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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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Grant Anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone I have been living with anxiety now for 12 months and have many times thought about taking my own life. My wife has been diagnosed with blood cancer MDS .I have been kicked off our family farm partnership. As such feel somewhat lost now.I... View more

Hi everyone I have been living with anxiety now for 12 months and have many times thought about taking my own life. My wife has been diagnosed with blood cancer MDS .I have been kicked off our family farm partnership. As such feel somewhat lost now.I used to volunteer as a Ambulance officer in a small town where I have seen more than my fair share of tragedy and loss of life some of them being friends. Have already spent several weeks in a mental health clinic. Sometimes I think I'm making progress and other times it is just way to much to handle. Recently lost my mother and mother in law with cancer as well.

Adam Long Term SAD Setback
  • replies: 3

Hi,I'm extremely reluctant making this post for all the obvious reasons, but reading some of the other posts here has given me the courage to do so. I'm 48, have had s.a.d for at least 35-40 of those years and have never sought advice on the subject.... View more

Hi,I'm extremely reluctant making this post for all the obvious reasons, but reading some of the other posts here has given me the courage to do so. I'm 48, have had s.a.d for at least 35-40 of those years and have never sought advice on the subject. I've never been diagnosed officially, and have only started to fully accepted the fact recently, due to a problem I'm facing. A problem I had managed to avoid up until this point in my life. I have done some reading online over the years to get an understanding of my condition and believed I understood it well enough. I spent my teenage years and most of my 20s completely ignorant and fighting off depression. After realizing s.a.d was the main cause I was able to move past the depression, or so I thought. Gradually I chose to live a very isolated life and not rely on other people for my own happiness. I have never been able to hold a job for a long period of time, or had many friends that ever lasted particularly long. I have never found any true happiness, but in recent years I had found peace. There has always been a personal reason that has allowed me to get out of bed each and everyday. The peace I had found always had a clock on it and I knew it. It gave me both the confidence and motivation to step well out of my comfort zone and that seems to have backfired on me. The combination, of my s.a.d and lacking social skills which have deteriorated over time, has left me extremely confused and disappointed to say the least. I am capable of, participate in, and enjoy short social interactions. However I have never been capable of speaking to a gp, or anyone really, face to face about mental health. Any advice on moving forward after a huge reality check and setback would be appreciated. I'll say thank you, now, for reading...and any replies, as I'm unsure if I will respond to any. Sorry hope you understand.

Guest_41 Help... Internal Tremors/Buzzing
  • replies: 33

Hey all... I have been getting this really odd internal vibration buzzing feeling in my legs, stomach & chest for about a month now... ever since I came off an antidepressant (it started while I was on the antidepressant)... It only happened occasion... View more

Hey all... I have been getting this really odd internal vibration buzzing feeling in my legs, stomach & chest for about a month now... ever since I came off an antidepressant (it started while I was on the antidepressant)... It only happened occasionally to begin with but now I'm dealing with it all day & everyday. Every time I mention it to a Dr they brush me off or on one occasion I was blatantly ignored... I honestly don't know what to do? Anyone had this? Is it anxiety related or do I need to take this further? I forgot to mention I also feel very rundown but I also have a 4 months old Daughter who isn't sleeping well.. HELP!!!

Rach28 extremely overwhelmed and anxious after quitting my job
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone. Im writing this post to i guess vent but also seek support because Ive been interalising this for a while now. In August 2024 this year I got a job and quit very quickly after I started the role. I recieved some very negative "constructi... View more

Hi everyone. Im writing this post to i guess vent but also seek support because Ive been interalising this for a while now. In August 2024 this year I got a job and quit very quickly after I started the role. I recieved some very negative "constructive" feedback from my employer regarding my work performance. As a result of this feedback I had an anxiety attack and quit on the spot. To this day their feedback has been imprinted in my brain making me think over and over again "im not good enough" and "im not employable". I know I should be telling myself that their feedback was nothing personal and yes this job wasnt right for me - i hated every single second and was burnt out on my first shift. But I cant help but feel that after being told this same feedback face-to-face and over the telephone. Frustrating part is they werent aware i quit and wanted to offer me a different form of work which in my opinion was rude after the feedback they shared with no emotion or care for my feelings..... Its really impacted the way I view myself and my absolute fear and trauma of failing. I'm scared to fail again after what happened.I'm scared of getting a job and dealing with an employer that tells me that I am not good enough. So yeah I guess I'm sharing this because deep down I'm petrified and scared of repeating my failure and putting myself in a situation where my hard work and energy is criticized. Has anyone else dealt with this situation after quitting a job and receiving negative feedback? I just am so scared of repeating my same mistake and forced to find a job again as I'm currently on Centrelink Job Seeker payment. I feel trapped and stuck dealing with people that dont understand my anxiety or the fact I dont feel like I am employable. I hate that others have made me think this about myself when I know deep down I am employable. But I cant help but let others opinions impact me when my self-esteem and self-confidence is already so low. I hate that my anxiety controls my life this way and makes everything impossible. Does anyone have any suggestions or strategies? I'm trying to consider studying before jumping into a new employment role and even that triggers my anxiety and i feel overwhelmed. So no matter what I do - my anxiety is always there. Help and advice because I am scared and stuck wanting to avoid anything stressful or that will cause me to be in a position of failure. If anyone is reading this and can relate - please help.

meeeeeeee emetophobia chat
  • replies: 17

hey i have emetophobia and i really need people who understand! please reach out if you have this phobiai have it severely about watching other people but also a bit myself no one respects it with me and i need help to be a bit more clear about my bo... View more

hey i have emetophobia and i really need people who understand! please reach out if you have this phobiai have it severely about watching other people but also a bit myself no one respects it with me and i need help to be a bit more clear about my boundaries and if anyone has tips about how to calm down with this phobia please help thank you!

Rachel_25 Knowing when to ask for support
  • replies: 2

I’ve recently titrated off my anxiety medications at the advice of my GP. Now I’m two weeks into the 2025 working year realise my anxiety cloud is returning (IBS type anxiety symptoms, feeling very teary and emotional, a sense of impending doom, a st... View more

I’ve recently titrated off my anxiety medications at the advice of my GP. Now I’m two weeks into the 2025 working year realise my anxiety cloud is returning (IBS type anxiety symptoms, feeling very teary and emotional, a sense of impending doom, a strong sense of listlessness and feeling untethered). Knowing that I need to deal with this before it becomes worse, I’ve booked myself to see my GP and will discuss resuming a lower dose of medication. I’m glad to have a greater awareness to seek help before it gets even worse and wanted to share. I’m not ashamed to ask for help or share my anxiety journey anymore.

bigaloo Anxiety + Comparing oneself
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I just wanted another person's opinion on how exactly do I overcome my issue of comparing myself with others? I know the harm of it, and I can very much feel the pain that it gives me but I just can't stop. For instance, I either feel like I'... View more

Hi all, I just wanted another person's opinion on how exactly do I overcome my issue of comparing myself with others? I know the harm of it, and I can very much feel the pain that it gives me but I just can't stop. For instance, I either feel like I'm never doing enough / never achieving enough / my life isn't where I expect it to be etc. It's really messing with my head and has led to quite bad anxiety and I'm not too sure what to do. Open to any input and advice.

Guest_52249044 Just need someone to talk to
  • replies: 1

Hi, sorry i just need someone to talk to/get this off my chest. Just had a really bad argument with my partner in which he was telling me that I need therapy and all that and I asked to stop the discussion lots of time but they just kept going on. Th... View more

Hi, sorry i just need someone to talk to/get this off my chest. Just had a really bad argument with my partner in which he was telling me that I need therapy and all that and I asked to stop the discussion lots of time but they just kept going on. The things they said weren’t necessarily wrong I just didn’t need to hear them then and there, and already felt bad enough about the situation. I also could’ve heard those things in a nicer way (not the point I guess). Anyways I may have taken it a bit far by saying like well we both deal with our issues a different way and they could probably use therapy too to cope healthier, in which they took it as I was comparing our issues of their sick father and my anxiety. Obviously that’s not the case and I feel so terrible that it came across that way and I just don’t know what to do.

321 Anxiety feelings
  • replies: 1

I have had so much trouble with my adult son over the years.In and out of prison and rehab. This last 2 months have been so upsetting and took a lot out of me. So much emotional and so anxious. I am 73 this year and this time really taken it out of m... View more

I have had so much trouble with my adult son over the years.In and out of prison and rehab. This last 2 months have been so upsetting and took a lot out of me. So much emotional and so anxious. I am 73 this year and this time really taken it out of me. The feelings in my stomach so full of nerves, not sleeping from it.Feeling sickly all the time I just don't know how to cope with it. My partner of 40 years been so supportive he us 78 this year. My son 54 this year went to rehab yet again 2 days ago, it is so sad the life he's lived through alcohol and drugs. We did not leave on very nice terms when we dropped off at the rehab. Which is now preying on my mind.I do love him but not who he is just now. I would appreciate any feedback and recommendations on how I can overcome this anxious nervous feeling.

aimemari Going overseas for the first time but alone
  • replies: 2

This is a huge thing for me, as someone who has always been so enclosed, introverted and dependent on others and I'm 21. I made the decision to travel to the USA to meet my boyfriend and I have to go alone. I leave in 7 days and I am just dreading it... View more

This is a huge thing for me, as someone who has always been so enclosed, introverted and dependent on others and I'm 21. I made the decision to travel to the USA to meet my boyfriend and I have to go alone. I leave in 7 days and I am just dreading it because I'm afraid of crowds and also the ear pressure in planes. I bought those pressure regulator earbuds meant for flights so I am hoping it'll work but I am scared of navigating the Los Angeles airport on my own. This is going to be like exposure therapy for me as I will have to hop out of my comfort zone to ask for help from anyone around me but it's super anxiety inducing as it is... What are some tips you'd recommend for my first time flying alone?