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. 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

Hitchcock Share House Anxiety
  • replies: 7

Hi all, I've been sharing a house with a couple (James, Sarah) for the last 18 months and it's presenting a few difficulties and contributing to anxious feelings: I hope it's appropriate for me to collect some of my frustrations here in the hope for ... View more

Hi all, I've been sharing a house with a couple (James, Sarah) for the last 18 months and it's presenting a few difficulties and contributing to anxious feelings: I hope it's appropriate for me to collect some of my frustrations here in the hope for some advice. I had known James for 8 months prior but had never met his partner Sarah. James and I got along relatively well as colleagues and coincidentally were both forced into a quick exit from our previous living situations and felt it would be appropriate to move in together. We had a few interests in common, so we figured it could work. Sarah is a self confessed introvert - we have nothing in common and struggle immensely to strike any sort of rapport unless there are a few beers involved. If we're in the communal area, at most it's a "Hey, how are you? Good" and that only stems from me initiating the conversation, otherwise she will pass by like I don't exist. If I enter and they're present, she will almost instantly leave, allowing James and I to have a slight amount of chit-chat that more often than not feels forced (for the sake of us knowing each other prior. He isn't a brilliant conversationalist also) before he leaves. I love my downtime, but I guess I'm also relatively extroverted. I feel I often need to speak to break the tension within the room just to feel like there is even a small sense of community. I try to strike subjects that I know they're both interested in, even if I'm not as well versed to try and lay some foundation in the hope that the next day might not be as difficult. You can literally cut the tension most days like butter. When I eventually burn out and can't be bothered trying and want to ignore them myself, I'm the worst person ever however. I don't want to be best friends but I feel perhaps a little bit of effort on both of their behalves would go a long way in making the house a little more enjoyable. I respect their space when cooking and will join the kitchen from my room once they've sat down to watch some television, but more often than not find I'm locking myself away in my room just to avoid the uncomfortable situation that inevitably awaits me. This is an ongoing thing during lockdown and its starting to affect my mental health hugely. Constant stress and anxiety; avoid them - feel bad, try to help, feel worse. It's a really uncomfortable environment. Apologies if this is a ramble, any thoughts or experience with this is greatly appreciated. Thanks kindly.

Zephyr478 Spinning out of Control
  • replies: 3

I have run out of excuses. I have left my mental health untreated for too long. I thought that by totally upending my life that I would miraculously be cured of the weight that I carry. 18 months ago I lost my mother…my person. She was my entire focu... View more

I have run out of excuses. I have left my mental health untreated for too long. I thought that by totally upending my life that I would miraculously be cured of the weight that I carry. 18 months ago I lost my mother…my person. She was my entire focus. In caring for her in her old age, I was able to deny that I had developed severe anxiety and agoraphobia. I am ashamed to say, that I have never moved out of the family home. The house is in the process of being sold, and I have no option but to change. I forced myself to find somewhere new to live, and now that moving day is approaching in 3 weeks, I feel as if I am spinning out of control leaving my siblings to pick up the pieces. Why can’t I just let go. I am so scared.

Haylzz Young adult trauma and anxiety stopping me from living my life
  • replies: 3

So I’m a 23 year old female who has always hade anxiety especially separation but be extremely heightened now due to various trauma over the past five years and is bad now. 5 years ago I was an 18 year old cramming my last bit of study before my last... View more

So I’m a 23 year old female who has always hade anxiety especially separation but be extremely heightened now due to various trauma over the past five years and is bad now. 5 years ago I was an 18 year old cramming my last bit of study before my last exam and getting excited to graduate after what was a crappy highschool experience. That night my mum had a stage 5 aneurysm (very lucky she survived as it the worst stage to have). So my world got turned upside down in an instant. So when everyone was enjoying holidays I was in and out of hospital visits not just for my mum but for myself (as I was having several anxiety attacks a week that no one knew what to do in these situations) including myself. Fast foward 5 years my mum was diagnosed with aphasia due to her stroke. Luckily she has learnt how to do stuff like clean, cook, shop, drive. But struggles to read and understand conversations. I have found out like not even a week ago that after over 25 years of marriage my parents have decided to seperate. We are still staying in the same house while mum continue with her recovery but hope that we can help her be independent but it’s a long road ahead 4 years ago I got a boyfriend who I love. And shared great memories with. We always talked about moving to his home town which is 2 and a half hours away. Because he always played to I love the idea of a fresh start and hoping that it would give me better job opportunities. But every time we go to visit or a stay anywhere away (holidays or even staying at someone’s house) from home my anxiety gets triggered because of my home issues. We have been together a long time and have sturggled to see a lot of each other even before this happened. And I feel like it’s developed to a lack of effort on both parts. Right before I was going to have a conversation with him about where we were at as I felt my mental health as been already struggling, my parents announced their separation. So as you can see this has now made me spiralled a bit. I decided to put a break on mine and my boyfriend’s relationship until I decided what’s next and everything dies down. The problem I don’t know when that is and I’m extremely scared for what comes next. He has always been supportive of me and understood this decision as I thought it was best not just for me but for him. Anyways enough blabbering how can I overcome such bad separation anxiety that is causing me to self sabotage relationships and live my life like every 20 something is doing?

Brent01 Anxiety belly issues
  • replies: 3

Hey guys,don’t really post much on here,for no reason at all I suddenly got anxiety belly I have had it for the last week which is really getting me down,it’s affecting my work and don’t want to do anything I’m on antidepressants,and another medicati... View more

Hey guys,don’t really post much on here,for no reason at all I suddenly got anxiety belly I have had it for the last week which is really getting me down,it’s affecting my work and don’t want to do anything I’m on antidepressants,and another medication but yesterday out of knowhere I felt ok during the day and then I went to bed woke up and it just all started over again and it’s making me so down I don’t know what to do

LostAbusedSoul I’m useless, Mind is scattered
  • replies: 3

I believe I am mentally fucked up and there is nothing that can fix it, as much as I want to fix it I don’t think I can, society has taught me from a very young age that no one can be trusted not even family, but I would like to be loved and show lov... View more

I believe I am mentally fucked up and there is nothing that can fix it, as much as I want to fix it I don’t think I can, society has taught me from a very young age that no one can be trusted not even family, but I would like to be loved and show love but my anxiety gets in my way as I don’t know what reaction I will get because I have trusted people in the past, pushed myself beyond the fear just to be mentally scarred and rejected, I am going on 35 years old, I can’t work as I trusted a so called supervisor to do the right thing which has left me with a irritated shoulder that causes pain, I have social anxiety, I fear the worse will always happen, I am broke, the chemist has somehow messed up on my medication refills and says I got them on a day, that I know 100 percent that I didn’t and now I have to wait a few weeks before I can get them, so I am in what they say withdrawals at no fault of mine, I am shaky, tired but not sleeping much, I get agitated quickly, I have these weird feeling inside my head kinda feels like a dull sensation and there’s a voice in there also telling me to kill myself as there is nothing in life for me, I can’t be fixed, I’m a hopeless matter, I want to die, I can’t be fixed people have tortured my mind and I’m broken

Guest_75952152 Adverse reactions (panic attacks/severe anxiety) to all antidepressants after long term abuse
  • replies: 1

I have successfully used a variety of antidepressants throughout different stages of high stress (mainly post natal). But I recently went through a traumatic separation after 17.5yr marraige. It turns out i have been under narcissistic abuse for a lo... View more

I have successfully used a variety of antidepressants throughout different stages of high stress (mainly post natal). But I recently went through a traumatic separation after 17.5yr marraige. It turns out i have been under narcissistic abuse for a long time, typical... I believed i was the mental abusive one but i was actually being gaslit and manipulated. My husbands lies and cheating and made up stories got me to the end of myself so i tried to separate and then he turned psychotic snd the gsmes strengthened and I was physically assaulted and the police put a no contact advo in place. Throughout this period and still, I continue to attempt meds to cope with it but it doesnt matter what type i try they all end up causing severe panic attacks everyday and it only stops when i stop the meds. I told chat gpt about my experience and it came up with why I was experiencing this...in a nut shell, because my nervous system was in fight/flight for so many years the antidepressants can stimulate these already constant responses. Has anyone else had this kind of experience and did you find something that helped? Anti-anxiety medication helps but is short term and after a few uses my heart starts feeling funny. Without meds I am completely lethargic, anxious and cry every day.

Guest_84873179 Depression?
  • replies: 5

I know this isn’t meant to be a place to vent, but I have this feeling in my chest that I don’t want to ignore for much longer… Recently ive been procrastinating on a lot of things in my everyday life and im aware that I am, it’s just that im not mot... View more

I know this isn’t meant to be a place to vent, but I have this feeling in my chest that I don’t want to ignore for much longer… Recently ive been procrastinating on a lot of things in my everyday life and im aware that I am, it’s just that im not motivated or feel like doing these simple tasks anymore. My parents say that I make a big deal over my quote: ‘laziness’ and then my emotions get the better of me When this happens I usually stay in my room and either fall asleep or cry for a while.. My parents call this overreacting but I feel it’s something more, regardless if they don’t want me to get a diagnosis

Guest_93309843 Overthinking and overwhelming
  • replies: 3

Hi I take medication for anxiety and depression, seen psychologist for few visits, changed meds but I have this overwhelming sense fear want to switch it of . Just hits all of a sudden and unable to prevent it. Try activities, body scan, music exerci... View more

Hi I take medication for anxiety and depression, seen psychologist for few visits, changed meds but I have this overwhelming sense fear want to switch it of . Just hits all of a sudden and unable to prevent it. Try activities, body scan, music exercise but I am never fully coping. I know I should participate more in the community but I don’t want to do so if I can’t do it regularly. Anyone have any ideas?

Jessica_Cloud Struggling after stopping SNRI - how long will this go on?
  • replies: 5

I was on antidepressants for over 2 decades and tapered off slowly and successfully. I’m F 59. It’s been just over 3 months since stopping SNRIs and I’m experiencing awful symptoms of anxiety, dread, irritability, negative thoughts, and suicidality. ... View more

I was on antidepressants for over 2 decades and tapered off slowly and successfully. I’m F 59. It’s been just over 3 months since stopping SNRIs and I’m experiencing awful symptoms of anxiety, dread, irritability, negative thoughts, and suicidality. I didn’t experience these symptoms prior to starting meds. I started with some other natural medication but I’m not convinced it’s helping. I do a lot of self care eg exercise, eating well, sleep hygiene, etc. How long will these symptoms last? Is my brain just wrecked forever and going back on medication is the solution?

Ranga-1 Confronting husband about his hoarding
  • replies: 5

Hello, everyone. Those who've seen my previous posts will know I have a husband who has been very sick and an adult son with some mental health issues. The good news is my son has been making an effort to practise his drumming every day. My psycholog... View more

Hello, everyone. Those who've seen my previous posts will know I have a husband who has been very sick and an adult son with some mental health issues. The good news is my son has been making an effort to practise his drumming every day. My psychologist says it's a good sign that his mental health is improving. I have mentioned my husband has isolated himself in the shed. The problem I have is that he has been hoarding rubbish (literal rubbish, but not food scraps, thankfully). He has cleaned the shed before, but it has started again. He had an ABI about 15 years ago, so maybe this is a result of that. I am at the point where I want to move out for my own good. I am going to speak to my husband after Christmas and tell him that I have to make decisions that are good for ME. It's not an actual separation, but we do need space. I am very unhappy with the dynamic of the house and our relationship. I am thinking of suggesting a specialised cleaner (who deals with hoarding etc) come in every two months if he cannot face the thought of cleaning the shed. Has anyone else ever lived with this situation?