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

contrarymary Why can't I accept what the test results say and get more anxious
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About 11 years ago I had a problem with my heart which had stemmed from an infection after surgery. i have had no problems since have a raft of tests each year and cardiologist says it was a one off why can't I accept this every time I feel hot or ge... View more

About 11 years ago I had a problem with my heart which had stemmed from an infection after surgery. i have had no problems since have a raft of tests each year and cardiologist says it was a one off why can't I accept this every time I feel hot or get a pain in my arm I rush of to ED or GP they do the usual heart tests and of course find nothing and say it's stress related or muscular i get very stressed and anxious as I think it's something and pace the floor and can't relax which doesn't help. This morning I had a Telehealth with GP says all blood tests from last week are fine, ECG is fine yet I am lying here stressed thinking I have something wrong. any ideas on how to overcome this it's impacting on family life

LilSpark Recent Anxiety Diagnosis- no advice offered, pls share advice and tips :)
  • replies: 9

Hi There, I recently found out that I have a chronic anxiety disorder. over a year ago I went to my doctor with chest pains and after all sorts of tests was told “you’re not having a heart attack so at least you can stop worrying about that now”. I w... View more

Hi There, I recently found out that I have a chronic anxiety disorder. over a year ago I went to my doctor with chest pains and after all sorts of tests was told “you’re not having a heart attack so at least you can stop worrying about that now”. I was so embarrassed for seemingly wasting everyone’s time and ended up convinced it was all in my head. then a few weeks ago I went to see a doctor for first time since being told I had “no heart issues” about an injury to my foot. to qualify for Medicare assistance for physio the doctor said I needed to have 2 chronic illnesses to qualify for 5 subsidised sessions. she then went through my history and said I can see you were diagnosed with chronic anxiety last year... was I?! I was never told that was what all my symptoms ended up being. so the past few weeks I have thought a lot about my everyday and it’s like finally everything makes sense. im not going crazy, I’m not a hypochondriac! so I would love some advice while I’m waiting on finally getting some support on how to cope when attacks happen. ive come to realise every time I’m having hot flushes, feel sick, chest pains, palpitations and actually vomiting it’s because I’ve worked myself up worrying about something. how do you control the physical symptoms? For me being sick is the worst one because it’s effecting my job. For example today I missed an entire meeting because I couldn’t stop vomiting after panicking I was going to be late. all advice welcome - thank you xo

Schweepy My husband just decided to leave to work on his mental health
  • replies: 6

I have been with my husband for 6 years, he suffers from anxiety issues and now potentially depression. I have always supported and loved him throughout these years and tried to help him seek assistance as I couldn't keep being the only one he talked... View more

I have been with my husband for 6 years, he suffers from anxiety issues and now potentially depression. I have always supported and loved him throughout these years and tried to help him seek assistance as I couldn't keep being the only one he talked to and not a mental health professional. In those years, he talked so much about how he loved me, how I was the one, how I was his purpose in his life, how he didn't know what love was until we met. But last week, he just decided he needed to be alone. He said he didn't want to think about anyone else's feelings right now and just told me the morning after a huge fight that he was moving out and going to live with a friend. This came out of nowhere and he never ever indicated to me that he would leave and he has gone from 0 to 100 in no time and already started talking about the division of assets and only wanting to talk about that. He refuses to tell me why he is doing this, if this is temporary or not, and just only wants to talk about the "division of assets". He is acting so callous and cold, a side of him I have never seen directed towards me before. I had suggested couples counselling a few weeks ago as I felt I needed to know the best ways for us to communicate as his anxiety issues were really flaring up and making him so negative and pessimistic. We only just celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary by spending a few days away, he later told me he saw that as a 2 and a half hour drive to walk on the beach and have lunch, when we did so much more and were there to celebrate this occasion. His parents have been so loving and supportive throughout the years and are so shocked and confused as to why this is happening. Unfortunately, they are in England and can't come over so are stuck trying to get through to him but he refuses to talk about emotions. They have told me I have their full support and love, and always will. But he just keeps bulldozing me down and being the main driving force behind separating. I do not want to separate and wanted to try couples counseling, he refuses to even try even though only Wednesday (the day before the argument) he was very much on board. In the process of him trying to seek mental health help, he has completely destroyed mine and is only talking to me like I am a stranger. I want answers and he has not given me a reason why he is doing this and throwing away a loving 6 year relationship. I just don't know what to do.

JeanD Constantly scared
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Hi All, How do/does everyone deal or manage the constant feeling of being scared with their anxiety? My specific scenario is work related (a work incident triggered my anxiety) and now I'm constantly feeling scared I'm not good enough at my job, or t... View more

Hi All, How do/does everyone deal or manage the constant feeling of being scared with their anxiety? My specific scenario is work related (a work incident triggered my anxiety) and now I'm constantly feeling scared I'm not good enough at my job, or things will escalate and it'll be thought of/seen as my fault (real or perceived). I feel like I'm in constant fear of what my senior exec will think of and/or do to me as a result. And the more I can't shake this fear feeling the more I feel like my anxiety gets worse. Thanks.

JJ89 Work worries
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My previous employer didn’t get the contract to continue this year. I work with you Aboriginal people in a high school. Love what I do. There is a new organisation taking over the contract. I have been offered to work with them. But as lower duties t... View more

My previous employer didn’t get the contract to continue this year. I work with you Aboriginal people in a high school. Love what I do. There is a new organisation taking over the contract. I have been offered to work with them. But as lower duties than I was previously on as wanted by the principal. I feel extremely hurt that she doesn’t want me back as my previous role. She is very toxic and wants things her way or no way. I hate interacting with her. She has yelled and screamed at me for doing what my employee asked me to do but she didn’t agree with it. She even yelled at my bosses boss during this time. I had never been spoken to like that in the workplace. I was in such shock when it was happening I just froze. She hasn’t reached out since then over a week ago. The mew role will be a fair chunk less than what I was on. I will be the only one in this team (3) as no one as wanted to stay. So I know I’ll be doing my old role jobs while I’m the only one there but on a lower pay. And I don’t know how the principal will be. I’m not sure if she’s trying to push me out or what. I’m not sleeping. I’ve got anxiety and am starting to isolate myself away from the world because I am so lost with what to do. Do I go to job with decent pay but can’t grow in with a horrible enforcer . Or do I move on and try new things. Looking at going back to tafe to finish a cert I started years ago. Only 3 units left and work in a causal job. I’m just so worried about bills. And not being able to live securely if I don’t have that higher income. I haven’t stopped crying because I don’t know where to start. Please help with some advice or things I may not have thought of

OnlyHuman Job Interviews and anxiety disorder
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Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could offer some advice on how they cope with job interviews as someone with anxiety or panic disorder. I have been failing interviews for the last 3 years because I blank out due to nerves/anxiety and it is making i... View more

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could offer some advice on how they cope with job interviews as someone with anxiety or panic disorder. I have been failing interviews for the last 3 years because I blank out due to nerves/anxiety and it is making it extremely difficult for me to get decent work. This consequently doesn't help with my overall low mood and can sometimes trigger a depressive episode. I am seeing a psychologist but visits are infrequent and my progress slow. Thank you in advance for reading this post :')

Codes84 Anxiety and derealization
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Hey guys, for the past four weeks I've been suffering badly from constant extreme anxiety and feelings of disassociation from reality. I've been waking up panicking everyday and have feelings all day that the world isn't real. The first few days were... View more

Hey guys, for the past four weeks I've been suffering badly from constant extreme anxiety and feelings of disassociation from reality. I've been waking up panicking everyday and have feelings all day that the world isn't real. The first few days were a living nightmare where I was having intrusive thoughts about self harm when I was trying to sleep. I went to the doctor a few days after it started and got put on antidepressants, which took a few days to kick in and start working, although they have helped to take the edge off but I'm still having feelings of disassociation from waking up until I sleep. I've had depression for a long time and could still cope and go about my daily life and function but now all of a sudden this has happened and I feel like I cant do anything. I feel extreme panic when I go out in society. At the cinema or even waiting in line gives me bad heart palpitations and I feel like I'm going to die. My psychologist suggested I start trying meditation which I started last night but in all honesty has made me feel even worse. I've also been having Nystagmus (eyes dart side to side) lately and feelings of vertigo. I'm extremely worried that I will be like this for the rest of my life. What should I do? Has anyone else been through this and come out the other side?

Touni Nerves out of control
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Hi, in the last week. I've been getting knots in my stomach like you get when your nervous and anxious but I don't feel like I'm worried about anything in particular. The knots come and go but I don't know how to make it stop Thank you View more

Hi, in the last week. I've been getting knots in my stomach like you get when your nervous and anxious but I don't feel like I'm worried about anything in particular. The knots come and go but I don't know how to make it stop Thank you

Kreative Young daughters constantly scared
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I have three daughters but the eldest two aged 7 and 8 seem to be in constant fear. If they can't see me in the house they yell 'Mummy mummy where are you?' if I don't answer they become hysterical. Bed time - they all wake up during the night EVERY ... View more

I have three daughters but the eldest two aged 7 and 8 seem to be in constant fear. If they can't see me in the house they yell 'Mummy mummy where are you?' if I don't answer they become hysterical. Bed time - they all wake up during the night EVERY night, either bad dreams, wanting someone to sleep with them or asking "what's that noise?" Its like Ichave a brand new baby, I get tense when I hear a loud noise like a siren because I know they are going to freak out. Tonight they ran out screaming when I closed the blinds wanting to know what the noise is. Its been going on too long and I'm exhausted. Husband and I are very different as I'm petrified as to why they are so fearful and anxious where he thinks it will just go away. Help

Chloe90 Panic Attacks even when medicated.
  • replies: 14

Hey Guys, Just hoping some people will have some advice for me. Does anyone still suffer panic attacks even when medicated? I’ve been on my medication for around 10years and have intermittent panic attacks. Had one in November and now again yesterday... View more

Hey Guys, Just hoping some people will have some advice for me. Does anyone still suffer panic attacks even when medicated? I’ve been on my medication for around 10years and have intermittent panic attacks. Had one in November and now again yesterday and I’m worried is it my meds or what? any support would be appreciated. Chloe