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

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. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety 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 you 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 worthile 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

Guest_1573 Why Does Everything I Do Go Pearshaped?
  • replies: 6

Hi All Yes me again. There has been a lot of drama recently regarding the dear dog I fostered....suffice it to say I wrote a scathing report on the website and I was called up and had to discuss why I said what I did. I again was made to feel like a ... View more

Hi All Yes me again. There has been a lot of drama recently regarding the dear dog I fostered....suffice it to say I wrote a scathing report on the website and I was called up and had to discuss why I said what I did. I again was made to feel like a total nutcase. All I wanted to do was rescue the dear soul and there was so much backstabbing and gossip and it made a heck of a lot of trouble. Basically one particular individual was making trouble from day one and I do not understand why. She lied to me and she played chinese whispers and upset a lot of people. All I ever did was state my concern about the lack of follow through and the lies that were told to me about the dear dog. I do not know how I get myself into these situations over and over again. Deep down I think it is because I care so much and I get infuriated at people's lack of conscience and so forth. I seem to be an ars.hole magnet. Various people treat me like an absolute imbecile and it is getting to the point where I don't want anything to do with anyone. Yes I was wrong to post the review and five hours after I deleted it as I felt bad. But....the bu..shi. they put me through upset and infuriated me so much it made me feel better at the time. Everything I said was true. I felt so bad I donated $500 to the group for the dogs. I still feel bad and I still have had no communication regarding the dogs I have applied to adopt. Why are people so mean and horrible? I just don't get it. So I am now in a hole that I don't even care to crawl out of. This recent debacle has just stirred up memories of all the good I have done in the past that was negated by horrible, selfish and cruel people. I don't know anymore. It is not even worth trying as everytime I do something to help it goes wrong and I end up being the bad guy. Because I stick up for myself and the dogs! Ugh I hate most people right now and I don't think I will pursue rescuing a dog from any of them. Very traumatised and upset. Thanks for reading.

Tils Emetaphobia camping
  • replies: 4

Hi I have an extreme fear of throwing up called emetophobia this cause me to have a panic attack here I scream and cry, Something that is coming up has been scaring me. I have to go camping and for normal kids, this would be fun but for me, it is fil... View more

Hi I have an extreme fear of throwing up called emetophobia this cause me to have a panic attack here I scream and cry, Something that is coming up has been scaring me. I have to go camping and for normal kids, this would be fun but for me, it is filled with trauma. a couple of years back my sister got sick while camping and now I am forever scarred.I know people probably won't see this but if anyone else has emetophobia I would appreciate some advice.

Gg22 Headaches every day
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone I Have GAD and health anxiety. I've been doing so well but just had a baby 3 months ago and I've been experiencing headaches everyday. I feel foggy and tired all the time, my eyes are sore and I'm stressing so much about these headache... View more

Hello everyone I Have GAD and health anxiety. I've been doing so well but just had a baby 3 months ago and I've been experiencing headaches everyday. I feel foggy and tired all the time, my eyes are sore and I'm stressing so much about these headaches. It's like a tight band around my head, pressure feeling in my forehead and occasionally sharp pains. I get vertigo too. Im so scared I have a brain tumour. I had a brain MRI 2 years ago and am convinced something has grown since then. I don't know what to do anymore, I'm constantly at my drs with new symptoms. I just hope I can have some others experience with this, is this a common anxiety symptom? Im scared

Petal22 Easter and self care tips
  • replies: 6

Today is Easter, For some people Easter can feel isolating and lonely. If you are feeling this way today please try to practice some self care . You could call a friend or family Go for a walk outside in nature and practice mindfulness Practice medit... View more

Today is Easter, For some people Easter can feel isolating and lonely. If you are feeling this way today please try to practice some self care . You could call a friend or family Go for a walk outside in nature and practice mindfulness Practice meditation Cuddle a pet Be kind to yourself Practice gratefulness Be the giver ( giving always makes us feel good inside) Change your surroundings…. Im sure there are many other self care tips…. Maybe you could suggest some on this thread?

Doberman38 Family history of cancer
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone. I've just discovered that another of my mum's sisters has developed bowel cancer. At least one other had developed it in the past and I'm not sure but there might have been more. As far as I know they all developed it in middle age or o... View more

Hey everyone. I've just discovered that another of my mum's sisters has developed bowel cancer. At least one other had developed it in the past and I'm not sure but there might have been more. As far as I know they all developed it in middle age or over and I'm only 24, but I'm worried this means we might have a specific genetic predisposition. I have the urge to look up bowel cancer genetics but I know this probably won't make me feel better. It's just hard to adjust to this new knowledge, it feels a little like a ticking bomb.

Bell87 Need some support
  • replies: 12

Hi all, haven’t posted in awhile. Getting my booster today and feeling nervous. I was ok with my first 2 doses I did get a few heart flutters with I think was due to being anxious as they went away when I calmed myself. Did anyone have heart flutters... View more

Hi all, haven’t posted in awhile. Getting my booster today and feeling nervous. I was ok with my first 2 doses I did get a few heart flutters with I think was due to being anxious as they went away when I calmed myself. Did anyone have heart flutters after getting vaccinated? I think that’s why I’m so nervous I know it’s only temporary with the side effects but I just dread it. Any tips on how to calm down and try and not think about it

redandblue Loneliness despite close family and friends
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I find it very difficult to connect with people on a personal level, including with my wife and family. I constantly feel lonely even when socialising. I have been seeking treatment for this and other issues but most recently my loneliness ha... View more

Hi all, I find it very difficult to connect with people on a personal level, including with my wife and family. I constantly feel lonely even when socialising. I have been seeking treatment for this and other issues but most recently my loneliness has been at its peak. I often find myself on forums to find stories from people in my same situation as it helps me feel connected that I’m not the only one who feels lonely despite being around family and friends. Im wondering what others have done in this situation when loneliness and a lack of connection with people gets you down? thanks for reading

mcshmurt Declined a job offer and now I feel like a time waster
  • replies: 3

Hello! I'm not sure if I should be posting this here or in another category. Today I declined a job offer as the salary was below what I was willing to accept as a minimum offer. I was very polite about it and explained my reasoning and thanked them ... View more

Hello! I'm not sure if I should be posting this here or in another category. Today I declined a job offer as the salary was below what I was willing to accept as a minimum offer. I was very polite about it and explained my reasoning and thanked them for the opportunity to apply. While the hiring manager was also polite I did feel like absolute crap when he said that it would have been helpful for him to know that I wasn't as flexible with my salary expectations as I'd expressed in the interview. While it doesn't seem like it should be a big deal, I do agree with him that I should have been more honest. I am already feeling really upset at myself about it because I feel as though I came across to him as a time waster and not actually serious about the job. I think my problem was that in the initial interview when I gave my salary expectations I knew what I was seeking but I was trying to be a people-pleaser and giving a lower range in the hopes I'd be hired, but then he offered even lower than that. I know I shouldn't be beating myself up about this because I hadn't even received the formal offer yet and I know there were plenty of other candidates to select from, but I just can't help but take those words he said to heart and feel like a dishonest time waster. I feel an overwhelming urge to call him up and apologise over and over again and express how great an opportunity the job is. But then, that's the people-pleaser coming out of me again. Please, if anyone could provide their perspective and/or tips on how to handle this I'd be so grateful! Thank you

MainlyG Tight hips and body (anxiety)
  • replies: 3

Hi all. 39male here. Only my 2nd post. Have many had really tight hips from anxiety? I feel I may have anxiety and will tell GP in weeks ahead. Signs are... -worrying about things (never used to) -stress -tight hips -always tired -feel pretty weak -b... View more

Hi all. 39male here. Only my 2nd post. Have many had really tight hips from anxiety? I feel I may have anxiety and will tell GP in weeks ahead. Signs are... -worrying about things (never used to) -stress -tight hips -always tired -feel pretty weak -by 5pm I'm cooked (even on days I don't work) In saying that I have had a pretty big 6 months but I have been relaxing-mindfullness etc. I must admit the 2 glasses of red at 6pm really does loosen my body up so I'm going to continue that. but back to my original question, have people experienced ridiculously tight hips with anxiety? I'm seeing a physio weekly but obviously he doesn't talk about anxiety. He does say they are so tight.

jonjr short story " to disappear"
  • replies: 3

I would like to share some of my stories about my struggle. I wright them during real moments as a snap shot, I have to edit them into stories as often they can be just a jumble of words or nonsense sentences i scribble down at a point in a journey. ... View more

I would like to share some of my stories about my struggle. I wright them during real moments as a snap shot, I have to edit them into stories as often they can be just a jumble of words or nonsense sentences i scribble down at a point in a journey. i hope you like them To disappear Its 3 o'clock I am up and sleep is not on my mind, theirs nothing to do theirs no one to talk to. I make some tea to try and distract myself for the feeling of collapse that my mind is in. No where to go ,no doors I can open, I feel trapped. The nurses stare from the glass station pretending to be occupied by work but I feel the glancing looks from behind the screens. No where to hide I am in constant line of sight.. I begin to feel the wrath of my own mind as the speed of my thoughts quickens, repeating the same messages over and over. The feeling of something coming, the inevitable sense that I am not about to be me. Confusion, pain , in this moment I am not sure where I am. It takes a while for the surroundings to become some what normal and familiar. I am not where I was, theirs no cup of tea. The nurse is beside me calling my name , I hear her and try to focus on the voice. You disappeared for a while she says, the reality of what happened hits home. The evil triplet the strangest of the three Mr dissociative has had a play. The other two siblings anxiety and panic are still there, like they been freed from there estranged partner in crime they continue the offensive. I remember nothing from beginning to the end its like I had simply vanished Its not a new thing to me nor is it surprising but it is terrifying and totally un welcome. Over the years I have learned It can not drive, it does not know left from right, stairs seem troublesome. I still wonder what it is like though, do I talk , can I run or jump, so many things without answers. I stand up and make my way back to my tea ,its gone cold. 4 o'clock that is 1 hour I have lost for ever, it has simply disappeared.