Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

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. 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

EC123 Health Anxiety
  • replies: 13

Hi, I’m new to this forum. For as long as I can remember I have had anxiety. I mean, as a child I would have panic attacks that would make me vomit at the thought of going to school or sleeping away from home. As I have gotten older, this anxiety has... View more

Hi, I’m new to this forum. For as long as I can remember I have had anxiety. I mean, as a child I would have panic attacks that would make me vomit at the thought of going to school or sleeping away from home. As I have gotten older, this anxiety has become more generalised and sometimes comes on so intensely without any real trigger. Lately I have been having some health issues, but I am constantly finding myself obsessing over what could be wrong and always google searching my symptoms to find what my condition could be. I know it’s normal to be worried about your health sometimes, but I feel like I am completely consumed by this anxiety. I struggle to eat, study or think clearly and I go through periods of not being able to sleep no matter how exhausted I am. I just want to get to the bottom of these health issues and get on top of my mental health, as right now I feel like I’m drowning. How can I calm myself at least until I get my medical results? And how can I change my way of thinking to a more positive mindset? TIA for any advice!

SquireHarbour None of my spaces are safe
  • replies: 6

Hello everyone, it's me again back with more lockdown venting. I just saw the stuff happen on the television. I just feel sick to death of the anti-lockdown protesters claims of freedom. I really want to go out there and shout at the world but I know... View more

Hello everyone, it's me again back with more lockdown venting. I just saw the stuff happen on the television. I just feel sick to death of the anti-lockdown protesters claims of freedom. I really want to go out there and shout at the world but I know that won't help. Mostly I am feeling extremely let down for my future prospects. I am scared of calling the helplines because I don't think they will understand what I am feeling about all of this. My parents have tried multiple times to help, but they're at their wits end. My psych and my meds helped but every day still feels like a rut. I don't know how I am going to survive until September. I tried going to the coping thread on this forum, but all it seems to be now waves of cynicism, hatred and dreams of punishment, posters just angry at everything and not cooping at all (raging about people, blaming people, having opinions that are just damaging MH and not contributing anything at all) and I can't stand my spaces being infected with this stuff any longer. Seeing the anti lockdown protests on the telly, people raging about 'the media', angry at people, rage at everything, its just sending my anxiety through the roof. Is this what its going to be like until next year? People raging at everything? I wish I can tell people to just stop, but I am terrified they will all jump on me as a breakage of the train line. And I still feel disconnected from everything, really.

PiCkLeMuFfIn Social Anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hey, ive been suffering with social anxiety for over 2 years now, and im struggling with it, making friends and talking to people at school and work is hard for me. every time im forced to talk to someone or if i have to a presentation at school i st... View more

Hey, ive been suffering with social anxiety for over 2 years now, and im struggling with it, making friends and talking to people at school and work is hard for me. every time im forced to talk to someone or if i have to a presentation at school i start to freak out, i start shaking and sweating and fidgiting and i start to cry and i cant seem to take control of it. Self confidence is another big thing that im struggling with. Doesn't matter if im lacking in self confidence in my self or just trying to make friends, i just cant do it, i just seem to break down and cry cause i cant fix it, cause i cant help it that im like this, i just wish i was confiedent, everything will be a lot more easier for me. i do see a therapist but i feel like it doesnt help me at all, all i do is talk about it, but never able to fix it. im scared to tell my parents that i dont want to go anymore, but im scared to tell them. see i cant even talk to my own parents. i wish i was an extrovert. i wish i was good enough. recently, ive started talking to a boy i really like and he likes me back, but the thing is we are both inroverts and its kinda hard to talk to him without fidgeting. we try and try and try but we can never seem to talk irl, we talk perfectly fine on instagram but in person just freaks us out, it would just be a little more easier if one of us was an extrovert. i just need someones advice and help on this. ive been really sad lately and just hate it, i like being happy. someone pls just come and help me. or even if your like me an just want to talk about it.

JennaD anxiety back and worse
  • replies: 8

I was first diagnosed at 16 weeks pregnant with my second child with pre natal anxiety and depression, I was then medicated and had been up until a month ago when I stopped taking it abruptly silly me hey! not the smartest thing to do after taking th... View more

I was first diagnosed at 16 weeks pregnant with my second child with pre natal anxiety and depression, I was then medicated and had been up until a month ago when I stopped taking it abruptly silly me hey! not the smartest thing to do after taking them for 5 years! fast forward to almost 3 weeks ago when I had 3 panic attacks in the matter of 15 minutes went to the hospital to check everything and everything was fine. I then knew i needed to get back on my medication . I've been back on my medication for about 2 weeks now and honestly feel worse then before had a doctors appointment yesterday and he upped my dosage. I know that will make my anxiety play up. I'm suffering from health anxiety as I now know cause I'm constantly thinking that I have cancer or a brain tumor or there's something seriously wrong also suffer panic disorder and depression, I'm constantly scared and crying over what I feel is nothing, have trouble sleeping cause I'm to scared to cause I'm scared I won't wake up, I live everyday scared that somethings gonna happen, I feel stupid to tell people what's wrong and how I feel cause I feel people just think I'm stupid and crazy. I'm waiting to see a physc to help me threw and help me deal with everything. I'm at the stage in my medication I think where it's getting worse before it gets better Ive never cried so much in my life! I've been threw this before and came out better but unfortunately I stuffed up and relapsed but guess we learn from our mistakes hey! it does make it better knowing I'm not the only one with these kind of symptoms and feelings! and I've learnt a lot from reading everyone's else's threads just wish we knew why anxiety makes us think the things we do and does what it does to us. hopefully I can get better for my kids and partner.

Euphorie Feeling trapped
  • replies: 9

I have unfortunately bought a place next door to a hoarder. They hoard animals and junk. I didn’t know and I couldn’t see the place until all the trees got cut down. It’s traumatic to see it. The first warning was the dozens of barking dogs. Then oth... View more

I have unfortunately bought a place next door to a hoarder. They hoard animals and junk. I didn’t know and I couldn’t see the place until all the trees got cut down. It’s traumatic to see it. The first warning was the dozens of barking dogs. Then other red flags started. It’s been super scary since November and I am really struggling now. I have a protection order to help me since they also have taken to screaming at me, and put up a sign saying they’ll shoot. Meanwhile I am selling. I’ve built a big fence but not on the boundary as it was a case of no tradies would do it they were all threatened too. It’s not exactly ideal. My money is going down the drain. The local authorities wash their hands of responsibility. I live only inside with nobody to talk to but I have a few friends I have told. My child has two brain lesions and suffers severe epilepsy. They’ve been to ER and inpatient more than a dozen times this year. My life is not going great. I had major surgery this year. I feel like nobody will buy this place now. That all my best effort’s are wasted, that I am so weak I can’t drive even, that I only have police support, that I will never get out of what really is a Living hell. I try to stay positive I try to cope with the 24/7 noise pollution from next door but I am starting to fall apart. There’s no real laws to help this situation. I really need some love and hope. Thanks for being here.

Bits12 I’m struggling to help my teen with panic attacks.
  • replies: 13

My 16 year old daughter is usually bright, bubbly, smart, funny, has a great bunch of friends, not a care in the world. It all crashed down 2 weeks ago when she had her first panic attack. She ended up in hospital due to chest pains. Tests ruled out ... View more

My 16 year old daughter is usually bright, bubbly, smart, funny, has a great bunch of friends, not a care in the world. It all crashed down 2 weeks ago when she had her first panic attack. She ended up in hospital due to chest pains. Tests ruled out a physical cause. Since then she’s had daily attacks. She has had the stuffing knocked out of her. There is no joy, no happiness, no motivation. She is embarrassed and angry about why this has happened to her. She can’t eat, she cries all the time. She is a straight A student who is watching her grades slip away because she just can’t find the energy to do anything. This is making her more anxious. She doesn’t want people at school to see her like this. She wants to be “normal” again but can’t see a way out. She has spoken to her school counsellor. She’s spoken to the Beyond Blue counselling line. She’s seen her GP, who has ordered blood tests to rule out any physical cause like iron level or thyroid. It will take a week for results. I’m lost as to how to help. Every day that goes by she is getting worse. It’s like a switch has been flicked off inside her and I don’t recognise her now. She’s lost her essence, her spark, in an instant. She says her mind and body have betrayed her and it’s like she’s just given up. Anything that will help her will take weeks or months and I don’t think we can wait that long. We’re both just so sad.

Summerinvincible Emetophobia
  • replies: 6

My 11 year old daughter has emetophobia. She’s had anxiety for years and very low self esteem caused by her father leaving and starting a family with another woman when she was 7. All these things have contributed towards her emetophobia. We have jus... View more

My 11 year old daughter has emetophobia. She’s had anxiety for years and very low self esteem caused by her father leaving and starting a family with another woman when she was 7. All these things have contributed towards her emetophobia. We have just started the Thrive program. Does anyone have experience with dealing with emetophobia?

infjt I want to quit my job but I can't
  • replies: 9

I am currently a student doing a part-time job in property management. This job is not aligned with my career path and some areas of the job are not aligned with my values. I want to resign to focus on building my skills and finding a job aligned wit... View more

I am currently a student doing a part-time job in property management. This job is not aligned with my career path and some areas of the job are not aligned with my values. I want to resign to focus on building my skills and finding a job aligned with my values and career path. In addition to that, lately, I have been so stressed with too much workload and pressure in addition to the stress in completing all my school assessments. I have to work or can't help but think about work even on my day off. I don't know if it's because of stress but I've been feeling sick often and having palpitations. One time after work, I just locked myself in my room for almost 24 hours and I don't even know why I did that. I have been thinking about resigning for some time now (months) but I can't find the courage to do so. Now, my manager is going through something difficult and the workload is heavy, and I don't want to be an additional burden so I can't hand in my resignation. I don't know what to do.

PsychedelicFur Anxiety for university interview tomorrow morning
  • replies: 3

Hello there, Recently - as of last week I made some university applications for a bachelor of communications/journalism. As I have almost completed my diploma for 2021 and I am thoroughly enjoying the content and want to expand my knowledge. I really... View more

Hello there, Recently - as of last week I made some university applications for a bachelor of communications/journalism. As I have almost completed my diploma for 2021 and I am thoroughly enjoying the content and want to expand my knowledge. I really have a thirst for learning. One of the higher education places I applied for has arranged an interview with me for tomorrow. I am so anxious. When I was aware of the interview late last week, on the night, I prepared my answers to the three set questions. As I want to appear punctual, responsible, organised, ethical and invested in my learning. I love learning. I thoroughly enjoy studying. I have read over my set questions hundreds and hundreds times and I am feeling confident. Just a little nervous. PF.

Banksia20 Anyone with Social Anxiety?
  • replies: 13

Hi, Anyone else here with social anxiety? I'm not a shy person but I constantly worry what people think of me or I will go over and over things I have said or done. It is exhausting! Any advice to reduce these thoughts and emotions?

Hi, Anyone else here with social anxiety? I'm not a shy person but I constantly worry what people think of me or I will go over and over things I have said or done. It is exhausting! Any advice to reduce these thoughts and emotions?