescence of sexual, psychological and physical abuse. Then my 2 yr old son was also sexually abused. I'm 56 now. The most recent abuse was bullying in the workplace (7yrs) and a dysfunctional relationship. My brain broke.

I remind myself when I remember, to recognise who I am now compared to who I was 'then'. I've shed so many layers and found solace here on BB with a community of people also in recovery.

I guess one of my ah-ha moments, was accepting I may not be able to rid myself of all symptoms. It's been difficult to face, yet somehow a burden off my shoulders.

I've come from psychosis, delusions, suicidal inclination and self harm - to well, none of that. My confidence is rising, my self value too. I've had the courage to self assess my behaviour and beliefs; this is hard!

I'm not symptom free, but I manage them with a great Treatment Plan and wonderful clinicians. I allow myself down days to stop and recharge the batteries by sleeping, resting or sitting on my deck...with no guilt. I cry without guilt too. This is important.

Cheers...Dizzy x

Hi Lind,

I think it's great to have some positive stories on here sometimes. I'm 25, a public health student from Sydney, been dealing with anxiety/depression since I was about 8 years old. Developed PTSD from a violent assault when I was 16 that left me with 7 broken ribs, a fractured skull and jaw and a broken ankle. Finished school and went to university interspersed with long periods of overseas travel. Was diagnosed with bipolar at 19, started using drugs quite heavily at 20, developed an addiction that lasted 3.5 years. Went to rehab in 2014 for a couple of months and have been clean since.

Since I stopped using drugs daily my life has improved so much, my conditions are much more manageable and I came out much wiser than most 25 year olds. I'm finishing my masters in public health at the moment, I volunteer at an organisation that collects food for the homeless from restaurants and cafes and distributes it, I have a dog and go to the gym a lot. Yeah, life is much more together and I'm always reminded that despite the trepidations of living with mental illness, I have the capacity to recover and maintain a good headspace as long as I put the effort in. Exercise, meditation, socialising, reading are all things I use to ensure I stay grounded.

Cheers, Pat.

Kudos Pat!

What a great post! So young yet so together. I admire you for beating addiction and forging on with study.

Great job!

...Dizzy x

Hi lind779's

i just wanted to let you know your not alone in health anxiety with the panic attacks whilst trying for a Bub my heart and strength goes out to you I'm in the middle of my health anxiety right now after it had been silent for about 4 yrs now it's back and we have been trying for our baby for 5 mths now 😞 I'm awaiting my Drs appt in a weeks time to talk about steps into moving past this latest challenge the anxiety has thrown at me I just want to be happy and keep trying 😣 all the best to you and I send strength as well

Hi Dan,

Thank you for sharing your story, it means alot.

I have been doing so well until a few days ago. The dreaded anxiety has raised its ugly head hence being back on here for support.

I hope you're doing well 😊

I feel terrible for you, have you been able to conceive yet? We are still trying and need to go back to the specialist and see what the next step is.

My anxiety has been non existent for over a month up until a few days ago. I have been struggling with it and not sure what has triggered it. I haven't been eating well, as in binge eating chocolate so I decided to cut sugar out of my diet and start eating better. Im not sure if this has triggered my anxiety. Health anxiety is terrible and frustrating to have 😔

I take my hat off to you. Very inspirational and it was lovely to read.

I hope you're still doing great.

It sure is lind779's I'm sitting on the lounge right now just absolutely knackered from the stress and the worry we are yet to conceive unfortunately we have been charting cycles for 5 mths now due to my hubby works away so timing is always very difficult and of course this cycle my anxiety came back with a huge vengence and has stopped my cycle so I'm quite upset that I had let my anxiety get to a point that it would mess up my body . Good work for cutting out some sugar but do treat yourself to some choccies every now and then 😉 I need to make a life style change as in exercising and getting fresh air more often I live 3 blocks from the ocean so I really have no excuse anymore just have to keep pushing through. I know what triggers my health anxiety obviously anything due to my health a week ago I found a lump on the back of my wrist and of course all old fears and emotions flooded in and sent me on a anxiety roller coaster turns out after a check up with X-ray and ultrasound it's just a very small cyst that is quite common for woman my age 😄 so I've just put myself through a week of expecting the worst but I've got a plan with my gp to get my anxiety on the right track I know Ill always live with it I just need help in controlling it instead of controlling me. I'm always here if you need to vent about anything 😄

Naw... thanks sweety.

Trying to have a baby with anxiety is terrible. Its not fair! I'm 37 and time is ticking but I just can't concieve 😔

My anxiety is awful at the moment after being so well for a few months. I just dont have the strengh right now to fight it but I must.

I know why my anxiety is bad. I felt so sick from binge eating on chocolate and for some reason it triggered anxiety. Normally I can shake it off in a day but this is day 3 and woke up anxious today. 😢

How can one have a baby when they are struggling mentally??

Im a little lost as to where to go from here, do I go back to the docs and up my medication or change, do I ride it out in the hope I get back to normal again or do I go back to the phychologist and spend more $$$??? Rant over 😊

Hi folks,

53 year old male with lifelong anxiety and depression , diagnosed with ADHD in my early 30s and last year diagnosed type 1 bipolar and severe mania. Numerous psych admissions since last August and other health issues since as a result of my depression, Namelly unprovoked blood clots and lithium toxicity resulting in urgent hospital admissions and treatment. I've had some really dark moments which almost ended in tradgegy.

what has helped

1 Ceasing work ( we will make ends meet somehow)

2 Accepting the above

3 Changes in medication

4 ECT treatment

5 Psch hospital admissions for my own safety

6 Trying to come to terms with my condition , ceasing friendships and cutting down on stresses

7 A supportive family

8 Accepting that I will never be normal, accepting my memory loss as a result of ECT Treatment and battling through each day.

This is just a brief snapshot of what the past 12 months have been like. I'm surprised I'm still here. Grateful that I've managed to claw my way out of a hellish year. I doubt if I will ever work again. I have a loving supportive wife and 2 wonderful sons age in their early 20s.

Ladies please keep on trying to conceive. Can relate as my wife and I were on the IVF program years ago. We lost twins and triplets in the space of a year but thankfully my wife conceived via IVF and my youngest son was conceived naturally. I try and make each day a good one. It's a constant battle but we can do it. Joining beyond blue and the support here has been a godsend:)

Hi rising star,

I'm sure its just a bit of setback. I go through really unexplainable periods of anxiety where stress, new environments or even random fluxes in my anxiety can trigger some bad patches. But the more I accept these feelings the less noticeable they are so i'm sure you'll get through this rough patch stronger then you were before.

Muddllee

Hi Emma77!

Oh my goodness...how proud am I of you?! Pushing the boundaries while terrified is such a brave thing to do. I know all too well how busy places can challenge even the best of us.

My last post here to share my experience was a little while ago, and much has happened in that time. I'm a person who pushes myself too and I'm benefiting from my courage. I'm not saying I didn't feel the pangs of anxiety or panic during this time, don't get me wrong...I spent much time curled up in a ball while the anxiety med's kicked in. But I self assess after an attack to find if there's a 'trigger' I can deal with.

For instance; I received a call from someone trying to sell me insurance and allowed her to ramble on while I was walking through a shop. I told her a couple of times I was there and couldn't make a decision on the spot, but she kept on. I even told her I was having head spins and was light-headed. After I hung up, I had anxiety for hrs but worked out it was because I didn't tell her she was invasive and insensitive; I have issues with these types of situations...fear of repercussions for speaking up.

The anxiety stopped after I realised what the trigger was. I'm learning from my own experience and forging on to challenge old habitual thinking and responses. But more than this, I'm creating a new way of living my life.

I wish you well in your future endeavours also...xo

Thanks Dizzy!

I hate admitting that such simple things are a struggle, but when I recognise that they are, then I need to congratulate myself for doing them. I’ve kind of been in denial for a few months (probably still am with some stuff) but now that I’ve been questioning things, it’s amazing what voices have been in my head that I’ve been ignoring (my own self-talk voices, not actual hallucination voices). Even things that might have seemed ‘positive’. I think I’ve been telling myself that I’d challenge the anxiety when I felt better, but this is not my first time, and I know how useless that thought is (for me anyway). I won’t feel better UNTIL I challenge it. Or find a miracle cure. Which I guess means I need to go shopping every day. And not just at the front, but right down the back where the really scary panic attacks are. I know this feeling won’t last, and I need to be ok with that. But today it’s like Bring Em On, coz they’re just panic, and I’ve dealt with worse! And hopefully each panic attack that I face and defeat lessens the impact of the inevitable next one.

I don't feel that I have a lot of triggers. It's more that I tell myself if I do something, then I will feel bad. And that usually comes true, so I can't / don't do that thing. It's kind of empowering saying yeah, I felt like crap, but I did it coz I could, and now I have a choice about what to have for dinner tonight!

Wow Emma, you're extremely brave and you empower me to keep fighting!

Being pregnant is harder than I could ever have imagined when you have anxiety. I knew I would experience anxious feelings but not extreme anxiety. Its like all my hard work in the last 6 months has gone out the window and Im back to square one!

Lets just say, this week has been dreadful and now worried if I can physically and mentally carry this child.

Im going back to basics and at least the last couple of days have been bearable and getting a little more sleep.

Just need to be told that this is normal and that everything will be ok 😔

What a wonderful thread?! LOVE the concept 😊

My positive story is a simple one: my future

From this moment onwards are words that I swear by.

Dottie x

Quiette - that is so awesome that you are able to do that and bring yourself back down to ground. Well done. The more that you do that, the better you will become at it.

Dottie - that is brilliance - "my future". Outstanding positivity!!!