Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

Pinned discussions

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.

All discussions

Pink grapefruit Feeling scared
  • replies: 8

Hi. I feel very scared of what might happen in the future lately especially when I think about our mortgage. The interest rate keeps going up and some unexpected things have happened during our housing project. I understand bad things could happen in... View more

Hi. I feel very scared of what might happen in the future lately especially when I think about our mortgage. The interest rate keeps going up and some unexpected things have happened during our housing project. I understand bad things could happen in life but it is hard to manage my mental status. Could anyone, who had or have such experiences, share how you coped or are coping? I want to learn from it.

Ardyy Asbestos anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi guys. Recently I went to an abandoned house with my friends. It was a bit broken down and had yellow fluff on the ground. I was only in there for around 30 seconds and I had my t shirt over my mouth. I am worried that there was asbestos in there. ... View more

Hi guys. Recently I went to an abandoned house with my friends. It was a bit broken down and had yellow fluff on the ground. I was only in there for around 30 seconds and I had my t shirt over my mouth. I am worried that there was asbestos in there. And I can't sleep because I am very worried that I have taken in some asbestos. We didn't stir it up. I am just worried. If you guys could give me some information that would be great. I am a teenager and I am really worried. I have looked up the consequences of breathing in asbestos and it makes me scared.

srh08 Worried
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone! I have been getting panic attacks a lot lately and stressing over little things and then overthinking them and stressing myself out. I got prescribed anti- depressants but got off them because they were making me feel even worse. I’m wor... View more

Hi everyone! I have been getting panic attacks a lot lately and stressing over little things and then overthinking them and stressing myself out. I got prescribed anti- depressants but got off them because they were making me feel even worse. I’m worried about why my body feels different even after I have a panic attack it’s hard to explain but like my heart pounds and hurts and I’ve been stressing that it’s not normal and that somethings wrong with me.

Janet66 Medication
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I have been prescribed anti-depressant medication today. I have taken 1 this morning and I feel nauseous and a bit panicky as I have anxiety. Is anyone else experiencing this with medication? Thanks

Hi all, I have been prescribed anti-depressant medication today. I have taken 1 this morning and I feel nauseous and a bit panicky as I have anxiety. Is anyone else experiencing this with medication? Thanks

white knight Living in fear or fearless living?
  • replies: 2

At one stage, around 1987 following a stress related workplace incident, wrong diagnosis of heart attack (panic) and ongoing therapy, I was fearful of crowds, shopping centres, cinemas, news of the day and airplanes. That's my list, others would have... View more

At one stage, around 1987 following a stress related workplace incident, wrong diagnosis of heart attack (panic) and ongoing therapy, I was fearful of crowds, shopping centres, cinemas, news of the day and airplanes. That's my list, others would have their own. But one fear that dominated all the rest was - people, specifically narcissistic, aggressive types. Working for 3 years in a jail might not have helped though with my bipolar, HSP (Highly sensitive person), dysthymia etc I might have been the same regardless. My therapist identified worry as being inground and that was fuelled by intrusive thoughts of fearful events that rarely ever occurred. This led him to teach me what was pivotal in my recovery of anxiety - the ability to separate realistic and non realistic thoughts. Examples- Crowds. Nasty people. The origin of this was identified as likely being my mothers BPD condition. So, to learn to not discount nastiness from someone and give them the benefit of the doubt, another chance, was significant as often I found those people nasty with one response only, not all the time.Airplanes was easy. Dont fly. Fear of getting in troubleOther fearsCatastrophising of thoughts is a difficult process to eliminate. Each time you have such thoughts ask yourself- is that thought realistic? Is there any likelihood this crowd will turn violent? Is not flying detrimental to my life? Do I need to know what I'm going to say if an ex prisoner recognises me? Or just being friendly is enough? Some unrealistic intrusive thoughts can become real however, how real? Often, no, so after an event that is rare, place it straight back into the "rare" pigeon hole. That's realistic. Mind games created by ourselves isn't beneficial. Fear, anxiety, intrusive thoughts all need to be assessed if they are realistic or not. https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/anxiety/anxiety-how-l-eliminated-it/td-p/183873 That's one area where therapy helped me. A trained therapist, or other professional medical person can work wonders. This forum available 24/7/365 can give assistance in a supportive role by those that have experienced the symptoms. TonyWK

ree1610 Anxiety about alcohol and partner drinking
  • replies: 8

long story short my dad was an alcoholic and abused my mum for a long time from when I was 3 years old up until they split up when I was 8 . Before they split up my mum tried to end her life . I’ve come to find that I really don’t like alcohol and th... View more

long story short my dad was an alcoholic and abused my mum for a long time from when I was 3 years old up until they split up when I was 8 . Before they split up my mum tried to end her life . I’ve come to find that I really don’t like alcohol and those I love drinking . My partners been with me since 2016 and has respected that . We moved close to his family now and where his mates live . Now he obviously wants to go and drink with his mates on their birthdays etc and special occasions . In my head I know this is still him compromising and I really do appreciate it but I’m finding it hard to cope with him even doing that . I try to talk to him about it but he says that he just wants to be able to do normal things and why should he have to suffer for something he hasn’t done and that it affects him too which I feel terrible about daily . I’m also on medication for my anxiety every night and have been for a long time . I’m beginning trauma counselling soon to hopefully help but I guess what I’m asking is is it selfish of me to not want him to ? And to really not want him around that environment ? It just stresses me to the max and I end up having a panic attack over it

SherlockandWatson96 My heart won’t stop pounding
  • replies: 6

Has anyone ever felt your anxiety disappear but your heart continues to pound? This has never happened to me before. It pounds pretty much all the time, even when I’m going to sleep.

Has anyone ever felt your anxiety disappear but your heart continues to pound? This has never happened to me before. It pounds pretty much all the time, even when I’m going to sleep.

Jess13 Waiting for biopsy results
  • replies: 1

My partner was told he has a mole that is cancer. We are currently waiting to see what type & he also had a biopsy from his lymph node to see if it has spread. Get the results if it’s terminal ‘next week sometime’well this is the worst scenario for m... View more

My partner was told he has a mole that is cancer. We are currently waiting to see what type & he also had a biopsy from his lymph node to see if it has spread. Get the results if it’s terminal ‘next week sometime’well this is the worst scenario for me, here I am meant to be strong for my amazing partner who is always there for me but instead I am debilitated by the wait. I can’t work, eat, sleep or function in any way. Nothing distracts me as the anxiety has taken over

Hope74 Overwhelm
  • replies: 6

Feeling so overwhelmed.alone and unsupported.Taking small steps is not producing required outcomes .Stubborn people causing roadblocks .meantime g to run away….. but …. runnkng away won’t solve anything . Problems still there if you come back and res... View more

Feeling so overwhelmed.alone and unsupported.Taking small steps is not producing required outcomes .Stubborn people causing roadblocks .meantime g to run away….. but …. runnkng away won’t solve anything . Problems still there if you come back and resurface if you don’t ! some sort of normalcy would be nice but who even knows what that is ????

Lui Mental health in the workplace
  • replies: 13

Just wondering, how do people handle mental health issues with getting a job? I have anxiety, depression, inattentive ADHD. Should i tell a new employer about these issues? At what stage should I tell them? What if they ask?

Just wondering, how do people handle mental health issues with getting a job? I have anxiety, depression, inattentive ADHD. Should i tell a new employer about these issues? At what stage should I tell them? What if they ask?