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

contrarymary I thought I was getting better with my anxiety then it's, wham it's back
  • replies: 10

I have been postng since 2016 about my stress and anxiety. I think every pain is serious eg a headache is a brain tumour I have been feeling well Since May when i was so stressed and anxious I ended up in emergency had every test but nothing found. T... View more

I have been postng since 2016 about my stress and anxiety. I think every pain is serious eg a headache is a brain tumour I have been feeling well Since May when i was so stressed and anxious I ended up in emergency had every test but nothing found. Tonight I have been pacing the floor, trying to read or watch something I do not off but only for minutes. I have been like this for hours I have tried mindfulness and meditation but cannot get the hang of it II only sleep a few hours a night and if I wake up at say 1am it will take me hours to get back to sleep. I just can't relax

Madelyn_ Looking for a specialised psych
  • replies: 2

Hi BB community, First time poster here! I'm wondering if anyone knows of psych (preferably in Melbourne but also open to virtual sessions) who specialises in panic disorders/ palpitations/ being hyper aware of your heart beat? Appreciate any suggest... View more

Hi BB community, First time poster here! I'm wondering if anyone knows of psych (preferably in Melbourne but also open to virtual sessions) who specialises in panic disorders/ palpitations/ being hyper aware of your heart beat? Appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

Gem17 Atypical anorexia
  • replies: 4

I've had challenges with food and eating for most of my life. The past 5 years have seen that intensify into what has now been diagnosed as an eating disorder - atypical anorexia, something I had never even heard of before. I think I have been in den... View more

I've had challenges with food and eating for most of my life. The past 5 years have seen that intensify into what has now been diagnosed as an eating disorder - atypical anorexia, something I had never even heard of before. I think I have been in denial for a long time about how bad things had become due to my BMI. It doesn't make me sick enough to deserve help because it's still too high. I'm at the point now where there are glimpses of my rational self, the one who knows I am slowly killing myself by reducing my calories, abusing laxatives and over exercising. But the louder part of, the far less rational part, knows that I need to continue doing these things because I haven't yet reached my goals. I am torn between continuing to try and get help and giving in and just continuing the way I'm going. The anxiety caused by talking about this with my gp, being weighed, monitoring my bloods etc seems to be making things worse, making me need to control my intake further. Am I ready for help? Can I do the things I need to do to get better? Am I even unwell? I just don't know...

Budgiebird Anxiety and Pet regret
  • replies: 6

Hi, I recently adopted a seven year old cat hoping it would help ease my severe anxiety. I have a wonderful nine year old dog that I love dearly but I also love cats and had a cat many years ago who was such a joy to me and really helped calm my frag... View more

Hi, I recently adopted a seven year old cat hoping it would help ease my severe anxiety. I have a wonderful nine year old dog that I love dearly but I also love cats and had a cat many years ago who was such a joy to me and really helped calm my fragile nerves so thought it would be a good idea to give a shelter cat a home. I’m starting to wonder though if I’ve done the right thing. It’s only been a few weeks I guess but this cat is nothing like my previous one who was a real lap cat. This one is friendly but very independent and I don’t feel that love for her I had hoped for and my anxiety is worse than before with the responsibility of caring for her and hoping she will get along with the dog and trying to find that bond I desperately want. The rescue shelter were great at the time I adopted her and said it’s ok if it doesn’t work out as they can rehome her but I would feel terrible if I sent her back to the shelter. Maybe I just need to give it more time ??

Not_Batman OCD focus help
  • replies: 6

Hi all. Im trying to rein in my OCD, which seems to be getting a little out of control. Just want to find out if anyone has any strategies or advice on dealing with it. to start i have the O part, not the C part. Often My thoughts go fast, which i fi... View more

Hi all. Im trying to rein in my OCD, which seems to be getting a little out of control. Just want to find out if anyone has any strategies or advice on dealing with it. to start i have the O part, not the C part. Often My thoughts go fast, which i find good for coming up with ideas and solutions to things but, its very tiring, and that voice in my head also speaks louder and with more of a dark side. So i have that to contend with too. When it comes to activities, once i get onto something, i become obsessed until i have an outcome that im happy with, though sometimes its hard to move on until the outcome is near perfect. Sometimes it makes me get super excited kind of to a manic point, that's not so much the problem. the problem is, i dont have OCD when it comes to the important things such as work tasks or daily personal life tasks. If only i had the same enthusiasm. I know that if i had more of the energy then my workload would become less of a burden. how can i channel the energy into the important things. Not_Batman

demonblaster Working Through Addictions
  • replies: 28

Hi everyone ☺ Welcome aboard...hold on Being creatures of habit makes addictions mighty to break as many would know. Good news is we do have it in us to beat the brutes. There are so many different types which usually have a major negative impact on ... View more

Hi everyone ☺ Welcome aboard...hold on Being creatures of habit makes addictions mighty to break as many would know. Good news is we do have it in us to beat the brutes. There are so many different types which usually have a major negative impact on our lives affecting and hurting those around us creating more anxiety and depression. I've so far managed to break some including smoking. I've given up full time still have the odd one or packet but won't ever take it up full time again! Compulsive gambling. 21 yr habit. After 10 + yrs of abstinence had occasional devastating relapses which have been in mania. This will NEVER be an ongoing problem again! The compulsions not any longer there thank goods. So far.. • To break a habit we need to create a new one. Preferably not another addiction A new habit forms with persistence. By not indulging. Nothing easy tho either is the addictions consequences...but doable. Baby steps is one way Cold turkey's effective for many but puts tremendous extra stress on. Most people I've spoken with have been successful. I think addictions are a way of blocking pain by finding a safe place. Survival. Gambling gave me a bubble of security. I'd zone out.The excitement was phenomenal but devastating consequences. Financial insecurity's no ones pleasure. We adapt...too well. I built a near unbreakable wall where pain depression guilt sorrow didn't enter my thoughts for the most. An average person would have suffered deep depression and been suicidal. Not a good life. If only we could use that srength with Mental health (MH). Thing is survival our strongest tool...it's in us. Learning to redirect it towards recovery. Our reasons to give up build our strength. Belief too that in most cases it'll improve our lives. Reinforce reasons constantly. I'm going to write my reasons down and have them in sight and on my bedside table to read repeatedly. As well be thinking why I want to give up A lifetime habit I'm embarking on.Weight loss. I know I CAN and WILL. I want to feel good again about myself. A thought is I'll do this like I did with smoking. The craves go each time and there's many. They reduce in time. Already worked. Resisted about um... let's see...50 craves yesterday. Feeling better already! Good luck everyone. Support. We got this. The powers in us!

GTH Dealing with Daughter's Anxiety - won't take prescribed Medication
  • replies: 3

My 24 daughter has always suffered from a high level of anxiety and appears really effecting her ability to deal with many things in her life at present. Obviously with Covid already adding another dimension to everyone's lives, it is becoming a chal... View more

My 24 daughter has always suffered from a high level of anxiety and appears really effecting her ability to deal with many things in her life at present. Obviously with Covid already adding another dimension to everyone's lives, it is becoming a challenge for her to deal with trying to get a job after she has completed her Uni Studies at the end of 2020. She is also very conscious of germs or the threat of germs around her and is very concerned about being physically ill a lot of the time or worried about getting sick. She has been prescribed with some anxiety medication as a trial to see what effect it may have but basically refuses to even try because "she doesn't want the stigma of being medicated" for some reason - again i don't know why but this what she has said. My wife and i have encouraged her to try the medication but again she point blank refuses. Her struggles to find employment after many rejected applications is getting her down (totally understandable) but again with her anxiety in facing interview panels and to keep on applying in the face of reject is putting a real strain on our relationship with her. There has been many shouting matches over the last year between her and myself/wife and we always want the best for her but at times she just appears to not want to try to do things. Really getting quite concerned about how her anxiety is effecting all our lives in the house hold and wanted to see what advice to encourage her to at least try the prescribed medication - even when she has discussions with doctors, it has been difficult for her to express her true feelings and again, she is very self conscious about this year. She is normally a bright bubbly person around her friends and her sister/boyfriend but really struggles when she needs to talk to people she doesn't know in her attempts to land a job. I know it appears that i am being very judge mental and lack the understanding of what she is going through but i don't know what else to do at the moment and obviously want the best for her. Any advice would be most welcome.....

Baljit *Trigger warning* (Violence) Incident - Feeling Vulnerable
  • replies: 2

Dear All, I just wanted to share a incident that took place yesterday, and I can’t stop replaying this in my mind. In summary, I was in the bank yesterday having a chat with one of their staff, and suddenly out of no where there was a commotion with ... View more

Dear All, I just wanted to share a incident that took place yesterday, and I can’t stop replaying this in my mind. In summary, I was in the bank yesterday having a chat with one of their staff, and suddenly out of no where there was a commotion with a male shouting and swearing, and the next thing I see is him storming over to his partner who automatically got onto her knees and into a ball position to protect herself. (This is the image that I can’t get out of my mind), and at this time fortunately the security team intervened. I was and still am in shock and feel physically sick as I have never experienced anything like this before and it’s just breaking my heart. I cant stop thinking about the female and her life, and how I can help her. Baljit

Iwanttocryeverday I can’t stop myself going down the black hole
  • replies: 3

I don’t know how to really do this I’m new here but I believe I’m really struggling and my mental health is now getting in the way of my life. I thought I knew what was making me this way but to be completely honest I don’t even know what it is anymo... View more

I don’t know how to really do this I’m new here but I believe I’m really struggling and my mental health is now getting in the way of my life. I thought I knew what was making me this way but to be completely honest I don’t even know what it is anymore but I am so unhappy I’ve lived with my partner and his family for three years and it has been everything but rainbow and daisies - it’s been HELL and so difficult to co live with each other at the start I was treated badly because his own sister was going through some mental health issues. I felt like nothing I did was good enough, there was always a problem because I didn't do what they wanted up for their standards, I was spoken about in another language, she would purposely run hot water while I was in the shower so I could never shower and there was an argument or fight everyday. Ever single day. My partner was gambling I felt like I was losing control of what was happening. I feel like I lost myself for them. I don’t even know who I am anymore. I’ve had my privacy taken away from. My happiness. My dignity. Everything is gone and I don’t know if I can’t even get it back. I can’t help but feel so much resentment towards them because I blame them but now, everything in the house has calmed down so much and changed abs it is better way better but I feel like, I kept my mouth shut for so long in order to respect them, now I'm not okay and they think why am I upset if it’s all in the past? But I can’t let it go no matter how hard I try I have so much resentment I don’t know what to do anymore

CJJ Anxiety and Health
  • replies: 9

Hi everyone, Does anyone else feel that their anxiety contributes to their health issues? I have become so anxious (and perhaps paranoid) about covid that I don’t know if my anxiety is causing my body to be symptomatic at times. I’m going for covid t... View more

Hi everyone, Does anyone else feel that their anxiety contributes to their health issues? I have become so anxious (and perhaps paranoid) about covid that I don’t know if my anxiety is causing my body to be symptomatic at times. I’m going for covid test #15 tomorrow and can feel everyone’s eyes roll that I’m going again I hate that anxiety makes me feel so bad. It feeds my depression and is best friends with my ocd. This roller coaster sucks!