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
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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

Gracee_ Adjustment disorder and anxiety
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I’ve recently been diagnosed with adjustment disorder accompanied by anxiety. This all came about due to have tension headaches every day during work and the feeling of not being able to support my own head as my neck felt weak and sore. I didn’t thi... View more

I’ve recently been diagnosed with adjustment disorder accompanied by anxiety. This all came about due to have tension headaches every day during work and the feeling of not being able to support my own head as my neck felt weak and sore. I didn’t think I was stressed about after talking to my doctors who referred me to a psychologist it seems that is the case due to ongoing trauma since I was a teen (I thought it was handling it). What I’m asking is, can anyone who has had a first hand experience with this disorder please let me know how you went about minimising the effects of the pain associated with it and what you did to help yourself feel better. I am going to a psychologist and she’s given me a sleep diary (I don’t sleep well, waking up 5-6 times a night) as well as given me some breathing techniques. These were all well and good while I was away from work but now that I’m back at work I’m worried the pain and headaches will come back. My doctor has given me pain medication but it makes me so tired I can’t function with it. Any advice would be great at this point, thank you.

Lone Anxiety will always be part of my life
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I have come to the realisation that anxiety will always be part of my life whether I like it or not. No matter what I try and do to make it better it will be there like an old friend. The hardest part is accepting this and managing it. So at the mome... View more

I have come to the realisation that anxiety will always be part of my life whether I like it or not. No matter what I try and do to make it better it will be there like an old friend. The hardest part is accepting this and managing it. So at the moment I am trying everything I can therapy, exercise, medication. I guess trying to find what works. My question is what works for you and how do manage anxiety long term?

Tugboat anxiety at its worse
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Hello, i have ave been on here a few times and here I am again. I have No idea how to deal with my overwhelming health anxiety. Ever time time I am due for bloods, mammogram etc etc my anxiety gets out of control. The tears are rolling down my face a... View more

Hello, i have ave been on here a few times and here I am again. I have No idea how to deal with my overwhelming health anxiety. Ever time time I am due for bloods, mammogram etc etc my anxiety gets out of control. The tears are rolling down my face as I writing this post. I am due for my 2 year mammogram tomorrow and I am beside my self, cannot eat, cannot get out of bed and Crying constantly. I always think the worse is going to happen and I understand people get anxious but my anxiety affects my well being takes over my mind. I’m just not me......I’m so bloody scared that I’m dying. I try to get out of bed and get on with it however I’m really struggling ATM. I know I should try to focus on something else’s but I just seem to do that ATM. I know many people who have had/have cancer and it really scares me. I have tried counselling but never seem to click with anyone that understands me. I have that horrible knot in my stomach all day and often through up! The only time I feel relaxed is if I have a couple of wines in the evening and funny enough the knot disappears. I actually sleep ok but every morning wake up with that anxious knot every morning this does not go away until I get back my results. I have a wonderful Mum, and girlfriend I discuss this with but I’m sure at times they are saying come on girl get your self together. My husband is not so supportive he just says you will be fine as always. I just need someone to hold me tight and tell me all will be ok. Cannot type anymore as I cannot see through the teats. Thanks for listening

anna5 how am I supposed to keep trying when I feel like I'm getting nowhere
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I have pretty much had anxiety my whole life, it has prevented me from doing sports i like, catching up with friends and many other things. I am currently seeing a psychologist, but every time i see her i feel 100X worse and i feel no emotions and li... View more

I have pretty much had anxiety my whole life, it has prevented me from doing sports i like, catching up with friends and many other things. I am currently seeing a psychologist, but every time i see her i feel 100X worse and i feel no emotions and like i want to curl up in bed and not see anyone for a week. I am really insecure and it affects my relationship, i feel like i make his life 100x harder then it should be, and then i feel even worse. I have improved a bit but the last few days i feel like im back to square one and it makes me feel like why an i even trying. I will keep trying though, i just dont wanna wake up in the morning knowing i have to get through a whole day feel sick in my stomach and anxious about most things throughout my day. I just want help. Im sorry if this post was really negative i just want some advice on how im feeling right now and things to do.

Willo123 Baby blues
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I’m a new time mum with a week old baby boy, iv suffered with anxiety since I was young. im 22 and now suffering with baby blues. I have the most supportive partner and family around me but I have days where I will just cry for reasons that are month... View more

I’m a new time mum with a week old baby boy, iv suffered with anxiety since I was young. im 22 and now suffering with baby blues. I have the most supportive partner and family around me but I have days where I will just cry for reasons that are months down the track or will just get a sick sinking feeling in my stomach. just wanting to talk to people who may have been through this and Hear their story that my help me see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Beautiful_Disaster_89 Tips to help work through anxiety attacks
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Hey everyone, bit of a back story for you to get an idea of my situation! I’ve suffered severe anxiety for 8 years it first because me apparent during a very toxic relationship! I became so anxious that suicide cane to mind! I came out of that state ... View more

Hey everyone, bit of a back story for you to get an idea of my situation! I’ve suffered severe anxiety for 8 years it first because me apparent during a very toxic relationship! I became so anxious that suicide cane to mind! I came out of that state with finding my own calmness for my anxiety! last week my anxiety became so bad that I convinced myself that everyone is out to get me this all occurred due to an argument with my partners family which might I add his brother and partner attacked me out of pure guilt deflection, as in they won’t blame themselves so they found the next best and it happened to be me! Since this has happened my anxiety is to the point where I cannot go to work, I have the anxiety feeling in my chest of tightness and heaviness, I cry all of the time, and I shake at times! cleaning and organising was my calming before but now even that’s not working! Would really love to hear some tips because getting a psychologist appointment soon is not happening!

HateTheSystem My Anxiety/Depression Follow Up - Help
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Hi guys, about few months ago I went to get a diagnosis. The doctor told me I have depression and anxiety that has been ongoing and gotten worse now. He also made me a Medicare plan thing to see a phych. When I had my first session with the psych. Sh... View more

Hi guys, about few months ago I went to get a diagnosis. The doctor told me I have depression and anxiety that has been ongoing and gotten worse now. He also made me a Medicare plan thing to see a phych. When I had my first session with the psych. She was really nice though I felt she downplayed my condition abit as I told her many days I am unable to keep up with daily appointments and do activities as I cannot get out of bed and always locked up in a room. Now during this hard COVID times my Centrelink job provider has been very rude and pushy even when I told them I cannot work. They told me to see a doctor. I am able to see the doctor but I don’t know how to start the conversation on what I need. Could someone please help me on what I should bring up and what to ask the doctor for? Thanks

Butterfly20 Cannot deal with anxiety...
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I am not sure if I should be posting here but here it goes. I have been having anxiety for the past 10+ years. Usually comes and goes. However for the past 2 months my anxiety and worry thoughts have escalated and I feel like i am out of control. I l... View more

I am not sure if I should be posting here but here it goes. I have been having anxiety for the past 10+ years. Usually comes and goes. However for the past 2 months my anxiety and worry thoughts have escalated and I feel like i am out of control. I lost my appetite so only eat because it is ‘necessary’, i keep waking up every night at 3/4am with panic attacks or anxiety/thoughts, i cant focus and feel like i am not completely present. I have been on unpaid maternity leave for past 10months and due to Covid i had to start looking for new job. I was lucky to have found a job which I am meant to start in couple of weeks time. I should be happy but instead I feel like a failure, feel not good enough, questioning my decisions, feel like im incompetent, etc. in addition to that, I worry about my baby and how he will be without me. Mum will look after him but he hasnt seen her that often due to Covid restrictions so is not relaxed with her, plus im not sure if she will feel anxious too. I was hoping to do only 3days but due to finances and the type of job i need to do 4 full days instead. This means i probably wont see my baby at all for whole 4 days! Im anxious that we will loose the bond and that he wont be happy or that i wont be happy. I feel like a terrible mother. Plus I worry about the new job and learning new things with my current mental state. Additionally, i will work in health field so i worry i will catch the virus and spread it to my family! I really dont know what to do, i feel like i am being dramatic and ungrateful especially at this time but I just cant help my anxiety. It is killing me inside.

Gos98 Has anyone felt this way before?
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I have suffered with anxiety on/off for most of my teenage/young adult life. I often to get the usual symptoms when my anxiety is heightened - trouble sleeping, nausea, feeling on edge etc. My partner & I had sex, after this happened, a rush of emoti... View more

I have suffered with anxiety on/off for most of my teenage/young adult life. I often to get the usual symptoms when my anxiety is heightened - trouble sleeping, nausea, feeling on edge etc. My partner & I had sex, after this happened, a rush of emotion hit me and I burst into tears and was convinced that I didn't love him anymore which was making me feel 10x worse because I really do! I went to sleep feeling shitty but woke up a few hours later feeling very suicidal - which has never happened before. My head felt heavy and I didn't feel like I was in control of myself. I managed to get through this and went back to sleep. When I woke up, the feeling had subsided to the normal feelings of my anxiety. As well as this, the feeling of not feeling any emotions to my partner will not go away. He is trying to comfort me but I feel nothing. It's making me feel worse & I'm scared the feeling won't go away. Is this a normal symptom of anxiety? Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated

Courtney_D Anxious and despondent about everything.
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Hello everyone, I’m currently 20 years old and haven’t had any paid employment (main source of my worries). I’m also a carer for both my grandparents and brother, as well as being a full-time student studying a double major in History and Anthropolog... View more

Hello everyone, I’m currently 20 years old and haven’t had any paid employment (main source of my worries). I’m also a carer for both my grandparents and brother, as well as being a full-time student studying a double major in History and Anthropology/Sociology. At the moment I’ve managed to commit myself to seven volunteer programs, two involving education for disadvantaged children, three museum/heritage programs and another two for cancer charities. Next year I’m going to study part-time while taking a Cert 3 in Health Administration to secure a temporary backup plan as a medical receptionist until I can (hopefully) secure a career in the museum sector. Despite my volunteer experience for the previous three years, I can’t find a job. I keep applying for many on Seek and Indeed, however, I either receive no response or told my family obligations are impractical for employment (quite understandable, I suppose). Anyhow, it just makes me feel completely inadequate that I can’t secure any form of employment and quite despondent when looking towards the future. I’m just so anxious about never getting a job and feeling as though I’m so hopeless at everything. Sincerely, Courtney D.