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
Categories
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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. Remember, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anxiety 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 your 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 worthwhile 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

All discussions

Start a discussion

Pink grapefruit Late 40s with no close friends & hobbies
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I am in the 40s with no close friends & hobbies. I have an anxiety on and off thinking that one day something really bad or worse will happen to me and I will lose everything. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life feeling this way.. I w... View more

Hi there, I am in the 40s with no close friends & hobbies. I have an anxiety on and off thinking that one day something really bad or worse will happen to me and I will lose everything. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life feeling this way.. I wonder if anyone can share the tips on how you manage this type of anxiety if you have had one.

heyfriday128 I feel ashamed being anxious and going insane
  • replies: 3

Hey so my dads side of the family has a lot of people with illnesses and my sister has anxiety and depression and it put a lot of stress on my mum. I’m in year 12 term 3 and I’m having mental breakdowns. I spent the whole of lunch just crying in the ... View more

Hey so my dads side of the family has a lot of people with illnesses and my sister has anxiety and depression and it put a lot of stress on my mum. I’m in year 12 term 3 and I’m having mental breakdowns. I spent the whole of lunch just crying in the bathrooms because of my exam marks I got back and I’ve been feeling so anxious lately. I haven’t really felt happy in a long time too and I’m going to go see my gp in a few days but I feel ashamed. I don’t want my mum to be embarrassed yet again by a sick daughter and I don’t want to be sick I wish I could just be normal. I’m so scared of anything and I can’t get a job because I just leave the next day because I get too anxious. I don’t want to tell my friends either because I feel like they think I’m doing it for attention.

_J__ Year 12 Formal sensory issues
  • replies: 2

Year 12 Formal is coming up, and I'd really like to go.However, I have ASD,and so loud noises, bright lights, and anything unpredictable could mean the difference between a really fun night and a mental breakdown.are Formals generally like this? and ... View more

Year 12 Formal is coming up, and I'd really like to go.However, I have ASD,and so loud noises, bright lights, and anything unpredictable could mean the difference between a really fun night and a mental breakdown.are Formals generally like this? and if so, are there any tips on how to keep calm throughout?

lisa1987 Traveling in car to move
  • replies: 1

I want to move soon but I have agoraphobia meaning I can't leave my house, but it is getting slowly better the move in 20 mins by car does anyone have any tips they used?

I want to move soon but I have agoraphobia meaning I can't leave my house, but it is getting slowly better the move in 20 mins by car does anyone have any tips they used?

Guest_1055 Anxiety airport
  • replies: 4

Weird question perhaps, but I am unsure who to ask. I have read some of the info on the airport website but only understand bits of it. I have issues speaking on phones, so I don't want to ring anyone up. Can anyone advise? Once you land from domesti... View more

Weird question perhaps, but I am unsure who to ask. I have read some of the info on the airport website but only understand bits of it. I have issues speaking on phones, so I don't want to ring anyone up. Can anyone advise? Once you land from domestic, walk of the plane. Then where do you go? I want to know in clear steps what happens then?? And also the flight and return has been booked and paid for online. And once I get to my airport which is so much smaller. Walk in the doors there, what happens then?

SleepyPillow How to stop feeling sad and find meaning in life.
  • replies: 5

I've been feeling sad and can't stop crying for over a week now. I keep having negative thoughts about my family and myself eventually passing away. I have now started to feel like my life has not much meaning (I am not suicidal). I don't find my hob... View more

I've been feeling sad and can't stop crying for over a week now. I keep having negative thoughts about my family and myself eventually passing away. I have now started to feel like my life has not much meaning (I am not suicidal). I don't find my hobbies as fun anymore because I just think everything is pointless in a way that we are just going to die in the end. Can anyone help me with these feelings? I can't get them out of my head.

jps_01 Seeking Support
  • replies: 4

Hi Everyone, I'm new here and am looking for a bit of information on medication. I've been dealing with anxiety for about 3 years now, more specifically anxiety around my health. I'm only 21 and it sometimes feels hard getting through each day. I fee... View more

Hi Everyone, I'm new here and am looking for a bit of information on medication. I've been dealing with anxiety for about 3 years now, more specifically anxiety around my health. I'm only 21 and it sometimes feels hard getting through each day. I feel as though certain things shouldn't be so difficult (such as simply going to the shops or eating at a restaurant). My boyfriend is so supportive but feel awful constantly relying on him and honestly feel like such a burden. I try to remain as positive as possible, but as most of you probably can relate, it can be really difficult always seeing the bright side. I have a friend of mine who currently takes anxiety medication and has found it worked well for her so I was just seeking more advice on others who may have decided to try medication. Thanks so much!

Emma77 Hoarding
  • replies: 4

Hi all, Not sure where to post this, but we'll start with anxiety and see what happens. As a child and younger adult, I was always very clean and organised. As I got older, I would sometimes let things slip, and it would feel somewhat freeing, maybe ... View more

Hi all, Not sure where to post this, but we'll start with anxiety and see what happens. As a child and younger adult, I was always very clean and organised. As I got older, I would sometimes let things slip, and it would feel somewhat freeing, maybe feel a little bit creative? I'm now mid 40s and wonder if I've gotten a bit too free and creative. And then silly me watches those hoarding programs and feel like maybe I can relate. I don't think I have attachment to things. I'm happy to see things get thrown out, I'm just not sure how to do it. As an example, when the toilet paper runs out, I change the roll and the old empty roll goes on the floor until there's a collection. Then someone is coming to the house (not very often) and they all get shoved into a drawer somewhere. Then one day I want to throw them out but there are thirty of them and it just feels ludicrous to be throwing out thirty toilet rolls at once, so I'll just get rid of a couple every week, but I forget or can't be bothered. OMG this sounds insane now that I'm typing it out. It's actually quite hard to admit. I feel like that 'I'll get to it tomorrow' is just getting further and further away and there is stuff everywhere. I moved 6 months ago and still have so many boxes. I can do the mad dash and clean and tidy the house if I have to, but I just feel like I have so many bad habits and routines. The idea of it getting so bad that I would need someone to come in TERRIFIES me. I don't want anyone to see the clutter. But I don't want to look at it either, and feel like I need to admit that I'm not fixing it on my own. Not necessarily looking for help or advice. Maybe just people who can relate, convince me I'm normal. Or maybe even convince me that it's really not normal and I need help.

Jess13 Chronic anxiety
  • replies: 2

I have been struggling with anxiety & depression since I had my first child. He's nearly 22 now. I've recently come off medication (6 weeks ago). I was so proud I successfully came off as it's a hard drug to stop. I've had a lot of stress ever since ... View more

I have been struggling with anxiety & depression since I had my first child. He's nearly 22 now. I've recently come off medication (6 weeks ago). I was so proud I successfully came off as it's a hard drug to stop. I've had a lot of stress ever since which has now triggered both anxiety & depression again. Every day I can't get motivated & im so very tired!! Can't function. I feel I've lost the zest for life & wont be happy again. The things I would normally love to do just aren't enjoyable anymore. I have an amazing partner who is such a positive person but I feel like I'm just bringing him down with my negativity & sadness. I never want to do anything. I just want to look forward to something & not be so tired all the time.

Awhina24 Hitting a new low point
  • replies: 3

For the last few months, I'm so anxious that I can barely remember to eat, I have nightmares almost every single night, wake up drenched in sweat and my digestive system is a mess. I feel absolutely frozen in fear, have constant knots in my stomach a... View more

For the last few months, I'm so anxious that I can barely remember to eat, I have nightmares almost every single night, wake up drenched in sweat and my digestive system is a mess. I feel absolutely frozen in fear, have constant knots in my stomach and burst into tears near daily. A few years ago I accidentally fell pregnant and now have a 4 year old despite never really wanting children. Now I'm scared constantly for my child's future. I didn't realize how bad climate change would get in my lifetime, every day seems to bring a new disaster or bleak looking report on how bad things will get. My husband does not share my concerns, nor do most my family. I have no idea how to talk to any of them about it. I go to therapy and while my therapist does not dismiss my concerns she says I need to find ways to accept uncertainty and my beliefs about the future. I'm terrified that there is no liveable future, that myself my child and family will die in a famine or be killed in some violent manner, or die of heatstroke or in a fire in just a few years time. We live in Melbourne and I'm dreading the coming summers. Even if I try to distract myself with gardening, hiking, craft, playing with my child, reading, housework or volunteering I'm constantly thinking about ecological collapse and feeling like humanity is doomed. I struggle to maintain any sanity throughout the day. Right now I'm shaking and want to throw up. I want some kind of hope. I want my family nearby (they all live in another country). Often I want to go to sleep and not wake up. I'm on medication but I don't think it's really helping much beyond numbing some feelings at times.