Immediate support
Immediate support

Anxiety

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

Start a discussion

FAQ

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

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

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

View the guidelines
Jump to
Start a discussion

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

Start a discussion

ELLMA Anxiety symptom: Tingles and Prickles - Does anyone else get them?
  • replies: 4

Hi,I am new here. For a few weeks, I have been experiencing a new physical symptom of my anxiety that feels like prickling and tingling in my legs and arms. Sometimes it feels like a burning sensation. Usually when I try to sleep or rest, they show u... View more

Hi,I am new here. For a few weeks, I have been experiencing a new physical symptom of my anxiety that feels like prickling and tingling in my legs and arms. Sometimes it feels like a burning sensation. Usually when I try to sleep or rest, they show up. When I am distracted or not thinking about them, they tend to go away until the next attack. But I can feel them everyday and for hours. Will this ever go away? Does anyone else have this and how do you cope with it?It's uncomfortable and unsettling to me... Thank you all

LaTeRaLuS777 The Dark Spiral of OCD and Bipolar
  • replies: 82

Hi, first time posting on here (or anywhere for that matter about this stuff)... I have OCD and Bipolar Disorder. As i sit typing I am aware of every noise in the house and outside being "They/Them" coming to get me. My OCD has been leading me down d... View more

Hi, first time posting on here (or anywhere for that matter about this stuff)... I have OCD and Bipolar Disorder. As i sit typing I am aware of every noise in the house and outside being "They/Them" coming to get me. My OCD has been leading me down dark rabbit holes of thoughts and images recently (in a self-destructive spiral) and I couldnt take it any more. I chatted with one of the BeyondBlue people who helped me to seek out a positive distraction for the night so I joined this community and started to type. For me OCD is like a little urge going "just one more dark thought, just until midnight, then i will let you go...." but it never stops! It is never satisfied until I feel like giving up and taking one way out or another (neither are good options by the way!). I am a good person with a good heart and I know i would never do these things yet that spiral is so strong, so desperate and so persistent that I fear I may not be strong enough to fight it. Seeing others going through this same process makes me feel like im not alone, yet i fear that "They/Them" would have me locked away because of the "Darkness" within me. When I was younger (18-19 yrs old) I first experienced this dark spiral and it terrified me so much that I contemplated suicide so that I could never hurt anyone like that! Thankfully I am alive but the OCD "Darkness" remains and it is a constant battle. How do you fight what you cannot see/touch/destroy? Im sorry for this stream of consciousness post but im really trying to convey my feelings as best as i can. Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for (hopefully) accepting me as I am. (ps: I am seeing a psych and I am medicated and for those two things i am forever grateful).

HisOwn VERY ANXIOUS ABOUT BLOOD TEST RESULTS FOR ADULT DAUGHTER
  • replies: 6

Hello all..I am seeking support. I have quite severe health anxiety/PTSD specifically related to past trauma involving my dad getting bad news diagnosis after getting blood tests and other medical tests done as well as other personal traumas that per... View more

Hello all..I am seeking support. I have quite severe health anxiety/PTSD specifically related to past trauma involving my dad getting bad news diagnosis after getting blood tests and other medical tests done as well as other personal traumas that personally happened to me at the same time - going through traumatic sickness in a pregnancy at same time and then medical scares for myself. This was all nearly 24 years ago but I am still greatly triggered by any medical tests. So my adult daughter who has a disability and I care for full-time had some blood tests done recently, which is a particularly huge trigger for me. I was hoping that the doctor would not call her back after her blood tests done but she has called back and this has REALLY tipped me over into full on anxiety now and my anxiety is stressing my daughter out now. I am not 100% sure but the appointment is possibly going to be because of low iron and/or low Vitamin D because she has had this in past because her diet not the best but I won't actually know until the appointment. So I am wondering how on earth I am going to be able to sleep tonight and get through the next 24 hours. I need to try to stay calm for my daughter's sake but it is near impossible at moment. So any tips/strategies about how to handle this will be so greatly appreciated.

Sophiebeth Bipolar partner anxiety
  • replies: 2

I’m hoping there might be some help from other partners of bipolar out there?? I always suffer really bad anxiety when my partner is on his high. He is having his ‘best life’ and I’m having my worst. He doesn’t seem to notice his arrogance, his loss ... View more

I’m hoping there might be some help from other partners of bipolar out there?? I always suffer really bad anxiety when my partner is on his high. He is having his ‘best life’ and I’m having my worst. He doesn’t seem to notice his arrogance, his loss of compassion, rebellious, is never home and becomes extremely selfish to the point that I feel extremely alone and unloved; only to then change (he is seasonal!) in the winter and become his beautiful loving self again. I just find it so hard and feel like I’m living with two different people. I love him to bits but don’t know how I can keep this up forever. We’ve been together three years now. Are there others out there who have come out the side of this? And how??

JWolf17 Socially isolated and feeling completely helpless to change
  • replies: 2

Hi all. I have some thoughts that I just need to get out there. To get right into it, I'm 25 now, and I'd say I haven't really had an irl friend in about 5 years. Right now, I have one friend who I met online pretty recently who I talk to semi-freque... View more

Hi all. I have some thoughts that I just need to get out there. To get right into it, I'm 25 now, and I'd say I haven't really had an irl friend in about 5 years. Right now, I have one friend who I met online pretty recently who I talk to semi-frequently, and that's it. I often feel really alone, but the idea of meeting people and forming friendships makes me incredibly uncomfortable. The same applies to relationships, to an even greater extent. I've never been in a relationship, and although it's something I want to experience it also terrifies me to even think about. I just don't see it as even being a possibility. My day consists of going to work at a job I don't think I'm very good at, getting home, cooking, and spending the rest of the night with video games, finding something to watch, or mindlessly scrolling through social media. And I just don't see how anything changes. My life feels completely stagnant, but any thought of doing anything to change it, or even taking the slightest step out of my comfort zone makes me so anxious that it just feels impossible to do anything about it. Having done some reading lately, I came across Avoidant Personality Disorder, and everything I read about it seemed to match up with my current experience. In basically all situations where I'm faced with short term anxiety, I'll avoid it even if it has bad consequences long term. I feel completely inadequate socially, I have absolutely no confidence to do anything about it. It just feels like a hopeless cause. I've been thinking that I need to start seeing a therapist or mental health professional at some point, but the process to get that started is really daunting. I moved to a new state for work at the start of this year, so I don't have a regular GP, and finding one new one is a daunting task. On top of that, working 8:30-5 on weekdays, it just feels like it'd be a struggle to even find time to regularly see a therapist. It's just confusing and anxiety inducing to even think about.If anyone here has any advice I'd really appreciate it. Thank you so much!

SherlockandWatson96 My friend and I have an ongoing issue and it’s causing my some anxiety. What should I do?
  • replies: 3

So this is pretty long so bear with me. My best friend got into a relationship a couple of months ago and at the beginning I was very happy for her because she’s been wanting to be in a relationship for so long. Now I won’t get into everything becaus... View more

So this is pretty long so bear with me. My best friend got into a relationship a couple of months ago and at the beginning I was very happy for her because she’s been wanting to be in a relationship for so long. Now I won’t get into everything because we would be here forever. But after a little bit I started having issues with her girlfriend. The main reason was that I had just come out with being a victim of sexual assault as a child and every waking moment they were together they were they were intimate in some way or another and it made me so uncomfortable that I wanted to tear my skin off. Now i completely understand that this is my issue and I only asked if they could keep it to a minimum around me and obviously I gave them enough time to be together so they could be intimate. Now this conversation with my friend went pretty badly. She went right on the defensive and basically guilt tripped me into teller her girlfriend so that she would understand. Now I understand that was really not nice and I should have stood up for myself. I also went through a bit of a depression because I felt like one of my best friends just chucked me away after I came out with something that hurt me so much. I’ve since minimised my friendship with her so that my expectations aren’t as high. Now onto the most recent event. My friends girlfriend has just continuously made me feel uncomfortable in my own home (my friend and I live together) and it hit a point where she stayed over for 4 days and I just couldn’t handle it.

HamSolo01 Anxiety and intrusive thoughts
  • replies: 6

I've realised that these days I am always thinking bad things will happen. Whether it is bad things coming as a result of something that has happened pr will happen to me or things that won't ever happen. Quick example is this news about the lions ge... View more

I've realised that these days I am always thinking bad things will happen. Whether it is bad things coming as a result of something that has happened pr will happen to me or things that won't ever happen. Quick example is this news about the lions getting out in Taralga zoo.Immediately I start to think what if I was the one responsible for it. Or what if I was a copper and needed to shoot the lion to protect someone. What if social media tried to say I was a bad person for trying to shoot a lion. All that jazz. I need to try to put a stop to all that. Any help is welcome

john12 Social anxiety
  • replies: 8

Hi I’m a 29 year old who believes I’ve been struggling with social anxiety for the better part of 9 years now. I struggle with the thought of planned social events and end up spending days leading up to events running worst case scenarios through my ... View more

Hi I’m a 29 year old who believes I’ve been struggling with social anxiety for the better part of 9 years now. I struggle with the thought of planned social events and end up spending days leading up to events running worst case scenarios through my head. My greatest fear is physical/visible distress, for example racing heart, uncontrolled sweating and being seen to be in distress by everyone. The worst part is not being able to enjoy my self and relax as all my time is spent trying to stay calm. this is my first time talking about this and wanted to get a feel from the community on similar situations. thanks.

Aresisal Advice on getting help, I feel lost and ashamed
  • replies: 3

Hi I don't know where to start but here goes. I'm not 100% sure but I think I'm suffering from anxiety. Somedays I feel like I doubt every decision I make and am constantly been judged. Wether it be driving and feeling other drivers are looking at me... View more

Hi I don't know where to start but here goes. I'm not 100% sure but I think I'm suffering from anxiety. Somedays I feel like I doubt every decision I make and am constantly been judged. Wether it be driving and feeling other drivers are looking at me going what an idiot, fearing the worst outcome from a decision I make at work or home. I went on a work trip for training and was with people I have never met before and found it hard to interact for the first couple of days, even when we were doing the training and we were asked questions as a group I would doubt my answer and wouldn't respond. The trainer would go round trying to get the correct answer out of the group, and finally explain the answer and I would be sitting there thinking that's what I was going to say why didnt I. I've decided that I want to get help, as it feels like the weight on my mind is starting to bring me down, my problem is I don't have a gp and am unsure of the best way to find one, I'm not exactly in a great financial situation and am not sure if gp acess can help get me started. I want to try and talk to my family about it but feel ashamed. I know if I don't this downward spiral will continue though. I hope I have posted this in the right spot and any advice is greatly appreciated.

johnt88 Low sex drive
  • replies: 4

Hello. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication causing low sex drive. My wife suffers from anxiety and takes it but has zero sex drive. We haven’t had sex for 2 years and are still only in our mid 30s. ... View more

Hello. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication causing low sex drive. My wife suffers from anxiety and takes it but has zero sex drive. We haven’t had sex for 2 years and are still only in our mid 30s. I love her and would never cheat on or leave her but is this an actual side effect or is it me she doesn’t want? It’s affecting me too as I feel like we are roommates and I’m just a pay cheque.