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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

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Cybert Feeling Broken
  • replies: 10

First time here and first time in my life I have felt the way I do at the moment. I am just wondering though what people do when the help options open to them are small and ultimately can't help solve the situation. I am middle aged and always had to... View more

First time here and first time in my life I have felt the way I do at the moment. I am just wondering though what people do when the help options open to them are small and ultimately can't help solve the situation. I am middle aged and always had to care for my mum since I was 16 years of age, she is a perfectly functioning adult but NCD (Narcisist) to the core and has manipulated my life to a point where I have no friends or indeed anyone left in my life. I am 100% isolated and alone and at her mercy. She is a very nasty woman but for some reason I just feel compelled to keep looking out for her. Everyone says set boundaries, but if you have ever dealt with a person like this you know that can be almost impossible. I now have major anxiety and depression going on from both home and work issues where once I mentioned I cared for an elderly person they work turned on me and tried to get me to resign. They are still pushing me to get out which is just adding to the stresses. I have an elderly dog who is my world who is also getting sick and I am constantly (like 24/7) watching him as he is about all I have left. I am just at that point of wanting to walk away from it all and start a new life. But I know I will take guilt with me that I am unsure I could live with and even then I have no idea how I would afford to start again and be safe. So back to the question. Does anyone know who you turn to for help on the basics to just get through another day at a time?

Karleigh New role at work and anxiety has reared its ugly head
  • replies: 2

Hi. I'm 65 and work in retail. I've been doing a non stress job and stupidly, took up an offer to learn an admin role. It's fast paced, the phone rings all day and I have quite a lot of computer work to get through. I'm chasing my tail all day and me... View more

Hi. I'm 65 and work in retail. I've been doing a non stress job and stupidly, took up an offer to learn an admin role. It's fast paced, the phone rings all day and I have quite a lot of computer work to get through. I'm chasing my tail all day and mentally exhausted. I'm not retaining knowledge, I'm no good with pressure or problem solving. So afraid of making mistakes. Not sleeping, eating and it's all constantly in my head. I cannot quit as I'm replacing another staff member who is having surgery. I feel like I'm in a prison with no escape. I cry a lot and have broken down at times at work. How I yearn for my non stress job. What do others do to cope with this. Thanks

Guest_04542101 Emotional damaged
  • replies: 1

Ive been with my boyfriend now fiancé for 3 and a half years and about a month ago I’ve started getting very high anxiety when ever he touches me from hugs to being intimate. I’ve been very close to panic attacks. I’ve tried explaining that I don’t w... View more

Ive been with my boyfriend now fiancé for 3 and a half years and about a month ago I’ve started getting very high anxiety when ever he touches me from hugs to being intimate. I’ve been very close to panic attacks. I’ve tried explaining that I don’t want to be touched at the moment which seems to have done nothing but upset him and I don't know how to fix this. I don’t know how to fix me.

Whatsinaname Horrible week
  • replies: 89

Hi everyone, I'm having a horrible week, so just thought I would post to see how everyone else is going? I'm having a hard time getting out of the shame spiral this week, but trying to remember this is only temporary. Anyway, hope others are well, ha... View more

Hi everyone, I'm having a horrible week, so just thought I would post to see how everyone else is going? I'm having a hard time getting out of the shame spiral this week, but trying to remember this is only temporary. Anyway, hope others are well, happy to chat about anything.

Guest_39557583 I’m stuck!
  • replies: 8

I’ve never written on a forum like this before, but I’m struggling and I have no-one I can talk to about what I am going through. I’m insecure, have low self-esteem, am taking a sabbatical from work (have worked most of my life, I’m in age range 50-5... View more

I’ve never written on a forum like this before, but I’m struggling and I have no-one I can talk to about what I am going through. I’m insecure, have low self-esteem, am taking a sabbatical from work (have worked most of my life, I’m in age range 50-55) and have never felt so low. I’m trying to find the answers to all my questions and thoughts, and everything points to journaling and positive affirmations / self-talk. I have no energy and feel lost, stuck and unable to make decisions. I’m trapped in my head and trying to work out what to do. I have been with my partner for many years, and recently, started a new relationship with someone, but I just feel permanently low, like I am people-pleasing but I’m too scared to even ask ‘what do I want?’ I feel like I’m the only person in the world who feels this way, and when I look at others I think how happy they look, why can’t I be happy? Why can’t I…and then the cycle goes on and on and on. I’m afraid of life. OK stopping now as I’m not getting anywhere, but maybe someone out there has some advice or guidance or suggestions on how I survive at this thing called life (sounds a bit dramatic I know, but genuinely struggling). Thank you in advance.

Guest_10261 Morning agitation
  • replies: 1

I am wondering if anyone else on here is waking up with feelings of agitation, on the angry and unsettled side of things? I have read it is part of generalised anxiety disorder and that it is a build up of cortisol which peaks in the morning.. How do... View more

I am wondering if anyone else on here is waking up with feelings of agitation, on the angry and unsettled side of things? I have read it is part of generalised anxiety disorder and that it is a build up of cortisol which peaks in the morning.. How do you cope? Does exercising alleviate the condition? Or daily relaxation sessions? I would like information on this. Thank you.

Guest_01156043 Crippling anxiety settled to general anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi community. This is my first post and I have experienced anxiety my whole life but fought it always. But in the past few years I had a breakdown due to an extremely stressful situation. Ever since I'm like a egg shell that's cracked all over but st... View more

Hi community. This is my first post and I have experienced anxiety my whole life but fought it always. But in the past few years I had a breakdown due to an extremely stressful situation. Ever since I'm like a egg shell that's cracked all over but still has the egg inside. Fragile. Just a few days ago I had a crazy day where I was completely crippled by anxiety. Dry reaching and vomiting. Crying and restless like crazy. Scared out of my mind and thinking how can I function. I'm a wife and mother of 5 little ones. And I'm expected at work tomorrow. My meltdown culminated in myself and my husband ( who was really worried) working out the cause. We were about to sign a contract I think I knew we couldn't afford. Once this was sorted we decided not to go ahead I immediately felt 100 times better. However 3 days later, I'm still feeling so bad. Nausea, wanting to cancel everything that I'm expected to show up to. Wanting to stay in bed. I'm crippled again but in a quiet way. Not like the extreme episode the other day. This feels sadder. I feel broken and I'm letting everyone down . That egg shell is really crumbly. I hate being so fragile that my family can't do things. I want to be strong.

Guest_36139303 Repeating thoughts
  • replies: 1

There are words or thoughts and they keep repeating in my head and I can't make it stop. I have heard about echolalia and even internal echolalia and suspect that I do have that but this is different, I can't make it stop, they won't stop and I don't... View more

There are words or thoughts and they keep repeating in my head and I can't make it stop. I have heard about echolalia and even internal echolalia and suspect that I do have that but this is different, I can't make it stop, they won't stop and I don't want the words they're words I don't want and they won't be quiet but I know it's me it's not a voice in my head it sounds like me and it feels like me which makes it worse because it won't stop and I can't make it stop but it is me it has to be me because it's my voice, the one that reads all my thoughts and he can't be someone else he's me. But he won't stop and I just want to know how to make him stop.

G-i-g-i Stalker
  • replies: 6

I feel no one is supporting me. I have a stalker and it started May 2025. I gave the police a report including his photos but they cannot do anything because I was not physically harm. They don't understand how this affect me mentally and emotionally... View more

I feel no one is supporting me. I have a stalker and it started May 2025. I gave the police a report including his photos but they cannot do anything because I was not physically harm. They don't understand how this affect me mentally and emotionally. It seems they are protecting this guy and not me. The police said, they will talk to my stalker meaning they will know this guy but they couldn't tell me who he was, because I would like to apply an AVO but this police did not apply for an AVO. They are protecting this guy who violated my human rights. I thought, stalking is a crime here but they protecting him not me. They protecting a man who did wrong and not me, the victim. I know what stalking means but these police are protecting this middle-aged man. These policemen are protecting this man who commits crime and they should know that this man has no right to stalk someone or follow someone. The police said, maybe this old man is lonely who just wanted to talk. But it is still not right to follow someone. It happened 7 times in different places, and it is creepy seeing him in any place I go. It is not a coincidence, because he followed me 7 times already. It's a pattern. Same man and same behaviour but all my efforts of recording those incidents were ignored. I am tired already watching my back every time I go out, I am tired already of observing, recording or reporting to the police. I have do much anger in me. I am not interested with any man and never talk to a stranger it's because I am lonely. I don't talk to a stranger especially to a creepy like him. Who do you would like to make friends to this kind of man. Who do you think would like to make friends with a stalker. No one I think, because he is creepy. These police don't really care. All my efforts were ignored and wasted. They said, my stalker did not hurt me. So, they will only act if I am hurt. The police will act if something happened to me. The stalking started May 2025. And I know, he is not the only one. He is still out there and even uses other people to monitor me. I have photos of his stalker's proxies. I am not stupid not to notice those men amd their behaviours but it seems no one believe me. I do not understand these police, why they can't find a solution for this. That's why, we have lots of victims of stalking being unheard including me. I want to fight him until he gets what he deserves but every time I approached people, they don't help maybe because I am an Asian not white. And I am more angry now, and starting to lose hope that this will ever stop and these police are not fair to all people. I thought the police here are very good and helpful but I was wrong. They oath to protect innocent people bu, no, they are protecting the criminals. They choose only who they wanted to help. They will only act if someone hurt or died. Wearing police uniform but they don't respect true justice.

guest123456 overwhelmed
  • replies: 3

sorry if this is alot i just rlly need to get my thoughts down. i've always suffered with anxiety (undiagnosed) but its been manageable however this year its gotten rlly bad. i started uni this year and the course im doing is incredibly competitive. ... View more

sorry if this is alot i just rlly need to get my thoughts down. i've always suffered with anxiety (undiagnosed) but its been manageable however this year its gotten rlly bad. i started uni this year and the course im doing is incredibly competitive. my y12 results made it so i couldn't go to the same uni as my friends who are also doing the same course and i feel like i have no friends in uni. im always so scared to even open up uni modules bc it feels overwhelming how much i have to do. i start thinking about what my future is going to look like and i get overwhelmed bc im scared i wont have a job or anything and i'll have to live paycheck to paycheck. im also rlly scared of my parents dying despite them being relativley healthy as i dont want to be left alone. im js rlly alone and scared and overwhelmed and i know its a problem but i dont want to burden my parents by telling them and i want to change my habits but don't know where to start. i tried to create goals but thinking about my goals had me overthinking and js left me feeling drained. i dont know what to do. sometimes i even contemplate committing because it would take the anxiety and uncertainty away but ive never acted on the thoughts. if theres someone who has gone through something similar or is going through something similar and has advice i would rlly appreciate anything at this point.