Support
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 conversation

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
Categories
Start a conversation

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

Start a conversation

Bulldogbobby73 Anxiety and my heart
  • replies: 5

Hello everyone, This is my first post and I like a lot of people am suffering from anxiety. it all started a few weeks ago when I was cooking a BBQ around my in-laws house and I had felt really anxious all day with non- specific pains all over my bod... View more

Hello everyone, This is my first post and I like a lot of people am suffering from anxiety. it all started a few weeks ago when I was cooking a BBQ around my in-laws house and I had felt really anxious all day with non- specific pains all over my body but the ones in my diaphragm caused me to start worrying, then I did a stupid thing ad measured my heart rate on my phone app and it was 143, that was it, I freaked out and demand my wife take me to the ER. Bottom line - I was there for four hours or so, the nurses were great though, they done a ECG, blood tests and chest X-Ray, all was normal and they suggested to see someone for my anxiety. Then the very next week I had the biggest palpitation I’ve had in my life sitting with my wife and my little boy, so I freaked out again and went to the ER - same thing, tests all good but they kept me there from 8 in the evening until 5 in the morning. But told me the same thing. My problem is my heart rate always seems high now 120 odd and I am constantly vigilant there is something wrong, I am never relaxed and when it seems I am something always happens. Last night I woke up with my heart nearly beating out of my chest and it took me an age to calm myself down (I am seeing a sleep specialist as I think I have apnoea) so all day I have felt terrible as I haven’t slept and my anxiety has reached such levels that I feel like I am going to have a breakdown. Has anyone felt something like this- I feel so alone land helpless.

Yen2 Just got diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder after 10 years and I don't know what to do.
  • replies: 28

So it turns out I have GAD and I don't know why. I tick all the symptoms. I worry about the future and everything I can but I can't stop it. I'm constantly tired and hungry everyday. I bite and pick my fingers and can't concentrate well. I tried usin... View more

So it turns out I have GAD and I don't know why. I tick all the symptoms. I worry about the future and everything I can but I can't stop it. I'm constantly tired and hungry everyday. I bite and pick my fingers and can't concentrate well. I tried using those anxiety-relief toys and meditation but nothing works for me. I'm not sure what to do even though I'm quite happy I finally know what's happening to me. I know I can do therapy or take medications. I'm keen on starting my therapy treatment next week but at the same time I'm quite at a lost on what I should do before then...Should I still function the same way I am now? I can't tell my family in detail as they wouldn't give me very good advice, my friends are ultra busy and also have things going on so my only support right now is my boyfriend. But I know I can't rely on him everytime as that can be exhausting to his mental health adding with all he has going on. Would love to hear similar stories and how you deal with GAD! Stay safe

altered_stu I have had ongoing burning/stinging/irritated skin for months. Could this be anxiety?
  • replies: 1

For a few months now, I have been experiencing a sensation that feels like sunburn in certain parts of my body (tops of feet, buttocks, neck, forehead). The sensations come and go but they are there every day. My dermatologist ran blood tests and can... View more

For a few months now, I have been experiencing a sensation that feels like sunburn in certain parts of my body (tops of feet, buttocks, neck, forehead). The sensations come and go but they are there every day. My dermatologist ran blood tests and can't find anything wrong. Often there is no visible sign, but sometimes there is some blotchy redness. It's causing me a lot of distress - it's uncomfortable to walk or sit sometimes, and other times my feet burn so much I can't get to sleep at night. It's also contributing to my health anxiety because I keep wondering if it means MS or something, or just that it will never get resolved. Has anyone else had this with anxiety?

MelJan1990 A man keeps coming to my house. I have a lot of anxiety!
  • replies: 3

Hi, so I have camera outside my house and it has captured a man several times in my yard. At first I didn't know who he was but come to think of it he looks a lot like the builder who came to fix my shower ages ago. I have reported it to the police b... View more

Hi, so I have camera outside my house and it has captured a man several times in my yard. At first I didn't know who he was but come to think of it he looks a lot like the builder who came to fix my shower ages ago. I have reported it to the police but the police haven't done anything. I am anxious as I think I may be being watched. Footage has come up of him standing next to my bedroom window. I don't even know why he is there.

Dave_100 Affordable Medication for Anxiety
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, new to this site. Struggling really bad with Anxiety and Depression as well as Epilepsy. I have been to see the CDA doctors and been prescribed oil and flower to control my symptoms but I cannot afford to buy it? Is this some kind of sic... View more

Hi everyone, new to this site. Struggling really bad with Anxiety and Depression as well as Epilepsy. I have been to see the CDA doctors and been prescribed oil and flower to control my symptoms but I cannot afford to buy it? Is this some kind of sick joke? I had no idea it would be so expensive. I would like to get it the legal way but this is not possible for me. I blame the government for making me have to go through the black market to be able to get my medication and would hold them responsible and accountable for anything that might happen to me while trying to achieve this. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a way I can get cheaper scripts ? Can I get a discount through Medicare or the government? Any help is appreciated sorry if it seems like a big rant but I am so lost and confused as to how to move forwards in my life with out my medication.

Lucyyy Healthy anxiety, panic attacks and agrophobia
  • replies: 1

Good evening my lovely’s!!! as we all know, we are going through the absolute ringer but at least we’re doing it together right? I wanted to put this thread out there as I’ve recently started having a new symptom, I have started to convince myself th... View more

Good evening my lovely’s!!! as we all know, we are going through the absolute ringer but at least we’re doing it together right? I wanted to put this thread out there as I’ve recently started having a new symptom, I have started to convince myself that all my food will give me anaphylactic shock. Has anyone else experienced? I’m not allergic to anything that I know of and haven’t ever experienced it first hand or have a reason to be traumatised by it. while we are on the subject does anyone have any tips or stories they’d like to share on anxiety, panic attacks and acrophobia? love, Lucy

Andre92 Hi, this is new to me
  • replies: 2

Hey guys, new here. I'm a single bloke in my late 20s heading towards my 30s and find myself dealing with the pressures of work and family expectations. This week really triggered my anxiety and stress. Tiring that I have to muster the energy to mana... View more

Hey guys, new here. I'm a single bloke in my late 20s heading towards my 30s and find myself dealing with the pressures of work and family expectations. This week really triggered my anxiety and stress. Tiring that I have to muster the energy to manage my team at work and tiring that i have to deal with my parents setting up these suitors for me. I've always been an anxious person and to tend to overthink things. My family and friends tell me its just stress and to relax but they don't understand what i feel all the time. Its hard for me to explain but there are days where i ask myself what am i doing with my life, what can't I do this or be good enough. And sometimes i just feel empty and tired from all of it.

Celtic3 Panic Attacks - Falling Asleep and Waking At Night
  • replies: 4

I've seen this topic discussed somewhere a while ago. Have had 3 big bouts of clinical depression three times in my life, last 25 years ago. All good since then - except - I was diagnosed with Mild to Moderate Anxiety late last year, did a CBT course... View more

I've seen this topic discussed somewhere a while ago. Have had 3 big bouts of clinical depression three times in my life, last 25 years ago. All good since then - except - I was diagnosed with Mild to Moderate Anxiety late last year, did a CBT course, recovered. Had a relapse March this year maybe half as bad as before, but still lingering. Amongst other aspects of each episode were panic attacks in daytime napping, plus waking from sleep with panic attacks at night. Very scary. No panic attacks during day. I'm not on any anxiety or other relevant medication. Tried meditation and controlled breathing with very limited success. Anyone had similar experiences and/or know how to deal with this? Thanks.

Jane22 Too anxious to get help for my anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi. This is my first post. I really don’t know where else to go so I thought this might be a good place. I have suffered anxiety for so long it’s hard to remember when it started. It’s friend depression likes to visit me too but not as often. I have ... View more

Hi. This is my first post. I really don’t know where else to go so I thought this might be a good place. I have suffered anxiety for so long it’s hard to remember when it started. It’s friend depression likes to visit me too but not as often. I have tried over the years to seek support but there always seems to be a roadblock that maybe sometimes I’m creating. Anxiety has stopped me from living, unable to go do the things that I used to. It has broken up my marriage. I’m sure it has impacted my children’s lives. And it is debilitating and never ending. I have sought gp’s. I was put on medication that made me gain weight very quickly and feel emotionless. I came off it. After coming off the medication I had my very first intrusive thoughts. I told me husband. He held me and told me things would be ok. I never went back to the gp because I didn’t want to be medicated again. Years went back with me trying to find new things to help. My husband was getting tired of supporting me. I sought another go and requesting something other than medication. I was sent to a dietician because by this time I was unable to eat if I had to leave the house as my anxiety would cause diarrhoea. The look my dietician gave me when I said I was still struggling to eat even if it was just to take my dog for a walk just reinforced that I was nuts and no one understood. I didn’t go back. At this time I was seeing a psychologist and things were starting to get quite bad and after one entire session of crying hysterically and finally admitting I was thinking of suicide the time was up and the psychologist said her next appointment wasn’t for a month. I had just told this lady that I wanted to die. I will never forget that day. It was devastating. Since then I have called lifeline on the worst nights. My husband has left. I am a single mother. I am lost and alone and I honestly don’t know where to go from here.

G1997 Teacher anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hello! I am a graduate teacher who recently took over in a maternity position role. I have OCD, general anxiety and depression but I am fairly on top of it usually. Last year, I worked my butt off going to therapy, a healthy diet, exercising everyday... View more

Hello! I am a graduate teacher who recently took over in a maternity position role. I have OCD, general anxiety and depression but I am fairly on top of it usually. Last year, I worked my butt off going to therapy, a healthy diet, exercising everyday and completing self care practises and it made the world of a difference. I went off medication and felt like I was really in control of things. I love my job a lot and have enjoyed the term thoroughly. However, when it came to report writing time I suddenly started to experience anxiety around it. I had no motivation to go to work, I have been panicking about it and obsessing over it wherever I go. Even when I am in bed reading my book or scrolling on my phone it’s all I can think about. I was having a panic attack almost every single night after work. Logically, when I speak to people I am able to think about things clearly and feel calmer but it’s not long before I spiral again. I ended up going to emergency as I couldn’t calm myself down and I had recently moved house where I had not set up a GP or psychologist in my new area. They gave me some medication to get through the weekend which helped but I was to the point where I couldn’t complete reports without having medication. I saw a doctor who put me back on medication but most psychologists are currently not available until September and it’s tricky that I work school hours. I have reached out to my school who have been super supportive and I expected to feel relief after having a good conversation with them but it hasn’t gotten any better. I am still either consistently anxious or I’m sleeping all day and not getting out of my pyjamas. I am to the point where I want to leave my job or ask for a job share position. I feel like a failure though because I worked really hard at uni to achieve this and I feel like I’m throwing it away. I’ve been told that I have so much potential as a teacher and that I am doing a great job but at the moment my anxiety is crippling me. I don’t want to give up but I don’t know what the best decision is for my health. Does anyone have any advice or has been in a similar situation??

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map