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

Marms Help Suggestions
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I'm in a foreign city getting specialised mental health help. Currently staying in a motel and travelling to hospital 3 days a week for treatment. I'm finding the solitude terrifying. Cyber talk or chat dont seem too work . Have called some help line... View more

I'm in a foreign city getting specialised mental health help. Currently staying in a motel and travelling to hospital 3 days a week for treatment. I'm finding the solitude terrifying. Cyber talk or chat dont seem too work . Have called some help lines. And Chat l have been getting out and walking but find that very daunting any suggestions welcome.

Curiosity18 How do you know if you have anxiety?
  • replies: 5

I think I'm experiencing symptoms of general anxiety. I wake up every morning with the feeling of butterfly's in my stomach for no particular reason. The feeling sticks with me all day. It affects my eating habits as well. I usually feel: * sweaty pa... View more

I think I'm experiencing symptoms of general anxiety. I wake up every morning with the feeling of butterfly's in my stomach for no particular reason. The feeling sticks with me all day. It affects my eating habits as well. I usually feel: * sweaty palms 24/7 * Constantly worried about someone's opinion about me * Nauseous (this can last months) * Afraid to go to work/socialise with friends. ( I freak out over the feeling of nausea and everytime I go out, i suddenly feel sick, therefore I try to avoid going out and I stay home) * I double check everything I do, even when I know I have what I need * Avoid eating out as I my waves of nausea return and it makes me feel overwhelmed.

anon143 Anxious about applying for transfer of housing
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I have problematic neighbours & live in a unit separated by a brick “common wall”. The common wall is connected to the main bedroom so at night I hear mumbling of conversations without eavesdropping etc. Sometimes I can hear my neighbour have DV situ... View more

I have problematic neighbours & live in a unit separated by a brick “common wall”. The common wall is connected to the main bedroom so at night I hear mumbling of conversations without eavesdropping etc. Sometimes I can hear my neighbour have DV situations which I try not to involve myself but it got to a point where I had to intervene & call police. I’ve reported many times about the noises from that neighbour & housing seems to be understanding & make note of it. Our other neighbour is constantly partying outside their house, sometimes up to 4 times a week. I was frightened to call police previously as I am a new neighbour & I really don’t want to upset others having a good time but they play their music so loud I can hear it thumping through my walls but recently I had to call police to make another noise complaint. I’ve asked housing to consider transferring based off of the constant reminders of DV I experienced & the lack of respect from neighbours & their noises at odd hours throughout the night. It’s thrown both my son & myself off routine as we are consistently being waken in the night & with him starting daycare soon I know we will not be settled. As I’m writing this, my neighbour is again having another DV situation & screaming at the top of her lungs. Housing has made it seem that I won’t be approved because of the noise but suggested if I can provide gp reports about my mental health from my Counseller & gp it can be considered. Now I’m starting to get no good thoughts plague my mind & all I want is to live in a quiet house away from others who abuse alcohol & possibly drugs. I hate it here & ive only moved in back in October.

Chipppy High expectations and perfectionism in young person
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Hi! ive always struggled with high expectations and perfectionism from a younger age, but when I entered high school it all got worse. I have breakdowns because I can’t answer a question, because I can’t remember something, even because I got a 95/10... View more

Hi! ive always struggled with high expectations and perfectionism from a younger age, but when I entered high school it all got worse. I have breakdowns because I can’t answer a question, because I can’t remember something, even because I got a 95/100 on a test. I feel like I’m going to/letting everyone down because I’m known as the “smart girl” and I don’t want to ruin that. I just want to be good enough. This issue has turned into me procrastinating a lot and that makes the situations worse. It has gotten a bit better over the span of one year, but I still feel a lot of guilt if I don’t do something right or if I’m not the best at something and it causes me to worry a lot. People at my school have also half-teased me for being the smart kid. They say things like “img I bet the smart kid” and “I thought you were mat to be smart how come you __ “ This has led to me breaking down in a history class because I was one point away from top of class and I felt really bad and started to worry. i always feel tense and I can’t relax. I also have a big fear of failure, that I think it’s turned into a sort of phobia. If anyone could give me any advice to help it would be highly appreciated. Thank you

Emzp88 Intrusive Horrible Thoughts
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My dad told me a story about two people that got murdered by their son. Their son had chronic paranoid schizophrenia. Apparently there was a disagreement about money or something like that and from being angry at his parents it caused him to be pushe... View more

My dad told me a story about two people that got murdered by their son. Their son had chronic paranoid schizophrenia. Apparently there was a disagreement about money or something like that and from being angry at his parents it caused him to be pushed to the limit and commit this crime. I got it in my head that this could happen to me... no matter what I do it keeps coming back into my mind. I have tried looking at it from a likelihood stand point... thinking about how the likelihood is really low etc. I don't have children... but I like the idea that someday I will. I just don't want this hanging over my head. I have been seeing a counsellor... what else can I do...?

DannyG05 Too anxious and scared
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Good afternoon, February last year my mother passed away. Since then my quality of life has gone downhill. I am struggling to live a normal life, struggling to hold down a job and have taken so much time off I'm too scared to speak to my boss in case... View more

Good afternoon, February last year my mother passed away. Since then my quality of life has gone downhill. I am struggling to live a normal life, struggling to hold down a job and have taken so much time off I'm too scared to speak to my boss in case I lose my job. I often get really emotional and sad at the most random times. It also doesn't help that I found her dead in my own home. What should I do? How do I recover from this trauma as I can't live like this any further.

AndyBB Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Lung disease?
  • replies: 12

Hello, I have been an on and off anxiety sufferer for the past 10 years. I was diagnosed with GAD, Depression and maybe PTSD. I came here to ask for help. I quit smoking nine months ago and about two months ago I developed this shortness of breath. I... View more

Hello, I have been an on and off anxiety sufferer for the past 10 years. I was diagnosed with GAD, Depression and maybe PTSD. I came here to ask for help. I quit smoking nine months ago and about two months ago I developed this shortness of breath. It feels like I can't gasp enough air. I sigh all the time, sometimes I sneeze. I went to a GP and told him all my symptoms and he did a consultation and said there is nothing wrong with my lungs. Although the GP said that, I keep obsessing about it. I think that I may develop a serious condition (asthma, COPD, lung cancer) and I worry about it daily. It's in the back of my head all the time. I keep thinking that I should go back to the GP and get a referral to an expert so I can get an X-Ray, or a spirometry test. I have experienced many symptoms throughout the years and I know that anxiety is a pain and sometimes it makes me feel like I wanna give up because I am tired of this life. Every damned day, something is wrong with me. I keep thinking that I may not live to see old age and My life is a mess (no job, no car, no family). I can't even take care of myself. This shortness of breath is accompanied by a lump in my throat. Can someone please help me? Cheers, Andy

Mina19 Very scared
  • replies: 6

Hi people, A bit of background, I have severe anxiety and PTSD and health anxiety too. My anxiety goes straight to my stomach since experiencing my trauma many years ago. Lately like since last December sometimes when I use the bathroom for number 2s... View more

Hi people, A bit of background, I have severe anxiety and PTSD and health anxiety too. My anxiety goes straight to my stomach since experiencing my trauma many years ago. Lately like since last December sometimes when I use the bathroom for number 2s I have a small streak of blood on my stool. I noticed it happens when my stool is a bit hard or if I’m straining to go but I’m super scared when it happens. I have had a fissure many years ago but I could recognise it because it hurt but this doesn’t exactly hurt in the way that did. It’s bright red blood and usually the size of an ant either on the toilet paper or in the bowl. Has anyone experienced this. I’m 22 female. My health anxiety is shooting through the roof:(

Vallie Vallie
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How do you cope with living alone when you have never done itbefore

How do you cope with living alone when you have never done itbefore

contrarymary Just when I think I am getting better anxiety and stress are back
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Posted a number of times looking for help and advice on dealing with symptoms i am suddenly overcome by severe anxiety - pacing the floor, crying, palpitations and chest pain. Had all the tests not heart related. GP doesn't know why it suddenly comes... View more

Posted a number of times looking for help and advice on dealing with symptoms i am suddenly overcome by severe anxiety - pacing the floor, crying, palpitations and chest pain. Had all the tests not heart related. GP doesn't know why it suddenly comes on. This morning I was ok when I got up then within 20 minutes I was pacing the floor and crying and can't be bothered doing anything and it's been getting worse. GP has suggested relaxation and mindfulness. 95% of the time I am ok but suddenly get very stressed eg getting stressed now as screen keeps rotating that's how easy it is, last week it was because the shop did not have my magazine in. I have type 2 diabetes and GP says this could be a problem looking for tips on how people have overcome this anxiety. Last week one night I only slept about an hour too anxious to sleep, there has been no major lifestyle changes