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

All discussions

Guest_1573 Adult ADHD?
  • replies: 2

Hi All For as long as I can remember (since a very young child) I have always suffered from anxiety, fear, feeling 'different', feeling inadequate. I have a history of anorexia/body dysmorphia, depression, anxiety, somatic symptom disorder. PTSD (I w... View more

Hi All For as long as I can remember (since a very young child) I have always suffered from anxiety, fear, feeling 'different', feeling inadequate. I have a history of anorexia/body dysmorphia, depression, anxiety, somatic symptom disorder. PTSD (I won't go into it all here). Needless to say I have seen numerous professionals over the years. Been prescribed many medications. None of which worked. I have been doing some research and I actually think on top of everything I have adult ADHD. Probably always had it but it was undiagnosed hence never receiving the help I need. I ALWAYS feel on edge. Constantly. I can not stick to anything. I break appointments. I overeat or drink/smoke...always an oral fixation! I am constantly worn out from this. I truly never relax. I wake often during the night. I have always been a very highly strung person (I have a rather unfortunate history which has possibly made me this way?). Just wondered if anyone else feels the same and if they have been diagnosed? I am seeing GP this week to discuss. Now that I am middle aged one would think life would be calmer . It is the total opposite. Thanks for reading. Thanks for any responses.

Missmary05 Anxiety, palpitations and burping
  • replies: 1

Hi all, not sure if the post I was writing disappeared, so I'll rewrite. I've had anxiety all my life, but the symptoms of the latest flareup are extremely loud burping which can go on for quite a while after most meals, and often leads to bouts of e... View more

Hi all, not sure if the post I was writing disappeared, so I'll rewrite. I've had anxiety all my life, but the symptoms of the latest flareup are extremely loud burping which can go on for quite a while after most meals, and often leads to bouts of ectopy (3 or 4 normal beats, then a skipped beat or double beat). I have a hiatus hernia so am thinking my present anxiety could be exacerbating the gerd. I have this most days at the moment, and have had it before with previous bouts of anxiety. When I am relaxed, I don't get the burping or the palpitations. I've had tests which show my heart is fine but it's still scary, and the more I tense up, the more everything happens. I also sometimes get it when I wake in the night, but not as badly, and I find mornings are the worst times for me. I've started seeing a psychologist, and am taking essential oils and natural minerals (not sure how well they're working though). Don't want to make a habit of my medication either, but would like to know if anyone else has these anxiety symptoms, and if so, what do they find works for them.

Susanna4568 Excessive daydreaming
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone! I'm still relatively new to these threads so I'm sorry if I break any forum rules (I also wasn't sure what section to post in) I started seeing a therapist last year after dealing with anxiety, intrusive thoughts and OCD. A lot of this w... View more

Hi everyone! I'm still relatively new to these threads so I'm sorry if I break any forum rules (I also wasn't sure what section to post in) I started seeing a therapist last year after dealing with anxiety, intrusive thoughts and OCD. A lot of this was caused, or at least worsened, by me being quite isolated due to COVID (I'm no longer isolated). My anxiety/intrusive thoughts have improved and I'm no longer seeing my psychologist. I've always been someone who has daydreamed a lot. I had a vivid imagination as a kid and I think I daydreamed just for fun. However, since my decline in my mental health last year, I have noticed a huge increase in my daydreaming. It has only been recently I've recognised how much it impacts my life; I can do it for hours at a time. I feel as though I'm almost addicted to it, and it is definitely a form of escapism. My life almost feels boring without it which then in turn makes me feel sad/depressed. I also kinda feel guilty when I do it, as I do have a close family and who I like spending time with, but I just cant help but daydream almost all the time. Even though I somewhat enjoy the daydreaming when I'm actually doing it, it feels unhealthy and I feel like it is starting to take over my life. I worry that I will lose my grip on reality because of it, which makes me anxious. I guess I would like some advice/any opinions on this? I am hoping to return to my therapist again to talk about it with them too. Thank you

Susanna4568 Scared to stop going to therapy
  • replies: 11

Hi everyone! This is my first time posting so I'm sorry if my post is not following any forum rules or etiquette. I started seeing a psychologist last year after dealing with anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts and procrastination. I had so many physica... View more

Hi everyone! This is my first time posting so I'm sorry if my post is not following any forum rules or etiquette. I started seeing a psychologist last year after dealing with anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts and procrastination. I had so many physical symptoms of anxiety, couldn't be home alone or by myself at all, and felt like I didn't know myself anymore. I was basically overanalysing and worrying about anything and everything. I was overthinking my entire life which was causing me to deal with so many different OCD themes and I experienced graphic, detailed intrusive thoughts. Fast forward 6 months and my psychologist said that if I feel comfortable, I don't really need to come back to see them anymore. I am definitely doing much better; I have a good understanding of my mental health and how my brain reacts to triggers and certain situations. I can be home alone and no longer feel like I am about to "lose my mind". Despite my improvement, I feel really scared to stop going to therapy. I constantly feel as though I am about to tip over the edge and lose myself again. I worry that if I do go back, my psychologist will think I am overreacting and am wasting their time when they could be seeing other patients who are struggling much more than I am. I guess I would appreciate some advice on what I should do. Do I have to be completely better to stop going to therapy? If I start to feel terrible again, am I allowed to go back and see my psychologist even if they have already given me all the tools I need to cope?

Mumma_of_two Has medication helped you with severe anxiety inducing phobia?
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Hello, I'm just wondering if there is anyone out there who has found medication effective for helping with a phobia? I suffer with a severe phobia of a specific illness (I'm sorry, I can't write the name) but this phobia rules my life and stops me fr... View more

Hello, I'm just wondering if there is anyone out there who has found medication effective for helping with a phobia? I suffer with a severe phobia of a specific illness (I'm sorry, I can't write the name) but this phobia rules my life and stops me from functioning like a regular human. I'm suffering immensely, but there's also a follow-on effect for my husband and my children. Plus I’m a full time uni student and my assignments are suffering because of it as well. I'm just so completely overwhelmed by it and to be honest I'm so drained by it that all I want to do is cry. It consumes my every waking thought, and it often infiltrates my nightmares. I’m sorry for rambling, I just want to know if anyone had any experience with this sort of thing? And if you’ve tried medication, does it stop the constant thoughts? I just want the constant thoughts of my phobia to stop, I just want to think about normal every day things. I’m falling apart at the seams and it's getting harder and harder to be the mum and wife that I so desperately want to be again. Sorry for writing such a big post

Mina19 Struggling with uni workload
  • replies: 2

Hi people, I’m just been feeling sick/off lately. I’m thinking it has something to do with my uni homework load. I have noticed in the past when I have a few big assessments due all at once I end up at the doctors a lot. I feel stupid feeling like th... View more

Hi people, I’m just been feeling sick/off lately. I’m thinking it has something to do with my uni homework load. I have noticed in the past when I have a few big assessments due all at once I end up at the doctors a lot. I feel stupid feeling like this but I don’t know what I can do to feel better and stop this from happening. Like I’m doing my work but it sometimes feels like a mountain and then my severe anxiety gets triggered it’s a mess. But I definitely noticed I go doctors much more especially when the workload is huge. Is this normal like to feel yucky/sick stomach for no reason because of this.

MissJ94 Feel like such an idiot!
  • replies: 11

Ive just had my second appointment with the psychologist. I feel it went really well, was able to open up more about a few things and got good feedback and solutions to a few more issues that have been bothering me. It felt good to talk about those t... View more

Ive just had my second appointment with the psychologist. I feel it went really well, was able to open up more about a few things and got good feedback and solutions to a few more issues that have been bothering me. It felt good to talk about those things and i really did leave with my head held high sort of thing. That was until i got to reception to book my next 2 sessions. I dont know who had put the idea in my head but i was genuinely under the impression that with my mental health care plan i had 6 free sessions with the psychologist! I dont know who had planted that thought but thats what i genuinely believed! Looking back i realise how stupid i was! The lady at reception said i had just walked out without paying last time and that i needed to pay for both then and there. This was despite seeing the reception lady last time about my next appointment and nothing was mentioned about having to pay anything! Usually that wouldnt be an issue. Id just apologise for what happened, pay whats due and go on with my day. But because ive been on placement the last 2 weeks and unable to work im literally broke right now. Have $53 until wednesday when i get my FTB payment which even then isnt much! After that its next thursday ill get paid all of just about nothing because ive had to be off work for placement. I dont get paid for completing placement and centrelink wont let me go on job seeker even though im now earning well under their max. The doom came straight over me as i stood there explaining this to the lady who really didnt give a crap and just needed me to pay now. After promising id be back on wednesday to pay both fees i finally walked out almost crying. Got into my car and all the emotions just came right up and in an instant i felt like self harming if i had the means then and there. As i drove home i just cried and still am. How could i be SO stupid to not realise that of course its not free! How had no one told me this sooner! Why did no one call me about it in the 2 weeks its been since my last appointment! My head hurts from crying now! Im always such an honest person and it really hits me when someones trying to say otherwise! I genuinely didnt know! So now ive gone from feeling pretty good to absolute crap. Of course ill be there first thing wednesday morning! I almost feel too ashamed to even go back for my next appointment.. What hurts even more is that when faced with something sudden like this, it was self harm my mind first went to..

Xu1 social anxiety
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Hi i am wondering has anyone actually got through social anxiety orrr is it just something you have to grim and bear through have tried program before it didnt really work for me at time might try agian...anyone tried the medication side of things? W... View more

Hi i am wondering has anyone actually got through social anxiety orrr is it just something you have to grim and bear through have tried program before it didnt really work for me at time might try agian...anyone tried the medication side of things? Would be very nice just to have a break from it every now and then or in the hard spots sometimes i dunno it can be verry draining sometimes.

ypla Depersonalisation
  • replies: 4

I've been having this feeling where I feel like I'm not in control of my body and actions. Let's say I start a conversation with someone and in mid conversation, I forget what I was saying, or cannot say the things I want to say. I've been to many aw... View more

I've been having this feeling where I feel like I'm not in control of my body and actions. Let's say I start a conversation with someone and in mid conversation, I forget what I was saying, or cannot say the things I want to say. I've been to many awkward situations because of this condition. Another time, I feel like I've done something bad (that I obviously didn't do like murdering someone) and feel guilty about it. It feels like I have two versions of myself and my other half acts independently from myself. Has anyone felt the same? Should I bring it up with my psychologist? or do I need to see a psychiatrist?

Stefan164 Should I seek help for OCD/Anxiety?
  • replies: 10

Hey everyone, I have had anxiety for quite a long time now and I also think I have had OCD for a long time but this has never been formally diagnosed. It is at its worst when I am stressed or feeling anxious and effects me in a variety of ways For ex... View more

Hey everyone, I have had anxiety for quite a long time now and I also think I have had OCD for a long time but this has never been formally diagnosed. It is at its worst when I am stressed or feeling anxious and effects me in a variety of ways For example at the moment I have recently started the lab work component of my honours at university this year. Throughout the day my mind is constantly in overdrive when working as I am constantly checking and double checking things throughout the day. Whether or not I put things back in the fridge and closed the door properly, if I switched off powerpoints, if I put enough liquid in the jars, if I followed the right step, If I labelled things right etc. Even today I was the last one to leave the lab and I checked some of the powerpoints and fridges 4 or 5 times before leaving I was even heading to the door but had to double back because of that lingering anxiety feeling so I could check them all again. All of this is leaving me mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the day and my concentration is getting worse as all of my focus is going towards these habits. The work is enjoyable but the experience hasnt been great so far because im feeling constantly stressed. I've tried all these years to get over these issues using lifestyle changes and they somewhat help although I am not consistent and tend to drop things for a while when Im not in a great mood. Can anyone relate to or has overcome some of these issues? Any advice would be appreciated and thanks for taking the time to read